Excellent presentation Cherie, Misty and Reggie...and yes, when will those responsible for shoving Hopes down the throat of the County be held accountable...KVO, Baugh, Satcher?? You were correct from the beginning Reggie and anyone with any executive experience would have made the same call. As a resident of his District, I met with KVO in his office and pleaded with him that releasing Cherie was a huge mistake. Obviously, he didn't listen, and it was clear from the first time Hopes introduced himself at a County meeting he was all talk and no action. In Texas they refer to folks like that as, "Big Hat, No Cattle!" You can't have an "empty shirt" running a Billion-dollar operation with 2000 employees...and yes, what did 3 different County administrators cost and those 700 employees who are no longer there?? Millions!!!! It takes votes folks. Come November that's the only opportunity for 4 more years.
Let me paraphrase Joseph Welch from the 50's when it comes to this legislation that DeSantis and his rubberstamp legislature are trying to do with this "dastardly" Stop Woke Act: "Until this moment, ..., I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. ... You done enough. At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" ... one can add: Govenor, Legislators, have you no sense of shame?
DeSantis and his Republican Legislature with the Stop Woke Act tried to end Freedom of Speech in Florida by restricting any actions, even peaceful, lawful actions, in support or agreement with that idea.
In the past, one could trust the Supreme Court of the United States to throw out such "ill intended" states laws, which obvious violate Constitutional Law. But I have come to question if this Supreme Court can be trusted to protect the American Citizen from an over-reaching State government.
From Thom Hartman:
— Biden and Trump both visited the US southern border on Thursday. President Biden met with the people charged with protecting and enforcing the border, the Border Patrol officers, while Trump held a photo-op with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas National Guard, who have no legal authority over the border. Biden called for Democrats and Republicans to work together to pass border control legislation that’s already passed the Senate. Trump spewed a jumble of racist lies. It was a startling and in-our-faces contrast between a true statesman and a demagogue.
Ruth Lawler
When the content of this bill was actually made known... that PARENTS were not allowed to be the final arbiter of what social media their children could have - that the GOVERNMENT would have that control! Then and only then was it too much, even for the DeSantis crowd! Remember, they. are always harping on parental rights, as they divert taxpayer public school money to religious and private schools. This under the guise of claiming "parental choice", even if the school's curriculum is un-American in the principles they instill into little minds.
I point out that parents may send their children to a religious or private schools for different reasons: 1) They want to instill the moral values of that religion, and they absolutely believe that their religion is the "only correct and true one" and requires it; 2) The school may actually have a better academic program than publicly funded schools; 3) and then, there are parents who don't want their child to mix with common folk, riff-raff, or especially, other races... as will happen in public schools - class-ism, racism. The last is known to be a true - remember the private "all white" academies and schools that sprang up in the south after integration became the law for public education.
Segregation itself is now supported by public taxpayer money diverted from funds for public schools - the voucher system. But that's another story... to long to tell here.
Hi - loved your article on the big chimney house in Ellenton. Sugar brought the first settlers to Manatee and it would be interesting to know more about Craig, his neighbors Gamble and Braden. While Gamble was a failure many others succeeded until the Union soldiers came along. Keep up the great work
There is a simple solution for the Citizens homeowner insurance debacle. If Medicare for all were implemented you would solve two problems for Florida. First all citizens would have affordable healthcare coverage and second the Medicaid program costs would be eliminated from the Florida budget freeing up a proposed 33.2 billion dollars from the proposed Florida budget that could be used to reduce taxes, supplement other needs such as Citizens insurance.
The raw sewage dumping is obviously a serious health hazard for all County residents and should be addressed immediately. Another growth problem that has been neglected is the huge bottle neck of traffic that occurs twice a day with cars trying to cross the Manatee river on the Green and Desoto bridges. It seems like our politicians wait for a crisis to occur before they start to plan an action. Hint to the County planners you have to project what the effects of growth will be and implement solutions before the crunch comes. What is up with working on the medians and partially paving Manatee Avenue West during peak season? When will 75th street finish its expansion to 4 lanes from 2 at the Manatee Avenue intersection? I was told, by a County Commissioner that there was a traffic study showing that only a two lane road on 75th street south was needed even though you have Aqua by the bay and 4,000 new homes being built on this road with more to come, duh!
So, let me get this straight, according to KVO, 3.5 million is “an exorbitant price” to purchase 97 acres to expand the preserve & protect the environment from over development and insure the preserve is expanded for future generations… but our corrupt commissioners are happy to plunk down 40 million (40 MILLION?!?!) dollars to fund a veteran’s memorial park on the outskirts of the county?!?!
INSANE.
