Members of Escambia County’s state legislative delegation will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 19 , 2021 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Pensacola State College Jean and Paul Amos Performance Studio; 1000 College Blvd.
Delegation members will hear presentations from government entities, organizations, and take public testimony on proposals for the 2021 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature. The delegation will also consider local bills; including an act to consider term limits and oversight of the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority. The delegation will discuss legislative action ratifying/enabling the negotiated terms, requirements and amounts of the pension plan and collective bargaining agreement between the City of Pensacola and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 707.
Any member of the public is welcomed to attend. The Escambia County Legislative Delegation consists of Senator Doug Broxson, Representative Michelle Salzman, and Representative Alex Andrade.
To request an appearance form to be placed on the meeting agenda, individuals should contact Senator Doug Broxson’s office at (850) 595-1036, or email: brown.kevin@flsenate.gov no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13.
I hope two of them talk about their support for the wireless companies efforts to “preempt” local home rule with respect to 5G cell towers in people’s front lawns. At least initially, Representative Salzman’s hands are clean on this issue. A recent WEAR TV Channel 3 story reported, “Pensacola man upset after 5G cell tower installed in his front lawn.†I checked public records to see how local politicians voted and who had put money in their campaign funds. In 2017, the Florida Legislature rubberstamped legislation drafted by the wireless companies known as the “Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act.†It was amended in 2019 to make it worse. Senator Broxson took eight campaign donations from wireless companies between 2015 and 2020 (he might have taken more in earlier years but I did not check that far back), “co-introduced†his own 5G legislation in 2017 and voted for pro-wireless company 5G bills in 2017 and 2019. Representatives White and Williamson voted YES in 2017. Representatives Andrade, Hill and Williamson again voted YES in 2019.