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Protecting Our Rights
This letter to the editor was published on March 9, 2011 in the St. Petersburg Times.
March 9, 2011
Protecting our rights
I am alarmed about Gov. Rick Scott's proposed 56 percent cut to the staff of the state's civil rights agency, particularly at a time when rebuilding Florida's economy is a collective goal. Not only does the Florida Commission on Human Relations protect the rights of all people in Florida, as mandated by our state Constitution, it also saves businesses untold amounts of money in avoided litigation costs due to its mediation services.
Our state cannot afford this deep cut that would essentially gut the only independent civil rights entity in our state. The people and businesses of Florida deserve better than that.
Gilbert M. Singer, vice chair, Florida Commission on Human Relations, Tampa
