Sink’s office sounds off on paper
by Dara Kam | November 23rd, 2009Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, responsible for the state’s checkbook, is promoting her penny-pinching prowess by going paperless.
Sink, a Democrat who is running for governor, says she’s saved taxpayers at least $1 million this year with her “Going green, Saving green” campaign to reduce the amount of paper generated by her offices.
Just one portion of the tree-saving program saved 3.7 million sheets of paper by doing away with hard copies of financial data available on a secure web site.
That $22,000 savings is about 1,217 feet of paper – the equivalent of three-and-a-half Capitol buildings (345 feet high).
Sink announced the money-saving initiative at a press conference this morning and to demonstrate how deep their green is her office did not distribute press releases on paper but sent them only by e-mail.
The Florida Senate has started doing away with paper packets for some committee meetings, requiring lawmakers and their staff to bring their laptops to review the documents.
And the Senate just completed installing wireless internet access, joining the House in providing free WI-FI for the public.
Tags: Alex Sink, Florida House, Florida Senate
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Sink is going to use paper alright…the paper dollars in your pocket.
SINK=TAXING
SINK, SINK!
this is a pr stunt to garner press and name recognition.
Gaming the public.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
For those wh ohave never worked with or for the State don’t understand just how much paper they used to generate to contractors and suppliers. The FDOT has tried for years to go “paperless” and slowly but surely it is happening. I applaude Ms. Sink for her initiatives.
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:58 pm
….Anxious to avoid raising taxes too much to pay for their health care proposals, the Obama Administration and its Congressional allies hit on a great new idea: Make the states raise their taxes to fund the program instead…
if elected you KNOW Sink will raise taxes on ALL taxpayers.
No to democrats.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
This logic only works if everyone that accesses these reports reads them on screen, which rarely (if ever) happens. If most people that look at the information prints it, the state may be saving money, but taxpayers that are doing the printing are not. If anything, it likely costs much more to print our reports individually on laser printers or whatever each individual is printing to, rather than bulk printing.
Saying you are saving money by making information available electronically is far too simple of an approach. If she wanted to make a real difference, she would focus on the whether or not this information is critical enough to be produced at all. For example, if the reports are not getting reviewed on paper or hard copy, then you could really save money by eliminating them altogether instead of continuing to produce them.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Rick S, sadly, if very out of touch. If Alex Sink doesn’t make this paperless Internet computer change, (1.) Florida’s Autism crisis is likely to rise as we learn environmental toxins rise (coal-fired plants and paper mills); (2.) because of potential failed toxics regulation will increase Autism rates, taxes will have to rise if we continue with the paper debacle; and (3.) if anyone wants to see a real HOLE in Florida’s budget that cant be balanced, let Florida continue violating the government prohibitions of Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act !!! THAT could make Rothstein’s $1 billion Madoff scheme look like a lark in the park when taxpayers have to do a future public bailout.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:19 pm
corr: “Rick S, sadly, is very out of touch.”
I want to take the opportunity to point out that not only people with Autism, but the blind and vision impaired benefit from paperless Internet computer access the rest of the Rick S types have denied disabled Americans for 200 years.
It is time Florida comes into the 21st Century. Rick S must understand those who wrote on mud tablets also had to give up their refusal to change and modernize, just like paper users must do now — no different really than passing smoking bans in most states to protect people from second hand smoke harm.
It is long past due — the lazy minds like Rick S must get with the times and move out of the 18th Century.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
EquiisSavant,
You obviously didn’t read my comment very carefully, which states that saving real money involves eliminating unnecessary reports as opposed to simply putting them online. There is nothing in this article about autism, blindness, or any other disability. The point of the article is saving money and I dispute that Sink’s “paperless” project does much, if anything, to save money. If you want to save money, eliminate the production of information that is not used and stop claiming you are saving money by redistributing the printing.
Why don’t you explain how having reports online and having multiple people print them remotely instead of centrally (or even better elininating them if they are not needed) does anything to address your issues about toxins and autism? You sound like a lunatic.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Rick S, you are Waaaayyyy out of touch with modern times. No one “with-it” among the 1 in 100 (CDC) new rate of Autism or more than $50 million disabled Americans uses fossil technology like pringing paper out anymore.
