About WHOSEFLORIDA

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Check the new WhoseFlorida for updates

WhoseFlorida is a loosely knit band of individuals. Our thoughts about why we're doing this will appear here from time to time

2/17/04

"Once again Whose Florida? has been chosen by our panel of progressive writers and distinguished readers as an outstanding democratic, independent media. We are pleased to send you the 2004 Democratic Media Award...


 

http://www.goodwriters.net/dmr2.html
 
Your award implies no obligation other than your continued commitment to serving the public interest and your recognition that a truly free press is the indispensable water that keeps the Tree of Democracy growing and alive..."

 

10/27/03

"WhoseFlorida.com is the result of a collaborative effort of many people, perhaps  like yourself, who work, live and play in our beautiful state.  We would love to be able to just get on with our lives and live happily ever after, but we can't avoid the disturbing feeling that all is not well - in paradise.

On every front, it seems, our well being is under attack: jobs lost, schools suffering, healthcare costs through the roof, pensions dwindling, housing/insurance costs outrageous, wetlands and wild lands disappearing - Florida is being paved over, and now the big boys want to sell our water. Big business runs the whole show.  Politics is all big money...

So what to do?  First find out what is going on!  Then organize and work to make it better! "They" can only do this if "we" let them - and they rely on us knowing nothing, and doing nothing.

Since February 2001, WhoseFlorida has helped provide alternative perspectives to the news and linked people together.  Help us help Florida.  Send us your ideas, your stories, your news and photos, edit one of our sections -- help however you can..."

We're thinking of this text (or something like this for our new intro page that you can access at: http://www.whoseflorida.com/newdesign.htm   It will be database driven with the right hand column showing news clips relevant to the topic of the center section... still developing, so if you have any ideas please send them along...

(.... more on support)

 

8/16/03
We're busy working on a new format for WhoseFlorida.  We hope to roll it out in October/ November, and we think it will be easier to read and navigate.  In time we hope to move all the existing pages to the new format.   The new format will be data base driven and easier to maintain.  We're also looking to expand our regional pages, and to get more reporters in Tallahassee and around the state - but more on this later. 
Thanks for hanging in there with us over the last year and helping us through some rough spots with your donations, and for continuing to send us your stories and reports.
 

http://www.goodwriters.net/dmr2.html
"Once again Whose Florida? has been chosen by our panel of progressive writers and distinguished readers as an outstanding democratic, independent media. We are pleased to send you the 2003 Democratic Media Award."
"With more than half of the U.S. population using the Internet, public awareness of the importance of independent media such as yours is increasing. By prominently displaying your award, you help build public awareness of the global movement for integrity in reporting. We encourage you also to link your sunflower award symbol to the one of the best Independent Media Resource rosters, where your publication appears as an esteemed member..." 1/22/03

 


WhoseFlorida selected the Political Site of the Day for 3/7/02

We would like to thank the thank the Nation Magazine for selecting Whoseflorida.com as one the Nation Reader's Favorite Media Outlets

Nation Reader's Favorite Media Outlets
12/28/01
Dear Friend,
 
In the new special media issue of The Nation, we asked Nation readers to tell us about their favorite media outlets. We published the results in an incomplete, unscientific survey in our pages and on our website.
 
We wanted to let you know that your publication is among this fine group of magazines, websites, radio programs and periodicals highly touted by our readers. You can find the plug at the following URL:
   
... congratulations on your inclusion in our very finicky reader's list.
 
Happy Holidays,
Peter Rothberg
Associate Publisher, The Nation
 
P.S. You can find the rest of our special media material, including a dramatic visual representation of the vast holdings of the "Big Ten" media giants, currently at: 

 

Why WhoseFlorida?

So much has happened since February 2001 when WhoseFlorida.com went on line.

Jeb had already told us that his Florida was going to be all about business and most of the state employees knew Florida was in trouble. 

Some of us knew because we’d been witnesses to the dismantling of the infrastructure of our state government for several years. Some of us had already lost our jobs. Some of us had spent the last year and a half wondering if we would have a job the following week. 

