Senator Sachs will host an educational redistricting workshop from 2pm – 4pm, August 10th, 2011 at the Hagen Ranch Library located at 14350 Hagen Ranch Rd. – Delray Beach, FL. The purpose of this workshop is to ensure that all citizens are as informed as possible before the Florida Senate’s Public Hearing on Redistricting on August 16, 2011. The workshop’s panelists will present divergent ideas of how Florida can best implement its new district lines. This event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring guests.

*To RSVP please visit http://www.mariasachs.com/redistricting/

Education - August 9, 2011: Meeting, Valencia Falls Clubhouse, Delray Beach, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

Disaster Preparedness – August 11, 2011: Meeting Lakes of Delray Residential Community, 10 a.m. – 11a.m. August 23, 2011: CERT Exercise Lakes of Delray Residential Community, 10 a.m.

Energy – August 25, 2011: Tour at Florida Atlantic University Seatech Campus, Dania Beach, 10a.m.-12p.m.

Human Trafficking – September 14, 2011: Meeting of Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches (HTC PB), Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center, 10 a.m.

*If you would like to join a Blue Ribbon Committee please contact the office.

Sen. Sachs receives the FCCFA's Legislator of the Year Award

Senator Sachs was recently awarded the Legislator of the Year Award at the Florida Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (FCCF) Annual Convention. The Senator addressed over  300 professionals within the death-care industry who attended the annual event. “I am honored to receive this award,” said Senator Sachs. “The services that your industry provides are vitally important to ensuring that we hold sacred our loved ones who are no longer with us.” This past legislative session, Senator Sachs advocated against legislation that would have allowed for interment of deceadents ashes at the Daytona International Speedway. The bill died in her committee.

Senator Sachs is announcing the creation of a Veterans Council. The council will be comprised of Florida veterans’ groups and organizations. The purpose of the council will be to address key issues such as jobs, homelessness, and benefits for veterans and their families. The Senator encourages any veteran who is interested in serving on the council to call her office.

This week marks the 58th anniversary of the truce of the Korean War. Senator Sachs commemorates the men and women who served our nation in what many consider to be America’s forgotten war. “It’s a shame that the honorable men and women who risked their lives in the Korean War are overshadowed by those of other wars,” said Senator Sachs. “I commend all Korean War veterans for their bravery and dedication to a safer world.”

It is one year since little Haile Brockington died in the sweltering heat of a day care van. Right after her death, Senator Sachs committed to passing legislation so that this tragedy would never happen again. The “Haile Brockington Act” would require that all child care vans be equiped with safety alarms to alert drivers that a child was left behind. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate, but was blocked in the Florida House. Unfortunately, another needless death has occurred that might have been prevented had the bill passed. “This bill will ensure that not another child loses his life,” said Senator Sachs. Since then, Senator Sachs has reached out to all 16,923 child care centers in Florida, asking them to voluntarily install this technology. “I am asking you to do what the Legislature could not,” said Senator Sachs. “The safety of our children must be our top priority.”

A Local Solution

Earlier this week, Senator Sachs supported the efforts of Palm Beach County Commission to require child care centers in the county to adopt additional safety measures. The Commission passed an ordinance making Palm Beach County the first of 67 counties to adopt the policy. “Children do not come as Democrats or Republicans,” said County Commissioner Burt Aaronson. “This isn’t a partisan issue.” Senator Sachs stressed the urgency of the ordinance in light of the blazing heat of the current summer months. “Every day that we wait on this is another day that a child’s life is at risk,” said Senator Sachs.

A Growing List of Needless Deaths

The Senator’s remarks came on the heels of another tragedy in South Florida: the death of 22-month-old Dominicue Andrews who was found dead of heat stroke at the Jomiba Learning Center in Homestead. The center had received Senator Sachs’ letter, yet did not installed a safety device in the van. Other needless deaths include two-year-old Zaniyah Hinson of Volusia County and three-year-old Domonique Royals of Orange County. There have been no reported deaths in states that require safety alarms for child care vans.

Getting the Word Out

In light of these events, Senator Sachs was interviewed about these safety measures and the prospect of Haile’s Law passing in the next legislative session by WPBF Ch. 25, NBC Miami, WPTV Ch. 5, the Palm Beach Post, and the Orlando-Sentinel. “I will introduce this bill again during the next legislative session,” said Senator Sachs. “It is time that our state government puts politics aside and focuses on public safety.” You can watch the interview on WPTV Ch. 5’s “To The Point” with Kelley Dunn this Sunday, July 24, 2011. Senator Sachs urges all parents with young children to petition their day care centers to implement safety meausres in their child care vans so that no child will be left behind.

Members of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Education. (Photo by David DiPino.)

Senator Sachs’ Blue Ribbon Committee on Education met July 12, 2011 at the Valencia Falls Clubhouse in Delray Beach to discuss Florida’s education system in the present economic and political climate. The 27-member committee discussed the hardships faced in Florida’s public schools and are exploring ways to provide more political support, funding and parental participation in education.  The committee will begin research on the operational components of Florida’s magnet schools, charter schools, virtual schools, vocational schools, religious schools, and home schooling.  Visits to these various schools are planned for next month.

Attention citizens!  Senator Sachs is forming a Jewish/Israeli Council (JIC) which will discuss local and international issues pertinent to the Jewish community and all friends of Israel.  This council will meet monthly with special guest speakers and provide policy recommendations directly to the Senator.  She encourages anyone who is interested in a position on the Council to apply by contacting her office at 561-279-1427.

Sen. Sachs addressing crowd at the Chamberlain College of Nursing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

Senator Sachs helped cut the ribbon at a new college of nursing in South Florida. After the opening ceremony, the Senator attended a tour of the new technology used at the college. The Senator spoke of the dire need for nurses in South Florida. “Florida is currently in a unique position to determine its future by making key investments in the people of this state,” said Senator Sachs. “We must foster the next generation of talent in the Sunshine State and it starts with schools like this.”