Hospital Directors Urge Escambia County Commissioners to Act on Masks in Public

I'll be speaking with them tomorrow morning on my Coffee with the Commissioner meeting--but meanwhile the CEO's of Escambia County's 3 Main Hospitals and the Executive Director of Community Health NW have sent this below request to the BCC members late this afternoon....

To Mask, or Not to Mask!

That is the question........

And now, I am getting it from both directions.  "Make Masks Mandatory!" is the flavor from one side.

"Don't take away our Freedom--don't make masks mandatory!" is what I am hearing from the other side.

Meanwhile--the Escambia Board of County Commissioners does NOT have this for action at our upcoming meeting--(although it may be brought before the board as an "add-on" by a member.....)

Meanwhile, here is an example of a thoughtful back and forth email exchange between a constituent and I on this topic from this morning............intelligent, thoughtful, respectful, cordial, un-emotional..

"Mr. Bergosh,

Usually I write to you about XXXXXX. But tonight I am writing to you as someone retired from healthcare. Forty three years actually.  Thirty three of those running a clinical laboratory.  I have been through Aids, Ebola, Swine flu, and many other similar outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.  So I am very familiar with what the right thing to do is regarding curbing the rising infections.  

 Mayor Robinson should be commended for implementing mandatory masks.   While our Governor and President do nothing.

The Governor's statement the other day stating people will just need to do the right thing stunned me. Well if people always did the right thing we wouldn't need laws.  It could even be said we wouldn't be in the middle of a pandemic if people did the right thing.  How many laws have been passed to protect people from themselves?  Wearing seat belts, no texting and driving, no drinking and driving.......to name a few.

I ask you and the other commissioners to please follow Mayor Robinson's lead.  Make face masks mandatory in Escambia county. There is absolutely no reason a business should have to shut down if only everyone would social distance and wear masks in public places.  South Korea and Japan are excellent examples of that.

Regards,

XXX XXXXXXX"

My response:

"XXX-

Thank you for the email, and I cannot wait until XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!

About the mask wearing:  There have been rumors circulating about The Escambia Board of County Commissioners making mask wearing mandatory—however this has not been brought forward onto our next agenda for July 2^nd by either the staff or the chairman Steven Barry.  I understand the city has gone that direction (mandatory mask wearing).

Nevertheless----I am studying all sides of this topic in the event it does come before us as an add on to the agenda.  Full disclosure—I am getting PASSIONATE pleas on both sides of this issue so I am going to look at this particular issue very analytically—not emotionally.

To help with my decision making—I will have a special “Coffee with the Commissioner” event this Wednesday morning online on my Facebook site from 6:30-7:30 AM.  My guests will be the CEO’s of all three local hospitals—Baptist, Sacred Heart, and West Florida.  They know I will come prepared with questions for them about the wear/don’t wear masks in public question—as well as other issues about capacity in their respective hospitals and ventilator and ICU capacity.  It will be a worthwhile watch this Wednesday morning if you are available.  It will be live on my commissioner’s Facebook page here  https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

One issue that stands out initially and immediately to me is the fact that nobody is wearing masks properly—and nobody is specifying what types of masks should be worn.  They should be single-use---and the surgical masks I see folks wearing are not masks that protect the wearer from COVID-19-----it says so right on the box packaging.  Yet I see folks wearing these very same ineffective disposable masks over and over and over—placing them on the rear-view mirror then re-using them again and again—touching the contaminated masks then touching their faces as well as common use items in the grocery stores, retail stores, playground equipment, door-handles etc.  This behavior worries me—because I believe this actually exacerbates—not

Expert Panel Assembled for our 47th Coffee With the Commissioner Event this Wednesday Morning, July 1st!

As the spike in new cases of COVID-19 is erupting around Florida and other states like Texas and California---we are maintaining a fair amount of capacity in our local hospitals.

Ventilator capacity locally is 80%.

Bed capacity is about 25%

We simply have not seen hospitals being overrun with COVID-19 cases locally--thankfully.

We are getting a higher number of new positive cases, and younger people are coming up positive in higher numbers as well.

So this week for our 47th Coffee With the Commissioner Event--we age going back to the source for new insights, facts and figures about the pandemic's impacts locally on our 3 main hospitals.

We will focus on our area's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and how our area hospitals are handling the current issues locally. 

Our guests for this live conversation will be Escambia County Administrator Janice Gilley, Baptist Health Care in Pensacola CEO Mark Faulkner, Dawn Rudolph, President and CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola, Justin Labrato, President of Ascension Medical Group, and Gay Nord,  CEO Of West Florida Hospital.

