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Jessica Bryce
Orlando WeeklyRecent Stories from Jessica Bryce
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: The Smart Doorbell Ring system and Privacy rights
When you buy a smart doorbell, it’s usually in order to gain more control over your safety. But as more and more people buy these devices, they may not realize what types of control they’re giving away. The Ring system’s camera and intercom link with your phone to give you a visual if a car or person approaches your home, and the ability to speak to the presumed intruder. With the add-on app, you can share these videos with your neighbors — and the police, who partner with Ring to monitor the app through their own portal. What people may not realize when they agree to Ring’s terms of service is that they’ve signed away a significant chunk of their …
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: Central Florida’s hotels and restaurants are the chief reason Orlando consistently has the lowest median income of all major metros in the U.S.
We’re going to revisit a topic from last week’s commentary because it’s of vital importance. Last week, we told you how the president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Carol Dover, decried the words of attorney John Morgan, who compared Florida’s minimum wage to “slave wages.” While Morgan is no pauper, it’s important to note that Dover, whose response diverted attention with empty words about slavery and human trafficking, herself is paid more than $620,000 a year for her job. As has been widely reported year after year, Central Florida’s hotels and restaurants are the chief reason Orlando consistently has the lowest median income of all major metros in the U.S. Restaurants, at the behest of organizations like Dover’s …
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association offers ‘straw-man argument’ in response to John Morgan’s ‘slave wages’ comparison
Last Friday, Orlando attorney and political advocate John Morgan called the state’s minimum hourly pay rate “slave wages.” He was speaking to a group of business leaders about his Florida for a Fair Wage initiative, which aims to increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: STD rates rise in patients over the age of 60
It should come as no surprise to anyone that senior citizens are having sex. What might be a shock is that their activity is fueling record rates of STDs. As sexually transmitted diseases rise nationwide, Florida is seeing some of its highest-ever numbers of syphilis infections thanks, in part, to those who grew up in the era of free love and retired to a state free of snow. At a meeting of the College of American Pathologists in Orlando last week, the members noted that since 2014, diagnosis rates for herpes simplex, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and trichomoniasis have risen 23 percent in patients over the age of 60. More medicines that help senior citizens maintain a sexually active lifestyle are …
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: Investigation shows Florida rejected federal funds available to help tackle HIV crisis
An extensive investigation by the Guardian has uncovered damning information about Florida Senator Rick Scott. While governor, Scott blocked $70 million in federal funds available to fight Florida’s HIV crisis. By doing so, it’s likely he accelerated the state’s record rate of infections. Between 2015 and 2017, Scott’s administration directly blocked two grant applications worth approximately $16 million, and was forced to return $54 million in unspent grants. Health administrators were forbidden to discuss the funds with legislators, so they couldn’t get legislative permission to spend the money. In 2017, Florida saw the highest number of new HIV diagnoses in the country. Our new cases amount to 13 percent of the national total. Blocking federal funds has long been …
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: Two Pulse Survivors link up with the Freedom March Organization
Three years ago, Luis Javier Ruiz was trampled as he fled the Pulse nightclub, only to learn that 49 people had died in the mass shooting. Two years ago, he stopped identifying as gay. Ruiz and fellow local Pulse survivor Angel Colon have linked up with the Freedom March organization, which celebrates “freedom from homosexual/transgender lifestyles by the grace and power of Jesus Christ.” They’re marching in a downtown Orlando park this Saturday, where Ruiz and Colon plan to give testimony. Coincidentally, the march comes four days after local LGBTQ advocates asked Orange County to put a conversion therapy ban ordinance on their agenda. Those involved with Freedom March say they don’t condone conversion therapy, and Ruiz rejects the notion …
From the Pages of Orlando Weekly: Hepatitis A cases in Florida continue to climb
The number of hepatitis A cases in Florida continues to climb. The latest Florida Department of Health report shows the state has had 2,266 reported cases of the viral disease so far this year. In all of 2018, Florida had 548 cases. This explosion of new cases is more than simply notable; it is, as state Surgeon General Scott Rivkees declared on August 1st, a public emergency.
