Have the PNJ--and Others that Possess Stolen County Files Unlawfully--- Committed a Felony?

 Today's hatchet piece in the PNJ was not entirely surprising to me.  They were named, along with two others, in the county's lawsuit over stolen county records.  They knew that the files they received were stolen.  They have been told the files have been manipulated.  They have published anyway.

The Judge in the case has called a hearing and it will come soon.  The Gannett lawyers assigned took great umbrage to this, according to what I have been told today from staff.

I'm told lawyers for Gannett have even actually called the county attorney's office in advance of the soon to occur court proceeding with BS garbage about why they are entitled to hang onto these un-redacted, stolen county files that contain personal identification information on five individuals or more. They are the "media"--that's why!

The problem for them is---nobody has been able to find a single exception to the Florida Statutes that speak to personal identification information being  possessed, unauthorized, by the "media".  

There isn't one.  

Gannett's lawyers probably know that, thus the first of what will be many hatchet jobs as they seek to maximize the damage they attempt to cause with the stolen, manipulated county property they possess unlawfully.

Here's what the relevant statute,  § 817.5685 , says.  No "exception" for media outlets so far as I can tell.

Meanwhile, the PNJ has been served with an order to show cause as the county's lawsuit for replevin and conversion regarding stolen county files is moving rapidly through Escambia's court system.  It is coming up quickly, scheduled for February 5th.

Discovery and depositions are coming--get ready!

Thus, it is not surprising to see their (PNJ's) hamfisted hatchet piece online today--where they once again place me in a false light with actual malice by snipping and cutting purported text messages from the stolen county file they have in their possession (that they know has been manipulated)--putting exchanges out of chronological order purposely and glossing over the fact I was telling anyone and everyone my plan to bring Perdido Key back to D1 once the board decided to rush through the redistricting in a shortened timeframe.  I said it directly to my peers on the board at the first workshop in September of 2021 in no uncertain terms---so  to attempt to convince readers I have acted unlawfully and violated the state's sunshine law by discussing something I had already stated at an open advertised meeting as well as on the radio prior to discussions with a citizen is preposterous and ridiculous.  

That assertion is wrong, and PNJ knows it. It's garbage rubbish and they know it.

These files are manipulated, they know this, too and again the chronological order of the conversations in their hit piece is changed by the PNJ.  On top of this fact--in order to make the reader believe unlawful, shady, unethical requests are being made---the reality of the situation is that in the timeline PNJ shared with the readers it is quickly apparent that before this particular text exchange happened I had already told all board members my intention----in public meeting(s)-----to go back to the year 2000 district lines again where Perdido Key was in District 1!!!!  I'd also discussed it on the radio and publicly at an advertised meeting.

I also did a blog post on this topic three weeks before the redistricting meeting on October 5th.

It wasn't a mystery--certainly not to the other board members.

They (PNJ) leave that out purposely and conveniently, put conjecture in, change the timeline, and add in opinions from ill-infomed individuals on the sunshine law to add "credibility" to their attack, and insinuate I have done something illegal.  It is all garbage though-- a false light attack with actual malice.

This is par for the course with them: they (PNJ) are throwing spaghetti at the wall--because they know that there is likely to be a temporary restraining order issued to curtail their selected release of stolen, manipulated, unverified, and unredacted county files that they and others possess unlawfully.

So they'll likely be priniting a raft of similar stories, based upon these stolen files, over the next several weeks ahead of a potential temporaty restraining order that will prevent them from continuing to publish stories based upon these stolen files--but will rather force them to acquire public records the proper way----by requesting them like everyone else has to do.

That all said, though----------- the most important development to come from PNJ's B.S. garbage pile hit-piece today is the news that yes, they, (PNJ) do indeed have a complete copy of my downloaded iPhone.  They admitted it by posting this picture:

Prior to this article and this picture being published by the PNJ today--there was some question as to whether or not a complete copy of my iphone had been stolen unredacted from the county's servers.