You *dont get it* — PAPERLESS means no one prints out anything. It is all electronic. You can store it on a DVD. Maybe you need to take a computer course — or better yet, visit a Center for Accessible Technology.
That you for pointing out the WHITE ELEPHANT in the room — the massive Title II ADA paperless electornic legal liability Florida is facing is just ONE class action law firm wants the attorney fees the ADA offers to go after the state of Florida over this paperless Internet computer issue.
Alex Sink signed on to follow my Twitters. I am a big Autism advocate — SHE is the one who is not telling all !!! Abotu the WHITE ELEPHANT disabled and Autism Americans HOLE in Florida’s budget if she DOESN’T go paperless Internet.
As Temple Grndin said, ‘If it werent for all us autistic people, the rest of humans would still be sitting around chatting in caves.’
I think you never emerged from yours.
Peace.
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 pm
corr:
“Rick S, you are Waaaayyyy out of touch with modern times. No one “with-it” among the 1 in 100 (CDC) new rate of Autism or more than 50 million disabled Americans uses fossil technology like pringing paper out anymore.”
Thank you for pointing out the WHITE ELEPHANT in the room — the massive Title II ADA paperless electronic legal liability Florida is facing is just ONE class action law firm wants the attorney fees the ADA offers to go after the state of Florida over this paperless Internet computer issue.
Alex Sink signed on to follow my Twitters. I am a big Autism advocate — SHE is the one who is not telling all !!! About the WHITE ELEPHANT disabled and Autism Americans HOLE in Florida’s budget if she DOESN’T go paperless Internet.
As Temple Grandin said, ‘If it weren’t for all us autistic people, the rest of humans would still be sitting around chatting in caves.’
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 pm
You are the one that is WAY out of touch if you think people don’t print things just because they are available electronically. Why do you think Microsoft updated Internet Explorer to automatically size pages when printing? Ever been in an office? What do you think all those laser printers and network copiers do ALL DAY LONG? They print – over and over again.
You can stop your rants. They make no sense and I am already bored with you.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Thanks to Rick S for a lighbulb going off in his mediocre brian to learn that I am only appx. 1 in 100 genius autistic savants in the World — diagnosed. Such a foul mind and spirit, to boot. Sad. I imagine he will go nutty like the Ft. Hood madman when his neurotype of 1800s Industrial era printing pressers get outvoted like up in NJ (Gov. Corzine) by the massive Autism advocacy lobby. Rick S, before you become a common schoolyard bully and trash people with Autism, do you bother to see if they have any type of political following ? I appreciate the posts you have contributed which I shall bring to the attention of my other Autism adsvocates as to why they need to get involved in eliminating the type of Autism discrimination and abuse you espouse. If that “bores” you, go susk a lemon — it might sweeten your outlook a bit.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:44 am
Thanks to Rick S for a lighbulb going off in his mediocre brain to learn that I am only appx. 1 in 100 genius autistic savants in the World — diagnosed. Such a foul mind and spirit, to boot. Sad. I imagine he will go nutty like the Ft. Hood madman when his neurotype of 1800s Industrial era printing pressers get outvoted like up in NJ (Gov. Corzine) by the massive Autism advocacy lobby. Rick S, before you become a common schoolyard bully and trash people with Autism, do you bother to see if they have any type of political following ? I appreciate the posts you have contributed which I shall bring to the attention of my other Autism advocates as to why they need to get involved in eliminating the type of Autism discrimination and abuse you espouse. If that “bores” you, go susk a lemon — it might sweeten your outlook a bit.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:46 am
“rant” <– Autism hate slur version of the “N—–” word. Get a life, Rick S and why dont you go take yourself an Autism awareness class — you are in desperate need. We don’t use printed paper — and we work, too.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Oh, I see. You think that your disabiility (a) should be recognized because of your screen name / posts and (b) gives you license to insult others at will with no response. Now I feel pity for you. Not because of your disability, but for the bitter attitude about it with which you have been cursed.
