Tallman's Tall Tales--Episode 1: Tallman Thinks his Listeners are Dummies

Andrew Tallman (alias McKay) Thinks his Pensacola Listeners are dumb.  

Local morning radio opinion host Andrew Tallman (pseudonym/alias Andrew McKay) has a credibility problem.

Sure, he's not dumb. And he entertains with a morning drive opinion show that actually attracts a small audience.

But for someone who proclaims he's been everywhere, done everything, seen everything, and knows everything a la Walter Mitty--- and he'll be the first one to say that to you---he sure must think a lot of his Pensacola listeners are dumb.  

Case in point from just yesterday.

Tallman plays selected snippets from an Ethics Hearing in Tallahassee from last week where former Escambia County employee Jonathan Owens was on the bottom end of a 5-0 vote (by neutral commissission members from around the state). 

Tallman wants you to believe this five member board and the state's prosecutor got it wrong, though.

But this unbiased, fact finding, deciding Commission on Ethics is appointed by the Governor and they are all from out of our area. They don't know Tallman, me, or Jonathan Owens. 

And on Friday this neutral, unbiased board voted unanimously to endorse  the state's opinion that probable cause exists that Owens violated state ethics law. 

Tallman wants you to believe they got that wrong, though!!

But here are the facts for you and Tallman:  Owens sent stolen county records with protected information  (he acquired when he was a county employee) unredacted,  to entities out of state.  He admits to doing it on the radio and in the PNJ saying it would be "helpful" to a law firm suing Escambia County.

It was an open and shut hearing, very cut and dried.  

But Andrew Tallman McKay wants you to believe they got that wrong, Dummy!!!

No debate, only two questions for Owens' attorney, and the Ethics Commission voted unanimously against Owens, his attorney's, (and Tallman's) side------ and supported the Bergosh side of the story.  ( I filed the ethics complaint against Owens after he admitted possession of stolen files that appears to be a felony under 817.5685)

Tallman thinks it was a bad decision, though!!!  He likes Jonathan Owens and dislikes Jeff Bergosh.

Now,  among the snippets of sound Tallman played yesterday where his contention and opinion is that this is just Jeff Bergosh "harassing" Jonathan Owens--he (Tallman) mysteriously leaves out the most damning part of the state's case against Owens:  Owens sent the entire file to attorneys who are suing the county, and in those files were unredacted, attorney client conversations about this particular case that would have never been released to the other side, ever.  They were protected, attorney client conversations Jonathan sent the other side--which was a huge benefit to them and their case.

Yes, Tallman didn't mention that all important piece that came directly from page 4 of the state's brief against Owens: 

"The disseminated information contained approximately 60,000 lines of texts, and approximately 12 pages of texts with three pages of texts between County Attorney Alison Rogers that directly addressed the Edler litigation"

So, how can self-anointed "super lawyer" Tallman leave that all-important fact  out of this segment?  It's the lynchpin of the case that the state will have an easy time making but that Tallman doesn't want you to see or know.  

Why? Because Tallman doesn't want you to know, he just wants you to believe what he tells you, adopt his opinions and swallow everything he dishes out to you because he is smarter than you, smarter than anyone in Pensacola, and he thinks his listeners are dumb.

But you're not dumb.  

Tallman McKay Once Again Shills for Doug----Disgustingly

 

Local radio entertainment host Anderw "Tallman" Mckay just goes out of his way to support and provide cover to the one County Commissioner who is responsible for ALL the turmoil on the board.  It's incredibly surreal....

Local radio host Andrew "Tallman" Mckay ran a segment very early this morning on 1620 vilifying me and taking a shot at Commissioner Barry for "daring" to question a $12Million Dollar-single bid contract that the board rightly reeled in and put back out to bid earlier this year.

The bid rejection happened a while back--- and at the time it was a 4-1 vote to do so.  Something didn't smell right, and I stand by the decision the board made that day.  Only ONE bidder on a nearly $12 Million Dollar drainage improvement job??  Like they say on ESPN  "Come on, Man?" (And had that even been awarded at that time--it is almost guaranteed that the costs would have escalated exponentially anyway with change orders ad nauseum.)  

Heck, it might have ended up costing more than what current bids are coming back...

But setting that reality aside--I found it nauseating the way the clips were selectively edited to lionize Tallman's idol and hero, Doug, while attempting to portray me as the guy who is saying "no" to a worthwhile project.  Boo hoo, that "meanie" Bergosh.  Boo hoo.....

Total BS.

What Tallman doesn't discuss is the fact that I seconded the motion, expressed support for the project, and said I realized the cost increases were not commissioner Underhill's fault.  I also indicated I would consider supporting the project for the people if Commissioner Underhill commits some additional discretionary D2 LOST funds to the project.  Slicing and dicing snippets does not a fair portrayal make.

Yes, I did mention the Bellview Library project.  Multiple times.  It was a good discussion to have, and timely to boot.  That project's costs also increased----and I ended up allocating 10% of that total project costs from my D1 Discretionary LOST funds.  So the question Tallman should ask is simple:  Why can't Doug pony up 10% to cover his cost overruns as I did?  (Currently Doug says he has allocated a little more than 3% of the costs)

But the major sevice McKay does for Doug is what he left out of the snippets he played to glorify his buddy Doug.

