State of Florida 2020 Sales Tax Holiday

The 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis. This sales tax holiday begins Friday, May 29, 2020, and extends through Thursday, June 4, 2020.

During this sales tax holiday period, qualifying items related to disaster preparedness are exempt from sales tax. However, the sales tax holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, the sales tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

For more information and a list of qualifying items, please see the Department of Revenue’s Taxpayer Information Publication on the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday.

Port St. Lucie City Fitness Centers Reopen

CALL TO RESERVE

Effective Monday, May 18, 2020, both of the City’s fitness centers will re-open to the public in a modified structure.

• Members only can call to reserve a specific hour, each day they wish to utilize either Community Fitness & Wellness Center or the Humana Fitness & Wellness Center.
  
  •  Members may only reserve one day at a time, and may not call and reserve, for example, the 6:00 -7:00 a.m. time slot on Monday, Wednesday & Friday of the upcoming week. Each caller may make only one reservation for themselves and one reservation for one other person. Each caller must speak to a live person and must receive their reservation number and time slot for reservation verification.
  
  


• Drop in’s will be worked into the schedule as space is available. No telephone reservations will be accepted for non-members.


• Staff will print the caller’s first & last name in the hour requested not to exceed 12 persons per hour at Community Fitness and 20 persons per hour at Humana Fitness (as determined by social distancing recommendations).


• No personal training will be offered at this time.


• Fitness classes and the Rock Steady Boxing program will not resume at this time.

 

Humana Fitness & Wellness Center: 772-807-4499

Hours of operation are:

• Monday–Thursday: 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. Under this modified re-opening, this center will be closed from 2 to 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, to allow for the disinfecting/sanitization of equipment. No reservations will be accepted from 2 to 3 p.m.


• Friday: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m. Under this modified re-opening, this center will be closed from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, to allow for the disinfecting/sanitization of equipment. No reservations will be accepted from 2 to 3 p.m.


• Saturday & Sunday: 7:30 a.m. -6 p.m. Under this modified re-opening, this center will be closed from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, to allow for the disinfecting/sanitization of equipment. No reservations will be accepted from 1 to 2 p.m.

For members who wish to reserve the 6 a.m. hour slot on weekdays, or the 7:30 a.m. hour slot on Saturday or Sunday, members may begin calling at 5 p.m. the evening prior.

 

Community Fitness & Wellness Center: 772-873-6432

Entrance through Community Center front doors only. Users are encouraged to utilize front parking lot.

Hours of operation are:

• *Monday – Friday: 5:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Under this modified re-opening, this center will be closed from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday, to allow for the disinfecting/sanitization of equipment. No reservations will be accepted from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.


• *Saturday – Sunday: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. noon.


• For members who wish to reserve the 5:30 a.m. hour slot on weekdays, or the 8 a.m. hour slot on Saturdays, they may begin calling at 5 p.m. the evening prior. For the 8 a.m. hour slot on Sunday only, members may begin calling at 10 a.m. noon on Saturdays.

*The normal hours of operation at the Community Fitness & Wellness Center are Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday/Sunday are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For this modified re-opening, we are adjusting the hours to be Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Saturday/Sunday to be 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Based upon reception of adjusted hours, the City may adopt this revised schedule when the fitness center is allowed to be re-opened to the public without restrictions.

 

Click here for more information: www.cityofpsl.com/government/departments/parks-recreation

A Call from Port St. Lucie City Hall

The City of Port St. Lucie recognizes that COVID-19 is not only threatening our physical health, but also our emotional and mental well-being. The City has launched a new initiative that aims to help residents feeling the strain of self-isolation with a friendly call from City Hall.

A nomination form is available on the City’s website, www.cityofpsl.com/callfromcityhall, which asks residents to nominate an individual to receive a call from the Mayor or City Council member. The form asks for contact information for the individual being nominated, as well as how long they have been a resident of the City and if they have any special occasions coming up, like a birthday or anniversary. A special notes section is included where the nominator can include a special note about the person that the Council Members could incorporate into the conversation. Once the form is filled out, one of the five Council Members will reach out to the nominee within seven days. If you or someone you know needs a little reminder that they are not alone – please fill out the form to receive a friendly call from City Hall.

 

Monty Python ‘Silly Walk’ Signs Around the World Are Encouraging Pedestrians to Laugh in the Face of COVID

Pedestrians all over the world are being encouraged to loosen up on their daily strolls through their neighborhoods by showing off their best silly walks reminiscent of the iconic Monty Python sketch from 1970.