Predictably, the job cuts and the effects of the zero-based budget began to take its toll. We had been working in crisis mode for too long, and we knew it wasn’t going to get better any time soon.  The problem was already system wide, but most of us didn’t know it. We all thought it was just happening in our agency and maybe a few others. There wasn’t a lot of talk about it.

There wasn’t a lot of press about it either. The breakup of the Department of Labor, the layoffs at several of the other agencies, and the 25% workforce reduction "exercise" were being discussed but the big picture was largely ignored.

Jeb was asking the workers for feedback, but his plan was already in place. We were asked not to speak about what we saw happening, so for the most part we didn’t. Those of us who had been with our agency for a while felt that to speak out would be disloyal. We would remain "good employees" to the end.

That was 6 months ago.

Since then, the legislature has come and gone leaving a plan called "Service First", another big tax cut for the folks who don’t need one, a reduction in social programs, a scaling back of environmental protections, a cement plant on the Itchetucknee River, and increased powers for the Governor to make more changes like this in the future...

Affirmative action of course, fell in the first year of Jeb’s rule – "One Florida" in its place. The message that we could "trust Jeb to do the right thing" was not at all reassuring.

There is a certain Orwellian cruelty in the names they have chosen. "Service First" is really less service, and "One Florida" is clearly two Florida’s - one for the rich and one for the poor.

The State website was renamed "myflorida.com" – a dot com business designation for the official state website – a trademark logo instead of the Great Seal.

And now there are oil rigs coming to the Gulf, the Everglades restoration is set for compromise, and the St. Joe / Arvida companies are poised to sell off North Florida.

Not a pretty picture, for most of us at least. 

But Jeb’s happy I guess – he sees his image reflected everywhere around him… new marinas, golf courses, gated estates, super highways, big hotels, shiny billboards, lots of business, lots of banks with lots of money, and of course a few theme parks and trailer estates for the mob.

I wince when I picture this. This sure isn’t my Florida – but hell, I was only born here. It’s not a Florida anyone I know, or even could imagine knowing, would want.

So Why Whose Florida? Because I sort of like Florida the way I see it – and I want to have a say in how it goes. No one else is speaking for me – so I will. I suggest you all do the same.

(I'm a native Floridian. I've worked for the State for over 10 years. I did not vote for Jeb, but not because of his party affiliation. It was/is because he seems to have no idea what it is to live a life without privilege. During his first campaign, Jeb was asked what he would do for the Black community. He said "Probably nothing." Everyone should have listened to what he said that day - he was speaking to us all.)

Independence Day, July 4 2001 Tallahassee, Fl

Our Mission?

To give opportunity for the TRUTH to be discovered by all of Florida's citizenry.

Every Floridian has the fundamental right to know the real impact of the policies and laws adopted by the ruling authorities.  Good public relations disguises snake oil salespersons as modern day miracle workers.  The general public does not know the real truth.

The goal of this site is to educate us all.  This will be accomplished through an anonymous forum designed for government employees who see the effects of government first hand to send in their experiences and for other taxpayers around the state to describe how cutting services is effecting their lives.

This is a monumental task, but it is do-able with YOUR help. Please respond.

Who Are We?

We are government workers who reside in Florida and know how cutting government services will hurt the people of Florida.  We chose to be government workers because we wanted to make a difference.

We are highly educated and could move to the private sector at will.  We love our jobs, believe in the work we do and sacrifice higher salaries for safety of career service.  

We are employees who know that privatizing is neither cheaper or more efficient. We are employees who are against reform for the sake of reform. 

We are employees sick of hearing that the Wal-Mart approach is best.  In our jobs we serve the public better than Sam Walton could have ever conceived.

For the record, we do not all belong to the same political party and we do not see eye to eye on all the issues.  We do however want the very best for Florida and this has not been forthcoming from our governor,  his appointed agency heads, his cohort in the legislature, and his point of presence on the Web - "MyFlorida.Com".

Whose Florida?  

It's JEB's Florida for sure, as long as we remain silent. 

 ... (I am a native Floridian, and have worked for the the State for 11 years.  I campaigned for JEB.  I believed that he would do good things for Florida - many of us did.  WhoseFlorida for me is not about attacking JEB, it is about educating him, informing him, informing us all.) ...Posted 4/30/01


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