Peter Schorsch
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica.
The Constitution Revision Commission has begun acting in earnest on possible changes to the state’s governing document, with proposals ranging from political candidates’ residency to immigration and the environment.
Commissioners met in committee in Tallahassee this week, which even brought some drama.
Tom Lee’s idea to add financial oversight responsibilities to the state CFO was shot down on a tie vote. Lee, however, promised to resurrect his proposal by bringing it to the full Commission.
Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican state Senator, returns today with another of his proposals, to end greyhound racing in the state by phasing it out over three years. That amendment will be heard by the General Provisions Committee.
There’s some potential drama there too. We’re waiting to see whether Attorney General Pam Bondi, an animal lover, voices her support for the plan.
As of now, it’s sponsored by appointees of House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Senate President Joe Negron and Gov. Rick Scott. (Bondi sits on the panel by dint of her being the current A.G.)
Will she? Won’t she? Stay tuned …
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— CRC IN FOCUS —
“Prominent Republicans say Scott killed CFO proposal to help political ally” via Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida – Political pressure from Gov. Rick Scott helped kill a proposal to expand the state chief financial officer’s oversight role in the billion-dollar state contracting game, say the plan’s sponsor and a former state Senate president. The governor’s office categorically denies the allegations. Text messages from staff and commission members, though, at the very least underscore a host of oddities leading up to the showdown over the proposal. “Politics was heavy in the air,” said former Senate President Don Gaetz, referring to Tuesday’s meeting of the Constitution Revision Commission’s Executive Committee.
“Brecht Heuchan says ethics complaint is part of ‘smear campaign’ ” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – A member of the Constitution Revision Commission says he’s become the victim of a “smear campaign” after proposing a constitutional amendment creating a “bill of rights” for nursing home and assisted living facility residents. On Wednesday, Conwell Hooper, head of an Atlanta-based group called the American Senior Alliance, issued a press release that he had filed a state ethics complaint against Commissioner Brecht Heuchan for filing a “special interest proposal designed to boost the bottom line of one law firm” … Hooper explained that Heuchan “is a paid, registered lobbyist for Wilkes & McHugh, a law firm that specializes in personal injury cases against nursing homes” … Heuchan suggested American Senior Alliance is what’s known as an Astroturf group working with the Florida Health Care Association, a nursing-home advocacy group that has slammed his proposal.
“Constitutional change on candidate residency OK’d by panel” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Candidates for legislative office would have to live in their districts when they qualify to run under a constitutional change cleared Wednesday. The Constitution Revision Commission’s Legislative Committee OK’d the proposal, filed by Commissioner and former state Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, unanimously and without debate. Diaz also chairs the committee. The constitution now says a legislator has to be “an elector and resident of the district from which elected and shall have resided in the state for a period of two years prior to election.” Courts have interpreted that to mean living in a district at the time of election. Diaz’s proposal says “each candidate for the legislature shall, at the time he or she qualifies, be a resident of the district from which the candidate seeks election.”
“Constitution revision panel looks to close write-in loophole” via the News Service of Florida — The measure (Proposal 11), sponsored by CRC Commissioner Sherry Plymale of Palm City, was approved by the commission’s Ethics and Elections Committee. It would open primaries to all voters when the candidates are from the same party and there is no general-election opposition or only write-in candidates. Under current law, the presence of a write-in candidate, whose name does not appear on the ballot, restricts the primary to voters of one party. Elections supervisors told commission members this year that the use of the “write-in loophole” occurs in about 10 of the 67 counties every election cycle. They also testified that when the write-in candidate provision is used to close primaries, it draws the ire of local voters. The measure next moves to the commission’s General Provisions Committee.
— L’AFFAIRE LATVALA —
“Jack Latvala accuser outs herself, sets up potential conflict of interest in Senate probe” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — Rachel Perrin Rogers, an aide to future Senate President Wilton Simpson, has publicly identified herself as one of the women accusing Latvala of sexual harassment. In doing so, a potential conflict of interest is raised in the Senate investigation into the claims because Perrin Rogers is married to Brian Hughes, a consultant to Senate Rules Chair Lizbeth Benacquisto. The Fort Myers Republican is tasked with overseeing the complaint Perrin Rogers filed on Nov. 8 and will determine if the facts prove there was probable cause in the complaint. Latvala, who is running for governor and knew Rodgers was behind the complaint, falsely said she was married to one of his political opponents when her name was still anonymous.
