On "Real News with Rick Outzen" Later this Morning at 7:00

Rick Outzen--journalist, publisher, and host of the area's best, most widely listened-to and most informative local morning drive news-talk program "Real News with Rick Outzen" on 1370 WCOA--has invited me onto his show later this morning at 7:00 as his leadoff guest.

Rick has asked me to come on and talk about the last year on the BCC and accomplishments the board has made over this past year as we prepare for tomorrow's swearing in and re-organizational meeting at 9:00AM when I will hand over the chairman's gavel to D3 Commissioner Lumon May.

Once this podcast is completed later today, I will post it here.

We will discuss the big-ticket wins of the last year districtwide:

--Completion of once every 10-years redistricting of county commissioners' districts

--Completion of the 4-year salary deal with ECSO

--Moving out of COVID Pandemic utilizing Cares Act and Rescue Plan funding

--Building a better staff/County Leadership Team

--Formalizing/negotiating Wes Moreno's contract as Administrator

--Completion of Bargaining with all the County's Bargaining Groups

--Opening Beach Access #4 at Perdido Key

--Record $620 Million FY 23 Budget WITHOUT raising Millage Tax Rates

--Funding $1.6 Million for regional Advanced Traffic Management System

If time permits, I'll also spotlight some completed D1 Specific projects 

--Opening of the first D1 public library, the Bellview Library 

--Awarding contract and breaking ground on the Beulah Fire Station

--Working to get Sorrento Road widening project on Sorrento Road moved up on TPO priority list

--funding for Beulah area master plan finalized, project is forthcoming

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.

The Mystery of the More Than $7,000.00 1-Month ECUA Water Bill?!?

Just imagine it.  You go online to pay your routine bills, to include your ECUA bill for water, sewage and garbage.  Ho hum, just something you do once a month.

But when you log in to pay your bill, you spit coffee through your nostrils and adrenaline pumps through your body and your blood pressure skyrockets  as you see something that CANNOT be right---a bill that is normally around a hundred bucks is $7,326.00 dollars!

What!?!     (picture the Allstate Commercial where the guy on your door cam starts smashing your car window and you aren't there to stop him from doing it)

What?!?  Seven Grand!!!

Making matters worse--you quickly realize this isn't a "mistake."

Uh oh, spagetthi o's--or as Scooby Doo might say "Ruh-Roh Raggy!!"

In this instance of a true story that unfolded yesterday afternoon/evening--------the bill was, in fact,  correct.  Apparently--the culprit was a water leak on the property-owner's side of the meter that was not noticed by anyone. (not sure how, but that's a question for another time I guess--once folks calm down and come back from the ledge) 

So what do you do?  Well,  you --the property owner---quickly contact your county commissioner--- (who has no play in this at all-- by the way--but whatever:  I am here to help!)----who quickly forwards the issue to his ECUA counterpart--and lo and behold there is an explanation.  And, thankfully, a solution.

In this story--the quick actions of ECUA staff and board member Vicki Campbell are to be commended.  ECUA immediately went out to the property, checked the situation, and determined a leak was the culprit.  No word back yet on what caused it or whether or not it has been repaired by the property owner (hopefully it has been!--but it must've been leaking a while to run up that kind of a billing--how did the property owner not notice this?).

Thankfully--there is now a happy ending to this story coming.....

Because ECUA offers its customers a one time credit for such catostrophic occurrences.  (I know this firsthand because I had a similar situation occur and was able to wipe away the charges with this one-time facility provided by ECUA.)

Thankfully (and mercifully)--this is a bill that this homeowner won't have to pay.

Whew--that's a relief!