First-the discussion had an objective--which was to tone down the rhetoric and attacks online coming from Doug's office--his secretary and intern--directed at the rest of the board--not just me.  I said--"let's take the next year and bilaterally stop the online garbage."  And of course Doug wouldn't hear of it.  It's unprofessional and makes Doug look incredibly small when his employees engage in this conduct--as smart as Tallman wants us to believe he is--why can't he see that?  (e.g. most professional leaders would not tolerate such conduct from their employees--they would curtail it for obvious reasons or such at-will employees would be removed)  Perhaps that was too much to seek?  Who knows, but that was objective 1.

Objective 2 was to ensure that everyone who watched now knows the truth behind what is going on, dynamically, between and among the board.  So when Andrew Tallman McKay deliberatley leaves that portion out, he is being unprofessional, biased, and frankly------dishonest.

I ended my remarks by stating the facts, with a rhetorical question to Doug that was conveniently left out of Tallman's collection of audio snippets.  But it was the coup de gras.

"Doug--you and your office run us down online constantly, call us unethical, thieves, dishonest, corrupted---how do you think that helps you win votes?" 

That was the seminal question of the exchange--which put everything into proper perspective.  And that was the portion Tallman purposely left out.

Because Doug sat there and did not dispute what I said to him, didn't disavow it, didn't deny it, didn't do anything.  He just sat there and took it.  Then, he gave a facile, flaccid, mealy-mouthed response that was gibberish.

The reason D2 is a pariah is because D2 has made himself one.  He and his secretary and his intern.

Opinion Host Andrew "Tallman" McKay Weighs In on Upcoming BCC "Resign to Run" Ordinance

While purportedly reporting "news" Andrew "Tallman" McKay of AM 1620 expressed his desire that his listeners and the public "light-up" the Escambia Board of County Commissioners at their next meeting over a proposed "resign to run" personnel ordinance.  This garbage is NOT News.....

Flipping through the radio dial this morning I happened to catch AM 1620 morning host Andrew "Tallman" McKay opining and droning on about his "opinion" of an upcoming BCC decision on an employment ordinance.

Hey, everyone has their right to an opinion.  This is America.  And he is an entertainment/opinion program host.  Not a news guy----but rather an entertainmnet and opinion host masquerading as a news guy.  Problem is, some folks don't see a distinction.

Naturally, he is entitled to his opinion.  

But the issue becomes murky when he transitions between his opinion and his so called "news."  

He's not the only one who does it-- lots of hosts like Rachel Maddow, Don Lemon, and (former) host Chris Cuomo engage in this sort of "entertainment/news commentary." Report something, then opine on it, then drift back to opinion, add in some facts, then more opinion.  It's very fashionable these days and not uncommon and a leading reason why more and more Americans do not trust the media complex anymore.  Too much mushy garbage and no clear delineation between opinion and fact.  But this particular AM 1620 segment is called "future news"--- on a show called Pensacola's Morning News and where he, Tallman,  identifies himself as a "news" guy.   And in the segment in question he and his co host predict whether or not a particular "thing" (purportedly news) will happen---so the area becomes grey for listeners once again.  Is it opinion, or is it news?  Is it good or is it bad if the thing happens?  

I'll answer for him.  It's neither.  It's straight up "opinion."  And in HIS (Tallman's) opinion--this "resign

Tallman McKay Circles the PNJ "Wagon" with Fake News

Andrew "Tallman" McKay ignores and does not support the real reason I strongly support depriving the PNJ of legal ad revenue.  He lies by omission.  But why?  Why does he fail to report the main reason I never want to spend a nickel with the PNJ again is because of the racist cartoons of their cartoonist, Andy Marlette.  Why circle the wagons around the PNJ and cherry pick my blog post and fail to mention the MAIN reason this is happening?  Fake news fecklessness

I'm out of the county for a couple of days, attending a conference, relaxing, getting some tennis and golf in, and enjoying beautiful weather in the 80's in south-central Florida.

It's great to get away from time to time.

But I've now heard that Andrew "Tallman" McKay on AM 1620 is making hay over the county's new practice of no longer spending tens of thousands of dollars yearly on legal ads in the PNJ.

He is really, really uptight about it, according to some folks who have reported he's talking a lot about it during his radio shows.  And apparently he did a facebook post on it as well.  (Interestingly, a majority of commenters on this topic on the other hate site SUPPORT this move by the county.  Even folks that would love nothing more than to see me drawn and quartered support this new protocol, LOL)  

That must mean something to Tallman, if he is as smart as he wants us to think he is?

Why are people negative about the PNJ and lining up in disagreement with Andrew Tallman Mckay on his own site?  

Because they know Marlette, Savage, and the PNJ are corrupted, biased, and controlled--that's why.  

Their editorials are garbage, their cartoons are horrible, and they don't cover important stories, and the stories they do cover are slanted.  This is a known fact of reality.

But here's where Tallman really gets shifty and FAKE.  He posts selected snippets from my first blog post about this new practice of depriving PNJ of revenue----but he totally ignores the main reason I support this boycott----the racist cartoons that Andy Marlette has drawn where he uses the "N-Word."  