— “Senate staffer who accused Latvala of sexual harassment, groping goes public“ via Alexandra Glorioso and Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
— “Florida Senate staffer complaint alleges Latvala groped her six times” via Alexandra Glorioso and Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida
“Text messages shed light on working relationship between Jack Latvala, accuser” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — In a series of text message exchanges with Latvala, the Florida Senate employee who sparked a Senate sexual harassment investigation against the Pinellas lawmaker, called Senate President Joe Negron a “douchebag.” The text messages shed light on the working relationship between Perrin Rogers and the senator she is accusing of sexually harassing and groping her last Session. Her attorney, Tiffany Cruz, said the release of these text messages are part of a “distract from the real issue.”
Meanwhile … “Paul Renner: ‘5 or 10 percent’ of Tallahassee pols have ‘personal conduct’ issues” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics — Renner addressed comments made by House colleague Jay Fant — who Renner endorsed for Attorney General — on Twitter. Fant depicted a Tallahassee culture in which sexual harassment is pervasive, enabled by a culture of entitlement among politicians in The Process. “What we have in the Florida leg are a lot of tired politicians who’ve been elected for decades and think they own everyone in Florida including the women they harass. These politicians disgust me. I’m horrified for the young women who have to work with them each day,” Fant asserted. With Renner tracking toward being House Speaker, Florida Politics asked if he agreed with Fant’s blanket condemnation of the Legislature. “ … human beings being who they are, in any organization you’re going to have five to 10 percent who can’t help themselves in their personal conduct. We need to identify that and ask them to return home because they’ve lost the trust of the people who elected them,” Renner said.
— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Warning labels for prescription opioids proposed under bill” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — All opioid prescription containers sold at pharmacies would need red warning labels stating the addictive nature of the drug under a bill sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Geller. The bill has been referred to three committees, but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Geller said Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami Democrat, is expected to file a companion bill in the Senate. Geller’s bill is one effort proposed by state lawmakers this year to address the deadly opioid epidemic taking over the state.
“Sarasota senator files bill to eliminate daylight saving time in Florida” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Floridians would not have to adjust their clocks by an hour in the spring and fall if legislation filed by Steube to abolish daylight saving time in the state becomes law. Steube … filed a bill this month that exempts Florida from the practice of setting clocks an hour forward in the spring and an hour back in the fall. Florida would join Arizona and Hawaii as the only states that don’t observe daylight saving time. Steube said he “heard from a number of people in my district that it has a negative impact, especially on school-age children … Thought it would be a worthy discussion to have,” he added.
“Warning labels for prescription opioids proposed under bill” via Ana Ceballos of Florida Politics — All opioid prescription containers sold at pharmacies would need red warning labels stating the addictive nature of the drug under a bill sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Geller. The bill has been referred to three committees, but has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Geller said Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami Democrat, is expected to file a companion bill in the Senate. Geller’s bill is one effort proposed by state lawmakers this year to address the deadly opioid epidemic taking over the state.
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— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
“National Republicans say ‘hands off our paychecks, Bill Nelson’” via the NRSC — With Nelson signaling that he will join Chuck Schumer and Senate liberals in opposing tax cuts for the middle class, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is launching a new digital ad campaign on Facebook and YouTube bumper ads to urge Florida voters to tell Nelson to keep his hands off their paychecks. The ads are part of a national campaign targeting 2018 Democrats in 12 states. “Floridians deserve a senator who will fight for them, not liberal party bosses in Washington,” said NRSC Communications Director Katie Martin. “Tax relief will put more money in Floridians’ pockets, and Bill Nelson needs to decide whether he’ll fight for middle-class families or continue to follow Chuck Schumer’s liberal agenda.”
Click on the image to watch the ad:
“Super PAC launches campaign to focus on ‘Rick’s recession’ and Florida’s growing prosperity gap” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald – RicksRecession.com is the work of For Florida’s Future, an organization that calls itself a “working families advocacy group.” Data comes from the Florida Chamber Foundation, the FIU Metropolitan Center, and uses media reports over the last year – such as how 36 of the state’s 67 counties have still not returned to pre-recession employment levels and how 45 percent of all Floridians are considered “working poor.” Blake Williams, For Florida’s Future communications director, said the group is highlighting the issues in a “significant” social media ad buy on Facebook and Twitter. “Not a single thing Scott has focused on — slashing funding for public schools, refusing to expand Medicaid for millions of low-income Floridians or giving taxpayer funding to corporations who donate to his campaigns — has helped everyday Floridians,″ he said in a news release.