 Jonathan Owens clammed up when approached by investigators--although he has mentioned multiple times in the media that he has a "jump drive".  Others have lawyered up.  So nobody knew one way or the other for sure-------------------until today---------------that all of the phone backup files had been stolen and disseminated unlawfully.  Thanks, PNJ, for confirmation!  

There was suspicion, but not confirmation, until today.    

So that will be more good information to develop questions for the coming depositions in the civil trial where folks won't be able to "not answer."  Can't wait for that.

Meanwhile-- with today's publication of this picture  above (which I verified was on my original, unadulterated, unmanipulated download from the county this evening when I got home from work)---we now know that whomever it was that has possessed this file not only possessed it unlawfully but also at a Felony level due to the fact that the pictures on this file contain personal identification information on at least five individuals, as stipulated in Florida Statutes.

In addition to all of this, I am also aware now that others that possess this file have lied about it to authorities and there is compelling, new  information on this now being looked into by investigators.

The thing to remember is not to lie.  Tell the truth, or the truth will find you.

Lie to the FBI and all bets are off.  period.  That's a felony and they don't like being lied to.  And it doesn't matter what title you hold or what office you occupy.

Lie to the FBI ad it is a felony. Could be a career ender.

So don't do it.

Why does the Public NOT Trust America's Mainstream Media in General, and the Local Print Media, the PNJ, in Particular?

 

The sea of red "DISAGREE" cards is nearly unanimous at every town hall I hold in District 1 when I ask one simple question:  Do you trust and believe what you read in the Pensacola News Journal?

We had a really good turnout for our Monday evening's Town Hall meeting.

The crowd that came out was interested, motivated, and they were engaged.

So we talked a LOT of issues....Traffic, stormwater, infrastructure, growth management, and lots of other topics.  We went through all of the audience comments, and a lot of issues were addressed/explained by staff.  Those issues for which we could not provide a cogent explanation were referred to staff who could provide a response.  

So it was a great night and I really appreciated everyone's participation.

At the end of the night, I waited at the podium and answered the last of the crowd's questions, 1 on 1, face to face.

And one of the individuals who waited to speak with me taught my son in Elementary School in Beulah nearly 20 years ago.  So she had my attention.

"This townhall was great, you did a great job and really connected with the people---but there's one thing you need to fix------stop slamming the media!"  she stated.  And I told her I appreciated her opinion and understood her concern--but that the media in America is distrusted, nearly universally.  And the print media, locally, the PNJ particularly is not trusted at all.

"I worry about our country if we do not support a free press"  she continued.   "I do too" I responded.

Then I continued "They lie, play favorites, hide facts, and are selective about whom it is they attack, and whom it is that gets a pass.  That's why nobody trusts the media today, the mainstream media, and especially the PNJ locally."

"Well, you should speak with them and explain your position" she stated, to which I replied "I've done that--and they are intransigent."

"You should just ignore them then" she concluded.  

"I have to keep an eye on them because of what I do--but I do ignore the majority of the garbage they put out." I stated flatly as I thanked her for coming and participating and for all she did for students.

The issue that got her somewhat riled was the portion of my townhall where I rapidly surveyed the audience on their thoughts of the media.  Three questions drew almost universal rebuke of the media, and the PNJ in particular.  You can see the reaction for yourself at minute 1:44  of this video

Retraction Requested of the PNJ

 

Another Inaccurate, Misleading, Garbage PNJ Headline: Par for the Course

"Mike Kohler Looks to Restore Trust in District 2 Commissioner's Seat" is how PNJ's misleading headline above should have read.....

Yesterday's electronic PNJ put out a story about soon-to-be sworn in County Commissioner-Elect Mike Kohler.  And once a reader was able to get by the BS headline--the story was well-written. (and don't worry, the PNJ are saving this piece, along with the garbage headline, for their Sunday edition....the only day they have any readership of their hard copy product to speak of.....

 But the headline they used and will be using tomorrow is garbage.  No, it is worse than that, it is BS, misleading Garbage.

