Peter Schorsch
Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics.
By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Ana Ceballos, Daniel McAuliffe, and Jim Rosica.
President’s Day is the grab bag holiday that too few people celebrate, Rick Hertzberg of the New Yorker once noted.
February 22 used to be Washington’s Birthday. It still is, of course, and that’s still its official name, but we no longer call it that, so we no longer have a holiday devoted exclusively to remembering the Father of His Country, a very great man. … Presidents Day is a solution to a bureaucratic problem. The problem is, or was, that February 12 is Lincoln’s birthday, and that used to be a holiday in many states (still is in some). Plus, a few recalcitrant states celebrated the birthdays of Jefferson Davis and/or Robert E. Lee.
Anyhow, we ended up with too many holidays in February, which is bad for the Gross Domestic Product. So they all got smooshed together, and department store advertisers gave it its name. The horrible result is that we have a holiday that nominally honors, among others, Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, and Richard M. Nixon.
— If you want to read a tough piece about President Donald Trump, check out “A President’s Day without a real president” via The Daily Beast.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
We purposefully only chose two Tweets for today’s edition of Situational Awareness:
— @RealDonaldTrump: Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign – there is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud!
— @MorganW_44: Oh my god. 17 OF MY CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS ARE GONE AND YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY TO MAKE THIS ABOUT RUSSIA???!! HAVE A DAMN HEART. You can keep all of your fake and meaningless “thoughts and prayers”.
***Today’s SUNBURN is brought to you by Spectrum Reach, the marketing platform of choice, connecting you to your target audience on TV, digital and mobile. With access to our powerful data and insights, solutions for every screen, and the best programming content on the top 50+ networks, we’ll help you reach the right customers for your business. SpectrumReach.com #NeverStopReaching***
— DAYS UNTIL —
Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony – 6; Last day for regularly scheduled legislative committee meetings – eight; Disney Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – 10; Last day to take up Special Order Calendar – 14; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program termination begins – 14; Sine Die (maybe) — 18; St. Patrick’s Day – 26; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 40; Easter – 41; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 93; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 123; Primary Election Day — 190; General Election Day — 260; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 358.
— THE STUDENTS —
“Florida, angry and grieving, takes gun protest to streets” via Jason Dearen, Allen Breed and Tamara Lush of The Associated Press – The rallies in Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg gave a political outlet to the growing feelings of rage and mourning sparked by the carnage. The crowd chanted: “Vote them out!” and held signs calling for action. Some read: “#Never Again,” ″#Do something now” and “Don’t Let My Friends Die.” Student Emma Gonzalez told the crowd politicians should stop taking donations from the National Rifle Association. “Shame on you,” she yelled, and the crowd repeated her. “A lot of people are saying that these kids are activists, these kids need to be politicians,” she later told a reporter. “But a lot of us are just other students who figured there’s strength in numbers. And we want to be sure that we end up having our message sent across. And then we can get back to our normal everyday lives, you know.”
— “100 Marjory Stoneman Douglas students to march on Tallahassee on Wednesday” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald
“Principal of a pained Stoneman Douglas High just sent a message to his students” via David Neal of the Miami Herald – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High principal Ty Thompson exuded deep emotion and a positive view forward in his first public comments since Wednesday’s mass shooting that killed 17 people. In the two-minute video posted on the school’s website and YouTube, the Parkland school leader called the shooting “an unthinkable act of violence” and said: “My heart is breaking for the victims, families and our entire Stoneman community.” Thompson also said in the video: “We lost 17 lives on Valentine’s Day. That’s supposed to be the international day of love. We’re going to take the love that we got lost on Wednesday, we’re going to spread that over the next days, weeks, months, maybe even years.”
Click on the image below to watch the principal’s message:
— “The school shooting, from Superintendent Robert Runcie’s eyes” via Rosemary O’Hara of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Lawmakers agree to destroy site of school carnage: ‘This building has to come down’” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald – Florida legislators will provide the resources to help the Broward School District tear down Building 12, the site of the massacre that killed 17 students and teachers. They want to build a new classroom space and replace the site of the murders with a memorial to honor the victims and their families. “This building has to come down,” Sen. Bill Galvano told the Miami Herald after visiting the school the day before. He said the horror was palpable. “Everything was strewn across the halls from people running and dodging and there were significant blood splatters on the wall,” he recalled. “Like someone took a milk jug and exploded it.”
“One family, two mass shootings. Parkland mother and son survive gunmen one year apart.” via Kyra Gurney of the Miami Herald – Just over a year ago, Broward teacher Annika Dean was waiting for her luggage at the Fort Lauderdale airport when a gunman opened fire in the baggage claim area, killing five people and wounding six others. Dean dove to the ground next to a luggage cart and prayed fervently that her two sons would not be left without a mother. A stranger dropped down and lay on top of her, whispering that he would protect her. Miraculously, they both survived … Dean was at work at nearby Royal Palm Elementary when her 14-year-old son Austin Foote texted her from Douglas High to say that there was an active shooter drill on campus. Dean was immediately confused. As a teacher she had gone through active shooter trainings … But she didn’t think students participated in the drills. In his messages, Austin told Dean that he’d been outside for a fire drill when he heard what sounded like gunfire. He said people had started running and screaming and that he’d taken shelter in a nearby Junior ROTC classroom. Then, a moment later, Austin sent another text message. It’s not a drill, he told his mother, it’s real. “My heart just sank,” Dean said. “I had been the one sending those texts last year.”