“Gwen Graham backs push for Haitian residency” via Danny McAuliffe of Florida Politics — Gwen Graham endorsed federal legislation on Wednesday that would grant permanent residency to Haitians and Central Americans who are living in the U.S. under Temporary Protected Status. Graham’s endorsement of the legislation, which is sponsored by Miami Republican U.S. Rep Carlos Curbelo, is her way of following through on what she described as her “fierce criticism” of the Trump administration’s decision last week to end TPS for the Haitians who sought refuge to the U.S. following the 2010 earthquake. Graham, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former congresswoman, didn’t shy away from attacking current Gov. Scott for being silent on the issue in the wake of the Trump administration’s announcement last week. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and House Speaker Corcoran, who is highly anticipated to announce his candidacy after the 2018 Session, also were criticized by Graham.
Assignment editors — Ag. Commissioner Putnam will host a barbecue dinner for supporters beginning 5:30 p.m. at the Diamond D Ranch, 5903 Soloman Road in Jacksonville.
Matt Caldwell announces another block of endorsements in his bid for Ag Commissioner — The sixth wave of endorsements include Reps. Tom Leek (Daytona Beach), David Santiago (Deltona), Jason Brodeur (Sanford), Scott Plakon (Longwood), Bob Cortes (Altamonte Springs), Mike La Rosa (St. Cloud) and Rene Plasencia (Orlando). “Matt’s in-depth grasp of the past and current state of Florida’s economy, along with his conservative principles make him the ideal candidate to guide our Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,” Brodeur said. La Rosa added: “I am proud to endorse Matt Caldwell. Matt’s expertise in water and agriculture policies uniquely qualifies him as the best candidate for Commissioner of Agriculture.”
First in Sunburn — “Fant announces major upgrades for his AG campaign” via Florida Politics — Jacksonville Republican Rep. Fant is doing a full-on rebuild of his campaign to replace Bondi in 2018 to retake some of the momentum built up by Ashley Moody and Frank White in the primary race. Fant is bringing in the big guns, with the new hires including Enwright Consulting Group to lead the political team, former Scott communications chief Melissa Stone, advertising firm Strategy Group, oppo research firm Strategic Information Consultants and media group Strategic Digital Services. “I have already invested $750,000 of my own money in this campaign and I am fully committed to doing what it takes to win. That’s why we have put together a winning team,” Fant said.
First in Sunburn — “CFO candidate Jeremy Ring announces ‘hat-trick’ of congressional endorsements” via Florida Politics — Former Democratic state Sen. Ring announced endorsements for his CFO campaign from U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Frederica Wilson Thursday. Wilson touted Ring’s record fighting to “protect the Florida Retirement System from the Republicans who wanted to tear it apart,” while Frankel added the former Yahoo! exec would “ask tough questions, stand up to insurance companies and stand up for consumers.” Ring is the only Democrat in the race and is likely to face sitting CFO Jimmy Patronis or Brandon Sen. Tom Lee in the general election next year.
“Pulling out of politics: How members retire from the Hill” via Roll Call — It’s getting to be that time of year when family moments over holiday recesses inspire lawmakers to think twice about making the weekly slog back to Capitol Hill. Sixteen current House members have already announced they’re not running for anything next year — short of the 22 members, on average, who have retired each cycle since 1976 without seeking another office. “I would be shocked if, after holidays, you didn’t see anyone else say, ‘Hey, I’m done’ — in both chambers,” a Republican strategist said before Thanksgiving. What’s mocked as a euphemism for involuntary departures in other corridors of power is generally genuine on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers often travel hundreds of miles from home every week. Leadership can try to head off some of these retirement announcements by reaching out to term-limited committee chairmen or others who need a reason to stick around another term. Seven GOP lawmakers are in their third and final terms as committee chairmen, and three of them have already announced their retirements.