 "Mike Kohler Looks to Restore Trust in Escambia County"

 After reading that headline, I expected to see yet another inaccurate, hatchet piece article running down the current commissioners--  because--to read that headline one would assume the county is in shambles and broken--and Kohler like a white-knight is coming in for a rescue job.  (In fairness, some do believe Escambia's Governance is a wreck:  The PNJ, a former PNJ cartoonist, a couple of downtown types, a downtown stockbroker, and about 12 people on one Facebook chat site.)

 Most normal human citizens don't share this dystopian and skewed view of reality, though. 

 Looking at the election, where the only incumbent Escambia County commissioner on the ballot won in a landslide, and looking at the recent survey the Studer group put out showing year-over year improvement in the public's perception of the county commission and the county's overall trajectory--what the PNJ and some foil-hat haters think about the commissioners and the county does not line up with what the average citizen believes.

I get a lot of email, phone calls, and feedback directly from constituents all day, every day. They don't hold back, either. Rarely do I get a complaint about the 401a, lack of a strategic plan, or the idea of consolidation or creating a "charter county" with a "strong elected administrator."  I never get complaints about firing former administrator Janice Gilley.  Nope-those are the issues of the PNJ and a handful of downtowners.  Normal folks are concerned with their own issues--traffic, over-development, and to a lesser degree--stormwater issues.  What I don't hear is ordinary folks upset about the PNJ's faux issues of anger above.   Never.

 Knowing all this and seeing the headline I was prepared for the worst.

 But the article did not attack the commissioners, at least not overtly anyway.  It was primarily a piece about the incoming commissioner and some of his priorities and goals once getting into office.  And the article is framed around his challenge in doing that due to his predecessor's horrible record and tumultuous, scandal-ridden tenure and departure under clouds of suspicion, ongoing litigation, and multiple ethics violations.

from the article:

"Kohler said for the first few months in office, he would focus on restoring trust in the District 2 office. “I really want to try to build a decent relationship with the other commissioners so that hopefully they'll work with me to get some stuff done in District 2," Kohler said. "I know the people in District 2 really feel like they've been underserved..Kohler said he hopes he is not "held hostage" by the actions of his predecessor, who he pointed out did not support him during his election campaign.  I'm hoping I can make some amends and just go in and prove to them that I'm not an enemy," Kohler said."

So, I asked Jim Little about the misleading headline.  I told him the headline should have been something like "Kohler to attempt to restore trust in D2 Commission seat" which he disagreed about.  He doubled down on the headline he used.  "I see your point, but I think the article conveys he is looking to restore trust in the D2 seat but also trust in the county for the residents of D2.  So, I think the headline fits the story" he stated.

 Another inaccurate, misleading garbage PNJ Headline--it's par for the course because they want strife, conflict, angst, and controversy.  They feast on it, and a headline like that magnifies a "position" that is not held by a majority of area citizens.  No matter, the PNJdoesn't care.  They will create it or attempt to manifest dysfunction in order to sell ads and papers--because they do not care about this community and the people that live here.  It's all about making a buck, meeting sales goals, and a desperate attempt to stay relevant.  It is disgusting and dishonorable, but legal, the way this paper plies its trade.  And they risk setting up the soon to be commissioner for a tougher start than needed by publishing this article this way.  They don't care though.  They want strife and division on this board, they are counting on it.  They leverage it to sell papers and ads.

If they (the PNJ) were offered a community guaranteed to be free of crime or any issues with locally elected leaders that served the citizens and functioned at a high level --but this scenario required them to go out of business---they would cast that perfect community aside for the ability to continue doing what they do---fostering discontent with fake, garbage "news", misleading headlines, unfair and inaccurate "editorials" and cartoons ONLY on their perceived philosophical rivals and those who their advertising patron(s) disfavor.

 No wonder the PNJ are shrinking; they're slowly going out of business, quietly and incrementally.  But it is coming.  They did (and continue to do) it to themselves.   This headline is another example of why.