McKay cherry picks some of my post--but ignores the most important reason why I dislike the PNJ and support yanking their revenue.  Racist cartoons by Marlette where he uses the N-word.

I havn't edited that post---read it for yourself and see for yourself.  It is my main reason for supporting the pullback of ad revenue from PNJ.

So why is Tallman so afraid of reporting this?  It was the centerpiece of my blog post that he quoted.

It's why he isn't a real journalist, he's an entertainment/talk show guy.  Because to compliantly run to the defense of the PNJ while ignoring important aspects of the story is what Fake News is all about.

Weak.

You want to quote my posts--tell the whole truth about them--otherwise you are biased, partisan, feckless and fake.

Gerrymandering?

Local Morning Radio Entertainment Host Andrew Tallman Mckay still doesn't know what Gerrymandering actually is...........Neither does Steve Stroberger, Mike Kohler, and/or their sycophantics...

Based upon Thursday's ridiculous spectacle of a meeting engineered by Mike Kohler's office secretary Steve Stroberger---a new "attack" they are attempting to level at me is that I have "Gerrymandered" my district.

He (Stroberger) is actually unhappy that the rushed 2021 process resulted in him being districted out of District 2.  

But that's the way it shook out, that's what happened.  It wasn't Gerrymandering though.

That fiction was disabused the last time it rearead it's ugly head on local radio fraud Andrew "Tallman" McKay's garbage morning show.  Read all about that here.

But here are the cliff's notes.  And, the context is important, too, Tallman, Stroberger, Kohler, and Conrad.  Pay close attention.

I wanted to wait, I did NOT want to rush redistricting in 2021, that is on the record and it is clear. Rather --I wanted to wait until 2023 in order to attempt to undertake the process without rushing and to do it right.  Doug Underhill demanded it be rushed and done in 2021.  He received support in that from the rest of the board--- so I reluctantly got to work and was able to pull it all together and work to get D1's part done..(Counties are statutorily prohibited from undertaking redistricting in even numbered years)

But make no mistake:  I voiced early and often, publicly, privately, on the radio, at workshops and BCC meetings-----that  I wanted to take back Perdido Key in the process (the 2001 boundaries) and  also I'd have to GIVE away precincts I had won in every election.   In doing so, I'd be taking  on precincts that Doug Underhill won.  That's not Gerrymandering, geniuses Steve and Tallman.  Do some basic research before you open your mouths with that garbage.

Gerrymandering = artificially manipulating a district for maximum political advantage.

NOT Gerrymandering = giving away precincts I had won in the previous 5 elections...

From my 2021 post on this topic--for your further edification:

"Apparently, at least one radio host locally is really unhappy with the D1 elected officials'  (Me, Kevin Adams, and Vicki Campbell) proposed re-districted map.  I've discussed this proposed map with each of them--my peer D1 elected officials--- on multiple occasions, and they are supportive of the draft map we completed on 10-5-2021.

In fact, in the week since the meeting I haven't received any negative constituent communications on the proposed new D1 map.  I've received positive feedback from several.  Most seem generally agreeable to the draft map.

But at least one lone radio host is not, though.

Andrew "Tallman" McKay, who has increasingly displayed a weird sort of soft-spot for Commissioner Doug Underhill, is apparently now attempting to gin up opposition (that does not currently exist) to the draft district map generated at the first joint meeting between the BCC and School Board early last week.  He, McKay, apparently doesn't like the maps. all the precincts we are giving back to D2 in our proposed map (61, 99, and 75) are precincts I carried by large margins in each of my last contested elections.  Look it up.  In addition to that, I'm taking a precinct where Doug won a slim majority in his last election and where I am not popular due to the fact I supported opening Beach Access #4.

If it was "Gerrymandering" (which it isn't, by the way) I would be looking to offload precincts where I lost or where I did not do well and looking to pick up where my enemies did poorly.  Think.

I'm not doing that.

So before anyone insinuates I'm "Gerrymandering" McKay, (or Tallman, or whatever his name is), the office intern, the secretary, the water shouldering Underhill sycophants, anyone---they  should look it up and figure out what it means before lapping-up and swallowing ridiculous insinuations not based in fact..."

Who the Heck is the Real Andrew Tallman "McKay?"

If your name is really Andrew Tallman--why the heck do you tell everyone it is Andrew McKay?

Who the heck is Andrew McKay?

He's a local entertainment, morning radio host that loves to lionize disgraced former commissioner Doug Underhill, loves to perform for a fringe group of tin foil hat wearers on a small facebook chat site, and loves to to attack the BCC, individual members of the board, and me in particular, with smears and BS garbage.

Recently, Tallman hosted a podcast for disgraced, former D2 commissioner Doug Underhill's secretary, Jonathan Owens.  And on that show, he seemed to support and condone the unlawful theft and possession of confidential, exempt county files by Jonathan Owens. 

And he never misses an opportunity to attack me and two other members of the board.

So I was reminded of the fact that this guy, Tallman, is a real fake, a fraud. That's my opinion of him.

Apparently he moved here a few years back under a cloud of suspicion from Arizona when his show there went sideways and he "changed" his name.  And he is working under this fake name but many people just swallow the "Andrew McKay" schtick----- hook, line and sinker.  I don't.

