Black Women’s Health Imperative, Her Health Challenge — Photo by Ivan S: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-doctor-typing-on-a-laptop-4989167/

by Mitti Hicks

January 2, 2026

Lawmakers Call On Trump To Save Healthcare Subsidies As Americans Face High Costs

Premium payments for healthcare are set to increase by an average of 114% for the tens of millions of people who use tax credits for health insurance on the Marketplace.

As 2026 begins, millions of Americans are facing a spike in healthcare premiums after Congress failed to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. Now, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working on a bipartisan plan that they say needs President Donald Trump’s blessing.

Vermont Democratic Sen. Peter Welch told NPR that he and other senators are working on bipartisan legislation that could be a possible healthcare compromise.

“We could extend the credits for a couple of years, we could reform it,” said Welch. “You could put an income cap, you could have a copay, you could have penalties on insurers who commit fraud. You actually could introduce some cost-saving reductions that have bipartisan support.”

But for any healthcare plan to work, Welch says Trump needs to step in.

“It would require that President Trump play a major role in this, because he has such influence over the Republican majority in the House and even in the Senate,” Welch added.

Americans Are Paying An Average of 114% More for Healthcare As Subsidies Expire

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, premium payments for healthcare are set to increase by an average of 114% for the tens of millions of people who use tax credits for health insurance on the Marketplace. The increase comes after the temporary tax credits for adults that Congress extended under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) expired on Dec. 31.

Increasing healthcare costs were the central issue for Democrats during the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. GOP lawmakers promised to work with Democrats on a plan to keep health insurance affordable for Americans, but no deal was reached before Congress went home for a holiday break.

As NPR points out, Trump has remained hands-off on the bitter subsidy fight. Now that the increase is indeed a reality for millions of Americans, Sen. Welch believes Trump will have no choice but to step in and help lawmakers come up with a solution.

“A farmer in Vermont, their premium is going to go from $900 a month to $3,200 a month,” Welch said. “So they’re going to really face sticker shock. There’s going to be a secondary impact, because the hospitals, particularly in rural areas, are going to lose revenue.”

The senator is expected to return to Washington, D.C. from recess on Jan. 5, and the House will return on Jan. 6.

Sinners, Ryan Coogler, AAFCA, awards — Photo Courtesy of Sinners

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 2, 2026

Hmm, Say More! Speculation Around Media Owner Jay Penske As The Potential Reason Why ‘Sinners’ Was Snubbed By Outlets

In a video posted on TikTok, Jenkins went down a rabbit hole on why Penske may be the reason why the story of the SmokeStack twins was dissed by publications such as Variety.

Ahead of the 2025 Oscar nomination reveal, entertainment and media influencer Jarrod Jenkins is pinpointing the reason why the blockbuster hit “Sinners” was snubbed by some of the major entertainment outlets — their owner, Jay Penske.

In a TikTok video, Jenkins went down a rabbit hole into why Penske may be the reason the story of the SmokeStack twins was dismissed by publications such as Variety. The 46-year-old billionaire owns roughly all of entertainment media, including Rolling Stone, Deadline, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard.

Shortly after Sinners’ April 2025 release, a Variety tweet went viral, seemingly aimed at diminishing the success of the horror film, directed by Hollywood favorite Ryan Coogler, after a $61 million box-office debut.

Jenkins pointed out that despite the movie’s continued success — being re-released twice in select theaters and showcased in Clarksdale, Mississippi — it was left off Rolling Stone’s Top Films of 2025 list.

The No. 1 movie on the list was “One Battle After Another” starring Teyana Taylor, but it has since been criticized for its portrayal of Black women.

@a.jarrodjenkins
If you think Variety is problematic, wait until you meet Jay Penske who owns it and almost all entertainment media #variety #rollingstone #jaypenske #deepdive #goldenglobes
♬ original sound – Jarrod Jenkins

Comments on the video touch on this being the reason recent award shows feel empty, as Penske has been accused of leading the selection process of award winners. Tech entrepreneur Isaac Hayes III reposted the video on Instagram, supporting the narrative and feeling that capitalism is another reason journalism is losing its way.

“When one billionaire controls the press, the charts, and the awards, journalism stops being journalism. It becomes narrative management,” Hayes wrote on IG.