77th Coffee with the Commissioner--Great Conversation on How we are Attacking the Opioid Epidemic Locally

Today on our 77th Coffee with the Commissioner Event(which you can view in it's entirety by clicking the video above) we discussed the CORE program which the county will be implementing, in conjunction with community healthcare partners, to combat our out-of-control opioid overdose issue here.  This program will help folks find addiction treatment options to help them kick their habits if they seek help.  The panel describes how this program will work, and how it is modeled after a very successful program in south Florida.  Dr. Mark Stavros from Florida West Hospital, Chandra Smiley from Community Health Northwest, Marie Mott from the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County, and Escambia County Public Safety Director Eric Gilmore joined County Administrator Wes Moreno and I for the discussion.

Affordable Rentals, Lack of Available Childcare, and the Public Education System Locally--Concerns I am Hearing

 

At yesterday's meeting of the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, several themes emerged that are proving to be difficult barriers for the families of some junior enlisted and junior officer members of the armed forces stationed here (or potentially transferring here).

Affordable Rentals, Lack of Available Childcare, and the Public Education System Locally (which many deem to be insufficient for the military dependents' needs) are the big three that were discussed.

Multiple CO's and XO's from several Pensacola area commands were represented at this meeting, and they each expressed an awareness of this frustration/concern.  These are not necessarily all new concerns, either.

The discussion on housing and childcare revolved around a "plus-up" in allowances that area military families will be receiving to help offset the skyrocketing costs of housing rentals and childcare. (although there is fear this increase won't completely offset the rate of inflation of the costs)

We also discussed methods we are employing within the county to build affordable housing units. (which received no press once we passed it earlier this month....)As well as some things that Habitat for Humanity is doing in the community to address the affordable housing issue.

But the economy has changed, inflation has become rampant ( a bi-product of money printing ) and fewer folks are stepping up to do low-wage work (like childcare) due to federal and state policies that many feel are overly remunerative for folks that do not work.  So there's that double whammy.

With respect to challenges within the public schools--several attendees were interested in learing more about what school choice/voucher programs were/are available to military families that come to our area.  I told the group there are resources for military dependents and their families funded by DoD and the State of Florida, and information on this topic was disseminated to the group.   I also described some of the historical challenges our schools have faced which have dragged down performance district wide and the various, numerous programs that have been tried, and ultimately failed, at a couple of very difficult and high-profile schools.

When the family totally and completely breaks down in entire communities--this (poor public school performance) along with blight, high crime, and decreased property values is what we see.

Some of the conversation on that topic was uncomfortable.  But the truth is the truth, and I'll never be one to add sugar-coating over the top of it.  Great communities MAKE great public school districts, that is the universal truth of reality, and I will always defend hard working teachers and school district employees that work their guts out to help students.  In other words, this is more an isolated community problem in pockets of our area, and less an academic one or a teacher competency one districtwide.  Folks don't like to hear that though and some believe it is a lack of more "programs" and money.

That's not it, though.

On a brighter note, I did take the opportunity to spotlight the performance of more than a dozen Escambia Public Schools that together earned more than $1.5 Million in school recognition bonuses from the state of  Florida for sustained excellence and/or learning gain improvements over the last school year.

I also let the attendees know about the upcoming coffee with the commissioner event on December 15th where we will discuss the school district in depth with my special guest that day, School Board Chairman Kevin Adams.

These issues that are acutely affecting the military community here are a HUGE concern of mine as an elected official that understands that the federal military spending in our community represents nearly half of our economy locally.  If we don't get these issues ironed out and (heaven forbid) lose missions or have them diminished in size--this would be an economic loss that we cannot afford to sustain.

So we have to work to fix these issues.  Period.

Fixing the "Sign-Noise" at the Beach

There is a growing, grass-roots anger among many long-time locals who love to surf at Perdido Key.

They have approached me about the issue--which I agree needs a solution.

The problem: tacky, offensive signage up and down the beach (often connected by rope or chain) carving out portions of the beach there on Perdido Key that are privately owned.  These are "no-trespassing" signs.  I've heard, anecdotally, that children have run into the ropes and also that these tacky, connected signs potentially increase the danger to nesting turtles trying to get up the beach to lay their eggs.