You should really avoid picking fights with people online or elsewhere. Google the term “paperless office myth” to understand the point of my original post, which has nothing to do with autism or any other disability. YOU are the one arguing about autism, no one else.
November 24th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Rick S, you are a bore. You have nothing insightful or even of a remarkable literary style to say. Really, your verbosity is more like a a form of whining because you can’t have the toys you want in the sandbox of the World of human life.
Autistic people live around you, among you, and might even live with you, for all you know. The autism numbers have rise to 1 in 100 (CDC), and are on an upward rise. Soon we autistics will be the majority voting block in this Country — just look at the Autism Epidemic in California ! The handwriting is on the wall. Some people like yourself, in fact, have even woken up to discover their spouse of many years is an Aspie ! It is written in the literature !!
Please know, however, until the autistic spectrumites take their rightful majority place, the purpose of the Nation’s mandatory disability and genetic anti-discrimination laws is to prevent tyranny of the majority (neurotypicals such as yourself) from visiting injury on the civil and Constitutional rights of the minority (autism spectrumites — we have extermely valuable 40% more efficient brains !!!). We have a Dream and we will not give up our right to equality, our Freedom of Choice, and Cognitive Liberty to the likes of your mindless neurotype. Not until you can boost your own brain power to match ours !
If your neurotypical working memory *gist* filter perceives the social interaction ToM deficits of autism to be a so-called neurotypical “insult,” might I suggest you learn how to speak the same autistic Language “in Pictures” as the rest of the autistic spectrum ? It is no different than taking personal responsibility to avail yourself of a Spanish language helper when you speak only English and no Spanish — it is what makes communication possible ! (Also written in the literature !) Your interpretation and translation endeavors may go a bit better … so you can communicate ! This is especially important, since autistic spectrumites do not understand neurotypical gestures or facial expressions or feeling-emotion-social encoded words.
Also, you might realize, if you took the time to speak the language spoken by the autistic culture as inherited from our National origin, autistics are not “picking fights,” don’t want or need your “pity,” and are not emotionally “bitter” — we have 40% more efficient brains !!! If anything, you might better spend your time on the subject of some self-reflection on your own part; perhaps you might find a mirror would be more helpful for your self-examination ?
I don’t need to Google any terminology to support your notion that neurotypicals World views can be forcibly thrust upon an entire unwilling autistic spectrumite population, and one of a sizable nature I might observe.
I know firsthand, personally what the PHYSICAL autistic savant attributes of my Language “in Pictures” brain neurotype requires to communicate — and I WON’T settle for your neurotype confining my savantism to nonverbal waiving arm behaviors to communicate ! How insulting ! Not when I know the federal anti-discrimination laws give me the right to far more dignity and independence than your Industrial age-1800s printing press era sweatshop mindset concepts of speech.
In closing, don’t you think you might benefit a Great deal from taking a Civics 101 course at the local J.C. ?
November 24th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Wow politicians talking about making actual cuts, that is scary. Let’s not stop there – there is so much waste in Tallahassee and the 100 or so county offices throughout the state the next govenor could spend the entire period of service doing nothing but cutting waste and would just scratch the surface.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I think you both need some Ritalin!!!
November 24th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Actually, my prediction is the political horse manure pile is emanating from the SOUR, with tentacles reaching into Tallahassee — not the other way around.
Mr. Ritalan prescriber — before myself or any of my family members expecting to inherit from my autistic savant Davinci level art abilities would even begin to consider your suggesstion, we would all ask you to post a bond to cover it all – and not one of those funny money worthless unregulated securities ones Alex Sink and The Florida Bar jointly let Rothstein peddle like those flim flam nasty credit swaps that melted down Wall Street and the entire Nation’s mortgage markets.
I say the citizens of Florida are entitled to an accounting of all of it by Alex Sink — it is her job duty !!!
November 24th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
The fact remains, her mindset is still the same as any incumbent, tax and spend. Her, crist and nelson were the “board” who lost us millions.
SHEEPLE stop supporting and voting for someone simply based on what letter they have after their name!!!!