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Indicted for multiple counts of perjury and false official statements. A Monroe County judge signed off on an arrest warrant by the State Attorney's Office charging TDC Public Relations official Andy Newman with multiple counts of perjury and false official statements.
- The 14 counts of perjury and 14 counts of false official statement are first and second-degree misdemeanors that stem from a series of audits the county clerk’s office conducted of the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.
- His attorney denies any criminal wrongdoing. The state attorney’s office issued subpoenas and conducted its “own independent, in-depth forensic audit,” which uncovered what it says was a "series of false declarations made by Newman concerning payments allegedly issued to a fictitious company called Graphics 71."
Trauma Star officials indicted. A Monroe County grand jury indicted two top officials with the Monroe County Fire Rescue and Trauma Star air ambulance service for reportedly providing false information and engaging in official misconduct in an investigation into drug use and drug theft by the chief flight nurse.
FIRM opposed insurance rate hike. Community advocate Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe testified at a hearing in Tallahassee to oppose a proposed property insurance rate hike by state-run Citizens Insurance that will adversely affect housing costs in the Keys.
The Key West City Commission met for the last time with its three retiring members on the dais. Clayton Lopez, Billy Wardlow and Jimmy Weekley were term-limited out of their positions, while Mayor Teri Johnston, who did not attend the meeting, did not seek re-election.
- Postponed. A vote to increase rents for houseboats at Garrison Bight Marina was postponed to October.
- Divided on hiring new City Manager. As expected, commissioners were divided on the process for hiring a new City Manager to replace Al Childress who was fired by the Commission in a contentious meeting in June. Two commissioners have proposed a vote to rehire Childress in August 26th, after new members are seated following the August 20 election.
Early voting continues for the August 20 election at five locations across the Keys. Hours, dates, and voting locations may be found at the Supervisor of Elections web site.
Candidates questioned. Keys Weekly asked the three GOP candidates for Monroe County Commission Seat 5 questions about ROGOs (building permits) and restoring public confidence in the integrity of the Tourism Development Council. With no Democratic candidates for the seat, the winner of the August 20th primary will be elected.
Referenda roundup. Keys Weekly detailed the six state-wide questions that voters will decide in the November election, which include abortion and recreational marijuana.
- A supermajority of 60% is required for a referendum to pass.
- Abortion measures were approved in four states after the Supreme Court's contentious decision in Dobbs that found Roe v. Wade protections unconstitutional.
- Medical marijuana was approved by over 71% of Florida voters in 2016 despite furious efforts to block it.
Artificial reef proposals sought. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners requested proposals to deploy about 45 discarded concrete power poles as artificial reefs. The poles will be deployed to create three distinct patch reefs in a program funded through a grant from the state of Florida.
It's 'Grumble Season.' Linda Cunningham's tips for getting used to the heat are a useful guide to coping with the season.
Not a conventionally pretty sound. Mark Hedden's heart fills with joy every time he hears the noise that a clapper rail makes while hiding in the mangroves, as if a steel wool pad had mated with a strand of barbed wire and somehow learned to sing. As only Mark can, he invoked Ernie, of Ernie and Bert fame, Donald Duck and Tom Waits in a single sentence.
Our Eyes
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| A great white egret, a dog, and a man all enjoying the early evening on White Street Pier (Knight Pier) - CJ Groth |
Previously in Key West Voices
ROGOs no-go sought. On behalf of 17 community organizations, community advocate Last Stand's open letter to the Monroe Board of County Commissioners challenged assumptions and calculations, and identified flaws in the model used to determine whether evacuation time should constrain proposed residential growth resulting from issuing new ROGO (Rate of Growth Ordinance) building permits in the County.
- Pro-development commissioners appear to seek at least 3,000 new ROGOs.
- Flawed and incomplete analysis. Among other issues, the estimated exposure to so-called 'takings' liability has been overstated.
- Vastly inflated. The letter asserts that the number of privately-owned buildable residential lots that has been computed by county staff is not true.
- 24-hour evacuation limit already exceeded. Under the state’s evacuation model, development must be curtailed if the Keys can't be evacuated ahead of an approaching storm in 24 hours or less. That limit should actually be reduced to account for increased frequency of climate change driven-rapid intensification of storms, which would reduce the window for an evacuation order to be issued and accomplished.
Early voting for the August 20 election began on Monday, August 5 at five locations across the Keys. Hours, dates, and voting locations may be found at the Supervisor of Elections web site.
- Upper Keys meet and greet. A candidate meet-and-greet will be held on Aug. 13 at the Crooked Palm Cabana, MM 90, bayside, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
New TDC CEO chosen. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council agreed to start contract negotiations with a Colorado executive to be the next director/chief executive officer of the TDC.
Don’t pretend this is “just” nothing. Linda Cunningham cautioned against the apathy with which many residents anticipate approaching storms.
- Debby debut and departure. Closely watched and eyed with concern, tropical storm Debby passed west of the Keys in the Gulf of Mexico, brought heavy rains and wind, and some local flooding. No infrastructure impacts were noted. Mainland Florida took a heavier hit.
Does 'plover' rhyme with lover or clover? Mark Hedden visited the often overlooked nature trail on Atlantic Boulevard in Key West.
