Moral and Ethical?

Apparently, according to the PNJ, we must ONLY ask if something's moral or ethical if  it's something that suits their ideology and it's something they oppose.  If it's a horrendous practice like killing babies through abortion--something PNJ ideologically support--then the liberal PNJ  shifts away from the moral and ethical implications...and scream "It's Legal!"  See how that works?

PNJ and their "crack" two-person editorial squad are apparently hung up on the question, as it pertains to the county's 401(a) plan, of  "Yeah, well what about the moral and ethical implications of the plan!?!"

Suddenly, apparently, the legality of the plan is unimportant to the PNJ.  They've already determined in their collective pea brains that "they don't like it--legal or not!"

So along comes someone like me that recognizes that the seminal question---the most important question---is whether or not it is legal.  Once we know that--we can take appropriate action going forward to fix the issue if that is necessary.  But now that it is appearing more and more likely that our 25 year established 401(a) is in fact, legal,  the PNJ has a new standard beyond that which they believe we ought to be held to:  Is it moral, and is it ethical??--WHO CARES IF IT IS LEGAL!!

Funny how the liberal PNJ switches stances and standards depending upon the issue.....

Here's an EASY one.  How about abortion?  It is legal, and the PNJ is undoubtedly  pro-abortion based on their uber-liberal bent.  It is currently legal---but never does PNJ ever bother to ask if that practice, the killing of the unborn baby is "moral and ethical"  Nope.  Goes against their politics.  Let's see though--what is a more pressing issue: A.)  greater percentage points in increased dividends on a retirment plan for three county commissioners that ultimately costs the taxpayers no additional funds---or  B.) the killing of millions and millions of babies, legally, in the USA since 1973---including hundreds of thousands in Florida and thousands here in Pensacola?  (You know the answer to this question.....does the PNJ?)

What about this one.  PNJ Cartoonist Andy Marlette, a white liberal, privileged individual, uses the N-Word in his cartoon and there is no backlash.  In fact, he gets monetarily rewarded with a nationally-syndicated cartoon as he even goes after female staffers in Governor DeSantis's office with misogynistic, disgusting personal attacks designed to damage the Republican, conservative governor through and via these very staff members.  Are these actions moral and ethical, PNJ?  I mean, your parent company Gannett de-platformed the creator of the conservative cartoon strip, Mallard Fillmore, because of far less--and then did a gobldygook- laden, gibberish editorial attempting to rationalize and support this cancellation----but Liberal Andy Marlette does far worse and gets a pass?   Is this moral and ethical?  Or is this where liberals get conservative and say  "Yeah, but it IS LEGAL!"

And then there's this:  PNJ and their editors love President Joe Biden, even as his mental decline is accelerating while being actively hidden by the left leaning media.  Under Biden's disastrous leadership at the Texas Border--we now see a spectacle unlike anything I have ever seen in my entire lifetime.  I literally saw Biden's Border police, on horseback, whipping unarmed, helpless black people in a river, beating them back away from the border with what looked like whips (they were leather horse reins, apparently).  These desperate migrants were just trying to cross a river to get to America--and they get treated like this?  Now, all the black migrants are being shipped back to their home countries on planes while the other migrants, the caucasian ones, pour over the border and get asylum in America.  And Biden and the liberals fall over themselves to say this is LEGAL.  And compliant press fellow-travelers like Lisa Savage and Andy Marlette don't question this.  They say "It's legal!!"   (But hey, is it moral and ethical, PNJ?)  Imagine if president Trump had done this--would PNJ totally ignore this?  answer, NO.  But they love Biden, so he gets a pass on this reprehensible spectacle...

Hypocrites and frauds.  Ladies and Gentlemen ---I give you the two-person PNJ Editorial Squad and their patron along with the parent company Gannett!

The PNJ New Reporter Orientation Session Part I: "The Chain of Command" (a Parody)

Andy Marlette, his Patron, Lisa Nellessen Savage, and the PNJ put out ANOTHER non-realistic, untrue, and non-factual attack cartoon on members of the BCC  in today's paper; what's presented above, however, is far more apropos.......😏

 ANDY:  "Welcome aboard, CUB, and congratulations on being selected by GateHouse Media, Gannett, and the PNJ to be our next County government beat reporter!"  I know $22K, social security retirment program, our discounted pharmacy plan plus government subsidized health insurance is not glamourous--but hey, we all had to start somewhere"

CUB:  "Thank you, I'm like, really, really excited!!"

