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.
Although there are still ten working days before Sine Die, it’s not too early to think about who is emerging from Session as a winner or a loser.
RIGHT NOW, we are asking for your nominations for the W&L columns. Think about which bills have already died. Or who or what issue is a winner no matter what happens during the final two weeks.
Please avoid nominating the big ticket items like the Governor or the budget. We’re looking for specific people and issues.
Your answers will remain confidential and can be sent to [email protected].
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
— @RealDonaldTrump: Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) love our students and will protect them. Very smart people. Must be firearms adept & have annual training. Should get yearly bonus. Shootings will not happen again — a big & very inexpensive deterrent. Up to States.
— @WalshFreedom: All of you complaining the past week or so about @jaketapper should do nothing right now but applaud him after his tough, fair, professional grilling of Broward Country Sheriff Scott Israel this morning That was good journalism right there. Well done Mr Tapper.
— @TylisaJohnson: The FBI transcript of the caller who tried to report the Parkland school shooter was released. It’s chilling. On multiple occasions, it alleges animal abuse, and on *several* occasions the woman says she believes he will do something.
— @Delta: Delta is reaching out to the NRA to let them know we will be ending their contract for discounted rates through our group travel program. We will be requesting that the NRA remove our information from their website.
— @Joe_Putrelo: 11 days ago, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School experienced an unspeakable shooting tragedy that left 17 people dead and many others injured. Today its varsity hockey program is state champions. Eagles win 7-4 over Jesuit at Germain Arena.
— DAYS UNTIL —
Last day for regularly scheduled legislative committee meetings — 1; Disney Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival — 2; Last day to take up Special Order Calendar — 7; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program termination begins — 7; Sine Die (maybe) — 11; St. Patrick’s Day — 19; March For Our Lives gun violence protest — 26; Major League Baseball Opening Day — 31; Easter — 34; NFL Draft begins — 59; Close of candidate qualifying for federal office — 67; Solo: A Star Wars Story premier — 86; Close of candidate qualifying for statewide office — 116; Primary Election Day — 183; College Football opening weekend — 187; General Election Day — 253; ‘Hamilton’ comes to the Straz Center — 351.
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— THE VICTIMS —
“Outspoken and precocious, students struggle with loss when the cameras turn off” via Jack Healy of The New York Times — They have won praise for their strength and eloquence on the world’s stage. But even as they raise millions of dollars and plan nationwide rallies, parse the details of assault-weapons laws and spar with politicians and conservative critics, the young survivors of the massacre are struggling with the loss of their friends and educators and the nightmares that flood back in moments of stillness. Students said that activism has helped them grieve, and wrought some purpose from the senseless killings of their friends. Ashley Turner, a senior, made plans to donate blood and said she thought enduring all of this would make her stronger. But she still wakes in the middle of the night, her heart pounding, her body beaded with sweat. “I attended five funerals,” she said. “There are times where I just want to cry. There are times when I feel nothing. There are times where I feel angry and just want to snap at people.”
“Parkland victim’s dad: My daughter will be last kid murdered in school” via Alexandra Seltzer of the Palm Beach Post — Meadow Pollack’s family couldn’t find her. They hoped, but they felt it in their gut — she didn’t escape the mass murderer … Meadow’s father Andrew Pollack has become one of the faces of that tragedy — all the pain, loss and determination to make those changes. From his pleas to find his daughter when the shooting first occurred … to his emotional pleas to the president at the White House. The support he has received has helped him feel strong enough to forge ahead and spread what he calls “Meadow’s Movement.” … Pollack traveled to Washington D.C. and spoke with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. On Thursday, Pollack drank morning coffee at his Coral Springs home with Gov. Scott. Later that evening, Pollack invited the Douglas High community into his backyard to release candlelit lanterns into the sky and discuss how to make the schools — everywhere — safe. That’s his message: School safety. It’s not about gun control, he said. Not right now. “Meadow’s going to be the last kid murdered in a school,” Pollack said. “That’s the only thing keeping me from collapsing.”
“She’s taught at the Parkland high school for 14 years. Can she go back?” via Lisa Gartner of the Tampa Bay Times — Melissa Falkowski had often said that she spent more time in her classroom than at her own house; that Douglas, where she had taught for 14 years, was home. Now, as she walked toward the entrance, she wondered if she knew where she was at all. In the past eight days, she had lost 10 pounds. When the bedroom light ticked off, she stared at the ceiling. She took calls from Anderson Cooper, Jake Tapper, the Today show and Good Morning America. “You try to do the best you can for the kids you are supposed to keep safe,” she told them. As a journalism teacher, Melissa wanted to answer their questions; keeping busy kept her calm. But when the microphones were unhooked from the collars of her Douglas T-shirts, she found herself thinking back to that day in her classroom. Driving her 9-month-old daughter to daycare, Melissa couldn’t stop sobbing. “What if I’m not safe?” her son asked the day after the shooting when she woke him up for school. He is in the first grade at the elementary school down the street from Douglas, and her husband didn’t want to send him. But Melissa knew they needed to do anything they could to feel normal. She kissed her boy and told him that his teachers would take care of him. And that’s what she was trying to do now … She didn’t know what it would feel like to be in there, and she didn’t know if she’d be able to step into the supply closet where she and her students had tried so hard, for nearly two hours, to not make a sound.
“After Parkland, admissions to mental health treatment centers in Florida spike” via Carol Marbin Miller and Monique Madan of the Miami Herald — “Children do not feel safe,” said Patricia Ares-Romero, the chief medical officer of Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital in Miami. “Children are supposed to be happy — maybe a little concerned about whether they’re getting good grades, or if they are going to get grounded. Right now, they’re scared.” Jackson Memorial’s 40-bed children’s and adolescent psychiatric unit has been operating at or near capacity since the shootings, Ares-Romero said. Two-thirds of those beds typically are empty. Marcia Monroe, the chief clinical officer for the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, said the nine children’s crisis units within her authority also have seen an increase in admissions — though many of them were not voluntary.
“Parents are buying these gadgets to protect their kids from school shooters” via Dana Schuster of the New York Post – Parents are taking safety from school shooters into their own hands … Lisa Singer, mother to a 6-year-old girl, Dylan, preordered a Jiobit, a GPS tracker designed specifically for kids, after hearing the horrific news of the 17 slaughtered in Florida on Feb. 14 … Still in the pre-order stage, the tracker signals a child’s real-time location to parents via an app. Users can denote “safe zones” and get alerts when the child has arrived or leaves that location … BulletBlocker, a company that sells bulletproof backpacks ranging in price from $199 for a girly pink one to $490, has seen sales jump 300 percent since the Florida shooting … Four days ago, Larry Gilbert, a 53-year-old from upstate Syracuse, shelled out $95 for a metal device called the “JustinKase” that is placed under a door and latches to the door’s jamb to prevent entry … One New York mother, who lives in Inwood and asked that her name not be used, said she’s even toying with the idea of forming a group homeschool to guarantee her two young children’s safety. “It would be like a co-op, where ten families share the cost of a teacher’s salary and insurance, each paying $6,000 or $7,000,” said the 37-year-old actress.