I intend to ask about how the Hospitals are handling this pandemic locally, their current census figures, and how the number of available ICU beds is figuring into our area's "preparedness" for a spike in new cases-----if this leads to a spike in new hospital admissions.

I'll also ask about their surge plans; how will they react if we get an influx in new hospitalizations like the Houston area is seeing?

To wear or not to wear masks--I'll have some questions about that.

If you have questions for these experts---send them to me via email or Facebook---or add comments to this post and I will ask the questions of the experts this Wednesday.

To join the event live Wednesday morning, simply go to https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

"See You" online this Wednesday!

Mask Wearing: Mixed Messaging Hasn't Helped

Since the very beginning of the current COVID-19 Pandemic--opinions have "shifted" among the experts about whether or not uninfected individuals should or should not wear masks.

At a late March Coffee with the Commissioner event with our local Director of the Health Department--I was astonished to hear that mask wearing was NOT recommended by the CDC for the general public.  Watch this video, see the comments yourself from minutes 11:00 to 13:00....

Subsequently, into April and May---when PPE was scarce--some outlets reported that the whole "Don't wear a mask" messaging by the healthcare industry and the media and by the CDC and local Health Departments --------was done simply to keep the average, ordinary citizen from "panic buying" all available N-95 Masks that were readily available at that time at places like Walgreens, Wal Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, and other outlets.  Toilet Paper shortages were bad enough--but if ordinary citizens thought they needed masks and would have bought them up, well that would have been catastrophic, right?!

PPE is still scarce--and it's expensive.

Regardless----more and more localities are mandating the wearing of masks.

Some are simply recommending they be worn.

The World Health Organization muddied the waters even further on the mask question by going back and forth on guidance on citizens wearing masks to prevent COVID-19.

The mixed signals sent by the Healthcare Industrial Complex on this topic have not helped!

Last weekend I was bombarded with requests that we NOT make mask wearing mandatory.

And this topic (mandatory mask wearing) was not and is not even on the agenda for our upcoming regular BCC meeting on July 2nd!! 

Some folks are very happy about this.

Others want it added and enacted--a mask-wearing ordinance.

But wait--there are specific steps that must be taken to enact an ordinance--including multiple public hearings.  Should we follow our own policy on making this an ordinance?  Or we could do it under emergency authority--but wait that has some pitfalls as well.   And inevitably it would be challenged in court.


Machinations + Manipulation + Mixed Messaging =  MESS!

46th Coffee--Pensacola Churches Poised for a Revival!

Could Escambia County see a renewed interest in religion, particularly among area youth, in the midst of this Pandemic?  Some encouraging signs point to the answer being "YES!"

Yesterday morning we held our 46th Coffee with the Commissioner event live on Zoom.

The focus:  The worldwide COVID-19 Pandemic and the devastation being caused to our way of life in America and how this all has impacted our county's faith-based community and our churches.

Our guests for the live stream were county administrator Janice Gilley, Hillcrest Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jim Locke, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Senior Pastor Gordon Godfrey Jr., and from the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association, Executive Director Dr. Brian Nall. 

The panel engaged in a very interesting discussion about the impacts of the virus--financially and on attendance at church.

The surprising thing that was reported is/was the continuation of faithful giving to churches and the attendance gains among YOUNG people in the community.  Both of these reports were pleasant surprises to me--as cynically I worried attendance would decline further and financial giving to churches would nosedive.  I am so glad I was wrong--thankful to hear that the silver lining---at least at a few local churches--appears to be MORE interest in church now. 

Could we be headed into a period of Revival?  I hope so.  Our nation and our community needs it!

You can watch the Facebook Live video of the coffee here.

Watch the You tube video here 

Why is the State of Florida's Unemployment System STILL so Badly Broken?

Although the CARES act provided generous levels of financial compensation for Floridians, and the money has been released to Florida----too many Floridians have yet to see one dime of unemployment compensation.....Why?

We have all heard the horror stories about out-of-work Floridians trying desperately to navigate the state of Florida's badly broken unemployment system to access unemployment benefits.

Some people get their money---but a lot of people don't.  Through no fault of their own.
My own son was out of work for three months.  Thankfully, he is back to work and back at school.  Luckily, he had a place to stay and his essentials were covered--but he was out of work for more than three months!!  I know he completed all the required application forms--I helped him do it.  He never got one penny in unemployment.