Meanwhile …“Deputies: St. Pete boy posted school threat, thought it would be ‘funny’” via WTSP – The boy … was seen in a photo on Snapchat, holding what appeared to be an AR-15 with the caption “Round 3 in Florida Tuesday.” Deputies were alerted to the photo … After identifying the boy, detectives went to his house. After introducing themselves, they said the boy immediately replied, “I know why you are here, because of the photo.” The boy grabbed his phone and went to the picture section on his phone and showed detectives the photograph. He admitted he took the selfie and made the post on his Snapchat account. The boy told detectives he was staying at a friend’s house and was checking his Snapchat account and saw another post of someone holding what appeared to be a rifle with the caption “Round 2 on Florida tomorrow.” That post turned out to be from a teen in South Carolina, who has been arrested and charged. The post caused residents in several Florida counties to call their sheriff’s offices.
— THE KILLER —
“DCF investigated Nikolas Cruz after violent social media posts” via Audra Burch, Frances Robles and Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times – The Florida Department of Children and Families, had been alerted to posts on Snapchat of Cruz cutting his arms and expressing interest in buying a gun, according to the report. But after visiting and questioning Cruz at his home, the department determined he was at low risk of harming himself or others. The report is the latest indication that Cruz was repeatedly identified by local and federal agencies as a troubled young man with violent tendencies. Cruz also worried officials at his former school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High … who on at least one occasion alerted a mobile crisis unit to get him emergency counseling, according to the state report.
“’I’m going to watch you bleed’: Cruz threatened ex’s new boyfriend, report says” via Nicholas Nehamas and Sarah Blaskey of the Tampa Bay Times – Before he killed 17 people at a South Florida high school, Cruzrepeatedly threatened an ex-classmate who had started dating his former girlfriend … “I’m going to f—-ng kill you,” Cruz wrote last year to Enea Sabadini, 17, in an Instagram message shared with Buzzfeed. “I’m going to watch you bleed.” Cruz also used racist and homophobic slurs — and told Sabadini: “You have no idea what I’m capable of.” The ominous social media messages were accompanied by a photo showing several guns lying on a bed, including an AR-15 rifle. Cruz used such a gun during his shooting rampage at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. His lawyer said he plans to plead guilty if prosecutors agree not to seek the death penalty.
“Shooting suspect was on school rifle team that got NRA grant” via Michael Biesecker and Collin Binkley of The Associated Press – The troubled teen … excelled in an air-rifle marksmanship program supported by a grant from the National Rifle Association Foundation, part of a multimillion-dollar effort by the gun group to support youth shooting clubs and other programs. … Former JROTC cadets told The Associated Press that Cruz was a member of the small varsity marksmanship team that trained together after class and traveled to other area schools to compete. It was a close-knit group. One of the other cadets started calling Cruz “Wolf,” and the nickname stuck. “He was a very good shot,” said Aaron Diener, 20, who gave Cruz a ride to shooting competitions when they were part of the same four-member team in 2016. “He had an AR-15 he talked about, and pistols he had shot. … He would tell us, ‘Oh, it was so fun to shoot this rifle’ or ‘It was so fun to shoot that.’ It seemed almost therapeutic to him, the way he spoke about it.”
“Shooter will plead guilty if prosecutors drop the death penalty” via David Ovalle of the Miami Herald – “He committed this crime. Everybody saw it. Everybody knows it. He’s admitted it,” Public Defender Howard Finkelstein told the Miami Herald. “The crime is horrific and beyond words. This is going to come down to one issue — does he live, or does he die?” No trial date has been set, and it’s unclear when Cruz could admit guilt in court. But Finkelstein said Cruz would immediately agree to life in prison if prosecutors waive the death penalty. “We’re willing to plead guilty and let the families and community begin to heal. Nobody sees any benefit from a trial.” It’s highly unusual for a legal defense team to signal their approach to a case so soon after an arrest, particularly in a high-profile case.
“’He was a lost child.’ Family that took in shooter shocked by rampage.” via David Ovalle of the Miami Herald – When James and Kimberly Snead took in Cruz late last year, he was a socially awkward teenager lost in the world, depressed by the death of his beloved mother. But to the Sneads, Cruz appeared to be progressing. With the Sneads’ help, the emotionally troubled 19-year-old planned to resume mental-health therapy begun years earlier. “Things were looking up,” James Snead told the Miami Herald. “Just two weeks ago, he said it was the happiest he’d ever been.” That is why Cruz’s horrific rampage last week … came as a stunning blow for a family that wanted nothing but to help a wayward young man. And the troubling details of Cruz’s past — the visits by police to his old home, the menacing social media posts, the tip to the FBI about his threats that went uninvestigated — were equally as surprising, the Sneads say. “Everything that everybody now knows about him, we didn’t know,” said Snead, 48, a construction consultant and former U.S. Army soldier.
