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Housing

Property values or neighborhood values?

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on March 23, 2023.  My neighbors recently defeated a proposal to increase the number of residents in a house that functions as an assisted living facility. They cited changes in density and property values. In a county where workers and families and the

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Housing

Developing affordable housing in Charlotte County

By CARRIE WALSH, Charlotte County Human Services Director, The Daily Sun, March 11, 2023. The Department of Housing and Urban Development defines affordable housing as a dwelling a family or household can obtain-whether through rent, purchase or other means-that costs 30% or less of the household’s income. Since household incomes vary widely, what is affordable

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Environment

We have to build back smarter and better

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Jan 2, 2023. OUR POSITION: Florida needs to take a hard look at what can be done to minimize destruction from the next Hurricane Ian. Floridians have much to consider after witnessing the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian. There will be debate about climate change, building

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Housing

‘Deplorable situations’: thousands of homes damaged countywide after Ian

By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, The Daily Sun, Dec 18, 2022. MURDOCK — Homeowners denied federal assistance should reapply or appeal, Charlotte County Emergency Manager Patrick Fuller said. This week, Fuller told Charlotte County commissioners 54,559 residents have requested assistance so far through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents are still encouraged to apply. He said the

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Housing

Charlotte County: Ian made affordable housing situation worse

By NANCY J. SEMON, STAFF WRITER, The Daily Sun, Dec 11, 2022. PORT CHARLOTTE — Hurricane Ian made the lack of affordable and subsidized housing worse, members of the Charlotte County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC) believe. The good news is Charlotte County’s strategic plan for 2021-22 is to add 200 new affordable housing units

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Housing

Homeless count expected to explode

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on November 12, 2022. OUR POSITION: We’re yet to get a grip on how bad our homeless situation is now that Hurricane Ian has made a bad situation worse. Even before Hurricane Ian, we had a homeless problem. No one would deny that. And, even before Hurricane Ian,

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Housing

More FEMA housing options in DeSoto, Sarasota and Charlotte counties

Editor: The FEDERAL government, led by Democrats, continues to aid FL recovery. Democrats help ALL struggling Floridians, regardless of party affiliation! Staff Report, The Daily Sun, Oct 26, 2022. (Updated Oct 29th) TALLAHASSEE – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is bringing more housing options to area counties devastated by Hurricane Ian. In response, FEMA is

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Housing

Housing challenges are about to get even worse

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Oct 23, 2022. OUR POSITION: It’s going to be a struggle to replace the housing lost to Hurricane Ian and keep it anywhere near affordable for those displaced by the storm and others wanting to move to Florida. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has allocated

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Economy

Charlie Crist demands Ron DeSantis get to work on Citizens Insurance fix

By A.G. Gancarski, Florida Politics, September 5, 2022. “Before Floridians start losing their homes.” The increasingly fraught issue of homeowners insurance is a hot topic in the Governor’s race. Democratic gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist contends Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as “unfit to lead” the state’s increasingly wobbly property insurance market, challenging the Governor to reverse price hikes rolled out

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Housing

Housing a great challenge for American workers

The following editorial appeared in The Daily Sun on Labor Day, Sept 5, 2022. OUR POSITION: Labor Day is a time to celebrate the people whose backs this nation was built on, but sometimes we forget their value and neglect to give them the help they need to chase the American dream. Labor Day is

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Housing

Housing challenge continues in region

By Steve Reilly & Barb Richardson, Staff Writers, The Daily Sun,  July 29 & 30, 2022. MURDOCK — Charlotte County hasn’t been spared the housing crunch that most of Florida is facing. Whether rental or home purchasing, local housing costs are pricing out nurses and other medical care workers, carpenters and other trades and other

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Housing

Charlotte County moves to double new home impact fees

By Daniel Sutphin, Staff Writer, The Daily Sun, June 29, 2022. PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlotte County commissioners are moving forward with a decision that could potentially double impact fees for local residents. Public hearings will be held before anything becomes official, but a full increase to each of the six fee categories will double the

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Economy

Florida losing edge as affordable place to live

The following editorial was published in the Daily Sun on June 14, 2022. OUR POSITION: For years high taxes and housings costs have sparked an exodus from the East and Midwest to Florida but the Sunshine State’s escalating home prices and rents are giving pause to relocation considerations. Inflation’s storm surge continues to deluge consumers with

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Housing

Miami project may be a model for affordable housing

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on May 4, 2022. OUR POSITION: The need for workforce housing has never been greater and Miami might have a blueprint for other cities/counties to copy. We’ve been on the workforce housing bandwagon for years. And, despite all the talk, not much is happening. The Punta

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Events

Rally in the rain for housing and abortion rights

Editor’s comment: Charlotte County Democrats and allied organizations were not protesting the lack of action on affordable housing on the local level, but rather at the state level.  By Frank DiFiore, The Daily Sun Staff Writer, May 3, 2022. Supportive honks from passing cars were heard at the rally as chants of “Roe Can’t Go”

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Housing

Solutions scarce for out-of-sight housing costs

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on May 3, 2022. OUR POSITION: There’s no relief on the horizon for soaring housing costs. The lack of affordable housing options for many of our neighbors here in Florida and across the country is at a crisis level. Home prices jumped 32.6% in Tampa and

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Health Care

Human Services Director Carrie Walsh to speak at May DEC meeting

Connecting people with resources. This is the stated mission of the Charlotte County  Department of Human Services.  They provide information, referral, case management and access to financial assistance and support services for low-income, elderly, disabled, and veteran individuals and families in Charlotte County, Carrie Walsh is the Director of the Human Services Department. On May

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Call to Action

Attend this Charlotte County housing development meeting

Many DEC members are concerned about overdevelopment in our county.  Here’s the info: WHAT:     Housing Development Public Meeting WHEN:    April 26, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. WHERE:  Charlotte County Administration Center Commission Chambers, Room 119 1st Floor, Bldg. A 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte

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