ANDY:  "Alright--do you have any questions for me, I mean, uh, US, before I have Lisa show you to your cubicle?"

CUB:  "Well, yes I do.  How come Lisa the editor isn't conducting this orientation--I mean---isn't she the boss, the editor?"

ANDY:  "I'll take this Lisa...Listen CUB, that's none of your business, but suffice it to say that I run the show here, not her.  I'm a big-shot cartoonist, and I bring a lot of revenue in for the company here, so although my title is "cartoonist"--I actually run this show and call the shots.  I'm a big deal!!  Although I am white and privileged like you are--unlike you I can even use the "N-Word" in my cartoons and not get cancelled!  I'm the man, so don't you forget that.   I've worked here a long time and I've had four or five editors like Lisa come and go during my time here..They're disposable but I remain.  It's because I'm talented, that's why they keep me here in this small market.  I bring revenue, I follow the chain of command, and I run this b*&%h!  You got any other smart alec questions CUB?"

LISA: "Actually, my role here is.......

ANDY:  "Shut up Lisa!  I've got this!  Don't speak until I tell you too, you got that?  I'm doing this orientation, and I run this show.  If I want your opinion, I"LL GIVE IT TO YOU!  Remember who brings home the bacon here, B*&%h!  If I leave, the Patron pulls his money,  and if "Rooms to Go" cancels their weekly full color ad--you know what happens---so don't push it.  Shut the F%&* up and let me run this, capeche!

LISA: "Yes sir!"

CUB:  "Uh, sorry, but you are being really rude and mean Andy, you are bullying her!  and I'm feeling very, very uncomfortable.....where is this office's safe space..."

ANDY:  "Look CUB, get over it.  This is a nasty business, and it get's ugly sometimes.  Get used to it.  Remember, all you have to do is a few things: Number One--only write unflattering stories about people we don't like.  Number Two---DON'T do any stories we don't approve of first---like telling the truth about locally elected politicians.  Remember--we control the message, not you.  You're nothing but a CUB, and you have to earn your stripes.  And three--and MOST IMPORTANTLY---always understand the chain of command here at PNJ.  Always.  Otherwise, I have to use this head chopper (laughs creepily). But Don't worry, cub, we only use this head chopper on folks who won't recognize PNJ's Chain of Command! "

*This cartoon and this story is a work of fiction.  Any similarities to persons living or dead, or actual events-- is purely conincidental

PNJ Article Twists Facts into a Knot and Mixes in Lots of Innuendo, Lies, and Hearsay....Disgusting

When a newspaper's content is dictated by advertisers and special interests and the resultant output is deliberately built on lies, hearsay, innuendo, and deception----there is a problem.   And truth, integrity, and honesty---along with readers--become  the casualties...

In what will be an upcoming Sunday morning hit-job by the PNJ cartoonist--once again important facts are left out, lies are told, truth is obfuscated, and good reputations are purposely impugned.   Some legitimate reporting by a PNJ columnist is contorted, taken out of context, and then jammed into this rant ostensibly to add a level of legitimacy, and to fit a defective narrative in order  to inflict damage on County Attorney Alison Rogers and multiple members of the Escambia Board of County Commissioners.

It is astonishing to me that they get away with it.  I'll do my part and call a liar what he is, a liar.  Andy Marlette is a dishonest liar. 

Interesting these Andy Marlette types proclaim to support free speech--they even put a blurb in their paper, an excerpt of the First Amendment.  Heck---Andy Marlette even uses the "N" Word in  his cartoons with no pushback by anyone to illustrate his ability as a white privileged man to say and do what he wants, whenever he wants, with no ramifications whatsoever.  Crickets....from NAACP and media.   No, wait,  Marlette not only uses the N-word in his cartoon and gives the finger to anyone who would criticize that despicable word choice---He actually gets rewarded with syndication $ for his dumb and non-humorous comic strip. Others get cancelled.  I guess If you're nothing bt a liberal tool that nobody knows about, cares about, or thinks is funny, I guess you are immune from cancellation.  