“That is why many of these institutions no longer carry cultural weight. Awards feel hollow. Charts feel manufactured. Coverage feels selective. Not because culture stopped evolving, but because legacy media stopped serving the truth and started serving power.”

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A post shared by Isaac Hayes III (@isaachayes3)

There may be some truth to it, as America is witnessing a shake-up in the media, including at CBS News, CNN, and other networks. Major networks have been accused of being bought to limit free speech and to cater to a more conservative demographic, potentially pleasing the President of the United States. “Journalism cannot function without free speech, impartiality, and accountability. Legacy media has abandoned all three,” the Fanbase creator continues.

….”The collapse of credibility always precedes the rise of something new.”

It’s not only Sinners that Penske is alleged to hate. According to Santa Monica Daily Press, the media owner purchased a historic Black church, First Baptist Church of Venice, to build a massive home overlooking Oakwood Park. The purchase forced the congregation to relocate to Westchester.

World Health Organization, WHO, vaccines, birth defects, outcomes, pregnant, pregnancy, women — Photo by SDI Productions/Getty Images

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 2, 2026

Modern Day Eugenics? Billion-Dollar Suit Alleges Virginia Hospital Profited from Mass Forced Sterilizations Of Black Women

The hospital allegedly received roughly $18.5 million in reimbursements from healthcare benefit programs between 2010 and 2019 for surgeries that left dozens of Black women victimized.

The Chesapeake Regional Medical Center in Virginia is in hot water after more than 500 women — mostly Black — claim the hospital let a former gynecologist perform “unnecessary” reproductive procedures, including C-sections and hysterectomies without consent, the New York Times reports.

In a massive lawsuit seeking $10 million each, 510 women are suing the health system and senior executives for negligence, saying they were victimized by former OB-GYN Javaid Perwaiz, currently serving a 59-year prison sentence for Medicaid fraud correlating to the unnecessary operations.

Most of the procedures were covered by Medicaid, a government-assisted health plan for the less fortunate. With most of the women still being within childbearing years, Perwaiz allegedly removed the reproductive organs without their knowledge.

One of the victims is 42-year-old mother of seven, Dracena Holloway from Portsmouth. Holloway says she began seeing Perwaiz as a patient in 2002. He allegedly induced labor on her four times. The Medicaid fraud case revealed the former doctor, who lost his license to practice in 2020, falsified records as a way to induce early labor when it was convenient for him, particularly on Saturdays.

Then, when she went into labor with twins, Perwaiz performed a C-section and a tubal ligation that allegedly sterilized her without consent or knowledge. Over the years, the former patient said the doctor falsely told her she had fibroids and cancer, ultimately removing her uterus. She also had abdominal surgery after he falsely told her she had stomach cancer.

Holloway said Perwaiz made her “feel very comfortable” and remembers what he would say to her each time he announced surgery.

“When he told you that you had to have surgery, he said, ‘Here, Dr. P will take care of you,’” Holloway, who was left with a large scar across her stomach and chronic pain that limits her mobility, said.

“He was very convincing.”

Another victim said the OB-GYN told her family that she had cancer that never existed, and left her ovaries intact, but performed a hysterectomy.

“Come to find out. He never took my ovaries. He never took my ovaries. He did the hysterectomy, told my family that I had cancer,” one victim said, according to WTKR.

“I had none of it.”

The hospital allegedly received roughly $18.5 million in reimbursements from healthcare benefit programs between 2010 and 2019 for surgeries that left dozens of Black women victimized.

Over the years, research reveals Black women have gravely suffered from medical disparities that have resulted in other medical issues and even death, especially when it comes to maternal health. “Maternal health is one measure of a nation’s overall well-being. When left unaddressed, poor maternal health can create a ripple effect on families and reduce women’s productivity at home and work,” Associate Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Damali Campbell-Oparaji, said.

She urges women in a similar predicament to Perwaiz’s victims to ask questions, especially when something doesn’t sit right. “Write down your questions before your visit to ensure you don’t forget them. If your provider recommends something you don’t understand, ask for an explanation,” she continued.

“Also, if possible, bring a family member or friend to appointments to have as an extra set of ears.”

