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Tallahassee Reports August 28, 2021
The Reports
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High School Sports Ticket Prices to Increase at Least 50% for Students & Adults
It’s Official: Amazon is Coming to Tallahassee -
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Vol. 9 No. 8
Amazon announced plans to build a fulfillment center in Tallahassee which will create more than 1,000 jobs. Page 1 Local officials comment on the Amazon decision to expand in Tallahassee. Page 1 Leon County Schools has contracted with an out-of-state ticket vendor which will result in higher prices to attend high school sporting events. Page 1 Superintendent Hanna changes directions again and requires masks in schools for grades K-8. Page 5 The Tallahassee Police Department hired 17 police officers in August after hiring 13 officers in June. Page 5 The Weekly Crime Tracker shows property crimes are trending down, but violent crimes are trending up. Page 4 United Airlines will end service at the Tallahassee International Airport. Page 8 Prime Meridian Bank announces a new Chief Banking Officer and Business Development Officer. Page 3
Jackie Pons Takes Principal Job in Jefferson County By Lynsey Kirk
Jefferson County Superintendent, Eydie Tricquet, in conjuncture with Somerset Academy, Inc., and the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), has hired Jackie Pons
By Steve Stewart
opportunity for the entire community,” said Leon Earlier this month, County Commission Amazon.com, Inc. Chairman Rick Minor. announced plans to “Amazon’s investment in locate a new robotics Florida’s Capital County fulfillment center in will be transformative.” Leon County, Florida, The Blueprint creating more than Intergovernmental 1,000 full-time jobs, Agency (IA) met on May paying a starting wage 27th to consider the of at least $15 an hour Amazon project, labeled with industry-leading “Project Mango” at the benefits starting on day time. The IA voted 11-1 one including healthcare, to move forward with 401(k) retirement savings offering a $2.6 million and career skills training incentive package. programs. City Commissioner “Amazon’s project is Jack Porter was the only a once-in-a-generation elected official who voted economic development against moving forward
with the project. According to an economic impact analysis conducted by the FSU Center for Economic Forecasting and Analysis, this project could create a total of 3,600 new jobs, $167.6 million in wages, and generate approximately $451 million in local economic impact for TallahasseeLeon County. “As they do with every business, I am proud of our many County teams who worked with Amazon to take this from an opportunity to a game-
By Steve Stewart Leon County Schools have decided to raise ticket prices for high school sporting events using an out-of-state ticket vendor. In some cases, the costs will triple for students and increase 50% for adults. The new process requires Leon County high schools to use the GoFan app to provide tickets for all football games. It was recently reported that the price to attend a football game would increase from $6 to $8 for the 2021 season. However, what was not reported is that there is a $1 processing fee charged by GoFan for all ticket prices under $10. With this processing fee, the cost to the customer to attend a high school game will be $9.00, TICKETS, Page 5
AMAZON, Page 5
TPD Unveils Mobile App to Promote Transparency
Disney to Require Vaccinations for Bahamas Cruises By Jim Turner The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Disney Cruise Line on Tuesday joined other lines that dock in Florida in planning to require COVID-19 vaccinations for most passengers ages 12 or older traveling to the Bahamas. The announcement came after Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis last week said cruise ships will only be allowed to enter ports, including those on private islands used by cruise lines, if all crew members and passengers eligible for vaccines have been fully vaccinated. Minnis’ order runs from Sept. 3 to Nov. 1. Exceptions will be made for adults with medical conditions that prohibit being vaccinated. The ships Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream sail from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. “Guests must provide proof of vaccination by uploading their vaccination card to the Safe Passage by Inspire website no later than 24 hours before their sailing,” Disney Cruise Line said on its website Tuesday. “Guests who choose not to provide proof of vaccination to meet the requirements of The Bahamas will not be permitted to board the ship.” Disney will require passengers under age 12 — who are not eligible to be vaccinated — to provide proof
of negative COVID-19 tests taken within a week of the sail dates and to take second tests prior to boarding. The company will allow passengers who have purchased tickets for cruises to the Bahamas during the period covered by Minnis’ order to change or cancel plans without “Disney-imposed cancellation fees.” Carnival Cruise Line made a similar decision on Sunday. Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise lines also announced such moves shortly after the order from the Bahamas. “Effective Aug. 28 through October, for departures from all Atlantic and Gulf homeports, only children under 12 and adults with a medical condition that prohibits their vaccination are exempt from vaccination requirements to sail,” Carnival said Sunday. “Carnival is advising guests of this update, and any guests that have received an exemption applicable through October have been informed of this change and that exemptions beyond these two categories are rescinded.” Carnival, like other cruise lines, was following a federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline of having 95 percent of passengers vaccinated. The announcements came as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration continues to battle in court with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings over whether the company should be able
PONS, Page 4
Inc. Magazine has revealed their “Inc. 5000” list and has named Perfect Plants Nursery, of Monticello, Florida, number 150 on the list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Perfect Plants Nursery has had a threeyear revenue growth of 2,789 percent. The prestigious list was started in 1982 by Inc. Media and is released annually. According to Yahoo Finance, Inc. Media ana-
On August 24, 2021 the Tallahassee Police Department released the Tallahassee Bystander app which is designed to record interactions with police and increase community engagement. The new mobile application was approved for development by the City Commission in June 2020. Over the last few years, prompted by increased attention to law enforcement altercations, several apps and services have been released to allow citizens to record encounters with law enforcement. For example, the Mobile Justice app created for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), allows the user to record encounters and automatically emails it to the ACLU, where the file is saved to an external hard drive. Additionally, an app named PulledOver will record an encounter as well as notify an emergency contact the user’s location. Also, it sends the video to the Pulled Over community to “raise awareness.” Apple and Android have also integrated the feature in their phone settings that can be activated by its user. TPD’s app began development during the summer of 2020, amidst the nation-wide riots following the death of George Floyd. The city committed $50,000 and worked MOBILE Page 5
DISNEY Page 6
Local Business, Perfect Plants Nursery, Makes “Fastest Growing” List By Lynsey Kirk
By Lynsey Kirk
INSIDE
lyzes company data to identify which privately held businesses, in the United States, are the fastest growing. The 2021 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019.
LOCAL
Local businessman, J.T. Burnette, found guilty on five charges. P4 PLANTS, Page 8
BUSINESS
The Leon County unemployment rate falls in July. P8