And a lot of Floridians did not receive money while they were out of work--and  don't have any fallback position and/or parents who can help them through the shortfalls--they are desperate.

"I had to go to work doing landscape work--I couldn't get a dime in the unemployment I was owed" said the waiter at a restaurant where I dined recently.  "We were shut down, told to go home, and I had no income and yet I still had bills to pay!" he continued.  "I claim my tips, so with the Federal money they were supposed to send me I should be getting $4,000.00 dollars for my time out of a job--but I haven't received anything.  I go online and it just says 'pending'" he mused."

And then this morning I get this email from a young constituent:

"Good morning, 

My name is XXXXXX  XXXXXXXX. I have been laid off since March 26th 2020. I have yet to receive any help from the state and it says I’m approved and everything. I have used up all my savings, withdrew my 401k, and now I have 3 negative bank accounts accumulating over draft fees. I need help haven’t even paid rent this month. I’m not sure how some families are even still in their home or feeding them or their kids. 

Anything you can do to get us the back pay money would be so grateful! 

Thanks!

XXXXXXX  X."

What will it take to fix this busted system to get ALL FLORIDIANS the HELP they NEED?

46th Coffee With the Commissioner this Wednesday--Impacts of COVID-19 on Area Churches

We will be having our 46th Coffee with the Commissioner event live on Facebook this Wednesday morning from 6:30-7:30 AM

We will be discussing the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic locally. 

This week we will focus on the impacts this virus is having on our area's faith-based organizations and our churches. 

Our guests this week will be County Administrator Janice Gilley, Hillcrest Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jim Locke, Marcus Pointe Baptist Church Senior Pastor Gordon Godfrey, Jr., and Dr. Brian Nall, Executive Director of the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association.

To join the event live Wednesday morning, simply go to https://www.facebook.com/CommissionerBergosh/

"See You" online this Wednesday!

Mandatory Mask Wearing in Public in Escambia County? What???Where is This Untrue Rumor Coming From?

ESCAMBIA COUNTY IS NOT CONTEMPLATING
MANDATORYMASK WEARING ORDINANCES. 
I REPEAT: ESCAMBIA COUNTY IS NOT
CONTEMPLATING MANDATORY
MASK WEARING ORDINANCES.  I REPEAT......

I'm suddenly getting emails urging me to NOT support MANDATORY mask wearing ordinances in Escambia County.

But so far as I know--there is NO SUCH ORDINANCE in the works.  None.  We're not bringing this.

So where is this push coming from anyway?  Here's a flavor of what I am getting from emails to me:

"Commissioners,

It has been brought to attention there's an effort being made in Escambia County, Florida to lock things back down and introduce new regulations. Many understand there is pressure being placed on you all as Commissioners to "act". The Governor says OPEN, but individuals are saying to impose regulations and mandate masks. MOST ARE NOT EVEN USING MASKS PROPERLY. How is wearing a CLOTH mask on your forehead, in your car by yourself, on your chin, wearing a mask to the beach that's floating up on shore, lifting it up and down a ton of times a day and readjusting it constantly helping anything at all? If anything, people are breathing in their own Co2 all day. They are doing the above then touching their face, grocery store items, cross contaminating their vehicles, leaving nasty gloves all over the place and whatever else. THEY ARE USING THESE MASKS AS AN EXCUSE TO PACIFY THEMSELVES AND MAKE IT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE DOING THEIR PART TO HELP. THIS VIRUS IS NOT GOING AWAY! There will be NO cure, only a vaccine and there is no telling how long that will be before it happens. People have to survive, NOT DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT to take care of them. Making masks mandatory will do nothing but make people mad, make people have to justify why they are not wearing one which means in turn officers get to babysit. You also would be imposing fines on people who are already suffering from the pandemic which took a toll on their livelihood. It is not right to overstep your boundaries on citizens and attempt to force them to do things which would be Unconstitutional. The Constitution does not say "We have rights....Unless someone gets sick". If people are FORCED into closing their businesses down again, you will have a mess on your hands. People are frustrated, fed up and losing everything they've worked their entire lives for. Suicide rates, divorces, law suits, depression, violence, theft and other many things will be up sky high. PLEASE DO NOT OVERSTEP AND FORCE ANY OF THESE THINGS ONTO CITIZENS OF ESCAMBIA COUNTY. We all have the need as humans to feel like things are somewhat normal. We have been through many viruses, and sicknesses. This is NO way for anyone to live. Imposing on people is only a way to turn law abiding citizens into what would be considered criminals just to survive. The government is allowing inmates out of jail because of Covid and locking good citizens up because of Covid. What sense does any of this make? 

