Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves held his weekly press conference Tuesday, touching on topics ranging from TSA staffing concerns at the Pensacola International Airport to the ongoing Baptist Hospital legacy campus redevelopment, lien reduction policy and the city’s growing profile as a world-class sailing destination.
American Idol Shoutout
Reeves opened with congratulations to Pensacola’s Keyla Richardson following her performance on American Idol Monday night. “If you watch what you saw last night, she can win this thing,” Reeves said, urging residents to get out and vote for her.
Airport Holds Steady—For Now
The mayor addressed weekend reports that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy raised the possibility of shutting down smaller airports if the partial federal government shutdown continues.
- Reeves refused to speculate, stating Pensacola has received no notification that it is under any consideration for closure.
He did note that the airport has approximately 110 TSA workers, all of whom have been showing up without pay—a fact the mayor called a credit to their dedication. He added that Manna Food Pantries has opened its facility to local TSA workers and that the city is exploring ways to make it easier for residents to donate gift cards to those employees.
- Reeves also confirmed Pensacola is not on the federal “hot list” of 17 airports flagged for extended delays, though he cautioned travelers that connection airports like Atlanta, Chicago and Houston are on that list, and delays there can have a domino effect. A forced airport closure, he noted, would cost the airport roughly $750,000 per week.
Baptist Legacy Campus Update
Reeves reported that the city held its first “sidewalk talk” Tuesday morning at the old aptist Hospital campus, with five residents meeting on-site at the Avery Street parking lot. A public forum is scheduled for April 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Fricker Center. The city has 14 total public meetings planned between now and June 2027 to keep the community updated on progress.
The mayor also noted that equipment and furnishings left behind at the site—including artwork, furniture, meal trays and office supplies—were distributed last week to roughly a half-dozen local nonprofits, with United Way of West Florida helping coordinate the effort.
- Dig Deeper: Baptist leadership abandoned the facility two and a half years ago without any plans for the items. Mayor Reeves commended Deputy City Administrator Amy Miller and United Way for finding a way to deliver equipment and furnishings to nonprofits.
Fricker Center Renovations
The city is taking to the council this week a contract award for long-needed renovations to the Fricker Center, with Green-Simmons serving as the contractor. Funding for the $9.97 million project comes from a multipurpose community facility grant, a CDBG-DR grant and local option sales tax funds. Afterschool and senior programs will continue in the gym through the end of the school year, after which the center will close for construction and reopen in June 2027.
Lien Reduction Reform Takes Shape
Following Monday’s lien reduction workshop, Reeves said there is broad agreement between the council and the administration to mirror Escambia County’s code enforcement policy, which he called more updated and more effective than the city’s current approach.
Key among the proposed changes: giving the city the ability to convey code enforcement liens to other properties owned by the same violator, which the county can already do, but the city currently cannot. Reeves also raised the possibility of allowing the administration to forgive smaller liens up to a certain dollar threshold without requiring a full council agenda item, citing efficiency concerns. He used the example of a $6 lien requiring thousands of dollars in staff time to process.
- The mayor also pushed back on the common scenario of house flippers seeking lien forgiveness to pad their profit margins, saying the taxpayer should not serve as “profit mitigation” for that kind of transaction.
New Palafox Project Progress
The New Palafox Project continues to move forward. Stormwater infrastructure is 80% complete and on track to finish April 3. Curb and gutter installation is also 80% complete with an April 24 target. Irrigation is 90% done and expected to wrap up April 10. Paver installation is roughly halfway complete with a May 8 finish date.
Sailing Events Putting Pensacola on the Map
Reeves expressed enthusiasm about the city’s growing reputation as a sailing hub. The GL52 American Fleet held its Southern Series Regatta in Pensacola last weekend and returns April 9-12. Meanwhile, the WASZP World Championship series kicked off at the American Magic High Performance Center at the Port of Pensacola this week.
The mayor described meeting visitors from New Zealand and Australia who praised the city’s hospitality, restaurants and downtown, and said events like these carry a lasting economic impact as visitors spend two weeks supporting local businesses and go home with a story to tell about Pensacola.
- “When we get you on campus, we can usually get the deal done,” Reeves said, drawing an analogy to college recruiting.
Neighborhood Cleanup and Resident Survey
The city’s neighborhood cleanup is set for March 28 in the area north of East Hill and surrounding neighborhoods. Residents can check the city’s website to confirm whether their street is included. The resident satisfaction survey, conducted in partnership with the Haas Center at UWF, closes March 31.
