From The News Service of Florida:
A federal judge next week will consider a renewed attempt to shield Escambia County School Board members from testifying about a decision to remove the children’s book “And Tango Makes Three” from school libraries.
U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor is scheduled to hold a hearing Sept. 4 on a motion for a protective order aimed at preventing depositions of school board members. Attorneys for the school district contend that board members are shielded by what is known as “legislative privilege” from having to testify. The motion came after Winsor rejected an attempt to shield the board members on July 10 but said the board could file a revised request. The new motion was filed July 24.
The book’s co-authors, Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, and a student identified by the initials B.G. are challenging the district’s removal of “And Tango Makes Three,” arguing that the decision violated First Amendment rights. As part of that, the plaintiffs’ attorneys have sought to depose school board members. “And Tango Makes Three” tells the story of two male penguins who raised a penguin chick at New York’s Central Park Zoo.
The lawsuit contends, at least in part, that the book was targeted for depicting same-sex parents raising a child.
Potential Maritime Park Developer Bows Out of Tally Deal
The Tallahassee Democratic reports that Valencia, the Texas developer with an option to build a luxury hotel at Pensacola’s Community Maritime Park, has pulled out of a hotel deal with the City of Tallahassee.
Valencia signed the deal in 2021 to build two hotels, a four-star and a five-star, and two city-owned properties in the state capital:
- A 225-room boutique hotel featuring conference and ballroom space and associated parking, a major draw for large gatherings, weddings and business events.
- A 180-room hotel.
The developer let its option expire this summer.
Pensacola Connection: Valencia Hotel Group first emerged as one of three developers for the West Main Master Plan. It was to build an “upper upscale” hotel, the Isabella Court, on the former ECUA site. The developer was later picked by the Pensacola City Council as one of the two developers for hotels at the Community Maritime Park, during Grover Robinson’s administration.
Mayor D.C. Reeves has met with them. Valencia wants to build a luxury hotel on Parcel 7, which is next to Nick’s Boathouse.
