TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida senator has pulled the bill he filed last week to rename Tamiami Trail to Gulf of America Trail.
State Sen. Joe Gruters, (R-Sarasota) filed a bill on Feb. 26 to rename the portion of U.S. 41 between S.R. 60 and U.S. 1 in Miami-Dade, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, and Hillsborough Counties to "Gulf of America Trail."
On March 4, Gruters pulled the renaming portion of the bill saying, “After receiving community feedback, I removed the GOAT road rename portion of the bill to avoid an unnecessary distraction of my own making. I have important and challenging work ahead on bills that will allow me to fight for our community, and I want everyone united behind me on those efforts.”
The bill would still require state agencies to update geographic materials to reflect the Gulf of America.
Brides, families fighting for refunds after event venue closes suddenly
“We’ve struggled so hard to scrape the money to be able to do this for her,” Irizarry said. “She’s my only girl and I wanted this so much for her.”
Couples and families who had weddings and events planned at a well-known venue that abruptly closed claim they’re out thousands of dollars and aren’t being given refunds. Annette Irizarry was supposed to hold her 15-year-old daughter’s quinceañera in August at the Clearwater location and said she’s now out the $6,160 she paid. Without that money, Irizarry said she can’t afford to have her daughter’s celebration somewhere else.