I Normally Don't Do it, But......

.....This time I did.  I Picked up the phone and made the call.

Yes, I normally do not return calls where the citizen is irate and yells at my aide(s) or is rude, threatening, or just plain onry in their call to our office.  I especially avoid the ones where they make a threat or an ultimatum.

Because, what is the point, right?  Obviously this individual--whoever they may be at any given time--has made up their mind and have picked up a phone and taken the time to call my office to enunciate the fact that:

1.) If I vote for "X"--they will never vote for me again or 2.) They will never vote for me again because of some "thing" I purportedly did or 3.) they think I am somehow engaged in criminal conduct or 4.) all of the above.

These are not every day occurrences, but these sorts of calls do come in from time to time.

And I normally don't do it, I normally don't call back--especially when they explicitly tell my staff "not to bother having Bergosh call back."  But this time, along with the "don't bother having him call back" --the individual actually left a name and number.  So I did call back--and I am glad I did.  I actually had a productive conversation with the original caller and one of this individual's relatives who listened in.

The setup was this:  I am apparently not worthy of continued support because of the state retirment plan others on the board take.  And the article in the paper was infuriating to this constituent!

So, again, I called her and asked her about it.

"Look, I read that article in the PNJ, and it made me so angry!  It's not right that the commissioners are taking an extra $40,000.00 per year over and above their $85,000.00 salary for a part-time job--and I am mad!"  She continued..."Look, I know you don't take that plan, but you voted for it and so I am not happy about that either!"

I listened to her speak, and there is no doubt she was angry and worked up.  So I listened, and then we had a back and forth dialogue and she listened as well.

"I understand you are angry, but that was not a news piece you read--it was an opinion piece from the local cartoonist, Andy Marlette.  And, it is full of lies, half-truths, and falsehoods." I stated flatly. 

"Look, that guy is constantly taking shots at me, he has for the last 16 years.  Cartoons, hit pieces, and flat out lies, slander, and libel about me and other elected conservatives.  He is a sack of garbage, a liar, a misogynist,  a racist, and he is not anyone who is trustworthy in any sense of the word" I explained to her.  "I'm astonished you even take the paper locally--it is so bad, they LIE so OFTEN and so many I know have cancelled their subscriptions!" I stated.  Then I asked her how, if I was such an horrible dishonest politician as Marlette insinuates falsely--"how in the world could I not have been ever accused of doing anything unethical, illegal, or immoral in the last 16 years as an elected official where my entire life exists under a microscope for everyone to examine?"

We talked for a while, and I asked her if she has seen the toxic garbage lies this same individual, racist liberal activist and conservative Christian-hater ---Andy Marlette---  puts out about our Governor, Ron DeSantis, and our Senator(s) Marco Rubio and Rick Scott.  "Yes, I have" she conceded.  "And yet you still support those elected officials though?"  At which point she expressed support for these men while also volunteering the fact that she is/was a Democrat that "votes for the person, not the party, and at the last election I voted straight Republican."  

Then I asked a rhetorical.  "So, you support those Republicans, and do not believe what the PNJ says about them---but the Republican Commissioners---you believe what the cartoonist says about us?

Then we talked at length about the FRS, the 401(a) the differences and the costs for both plans.  I went through the plans in meticulous detail, including the fact that these plans have been in existance in the county for 25 years, the commissioners did not "invent" these plans, and I have not voted for these plans.

We talked about all the employees and elected officials who have expensive pensions, the employees who retire with 100% of their pay for life, and also the exorbitant costs associated with the pension plan for constitutional officers like, for instance, clerk of the court Pam Childers--who's FRS pension costs to the taxpayer are nearly DOUBLE every year (nearly $80K) what the county commissioner's plans

Town Hall Audience to PNJ: We Don't Trust You, and You Don't Represent the Values of Escambia County Citizens.....OUCH!

