Bloomberg columnist Matthew Lynn writes that we Americans should to stop whining. He recommends that BP quit apologizing and instead go on the attack. “…there are no words BP can use to…
Category: News
Bridge loan program activated at 7-week mark
Press Release: Governor Crist Activates Emergency Bridge Loan Program for Businesses Affected by Gulf Oil Spill ~Program provides $5 million in short-term funds to help small businesses in designated impact counties~ TALLAHASSEE…
City hires Hatch Mott
Mayor Mike Wiggins announced at the June 7, 4:30 p.m press conference at the EOC that the City has hired Hatch Mott MacDonald to monitor BP’s Bayou Chico boom containment operation. The…
Poll: BP handling this worse than Katrina nightmare
ABC NEWS reports Americans by more than 2-1 support pursuit of criminal charges in the nation’s worst oil spill , with increasing numbers calling it a major environmental disaster, eight in 10…
Why only $5000?
Yesterday, Lucia Bustamonte become the first BP representative to answer questions at an EOC press conference. I asked her how do BP come up with $5000 as the threshold for quick claim…
Another leak in the Gulf? (video)
Pilot Tom Hutchings, who lives in Fairhope, Ala. and has been featured on NPR, has a new YouTube video of what he found near another oil rig, Ocean Saratoga. It points to…
Game of Three Questions
On May 26, Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson sent a letter to Liz Castro about the Bayou Chico Staging Area. It was hand delivered to her at BP’s Government St. office. Robinson…
CBC NEWS – Power & Politics with Evan Solomon
I am on Canadian Broadcast Corp.’s version of the PBS NewsHour – Power & Politics with Evan Solomon. The segment was taped on Pensacola Beach this afternoon. It’s under Featured Videos on…
Latest Escambia EOC update
Escambia Disaster Response – Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Monday, June 7 – 5:00 p.m. – Update #38 * If you see tar or oiled debris on the beach, DO NOT PICK IT…
McCollum aide upset over blog (read my response)
Rick, Your blog posting today is inaccurate and unfair. The Attorney General has been out front demanding the Federal Government be more aggressive in Florida and in particular the Panhandle in their…
BP has only paid 22 percent of Florida claims
BP Claims Director Daryl Willis proudly claimed that BP hasn’t rejected any claims. He bragged about BP renewing the $5,000 checks to fishermen and others hurt by the BP oil disaster. However,…
McCollum and Miller powerless, can only wail
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and Congressman Jeff Miller spoke today at the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center. McCollum had heard that 120 skimming vessels were headed to the Gulf of Mexico,…
Oops, Touart forgets three-letter word
The same campaign brain trust that introduced home invasion as a campaign strategy forgot to put the word “for” on the campaign signs for former County Administrator George Touart. To avoid fines…
Now Crist asks for $100M from BP
On May 17, Gov. Charlie Crist had in his office BP CEO Tony Hayward. Instead of pressing for money for the oil clean-up, the Florida governor only got $25 million from the…
Escambia Oil Update
From PIO Sonya Daniel: *Escambia Disaster Response* – Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill *Sunday, June 6 – 5:30 p.m. – Update #37* * If you see tar or oiled debris on the beach,…
My Press Conference Pledge
From now on, I will do my best to attend every EOC press conference. I will be just as aggressive as I was yesterday–asking direct questions and holding elected officials and BP…
Where was BP at 4:30 press conference?
At the Sunday, June 6, 4:30 pm press conference, BP had no representative. I asked Commissioners Gene Valentino and Kevin White, “Shouldn’t BP be a part of this press conference since that…
News: Should beaches be closed?
The Associated Press spent a significant part of yesterday’s press conferences focusing on whether our beaches should be closed. The Pensacola New Journal used some of the AP coverage for their article…
Is BP punishing Charter Boat leaders?
One of my sources for my article on the Vessels of Opportunity for The Daily Beast was Scott Robson, president of the Destin Charter Boat Association. Robson is also the captain that…
Special EC County Commission Meeting
Press Release: The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Thursday, June 10 at 8:45 a.m. to handle issues relating to the oil spill. The meeting will…