— THE DEBATE —
“Scott demands FBI director resign for ‘failure to take action’ against mass shooting suspect” via Sergio Bustos of POLITICO Florida – “The FBI’s failure to take action against this killer is unacceptable,” Scott said in a statement. “The FBI has admitted that they were contacted last month by a person who called to inform them of Cruz’s ‘desire to kill people,’ and ‘the potential of him conducting a school shooting.’ Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn’t going to cut it.” The FBI acknowledged that some “protocols were not followed” after the agency obtained a tip in January that shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz had the potential of “conducting a school shooting.” … “We constantly promote ‘see something, say something,’ and a courageous person did just that to the FBI. And the FBI failed to act,” Scott said. “‘See something, say something’ is an incredibly important tool and people must have confidence in the follow-through from law enforcement … The FBI Director needs to resign.”
Tweet, tweet:
Rick Scott’s state agency called the Parkland mass murderer low risk. By his own cynical standard, he should resign. Will he? https://t.co/QXqGIE4786
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) February 18, 2018
— “Governors’ Office rejects DCF, FBI comparisons post Parkland” via Florida Politics
— “Rick Scott’s A-plus NRA rating, and what it means now” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times
“GOP chairmen request FBI briefing on shooting” via John Bowden of The Hill – Reps. Trey Gowdy and Bob Goodlatte, who chair the House Oversight and Government Reform and Judiciary committees, respectively, sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting information on why the agency did not follow up when it received a tip about Cruz. “In the wake of this tragic shooting, Cruz’s past has been sifted through to determine whether there were warning signs that he was capable of such monstrous actions. There were,” the lawmakers wrote. “On Jan. 5, 2018, the FBI received a tip about Cruz. According to FBI’s protocols, this information ‘should have been assessed as a potential threat to life.’ The Committees are seeking to understand these protocols and why they were not followed in this case,” the letter continued.
“’Still no gun control?’ Three billboards outside Miami goad Rubio after school shooting” via Jared Gilmore of the Miami Herald – “Slaughtered in school,” read the first billboard. “And still no gun control?” asked the second. “How come, Marco Rubio?” inquired the third. Each of the mobile billboards — plastered onto the side of trucks and sponsored by the activist group Avaaz — was parked near the Doral office of Sen. Rubio … Republicans, including Rubio, have argued that legislation blocking the purchase of those guns wouldn’t have stopped the tragedy. And that’s the sentiment the three billboards are going after, Avaaz said. “Today we take the streets asking ourselves: how come, Rubio?” Avaaz President Emma Ruby-Sachs asked, The Hill reports. “The Senator has taken fire across the country for his toothless response to the shooting, calling it ‘inexplicable.’ We call that ‘inexcusable.’”
“Carlos Curbelo pledges to back Stephanie Murphy’s CDC gun violence research bill” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics – The apparent deal was struck via Twitter after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azarsignaled his openness to allow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to research gun violence prevention. Curbelo tweeted “@CDCgov should have never been banned from looking into gun violence as a public health issue. Glad to hear @SecAzar & @RepGoodlatte agree the time has come to end the ban. Let’s get it done.” Murphy responded an hour later: “Agreed, @RepCurbelo. My bill, the Gun Violence Research Act, or HR1478, would permanently repeal the #Dickey Amendment. I would welcome your cosponsorship to make this a bipartisan effort.” Later Friday, Curbelo’s office replied through his Twitter account:[email protected] gave up Twitter for Lent, but he’s in! — #TeamCurbelo.
“Brian Mast blames movies, video games for violence” via Ali Schmitz of TCPalm – “When you look at ‘Call of Duty,’ when you look at movies like ‘John Wick,’ the societal impacts of people being desensitized to killing in ways different than how somebody on the battlefield was desensitized is troubling,” Mast said on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition … Mast, an Army veteran who lost both legs in Afghanistan, isn’t the only politician blaming violent images in the media. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin did the same. Many leading psychologists and researchers have found no evidence that virtual violence in the media translates into physical violence in the real world. There are studies that say it does, but most of them are older and outdated, said Stetson University psychology professor Christopher Ferguson, who has studied violence in video games for more than a decade. His own research shows there’s no causal connection between school shootings and people who play video games.
“Joe Negron: Pictures ‘did not prepare us for the horrendous sight’” via Nathalie Sczublewski of the News Service of Florida – Negron, Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon, Sen. Lauren Book and Sen. Gary Farmer went to Broward Health, where they met with medical workers who treated victims of Wednesday’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School … They also met with family members, hospitalized victims and Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie and saw parts of the high school. “I cannot imagine the fear our students and teachers were facing Wednesday afternoon. The pictures and video I viewed previously did not prepare us for the horrendous sight we viewed today at Stoneman Douglas,” Negron said.
“Legislators say they are haunted by what they saw at Parkland school” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald – The images haunt Wilton Simpson. The state senator, developer and egg farmer from Trilby came to Building 12 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with a small entourage of legislators. They wanted to get a firsthand look at what happened when 17 students and faculty were gunned down by a former student at the school in Parkland. “It could have been a killing field,” recalled Simpson … Blood spattered the hallways, bullet holes pierced the walls. Books and papers were strewn everywhere. Textbooks sat open on the desks. And in the midst of it all were the bullet casings. But when Simpson was asked to describe what the students went through, he lost his composure. “It was horrific,” he said through sobs.