A "Sea of Red" comment cards fly into the air when the following statement is made:  "I believe what I read in the local newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal".....at the D1 Perdido/Innerarity Town Hall 1-22-2022

It has got to sting.  The blistering, unabashed distrust and dismay everyday, ordinary Escambia County Citizens willingly express toward the Pensacola News Journal.  It is somewhat shocking how a local daily newspaper can be so disconnected from the community they (purportedly) serve.

But disconnected they are, apparently.

From multiple inaccurate, deliberate false light portrayals of elected officials...

To a white cartoonist who uses the "N-Word" and is unapologetic about it and is not held accountable....but is actually REWARDED with lucrative, syndicated cartoon opportunities

To what stories and op-ed submissions get no coverage.....

To the blatant pandering expressed to certain so-called influential "community" leaders.....(who also spend heavily on advertising with the PNJ)

To a nonstop bashing of locally elected and statewide elected conservative public figures which the community supports...

and the list could go on.

But people see it.  They spot it.

Monopolies are good for folks like this, folks like the PNJ who do all of these things, yet still reap the monetary rewards from huge national advertisers and local advertisers who have no hard-copy daily news alternative with which they can do business.

But cracks may be forming.  So many of us are increasingly disappointed with the ever shrinking content in the PNJ, that people are starting to point it out.  Saturday PNJ papers here in Pensacola are soon going digital only.  Midweek papers are wispy-thin with content swiped from USA today or other "partner" publications from other parts of the state and country.

It's weak, lazy, lacking credibility and they shouldn't be rewarded.

It's a real disappointment.   

If only we had a local paper that represented our values and our community's ideological slant (center right, PNJ, not left).  But we don't.  We get what we get, and with the dollars we spend on this paper, we not only accept but CONDONE this subpar "news" outlet.

Sad.

I asked for audience input on the following two statements as a part of my townhall last night:

1.         Our local Newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal, is in step with our community’s values.

2.          I believe what I read in the local newspaper, the Pensacola News Journal. 

These statements were specifically about the PNJ---to which both elicited OVERWHELMINGLY  Red, Disagree comment cards held high in the air.  Overwhelming.  (95%-5% Disagree.)

It was a very basic message to the PNJ from our town hall audience:  PNJ, we don't trust you, and you don't represent the values of Escambia County Citizens, period.

Ouch.

Watch this portion of the meeting here at minute 52:41 of this video.  Don't just take my word for it---see it for yourself.

Gannett and PNJ Ethics Quiz

 

Andy Marlette, the PNJ and parent company Gannett are cashing in on their PNJ cartoonist's newfound "fame" with the publication of his syndicated cartoon shrimp and grits.  He is making the company money---but is it moral and ethical for him to use the "N-word" in cartoons?  What about his despicable, dehumanizing and misogynistic attack cartoon focused on a female employee of  Governor Ron DeSantis---with the intent of attacking the governor through his female employee?  The cartoonist loves to make accusations about members of the Board of County Commissioners' retirement programs--but at least our programs are legal as outlined in state statutes.  And they are moral and ethical---unlike some of the histrionics from Gannett and PNJ via cartoonist Andy Marlette.  And Gannett stands by while these transgressions occur by liberal, white, progressive and privileged Andy Marlette--who spent the last 5 years doing some of the most disgusting portrayals of our former president in the country.  Meanwhile, conservative cartoonist Bruce Tinsley's Mallard Fillmore does a couple of zingers directed at our new President, Joe Biden, and BOOM--he gets IMMEDIATELY Cancelled--with his syndicated cartoon being deplatformed in the Gannett publications.  Talk about double standards, feigned outrage over "morals and ethics" and rank hypocrisy.  These folks are the worst of the worst. 

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!

Calling Your "N-Word" Using PNJ Gannett Cartoonist......

"N-Word" Using Andy Laughs at you, laughing all the way to the bank with the PNJ..  He'll patronize you and tell you to "Press "1" to leave a complaint.......Maybe they'll get back to you.  Probably not....Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha

Trussssssssst Andy Marlette: He's not a racisssssssssssst.......