Meanwhile … “Student detained after explosion at Florida high school” via The Associated Press — Authorities have detained a 14-year-old boy and launched an arson investigation after an explosion led to an evacuation of a Florida high school. The Orange County sheriff’s spokesman Jeff Williamson says that officers received reports of a loud bang coming from the boys’ bathroom Saturday morning as Timber Creek High School was hosting a debate competition. After hearing the explosion and seeing smoke, staff members evacuated the Orlando school, sending students out to a field. No injuries were reported.
— EXPECTATIONS —
The eyes of the world, or at least the gun control crowd, are upon students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas — but the hype might be unwarranted.
That’s the gist of Bill Scher’s latest piece in POLITICO Magazine, which questions whether gun control advocates and the general public are putting “too much pressure” on the Parkland survivors.
“If we want the next generation to stay engaged throughout their lives, and not join the ranks of the embittered and cynical, don’t treat them as angelic saviors,” writes Scher. “Prepare them for the long slog ahead.”
The reality: Scher is skeptical of whether the Stoneman Douglas massacre will result in the passing of landmark gun control measures because similar proposals simply haven’t gained traction after other mass shootings (think Las Vegas or Pulse) that were just as if not more tragic. “Gun control remains an issue that divides this country at its roots — and mass shootings, for the most part, don’t change that,” writes Scher.
The policy: At the federal level, Scher posits that efforts in the aftermath of the Parkland massacre to curb gun-related deaths, or “do something,” will not result in the passage of extreme gun-control measures. Even if Democrats take control of the House in 2018, gun bills would still have to make their way through a Republican Senate and presidency, writes Scher.
Good gun, bad gun: Scher writes that anecdotes and incidents do very little to shift policy stances and opinions. He uses an analogy comparing gun and immigration issues. “If you want to give the undocumented a path to citizenship, you won’t be swayed by a few anecdotes besmirching immigrants. You would point to statistics which prove most immigrants aren’t criminals and stick to your original position. Similarly, no gun violence victim, no matter how young and articulate, is going to get a gun rights supporter to stop believing that a ‘good guy with a gun’ is the best answer to a ‘bad guy with a gun.’”
— THE KILLER —
“’Filled with rage’: how a scrawny misfit turned into Florida’s worst school shooter” via Andres Viglucci, Charles Rabin, Nicholas Nehamas and Sarah Blaskey of the Miami Herald — The combination of pent-up anger and the easy availability of a powerful, fast-firing rifle transformed a scrawny misfit named Nikolas Cruz into a murderous machine, one of a new American archetype: the mass school murderer … A broad outline has emerged of a troubled life and personality that experts say snugly fits the profile of modern American mass murderers. That’s despite economic advantages and a single, widowed mother who, by available reports, was a devoted parent, if overwhelmed by her son’s persistent and increasingly alarming behavioral problems. Contrary to stereotypes, a history of mental illness does not create a mass shooter, experts say. But like Cruz many mass killers exhibit a common set of traits that include depression, troubled family backgrounds, a fascination with guns and violence and aspirations of becoming a soldier, said Peter Langman, a psychologist and author of two books on school shooters. Virtually all are male and most are young. Not all are loners, Langman said. Like Cruz, many have at least a few friends, though it’s not unusual to hear them described as withdrawn or awkward. Those are precisely the words numerous former schoolmates at Stoneman Douglas used to describe Cruz.
“’He wants to kill people,’ she told the FBI. They already knew and still did nothing.” via Sara Blaskey and Greg Gordon of the Miami Herald — Cruz pulled a rifle on his mother, dissected a live bird on her kitchen table, stole her money after she died to buy rifles, and expressed a desire to kill people on several occasions, a tipster who has not been publicly identified told the FBI Jan. 5. She also said she worried Cruz might shoot up a school. It was the second tip of that nature that the bureau received about Cruz, officials told Senate Judiciary Committee staff. And despite connecting the two reports, the bureau did nothing with the tip. Despite the dire warnings and the FBI’s awareness of a September 2017 tip also labeling Cruz as a potential “school shooter,” bureau officials said the call center intake specialist and a supervisor decided not to take further investigative action after the call, according to the office of Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, the committee chairman, who requested the briefing. As a result, the bureau did not open a counterterrorism inquiry this January or contact local law enforcement officials, the staff was told.
“Shooter could have faced charges before massacre — had cops done their job, experts say” via David Ovalle, Sarah Blaskey and Nicholas Nehamas of the Miami Herald — In the days since Florida’s worst school shooting, Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has repeatedly insisted that his deputies were legally “handcuffed” from arresting Cruz — and he is calling for more powers for police to deal with similar cases. It wasn’t just BSO that failed to stop Cruz. The FBI did not act on two strong tips, one of which involved Cruz posting on the internet that he planned to become a “professional school shooter.” The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office was told Cruz had “put [a] gun to others’ heads in the past.” The Florida Department of Children and Families ruled him stable despite clear evidence of self-harm. And officials at Stoneman Douglas High, where Cruz killed 17 people on Valentine’s Day, knew that he was cutting himself, threatening students and taking pictures with guns and that he may have “ingested gasoline … in an attempt to commit suicide.” Those who could have stopped Cruz made “one mistake after another,” said Andrew Pollack, whose daughter, Meadow, 18, was killed in the rampage. The failures echo how law enforcement handled Florida’s other recent deadly mass shooters, Omar Mateen and Esteban Santiago.
“After a massacre, a question of one more death: The gunman’s” via Alan Blinder of The New York Times – Among the suspects on the list of the country’s 10 worst mass shootings, Cruz is alone in one thing: He was taken alive. His arrest raises the rare prospect of a death penalty trial for a massacre, a huge undertaking with far-reaching consequences for all involved. Some would not be satisfied without an execution, while for others the trial itself would bring anguish. The chief prosecutor here in Broward County has said that the killing of 17 people at a high school on Valentine’s Day “certainly is the type of case the death penalty was designed for.” A trial may be the only opportunity to lay bare all of the facts … “If it were my daughter, I would want to personally kill my client, make no mistake about it,” said Howard Finkelstein, the public defender, an elected position … Already, Mr. Finkelstein’s office has offered a way to avoid a trial: Mr. Cruz’s guilty plea in exchange for a punishment of 17 consecutive life sentences without parole. But Mr. Finkelstein recognizes that for some victims, that might not be enough: “I’m a father. I don’t know whether I would take my offer.”