So who is the real Andrew Tallman anyway?  Hold your nose and get ready...  from a former city council woman's blog, Maren DeWeese's Blog--comes all of this below information....

https://web.archive.org/web/20150930132658/http://townhall.com/columnists/andrewtallman/

"On Andrew McKay (Real name Andrew Tallman)

• This week I will explore a bit of Andrew McKay AKA Andrew Tallman's extreme views on the following topics
• HOW HOMOPHOBIA IS HEREDITARY
• HOW HOMOSEXUALITY IS A CHOICE AND NOT HOW SOMEONE IS BORN
• HOW HOMOSEXUALITY SHOULD GO BACK TO BEING A CRIME
• HOW THE MORE MONEY A MAN MAKES THE MORE HE HAS DONE FOR SOCIETY

"Thought of the Day

The worst threats to what is good in life do not come from obvious fakes which are easily spotted. The real danger is from the high quality counterfeits which imitate the authentic so well that they fool many people. 

Andrew Tallman

Truer words have never been spoken.  Think back in Pensacola's recent history as to all the high quality counterfeits that have come to Pensacola, reinvented their entire life and rapidly risen to the top of their fields unchallenged and really...unknown.

Who is Andrew Tallman?  

He is a High Quality Counterfeit!

We all know him as Andrew McKay of Newstalk Radio 1620.

https://www.facebook.com/AndrewTallmanShow/

Yes, the Sun of Fire is not who he portrays himself to be on the radio nor does he share his true views on the air.

https://www.facebook.com/andrew.tallman.12

July 4, 2014 ·
Haven't been on this facebook account in a while. It's so weird to see my real name on fb...and all the people who know me by my real name.

Why does someone hide from their real name.  Especially, in the news business.  The answer may reside in some of the opinions he has espoused in the past.

Over next week I will be sharing many of these opinions with you in detail.  They are shocking!

If you are interested in Andrew's views on life, faith, sex, racism, marriage and politics and just can't wait for Tuesday, just Google his real name Andrew Tallman and the subject.  He has a large body of work to read.

http://andrewtallmanshow.blogspot.com/

But beware, here is just a taste of his offerings for wives:

"So how do you keep a man from thinking about other women? Lower the incentive to cheat, and raise the cost of cheating. Fortunately, you can do both at one time by meeting his most important needs in such a generous way that you give him something monumentally worthwhile to lose by acting on any such thoughts. Make yourself the source of such bodily pleasure (food and sex) and such ego satisfaction that he never wants more from anyone else."

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

NewsRadio AM 1620's Andrew McKay (actually Tallman) on How Homophobia is Genetic

NewsRadio AM1620's morning radio host Andrew McKay (real name Andrew Tallman), you know, the one that interviews the Mayor each week in an exclusive interview wrote the following concerning homophobia.

"I believe that any sexual activity other than that between a man and his wife is illicit. This includes adultery, premarital sex and, of course, homosexuality.

But I’ve also been doing what my parents always taught me to do: listen to those who disagree with me. And I think I’ve discovered something rather shocking: opposition to homosexuality must itself be genetic.

For as long as I can remember, homosexuals have been explaining why gay people have no choice about their orientation. And it finally dawned on me that their arguments explain why being anti-gay is also not a choice but an innate predisposition beyond our power to restrain. This led me to embrace my convictions and stop trying in vain to repress who I am.

Since millions suffer from this same condition, I’m hopeful that my epiphany will help others accept themselves and their convictions, too."'

County's "Resign to Run" Ordinance Passes Unanimously

Escambia County's Resign to Run Ordinance passed unanimously tonight--with Commissioner Doug Underhill making the motion to adopt and also voting "for" the passage of this ordinance.  And no citizens, not one, spoke in opposition to this ordinance's passage.

This evening at the BCC's regular meeting an ordinance was passed which addresses employee participation in elections for the County Commission.

Although the topic has generated no interest among the public--it had elicited much conversation from insiders, partisans, at least one (1) facebook chat/fanboy site, and entertainment radio talk show host Andrew "Tallman" McKay.  He, Tallman-McKay- even threatened to come to our meeting and "scold" us for even bringing such an ordinance.  He didn't show up to speak, though.  Nobody else did either.  Nope--no keyboard warriors, no Tallman Mckay, nobody.

And now the item has moved forward.  

The reason there was no pushback from anyone so far as I can tell, and that nobody spoke to the item at tonight's public hearing is  because such ordinances are ubiquitous in Florida. And everywhere else around America to boot.

But the truly amazing thing was this:

The motion to approve the ordinance was made by County Commissioner Doug Underhill.

Not only did he (Commissioner Doug Underhill) make the motion to approve the ordinance--he also voted "yes" on the item-which subsequently passed unanimously 5-0. 

Jonathan Owens Declines Opportunity to Speak on his Own Behalf for Legal Fees He's Requested YOU Pay

When offered the opportunity to speak on his own behalf to personally request the county cover his legal bills for his own nefarious, unlawful conduct---- before discussion on this item at a public meeting ended-----Owens sat motionless like a wax statue of a ventriloquist's doll. Why?