“Florida lawmakers repeatedly denied pleas for more school-safety money” via Andrew Atterbury of USA TODAY – Resource officers in Florida, in large part, are paid for from a pool of money called Safe Schools, earmarked each year strictly for school districts to use on safety and security expenses. The state’s 67 school districts this year are sharing $64.4 million, an amount unchanged for the past seven years. Schools are supposed to use this money for a gamut of safety-and-security needs, from bullying prevention to after-school programs, yet more than 80 percent is spent on school resource officers. As the 2018 Legislative Session trudges past the halfway point, Florida’s Senate and House of Representatives are split on kicking in any more money for Safe Schools.
“Florida Carry wants Legislature to allow guns in classrooms” via Steve Bousquet of the Tampa Bay Times – Florida Carry, a statewide group that advocates for the rights of gun owners, wants the Florida Legislature to eliminate “gun-free zones” across the state and allow teachers who have concealed weapons licenses to carry guns in classrooms. Reacting to the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland that killed 17 students and faculty, the group sent a letter to Speaker Corcoran and Senate President Negron. “Despite the repeated failure of so-called ‘gun free zones,’ the Florida Legislature has taken no steps over the past seven years to protect our children,” wrote Eric Friday, Florida Carry’s general counsel, in a letter that was released to news outlets. “While the responsibility for Wednesday’s events rests solely with the actions of the evil person who committed this act, it is the Legislature that has enabled such tragedies to occur … Evil will not respect gun-free zones.”
“Jacksonville federal judge: ‘We Americans have to do better than this’” via Andrew Pantazi of the Florida Times-Union – U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan took the unusual step of opening court with an extended acknowledgement of the tragedy that struck a Broward County high school. As he spoke his 350-word statement, Corrigan’s voice seemed to waver with emotion: “And it is not usually appropriate for a judge to speak from the bench about a matter of public interest unrelated to the case before the court … However, there are exceptions, and this is one of those times. I think it particularly appropriate given that the case that is before the court involves a school district which is tasked with educating 40,000 students, young persons who are the future of our community and nation. While words are inadequate, they are all that I have … I join all Americans in feeling a profound sense of sadness and anger over the senseless deaths of 14 students and 3 heroic adults in Broward County … I grieve for them and their families now deprived of a loved one who helped define their very existence.”
“Sickened by school shooting, ‘conservative’ Florida gun owner surrenders his AR-15” via Monique Madan and Alex Harris of the Miami Herald – In a Facebook post that has been shared more than 57,000 times, Ben Dickmann revealed pictures of him keeping a promise he made the day before — surrendering his AR-57 in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. “I enjoyed shooting this rifle immensely but I don’t need it. I have other types I can shoot for the same enjoyment,” Dickmann wrote. “I have surrendered this rifle to the Broward Sheriff at the Tamarac post. I could have easily sold this rifle, but no person needs this. I will be the change I want to see in this world. If our lawmakers will continue to close their eyes and open their wallets, I will lead by example.”
— THE POLITICS —
“Donald Trump visits Broward hospital and sheriff’s office in brief visit after shooting” via Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald – Trump said he had met with victims at the hospital: “It’s sad something like that could happen,” he said … Standing in a hallway with first lady Melania Trump, he shook hands with an unnamed doctor and said he was impressed with the speed of first responders, calling it “record-setting.” In a later visit with police who responded to the shooting that left 17 dead, Trump praised law enforcement and did not engage in a discussion about possible next steps in Washington on gun violence … “What a great job you’ve done, and we appreciate it very much,” Trump said from a fifth-floor conference room at the agency’s Fort Lauderdale headquarters, according to a media pool report. “Incredible job, and everybody is talking about it.”
“Some folks are not happy about President Trump’s new Twitter banner photo” via Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times – Some of the biggest names in Florida politics are in the frame: Senator Marco Rubio. Governor Rick Scott. Attorney General Pam Bondi. And in the center of the frame, there’s President Trump, surrounded by first responders from the Parkland school shooting, smiling and giving a thumbs-up. Some folks online are not happy about the picture … “Just an odd photo,” Chuck Todd, moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, tweeted. A post titled, “The president’s Twitter banner is now a picture of him smiling with a thumbs-up, next to the cops who arrived to the scene of 17 murdered teachers and students” got over 32,000 upvotes on the subreddit r/facepalm.
“’People are angry’: Pain turns political in Parkland after school shooting” via Kevin Sullivan, Tim Craig and William Wan of The Washington Post – This most peaceful and orderly of places has been devastated by the most violent and chaotic of acts. And amid the horse trails, bike paths and gated communities of a city that prides itself on “country elegance,” the response to a shooting that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has been a raw, growing and furious burst of activism and demand for change. Hundreds of people filled the terrace of the Broward County federal courthouse, where their echoing chants of “enough” and “not one more” weren’t solemn — they were seething. None, perhaps, more so than Emma Gonzalez. “If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and how it should have never happened, and maintain telling us that nothing is going to be done about it, I’m going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,” Gonzalez declared. “To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA, shame on you! If you actively do nothing, people will continue to end up dead.”