Andy Marlette Uses the N-Word in his cartoon.  Fake news media and others allow it, and reward it..

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

Two Editorial Cartoons in One Weekend!!

 

Andy Marlette Shamelessly plugs his stupid, non-humorous comic strip, Pimp & Twits, at the Pensacola Beach Air Show July 10, 2021--with the same predictably disastrous results as PNJ's news, editorial, and features output and as equally dismal as PNJ's feeble attempts at subscriber growth and retention.....it all just ends in a fiery mid-air disaster......

Wow! PNJ Editorial Cartoonist Andy "Dandy" Marlette and the crack 2-person editorial PNJ team have been  busy little beavers this weekend, once again on the attack, lashing out at the hard working Escambia Board of County Commissioners.  We got two (2) cartoons this weekend, one on Saturday and one this morning.

Andy must be really, really lathered up and exercised to take a "Sunday" slot (the only day PNJ has any circulation over 200 readers) and pivot away from Trump, Rubio, Scott, and DeSantis---to attack us!

It's amusing

But the smaller and smaller number of subscribers PNJ clings on to must be wondering what his anger and venom is all about.  Around town at various social events I attend, I'm always asked "Wow, the cartoonist is always after you--what's up with that?" to which I simply respond, "He's an idiot, he is glib, everyone knows it, and I live rent-free in his head."

So yes, I understand Andy hates those of us that roll up our sleeves and do the difficult yet necessary (and often messy) work of local governance --work he himself couldn't do and couldn't handle---yes, we all get that.  Yes, yes we know he has a fixation on the BCC and yours truly in particular.   Yes we know he has been drawing cartoons about us that are stupid for years now, and yes we know he makes some money for the failing PNJ with his syndicated cartoons which help keep the PNJ financially viable.  (He punched his ticket by attacking former president Trump mercilessly over the last 5 years--which gave him "the creds", apparently, to have a nationally syndicated comic strip given to him--from which he more than likely makes a few bucks).  He uses the N-Word in his cartoons, so what says his employer?   It's not like he's someone that should get cancelled like the Bachelor host, right?  Yes, he hates Trump, makes money for the liberal PNJ, runs a recurring schtick that he's a "Republican" (yeah, right), and does as he is told by his local advertisers---- so they, in turn, ignore that messy piece of nastiness about Andy Marlette, a privileged white man who used the N-Word and flipped the finger to those who wanted to cancel him.  Apparently, he is untouchable unlike so many others who got cancelled for doing the same.  So, yes, PNJ keep him around because of that.  He's nothing but a useful tool.  For the money, and because he does the Patron's bidding unflinchingly.

But when he makes stupid cartoons about me and what I do, I'll continue to manipulate them and make them actually funny.  He really hates that which is also very amusing.  It drives him nuts but he can't do a damn thing about it!   So.............

Introducing "Pimp & Twits"

Introducing "Pimp & Twits!"

And now, with all of this ruckus in the backdrop--- stay tuned for a brand new, actually funny "cartoon" strip of my own based upon Andy's failing, stupid one that nobody reads and that isn't funny.  My version will be titled "Pimp & Twits"  ---Set in the fictional, Florida coastal fishing town known as "Patronville" Starring a meth-addicted, media-obsessed Crocadile who is actually a former human being known as El Patron ---but  who was tragically transformed into a Crocadile/human hybrid in a life-extending, youth enhancing plastic surgery procedure that went haywire in lab in Belize. In addition to becoming a crocodile, his mind became warped and he suddenly, genuinely believed he was loved by all, respected by everybody, and that all people would do his bidding universally. Surrounding the croc, affectionately known as "Pimp"(because he "pimps" everyone around him to do his bidding)  are his cast of cronies that run his deals and his games for him.....  Lisa and Andy, two simpletons that love to dress up like characters from Hogan's Heroes and play-act scenes from that 60's  show, two dimwitted

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

How is this OK? Why Does Andy Marlette Get a Pass?