Homeowners from Michigan to Ontario have been erecting signs in their front yards asking passerby to strut their goofy stuff similarly to the original “Ministry for Silly Walks” comedic sketch.

This is not the first time that Monty Python fans have implemented their own real-world silly walk directives; back in 2014, a town in Norway published a now-viral montage of local pedestrians busting a move in front of their own public silly crosswalk sign.

Now amidst the novel coronavirus outbreaks, people like Liz Koto in Detroit have been encouraging people to find joy in these turbulent times by showing off their best silly walks.

Since putting up the “jurisdiction of silly walk” signs in her yard several weeks ago, she has launched an Instagram page dedicated to sharing the dozens of amusing walks that have been captured by her doorbell camera.

Cynda Fleming told CTV News that her own silly walks sign in Leaside, Toronto has resulted in a similar source of endless entertainment, which she says is “better than Netflix”.

“I just wanted to do this to bring some positivity into this crazy situation we’re in right now and it just, I think, gives permission for people to be positive and silly,” she told the news outlet.

This is just one of many inspiring stories and updates that are coming out of the COVID-19 news coverage this week. For more uplifting coverage on the outbreaks, click here.

NEW ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

News from Congressman Brian Mast

 

I am working closely with federal, state and local officials to monitor coronavirus and provide relief to everyone in our community who needs it. Over the last several weeks, my office has received thousands of questions covering a wide range of topics. Here are some of the most common Frequently Asked Questions to date:

I am a Social Security Recipient. Where is my Economic Impact Payment?

Social Security Beneficiaries Who Filed Taxes: If you receive social security benefits, but also filed a tax return in either 2018 or 2019, then the IRS will use your tax return information to distribute your economic impact payment. If you provided bank account information for direct deposit on your most recent tax return, then your payment will be arriving soon if it has not been delivered already. However, if you did not provide direct deposit information to the IRS (even if the Social Security Administration already has the information), then the IRS will mail a paper check to your home address on file automatically. This distribution process has already begun, but the IRS has said this process could take weeks to complete. You can check the status of your payment here.

Social Security Beneficiaries Who Did Not File Taxes: If you receive Social Security benefits and did not file taxes in 2018 or 2019, then there is no action needed on your part for you to receive your economic impact payment. The IRS will distribute your payment automatically via the method you receive your Social Security benefits (direct deposit, Direct Express debit card or by paper check). Distribution to this category has already begun.

You can learn more about the status of your Economic Impact Payment on the IRS’s website.

I have a federally-insured mortgage. Is there any assistance available for me?

As part of the CARES Act, Congress directed mortgage providers to offer relief to those with Federal Housing Administration loans whose finances have been impacted by COVID-19. This included empowering mortgage holders with the option of a 6-month forbearance, which can also be extended for an additional 6 months, if needed.

At the end of the forbearance, you may also qualify for loss mitigation options that could protect you from having to pay your missed mortgage payments all at once, such as the FHA’s COVID-19 Standalone Partial Claim. You can learn more about your options at HUD’s website.

If my unemployment application is approved, will my benefits be retroactive to the time I was laid off?

Yes. If you attempted to apply and were not able to file a claim between the weeks of March 9, 2020 to April 9, 2020, your claim date can be adjusted to the date you originally tried to apply. If you are eligible, you will be paid all benefits due. Click here to request retroactive benefits.

Where can I get a coronavirus test?

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please contact your primary health care provider. They will be able to direct you to testing. Click here to learn more about testing locations in the 18th Congressional District.

I’m a 1099 employee or self-employed. How do I apply for CARES Act Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)?

If you are a 1099 employee or self-employed and applied for unemployment assistance on or before April 4, the State of Florida is requiring you to re-apply at www.floridajobs.org. The system will tell you that you are ineligible for state benefits, which is accurate; however, you are eligible for federal CARES Act unemployment assistance, which the Department of Economic Opportunity will follow-up with you about once you apply. I disagree with the decision to require applicants to re-apply, and I have strenuously voiced this concern to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity; however, these are the rules that they have set and now must be followed to obtain benefits.

If you are a 1099 employee or self-employed and applied for unemployment assistance on or after April 5, then there is no action needed. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will follow-up with you once they process your claim. While I don’t control this state agency, if you are having any problems contacting the Department of Economic Opportunity, please do not hesitate to reach out to me for help at 202-225-3026 and I will do everything within my power to assist you.

If you are unemployed and have not yet filed an application for unemployment assistance, then you can apply at www.floridajobs.org and will be considered for all existing programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.