McConnell should step down NOW as Republican senate leader. His health, with continual freezing when speaking shows he shouldn't continue. It's bad enough he says he's going to finish his term (2026). At 82 he is not physically able to continue which shows in his press conferences. We need term limits to stop lifetime careers in the senate and congress. They don't allow lifetime in the presidency since Roosevelt when term limits became 2 terms. Should be the same for the two houses of congress. It was not meant to be a career. At the very least, age limits like in many private industries. We have too many octogenarians in government who really have no idea of real life for the citizens today. And too many have become millionaires while in office when the average pay is $174,000.
Joe and I are the same age... yep, 81! I wouldn't consider me for a heavy load like the job of chairman of my local social club let alone President of the United States; and I still do well mentally... most of the time. Still, given the apparent choices that we are going to be forced to take this coming election season - Trump or Biden - no way can I even consider Trump as a legitimate or viable candidate for President. Couldn't the first time he ran either! He has never had the knowledge, education, ethics, moral character, stability, love of democracy, or courage to be the leader of the United States of America; and he is an "old fart" to boot too! And that is why I will support "Old ****" Joe Biden. I have no doubt that my democratic America is safer in the hands of Democrats; where all at least have hope of equal justice a foremost American principle, as I believe our founding fathers dreamed, but were limited by the age they lived in. We live in a different age... and we should do better than they for our fellow citizens!
The question of the 1/6 insurrection and Presidential Immunity has puzzled me for the duration. Insurrection is equivalent to treason and immunity of any kind cannot be granted to anyone who commits this crime. The American public watched this entire episode on television live. To deny that it took place is unconscionable. It is as if you sat in a courtroom and the evidence unfolded.
Hispanic voters who support Trump must not see his disdain for them. Likewise African American voters, Asian American voters, gay American voters and especially American female voters should see his disdain for them. The list can go on but Donald Trump cares only for Donald Trump. James F Tierney
They may be committed to following a master mining plan, but this commission has demonstrated a willingness to alter Master plans in favor of their donors. No confidence
VANBONEHEAD, DEPOL, BISHOP, KNAPP =LOSERS.. DEPOL, WONDER HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT HER MENTOR HOPELESS..I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T TELL ANYONE HE WAS SOMEONE I LOOKED UP TOO...AS FOR THE IMPACT FEES THE DEVELOPERS ARE STILL LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK...VANBONEHEAD ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO APPEAR LIKE HE WANTS TO DO A GOOD THING LIKE RAISE THE IMPACT FEES....ITS A RUSE BECAUSE HES A USELESS COMMISSIONER THAT IS TRYING TO GET REELECTED...DON'T Fall for it..HES arrogant cocky and, thief..HE DOESN'T CARE FOR YOU. LIKE THE IPADS WHO HE SAID THE COMMISSION DONATED...NO THEY DID NOT..THE SOE DID..HE TAKES CREDIT FOR WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING....PATHETIC
50% over the next 4 years based on 2015 information is not enough. They had a more update study but all of a sudden they have issues with it even though it was from a consultant used previously by Manatee County and has been a consultant for many counties in the state. Those who suffer and pay the most are the residents of the county who have been here longer than this growth explosion. The bonds the county has gotten for infrastructure will eventually need to be paid, which means an increase in property taxes. KVO probably will be gone by then so it won't be his fault according to him. This time instead of blaming previous commissioners he will start blaming those who came after him.
Recent Comments
WTF writes:
Podcast Ep. 129: Commissioner George Kruse
rjckeuka4@gmail.com writes:
Video: Community Survey and Former Administrator's Legal Battle
san.gander@gmail.com writes:
Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against "Stop Woke Act"
ruthlawler@att.net writes:
Presidential campaign moves to the border, as Biden urges Trump to back immigration deal
san.gander@gmail.com writes:
DeSantis vetoes blanket under-16 social media ban
jimandlope@aol.com writes:
By deleting mention of climate change, Florida legislators try to hide from the problem
alanbtt@iclod.com writes:
Sunday Favorites: A Family Legacy
lib224@gmail.com writes:
It's Getting Deeper and More Malodorous
rayfusco68@gmail.com writes:
Bill to Limit Citizens Insurance Eligibility Moves Forward
rayfusco68@gmail.com writes:
Do you think the City of Bradenton should pause new development until it manages to stop dumping sewage in our waterways?
Cwright writes:
LWV County Commission Notes: 2/27/24
lib224@gmail.com writes:
City Releases 1.2 Million Gallons of Sewage into Manatee River
sandy writes:
McConnell to step down as U.S. Senate GOP leader
san.gander@gmail.com writes:
Calls for Biden to Step Aside Grow to Alarming Volume
jimandlope@aol.com writes:
In CPAC speech, Trump predicts ‘losing World War III’ if he is not elected
Cat L writes:
BOCC Approves Phosphate Mining Ordinance Amendment
pdsinc@gmail.com writes:
BOCC to Vote on Emerson Point Land Purchase
Debann writes:
We Are Being Ignored!
Debann writes:
Developers and their puppets have ensured that growth will not pay for itself
sandy writes:
Do you think Manatee County Commissioners are doing enough to collect adequate impact fees to support growth?