“’No more guns’: Protesters escorted out of Paul Ryan fundraiser in Key Biscayne” via Alex Harris of the Miami Herald – Maria Thorne, a Key Biscayne activist, said she noticed motorcade traffic clogging up her commute home from her job as a fifth-grade teacher at iPrep Academy, where she spent the day reassuring scared students that she could keep them safe from a shooter. Thorne heard a rumor that the motorcade might belong to Ryan, so she took a friend into the Ritz to investigate. She said men with lanyards at the entrance of a private area confirmed that it was a fundraiser for Ryan. Ryan’s spokesperson confirmed he attended the event, which had been planned months in advance. Thorne said she found Ryan in the middle of the room — “I shook his hand and everything,” she said — and introduced herself as a teacher and Key Biscayner. “Nice,” the Republican congressman replied. “Nice?” Thorne said. “You’re here celebrating the death of 17 children.” At that, Thorne said, Ryan told her he “didn’t want to talk politics” or argue. When Thorne tried to continue, security escorted her out. She chanted “No more guns!” on her way out the door, she said.
“Prominent Republican donor issues ultimatum on assault weapons” via Alexander Burns of The New York Times – Al Hoffman Jr., a Florida-based real estate developer who was a leading fundraiser for George W. Bush’s campaigns, said he would seek to marshal support among other Republican political donors for a renewed assault weapons ban. “For how many years now have we been doing this — having these experiences of terrorism, mass killings — and how many years has it been that nothing’s been done?” Hoffman said in an interview. “It’s the end of the road for me.” Hoffman announced his ultimatum in an email to half a dozen Republican leaders, including Jeb Bushand Gov. Scott. He wrote in the email that he would not give money to Scott, who is considering a campaign for the Senate in 2018, or other Florida Republicans he has backed in the past, including Representative Brian Mast, if they did not support new gun legislation.
“Democratic Super PAC ad slams Scott for ‘doing nothing’ about gun violence” via David Siders of POLITICO – In the ad, paid for by former Sen. Barbara Boxer’s California-based PAC For A Change, text over a black and white image of Scott reads, “Florida Gov. Rick Scott offered only ‘thoughts and prayers’ after the latest tragic school shooting. No surprise.” …. Part of a small, online-only buy targeting Florida voters, the ad is likely to have minimal reach. But it reflects growing anxiety among Democrats nationally about the prospect of Scott challenging Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, one of the nation’s most vulnerable Democratic senators. The ad highlights the NRA’s past support for Scott and asks, “Isn’t a child’s life worth more than that? Enough.”
— “Tampa City Council chair slams state lawmakers after school shooting” via Mitch Perry of Florida Politics
“How white nationalists fooled the media about Florida shooter” via Shawn Musgrave of POLITICO Florida – The Anti-Defamation League reported that a white supremacist group claimed ties with Nikolas Cruz, who confessed to the shooting spree that killed at least 17 people … “A spokesperson for the white supremacist group Republic of Florida (ROF) told the Anti-Defamation League Thursday, Feb. 15, that Nikolas Cruz … was associated with his group,” the ADL reported. The ADL quoted a man named Jordan Jereb, who runs the small group, which is based in Tallahassee. “Jereb added that ROF had not ordered or wanted Cruz to do anything like the school shooting,” the ADL wrote in a blog post that was quickly picked up by ABC News and The Associated Press, and later percolated through dozens of other media outlets. Even The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi publication, picked up the claim. But a few hours later, after law enforcement said they had no evidence linking Cruz to ROF, Jereb said that his identification of Cruz was a “misunderstanding” and that he, too, had been the subject of a “prank.” … The ADL subsequently revised its report, as did many press outlets. The ADL traced its original tip to posts on 4chan, where researchers found “self-described ROF members” claiming that Cruz was a brother-in-arms. But many of those posts seem to have been written specifically to deceive reporters and researchers. “Prime trolling opportunity,” one user replied. “You have to take advantage of this,” another chimed in.
— “Missouri youth baseball team moves forward with AR-15 raffle” via The Associated Press
— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Florida is afraid of its prison system. Here’s what lawmakers want to do about it.” via Mary Ellen Klas and Emily Mahoney of the Miami Herald – Lobbyist Barney Bishop stood up before a Senate committee and wrote the direct mail campaign ad every legislator fears. “You’re helping drug traffickers,” he said of the bill before the Senate Justice Appropriations Subcommittee that will give judges discretion when sentencing non-violent drug offenders to prison … It is exactly the kind of out-of-context rhetoric that worries lawmakers as they consider legislation aimed at shrinking something else that scares them: Florida’s expensive prison system. The idea behind the package of reforms is to slow the prison revolving door by diverting non-violent drug felons from prison to local jails, and treating those with mental illness and addiction while they are locked up. The savings from prisons is used to pay for the programs. Similar reforms have been successfully adopted in dozens of other states, fueled by a rare coalition of conservative and liberal activists, yet Florida remains an outlier.
“House eyes plan for health care during hurricanes” via the News Service of Florida — During the next major storm, Florida may turn to university faculty and even students enrolled in health-care programs to help work with some of the state’s most vulnerable residents. Sparked by shortages in special-needs shelters during Hurricane Irma, a House panel on Thursday approved a bill that would expand the list of people who could help out in the facilities during emergencies. The legislation … by Rep. Ralph Massullo … also would require home health-care providers and nurses to develop emergency management plans for their patients. It also calls on hospitals to enter into contracts with local emergency management agencies to provide shelter for people who require more medical attention than is available at special-needs shelters.