— THE POLITICS —
“Marco Rubio’s lonely fight” at Reihan Salam via The Atlantic — As a Republican, he’s part of an electoral coalition dominated by older whites living in smaller cities and towns, the majority of whom are established Americans. It can be an awkward fit for Rubio, who as the son of working-class immigrant strivers has spent most of his life in the Spanish-speaking suburbs of Miami. Nevertheless, Rubio presses on. Consider Rubio’s decision to take part in CNN’s Parkland town hall. It was clear from the beginning that most of the attendees would be inclined to support more stringent gun regulations, and that no one would be cheering him on for defending gun rights in the wake of a school shooting that had touched almost everyone in the room. Making the case for an expansive interpretation of the Second Amendment at an NRA rally is one thing. Making it to a grieving parent who has just lost a child is quite another. So why did Rubio take part in the event when, say, Rick Scott did not? Maybe, though he knew he’d be loudly denounced, he felt he owed it to the families of Broward County to explain where he was coming from even as he listened to, and took in, their concerns.
“Brian Mast calls for ban on future assault rifle sales after Parkland shooting” via Tyler Treadway of TCPalm — Mast wants to ban future sales of assault rifles like the one he carried while serving in the Army in Afghanistan. In a column, Mast calls for defining “what constitutes an assault or tactical firearm and not allowing them for future purchase — just as we already prohibit the purchase of fully automatic firearms.” Mast said he would not support “any version of a ban that results in confiscating existing, legally owned firearms.”
“Marion Hammer blasts gun proposals as ‘political eyewash’” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald — “It’s gratuitous gun control,” said Hammer, a longtime lobbyist for the NRA. “We oppose punishing law-abiding gun owners. This had nothing to do with law-abiding gun owners and it punishes law-abiding gun owners for the acts of a criminal and the failure of the FBI, DCF and the SRO who wouldn’t do his job.” Hammer said the NRA “conceptually” supports the idea of restricting gun access to the mentally ill but could not comment on the specific proposals by the governor and legislators because they had not yet released the language and “this is very tricky stuff.” … “The devil is in the details and we haven’t seen any language,” she said. “For years, we have supported keeping guns out of the hands of people with mental illness when we couldn’t get anything else.”
Assignment editors: Democratic lawmakers will be holding a press conference Monday afternoon, to lay out the Democratic response to SPB 7022 in advance of the Senate Rules Committee hearing of the bill. 1:30 p.m. Location: TBD.
Happening today — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine, the Miami-Dade and Broward Democratic parties and the Women’s March Florida will hold an 11 a.m. rally on the west side of The Capitol to call for changes in gun laws.
ICYMI: In Sunday’s Sun-Sentinel, “Run for Something” took out a full-page ad to highlight that 24 state legislators who are backed by the NRA and running unopposed. The ad reads: “THE NRA IS KILLING OUR KIDS. These 24 state legislators are running unopposed this November — and they’re complicit in the gun violence in our community. Hold them accountable. Run against them. We will help you.”
Here’s the ad:
“’Coward’ attacks state lawmaker’s female aide; gun control debate to blame?” via AG Gancarski of Florida Politics — Sadie Haire, district aide for Jacksonville Republican Jason Fischer, a supporter of the Second Amendment, got more than words from a gun control proponent. “On Wednesday, a man — a coward really — forced himself into my district office in Jacksonville demanding that the Legislature ban ‘assault weapons’ and other firearms,” Fischer asserted on Facebook. “He then attacked my district aide and said he was trying to prove a point about ‘gun control.’” Fischer related that the man came in upset about the failed attempt to get a ban on assault weapons considered in the House. He said the man demonstrated his outrage by “slamming [Haire] into the door violently.” … “This coward was inspired to violence by the political stunt that one of my colleagues pulled on Tuesday,” Fischer said. “There is no justification, political or otherwise, for violently attacking an innocent person.”
— THE SHERIFF —
“Rick Scott calls for probe into Broward sheriff shooting response, but not suspension” via Marc Caputo of POLITICO Florida — Scott asked the state’s top law enforcement agency to investigate the potentially botched Broward Sheriff’s Office response to the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland — but he opted not to suspend the sheriff despite the urging of Speaker Corcoran and most of his GOP caucus. “I have asked for FDLE to immediately investigate the law enforcement response and will continue to review this matter as more facts come out. There must be an independent investigation and that is why I asked the FDLE Commissioner to immediately start this process,” Scott said in a written statement Sunday. … The one-two punch aimed at [Broward County Sheriff Scott] Israel came hours after he boasted about his own “amazing leadership” in a CNN interview and said he was not responsible for School Resource Officer Scot Peterson’s failure to enter a Marjory Stoneman Douglas building while the shooter was killing 17 people.
“Broward sheriff: ‘I won’t resign’” via Kelsey Tamborrino of POLITICO Florida — Israel … was asked by host Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” about a letter from Rep. Bill Hager to Gov. Scott asking him to oust Israel for “neglect of duty and incompetence.” … “It was a shameful letter. It was politically motivated,” Israel responded. “I never met that man. He doesn’t know anything about me, and the letter was full of misinformation.” Israel said that in response, he had written a letter to Scott, defending himself and pointing out the “mistakes” in Hager’s letter … “It was a shameful, politically motivated letter that had no facts. And, of course, I won’t resign,” Israel said. “Our deputies have done amazing things,” Israel said. “We’ve taken this — the five years I’ve been sheriff, we’ve taken the Broward sheriff’s office to a new level.”
“Controversy over Parkland shooting is political and personal for Scott Israel” via David Smiley of the Miami Herald – Israel has incredibly close ties to the school. While Deputy Scot Peterson waited outside the freshman building as Cruz killed 14 students and three faculty, Israel’s personal friend, Aaron Feis, rushed inside to stop the shooter and died trying. … What may matter most to Israel politically in the coming days and weeks is whether he continues to have support from Democrats, and most importantly — and personally — from Parkland. Jared Moskowitz, a Stoneman Douglas alum and the state Representative from Parkland, called Peterson’s dereliction of duty “reprehensible and unforgivable” after learning about his failure to try and stop Cruz. But he said in an interview Friday that he would focus on legislation and allow investigations to run their course.
“After years of dejection, proponents of gun laws see hope” via Matt Sedensky and Terry Spencer of The Associated Press — In the aftermath of the violence that claimed 17 lives, students have piled into buses and crashed a meeting of lawmakers in Tallahassee. They’ve relentlessly badgered Rubio about his support from the National Rifle Association. They’ve rejected Trump’s condolences, calling for action over words. To many advocates for gun control, the moment feels more profound than any since the aftermath of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut … spurring the most serious congressional gun debate in years. “The mantra just became if we couldn’t do it after Newtown, if we couldn’t do it after however many 6-year-olds were killed, it’s never going to happen,” said Dave Cullen, the author of “Columbine,” which chronicles the 1999 shooting at the Colorado high school of the same name. “Then this happened,” Cullen said, “and everything changed.”