Happening tonight:
“Clark Anderson following his mother’s footsteps, seeking HD 30 seat” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Anderson, a 64-year-old Democrat from Winter Park, has political involvement in his blood … His mother, the late Joan G. Anderson, was a fixture for decades in Illinois politics, holding various offices in and around Chicago and the capital Springfield. She once helped rewrite the state’s constitution as a delegate to the state’s constitutional convention, writing and advocating numerous environmental regulations, and once even running [unsuccessfully] for Illinois lieutenant governor … “I have reached a point in my career where I have the time and the resources to devote to something like this. You know, my whole life has been spent building my career,” the cybersecurity contractor said. “Looking at the current political climate, I feel I have a lot to offer.” … Anderson offered no criticisms of incumbent Republican Rep. Bob Cortes, but said he believes it’s time for a more progressive direction for the state.
“Erik Fresen zeroed out campaign fund with $93K to charity” via Florida Politics — Fresen‘s campaign account for his 2020 bid for Senate District 37 was zeroed out with more than $125,000 in expenditures, most of which headed to charities. Among the expenditures listed on Fresen’s final campaign finance report were $20,000 to Coral Gables-based Generation N Media, $5,525 to accounting firm Riesco and Company, $3,000 for Discover credit card bills related to meals and travel, about $2,850 in payments to Extra Space Storage in Miami as well as about $330 for a few months of phone service from AT&T. The rest of the money in his campaign account headed to various charities, about $93,000, with Liga Contra El Cancer receiving the largest donation at $20,000. A $15,000 donation followed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, $12,000 to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, $10,000 a piece to Amigos for Kids and American Dominican Alumnae, and $5,000 a piece to the United States Military Foundation, Jorge Mas Freedom Foundation, St. John Bosco Parrish, Lotus House and Agape Network. The Children’s Miracle Network received $500; Delou Africa got the final $857.53 in the account Nov. 17, two days after Fresen reported to jail.
— D.C. MATTERS —
“In interview, Marco Rubio opines about Donald Trump, taxes, Steve Bannon and DACA” via Anna Palmer, Jake Sherman, Daniel Lippman and Zach Montellaro of POLITICO — On his priority for the end of 2017: “The child tax credit is a priority. … It needs to be fully refundable, against every penny of payroll tax.” On his relationship with the Trump White House: “The relationship is a good working relationship. I’ve never had a negative personal relationship with Donald Trump, even at the height of the difficulties of a campaign.” On DACA: “Any permanent change … will have to be paired with some permanent change on the security front in immigration, in order for it to pass. That’s real.” On harassment charges in Congress: “We’ve seen it leave virtually no part of our society immune. … It is an important reckoning we’re coming to grips … We shouldn’t excuse it when they violate it, but we shouldn’t take it for granted; I think that’s important.” And on what the next step is: “People need to stop being creeps. … Maybe part of it is generational; I don’t know where it comes from, to be honest with you. I think everyone around here should be more conscious of it. … People need to regulate yourself. Whatever happened to that?”
— STATEWIDE —
“Barbara Pariente to stay on Scott judicial appointments case” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — The “hot mic” has gone cold. In a one-sentence order, the Florida Supreme Court denied Gov. Scott‘s request to disqualify Justice Pariente from a pending case over his judicial appointment power. “The respondent’s motion to disqualify Justice Pariente is hereby denied,” it said, without elaboration. Scott’s request stemmed from a conversation between Pariente and Chief Justice Jorge Labarga that was caught on a ‘hot mic’ immediately after a Nov. 1 oral argument in the case. The League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida are challenging Scott’s authority to appoint three new Supreme Court justices on the last day of his term in 2019. They say he can’t name successors to the court’s liberal-leaning triumvirate of Justices Pariente, Peggy A. Quince and R. Fred Lewis — only the governor elected after Scott can.
“Scott: U.S. embassy belongs in Jerusalem” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics — “As we prepare for this important trade mission, it is clear that our entire nation must also continue to strengthen this partnership with Israel. I strongly believe that the U.S. Embassy belongs in Jerusalem and I am hopeful that a decision will be made to finally move the embassy to its rightful destination in Israel’s capital city,” Scott said in a press release with a Jacksonville dateline, even as he gave no hints of this position while talking to media in the city. Scott’s press release outlined some aspects of the trade mission, including a celebration of direct flights on the Israeli El-Al airline from Miami to Tel Aviv, and economic development meetings designed to bolster $286 million in annual trade between Israel and Florida.
