The Melo Minute – Representative Lauren Melo
The Melo Minute
May 28th, 2021 – Memorial Day Edition
Lake Okeechobee Trip
Water is the lifeblood of South Florida and Lake Okeechobee is at its heart pumping freshwater out to our local communities and keeping our agriculture, our citizens, and our environment strong and vibrant. It is important that we as a state continue to fund projects north of the Lake in order to ensure access to clean, drinkable water for current and future Floridians.
This week I had a great time visiting Lake O with Congressmen Byron Donalds, Mario Diaz-Balart, Greg Steube, Congresswomen Maria Salazar and Kat Cammack, State Representative Toby Overdorf, Hendry County Commissioner Ramon Iglesias, and other stakeholders.
Thank you to Mike Elfenbein, Williamson Cattle Company, and all our guides for giving us the grand tour of Florida’s crown jewel and for reminding us how vital Lake Okeechobee is to sustaining a healthy ecosystem in South Florida.
We owe it to ourselves and to our future generations to preserve and protect Florida’s beautiful and unique environment. I look forward to working with our local, state, and federal leaders to develop solutions that will help us make Lake O great again!
Hurricane & Tax Information
· The Florida Legislature has green-lit three tax-free holidays so that citizens can stock up on plenty of supplies in preparation for hurricane season (June 1st — November 30th).
· The first tax-free holiday is the Disaster Preparedness Tax-Free Holiday. It is on May 28th and ends on June 6th.
· Some of the supplies that will be tax-free include portable light sources, portable radios, tarps, certain battery packs, coolers, portable generators (under $1K), and more!
The Song of the Week!
If you have a suggestion for the next Song of the Week, let us know!
This week’s song is The Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water” as our ode to Lake O. This song perfectly captures the joyful and harmonious feeling of being out on the water.
Whether it’s Lake Okeechobee or the Caloosahatchee, this Doobie Brothers hit will surely have you whistling on the waves.
Fun Fact: “Black Water” wasn’t seen as having the potential to be a hit and was delegated to the B-side of “Another Park, Another Sunday” when it released in 1974.
Click the Image Above to Learn More About the Tax Holiday
Q&A’s
I have a great team here in HD80. We are always ready to help out!
If you have a question you would like for my team and I to address within The Melo Minute feel free to send an email to:
HDIST080@myfloridahouse.gov
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Representative Lauren Melo
Florida House District 80
