On this first official day back to work for most Floridians in 2012, a little heads-up. Your state Legislature will begin its regular session in exactly a week, two months earlier than its traditional March-to-May spring schedule. The reason for the earlier start is the once-in-a-decade redistricting of state and congressional seats. Ending the session in early March allows for more time for the various legal reviews required prior to the primary election for state Legislative seats taking place in mid-August.
A year ago, the group Awake the State held rallies throughout the state on the opening day of session, showing a resistance to then-incoming Governor Rick Scott's proposed agenda. Over 1,000 people participated in that rally in Tampa (organizers say it was closer to 2,000), and those same organizers are reprising that protest for next Tuesday, January 10, at Lykes Gaslight Park downtown, from 5-7 p.m.
There are 19 such events currently scheduled across the state, including an earlier event that same day in Williams Park in St. Pete at 3 p.m.
This article appears in Dec 22-28, 2011.