How about that?

Yet folks like Andy Marlette  hate when they, themselves, are called to task for the putrid tripe they put

PNJ Editorial Board: Truth is their Enemy, Lies are their Stock-in-Trade, Propaganda is What They Are...

This piece of trash op-ed that will appear in tomorrow's edition of the PNJ is probably one of their worst yet.  Of all time. Tomorrow's garbage editorial is nothing but a haphazard, fact-barren ad hominem personal attack on four of the five elected Escambia County Commissioners.  And disgustingly, the most important, factual information is ignored in favor of a salacious attack on four of us.  The piece, most disturbingly, is built entirely on lies, rumors, insinuations and assumptions.

But it's foundations are lies.

PNJ Lie # 1.)  Janice Gilley was fired over the discussions of the 401(a) plan.  Not true, not even close.  (Hint for PNJ propaganda squad:  What did the ECAT union vote the week before the firing request?  Think.  You even covered it!  Nope, no mention of that... What about the almost $200,000.00 settlement that happened the same week--the second one based on harrassment in public safety?  nope, no mention of that even though your paper covered it.  What about the fact that the only other area printed newspaper publisher has openly called for Janice's termination for months now?)

PNJ Lie #2.)   An insinuation that the board and members of the board violated the Florida Sunshine law and "orchestrated" the firing for months.  This is a straight-up, bald faced lie and a fabrication.  If they think we did it,  have the guts to take your proof to the SAO and push for us to be prosecuted!  You are liars, PNJ editorial team,  straight up.  And this insinuation is a lie.  Shame on you both, Andy Marlette and Lisa Nellesen Savage.  You have no integrity.

PNJ Lie #3.)   That I purposely gave a "milquetoast" explanation of my rationale for firing Janice.  NOT TRUE!  roll back the tape and re-watch.  I said I didn't want to publicly discuss it.  "I like to praise in public, punish in private!"  That's what I said.  And when you try to sell the fiction that the other board members "couldn't muster specific reasons or a public explanation for their vote." That, too,  is a straight up lie and you know it.  Each of us with the exception of Doug intimated that we did not and would not make a public spectacle of a tough circumstance and would not "air dirty laundry"---out of consideration for Janice.  For you to accuse us of purposely being deceptive is a LIE.  Watch the actual meetings and what we said--instead of peddling lies and mischaracterizations.

To the PNJ "Editorial Board" that wrote this garbage:  The bottom line is this board has the authority to do what we did.  She works for us under a contract, we hired her.  Sometimes entities and leaders part ways--you know that.  CEO's and companies, Baseball teams and star pitchers, AND yes--counties and their administrators.  It's not personal for any of us so far as I can tell; certainly isn't for me.  It's business.  But it is disgustingly bizarre for you to use Janice Gilley as your straw man man here to attack us with lies and mischaracterizations.  You don't care about the truth, and you sure as hell don't care about Janice Gilley--obviously.  You are simply using her and this uncomfortable situation to aid in yet another attack on those of us who lead, regardless of what this is doing to her and her family.  I harbor no ill-will toward Janice, I think she is and was a great person.  Don't use her termination as fodder to attack, that's reprehensible.  Here is a novel concept PNJ:  Go back and do some basic reading on honor, truth, and journalistic integrity.  You have HUGE deficits in each of these areas and we all see it.

PNJ Shenanigans with the Truth Paint me in a False Light Deliberately

PNJ is always engaging in their machinations against those with whom they disagree, or with whom they dislike.  Or with whom their advertisers and patrons dislike.

As they have done in the past to me, they are once again painting me in a false light with actual malice.

How so?

After a recent meeting, there was hearsay that the PNJ ran with intimating some commissioners had said things that were offensive about our clerk of the court Pam Childers.  It was not true, and I categorically denied it at the time.  It blew over when the clerk herself brushed it aside and deflected when asked who said what and who heard what.  It was over.

But in their rush to publish that salacious, inaccurate article built on hearsay--they (PNJ) put my picture on the caption in the headline online---even though I was not one of the commissioners even accused of saying anything in the first place.  When called about the accusations---I was the only commissioner who even took the time to take the PNJ's call and give an on the record comment.