Finally, the following resources are also available to help explain the details of answers to the above questions:

• The IRS website


• Get My Payment Tool


• Direct Financial Relief Frequently Asked Questions


• Guidance To Receive Individual Assistance For Social Security Recipients


• Timeline of Payment Distribution


• Additional Information For Non-Filers


• The Florida DEO Website


• How To Apply For Unemployment Insurance


• Unemployment Insurance FAQs

As always, your 18th District Congressional Offices are open and ready to help. Please do not hesitate to contact the office at 202-225-3026 if you have any questions or need any assistance. You can also learn more and sign up for breaking coronavirus news alerts here:

SIGN UP HERE

To learn more about my work on your behalf, please visit my website.

For more photos and videos, please join me on social media:

      

It is an honor to represent you in Congress.

Sincerely,


Brian Mast

United States Congressman

City of Port St. Lucie implements COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Programs

In response to the substantial financial hardships of COVID-19, the City of Port St. Lucie will administer two Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Grant Programs through the Neighborhood Services Department. The first one begins on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 8 a.m., and an applicant can pre-qualify online at www.cityofpsl.com/communityservices.

Assistance is limited to a one-time payment equal to a maximum of 2 months’ rent or mortgage payments, not to exceed $3,000.00, and until grant funds are exhausted.

The Port St. Lucie City Council unanimously approved both programs at its May 11 meeting. To listen to the full discussions and in-depth details about both programs, a video of the meeting is available at https://psl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.

All grant applicants must be pre-qualified to be considered for temporary rental and mortgage assistance. Proof of hardship is required. Funding will be available on a “first-ready” basis for April’s and beyond rental/mortgage payment. Priority will be given to households with a total loss of income and not receiving any other forms of funding or grants. An application will be reviewed based on household size and income. To assure you meet the requirements for the program, visit www.cityofpsl.com/housinggrant. Once pre-qualified, the applicant will be sent instructions for completing the next steps in the application process. When approved, grantees will be notified, and payments will be processed within 10 days after receiving payment documentation. This program is funded by a special revenue fund that is designated for affordable housing programs and projects, funded by developer contributions not property taxes.

The second Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Grant Program is in the planning phases for requirements and application. Funding from the federally- funded Community Development Block Grant Program will be used to implement this program. More information about the second program will be released at a later date when those details are finalized.

The City’s Emergency Rental and Mortgage Assistance Program was created to assist income-eligible City of Port St. Lucie households (primary residence within City limits) with a temporary rental or mortgage relief to avoid displacement due to a partial or total loss of income as a direct result of COVID- 19. For specific grant concerns or questions, call 772- 871-1775 (1PSL) or e-mail the City of Port St. Lucie at COVIDgrant@cityofpsl.com.

Utility assistance will not be provided with this program. For information on utility assistance, call 211 or visit the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Beaches See Huge Increase in Leatherback Sea Turtle Nests After Travel Restrictions in Florida and Thailand

From fish returning to the Venice canals to deer in the streets of London, many of the shelter-in-place orders and lockdowns resulting from the coronavirus spread have allowed for nature to come back in some of the least-likely places.

Thailand is the latest nation to make headlines from the phenomenon, after the Thai government placed a ban on international flights and a strong encouragement to stay at home.

Though the coronavirus has shut down Thailand’s tourism economy, a season of peace and salvation for rare leatherback sea turtles has emerged. Endangered in this area of Southeast Asia, they are nesting here for the first time in five years.

The largest of all living turtles, the leatherbacks have made 11 nests on Thai beaches this spring—more than at any time during the last two decades.

“This is a very good sign for us because turtles have a high risk of getting killed by fishing gear and humans disturbing the beach,” the director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre told The Guardian.

Similar Good News in the Sunshine State

 

In Florida, too, the number of leatherback sea turtle nests have skyrocketed compared to last year.

Juno Beach is the most densely nested sea turtle beach in the entire world, with an estimated 21,000 nests last year from various species.

Only 2 weeks into the summer nesting season of 2020, staff at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center have found and marked 76 nesting sites for the leatherback—a “significant increase” over last year’s count along the 9 and ½ mile beach.

With no dogs or people walking over nests and exposing eggs, there’s a good chance the eggs will survive the 60 days until hatch day.

“Our leatherbacks are coming in strong this year. We’re excited to see our turtles thrive in this environment,” Sarah Hirsch told West Palm Beach’s WPEC-TV news.

“Our world has changed, but these turtles have been doing this for millions of years and it’s just reassuring and gives us hope that the world is still going on.”

By the end of the nesting season, if the increased numbers continue, it could provide a valuable boost for the vulnerable species.