Jonathan Owens,  the former county employee who worked for disgraced former county commissioner Doug Underhill and who is in possession of stolen county records----- recently had the gall to formally request a taxpayer funded legal defense for his transgressions and resultant troubles stemming from his unauthorized possession of said files.  

The County Attorney's Office added this request for a taxpayer-funded (i.e. YOU) defense from former employee Owens to our agenda on Tuesday.  And Owens even showed up to the meeting, sitting in the back row of the chambers.

Nevertheless----not one commissioner on the dais Tuesday showed any inclination of even countenancing this outrageous Owens request once it was up for consideration on the agenda.  (four of us were present, D2 commissioner Mike Kohler blew off the meeting and wasn't there) 

When offered the opportunity to speak on his own behalf to personally request the county cover his legal bills before discussion on this item ended-----Owens sat motionless like a wax statue of a ventriloquist's doll.

He had the opportunity to ask, speak, lobby, and request, --and he did nothing.

The thing that is incredible to me coming off of this awkward, cringe-worthy spectacle is the rank loyalty and feilty a handful of citizens and one radio talk show host are demonstrating toward Owens in this matter.

It really is both fascinating and sad.

But facts are facts and they cannot be surpressed no matter how much Kool Aid the Underhill/Owens/Tallman fanboy club chugs.  

FOCUS ON FACTS:

1.  The records at issue were stolen from the county, and the stolen records contain personal identification information (full photos of passports, Pictures of front and back of driver's licenses, bank account numbers and pins, social security numbers, tax forms, medical records, and a host of other data on more than a dozen citizens) that would never be released under any public records request, ever.

2. Jonathan Owens admitted he has all of these records, has read them all, knew much of the information was personal/private, kept all these files upon leaving employment from the county, did not report to relevant county staff he possessed them when he worked at the county, and has subsequently dissemenated these files to others unredacted.  He admitted this all freely and openly on Tallman Mckay's Podcast (which has been scrubbed from 1620's site) as well as in the News Journal.

3. Mere possession of this personal identification information as described above, unauthorized, on this many people is a third degree felony under Florida Law.  That's why the State Attorney and appropriate law enforcement agencies were notified and a criminal investigation was requested by the county on this matter back in June.  One week later--law enforcement investigators met me in my office and were given possession of the entire file--and both the county and I, personally, signed a waiver on that date allowing investigators to freely and without providing to us any immunity or amnesty-----free reign to search all the contents of all the files in question for ANY EVIDENCE of ANY CRIME. (Somebody wake up "letter-writers"  Mike Kohler and Steve Stroberger and let them know this)

4. Jonathan Owens is specifically NOT authorized to possess this type of data, nor was he ever authorized to possess it--- and his handling and/or possession of such data--which includes photos of my family members' passport documents, Photos of my Family's driver's licenses, my social security numbers, and my childrens' social security numbers, and my sons' tax returns----was never a part of his job duties and/or a normal course of his employment in the county.  What he should have done, if his story is true and this stick drive was shoved under his office door, was immediately turn the drive over to legal.  That would have been the appropriate course of action for him to take.  But Owens didn't do that.

5.  County staff that handles public records requests for the BCC have testified, under oath, that prior to the county becoming aware of this data breach and the theft of these records coming to light----no PRR's had been made for my text messages from my personal phone.  (for the geniuses reading this--it's because those who wanted these files were already given them by Owens, unlawfully, and outside of the PRR and/or discovery process--see the relevant testimony from the county's investigation, below)

Lying liars that lie, like Underhill/Owens/Tallman/Edler will say "Bergosh and the county were withholding these texts that were public records"  but the under oath testimony in this matter obliterates their lies:  No requests were made for these files prior to our notification that said files had already been stolen and disseminated unredacted.  

6. Nothing at all related to this matter implicates the whistlebolower statutes--Federal or State--as such status would have to have been determined and agreed to by the court PRIOR to the improper, unlawful

Disgusting Allegations Flying about Mistreatment of Corpses in Escambia County....

According to the letters written to the BCC
about issues with the treatment of bodies in our
morgue lately--one 
might assume "Art the Clown" was in charge of 
handling the corpses locally.....But there is no proof
of these allegations, however, and
professional opinions vary among the local
funeral homes....

I must warn readers in advance on this one.  Don't eat before you read this.  And you won't want to eat after you read this.  My apologies, in advance, but here goes......

Everyone knows we are having issues coming up with a plan on how to modernize and adequately staff and size the D1 Medical Examiner's office (serving the four county area of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties).  It's a topic that is out there.  The current facility is inadequate and undersized.  It is creating issues.  And it needs to be fixed.

The ME herself has been raising the flag on this for a while now.  I visited, I saw the issues.

And even as we on the Escambia BCC are working toward solutions to this vexxing issue--- one local morning radio host, Andrew "Tallman" McKay, ignorant of all of the  inside issues swirling around this topic (among many others) and much of the logic surrounding our cautious approach to finding the right solution to this particular matter, second guesses us and our practical approach to fixing the problem.  With a particularly vituperative, angry, personal attack on those of us (and me in particular) that simply disagree with him and know he is wrong.   But second-rate, low ratings, small market and substandard entertainment DJ's like Tallman do this: swipe, snipe, jab, assign blame, and attack---between radio ads for sandwich shops, used car dealers, and the latest weather and traffic blurbs--of course.  Then they move along to the next market... 