Andy Marlette used a disgusting racial slur in his cartoon that was posted on the PNJ Facebook page yesterday by a commenter to his editorial who simply asks--"Wait...Is this Okay, Andy??

Look--I don't support "Cancel-Culture."  I think it is a slippery slope.  Folks are imperfect, and times change.  And people change, as well.  Stuff gets taken out of context, lies are manufactured, inarticulate verbal slips end careers.  It is dangerous, it is scary. "Cancel culture"---It is the anathema of the 1st Amendment and Free Speech.  Especially when it only applies to some.  But when a person writes the N-Word in a cartoon and signs his name to it--and the cartoonist is a white man---wow!  How is this OK?  Why does Andy Marlette and the PNJ get a pass on this?

This disgusting, racist cartoon that is purportedly a product of white, elitist, privileged cartoonist Andy Marlette of the PNJ was posted on Facebook yesterday on the PNJ facebook site under the comments section--and it naturally piqued my curiosity.  Here is a picture from the link, below.

Andy Marlette used a disgusting racial slur in his cartoon that was posted on the PNJ Facebook page yesterday by a commenter to his editorial who simply asks--"Wait...Is this Okay, Andy??

Because when we live in a world where cartoons in books from 5 decades ago, penned by staunch liberals like Dr. Seuss (Theodor Geisel), are now verboten---how does a backwater, hack cartoonist like Andy Marlette get to use the racist N-Word in his cartoon--and NOT face any pushback at all?

I mean, right now many Disney classics from decades ago are being pulled from some screening service platforms because of perceived racist overtones.

Chris Harrison gets booted from the Bachelor after serving as host for 20 seasons with the show-for  not being agreeable enough with a host during an interview.  (Harrison even apologized, profusely, after the fact.  Didn't matter, he's gone, cancelled.)

White spring breakers who get to rap along with big celebrities get chastised by the PNJ and other outlets.

But Arrogant Andy gets a pass--for writing the word??

Look--I don't like and I don't support Cancel Culture.  But a public figure like Andy Marlette, a guy

Marlette Malfunction Junction: How PNJ Hatchet Piece Backfires on PNJ--on their own Facebook Site!!

Yesterday's inept, ham-fisted, and ineffectual attempt at an attack on me on the "PNJ-Facebook Page" backfired on PNJ--resulting in dozens of negative comments directed toward Dandy Marlette and the PNJ...It was GOLDEN

Wow, just when I think the PNJ and their "crack" 2-person editorial board can't get any worse, any more inept, and any more clumsy--- they uncork an out-of-touch, ill-timed, and perplexing attack on me again.  But in it, they take swipes at multiple others in addition to yours truly.  When it went online yesterday, several folks reached out to me--saying "we thought the meeting today was great, you all compromised--so why this, and why now?"

That's what I thought too, but whatever.

So it gets even better... 

Apparently around lunchtime yesterday, PNJ put this Andy Marlette garbage "editorial" slamming me, Florida West, Economic Development, Scott Luth, the City Council, Matt Gaetz, and all citizens that disagree with them---- on their own PNJ facebook page.  With MY picture under a caption slamming our Congressman Matt Gaetz.  They even threw in a hashtag #FreeBrittany.  The final piece in PNJ's self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head was when they locked the article for "Subscribers Only."  So folks couldn't read the article to figure out the context.  It was confusing, it was jumbled, and it was haphazard (not unlike the majority of their editorials).

Naturally, it exploded spectacularly like Elon Musk's recent Starship launch pad mishap.

And then the negative comments against PNJ and Andy from Facebook posters began piling on top of PNJ's Facebook page...here's a sample of comments from the vicious beatdown Dandy and the PNJ are sustaining-----on their own site, LOL!

---Lol, no way I am paying to subscribe for those "opinions!" 

----This dude is just an opinion writer and apparently his opinions aren’t worth much as PNJ bleeds subscribers.--

----Pnj is possibly from a California city.. At least it seems--

"----This opinion column is exclusive for subscribers." — Thank god for that...

