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Tallahassee Reports March, 27 2021
The Reports
TallahasseeReports.com
The PBA Takes Frustration with Contract Negotiations to the Streets -
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Vol. 9 No. 3
TR EXCLUSIVE: Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried's ties to new cannabis company raises questions. Page 6 The President of the Big Bend PBA hopes that a new message placed on billboards in Tallahassee will help with contract negotiations. Page 1 The Leon County School Board passed changes to the SafeSchool Officers policy. Page 10 The Leon County weekly COVID trends show the number of new cases and the positivity rate trending down. Page 2 The City Commission approves the reimbursement of legal fees for Reese Goad related to two dismissed ethics complaints. Page 5 The Weekly Crime Tracker shows property crimes are trending down, but violent crimes are trending up in 2021 when compared to 2020. Page 4 President Biden's policy change on immigration has quickly resulted in a crisis at the Southwest border. Page 7
Tallahassee Chamber Chair Discusses Education Initiatives By Lynsey Kirk Mr. Jay Smith, the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Chair, spoke at the March 23rd Leon County School Board meeting about how the Chamber is seeking to improve the community by focusing on jobs and education. Smith stated this approach is rooted in the belief that the “success of business will drive a higher quality of life for all of our community.” A report was presented displaying data concerning the private job sector in
By Steve Stewart The Big Bend Police Benevolent Association, frustrated with contract negotiations with the City of Tallahassee, took a bold step and placed a controversial message on several billboards around town. The billboards read,“Thinking of sending your child to college in Tallahassee? Think again! Tallahassee is the 5th most dangerous city in Florida. Murders are the highest they’ve been in
years.” The President of the Big Bend PBA, Richard Murphy, said he hopes the billboards will encourage the City to reconsider their negotiating position with the PBA. “The community will see what is going on in law enforcement,” Murphy said. “They will ask the city manager and the city commission to give us a fair wage in our contract. And also ask the city manager and the city commission to address the staffing crisis at the police
GOP Lawmakers Back Election Changes
City Commissioners Discuss Finances, Approve Line Item Budget
By Dara Kam The News Service of Florida
Both the House and Senate measures would require voters to request mail-in ballots every two years. But TALLAHASSEE — Florida Repub- the House measure (PCB PIE 21-05) lican lawmakers are pushing ahead would “grandfather” in requests made with sweeping election changes before the 2020 election. Under curlargely focused on making it more rent law, requests are good for two difficult for people to vote by mail, general elections, which occur every an effort mirrored in GOP-led state two years. houses throughout the country. Republicans throughout the counIn a party-line vote Monday, the try are targeting mail-in ballots after House Public Integrity & Elections millions of voters opted to vote by Committee signed off on a measure mail amid the coronavirus pandemic that would give supervisors of eleclast year. More than 4.8 million Flotions less leeway when comparing ridians cast ballots by mail in the Nosignatures on mail-in ballots, require vember elections, compared to about voters to request mail-in ballots for 2.6 million in 2018, according to the each general election and make it state Division of Elections. Democrats harder to submit other people’s ballots relied far more heavily than Republiat drop boxes. cans on voting by mail in November. But the House plan does not go as Gov. Ron DeSantis and other GOP far as another controversial bill, also leaders praised the Sunshine State’s opposed by Democrats and the state’s handling of the presidential election, elections supervisors, that is one step in which former President Donald away from the Senate floor. Trump’s victory in Florida over nowFor example, the House bill, sponPresident Joe Biden was decided well sored by Spring Hill Republican before midnight. Blaise Ingoglia, would impose limits But Republicans maintain that the on supervisors’ use of drop boxes by state needs to clamp down on voterequiring that the boxes be staffed by-mail procedures. and only available for ballot drop-offs “There are problems that happened during regular early voting hours if in other states that we’ve recognized. they are not located at the superviJust because we’ve seen it in other sors’ offices. The Senate companion states, and we don’t have something bill would completely eliminate drop in law to prevent some of that, doesn’t boxes, which about 1.5 million voters mean it is not good policy and we used for the November election. shouldn’t attack it now. We should
CHAMBER, Page 10
By Ana Monticelli The City Commission met for a budget meeting workshop on March 10 to receive a 2021 first-quarter budget update from City management. The commissioners voted to include a line item budget at their next budget meeting, and they also discussed how the budget will impact the negotiations with the police department. The 2021 budget for the City of Tallahassee totals $894.7 million, with $151.6 million allocated for the 2021 Capital Improvement Plan. During the first quarter of the year, all of the operating funds are estimated to be within budget. The budget workshop also covered amendments to the budget presented for approval. Commissioner Matlow spoke about the police department and showed his support for the $11,300 supplemental appropriation that the department is requesting. City Manager Reese Goad confirmed that this year was the police department’s best recruiting year because of the increased signing bonuses that the department approved. The department is also approving a $1,000 increase to the starting pay of new officers. Additional funding from the budget may be needed for the continuation of these programs within the police department. Commissioner Richardson commented about City employees and said that he is
LAWMAKERS, Page 7
NEBA Announces New Board Members By Rachel Daniels The Network of Entrepreneurs and Business Advocates (NEBA) recently announced the election of three new members to its 2021 Board of Directors: Chris Akins, Dave Fiore and Don May. NEBA is a local business group that initially organized as the North
BUDGET, Page 5
INSIDE
East Business Association, Inc. NEBA is known for taking firm stands on contentious topics on behalf of the business community. Rocky Bevis, NEBA President, said he is delighted to have the three new members of the NEBA Board of Directors as the organization works to advocate for business interests.
NEBA, Page 8
PAM HALL
Pam Hall, a well-known environmental advocate in the Tallahassee area for the past 20 years, dies at age 64. P3 Chris Atkins
department.” The City released the following statement in response to the billboards: "It’s extremely disheartening to see the PBA union resort to negative publicity tactics aimed at our community, which their members at the police department work so hard to protect. We remain committed to ensuring fair compensation for the brave men and women who serve us every day."
Dave Fiore
Don May
REAL ESTATE
Sales of existing singlefamily homes in Leon County were up in February. P9