Yes, drive-by Tallman's opinion on where the ME's office should be located is wrong.

But I digress.

Now comes multiple local funeral homes making shocking, written allegations about the current Medical Examiner--allegations via correspondence to the county the full content of which I will not link here.  Why not?--because I'm not sure if they are founded, that is why. 

Meanwhile, I read the letters the county attorney sent to me and applied logic and reason to each one; therefore I am not printing or linking these full letters here. 

I read each letter then mentally juxtaposed what I was reading with the person who I have met and spoken with on multiple occasions-- Dr. Oleske.  And in short--I'm not necessarily sure I agree with or believe some of these claims.  Here's why.  Even though I may disagree with her approach to getting a new facility, even though I disagree with some of the plans put forward for such a new space--I DO NOT believe she would allow these things to occur on her watch.  I believe she is a professional.

Nevertheless--these complaints  have been forwarded by multiple funeral homes via written correspondence to the county--so they can't be ignored.

What are these funeral directors alleging in these letters? One Pensacola funeral home writes:

"human beings are being released to funeral homes with used golves, biohazardous materials, and trash stuffed into their cavities.  The body bags are torn and leaking fluids.  Autopsied bodies are in dire condition whe they leave her care, causing embalming and fuenral services to be a demanding feat.  In cases of accidental overdoses, or other fatal mistakes, Dr. Oleske will list the cause of death as suicide.  This understandably causes irreparable emotional damage to families.  Can you imagine your child, sibling or your friend, being listed as a suicide whey they simply made a mistake?  This is an example of the mental suffering our families experience.  Here is a real life example:  XXXXXXX lost his son to an accidental overdose in June 2022.  Dr. Oleske listed his son's cause of death as suicide.  Sitting with him in our foyer, we saw the weight and agony of this set in.  We kept him here at our funeral home as he denied, cried, and mourned for his son whom he though had purposely ended his own life.  XXXXX [dad] passed away this March, after spending three of his last nine months living believeing his son had murdered himself...."

Said a different funeral home about the current ME and her office:

"...the autopsies performed in this office i would almost equate with mutilation.  Most of the time the arteries and veins are so butchered that they leak when trying to embalm.  Every previous medical examiner woud tie off the major arteries and veins, so that they were easily visible among the surrounding tissues...I believe a Winn Dixie Butcher takes more pride and care in their work.."  this particular company's letter writer went on to claim "I personally picked up a deceased from the medical examiner's office and when the deceased was brought out to me, the person releasing to my care accidentally dropped the deceased's head on the table and said, 'oops, she didn't feel it'"

Yet another area funeral home wrote this:

"They are extremely slow in approving cremation permits and families get upset at the funeral home because of the Meical Examiner's incompetence...The deceased are often times not clean leaving the Medical Examiner's Office.  They are covered in bodily fluids that can simply be taken care of by running water over the deceased.  They leave trash inside the bags with the deceased which is absolutely disrespectful...in conclusion our Medical Examiner's office is the worst I've ever seen"

Gerrymandering?

Local radio host Andrew Mckay is apparently kicking and screaming mad about our proposed new D1 district map.....

Apparently, at least one radio host locally is really unhappy with the D1 elected officials'  (Me, Kevin Adams, and Vicki Campbell) proposed re-districted map.  I've discussed this proposed map with each of them--my peer D1 elected officials--- on multiple occasions, and they are supportive of the draft map we completed on 10-5-2021.

In fact, in the week since the meeting I haven't received any negative constituent communications on the proposed new D1 map.  I've received positive feedback from several.  Most seem generally agreeable to the draft map.

But at least one lone radio host is not, though.

Andrew "Tallman" McKay, who has increasingly displayed a weird sort of soft-spot for Commissioner Doug Underhill, is apparently now attempting to gin up opposition (that does not currently exist) to the draft district map generated at the first joint meeting between the BCC and School Board early last week.  He, McKay, apparently doesn't like the maps.

Jim Little of the PNJ covered the meeting from 10-5 in balanced fashion as a journalist should.

So did Rick Outzen, in the Oct. 13th "The Buzz" section.

Mckay, on the other hand, is going it alone with his anger and frustration over the map in a weird kind of game by himself.  He even shilled for Underhill last week on his program by "excusing" Doug's absence at the once in a decade redistricting meeting saying it was "The World National Jet Ski Divisional Grand Championships" or some gobbledygook like that.  What?

Look Andrew--we, all of us that serve, have had to miss important family events during the course of our service in governance locally.  I've missed games, races, school functions---we all have to prioritize what is important in the schedule.  Doug blew the meeting off, period.  It was his choice to make, and he could have called in on Zoom as Kevin Adams did if he wanted to.

But he didn't.  

He just blew it off.  

And left his constituents high and dry with no representation at the meeting.

So yes, I put forth the map that the three current officeholders in D1 discussed.

It passes legal muster, meets the objectives of the statutes that dictate and mandate the process occur once per decade, and balances the county's 5 districts.