Zohran Mamdani, rental protections, tenant's rights — Photo credit: Bingjiefu He

by Kandiss Edwards

January 2, 2026

Mayor Zohran Mamdani Issues 1st Day Executive Order To Protect Tenants

Zohran Mamdani's first order of business is to protect the city's tenants.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a series of executive orders on Jan. 1 aimed at confronting the city’s longstanding housing crisis and strengthening protections for renters, city officials said.

The orders announced on Mamdani’s first full day in office reflect a sharp policy shift from the prior Mayor Eric Adams administration.

The new vision focuses on tenant rights and expanding affordable housing. Mamdani, New York City’s 112th mayor. Among the measures he signed were orders to revitalize the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and create new task forces to expedite housing development. The Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants will serve as a central coordinating body to defend renters’ rights, monitor unsafe or unlawful housing conditions, and ensure that agencies act promptly on behalf of tenants facing hazardous living situations.

“Today, on the first day of this new administration, on the day when so many rent payments are due, we will not wait to deliver action. We will stand up on behalf of the tenants of this city,” said Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “You cannot hold landlords who violate the law to account unless you have a proven principled and tireless fighter at the helm. That is why I am proud today to announce my friend Cea Weaver as the Director of the newly reinvigorated Mayor’s office to protect tenants.”

In addition to housing-related orders, Mamdani signed directives affecting City Hall operations, including revoking most executive orders issued by his predecessor, former Mayor Eric Adams, after Adams was indicted in 2024 on federal corruption charges that were later dropped.

The move signaled a fresh start in administration and enabled Mamdani to reset the policy agenda.

Cea Weaver, a nationally recognized tenant organizer who helped lead the passage of New York’s 2019 tenant protection laws, was appointed as the office’s director. Two new task forces were established: the Land Inventory Fast Track (LIFT) Task Force, which will review city-owned properties and identify sites for potential housing development, and the Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development (SPEED) Task Force.

The forces will work to dismantle bureaucratic and permitting barriers that slow housing construction and increase costs.

Oprah Winfrey, The Color Purple, cameo, employees — (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images) Oprah Winfrey January 29, 1954 Kosciusko, Mississippi Oprah made history as the first Black woman to own her own production company. revolutionizing the media industry with her talk show, philanthropy, and business ventures. https://www.womenofthehall.org/inductee/oprah-winfrey/

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 2, 2026

Oprah Winfrey Reveals 17 Shots Of Tequila In One Night Made Her Focus On Her Weight Loss Journey

Publicly struggling with her weight throughout her career, Winfrey has been a spokesperson for Weight Watchers but has journeyed with GLP-1 weight loss medication for the past two years.

It turns out billionaire and legendary television host Oprah Winfrey isn’t so different from everyone else after revealing in her new book her love for tequila made her quit alcohol for good and focus on her continuous weight loss journey, Fox News reports.

In the book “Enough: Your Health, Your Weight, and What It’s Like To Be Free,” available Jan. 13, Winfrey highlights one night in particular when she put down the bottle, realizing her health was more important. “I was a big fan of tequila. I literally had 17 shots one night… I haven’t had a drink in years,” the soon-to-be 72-year-old said.

“The fact that I no longer even have a desire for it is pretty amazing.”

Publicly struggling with her weight throughout her career, Winfrey has been a spokesperson for Weight Watchers but has journeyed with GLP-1 weight loss medication for the past two years. She admits “everything is just calmer and stronger” with GLP-1, which has helped her “manage the messages that are being sent to your brain about overeating.” Besides quitting tequila, she said she realized her weight was all about obesity, a word she admits she “avoided.”

But a special Winfrey hosted helped her to see the light because “overeating doesn’t cause obesity. Obesity causes overeating.” She described the epiphany as “the most mind-blowing, freeing thing I’ve experienced as an adult.” “If you have obesity in your gene pool, I want people to know it’s not your fault,” Winfrey said.

“I want people to stop blaming yourself for genes and an environment you can’t control. I want people to have the information, whatever you choose to do with it, whether you get the medications, or whether you want to keep dieting.”

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Throughout her career spanning close to 50 years, the world watched Winfrey shine on television, becoming a global superstar and building a media empire with OWN. However, in an exclusive with People, Winfrey tells how, behind closed doors, she was fighting with her weight.

