Opinion 3 “Too often, people who deal with the public’s money and do the public’s business view the state’s excellent Sunshine Law as, at best, a hindrance. It’s not. In fact, it…
Category: News
Deconstructing No Boss Mayor, Part 2
Sam Horton tries again. Opinion 2 Soon the Citizens of Pensacola will be asked to vote on a new form of government for the city that is best described as a Strong…
Deconstructing No Boss Mayor, Part 1
The No Boss Mayor website has five opinions to support their opposition to the proposed charter. Here is the first one: Watching the proponents of the Strong Mayor proposal reminds me of…
Bay bridge not expected close
Latest Press Release: **Tropical Storm IDA – Lengthening Windy Period** The most current forecasts call for IDA to make land fall in Mobile county, AL. and to turn east sharply once it…
View Charter Debate
WUWF TV has the Charter Debate available online. Check it out.
Child Sex Tourism case has local link
Pensacola man, who worked at NAS Pensacola, was sentenced on Friday to 6.5 years for taking trips to Thailand for sex with young boys. Mitchell Kent Jackson of Pensacola pleaded guilty in…
Shrinking Pensacola could be a problem (updated)
Using the US Census Quick Facts, I looked at similar sized Florida cities what has been happening to their populations from 2000-2006 Pensacola, 2000: 56,255…2006: 53,248 DOWN Sarasota, 2000: 52,715…2006: 52,942 UP…
Analysis of City Manager/City Council system
I want this post and comment thread to be on the current Pensacola government, not the proposed charter, not strong mayor. No personal attacks or conspiracy plots. ——————– Pensacola has a unitarian…
Better Pensacola pledges open books
This week No Boss Mayor PAC challenged the Better Pensacola PAC to release their financial report for the first campaign reporting period. Jeff DeWeese, Better Pensacola treasurer, not only met the challenge…
Mayor promises council will discuss Pensacola Promise
At last night’s debate on the proposed new city charter, Mayor Mike Wiggins committed to placing the Pensacola Promise on the council agenda. Pensacola Promise is a scholarship program that guarantees a…
Televised Charter Debate tonight -Update
Bob Kerrigan is hosting a two-hour debate on his WUWF TV show – Channel 4 – from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening. Former Mayor Jerry Maygarden and current Mayor Mike Wiggins…
Fairchild – biggest supporter of No Boss Mayor
The No Boss Mayor PAC has released a draft of its campaign finance report for October. Charlie Fairchild has loaned the PAC $3,000 of the $5,750 cash the campaign has collected. Read…
Valentino gains another opponent
Karen Sindel has filed to run against Escambia County Commissioner Gene Valentino in 2010. Valentino now faces five opponents in the Republican primary, including former County Administrator George Touart, Andy Kowalski and…
Even more pension stats
The City of Pensacola has 2008 estimated population of 53,820. The two Florida cities that are closest in populations are Bradenton (53,513) and Margate (54,086). Bradenton has a blended system. General employees…
More on pensions
The comparisons are even worse. The Escambia County Public School District: 2006 5,668 employees, pension costs $14.9 m, cost per employee $2,632 2007 5,765 employees, pension costs $19.5 m, cost per employee…
Pension plan train wreck
One of the biggest examples of the financial risks in having an administrative branch of city government that isn’t directly answerable to the public is the city pension/retirement system. The staff –…
Anti-charter tones down Fear & Smear campaign
The No Boss Mayor group has reduced its message down from six to four points and toned down the language. They have combined these two points from the Oct. 16 notice:”1)Accountability for…
Update on NMTC numbers
The New Market Tax Credit numbers are better than Ed Gray reported in August, based on the latest info that I’ve received: Sources: Gross Proceeds from Bonds: $44,922,968………………………….Not the $48M that Donovan…
Two ironies
1. The anti-charter people tell us we should leave government to the city staff. The anti-park people tell us we can’t trust the financing plan submitted by staff. Many of the same…
New Market Tax Credits – quick look
The use of New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) for the Community Maritime Park and particularly the maritime museum has yet to be decided. Here is how Ed Gray of Capital Trust Agency-Community…