Here is an email that Robert de Varona sent his supporters on the Pensacola City Council after he received notice from the city that he had two business days to get all his stuff out of the airport:
From: Robert Varona
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 7:54 PM
To: Megan Pratt; Sherri Myers; Charles Bare; Gerald Wingate; P.C. Wu
Subject: Varona receives threatening eviction noticeTo the five courageous and independent members of City Council:
First, I want to praise you for putting the interest of the city above a single contract. It is encouraging to know that you value honesty and transparency and separation of power.
Attached is the latest letter I received from the city administration. I am also attaching the contract between the City of Pensacola and Varona Enterprises for your information.
The attorney representing the city in this letter, John B. Trawick, refers only to Article V which states when the contract expires. He does not make any reference to Article XXXVI, Surrender Upon Termination, sections A and B on page 39 and 40 that clearly allows Lessee/Concessionaire with certain specified conditions to remove its improvements and equipment 60 days from such date of termination. There are other extenuating circumstances since the decision to terminate Varona’s lease came into effect less than 24 hours ago and the city administration, after referring many times to the 60 days we had to remove our equipment, now is giving us 24 hours to accomplish this. It is physically impossible to vacate the premises and remove all furnishings and equipment in such a ÂÂshort time.
The mayor of the city and his cronies are again abusing their power to bully a local SBE and a certified ACDBE.
The city should have an exemplary record in following the letter of the law, especially when it comes to business transactions. If the city government wants to attract businesses to add jobs in our community they had better be on the up and up.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.