And then they did this to me.....  See screenshots of my conversation with Lisa Nellesen Savage below.

She tried to explain and to fix the issue--but this is at least the second time they've done this to me.

Coincidence?  

I don't think so, I don't believe in them.  Not with the PNJ.

PNJ's Local Preference Article and Editorial Miss the Mark

Two articles on local preference in the Pensacola News Journal totally missed the mark and ignored a very important fact--central to their "attack" on us.  Lazy, feckless journalism.....

In August of 2018 The Escambia Board of County Commissioners discussed local preference for projects the county was sending out to bid.  We discussed the topic and we agreed this was a noble aspiration--local preference.  Keep the money local--who woudn't support this?  We also discussed that we wanted to expand opportunities for small/minority owned businesses to contract with the county--and we would do this by widening the pool of qualified small business entities, women-owned businesses, service disabled veteran-owned businesses, and minority owned businesses competing for our jobs.  All of these goals were great, and the vote to affirm the county's commitment to these things was a 4-1.  It was discussed at a Committee of the Whole-- and subsequently we ratified the language from the discussion meeting at the following regular meeting.

We were so supportive of this (and I remain supportive of these goals, btw.) that we baked this requirement into our interlocal agreement with the city of Pensacola when we provided the additional funding needed to complete the ST Engineering Aerospace jobs project at the Pensacola Airport.

So there is no doubt that there is support for this concept from the county.  There is now, and always has been.  Everyone should have a crack at landing county contracts--not simply a select few.

Here is the information from that meeting.  And here is the language from the local preference resolution.

But there are a couple of things to remember and to clarify----especially as Jim Little of the PNJ writes an inaccurate account of what we actually approved.  And then subsequently the "crack" 2-person editorial board use Little's inaccurate piece to attack the county for "not following their own rule!"

But Wait!  We never codified this into an ordinance.  We adopted a resolution.  It was not a rule.  Because there are issues with a specific rule at the local level that would have to be fleshed-out.

#1--such a rule may not be lawful for many of our procurements if any federal grant money is used--as local preferential set-asides are not allowed at the local level with federal money according to our attorney. (although the federal government does use set asides in their own procurments....)

#2--the language itself is/was vague and aspirational--so even if passed as an ordianace (which it wasn't) it would have been difficult to enforce on a prime contractor.

So it was never added to our code of ordinances.  

This would have required two meetings-- culminating in a publicly noticed, scheduled hearing.  

But that never happened.  

I'm not saying we shouldn't--maybe we should, and maybe we will.  

Again--no value judgement on the merits--that discussion should happen.  My judgment is only on the PNJ for once again painting the commissioners in a false light, creating a straw man, and knocking it down in another attack on the county based upon a story that is not accurate.  

Jim Little often writes good articles that capture the essence of what is happening in the county.  Here, however,  he totally and completeley missed the mark.  I'm told he never even reached out to the county

Dishonest PNJ Sunday Editorial a Fetid Jumble of Illogical, Deceptive, Non-Factual Ramblings

 

PNJ is allowing someone to pull their strings, as today's editorial is blatantly biased, badly constructed, and fatally flawed. It's a sophomoric rant full of lies and barren of proper context...why are they genuflecting for Doug Underhill?

Like the compliant tools they increasingly appear to be, the 2 person "crack" PNJ editorial board of Lisa Nellessen Savage and Andy Marlette  offer a confusing, illogical, deceptive and non-factual jumble of ramblings in their Sunday column this morning.  

Who wrote this ridiculous garbage is a question I'm sure many are asking? Was Lisa "directed" or "encouraged" to write it?  If so, by whom?  Why?

It obviously was not the cartoonist's writing--as he has a distinctive style that is juvenile, non-standard, substandard, and very easy to spot.  

So is editor Lisa Nellessen Savage the one responsible for laying this egg--or did they let someone else ghost-write it for them?

The premise of this piece of trash opinion rant is simple:  Doug is great, he is being ganged-up on, he's a "victim" and the rest of us are terrible people for not jumping up to quickly use tax dollars to pay Doug's lawyer (that he hasn't paid).  Everything we do is controversial, and oh, by the way,  we need to be nicer, too.  😃

This piece of garbage smells worse than their last offering directed our way.  It smells so bad, it's like a pile of rotting fish marinated in a blend of sulfur, dog feces, and vomit.  And it's off-base, to boot.