“Do Not Call” legislation passed by Legislature – The bill (SB 568), sponsored by Republican Sen. Dana Young of Tampa, passed the House this week and now heads to Gov. Scott’s desk. It was approved by the Senate Jan. 31. “It’s quite simple: If you’re on the ‘Do Not Call’ list, solicitors should not be calling you,” Young said in a statement. “Because of this, we’ve increased penalties for those solicitors who violate the ‘Do Not Call’ list, as well as ensured that when a solicitor calls, the phone number, if provided, will connect a consumer with that solicitor or business, should the consumer decide to call back.” About 1 million Floridians have subscribed to the list, “which demonstrates the essential nature of this bill,” she added.
— BEAR IN THE WOODS —
In a series of indictments released last week by special counsel Robert Mueller, the Russian operation to influence Florida during the 2016 presidential election was – as noted by POLITICO – “a class by itself.”
On Friday, Mueller indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for their part in an operation to boost Trump, sowing political discord, and undermining Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
– Trump’s Florida campaign was reportedly “surprised” by grassroots support in the state, which to them appeared organic.
– However, the indictment said: “Defendants and their co-conspirators use false U.S. personas to communicate with Trump campaign staff involved in local community outreach.”
– Top Florida adviser Susie Wiles insisted staff and volunteers did “due diligence” in planning events, and rallies. Russians were not on anyone’s radar, she told POLITICO. “I don’t think anyone had any idea. This was not something we saw.”
– Among the interactions between Russians and Trump campaign workers noted in the indictment include a “U.S. person to build a cage on a flatbed truck … and another U.S. person to wear a costume portraying Clinton in a prison uniform.”
– “The caged Clinton stunt was a hit among Trump supporters,” POLITICO reports.
– Russian operatives were behind many of the Florida Goes Trump rallies – held in 20 Florida cities Aug. 20, 2016, as well as the Facebook page “Being Patriotic” which promoted the rallies, focusing on the importance of winning Florida.
– “Florida is still a purple state and we need to appoint it red,” read one message. “If we lose Florida, we lose America.”
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
Assignment editors – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine will deliver remarks at the Duval County Democratic Party’s monthly meeting in Jacksonville. Meeting begins 6 p.m. at 966 N. Liberty St. in Jacksonville.
“Alvin Brown takes a hard swing at Al Lawson in new TV ad” via Alex Leary of the Tampa Bay Times – The ad, which began airing today in Tallahassee and across the 5th Congressional District, plays off a Buzz post about Trump later saying he’d like to thank Lawson. The post originally carried a snarky headline – “Donald Trump’s new favorite Democrat …” – but was updated to reflect Trump’s more pointed words about “treasonous” Democrats. Lawson quickly sought distance from Trump.
Click on the image below to watch the ad:
“Talk of Donna Shalala’s possible run for Congress pays off for David Richardson” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida – Richardson raised more small-dollar donations than any other Democrat running in an open congressional seat last quarter — $125,000 — and says that Shalala‘s record and pedigree as an establishment Democrat are a perfect fundraising foil to inspire more grass-roots contributors to give to his campaign for Florida’s 27th Congressional District. “Her entry into the race is going to only help me,” Richardson said. “Donna Shalala embraced corporate health care and cashed out with the insurance industry when she left government service. I have one of the best online fundraising programs in the country in large part because of my passion for Medicare for all.”
Happening Friday – Democrat Chris Hunter, who is challenging Gus Bilirakis in Florida’s 12th Congressional District, is holding a fundraiser beginning 5:30 p.m. at the Tampa Club 101 E. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 4200 in Tampa.
“James Buchanan lost. Is Vern Buchanan next?” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune – The father has a number of advantages the son didn’t … James Buchanan was an unproven first-time candidate who struggled to find his footing. Vern Buchanan has six campaigns under his belt, a deep political network and an established reputation in the community. James Buchanan ran in a district that Trump won by 4.4 percentage points. Vern Buchanan is running in a district that Trump carried by 11 percentage points. Nearly all of state House District 72 — which covers much of northern Sarasota County — is encompassed within Vern Buchanan’s congressional District 16, but District 72 is less than a quarter of District 16. The rest of District 16 covers Manatee County and part of southern Hillsborough, territory that is friendlier to Republicans than District 72. Vern Buchanan also has a campaign spending chest of more than $2 million. Margaret Good raised more money than James Buchanan. It will be tough for David Shapiro to do the same against his father.
“Audrey Gibson draws Democratic challenger” via the News Service of Florida – Democrat Reginald Brown opened a campaign account to challenge Gibson this year in Senate District 6, according to the state Division of Elections website. The only other candidate in the race is a write-in. Gibson was designated late last year to become the next Senate Democratic leader, replacing Lake Worth Democrat Jeff Clemens … Gibson had raised $138,618 for her re-election campaign as of Jan. 31, while spending $17,208, according to a finance report.
“Josie Tomkow dominates fundraising in HD 39 primary” via the News service of Florida – Polk City Republican Tomkow has dominated fundraising in her race against Bartow Republican Jennifer Spath. Tomkow raised $44,025 from Dec. 29 for the campaign in House District 39, which includes parts of Polk and Osceola counties … That brought Tomkow’s overall total raised to $119,180. Spath, meanwhile, raised $23,325 during the most-recent period, bringing her overall total to $27,325, her report shows. Spath has also loaned $31,500 to her campaign. The winner of Tuesday’s primary will face Democrat Ricky Shirah in the May 1 special general election.