“GOP poll in Florida shows strong feelings about assault weapons” via Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald — A majority of Floridians support a ban on the sale of assault weapons, including a majority of Florida gun owners, according to a poll conducted this week by the Florida Senate Republican leaders. The measure is the latest sign that the bills drafted by the House and Senate and expected to be unveiled may fall short of what most Floridians want lawmakers to do after the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School … The poll, paid for by the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, also showed little support for arming teachers, with a majority of Florida voters opposed to that idea. “There seems to be some opposition, or concern, about the idea of having faculty and administration within the schools prepared to be responders in an event,” Bill Galvano said. But he said that most people are referring to the proposal by Sen. Dennis Baxley, which has been pulled from further consideration. It allowed teachers to be armed with no requirement for training them.
“Obstacles — and silence — on Capitol Hill even as clamor for new gun laws grows” via Mike DeBonis and Sean Sullivan of The Washington Post — The hands-off approach from the top leaders reflects divisions within the GOP between lawmakers representing politically moderate, often suburban areas where there is wide support for new gun laws and those representing more rural, solidly Republican states and districts where any attempt to restrict firearms could be seen as a creeping attack on the rights of law-abiding gun owners. While the former group has been increasingly vocal over the past week, it is the latter who constitute the bulk of the Republican majorities in the House and Senate — and are likely to dictate what legislation, if any, is considered in response. What remains to be seen is whether the growing drumbeat for revisions — from with the GOP, from major corporations, from Trump and from the country overall — will change this long-standing dynamic.
“Why can some mentally ill people still buy guns?” via Marc Freeman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Current Florida and federal law list two specific criteria for entering people in no-buy federal databases used for background checks: You must have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. You must be under a court order, which could include having been found not guilty due to insanity. Anything less — including voluntarily committing yourself for treatment — usually won’t show up in the national background check and halt a gun sale. A few states have raised the standards, though, including temporary gun prohibitions for people voluntarily admitted for treatment. Even when an individual does meet the criteria, there are no guarantees the state they live in will enter the information into a national no-buy database used in background checks. One of the weaknesses is that it’s entirely voluntary for states to send in the records, leaving holes in a critical public safety net.
“NRA spokeswoman becomes new face of gun rights movement” via Tammy Webber of the Associated Press – Dana Loesch is the new public face of the National Rifle Association, an organization long associated with older white men. At 39, she’s poised, photogenic and a skilled public speaker … Charlie Sykes, a longtime conservative radio host who has been critical of the NRA, said Loesch’s skill is communicating with a broad range of Americans while retaining the ultra-conservative base built by Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice president and CEO since 1991 … “Imagine Wayne LaPierre sitting in that seat and you realize the significance of Dana,” Sykes said. “She can bring the hot sauce without having that persona” of an angry white man. Even before taking over as NRA spokeswoman last year, Loesch had a robust conservative following, cultivated on social media … Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she was not in the least reassured by Loesch’s appearance at last week’s [CNN] town hall, especially after she attacked the media the following day. “She’s younger. She’s a woman and a mom. She’s television-ready,” Watts said. “But her rhetoric is just as radicalized, if not more, than Wayne LaPierre’s.”
“Gun control debates create gun production booms, government data show” via Damian Paletta of The Washington Post — In 2016, the latest year for which data is available, production spiked as firearms companies built roughly 11 million guns, in part because of a belief that Democrats would win elections that year and curb access to semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15 rifle. More than 4 million rifles were produced in 2016, up from 1.8 million in 2010. The National Rifle Association has estimated that 25 percent of all rifles produced in the United States are AR-15s or other semi-automatic styles, while other gun groups have said the ratio is closer to 50 percent. The sheer number of privately held weapons in the United States underscores the scope of the issue policymakers face as they debate stiffening restrictions on new gun purchases following the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, last week that left 17 people dead. Nearly all policies under consideration by Congress or the White House focus on the sale of new weapons, as any suggestion of taking away guns that are already privately held is a political non-starter.
“We’re all gun owners, and here’s why” via Reshma Kapadia of Barron’s — For many Florida teachers, it’s an indignity on top of tragedy. Inside their retirement plans, they hold stock in the companies that make the AR-15 rifle, the weapon used to kill 17 of their students and colleagues at Stoneman Douglas High School this month. The $163 billion Florida Retirement Pension Plan had a $4 million stake in gun manufacturers as of Dec. 31. Nearly half of that comes from a low-cost index fund that tracks the broad-based Russell 3000 — a perfectly fine investment. A spokesman for Florida’s State Board of Administration, which runs the pension plan, told me that it “must act solely in the economic interest” of participants. But looking out for economic interests doesn’t have to mean tuning out social ones. Pension funds have long been at the forefront of using their considerable heft to effect change in corporate behavior or outright eschew investing in companies they find problematic. In 2013, the $232 billion California State Teachers’ Retirement System, the second-largest public pension, sold its holdings in manufacturers of firearms that are illegal in California. The fund now uses a customized index stripping out these companies.
— CAPITOL INSIGHT —
“Oscar Braynon: Bruh! Scott doesn’t know who I am” via Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida — Senate Minority Leader Braynon spoke with Scott, “and I have to be honest, I don’t know that he heard me,” he told reporters … “I’ll be even more honest. I’m not even sure if he knows who I am and the role I play in the Legislature,” he said. “I said my caucus did a news release that said exactly what bills we care about. He said, well can you get that to our office? Bruh, if you in the governor’s office don’t have the caucus position of the Senate minority, which 15 to 16 members and is playing a very big role in this, then I don’t know what your office is doing.” Scott’s office did have the news release, Braynon said. “But the thing is, he didn’t know who I was so it didn’t matter, probably,” he said.
“It lives: House gambling bill back for Monday” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics – The House’s gambling bill for 2018 on Sunday was added to the Commerce Committee’s agenda for Monday. The legislation (HB 7067) was added minutes before the 4:30 p.m. Sunday notice deadline. It’s the bill’s last committee of reference before being available for the floor. Committee chair Jim Boyd, a Bradenton Republican, could not be immediately reached Sunday afternoon, nor could Speaker designate-José Oliva, the Miami Lakes Republican who is the lead House negotiator with the Senate on gambling this year. The bill would provide a source of funds to “schools that serve students from persistently failing schools,” a priority of Speaker Corcoran. And a proposed “voter control of gambling” constitutional amendment will be on November’s ballot; if approved, it would give statewide voters sole power to approve future expansions of gambling in Florida. That means this Session is likely legislators’ last gasp at guiding what gambling will look like in Florida.