“Scott’s office: Governor is aware of Groveland Four case, reviewing all options” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Hours after Gov. Scott declined to talk specifically about the posthumous pardons requested for the Groveland Four — victims of racial injustice in the 1940s that led to two killed and two going to prison — the governor’s office said he is aware of the case and reviewing options. “Governor Scott is aware of the Groveland Four case and is strongly against any form of racial injustice or discrimination,” McKinley Lewis, Scott’s deputy communications director said in a written statement. “Currently, the families of Walter Irvin and Charles Greenlee have applications pending with the Commission on Offender Review which conducts clemency investigations per standard procedure and the Florida Constitution,” Lewis continued. “After the commission concludes clemency investigation, their findings are presented to the four-member Board of Executive Clemency. We will continue to review all of our options.“
Assignment editors – Gov. Scott will visit Miami to highlight his proposed K-12 education investment in the upcoming state budget. News conference begins 3:30 p.m. at Coconut Grove Elementary School, 3351 Matilda St. in Miami.
“Assisted living facilities face $280 million tab for generators” via Christine Sexton of the News Service of Florida — Gov. Scott’s mandate that all assisted living facilities have generators and 96 hours of backup fuel will cost the industry about $280 million, according to estimates published by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Because the majority of residents in assisted living facilities are “self-pay” and don’t rely on Medicaid, the providers won’t be able to recoup Medicaid funding to help offset the generator costs, said Susan Anderson, vice president of public policy for Florida Argentum, a statewide association that represents assisted living facilities. According to the department’s estimates, there are 3,111 assisted living facilities licensed across the state, and more than half of them have fewer than seven beds. To abide by the mandate that they have a generator and enough fuel to keep the temperature at 81 degrees for four days, those small facilities will have to spend an average of $28,000. In the aggregate, the total cost for those providers is estimated at slightly more than $44.7 million. The state has another 775 assisted living facilities with between seven and 49 beds, and compliance costs for those providers total an estimated $53.2 million. There are another 428 assisted living facilities with 50 to 100 beds, and they will pay about $45.6 million to comply with the requirements.
“2017 hurricane season ends — but issues will linger” via Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida – Politicians are still scrambling to determine how much of the next state budget will be dedicated to covering losses that may or may not be paid by the federal government. Lawmakers are also looking at regulatory changes for nursing homes and debris-removal companies, as well as changes dealing with issues such as evacuation lanes, shelters and a potential state fuel reserve. Gov. Scott, who was a constantly visible face before and after Irma struck, said he’d like to boost the availability of propane for generators before the 2018 storm season. VISIT FLORIDA spent $5 million to tell potential tourists that the state quickly reopened after Hurricane Irma, even as scars from the September storm remain etched across agricultural fields and the Florida Keys. Members of the House Select Committee on Hurricane Response and Preparedness will meet and discuss potential storm-related recommendations for the 2018 Legislative Session … Among the possibilities are legislation about housing, agriculture tax relief, hardening for emergency-operations centers and management of shelters.
“Gov., Speaker promise “action” if Tampa port audit doesn’t examine controversial spending“ via Brian Burgess of The Capitolist — An audit underway at Port Tampa Bay won’t include any investigation of the spending authorized by port CEO Paul Anderson over the past two years. This puts the port in direct conflict with the expectations of two of the state’s most powerful officials … Scott and Corcoran. “This board is accountable to the taxpayers of Florida, and Governor Scott expects a comprehensive audit that provides a full scope of spending to be completed,” said McKinley Lewis, a spokesman for Scott. A spokesman for the Florida House of Representatives indicated that Speaker Corcoran “concurred” with Governor Scott’s expectations for the audit, and indicated Corcoran would have more to say on the matter shortly.
“Tallahassee Democrat sues city over deleted texts; city ‘committed to doing better’” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Tallahassee Democrat — The Tallahassee Democrat filed a lawsuit Wednesday to compel the city to admit it violated state public records law and guarantee the future preservation of all text messages on city employee cellphones. The suit came about after the city failed to produce texts from the cellphone of City Manager Rick Fernandez requesting expensive tickets from a local lobbyist for a Florida State University football game last fall. … “The whole sequence of events highlighted the fact there was no formal city policy and procedure for retrieving and preserving text messages,” said John Bussian, a First Amendment lawyer hired by the Democrat. … Despite its long record of compliance with the state’s public record law, City Attorney Lew Shelley admitted that in this case the city and Fernandez violated the law. … Shelley said he and the Democrat’s lawyers would begin working immediately to resolve the issues “and not spend money defending lawsuits if at all possible.”