PLEASE DO NOT BE PRESSURED! NO MANDATES, NO MANDATORY MASKS! NO CLOSING AGAIN! WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD!

Thank you,

XXXXXXXXXXXX"

"There is now an organized effort being made in Escambia County Florida, to lock the county back down and introduce new regulations concerning the Second Wave of COVID. We are seeing pressure being put on County Commissioners to “act because the state will not be helping”. In other words, they are saying that the Governor says “Open” but we should close down regardless, and impose more regulations.

     I would like to remind you that our area has in fact flattened the curve of COVID and our medical community has NOT been overwhelmed by COVID patients. 

     Yes, Escambia County Florida currently does NOT require a mask mandate, nor is it closing the county back down due to COVID. We indeed are very lucky to live in an area not currently mandating masks, but we are aware of the opposition in the works to do just that. 

     This virus is here to stay, and our area has proven that without masks and overreaching regulations, we can live normally and remain cautious. Escambia County does NOT need more regulation, Escambia County does NOT need to mandate masks in public. 

     South Florida is setting an extremely dangerous precedent when they mandate masks until June 

Charles Fennell Gonzalez IV Casino Beach Reef Being Deployed this Morning at Pensacola Beach!

Named for our beloved employee Charlie Gonzalez who passed away unexpectedly (and far too young) earlier this year--the memorial reef the BCC dedicated in his honor is being deployed today at Pensacola Beach.

Originally planned for a deployment last week--a contractor's equipment malfunction created the delay.

Once fully deployed at a depth of around 11 feet (with a clearance of 6' from the top of the reef to the surface of the water), the reef will be a magnet for fish and sea life as well as a wonderful addition to Casino Beach for snorkelers and swimmers!

Learn more about Escambia County's Marine Resources Division and  our numerous swimming reefs here.

Defund the Police? Wait....What??

Yesterday during our Board of County Commissioners meeting we had three speakers that wanted to discuss defunding our sheriff's office.

The first speaker, a young lady from the Fort Walton Beach area, discussed the need for more social services and for "reduced" police budgets.

After her comments, I explained to her that every year we struggle to have enough revenue to adequately fund our sheriff's office.  I told her about the difficulties the ECSO has had with retaining deputies.  I told her I was concerned about even having the ability to hire enough law enforcement officers given the current state of issues in America today.  I asked her "Who would want to do this work?"  I asked her if she was talking about "defunding" the police----as I have heard that term floated in the media and online.  I told her that was a ridiculous idea that I would never support.

Then, the other two speakers got up.  The second speaker took the opportunity to say I was "rude" to the first speaker. (I wasn't)  He got animated when he said "Defunding the police isn't abolishing the police!"

The third speaker got up and said he believed we should "defund the police" but that the term "defund" didn't really mean to defund them--just to reallocate their funding to "other" social programs for the community.

"Come on, you know that's what it means the money just goes to other programs, it doesn't go away--don't be Ignorant!"  He exclaimed angrily toward the dais.

But most of the people in the room didn't seem to understand what he meant--and we're not ignorant. It's just what he was saying doesn't make sense.

Defunding means just what it says.  Defunding.  Taking the whole budget.

Watch this discussion between these speakers and I at this video link, from minute 8:45 forward....

Reducing a budget would seem to be what he was really advocating for.   So why not say "reduce" instead of "defund?"

Because if an organization has its budgets "defunded"--that results in a total loss of service such an organization can provide.  A police force or sheriff's office cannot operate without a budget--because personnel cost money and they have to be paid. Organizations have costs: facilities, equipment, fuel, benefits costs, pension costs, etc. etc.  No Law Enforcement Organization can operate on NO budgeted funds.

If it is a reduced budget--well that is a different thing all together--but equally disturbing.

If it is police we are talking about, less funding (via a reduced budget) would be absolutely disastrous, it would lead to diminished training and equipment budgets and fewer personnel out in the communities keeping us safe.  It is an absolutely ludicrous, ridiculous idea that is not grounded in reality.

No rational policymaker anywhere supports "defunding" police budgets.  Not even Joe Biden. Nobody supports this. Because it is ridiculous.

 Actually, we need increased budgets for enhanced training, better pay, and MORE police.