“Seminole Tribe ad is a Hail Mary for a gambling deal” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — The Seminole Tribe of Florida is airing an ad urging passage of a new gambling deal between the Tribe and the state. But with lawmakers saying their “bandwidth” has been sapped by a fight over the 2018-19 budget and by a legislative response to the Broward County high school shooting, it’s looking less likely that the Legislature will address gambling by Session’s end on March 9. The Tribe is angling for a renewed 20-year deal, called the Seminole Compact, for continued exclusive rights to blackjack and slot machines outside of South Florida in return for $3 billion to the state over seven years from their casino revenues.
“New tax law raises questions for state ‘piggyback’” via Lloyd Dunkelberger of the News Service of Florida — Lawmakers are trying to understand the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which took effect Jan. 1 and cut the federal tax rate paid by major corporations and businesses from 35 percent to 21 percent. It also changed deductions and other accounting methods that can alter business’ tax liabilities. Since Florida’s corporate income tax, which is 5.5 percent, is based on federal tax liability, changes in federal law can affect the amount of tax revenue the state collects from businesses. Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Chairwoman Kelli Stargel is sponsoring an annual bill (SB 502) that conforms or “piggybacks” Florida’s corporate tax law with the federal tax code, adopting or modifying changes made at the federal level. But the piggyback bill, which is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee, has taken on greater significance this year because of the sweeping nature of the federal tax changes.
“Kathleen Passidomo proposes mental health assistance bill for public schools” via Nada Hassanein of the Tallahassee Democrat – Passidomo … is pushing for a system that would help Florida school districts spot and treat mental illness in students early on. The senator has been working on the proposal, included in SB 1434, since last fall. It comes amid a national dialogue about the recent Marjory Stoneman Douglas High tragedy and what could have been done to prevent it. “Different districts have different responses to students that are either acting out or having issues,” she said, “but we don’t really have a statewide policy.” … She explained the program is meant to help divert kids from going down a dangerous path by recognizing symptoms early on and getting them help. “We don’t have a mechanism to divert them from that path,” she said. “Teachers know who these kids are, but they’re powerless to do anything because we don’t have a structure in place.” … “That 19-year-old wasn’t born that way,” Passidomo said about Cruz. … Out of the Senate’s budget, $40 million has been allocated for the mental health assistance program — though Passidomo says she is still pushing for more.
“Fate of generator rules remains unclear” via Christine Sexton of the News Service of Florida — House Health & Services Chairman Travis Cummings continues to struggle with ratifying a rule requiring, among other things, nearly 3,0000 assisted living facilities to have backup-power generators on-site. Unlike nursing homes, assisted living facilities can’t offset the costs with Medicaid funding. The House has included in a proposed tax package a $6.7 million sales-tax exemption for generator purchases by nursing homes and assisted living facilities. But the overall generator issue likely will come down to funding. Also, Cummings said lawmakers will have less discretionary money available as they increase spending for mental health and school safety after the mass shooting Feb. 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
“Proposal to keep Florida in year-round daylight saving time rapidly advancing” via Zac Anderson of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — The daylight saving time bill is a rarity in Tallahassee. There are no lobbyists urging it forward or ideological motivations behind it. “It’s completely bipartisan,” [bill sponsor Greg] Steube noted. “There’s nothing partisan about it and it affects every single citizen in our state.” … “Lighter, later, longer,” said state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo in summarizing the bill’s impact at a recent committee stop. Steube said he has heard from tourism businesses that would benefit from having more daylight time for people to shop. He also has heard from mayors across the state who say the bill would save money by not having to use as much outdoor lighting at municipal athletic fields. “It’s turned into something that I’ve never seen happen,” Steube said in describing the outpouring of support for the legislation.
Beer glass bill rolls along — Legislation that would allow beer distributors to give away free glasses imprinted with product names and logos to bars and restaurants cleared its last panel and is available for the floor. The House Commerce Committee OK’d the bill (HB 961) last week. Those in favor, including small businesses, say it’ll be a help to them to cut down on glasses lost from theft and breakage. Opponents, including many craft brewers, counter that they won’t be able to afford to keep up with the stream of free glasses from Anheuser-Busch InBev, the makers of Bud Light and Stella Artois. A Senate companion (SB 1224) still has to clear its last stop, the Appropriations Committee. Under current law, glasses must be sold.
“Act honors Don Hahnfeldt, helps military veterans” via Katie Sartorius of The Villages Daily Sun — A veterans bill bearing Hahnfeldt’s name is clearing hurdles in the legislature. The bill eases professional fees and requirements for active duty military members and veterans, and their family members. It passed the House earlier this month and is making its way through Senate committees. Though the measure originally was nameless, House lawmakers unanimously renamed it Feb. 14. “This is in honor of a man who we and the members of the Florida House had the great privilege and honor to serve with,” said Rep. Mel Ponder, one of the bill’s sponsors, on the House floor. “A man who served our nation and one I referenced … as ‘The Skipper,’ a man who we all loved dearly in this House and we’re looking to rename this bill in his honor — the Don Hahnfeldt Veteran and Military Family Opportunity Act.” The bill passed unanimously with a 115-0 vote in the House minutes after lawmakers voted to rename it.
“Flags ordered at half-staff for former Rep. Rob Wallace” via Florida Politics — Gov. Scott ordered flags at half-staff Friday for Wallace, a former state representative. The Republican represented House District 47, comprising northwest Hillsborough and northern Pinellas counties, from 1994 to 2002. He lived in Tampa, and owned and operated a civil and environmental engineering company. The 65-year-old died earlier this week after jumping from a Dale Mabry Highway overpass in Hillsborough County, according to law enforcement. Scott directed the U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, Tampa City Hall, and the State Capitol in Tallahassee, from sunrise to sunset on Monday … A memorial service will be held at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz on Monday at 1 p.m.
— FOR YOUR RADAR —
The Florida Chamber of Commerce today is launching new multimedia ads urging senators to put the brakes on higher auto insurance rates. Caution Alert! highlights an effort to pass a new law that would require Florida drivers to pay more for auto insurance. Instead of raising rates, the ad encourages Florida drivers to contact their Senators and encourage them to keep coverage affordable. Caution Alert! targets a legislative move to end the requirement that Florida drivers obtain no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. SB 150 would eliminate cost containment measures and result in consumers paying more for a new, mandatory set of coverages that escalate over time.
— NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL —
You’re reading this right – “Calling for heart, lobbyist Nikki Fried announces possible run for Governor” via Florida Politics
Assignment editors — Agriculture Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam will host an Agriculture Update Breakfast in Volusia County beginning 8 a.m. at the Volusia County Fairgrounds — DeLand, Tommy Lawrence Building, 3150 E. New York Ave. in DeLand.
