Issue #187: Pasco Impact Fees Increase, School Board Upset, Fentanyl Crisis in Tampa

08/23/2024

Author

Ted Grellner
23 Aug

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Please pay attention to the article on fentanyl. Having used it for administering general anesthesia in my practice for many years, I know its potency. Parents of young adults, etc, need to be aware of this drug being available in our community, and educate your kids to avoid it at all costs.

Dr Ted
USAF Retired

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In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

Local News

— Pasco County Approves School Impact Fee Hike Amid Affordability Concerns

— Newcomer Set to Unseat Veteran in Tight Pasco School Board Race

OMG!

— Mothers Speak Out: Fentanyl’s Deadly Toll on Tampa Bay Families

Sports

— Rays Stay in St. Pete: A Tale of Two Teams’ Stadium Struggles


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Pasco County Approves School Impact Fee Hike Amid Affordability Concerns

The Pasco County Commission has approved an increase in school impact fees to help address the growing demand for new schools. The 4-1 vote raised fees for single-family homes from $8,328 to $9,328 in the first year, eventually reaching $12,328 by 2028. Fees for multifamily housing and mobile homes will also rise incrementally.

Despite concerns from the local real estate community that the increase could harm housing affordability, most commissioners argued that the fees are necessary to ensure that new growth funds the required infrastructure. Commissioner Seth Weightman, who voted against the increase, warned that rising fees could erode affordability. However, other commissioners emphasized the need to fund schools and parks as the county’s population continues to grow. A consultant has projected that Pasco schools will need to accommodate 13,700 additional students over the next decade.

Newcomer Set to Unseat Veteran in Tight Pasco School Board Race

Jessica Wright, a 34-year-old teacher, is on the verge of unseating longtime incumbent Alison Crumbley in the Pasco County School Board race. Wright’s campaign focused on reducing class sizes and eliminating portable classrooms, resonating with voters seeking change. Meanwhile, former state Senator John Legg secured a decisive win in the Republican primary for Pasco County Schools Superintendent and will face high school principal Chris Dunning in November. Legg is widely viewed as the favorite to succeed retiring superintendent Kurt Browning.

In other races, Lisa Yeager won the Republican primary for the District 4 Pasco County Commission seat and will compete against Democrat Daniel Ackroyd-Isales. Incumbent Commissioner Jack Mariano easily defeated his primary challenger and will face no-party candidate Thomas Celotto in November as he seeks a sixth term.

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Mothers Speak Out: Fentanyl’s Deadly Toll on Tampa Bay Families

In Tampa Bay, families gathered on National Fentanyl Awareness and Prevention Day to remember loved ones lost to fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid linked to 70% of drug-related deaths nationwide. Florida recorded 7,551 overdose deaths in 2022, second only to California.

Debra Flanigan, who lost her daughter Casey to a fentanyl-laced pill in 2022, shared her story at the event. Casey, just 31, mistakenly took what she believed was Xanax, leading to her tragic death. Flanigan, who is battling Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, now dedicates her life to fighting in her daughter’s memory.

Showneen Hall also mourned her son, Walter Shumaker, who died at 27 from a fentanyl overdose. Hall has begun organizing monthly support meetings for families impacted by fentanyl, stressing the importance of awareness and education to prevent further tragedies.

Help is available through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline.

One particularly striking fact about fentanyl is its extreme potency in very small doses.

Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to a few grains of table salt, can be lethal for most adults.

This incredibly small effective dose makes fentanyl especially dangerous and contributes to a high risk of overdose, particularly when it's unknowingly mixed into other drugs.

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Rays Stay in St. Pete: A Tale of Two Teams’ Stadium Struggles

The Tampa Bay Rays have secured a $1.3 billion stadium deal, ensuring their future in St. Petersburg after years of uncertainty. Despite previous failed proposals, including a plan to split home games with Montreal, the team will remain at their original site, with the new stadium set to open in 2028. This is a win for Rays fans who faced the potential loss of their team.

In contrast, the Oakland A’s are preparing for their final games in Oakland before relocating, likely to Las Vegas, following a planned stop in Sacramento next season. Both teams have long faced stadium challenges but continue to compete strongly. The A’s have been performing well since July, while the Rays remain in the wild-card hunt. The upcoming changes mark a new chapter for both franchises, which have managed to compete at a high level for more than a decade despite their small-market status.

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© 2024 Ted Grellner

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