— OPINIONS —
“Save money, boost public safety with sentencing reform” via Orlando Sentinel editorial board — When Florida legislators gather in Tallahassee in January for their 2018 session, their primary responsibility — assembling and passing a balanced budget — could be more challenging than usual … legislators will be on the lookout for more efficient ways to deliver better services to Floridians. As the state’s population grew by almost 200 percent between 1970 and 2014, its prison population expanded by more than 1,000 percent … Sentence lengths in Florida increased by 166 percent between 1990 and 2009 … Fortunately, there are reform-minded legislators in both parties who are pushing legislation. One bill would allow judges to depart from mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes, provided the offenses weren’t violent, weren’t connected to organized crime, and didn’t result in death or serious injury. The measure is sponsored in the House by St. Petersburg Democrat Ben Diamond and in the Senate by St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes. As Brandes said, “We have to stop treating addicts like kingpins.”
— LOBBYING REGISTRATIONS —
George Anderson, Southern Strategy Group: The College Board
Kenneth Bell, Gunster Yoakley & Stewart: Associated Industries of Florida
Daphnie Bercher: GrayRobinson: Village of Estero
Jose Bermudez, Becker & Poliakoff: Florida Delegation, Southeast U.S./Japan Association
Richard Coates, Tidewater Consulting: Pioneer Technology Group
Angela Drzewiecki, Peebles & Smith: GREY2K USA Worldwide
Candice Ericks, Lauren Jackson, TSE Consulting: Code.org
Ron Greenstein: EduTone
Gary Hunter, Hopping Green & Sams: Waste Management
Dean Izzo, Capital City Consulting: Express Food Mart
Danny Jordan, Scott Ross, One Eighty Consulting: DCI Group AZ, L.L.C. on behalf of Dell Technologies
Will McKinley, Angela Dempsey, Fred Dickinson, Erik Kirk, Sophie Smith, PooleMcKinley: PCC Technology
Jacob Oster: Amazon Corporate
Seema Siddiqui: MedAvail Technologies
— ALOE —
“’It’s a miracle!’ Bird escapes Indialantic home, is found a week later by Randy Fine” via Jessica Saggio of FLORIDA TODAY — “Birdie,” a Sun Conure and the beloved pet of Linda and Ed Plummer, escaped her home in Indialantic through a doggy door on Thanksgiving, prompting a panic-stricken search for the colorful fowl. When Birdie first escaped, Linda said she heard screeching in the backyard. Worried, she searched feverishly for the bird, eventually finding her perched about 30 feet up in a neighbor’s tree … Linda ran back inside to grab a handful of sunflower seeds to coax Birdie down, but when she returned the colorful bird was gone. Across town, a very different story was about to unfold. It was the day after Thanksgiving when Wendy Fine, the wife of State Rep. Fine, was working out of her home office in Melbourne Beach when she, too, heard a screeching sound. Lo and behold, there it was: A beautiful bird had flown onto her porch. The Fine family rallied knowing it had to be someone’s pet. They immediately made a trip to PetSmart to buy a cage and food, and then posted about their discovery on Facebook. Randy’s Facebook post about the bird had circulated, and Linda was told to post about the bird on a popular Facebook group, Brevard Lost Pets. Within hours, friends of friends put two and two together, and thanks to social media, the families were introduced.
“The country’s best beach is also a secret art haven” via Alev Aktar of the New York Post — Clear blue waters and long stretches of sand have always been the appeal of St. Petersburg … But these days, visitors are just as likely to dive into the Tampa Bay town’s vibrant arts and culture scene. Over the last decade, the Sunshine City has evolved into a creative hub, with world-class museums, thriving galleries and bold street art that have the once-neglected downtown booming again. And soon there will be much more to admire: Three ambitious new museums will open in St. Pete over the next two years, cementing its reputation as one of Florida’s cultural hot spots. Thanks to St. Pete’s laid-back yet imaginative spirit, there’s more art to check out … More than 80 — and counting — eye-catching outdoor murals wrap buildings, walls, and a central downtown intersection.
Happy birthday to everybody’s best friend, Eddie Borrego.