Tom Rooney says he’s proud he stayed ‘true to myself’ during 10-year congressional career” via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune — Rooney has been outspoken about how frustrating life in Congress can be, lamenting the dysfunctional nature of the system and the corrosive hyperpartisan extremes. But when Rooney, an Okeechobee Republican whose district includes southern Sarasota County, announced recently that he won’t be running for re-election this year, the decision was about family more than dissatisfaction with his job, he said. Rooney has three sons ages 11 to 16 … the appropriations process has come unglued in recent years as the House and Senate struggle to reach an agreement. They’ve put off passing real budget bills, instead opting for so-called “continuing resolutions” that keep the government funded in the short term. Being a budget cardinal doesn’t mean what it used to. During his final months in office, Rooney hopes Congress can make some headway on big issues such as immigration and gun safety. “A lot of those things can be accomplished if the president takes the lead on them because the person who is most popular in districts like mine is Donald Trump,” Rooney said. “If he takes the lead there could be some pretty groundbreaking movement.”
“Tim Canova isn’t repeating fundraising magic in rematch against Debbie Wasserman Schultz” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — He had just $5,157 cash in his campaign account at the beginning of 2018, the latest disclosure reports filed with the Federal Election Commission show. Canova also reported debts of $35,000, mostly personal cash he loaned his campaign. Wasserman Schultz had more than 75 times as much cash on hand at the beginning of the election year — $389,895 — and no debt. The candidates’ financial standing is far different from 2016, the first time Canova challenged Wasserman Schultz in the Democratic primary in the Broward/Miami-Dade County 23rd Congressional District. In the first 12 weeks of the last campaign, Canova raised $538,000. He had $461,000 cash in the bank March 31, 2016. In the first 28 weeks of his current campaign, Federal Election Commission filings show Canova has raised $150,000.
“Rob Panepinto announces picks filling out Orange County mayoral campaign team” via Scott Powers of Orlando Rising – Orange County mayoral candidate Rob Panepinto announced several additions to his campaign team Thursday … Panepinto faces Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke in the non-partisan contest for the powerful Orange County mayor’s seat. They all seek to succeed Mayor Teresa Jacobs, who is leaving due to term limits. … Attorney and political strategist Tim Baker, most recently a strategist for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s election and Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward‘s re-election, is the Panepinto campaign’s general consultant responsible for strategy. Erin Isaac, a 15-year veteran of Florida politics in senior advisor and communications roles for statewide and local campaigns, is Panepinto’s senior advisor and communications director. Kevin Hoffman, a Florida-based fundraiser who has worked with U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Curry’s campaigns, is finance director. John Dowless, a Central Florida political, public relations and marketing consultant with experience in national, statewide and local levels, including as senior advisor to Jacobs’ mayoral runs, is senior advisor.
“Karen Castor Dentel files to run for Orange County School Board” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Dentel, a Democrat from Maitland who flipped the House District 30 seat in 2012, then lost it to Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes in 2014, filed late last week for the Orange County School Board District 6 seat. That seat’s current term runs through 2020, but the incumbent, Nancy Robbinson, is running for the countywide Orange County School Board chair’s seat and will have to resign. That would open the District 6 seat to a special election this year. Consequently, since Robbinson filed for the chair’s position, four candidates now have jumped into the contest for her seat, representing north-central Orange County.
— STATEWIDE —
“Neglected: State’s worst nursing homes left open despite history of poor care, deaths” via Melanie Payne and Ryan Mills of the Naples Daily News — Dozens of Florida nursing homes with long records of failing to meet state and federal standards operate with little risk that regulators will shut them down … Since 2013, 54 Florida nursing homes scored the lowest in the state for at least 14 of 18 quarters and received 100 or more violations. Dozens of other homes also received either low scores or numerous violations. Forty-six of the worst 54 homes have settled or have contested lawsuits claiming mistreatment, abuse or neglect led to at least 191 deaths since 2013. The nursing homeowners denied the claims but settled 87 cases. The remaining 104 are pending, including the case of a man killed by his roommate in a Miami home. State fines for nursing home violations are low — not quite $5,000 on average — compared to the millions they receive each year from taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid programs. Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, which licenses and regulates nursing homes, rarely uses the toughest sanctions at its disposal. Since 2013, AHCA has closed two homes and blocked new admissions for three.
“Noor Salman, Pulse shooter’s widow, goes on trial this week — here’s what to expect” via Gal Tziperman Lotan of the Orlando Sentinel — The trial may not answer all the questions survivors and the families of those killed still have about the June 12, 2016, shooting. Omar Mateen will never stand trial — he died in a shootout with police. His wife is the only person charged in the attack. Salman faces two charges: aiding the support of a foreign terrorist organization resulting in death and obstruction of justice. To prove the first count, prosecutors will have to show jurors that Salman knew of her husband’s plan and helped him. One of their theories is based in text messages Salman sent him about 6 p.m. June 11, eight hours before the massacre, referencing a friend of Mateen’s referred to in court documents only as “Nemo.” “If ur mom calls say nimo invited you out and noor wants to stay home,” she wrote, using a different spelling for the friend’s name. “She asked where you were xoxo. Love you.” Prosecutors say this proves Salman knew Mateen’s plans and created a cover story, in case his mother invited him over for dinner that night.
“JEA plans big fix for problems exposed by Irma” via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union — JEA is striving to correct two of the problems that arose during Irma: communication breakdowns with customers and sewage overflows at pump stations. The solutions come with big price tags. Over the next two and a half years, JEA plans to install 251,000 new smart meters at a cost of roughly $45 million to give the utility the ability to pinpoint power outages at each address, something that will help the utility sharpen its communication with patience-frayed customers about restoration efforts. To cut the risk of sewage spills at pump stations when the regular source of power gets knocked out by severe storms, the utility expects to spend almost $100 million over five years to make its water-sewer system more resistant to storms, mainly by doubling the number of stations that have backup power.
“STEM-focused Florida Poly struggles to attract women” via Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel — Of the more than 1,400 students enrolled at the state’s newest public university, fewer than 200, or less than 15 percent, are women. Just 11 percent of the students in Florida Poly’s computer science degree program — the school’s largest — are women. To help lure and keep female students, Florida Poly has ramped up mentoring and networking opportunities and hosted outreach events for young girls. “We’re very committed to increasing our female students on campus, helping them succeed and really become tomorrow’s STEM leaders,” said vice provost Kathryn Miller. Veronica Perez Herrera was among the first class of freshmen. The promise that she’d have access to brand-new technology appealed to her, but the Plant City native said she didn’t realize she’d find so few other women on campus. “It was a little intimidating, but I have three brothers, and I am the only female in my family,” said Herrera, 27, a mechanical engineering major.
Greyhound group challenging new dog drug-testing rule — The Palm Beach Greyhound Kennel Association filed its challenge in the Division of Administrative Hearings on Feb. 16, records show. The association claims a proposed replacement rule from the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering “deprives racing greyhound trainers of due process,” and “vests unbridled discretion in the agency.” Among other things, it would allow regulators to summarily “confiscate any evidence” of illegal drug use in dogs. In December, an administrative law judge struck down the state’s greyhound drug testing program. Judge Lawrence Stevenson found that drug-testing provisions in a 2010 manual had not been properly adopted as official agency rules under the state’s rule-making procedure. A cocaine-in-dogs controversy came to light in Jacksonville last summer. That in part spurred the filing of a constitutional amendment for the 2018 ballot to ban greyhound racing in the state.