-----PNJ wouldn’t even make decent toilet paper

----I wasn't aware that Pensacola was in dire danger. But our Republic *is*, from the Commiecrats that he is opposing and that the PNJ is shilling for

----No thank you. Not interested in Marlett’s opinions.

----Marlette needs to stop doing drugs that aren’t legal in this state. Crack is bad for you and the community.

----Garbage “opinion”

----Why pay to read opinions. That is what that "newspaper"has become. Just opinions. Everyone has them. When you go back to facts maybe we will once again pay for your "newspaper"

----This rage is a POS!

----Start with FACTS you hacks

----Does anyone pay for this paper anymore?

Wow--what a beatdown!

Whatever Happened to the Watchdog, Just the Facts, Public Service Print News of Years Past?

Like the proverbial "Dolphin in a Tuna Net" Fishing operations--today's print media appears to take a position of fire, ready, aim!--regardless of the ramifications. Regardless of the innocent by-catch. This is especially apparent locally with the Pensacola News Journal!

Where did it go? Whatever Happened to the Watchdog,  Just the Facts, Public Service Print News of Years Past?

These days, we have a press that increasingly appears to be compromised.   

At the national and local level.  

Averse to negative publicity, reactionary towards any criticism, and fickle politically.  And overly obsequious to their advertising base, to boot!

At the local level, I have seen some of the best and worst of journalism.

Some of the best comes from William Reynolds at NorthEscambia.com.  He publishes news pieces---just the facts-no spin, no "opinion."  He knocks it out of the park with his online paper.

While Rick Outzen and I have not always seen eye to eye---he tackles important stories and deals with them fairly and in a balanced way.  If not for his coverage of the shenanigans surrounding the Newpoint schools 5 years ago-----that issue may have never been cleaned up--and some folks that deserve to be in jail and are in jail currently probably would not be in jail!  He does a good job with his weekly paper.

And then we have the Pensacola News Journal--the "PNJ."

They Kowtow to their advertisers and put out some of the most putrid, disgusting rubbish you could imagine.

They go through staff like most folks change socks------ and they never do quite get the story right.

Fire, ready, aim must be their mantra--and folks locally are catching on to it.  

And believe me--the PNJ  loves to attack those of us that are elected locally trying their best to make our community better....yet they have their "favorites"---- that could commit murder and not get scrutinized in the pages of their "publication".  It is sickening, the duplicity....

But I digress.....

This evening,  I received more evidence of this feckless, weak and irrelevant print media PNJ..... I got a document dump from a public records request related to the County's  OLF-8 project (Which will be discussed tomorrow morning at a Board of County Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting) where I have now found some incredibly disappointing emails related to the PNJ....... and it isn't surprising.....

Sadly--a team of designers that is supposed to be working for the county is apparently working at cross-purposes with us.  

That's bad enough..

But now I am seeing that along the way, this group of designers have been feeding stories to the Pensacola News Journal that run a narrative that puts us, the elected board of county commissioners, in a negative light.

So this, in and of itself, is deplorable.  But then there is the PNJ editorial board......that prints this garbage and doubles down on it!

The saddest part is the way they allow themselves to be manipulated.  

They are allowing a third party to provide the material for their stories--then apparently allowing these same folks to correct stories after publication.  Compliantly, like useful tools.

How sad.

But that's not even the saddest part.  The saddest part is the demeaning way in which the PNJ editor refers to one of her own employees in emails to folks outside their organization.  Really sad to see, and I feel sorry for this employee that such an opinion or assessment of her performance would be shared like this to someone in writing, outside her organization.  Totally unprofessional.

But again--getting back to the important topic at hand--the question remains the same:  Whatever happened to the watchdog, just the facts, public service print news of years past----looking out for the community and wanting to do what is right?

Answer---it's gone, does not exist anymore.  Everyone has an angle, everyone has an agenda.

There is no loyalty--------especially at the PNJ.

And good people and good employees get caught in the middle like Dolphins in the Tuna net.

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.