Yes,  MORE police keeping us a country of law and order--because when someone is robbing a bank, holding a teller at gunpoint--we need trained police to respond, not a "rapid-response social work team."  When a violent, dangerous drug dealer is shooting his gun into a house or all over a neighborhood--a substance abuse counselor cannot help this situation--and if we sent a substance abuse counselor out to address the violent, armed drug dealer--such a counselor would likely get shot himself/herself.

No.  We need MORE law enforcement, well trained, well equipped, and well compensated.

Now more than ever.

45th Coffee With The Commissioner--Updates on COVID-19's Impact on our Community

We had our 45th coffee with the commissioner event yesterday morning and the conversation revolved around the COVID-19 impacts locally on our community and on area nonprofits engaged in International outreach and exchanges.  A very interesting conversation with Janice Gilley, Escambia County's Administrator, Chandra Smiley, Executive Director of Community Health Northwest Florida, Jena Melancon, Executive Director of Gulf Coast Diplomacy, and Ms. Anne Grimes--The US Department of State's Director of International Visitors.

As we always do, our meeting was live streamed to Facebook.

You can watch the Facebook video of this event here.

Or you can watch the You-tube version here.

See you all next week at the 46th Coffee with the Commissioner!

Who Will Be our Law Enforcement Officers?

When I was a school board member, I often thought the most underappreciated workers in America were teachers.  Low pay, tremendous responsibility, impossible mandates, and constantly blamed for issues beyond their control.  I have always had the utmost respect for teachers because by and large they LOVE their jobs despite all the difficulties, and they make our communities better by building young men and women into productive citizens.

Now, as a County Commissioner that collects tax and funds our Sheriff's Office locally--upon witnessing the current events around our nation--I worry that the new most underappreciated public employees in our country are Law Enforcement Officers.

Who will be our police and deputy sheriffs?  Who will be willing to stand up to the toxic abuse these folks are enduring in our country today---just trying to do their jobs to keep us safe?

Who would step up to do this difficult job in this environment?

Second guessed, questioned, belittled and marginalized by segments of the citizenry--and not supported in many instances by the very governmental bodies that fund their operations.

It sickens me.  It is disgusting.

And just for complete clarity--I'm not talking about cases where clearly there is misconduct, like what we all witnessed and what was universally condemned in Minneapolis...

Thank God that locally our officers directly engage the citizens and we have not witnessed the sorts of issues here that are happening other places.  But could it happen here, could things take a turn for the worse?

I sure hope not.

Now I see what happened to the policeman in Atlanta yesterday.  I took the time and I watched the entire nearly hour-long body-cam and dashcam video yesterday evening.  The whole thing. I am no expert---but it sure seemed to me that both officers acted professionally and compassionately and treated this suspect with courtesy and respect.

When it was painfully obvious that the gentleman had failed the sobriety test--the suspect fought.  Going for the officers' weapons, wrestling, throwing punches, and fleeing with an officer's weapon.

Fighting with the police in the street is not appropriate, not smart, and will never end well for anyone.  Fight an issue in COURT--not in the streets.....

And when chased, the suspect reached back and fired the taser at the officer's face---at which point the suspect was shot.

A terrible tragedy that did not have to happen.  But who caused this?  What was that policeman supposed to do--I mean--did he know in that instant that it was a taser and not a gun?  Why is he being persecuted and prosecuted for this---what did he do wrong exactly??

And today I wake up and read that the officer is being charged with FELONY MURDER for this!

Are you kidding me?  Are you serious?  This is RIDICULOUS!

This is an absolute TRAVESTY and it MUST be rectified immediately.

Otherwise--we may see something none of us is prepared for.  Imagine if every Law Enforcement Officer in America "Called-In" sick.  Just imagine that for a minute......It could happen--that is how egregious this disgusting political "stunt" is, this "prosecution."  It could happen--and it would be ugly for many communities if it happened.  I hope it doesn't and I don't think it will......

This is spiraling out of control and we have GOT to get it right sided quick.

Because again, the question is important:  If we do not have the police's backs---who in their right mind will be our Law Enforcement Officers??

What's Important in Escambia County over the Next 4 Years?

As most everyone now knows, I am in a re-election campaign for my office as your District 1 County Commissioner.  This is not my campaign site, but from time to time over the next 65 days until the primary election on August 18th I will be talking politics here and I'll be talking about my campaign.

So I have posted the required disclaimer on this site now (below), and also on this particular post.

You see, unlike any previous campaign I or any one of us has ever been through--this time we all have a common enemy in COVID-19 that is inhibiting our ability to go door to door safely to meet you, the constituents of District 1.  This virus and this pandemic is changing our campaigns and our communities (economically, financially and from a community health perspective)--so we all have to adapt.

