Arrested Pensacola teen linked to nationwide Nazi network
Raw Story reporter Jordan Green wrote about the four Pensacola white teenagers who last summer were collectively charged with 18 felonies involving attacks on two synagogues, a mosque, Masonic Lodge and the Chabad Jewish Center. He found a connection between the boys and the 2119 Blood and Soil Crew, a nationwide network of teenage Nazis.
- I interviewed Green on WCOA’s “Real News with Rick Outzen” – podcast.
American Magic Lease
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves released the lease agreement for American Magic, which the council approved on Thursday. He will host a signing ceremony on Monday, Feb. 26, with Skipper Terry Hutchinson.
Kindergarten Readiness Improves
The Florida Department of Education released the Kindergarten Readiness scores for this past fall. Escambia County increased by 4.5%, with 49.5% of the incoming kindergarten students ready for school, up from 45.1% in the fall of 2022.
Debunking DeSantis on Book Bans
Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis tried to debunk what he called the “false narrative that the state of Florida bans books,” but he also asked state lawmakers to help curb the number of books being removed from school libraries and classrooms.
- I interviewed PEN America Florida director Katie Blankenship, who debunked DeSantis’ debunking. Listen to the podcast.
Malcolm Yonge Sage Continues
The fight to preserve the Malcolm Yonge Gym continued. Here are my posts – from oldest to most current:
Rumors abound that the city has sent out a letter to property owners near the Malcolm Yonge Gym saying the demolition may start on March 4th. For the benefit of those who did not get a copy, perhaps Rick’s Blog could get a copy from the city and post it here. I’m told the letter is dated February 18th, two days after City Clerk Burnett issued the petition to the petitioners’ committee. The city could have demolished the gym between February 9th to mid-day on February 16th but did not. Once the City Clerk accepted the Affidavit of Petitioners’ Committee that puts the Council’s February 8th demolition vote in legal purgatory. More specifically, the Model City Charter explains, “When a referendum petition is filed with the city clerk, the legislation sought to be reconsidered shall be suspended from taking effect.” You might want to have 2008/2009 Charter Review Commission Chairwoman Crystal Spencer on your WCOA show to explain the process. She wrote the language in the Charter with general legal counsel Margaret Stopp. Mayor Reeves’ father Jim Reeves was on the commission too and voted to adopt the procedure. Also, there’s another rumor swirling around that Mayor Reeves’ hired legal guns at Beggs & Lane gave him a secret legal opinion that I was told claims the council action on February 8th extended to “providing an annual budget.” Can we see that one too? As of last night, the Petitioners’ Committee did not know about it (I told them what I heard). In addition to that being nonsensical, its hard to imagine attorney John R. Zoesch III writing something so nutty. He knows better. Mr. Zoesch served on the 2022 Charter Review Commission. Further, the money budgeted for the demolition is funded by a separate legal entity, the Pensacola Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The Charter only applies to the City of Pensacola not special districts like the CRA or DIB. The CRA is governed by state law. The DIB is governed by a special act of the legislature.