Thanks Mitch,
Pressure must be applied to Gov. Kinky Boots, along with Mr. Boyd and the other folks kinda in uh………charge. Kinky Boots is the most insecure weirdo ever and now we have his wackjob buddy “Dr. Death” Lapado cutting access to the covid vaccine all for MAGA votes. However, MAGA remembers him as a loser.
I just tried to get my covid vaccine at Publix. It MIGHT be available the 18th. I will be calling Jimmy Boyd in the morning.
I originally commented on this article when it was listed under "Florida Report - State Section" of The Bradenton Times website. I have copied it here.
Of course DeSantis would defend it. The issue is not the repair or restoration of buildings impacted by the storms. The issue is about applying the restrictions to proposed, new development and new buildings that were NOT impacted at all. Repairing or rebuilding a destroyed home won't impact wetlands, affect infrastructure any more than they did before the storms and won't be charged impact fees. Most municipalities and counties suspended permit fees for this and expedited permit reviews to the best of their abilities given the sheer volume of permits submitted. Wetland buffers, impact fees and stormwater/infrastructure requirements should be applied to proposed and new developments and new structures. He is completely blind to the needs of local communities and their citizens and serves developers
First, I want to applaud all the residents who made comments. They were all great. But Mr. Dalton Nelson, if you have your comments in writing, I'd love to see them in print, preferably where the BoCC can be reminded of them as well. You spoke about the big picture of what is happening, and why, regardless of what happens with this lawsuit, our entire system breaks down if our BoCC can be intimidated out of governing in the interest of Manatee County. It's one thing to have a healthy debate about an issue and then decide as a board on what path to take. Maybe the decision reached would be to do nothing. But to unilaterally, at the very last minute to just cancel an entire scheduled meeting, with a scheduled agenda, so there is no discussion, no debate on the merits of the scheduled issues. That should not happen and, IMO, is a symptom of the bullying-style of executive governing that is being normalized in Florida and the US.
Secondly I hope that Dist 4 voters were listening to their commissioner Mike Rahn and know his 3 year history of being a rubber stamp for developers so that they are able to read between the lines of what he was arguing for. His advice to "work with our legislators" ignores the fact that Commissioner Kruse wrote multiple substack articles (at least 2 that I just quickly looked up) in April and May in which he pleaded with our legislators not to infringe on home rule. SB1118 and SB1080 first had the language that eventually landed in SB180. Even after SB180 was approved by Jim Boyd and the legislature, Kruse pleaded with the Governor to veto it. I also wrote to Boyd and DeSantis. I'm sure many of us did. We were all ignored. Yet Rahn's advice is to "work with our legislators." What Rahn is really saying is that the board should do nothing so that developers can keep clearcutting, burning and paving over what little wild life we still have left.
I wonder if they are going to post this or is the county/city just going to let people go in. There are lots of swimmers and companies renting jet skis there.
August 26, 2025
Re: SB180
Governor Ron DeSantis,
My name is Glen Gibellina, a citizen, taxpayer, and voter of Manatee County.
I am writing to express my deep disappointment in your decision to sign Senate Bill 180. This move undermines the will of local voters and strips our locally elected officials of their ability to make land-use decisions that reflect the needs and desires of our community.
As Governor, your role should not involve interfering with the authority and responsibility of local government. This bill originally may have had merit, but it was hijacked at the last minute by developers and their lobbyists—powerful interests that have a long history of influencing policy for their own gain. The insertion of language that limits the autonomy of local officials was both underhanded and undemocratic.
It’s no secret that these same developers are also major donors to your political campaigns. This raises serious concerns about who truly benefits from this legislation—and it’s clearly not the residents of counties like mine.
I urge you to reconsider Senate Bill 180—either by rescinding it or prioritizing corrective action during the next legislative session. Furthermore, your public threat to remove county officials who do not comply with what many view as unconstitutional provisions only fuels mistrust and weakens the democratic process.
You’ve lost the trust of many voters and elected officials across Florida. Rather than promoting limited government and local control, this bill empowers state overreach and corporate interests.
This issue will not disappear. In fact, your actions have galvanized a growing movement of citizens committed to restoring local decision-making and protecting our communities from developer overreach.
Governor DeSantis, ask yourself: Is this how you want your legacy to be remembered? As a governor who replaced elected officials with developer-backed puppets? As someone who allowed chaos and confusion to dominate Florida’s land-use policy?
We will not back down….ever!
Respectfully,
GADFLY
This is yet another attack on home rule. Please, do we not have a single elected representative that will stand up and fight? Where is State Senator Jim Boyd, Mayor Brown? Give in to a bully and they will keep bullying.
The story mentioned these two fantastic players and also mentioned three more that might make it too. All from Bradenton. maybe we need a story on who and where all these champion tennis players in Bradenton are coming from? I am guessing IMG is the reason. Would be nice to learn more about IMG and the champions they are creating in multiple sports.
Who are the tennis coaches training these champions? They must be pretty impressive with this many wins. Hoping we get some background on this story.
Florida is already down to 2% of our coral reefs, we really can't afford an accident like that. But I have 0 faith in the leadership of this state to protect it, as their actions have demonstrated.
Nothing new here. The fix was in from the get-go. This superintendent will be nothing but a yes person for the board. I asked a series of questions at the greeting meet could never get a straight answer out of her and that’s what we can expect a superintendent.
You could not hold a candle to the previous superintendent who got fired without cause this should be an easy one
Get FEMA out from under Department of Homeland Security. It ran better as its own cabinet level agency. Keep FEMA but get rid of the extra layer of red tape. Appoint someone with actual emergency management training and experience with natural disasters to be in charge.
Gruters was appointed by Trump to manage all of the dark money going to Trump and Gruters profits from this money-changing of all of it as it goes into a tax-exempt account for Trump without any disclosure of the donor to the IRS or the public. Wonder how his grandchildren will assess this?
Thank you again Merab for two wonderful stories on Manatee county’s past. As you know, my roots to the Curry family go back to their origins as the first “Conchs”, the Bahamian Loyalists that immigrated to the Keys when Florida was under English rule. Very blessed to be continuing their tradition of public service in Manatee County as a Commissioner, with respect and knowledge of the past and continuing support for the infrastructure necessary for our sustainable future. Thank you! CarolAnn Felts
It's frustrating that desantis has cancelled advanced placement women's studies statewide. (As well as black studies and funding for art) That's where you learn how many women in history died in poverty, were abused physically or financially, were traded like property and disregarded in every possible way.
Three generations of my family are leaving Florida this fall, because restricting women's freedoms and then calling Florida "the freedom state" is insulting.
My niece will grow up with her freedoms intact.
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