She said that, while always confident, she was disappointed that her body was constantly fighting her. In the book, co-written with obesity expert Dr. Ania M. Jastreboff, Winfrey writes how failure “felt doubly shameful because I have access to so much: chefs and trainers and the healthiest of foods.”

“The Color Purple” star isn’t the only Black woman of high stature to openly admit that weight loss is a struggle. Tennis superstar Serena Williams recently opened up about using the GLP-1 drug and said people shouldn’t feel shame.

While others see it as a shortcut, that’s not the case. “I feel like, after having my kids, my body was missing something. I don’t know if it’s something that the GLP-1 has, but I just feel normal again,” she said.

Black women are often scrutinized about their weight, which forces them to lean on assistance plans. However, research shows that many of them miss the mark for sisters, as the demographic is often left out of lifestyle-based weight-loss research. Interventions that focus on a healthy diet and advanced physical activity have proven to help a majority of people, resulting in 5-10% weight reduction and reduced chronic disease risk.

But for Black women, the plans generally only result in two to 3% weight loss.

DEI, Marriott, CEo — Photo by Clément Proust: https://www.pexels.com/photo/marriott-hotel-exterior-with-flag-display-29532561/

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 2, 2026

Marriott CEO Says DEI Might Be Rebranded But The Values ‘Will Never Change’

Marriott International’s CEO remains fully committed to DEI, even if the company’s messaging must shift under the Trump administration.

Marriott International’s CEO is addressing the controversy surrounding the corporate rollback of DEI while reaffirming the company’s commitment to the values behind it, even as the language and messaging evolve.

Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, recently spoke at the Great Place to Work For All Summit in Las Vegas, where he candidly addressed how the global company is responding to President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Fortune reports. Capuano reflected on lessons from his mentor and former chairman, Bill Marriott, reaffirming the company’s ongoing commitment to DEI.

“The winds blow, but there are some fundamental truths for those 98 years,” Capuano said. “We welcome all to our hotels and we create opportunities for all—and fundamentally those will never change. The words might change, but that’s who we are as a company.”

After Trump kicked off his return to the White House in January by making sweeping changes to DEI, many companies scrambled to respond. Marriott leaders were among the few major corporations to publicly state their commitment to DEI.

Capuano met with Marriott’s leadership team to process the news before attending the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles, where he faced numerous questions about the company’s DEI plans. His message stayed true to the company’s DEI values, leaving him moved by the 40,000 employees who expressed their appreciation for the company’s continued support of the practice.

“Within 24 hours, I had 40,000 emails from Marriott associates around the world, saying ‘thank you,’” he said, noting the appreciation many expressed to work for a company whose values aligned with their own.

Marriott is known for having one of the happiest workforces in the world, ranking No. 8 on Fortune’s 2025 100 Best Companies to Work For list, with 90% of employees endorsing the company, well above the 57% average. The company is also among Fortune’s Best Companies actively supporting DEI policies, alongside peers like Delta and Cisco.

model, stabbing, nyc, ice cream truck, Detroit, — (Photo: 400tmax/Getty Images)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 2, 2026

Georgia Man Arrested, Charged With Allegedly Killing 10-Year-Old Boy In Hit-And-Run

David Blanchard is in custody and was charged with homicide by vehicle and hit-and-run after striking the boy and leaving the scene

After allegedly mowing down a 10-year-old boy and then not stopping in a hit-and-run, a Georgia man, David Blanchard, has been arrested and charged with the death of the boy on Dec. 28 in Clayton County.

According to Law & Crime, 52-year-old David Blanchard is in custody and was charged with homicide by vehicle and hit-and-run after he allegedly killed Khaleb Jackson.

Jackson was crossing the street with his 14-year-old brother and two cousins when the incident occurred. Blanchard allegedly “kept going” after he struck the young boy, leaving his relatives to try to save him.

Southern Regional Hospital was reportedly steps away from where Jackson was struck.

Jackson was rushed to the hospital, but medical personnel were unable to save him. This tragedy adds to the family’s loss of Jackson’s younger sister earlier in the year from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Fox 5 Atlanta reported that the Clayton County Police Department said a witness followed the vehicle, recorded its license plate number, and provided the information to investigators. Police officers arrested Blanchard several hours later.

Blanchard is being held without bail.