“Neil Combee accused of violating election act” via John Chambliss of the Lakeland Ledger – County Commissioner George Lindsey said Combee, the state director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, violated the federal Hatch Act by soliciting political contributions for Josie Tomkow, a candidate he is supporting in the House District 39 race. Combee said he’s confident he hasn’t violated the act. “He’s full of it,” Combee said of Lindsey. “That’s a damn lie. I’ve been doing everything that I’m allowed to do … The last person to go to about the Hatch Act is George Lindsey.” Combee acknowledged that he’s spoken on Tomkow’s behalf, put up campaign signs for her campaign and contributed money. All those activities are allowed, according to the federal government. Lindsey has not officially filed a Hatch Act violation form against Combee, but he said that someone who works in the agricultural industry filed the complaint earlier this year.
— STATEWIDE —
“Accused of sexually assaulting a rape victim, Miami cop was fired but never charged” via Tim Elfrink of the Miami New Times – Sitting in an unmarked police car in a dark lot outside her Allapattah apartment, Sarah was crying and shaking uncontrollably … Three weeks earlier, she had called 911 to report that her boyfriend had violently raped her. Now, she was the victim of another sexual assault. But this time her attacker was Miami Police Det. Michel Toro, the lead investigator who had promised to arrest her attacker. As he put a finger inside her and she sobbed, he suddenly stopped and asked if he’d “done anything wrong,” she says. according to Sarah, Toro’s assaults grew only bolder after that first attack Feb. 12, 2016. But when investigators took the case to Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, her office allowed Toro to quietly resign with no criminal charges. When they reached this agreement — despite hints that Toro’s behavior had been troubling in the past — Sarah’s worst fear was realized: Her boyfriend’s charges were also dropped. Prosecutors say they had no choice.
“FPL power plant proposal gets boost” via the News Service of Florida – The Public Service Commission should give a key approval to a plan by Florida Power & Light to build a power plant in Broward County, the commission’s staff recommended … The commission is scheduled March 1 to decide whether to grant what is known as a “determination of need” for the proposed $888 million project in Dania Beach. The 1,163-megawatt natural gas plant would replace two old generating units at the Dania Beach site and begin operating in 2022. But it has drawn objections from the Sierra Club and the state Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumers in utility issues. They contend FPL has not shown the new plant is needed to meet customers’ projected energy usage in 2022. The Public Service Commission staff, in a 25-page recommendation, said the parties agreed about the need to retire the older generating units in 2018 and said the primary issue in the case is about timing of a new plant.
“Gulf Power to pass tax savings to customers” via Florida Politics – Gulf, which serves 460,000 customers in the Panhandle, filed documents at the Florida Public Service Commission that detailed plans to reduce customers’ bills because of the federal tax overhaul approved in December. Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. recently detailed similar plans, with the tax law expected to save customers of the utilities roughly $2 billion. While Gulf’s plan still needs approval by the Public Service Commission, the Pensacola-based utility said average residential customers would save about $14 a month.
“JEA debate cracks Lenny Curry’s armor” via Christopher Hong of the Florida Times-Union – The first-term Republican has had remarkable success muscling major legislative wins through a City Council that more often than not was willing to give his administration the benefit of the doubt. Whether that kind of winning streak will continue is an open question after a public meeting ostensibly over the future of Jacksonville’s publicly-owned electric and water utility turned into what one veteran member called a “debacle.” In its wake, Council President Anna Brosche and Curry are in open war, and it’s clear there is no consensus on the 19-member council over how or whether to proceed with a sale of JEA to a private buyer — a move that would amount to one of the largest changes to Jacksonville government in a half-century. Curry and his supporters place the blame on Brosche and City Councilman Garrett Dennis, both of whom have become public antagonists of the administration. “It’s gotten personal with a couple of people who want to discredit him,” said Councilman Bill Gulliford, a Curry ally.
— OPINION —
“Joe Henderson: Gun control? Politicians make sure we don’t have a prayer” via Florida Politics – Gun control? That’s a laugh, given the culture of political complicity created by the National Rifle Association. In the alternate universe in which NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre and his army of lawmakers throughout live, more guns “make America safe and free.” Safe? I wonder how safe those who attend Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County will ever feel again. While he’s at it, ask those affected by the deaths of 229 people in 14 mass shootings in the United States since LaPierre declared us safe how they feel about things. Offer your prayers, President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, for the 74 victims who have died in Florida in five mass killings since the NRA boss declared us safe. Because that’s what you say when you don’t really want to have a conversation about what needs to be done. Thoughts and prayers.
— MOVEMENTS —
“Investigation clears Brian Hughes in hostile workplace complaint” via Christopher Hong of the Florida Times-Union – An investigation by a city attorney found that Hughes, Mayor Lenny Curry’s chief of staff, didn’t violate any laws or city policies during a verbal exchange this week with the assistant of City Council President Anna Brosche. The investigation came response to a written complaint that the assistant, Jeneen Sanders, filed with the city’s employment services department, the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission and the Equal Opportunity Commission. She accused Hughes of accosting her as she entered the lobby of the mayor’s office, which she said created a hostile work environment. The attorney, Sean Granat, wrote that he interviewed an office manager and administrative assistant, the only two witnesses, and reviewed written statements from Hughes and Sanders. His investigation “conclusively demonstrates” that Hughes didn’t violate any federal, state or local laws or any city policies. Hughes, said he is grateful the review was conducted. “With the distraction behind me, I’m proudly working with the mayor and city leaders to accomplish positive results for the people of this great city,” he said.