It's the map we will bring forward on November 2nd.   And if I can get two additional votes--it will be the new D1 map.

And to the insinuation made on the radio about me "Gerrymandering"--it's patently ridiculous.  

McKay is no dummie--so for him to insinuate this just shows the depth of his devotion to Doug.  But

I Got a Call from the Florida Division of Ethics Yesterday.......

....And was asked if I would be attending the Show Cause Hearing in Tallahassee this Friday morning at 7:30 AM Central Standard Time.

I filed an ethics complaint against Jonathan Owens who illegally possesses a copy of stolen county files, the complaint I initiated was investigated, and the Advocate (prosecutor) for the Ethics Commission has filed a brief that details the complaint and her finding that Florida Ethics Law was violated by Owens.

Meanwhile, the county has sued Owens and others for the return of the stolen county files.

The FBI and others are also investigating this for possible criminal violation(s).

And the county is awaiting a judge's ruling in the civil matter which hearing has already happend and  will next (hopefully) allow for multiple depositions to happen to help the county ascertain precisely who unlawfully possesses copies of these stolen files--so we can amend/perfect our claim to add those additional persons to the suit.

Meanwhile-----the Ethics commission will hear from the Advocate and from Owens' attorney at this hearing Friday--after which time the Commission will vote on the matter.

After the vote, if the Commission agrees with the advocate, the matter will either end up with a negotiated settlement between Owens and the Commission--or it will head to the Division of Administrative Hearing for that body to settle the compaint.

I'm told that because Owens' attorney has waived confidentiality--his hearing Friday will be livestreamed on the Ethics Commissions YouTube Page (here).

The agenda is here

The live video will be at this YouTube Channel at 7:30 CST.

Interestingly--Andrew Tallman's opinion show on AM 1620  has been as silent as a church mouse on this matter, as has other media outlets besides Rick's Blog.  I wonder if Tallman will cover this hearing and try to come up with some way to portray Owens as a victim in all of this............Yawn,

So What Does Fla. Stat. § 817.5685 Say, and What Does it Mean?

In the iconic opening credits sequence
of 1977's Saturday Night Fever, John
Travolta "struts" down the New York
street, carrying a can of paint.

I'm not a lawyer but I know several of them and I can read.  

So when I read the letter sent to law enforcement by the County Attorney in the aftermath of the recent data breach/theft of county records from the IT department-----I paid close attention to it.  The letter was sent to the State Attorney's Office in June, and a certain statute referenced in there piqued my interest. § 817.5685.  

This theft of information from the county which prompted the letter-- which breach subsequently led to confidential, private, privileged information being unlawfully possessed and disseminated by former county employee Jonathan Owens, a fact that he himself has admitted on the radio and in the news paper and a fact the attorneys for Rayme Edler have also confirmed --this theft is now being investigated by law enforcement.

And I am confident the authorities will find the guilty party who stole this protected, exempt information--whoever it was.

But even if someone other than Jonathan Owens actually stole the information and records (which I do not believe), and simply provided them to Jonathan while he was an employee of the county, as he, Jonathan, has publicly stated--it does not absolve Jonathan of any wrongdoing under this statute--because  according to this statute--the operative word is "possessed". Jonathan admitted to the PNJ in this article and on the radio on Tallman McKay's show that he not only read the text file and continues to possess it--- he's also  subsequently given it to others un-redacted. 

Because  he read it--Jonathan knew or should have known it contained exempt and personal identification information that should not only never be released--it should never even be possessed by anyone not specifically authorized to have it.  Jonathan is not authorized to have it--and he knows it.  

A thorough review of this file that Jonathan Owens unlawfully possessed, read, and then released un-redacted has now been completed--- and it has been revealed that this file contains more than 100 lines of exempt information.  (social security numbers of multiple persons, bank account numbers of multiple persons, loan numbers of multiple persons,  medical conditions, diagnoses and prognoses records of at least a dozen local citizens, security codes, access codes for premises, medical records and diagnoses on dependents on the county's medical plan as well as confidential medical information on citizens unaffiliated with the county that live out of state, privileged attorney client conversations,  and other sensitive information that would NEVER be released under any public records request, ever.).  

So why would someone who has handled a literal ton of public records requests (Owens, who was disgraced former D2 commissioner Doug Underhill's personal secretary and office manager) and who purportedly knows the rules and laws on this topic--supposedly------why would he release such information unredacted in contravention to Florida law?  Who knows, but he seems awfully proud about it.  Super proud and confident.  Almost as if he's strutting about it, like John Travolta in the opening scenes of "Saturday Night Fever." 

So What Does Fla. Stat. § 817.5685 Say, and What Does it Mean, and what penalties does it describe for violation, anyway?

Here is the relevant portion of the statute, verbatim

"817.5685 Unlawful possession of the personal identification information of another person.—

(1) As used in this section, the term “personal identification information” means a person’s social security number, official state-issued or United States-issued driver license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number, Medicaid or food assistance account number, bank account number, credit or debit card number, and medical records.

(2) It is unlawful for a person to intentionally or knowingly possess, without authorization, the personal identification information of another person in any form, including, but not limited to, mail, physical documents, identification cards, or information stored in digital form.