A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up to help the family with costs associated with the funeral and to help the family in support of the four children left behind by Jackson.

“On 12/28/2025, our sweet boy Khaleb was crossing the street with his older brother and cousins, trying to get to the bus stop, when a car came out of nowhere and struck and killed him and kept going. This is 9 months after his baby sister died of SIDS. His mother is devastated and heartbroken.

“It’s been a tough year, and she really needs our help for funeral arrangements and day-to-day life to help support her surviving four kids. Anything would be a blessing at this difficult time in her life.”

Jackson’s aunt, Belinda Pittmon, commented on the loss of her nephew.

“You see this kind of stuff on TV, but then when it hits your family, you be like, how can somebody hit a child, any person, but especially a child, and leave that child just laying there not knowing whether or not the child is alive or, you know, gone,” she said.

Keith Lee, Atlanta, food truck, event, redemption, Baltimore — (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

January 2, 2026

The $4K Fumble: ‘Mr. Tendernism’ Missed A Blessing From Keith Lee

Lee explained that he is fascinated by Mr. Tenderism Johnson and was curious about the smoked selections.

Viral sensation Walter “Mr. Tendernism” Johnson missed a generous $4,000 tip from TikTok food critic Keith Lee.

Lee, known for his generosity and city-to-city food tours, pulled up to the Destination Smokehouse, where “Mr. Tenderism” works. In a TikTok video, Lee detailed his visit and attempt to meet the BBQ aficionado known for his fall-off-the-bone meat, but was abruptly stopped by venue security.

“We could not get to Unc. Security said he was done for the day; he was filming something. I believe he was filming a podcast. We had $4,000 in cash they didn’t take,” he said.

Lee explained that he is fascinated by Mr. Tendernism Johnson and was curious about the smoked selections.

“My whole mission today is to see, in my opinion, is the food actually Tendernism or do I just love watching Unc. Let’s find out together.”

The created sample rated the food as moderate, with Oxtail rated the highest at 9.5 on Lee’s scale of 1-10. Lee said security intervened and prevented the planned gesture from taking place, despite his offer of the money and request for a meet-and-greet.

“For me, the standout is absolutely the oxtail, but past the oxtail, the standout is Unc.”

https://www.tiktok.com/@keith_lee125/video/7589418336484740382?_r=1&_t=ZT-92jsZKsDuL9

Lee praised Johnson’s passion for the restaurant’s food and his ability to embrace the swift, overwhelming love shown on social media.

“Not only in my opinion is it extremely hard to get people engaged like that, to show your true personality, to be yourself, no matter how fast things take off in this space. I don’t think he intended for it to go the way it’s going. I think he just wanted to show his love for food and his love of what it is that he is doing.”

Unable to bless Johnson, Lee handed out $4K to customers entering the establishment. Lee is not the first creator to visit Johnson to evaluate the tenderness of the assorted meats at Destination Smokehouse.

Beloved creator Jordan The Stallion also visited the restaurant to collaborate with the internet’s Uncle. Like Lee, Jordan found each selection so delicious that he flung his eyeglasses across the room.

transgender, trans women, prisons — (Photo: Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

by Mitti Hicks

January 2, 2026

Federal Employees File Complaint Against Trump Administration’s Anti-Transgender Policies

The Trump administration's a new policy eliminates gender-affirming care for enrollees in federal health insurance programs.

A group of federal government employees has filed a class-action complaint against President Donald Trump and his administration over a new policy that eliminates coverage for gender-affirming care for enrollees in federal health insurance programs.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, filed the complaint on behalf of federal employees on Jan. 1. The new policy officially took effect at the start of the year.

“The Human Rights Campaign Foundation initiated litigation against the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on behalf of federal employees and their families,” the organization said in a news release. “The matter has been filed on a class basis in response to an OPM Carrier Letter directing insurance providers to deny coverage for gender affirming care under the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) plans.”

Trump Administration Revokes Gender Affirming Care From Health Insurance

In August, the OPM issued a letter stating new changes for those who receive gender-affirming care. As of 2026, “chemical and surgical medication of an individual’s sex traits through medical interventions” will no longer be covered under health insurance programs for federal employees and United States Postal workers.

The complaint argues that the new policy is discriminatory based on sex.

