Dear Fellow Floridian:
In this challenging economic climate, it is important for Florida's
entrepreneurs and businesses to have economic data for the state and the
nation at their fingertips. Following its initial debut in October, we
are excited to release the second issue of Florida's Bottom Line next
week. This publication tracks important changes in the economy, keeping
Floridians updated with the most recent and unbiased data. The January
issue features statistics on jobs and housing, as well as articles from
experts across the state on venture capital, entrepreneurship in
Florida, and the economic outlook for 2012.
We have also launched a
new Web site for Florida’s Bottom Line, which you can navigate to find data
that has been updated between quarterly releases of the publication. With a
click of the mouse, you can get the most up-to-date numbers on consumer
confidence, unemployment, foreclosures and more. We value your feedback and we
hope to hear from you on what we can feature in future issues. I hope
Florida's Bottom Line and the
new Web site help
you, your family, and your business navigate through the economy in the coming
year.
Jeff Atwater
Chief Financial Officer
State of Florida
State Fire Marshal Atwater Announces the Arrest of Arsonist in Pensacola
Clinic Fire
Florida Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jeff Atwater on
Thursday announced the arrest of Bobby Joe Rogers of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, after
a joint investigation involving the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Bureau of
Fire and Arson
Investigations
(BFAI) and other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The
investigation determined that Rogers set fire to a clinic, causing approximately
$300,000 in damage.
“We are thankful that no one was injured during this incident and for the
collaboration between all of the law enforcement agencies involved in this
case,” said CFO Atwater, who also serves as State Fire Marshal. “I would like to
also thank members of the Pensacola community for providing the critical
information needed to promptly resolve this case.”
To report arson, call 1-877-No-Arson (1-877-662-7766). A reward of up to
$5,000 may be paid for a tip that leads directly to an arrest and conviction.
Combating Identity Theft by Protecting Your Personal Information
Recent news reports have highlighted an increasing trend of identity theft in
Florida. In the first half of 2011, the Federal Trade Commission received more
than 20,000 complaints from Floridians claiming their identities were stolen.
As Florida’s Chief Financial Officer, I was shocked to learn that current law
allows for the release of social security numbers to certain groups whose
business is to connect Floridians with their unclaimed property. Without careful
and diligent protection, these social security numbers could end up in the wrong
hands.
That’s why I am pursuing legislation during the 2012 Session to eliminate a
loophole that provides unclaimed property locators access to personal,
confidential information that must be protected. Florida, the state with the
most identity theft complaints last year, is the only state in the nation that
still provides unclaimed property locators with social security numbers.
For more information about how to protect yourself from identity theft, visit
our Your Money Matter$ Web page at
www.MyFloridaCFO.com.