PNJ lose the logic persuasion high-ground as they conflate their opinion piece with other, older issues---many of which the PNJ obviously do not understand and a majority of which we've already addressed.

--PNJ intimate we have a poor relationship with the ECSO.  This is a lie.  We negotiated a 4-year deal with them 3 years ago and we have a good working relationship with our LEOs and it is a relationship that's improving!

--PNJ blame us for the problems in EMS.  This is dishonest.  We are legislative-not executive- officials.  We were not aware of the simmering issues in EMS--yet once we were told the board has acted to address these problems and we are still working on them with new leadership.

--PNJ editorial dishonestly, inaccurately portrays a recent tense meeting with design team DPZ as us being "disrespectful."  This is dishonest.  In truth-- we were restrained and polite yet directed in our frustration with this group's failure to answer basic economic analysis questions that had been previously requested multiple times by the BCC.

--PNJ purposely omit pertinent facts about the social-media conduct at issue by Doug Underhill that drew the lawsuit:  Doug Underhill was in violation of Existing Board Policy when the conduct which drew the lawsuit happened.  (Hint:  you lose credibility PNJ when you Demand we follow policy on one hand regarding legal representation---yet you purposely misinform, by omission, your readers when you fail to disclose that Underhill was violating a different board policy when he drew the lawsuit)

--PNJ fail to accurately describe our policy on legal representation; they omit the FACT that the board MAY pay or we MAY make alternative findings and deny payment. (pretty important detail to leave out)

--PNJ gloss over the fact that Doug engaged in ad hominem attacks and THAT led to the suit.  Even if the judge says he has absolute immunity to say whatever he wants to---does that make this conduct right and correct?  Should taxpayers pay to defend actions like this (calling citizens names online) that are not necessary?

--PNJ portray a recent favorable ruling as "proof" that Doug's action was in the "...public interest..."--ignoring the reality that more than one elected official has been involved in conduct described as "being in the course of their official office" but "NOT serving a public purpose/in the public interest."  In these instances--where conduct did not/does not serve a public purpose--paying the legal fees could appear improper.

--PNJ feebly attempt to portray the entire board as swimming in controversy, ineptitude, and dysfunction.  But this is untrue.  This is the strawman they want to build in order to knock it down.  It is PNJ's unsuccessful and non persuasive attempt to draw a "moral equivalence" between and among each of the board members--a projection of "guilt by association."  But the fact of the matter is there is no moral equivalence.  Four of us do our jobs with no drama, no problems, and no lawsuits.   Conversely-

Others Recognize "Savage" PNJ Stupidity--- and The Deliberate Ignorance of OLF-8's Real Economic Value: JOBS

It was readily apparent to many that the PNJ's hatchet piece "editorial" last Sunday was WAY off base.

I certainly spotted it as what it was immediately:  A directed, ad hominem attack job at the behest of one of the PNJ's advertising patrons, "consultants", developers, and/or a large special interest employer.

 Or all of them.

It was uncalled for.

It was so uncalled for and out of line that I wasn't the only one who knew it was unfair, off-base, and odd. 

The only other print media publication in town called them out for it immediately.

In a series of blog posts, Rick Outzen on IN Weekly gutted the PNJ's very basis for the attack piece--pointing out the two painfully obvious facts that PNJ deliberately and conveniently left out of their hit piece:  1.) this OLF-8 project was always a jobs project.  2.) Nobody ever said the nearby neighbors, via a "vote" would control what happened on this field.    

How was this "embarrassing?"  How were citizens insulted?  Outzen appeared to have been figuratively asking-----while scratching his head over the vicious article's purpose.

In his weekly printed paper, in the "Out Takes" section---Outzen expounded on the reasons he felt this PNJ hit job was so out of step.

He chronicled a number of other high profile land use decisions the BCC and City Council have made historically that have not necessarily moved in lock step with what nearby residents wanted--yet those decisions were never chastised by the PNJ, nor were those politicians that made those choices.  