— OPINIONS —
“How Bill Nelson is souring the milk of human kindness, or trolling grief for campaign cash” via Nancy Smith of the Sunshine State News — Florida’s senior senator is blasting out begging email — at least three pieces I’ve seen this week — proclaiming to be Florida’s savior from guns and, while he’s at it, preying on constituents’ raw emotions to collect. His Republican opponent Scott, he says, “refuses to enact even the most common-sense gun-control reforms” … but thanks to a $50,000 match program initiated by generous Democratic donors … (give) $5 right now, before this match expires, and you can keep the NRA “from gaining even more power in Congress” plus get every dollar of your gift doubled. My favorite of Nelson‘s Dumpster-dollar-dives came in the “survey” email his campaign sent out asking gun-control questions, a ploy to collect email addresses for future fundraising solicitations. He again has the gall to ask for donations of $5 to $1,000 because “America is long past due for a hard conversation about gun violence.” Remember, Nelson has been in Washington feeding from the public trough for half a century … under Republican and Democratic presidents, Republican and Democratic Congresses — all the while with zero gun control legislation to show for.
“Brian Mast: I appreciate assault weapons. And I support a ban” via Florida Politics — When I was with others on the battlefield and we saw a chance to save a life, we didn’t have a meeting about it; we acted immediately. I never worried about becoming a casualty myself. Now, as a Republican congressman from Florida, I don’t fear becoming a political casualty, either. Therefore, I support the following: Defining what constitutes an assault or tactical firearm and not allowing them for future purchase — just as we already prohibit the purchase of fully automatic firearms. The exact definition of an assault weapon will need to be determined. But we should all be able to agree that the civilian version of the very deadly weapon that the Army issued to me should certainly qualify. I would not support any version of a ban that results in confiscating existing legally owned firearms. Ensuring that every firearm purchaser has a background check. We also need to improve the background check system. Banning the sale of accessories and add-ons that circumvent the ban on automatic firearms and increasing the ages at which individuals can purchase various categories of firearms. Ensuring that those who have been detained for mental illness, or have been ordered by courts to receive treatment for mental illness, cannot purchase firearms.
“Amy Mercer: It is not illegal to threaten a school shooting in Florida” via Florida Politics — In 2014, a Sarasota teen posted on Twitter “Can’t wait to shoot up my school,” and “It’s time. School getting shot up on Tuesday,” with a photo of a gun being placed in his backpack. In 2016, an appellate court found there was not enough to prosecute him under the current law. Shockingly, it is not illegal to threaten mass shootings like at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Florida. Senate Bill 310 would change that. SB 310 will allow law enforcement to act on a broader range of threats, including those made on social media. The bill makes it a third-degree felony to create and send certain written threats, including electronic communications, to kill or do great bodily injury. There is a misconception that a law like this is already on the books and that law enforcement can assess, and take action, on threats made online. Although online threats have the potential to be an extreme danger to our communities, law enforcement officers’ hands are tied when they try to act on nonspecific threats made through digital platforms. The warning signs aren’t missed, they just don’t have the tools we need to act on them.
— MOVEMENTS —
“Personnel note: Danielle Babilino joins Hard Rock in Florida” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Babilino will become senior vice president of global sales and marketing for Seminole Tribe-controlled Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, the company announced Thursday. She was most recently executive vice president of sales and marketing for Alon Las Vegas, the proposed luxury hotel and casino on the Strip. Babilino now will have “overall responsibility for the Hard Rock Hotel sales division, as it supports the expanding global portfolio of Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos,” according to a release, and will work out of Hard Rock International corporate offices in Hollywood. The Tribe in late 2016 consolidated its control over the Hard Rock brand, buying out remaining rights from the owner-operator of Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
“Personnel note: Sharon Smoley to join Orlando Economic Partnership” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics — Smoley, Florida Director of Government Affairs for Charter Communications, is taking on a new challenge. Beginning March 12, she becomes Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy with the Orlando Economic Partnership. In that role, she’ll be working on local, state and federal issues affecting the Central Florida business community. Smoley will remain with Charter through the end of the 2018 Legislative Session. She previously was with the government relations team at Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.
Nick Sortal quits Miami Herald gambling column, citing political plans — The veteran South Florida journalist and Miami Herald gambling columnist has decided to jump from reporting the news to making the news, as a candidate for Plantation City Council. “It’s something I have been thinking about since 2010, and I have been following the issues and building a campaign fund since then,” he posted online Thursday. “Because I’m an active political candidate, The Herald and I had to part ways. They can’t appear to show favoritism, and the idea of candidates-as-reporters is pooh-poohed almost everywhere. (That said, I’ll still write for CDC Gaming Reports, a subscription service that goes to executives nationwide in the casino industry.)”
Ballard Partners signs the Maldives — The Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives has hired Ballard Partners for a one-year $600,000 program to build support from U.S. policymakers. The Maldives is in the grip of a crisis following its declaration of a state of emergency and a crackdown on political opponents, media and its judiciary. The United Nations on Feb. 7 urged Maldives President Abdulla Yameen to end the state of emergency and criticized his actions as “tantamount to an all-out assault on democracy.” The Maldives Marketing and PR Corp., which is funded by the government, is looking for Ballard Partners to provide strategic consulting and advocacy services with the U.S. government.
New and appointed lobbying registrations:
Jose Bermudez, Becker & Poliakoff: Quest Management Group
Martin Fiorentino, Mark Pinto, Jason Roth, The Fiorentino Group: Clay County Clerk of the Circuit Court
Michael Harrell, Paul Hawkes, James Magill, Kimberly McGlynn, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney: City of Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency
Jasmyne Henderson, Joseph McCann, Pittman Law Group: Florida Alliance for Consumers and Taxpayers
Brian Jogerst, BH & Associates: Health Management Company of America
Nikolas Juan Pascual: City of Miami
Jason Roth, The Fiorentino Group: Florida Crystals Corporation
William Rubin, Amy Bisceglia, Erica Chanti, Matthew Sacco, The Rubin Group: Aetna, Guest Services, Weedmaps
Richard Stephens, Holland & Knight: National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation
Elizabeth Whitley: Office of the Attorney General
Spotted: Too many notable Tallahasseeans to mention at the life celebration of the late Tallahassee Democrat columnist Gerald “Perk” Ensley at the University Center Club on Saturday. Ensley died Feb. 16 at the age of 66.