— PYEONGCHANG —
“An Olympics skeleton helmet is where ‘Game of Thrones’ meets Dracula” via Chico Harlan of The Washington Post – What happened in men’s skeleton, actually, is that Iron Man won gold. Somewhere under the Iron Man helmet, there was an elite athlete, a first-place finisher in a monochrome red bodysuit — a South Korean named Yun Sung-bin. But what Yun had, mostly, was that helmet. A black-tinted face mask. Painted glowing eyes. Metallic planes of gold and red armor. The world’s best Halloween mask. And, now, the fitting face of this wonderfully helmeted sport. Over the past few years, the fiberglass helmets used by skeleton riders have turned into Winter Olympics art pieces. In the past few days alone, riders at the PyeongChang Olympics have trusted their safety to all manner of customized helmets — ones painted with skulls and crests and “Game of Thrones”-style metal motifs.
“At these Olympics, ‘sorry’ seems to be the most common word” via Jerry Brewer of The Washington Post – Shaun White is sorry for trivializing his sexual harassment lawsuit and dubbing it “gossip.” NBC analyst Bode Miller is sorry for mansplaining that Austrian skier Anna Veith is a struggling former gold medalist because she got married. NBC’s Katie Couric is sorry for insulting the Dutch, who have the world’s greatest speedskating tradition, by saying that skating is “an important mode of transportation” in the Netherlands when canals freeze, making it seem like the poor folks put on the blades just to go to work and school during winter. Joshua Cooper Ramo is sorry (and out of a job at NBC) for praising Japan, which occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945, for its role in Korea’s transformation. The Canadian Olympic Committee is sorry about a heated “cafeteria discussion” between a member of its team and a Russian. Lee Hee-beom, the president of the PyeongChang Games organizing committee, is sorry for initially excluding Olympians from Iran and North Korea from the more than 4,000 participants who received $1,000 Samsung smartphones as gifts because of international sanctions. They’re all sorry, very sorry. And, oh, they apologize, too.
“For Olympic athletes from Russia, a sense of unity and defiance” via Chico Harlan and Anton Troianovski of The Washington Post – For Russians, these Olympics have become two things at once: a somber sporting moment but also a chance to project a defiant image to the world. At a time when Russia’s resurgence is redefining global politics, the nation is being humbled in the sports world, though not without a fight. As part of the penalty set by the International Olympic Committee, Team Russia has even lost its name. Its athletes are officially stateless, dressed in bland colors, given the designation “Olympic Athletes from Russia.” But for some Russian media outlets, the Olympics-mandated term doesn’t get used. Team Russia is at these Olympics. “They’re Russian athletes speaking the Russian language with the Russian soul,” said Igor Larionov, a former NHL player who broadcasts games for Russia’s Telesport. “It’s Team Russia.”
— ALOE —
“Ritz-Carlton Sarasota sold for $171 million to Dallas-based firm” via John Hielscher of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Ashford Hospitality Prime Inc. of Dallas has signed a definitive agreement to buy the Ritz. The sale is expected to close in early April. “The acquisition of the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is an opportunity for us to acquire a luxury resort property with a premier location in the upscale and growing Sarasota market,” said Richard Stockton, Ashford Prime’s president and CEO. “This property fits perfectly with our strategy of owning luxury hotels and resorts, and further diversifies our portfolio while also increasing the overall RevPAR [revenue per available room] of our portfolio, which is already the highest among our hotel REIT peers.” The 17-story Ritz, which opened in late 2001, helped spark the development of hundreds of condominium units and lured several million tourists to a region whose economy is always eager for new visitors. “It was a complete and total turning point for our whole industry,” said Virginia Haley, president at Visit Sarasota County. “It really helped put us on the map. That’s when Sarasota grew up.” The new owner said the property will continue to be managed by Ritz-Carlton. The hotel was recently again named to the AAA list of Four Diamond properties, one of three in the Sarasota-Manatee region.
“Siri, already bumbling, just got less intelligent on the HomePod” via Geoffrey Fowler of The Washington Post – Last week, you finally arrived on a product all your own called the HomePod — and you’re not nearly as sharp as either Google or Alexa. This would be a laughing matter if we weren’t talking about the most powerful tech company in the world bumbling its way into the next big thing in consumer tech. The HomePod was Apple’s chance to reintroduce Siri and win back some fans. And Siri stumbled out of the gate. Apple’s marketing says the HomePod is all about music and sound quality. I don’t buy it. The HomePod isn’t just a speaker — it’s a computer for the home. An always-on voice you can interact with in the living room and kitchen (not to mention in the car and on phone and laptop) is becoming the glue that binds lots of different gadgets and online services. How far behind is Siri? There are numbers on that: A new study from investment firm Loup Ventures found Siri on the HomePod could correctly answer just 52 percent of 782 standardized questions. Google’s Home speaker got 81 percent right, and Amazon’s Echo got 64 percent.
Happy birthday from this weekend to Paul Gross, Monte Stevens of Southern Strategy Group, and Will Torres. Celebrating today is Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, our man in Las Vegas, Andy Abboud, as well as Lynn Hatter and CoreMessage’s Michael Williams.