Why the double standard?

Then--in an echo of what Commissioner Barry stated at the workshop--Outzen states plainly that NFCU's own project directly adjacent to OLF-8 in Beulah shows us all, in stark terms, how the real value of a big jobs deal is in the payroll and the jobs for the community---not in the ad valorem revenue a company's facilities or residential properties produce.   This was illustrated in a very simple comparison between the MASSIVELY HUGE economic impact jobs have as compared to the ad valorem value of properties constructed per acre.  It was a great post--directly on point and exactly what I've been screaming for years.  Jobs, Jobs, Jobs.

Now--Rick Outzen is no "fan" of Jeff Bergosh.  Let's just get that straight right now---and he will be the first one to go after me in an article or a post if I step out of line in my duty as an elected official.  He's done it before often.  

So with this as the backdrop---it really was satisfying to see that even he saw what I saw and what Steven Barry saw and many others saw:  Consultants who couldn't answer the questions that were important to us as the policymakers.  And a sense of tone-deafness about the jobs and economic development aspects of this project that was annoying in a presentation that went on TOO LONG.

And then a local Newspaper Editorial that unfairly attacked the Board Members.

Hatchet Piece Hit Job Journalism--PNJ Editorial Board Strikes Again

PNJ Editor Lisa Nellessen Savage and Cartoonist Andy Marlette unleashed a biased, inaccurate, non-contextualized and caustic fake-news "editorial" today....simply because I have the audacity to disagree with them and those of their ilk.  Far beyond news, it was a fact-barren, truth concealing, directed ad hominem attack.  No wonder NOBODY trusts them...I can't wait until they go out of business

Today’s ridiculous ad hominem attack piece on me from the PNJ comes because I do not support additional residential construction on the OLF-8 field in Beulah. Self-interested special interests and downtown insiders that control the PNJ, their editor Lisa Nellessen Savage, and their two-person editorial board do not control me----- and this burns them up. I disagree with them, and I do not support utilizing this field for any additional housing, period. We have TOO MUCH residential housing out here already, and we need to let our infrastructure catch up and we DO NOT need to compete with private sector developers who are already building plenty of "walkable communities" within "walking distance" of NFCU. I disagree with them on this---and they can't stand it.  I do not genuflect to their "experts" and they go apoplectic.  Remember this: The PNJ "editorial board" doesn't care about good jobs-they have theirs already.  I do care though.  The PNJ does not care about promises we made to the taxpayers as we spent $18 Million in ESCAMBIA COUNTY taxpayers' monies to acquire this land for jobs for ALL Citizens--not simply for the enrichment of one particular community in Escambia County or for one particular employer in Escambia County.  But I do care.  And I disagree with them and they are throwing a tantrum because of it.   I care about keeping our word to the people of the county that financed this decades long project to bring jobs to the entire county; I will not let downtown insiders, the PNJ, Lisa Savage, Dandy Marlette,  and/or any other special interests do a bait and switch job on the taxpayers of this county.  Period.

 

And yes, as a nearly 17 year resident of Beulah right across from the field--this doesn't mean I will not also advocate for some amenities for our community----to include retail along 9-Mile road (restaurants, shops, hopefully a post office and other establishments)--a regional park with tennis courts, a world class walking-jogging trail around the entire property for community use, and first rate stormwater and road/sidewalk infrastructure throughout the property which will allow us the potential to incubate a MINIMUM of 1000 good jobs which will allow us to win up to $30 Million from Triumph Gulf Coast. My goal--no residential but lots of amenities, parks, greenspace, and good jobs for the whole county. This infuriates the paper and the special interests downtown that want high-density, traffic-exacerbating residential construction and a mall-- complete with apartments and townhomes--all the while knowing this would take us totally out of the running for the triumph $30 Million dollar jobs grant. They don't care though--remember, they have theirs already. But I do care, this drives them nuts, and I will remain faithful to the intent of this project no matter what. It is what I campaigned on and I don't care how many inaccurate hit pieces the corrupted, compromised, biased, partisan, and inaccurate PNJ writes about me. What they say means nothing, everyone knows PNJ is corrupted--owned by the downtown insiders and special interests and their advertising "patron."

They're owned, but I will NEVER be.