— LAST OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK —
“Miracurl on ice: Team USA defeats Sweden to win first curling gold medal” via Cara Cooper of NBC Sports — For the fifth straight game John Shuster and Team USA rattled the best curlers in the world, and again came away with a win for the U.S.’s first-ever Olympic curling gold medal by defeating Sweden 10-7. The U.S., with Shuster, Tyler George, Matt Hamilton and John Landsteiner, had two strategies coming in — limit Sweden’s scoring and avoid the big end, and messy up the house with yellow rocks to force Sweden to make plays. Sweden looked rattled at times and missed several big shots as the tension of the game seemed to get to the young players. Both teams were playing with skips who have Olympic experience — four Games for Shuster and three for Sweden’s Niklas Edin — but other players were younger and not used to games of this magnitude. It never seemed to rattle the U.S. though.
“For 16 days, PyeongChang games turned all of us into one unified team” via Jerry Brewer of The Washington Post – Before they began, they were declared the Peace Olympics by organizers and charged with the mission to turn up the volume on an innate quality of the Olympic movement: Remind a competitive world how to behave. Live for 16 days in an idyllic bubble. We needed it. We were desperate for it. And somehow, despite the political sensitivity and some clumsy moments and continued United States-North Korea tension, PyeongChang succeeded in providing hope. It succeeded because the athletes represented the best of us. It was only going to succeed if the athletes were authentic examples of those civil aspirations. It can’t be forced. It can’t be faked. That’s the magic of sports; in the heat of competition, truths are revealed. By simply being themselves, the participants made the Peace Olympics turn into more than a naive theme. And now we return to the real world, where the problems remain and the resolutions are, at best, a work in progress. I wish we weren’t about to exit this bubble. I wish the bubble wouldn’t burst as soon as we leave.
“America’s gay Olympians hope that in 20 years, ‘gay Olympians’ won’t be a thing” via Chuck Culpepper of The Washington Post — One thing does stand certain already for 2038: No two Americans ever again will become the first out, gay, competing Winter Olympians. That matter has been adjudicated. The winners are Adam Rippon, the 28-year-old figure skater born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Gus Kenworthy, the 26-year-old freestyle skier born in Chelmsford, England, then transported to Colorado at age adorably 2. “It can be a black guy, an Asian guy, a lesbian, a gay skater, anything in the world,” Kenworthy said, after the duo repaired to NBC’s “Green Room” hut for a dual interview with The Washington Post. “Anyone can be exactly who they want to be, and I think that more people will realize that and, in 20 years, it’s going to be like a complete rainbow …”
“With 23 medals, team USA falls short of expectations at PyeongChang Olympics” via Rick Maese of The Washington Post – Were they a success? It all depends on the measuring stick. The U.S. contingent finishes these Winter Games with 23 medals, the fewest since the 13 the Americans brought home in 1998. They won 28 in Sochi and a record 37 at the Vancouver Games in 2010. Three countries topped them in the medal count here — Norway (39), Germany (31) and Canada (29). Nine of those U.S. medals were gold, matching the Americans’ totals from each of the past three Olympics. The USOC doesn’t usually make its projections public, but The Associated Press obtained an internal chart that shows the American athletes fell well short of the organization’s PyeongChang projections. The chart indicated the USOC anticipated a minimum of 25 medals here, with an expected target of 37 and an outside possibility of as many as 59. American athletes finished in either fourth, fifth or sixth place here 35 times, potential medals if the U.S. Olympian was a split-second faster or perhaps impressed a judge just a bit more.
“What the Olympics can teach us about a better kind of nationalism” via David Papineau of Vox — The modern Olympics were designed to channel dangerous nationalism into a benign and even positive form of competition. But while peace and harmony may reign on the surface, many commentators have argued that sporting competition between nations can’t help but stir up old antagonisms and resentments. The Olympics “indulge precisely what they claim to transcend: the world’s basest instinct for tribalism,” wrote the historian David Clay Large, in 2016. My own view is that the alarmists are mistaken. As I see it, international sport can’t help but boost understanding and counteract chauvinism. It is a natural leveler. What the critics miss is the way that sports compel respect for your opponents. This doesn’t, of course, mean you can’t support your own country, only that you should also recognize your opponents as moral equals. To be sure, sometimes nations that meet on the sporting field will share a history of political conflict and perceived wrongs. But the sporting context itself washes out the past and places the two sides on an even footing, if only for a few hours.
“Why it’s innovative — not wasteful — to destroy the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium” via Josh Horwitz of Quartz — Increasingly, cities are thinking about short-term or “pop-up” stadiums, not a structure that’ll last for decades. Rather than let a venue fall into inevitable disrepair, the logic goes, it’s better to build in a short shelf life. That allows you to skip things you’d include in a long-term structure and keep costs down. According to the Pyeongchang organizing committee, Pyeongchang Olympic Plaza cost about $110 million, including $75 million for the stadium. The reusable stadium isn’t a completely untried concept, though. In Switzerland, organizers of the 2013 Wrestling and Alpine Festival commissioned a temporary 50,000-seat venue, built by Nussli Group. Nussli also made a temporary 20,168-seat venue as a short-lived home for Fortuna Düsseldorf, a German soccer league, that cost only $3.9 million. A Nussli spokesperson said that the Düsseldorf soccer stadium’s cost was so low because it uses its own existing scaffolding material, which it rents out to organizers of different events. “Were we to produce this scaffolding material every time completely new for a stadium, the final costs would be higher of course,” she told Quartz.
— ALOE —
Can’t wait to read – “Michelle Obama’s memoir ‘Becoming’ will be released in November” via Helena Andrews-Dyer of the Washington Post – Obama’s first book post-White House will be a memoir titled “Becoming” that will hit book shelves on November 13. “Becoming” … will follow Obama’s journey from the South Side of Chicago to 1600 Penn. “Writing ‘Becoming’ has been a deeply personal experience,” she said. “It has allowed me, for the very first time, the space to honestly reflect on the unexpected trajectory of my life. In this book, I talk about my roots and how a little girl from the South Side of Chicago found her voice and developed the strength to use it to empower others. I hope my journey inspires readers to find the courage to become whoever they aspire to be. I can’t wait to share my story.” It’s been nearly a year since Penguin Random House announced Barack and Michelle Obama’s multimillion dollar joint book deal … The title and publication date of the former president’s project have not been announced … “Becoming” will be published in 24 languages, and will also be available as an audio book read by the former first lady herself.
Happening today — State education leaders and elected officials, joined by University of Florida educators and best-selling novelist James Patterson will meet at the Capitol at noon to announce the author’s $3 million contribution to the University’s College of Education. The money will go to a literary initiative aimed at doubling the number of school children in Florida who can read proficiently — dubbed the James Patterson Literary Challenge.
Happy birthday belatedly to the Green Bay Packers superfan, Matt Dixon, as well as U.S. Rep. Darren Soto and Joel Brown. Celebrating today is one of our favorites, Ana Cruz, as well as Eric Fogelsong, Ron Greenstein, and Jerry Paul.