Part of this adaptation means communicating more online through social media in whatever outlets each of us candidates has at our disposal.

I have maintained this blog for more than 12 years, and I have cultivated a modest audience of local residents who come frequently to this page for information and for topics I present here.  Today, the topic I present is a plan.  A plan for the next four years in Escambia County--a plan I developed based upon input I have received from you, my constituents, over the last three and a half years as your county commissioner.  It is based upon four specific elements that I believe are critical to our area, particularly in the wake of this Coronavirus Pandemic.

The Economy/Jobs

Infrastructure/Public Safety

Transparent Governance

Quality of Life/Quality of Place

I intend to work, as much as any one individual county commissioner can, on implementing the specific points I make in this document if I am so fortunate to be re-elected on August 18th in the primary election.  I feel good about my prospects in this election, I do believe I will win and that is what the polls I have run thus far indicate--however I take nothing for granted and I will campaign diligently through the finish line in this campaign---just as I've done in my previous elections. 

As always, I am open to any critique of this plan, and I am always open to adding to it as conditions change.   Meanwhile, I present my plan here for your review--thanks in advance for taking a look at it!




Political Advertisement paid for and approved by Jeff Bergosh, Republican, for Escambia County Commissioner District 1.

Folks are Reaching Out to Me about the Topic of Monuments and Statues.......

I have had a number of folks reach out to me to give their opinions on the topic of the removal of monuments locally.  I have listened and I have told them that this topic is one the city of Pensacola, the Mayor, and the City Council are weighing very carefully at the moment.

I have also asked that folks pray for the Mayor and the City Council as these decisions are contemplated.

I have also said publicly that I simply pray for peace in our Country, Communities, and in our County.

Meanwhile, though, some constituents have made it very clear how they feel on this topic.  One constituent gave his opinion clearly and unambiguously when he stated:

"So now they want to remove all statues, movies, books etc.  that offend them. Again, this is a crazy idea, some of our history was bad but it is history and should remain so we cannot repeat it. Who is to decide what should be removed? This is a XXXXXXX idea brought up by XXXXX  people.  Take for example we have a XXXXXXXXX wanting to remove a statue in Pensacola that has been there for over a hundred and twenty years and you are considering removing it. Do you remember when you  were XXXXXXX and how smart you were, I do. She said she had over 10 thousand signatures, well you might want to check who signed and where they live, my guess is most of them don’t know where Pensacola is. It does not matter who signed this XXXXXXX petition, where does this nonsense stop?

Board of County Commissioners to Discuss Establishment of a Local Children's Services Council this Tuesday Morning

The Escambia County Commission will hear a presentation on Tuesday morning on the establishment of a local Children's Services Council in Escambia County.

Locally, if established by the voters through a referendum on the November ballot, this organization would be named the Escambia Children's Trust.

The authorization to establish a local children's services trust (CSC) is codified in statutes, and currently there are 9 such entities throughout Florida.  Primarily these are located in south Florida--if one were established locally it would be the first and only such entity in North Florida (although Leon County has this initiative on their 2020 ballot).

The structure of how a CSC would be organized is codified in statute and County ordinance.  The County's draft ordinance, describing the make up of the board of directors, goals and objectives of the organization, can be found here.

The CSC locally would fund organizations and programs locally to help move the needle in three key areas--areas that most in the community know are desperately needed.  I have asked, and I have been told that 90% of the revenue would go to direct programming that will benefit students in theses key areas of:

1.  Kindergarten readiness
2.  Out of School Development
3.  Stronger Families


A long list of local supporters is being circulated in the community--and everyone knows we have a large population of at-risk children and students that could greatly benefit from services provided by a local Children's Services Council.

Additionally--I am aware that some significant polling on this initiative has been conducted county-wide, and that support for a local CSC is between 55%-68% of respondents.

So to get a CSC started in Escambia County--two things must happen:

1.  The Board of County Commissioners must vote affirmatively to place the initiative on the November ballot     and....

2.  A majority of the voters must approve the measure.

This is truly a program that will be up to the citizens and the voters to authorize or not authorize.

I am of the belief that the BCC will vote to put this on the ballot--as a matter of fact I intend to make the motion to add this to the ballot and I believe the vote will be unanimous to move it forward.

Then, at that point,  it will be up to the citizens of Escambia County to decide whether or not to establish a CSC locally to improve outcomes for our area youth.