ELECTION NIGHT CELEBRATION!!!

Join us February 10 beginning at 7 p.m. for the Election Night Party at Dean's campaign headquarters. We'll be celebrating the efforts of all the volunteers, workers and contributors to the Dean Trantalis for Fort Lauderdale Mayor Campaign, and we'll be carrying the energy of this historic election through the night!

The festivities run three hours, beginning at 7 p.m. and continuing until 10 p.m. Watch election returns, share your memories of the campaign and mingle with all of Dean's supporters on this historic election night.

Join us at 2597 North Federal Highway, at the corner of NE 26th Street and Federal Highway. You may also call the campaign headquarters for directions at 954.561.4447. One of our volunteer staff will be happy to provide directions.

SEE YOU AT THE CELEBRATION!!!

PHOTO GALLERIES FROM THE CAMPAIGN

RESTORING JOBS IN FORT LAUDERDALE

First and foremost, Dean has long stated that Fort Lauderdale must bring new types of business to the city, diversify the economy and promote long-term, sustained job growth that will result in a stable economy.

Dean has continued to emphasize that the changing world will pass us by if we don't seek new economic investments that are tied to the future. As we continue to support real estate, tourism and the marine industry, the old rules invite overdevelopment and threaten our quality of life. Our future beckons for change.

But some of the changes that have happened in the past several years have actually jeopardized the future, not the least of which has been to abandon our children, sacrifice summer jobs programs and cut back on investment in our most valuable resource, families and their children.

In Dean's paper on youth job programs, he explains why it is so important to revive these programs, which not only help our young adults gain valuable job skills, they provide our businesses with a qualified, skilled and experienced workforce that attracts additional business opportunities.

In an excerpt on Restoring the Summer Youth Employment Program, Dean writes, in part, "There are an estimated 3.8 million youth disconnected from school and work. In July 2008, youth unemployment (16-19) reached a sixteen-year high of 20.3 percent. Data released by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the summer of 2008 (June-August) was one of the worst ever for youth trying to secure a summer job, with only 32.7 percent of teenagers (16-19) finding summer employment.

"Our nation is facing a visible economic crisis and a silent one—millions of youth are not finding the opportunities they need to develop the academic and job skills they must have in order to succeed in today’s global economy. Investing in employment and training services for youth will provide both immediate economic stimulus and enduring benefits."

Critical Observations About Why Youth Unemployment Matters, and Why Summer Employment is Important to Fort Lauderdale

• Reduced work experience is a loss in human capital that reduces future employability and wages of youth

• Reduced work today reduces teen earnings and their ability to finance their own consumption, help reduce family poverty deficits and finance their college educations

• Reduced in-school work has negative consequences on high school graduation of disadvantaged youth

• Increased employment among teen girls reduces rates of teen pregnancy