(3)(a) A person who violates subsection (2) and in doing so possesses the personal identification information of four or fewer persons commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(b)1. Proof that a person used or was in possession of the personal identification information of five or more individuals, unless satisfactorily explained, gives rise to an inference that the person who used or was in possession of the personal identification information did so knowingly and intentionally without authorization.

2. A person who violates subsection (2) and in doing so possesses the personal identification information of five or more persons commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084."

 

Jonathan Owens Doesn't Rate a Taxpayer Funded Legal Defense

Because mere possession of personal identification information by those who are unauthorized is a crime, and Jonathan Owens freely admits he possesses such information, his request for a taxpayer funded legal defense should be met with a denial.

Tomorrow morning on our agenda of the regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, we will be discussing a request from former employee Jonathan Owens.  

Owens is requesting that county taxpayers fund his legal defense in a civil lawsuit he is facing and also in an ethics complaint he is defending.

Yes, the county does have a policy that provides, in some circumstances, a legal defense for an employee who faces litigation arising from such an employee's normal and routine employment activities.

Jonathan's case does not meet that standard.  

And many believe Jonathan is actually guilty of a crime, a third degree felony, by possessing, unauthorized, the personal identification information on five or more individuals, which is illegal under Florida Law. 

Owens claims he innocently, when he was a county employee, came into possession of a file containing this personal identification information.  Furthermore, he admitted reading this file, keeping it, and disseminating it unredacted to a law firm suing the county.  He admitted his possession of this file in the newspaper and on the radio on Andrew Tallman McKay's program on AM1620 back on August 7th. (transcript here)

This is why law enforcement is investigating this issue--they know it is illegal, too! They (law enforcement and the State Attorney's Office) know this file has pictures, text messages, and other information that should not be possessed by anyone who is not authorized to possess it.  Mere possession under the statute is unlawful.  --and Jonathan is specifically NOT authorized to possess this file, which contains:

a.     Social security numbers for at least 3 individuals.

b.     User names and passwords for e-mail and service accounts.

c.    American Banking Association routing and bank account numbers for multiple accounts.

d.     The address and access codes for the electronic gate and lock on a private residential condominium.

e.     Photographs of the Passports of two persons.

f.      IRS tax returns for two separate persons.

g.     Insurance cards.

h.     Credit and debit card pictures, numbers and PINs.

i.      Pictures of Driver’s Licenses of two separate persons.

j.      W-2 forms for one person.

 

6.         Additionally, the file includes personal and private discussions on the following health matters relating to at least 13 different individual citizens who are not public figures and that are also not in any way connected to Escambia County’s Government:

 

            a.         Colonoscopy.

            b.         Hospitalizations.

            c.         Psychological Diagnoses.

            d.         Miscarriage.

            e.         Cancer.

            f.          Heart attack.

            g.         Parkinson’s Disease.

            h.         Cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

            i.          Suicide.

            j.          COVID Vaccination Status.

            k.         COVID Diagnoses.

Information such as this, above, is not a public record and would not be released under any public records request ever.  If people want public records, they should request them, not steal and distribute them as has happened here.  And because Jonathan has a copy of the stolen files and has admitted this--he must also know this:  mere possession of such information by those who are unauthorized is a crime, and therefore Owens' request for a taxpayer funded legal defense should be met with a denial.

Jonathan Owens wants County Taxpayers to Fund his Legal Defense

Owens sent the County Administrator and the County Attorney the request yesterday.  I'll print it below.

I personally do not feel he is entitled to any taxpayer funded legal representation because what he did is potentially criminal, fell outside the normal course of his job, and he remains in possession of stolen county records that he is not authorized to possess and that are in fact illegal for him to possess under Fl. Stat. 817.5685.  Furthermore, Owens admitted to reading the entire file  (In a radio interview with Andrew Tallman on AM 1620),  he knew it contained private, confidential records, yet he not only never told any county employee he had the file while he was working at the county--he also kept the file upon leaving employment and he also provided it, unredacted, to others---including opposing counsel in an ongoing court case against his former employer---------knowing it contained attorney client privileged conversations about that case in particular.

As Ricky Ricardo from "I love Lucy" might have exclaimed:  "Someone has some 'splainin to do!"

When he "acquired" this file and knew exactly what it was, he should have immediately returned the property the owner and promptly notified the county attorney's office.  He didn't.  He read it, kept it, and gave it to others instead.  He didn't need no stinkin' attorneys then!

But now he wants an attorney??

Nope, I don't believe he'll have three votes for this if it even comes to the board for our action--because he clearly DOES NOT qualify, under our policy, to be able to receive this coverage.  Period. This was not a job related function he was performing, and no, he ain't no whistleblower--there are specific statuatory definitions of what a whistleblower is--and he is not one.  Good luck with that.

Looks here like Jonathan Owens is following in the footsteps of his best friend, soul mate, and former boss,  Disgraced Former Commissioner Doug Underhill.

And like his mentor, partner and former commissioner Underhill----Owens now is also requesting you, the taxpayer to fund a legal defense to his reprehensible, potentially criminal conduct.

I can't make this stuff up!

What D2 resident and former Underhill Secretary Jonathan Owens sent the county yesterday: