Based on our web stats, readers spent the most time reading articles about Pam Childers, Jeff Bergosh, former county aide Jonathan Owens and the millions of dollars the Escambia Children’s Trust owes the Community Redevelopment Agencies.
Daily Outtakes: Pam looks to cancel Foo Foo Fest [podcast]
County Clerk Pam Childers had refused to cut checks to the nonprofits and cultural organizations trying to book performers and other events for Foo Foo Fest. Several event organizers worried that they may have to cancel if Childers didn’t relent. Why the roadblock? A feud between Childers and Foo Foo cofounder David Bear.
Bergosh: SAO refuses to prosecute to protect Childers
County Commissioner Jeff Bergosh said he wants to talk to State Attorney Ginger Madden about her decision not to charge Jonathan Owens over his personal text messages that Owens obtained while working for the county.
He said, “This is a felony – 20 citizens over a hundred documents, artifacts that were confidential and privileged, and multiple people have it. And I think that’s the real thing, Rick. They don’t want to see all the monsters under the bed.”
The commissioner alleged that one of the “monsters under the bed” is County Clerk Pam Childers, whom he says has the files.
Daily Outtakes: Pam cuts check for Foo Foo Fest
After my Wednesday interview with David Bear about how County Clerk Pam Childers had put the popular Foo Foo Festival in jeopardy by refusing to issue checks for the event, the clerk’s office notified the county budget office that she would cut a check for them – not the entire budget allocation but a partial payment.
Bear texted me late yesterday afternoon: “ACE got their money today and put it in the bank. Now they can pay the grant recipients some money to confirm their programs.”
Did Jonathan Owens lie to his attorney?
The State Attorney’s Office found no case to charge Jonathan Owens but did reveal that the former commisisone’s aide lied about how he got Bergosh’s test messages. Owen faces an ethics complaint for his actions.
- Owens refused to give a statement to ethics investigators. He chose not to tell them that he received them in the county’s parking garage.
At the probable cause hearing, Owens’ attorney argued that there was no evidence of how his client obtained Bergosh’s files other than that he “simply came to work” and found them on his desk, which, according to Siders’s sworn statement to the state attorney’s office, we now know was a false statement.
Escambia Children’s Trust owes City $1.8 million
Mayor D.C. Reeves announced on Monday on my radio show, “Real News with Rick Outzen,” and at his weekly press conference that he will let the Escambia Children’s Trust keep the CRA dollars in its bank account, but only the Trust will spend the funds, as established in a yet-to-be-drafted Memorandum of Understanding.
What he didn’t say was how much money was involved?
- I followed up and received the answer this morning. Mayor Reeves texted, “They owe $1.8 million now, $500K annually through duration.”
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