Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
We’re considering an early down arrow this week for Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, whose office’s Twitter account tweeted this morning that IDs would be checked at county storm shelters to keep out sex offenders and people with arrest warrants.
The Tampa Bay Times’ Kirby Wilson reported that sheriff’s PIO Carrie Eleazer Horstman, who wrote the tweets, “was merely trying to give people fair warning about longstanding policies.”
The tweets in question read, “If you go to a shelter for #Irma, be advised: sworn LEOs will be at every shelter, checking IDs. Sex offenders/predators will not be allowed,” and “If you go to a shelter for #Irma and you have a warrant, we’ll gladly escort you to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail.”
“I was just trying to keep people informed ahead of time,” Horstman told the Times. “We can’t allow sexual predators in the centers and shelters.”
Fair point, but that didn’t stop the twitterati from weighing in with “over one thousand replies, many of which were critical,” the Times reported.
As the account later tweeted, however, “We cannot and we will not have innocent children in a shelter with sexual offenders & predators. Period.”
Evening Reads
“Bill Nelson to NOAA: Where are those extra hurricane planes we sought?” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Florida Zika emergency funds went to partner of Ann Scott’s aerial spray businesses” via Dan Christiansen of FloridaBulldog.org
“Keith Perry picks up second Democratic challenger” via Florida Politics
“Annette Taddeo temporarily suspending Senate campaign for Hurricane Irma” via Kristen Clark of the Miami Herald
“All state courts will be closed Friday as Irma nears the state” via Kristen Clark of the Miami Herald
“Board votes to expand citizens’ emergency response powers” via Malena Carollo of the Tampa Bay Times
“FEMA cash crunch to stall Jacksonville recovery from 2016 hurricane” via A.G. Gankarski of Florida Politics
“Dolphins-Bucs game postponed until November due to Hurricane Irma” via Chris Perkins of the Orlando Sentinel
“The orange juice market is going crazy ahead of Hurricane Irma” via Leslie Schaffer of CNBC
Quote of the Day
“If you think that you can be in a flood zone … and think that you’re going to hunker down: Big mistake. Big mistake. We will be coming for you in a body bag.” — Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, in a Wednesday briefing on Hurricane Irma.
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Wake Up Early
Editor’s Note — This edition of Wake Up Early is provided with the caveat that many events are being cancelled because of Hurricane Irma, so check with the organizers before you go.
The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Florida Department of Education will co-host an event about sex trafficking in schools. Speakers are expected to include Department of Children and Families Secretary Mike Carroll. That’s at 8 a.m. at the Valencia College of Public Safety auditorium, 8600 Valencia College Lane in Orlando.
Staff members for Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican, will hold “mobile” office hours in Lee County beginning at 10:30 a.m. at The Shell Factory, 2787 North Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers.
Ryan Torrens, a Democratic candidate for attorney general, is expected to speak during a meeting of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee at 7 p.m., South County Civic Center, 16700 Jog Road, Delray Beach.
* As a service to readers, here are some events that were called off for this week:
The Florida Association of Professional Lobbyists cancelled its annual conference in Orlando set for this week. The event has been pushed back to Nov. 1-3.
The Florida Board of Medicine cancelled its 2 p.m. Thursday board meeting. Among other things, it was scheduled to discuss the latest rules governing medical marijuana. A new meeting date has not been set.
The Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice cancelled a Fallen Officer Memorial dedication ceremony scheduled for this Friday. The event will be rescheduled, the school said.