“As a result, federal employees and their dependents will lose their insurance coverage for vital healthcare […] potentially placing care out of reach for many people solely because of who they are,” HRC writes.

The group adds, “Transgender people continue to face numerous barriers to access best-practice, potentially life-saving medical care. This move represents just the latest attack from a Trump administration obsessed with undermining the rights and freedoms of transgender people.”

This isn’t the first lawsuit against the Trump administration over its anti-transgender policies. A group of 17 transgender members of the Air Force filed a lawsuit against the federal government over early retirement benefits. The U.S. Air Force announced that it would deny all transgender service members retirement benefits. This move included those who had served enough years to retire early.

Lantana, Florida, driveway, grass, fines, code, Sandy Martinez — Photo Courtesy of Institute for Justice

by Keka Araújo

January 2, 2026

DAMN! Florida State Supreme Court Upholds $165K Code Fines For Parking On Grass, Cracked Driveway

"Cities shouldn't be allowed to wreck lives over trivial violations," Sandy Martinez said.

The Florida Supreme Court has ended a years-long legal battle, declining to review a homeowner’s case involving more than $165,000 in municipal fines for minor property infractions.

The decision, finalized in late December 2025, leaves in place lower court rulings that supported the City of Lantana’s ability to levy six-figure penalties for non-safety-related code violations.

Sandy Martinez, a longtime Lantana resident and single mother, challenged the fines as unconstitutionally excessive. The fines stem primarily from a city ordinance that prohibits parking on one’s own lawn. Because Martinez shares her home with three working adults—all of whom require vehicles for employment—cars were frequently parked in the driveway with tires resting slightly on the grass, she said.

In the city of Lantana, this resulted in a $250 daily fine, which quickly compounded into a staggering $101,750 for the parking violation alone.

According to legal filings, the penalties accrued over 407 days of continuous violations. The filing clarified that Martinez was physically unable to park on the street because the neighborhood lacks curbs and the “roadways in front of and beside the house are only wide enough to handle two-way neighborhood traffic.”

The legal history of the dispute dates back to May 6, 2019, when Martinez was cited for parking on an “unapproved surface/grass/walkway.”

Because of minor infractions in the past, the city treated her as a repeat offender. Following a hearing on June 20, 2019, she was deemed in violation, triggering the $250 daily penalty until she could prove total compliance with the city’s rules.

Martinez reportedly attempted to resolve the issue early on. According to her legal team at the Institute for Justice (IJ), she sought a compliance inspection to prove the vehicles had been moved. However, the filing states that “getting code enforcement officials on the phone… was fruitless,” leading her to assume the matter was eventually settled.

The gravity of the situation surfaced during a routine attempt to refinance her home. Upon inquiry, an administrative assistant for the city discovered the fines had never stopped. “I noticed the fines were still accruing and I asked a code officer to go out and re-inspect the property,” the assistant reportedly noted in correspondence dated June 16, 2020.

“He noted the property was in compliance and stopped the fines as of today.”

By then, the “meter” had run for over a year on a problem that had already been fixed.

While Florida’s homestead exemption prevents the city from foreclosing on her primary residence, the massive lien effectively strips Martinez of all home equity. This financial encumbrance makes it practically impossible to sell the property or relocate, as any proceeds would be seized to satisfy the city’s demand.

“Six-figure fines for parking on your own property are shocking,” said Ari Bargil, Senior Attorney at the Institute for Justice. “The Florida Constitution’s Excessive Fines Clause was designed to stop precisely this sort of abuse—to prevent people from being fined into poverty for trivial violations.”

The Institute for Justice argued the case was a vital opportunity for the state’s highest court to clarify the “Excessive Fines Clause,” which has not seen a major interpretive ruling in Florida for over a century. By declining jurisdiction, the court allows the Fourth District Court of Appeal’s prior ruling to stand. That court held the fines were not “grossly disproportionate” because the total was determined by the length of time the violation persisted rather than by the nature of the infraction itself.

“It’s outrageous that the Florida Supreme Court won’t consider whether the constitution protects Floridians from ruinous fines,” Martinez said. “Cities shouldn’t be allowed to wreck lives over trivial violations.”

This video provides early coverage of the lawsuit and the Institute for Justice’s initial arguments that these fines were unconstitutional.