It looks terrible, and tacky.  It's dangerous to kids, and potentially harmful to sea turtles--those that are roped off from the dunes all the way down to the surf.  According to many with whom I have spoken (and indeed from my own personal experiences at Perdido Key as a kid fishing with my dad)--this is a "newer" phenomenon that came about not too long ago.

Look--we all get it.  portions of much of the beach at Perdido Key from the dunes to the mean-high tide line are private property and the owner(s) of such properties have the right to enforce no trespassing on such parcels and also to post signage notifying visitors of this.

But there is a less tacky, less obtrusive, and less onerous way to properly notice beachgoers that such parcels are "private property."  They do it other places without such tacky eyesores.  So we're going to be looking at best practices from around the state with respect to this issue with an eye toward a better, more aesthetically pleasing sign ordinance that doesn't litter the beaches of Perdido Key with these eyesores.

December 8th this will be discussed during public forum.

Escambia County Welcomes Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz (Left) and Escambia Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh discuss the Justice's judicial philosophy in Pensacola at the Artel Gallery, 11-9-2022

Wednesday evening Escambia County, the City of Pensacola, and the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast welcomed the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court, Carlos Muniz, to our community.

The Justice arrived early at Escambia County's Artel Gallery and graciously met with dozens of citizens, primarily those involved in the legal profession in the Panhandle.

As the attendees milled around, enjoying sub sandwiches and beverages provided by the Federalist Society and visiting one another--the room began to get packed.

Ultimately, nearly one hundred attendees arrived and took their seats for the intimate, in-depth question and answer session with Muniz, the man who sits at the pinacle of the court system in the nation's 3rd largest state.

Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Carlos Muniz
visits Pensacola 11-9-2022

Former Supreme Court Justices, numerous Federal Magistrates, lawyers, and dozens of locally elected/appointed Circuit and County Court Judges and their staff members were present--as were other elected officials including Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons and two local County Commissioners.  A UWF Legal studies professor even brought his whole class to the event so they could hear from the Chief Justice firsthand.

To start the evening off--some interesting facts were put out about the Justice by the host and President of the Federalist Society of the Emerald Coast--Circuit Court Judge Gary Bergosh.  Many of the Justice's former jobs with both the Federal Government and the State of Florida were rattled off.  When discussing the Justice's educational background--the name Dave Grohl came up.  (Grohl is the former drummer for the alternative powerhouse band Nirvana and current guitarist and vocalist for the legendary rock band Foo-Fighters.)  Apparently, Grohl and Muniz attended the same Catholic prep school in northern Virginia and knew of each other.  "Yes, I knew of him while we were in school, he was a year behind me in my brother's class" Muniz mused upon being asked about the world famous musician.   

After High School, Muniz attended The University of Virginia for his Undergraduate degree, and Yale Law School for his JD. (Muniz made a passing comment about his concern for some apparent issues with free speech that have become newsworthy as of late at his law school alma matter.)

Then came the questions about his current role and his judicial philosophy.   Much of the discussion centered around a view the Justice has held about Judicial Imperialism--with discussion flowing from the Justice's 2005 paper on this topic submitted to the James Madison Institute.  Muniz elaborated on that topic, while also describing his current role as a College Professor at FSU's Law School where he is currently teaching a course on Textualism and its Rivals.  The Justice expressed thanks for the presence of the students from UWF.

As the evening wound down, several questions came from the audience, which Muniz fielded.  He also elaborated strongly, as a transplant to Florida from Virginia,  on his view of our State's Constitution--how it is really a "people's constitution" compared to many other states, due to the Florida Constitution's accessibility and ease of revision/augmentation by citizen petition.

The Justice thanked the attendees profuesely for coming out, expressing gratitude for the significant turnout.

After the event, the Justice had a more intimate discussion with several attendees over at McGuires Irish Pub, before he headed back to Tallahassee.

An interesting evening and conversation, to be sure.

Read more about Chief Justice Muniz, here.

Read more about the Federalist Society, here.