carmage walls commentary prize 2018 entry...
TRANSCRIPT
1
Name of Author(s): Skip Foster
Author’s Title (editor, columnist, etc.): Publisher and President
Newspaper: Tallahassee Democrat
Address: 277 N. Magnolia Drive
City: Tallahassee
State: FL
ZIP: 32301
Phone: 850-599-2126
Fax:
E-Mail: [email protected]
Submitted by: William Hatfield
Title of Person Submitting: Executive Editor
Phone Number: 850-228-6463
E-mail Address: [email protected]
What is the subject/title of the entry?
Dark clouds over Tallahassee
Date(s) of publication?
6/3/2017
8/16/2017
8/25/2017
9/28/2017
10/24/2017
11/17/2017
Is your newspaper under 50,000 circulation or above 50,000 circulation? Under
Please give a brief explanation of issues discussed and the results achieved. (This space will expand as you type in your comments.)
BACKGROUND: In 2017, the capital city, which was already soul searching for its brand identity, got
hit by a curveball. A dark cloud descended on the city amid an ongoing FBI investigation into public
corruption. Days before subpoenas dropped on City Hall, the Publisher and President Skip Foster offered
a way forward in a long-form editorial assessing Tallahassee’s strengths, weaknesses and opportunities.
As our investigative team revealed troubling details that connected the highest levels of city government
to the criminal probe, Foster held officials accountable and demanded transparency in a series of
editorials.
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/06/03/our-opinion-brand-new-day-
Carmage Walls
Commentary Prize
2018 Entry Form
2
tallahassee/361966001/
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/2017/08/16/foster-truth-clear-cloud-fbi-
investigation/572349001/
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/08/25/our-opinion-simple-yes-no-could-help-
clear-fbi-clouds-mayor-andrew-gillum/602801001/
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/09/28/our-opinion-citys-obstruction-public-
information/714406001/
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/10/24/our-opinion-crisis-confidence-our-city-
government/796804001/
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/11/17/our-opinion-city-manager-paid-limbo-not-tenable/873624001/
RESULTS: The editorials paved the way for a public records lawsuit filed by the Democrat. Knowing
that they had broken the law when the city manager deleted the text message, the city immediately acted
to settle the lawsuit and vowed more transparency around text messages. The settlement was hailed as
landmark by first amendment advocates and was profiled by the Poynter Institute and Editor and
Publisher. The city’s text messaging policy is now being used as a model around Florida. Other
victories that followed the editorials:
• We were pretty darn stunned when the City handed us a $22,000 bill for email records they had
already compiled for the FBI. The city reversed course after a combination of some great
journalism and the editorials above to rally the community.
• As part of the settlement, the city will no longer screen and remove emails or texts that they
deem to be private. That insidious policy enabled records keepers to skim records off the top
that were related to campaigns or other matters that officials deemed to be non-city business.
DEMOCRAT FILES
An aerial view of Tallahassee.
dence in ethical practices; battlesover how and even if Tallahassee
should grow.There should be immense pride
in the positives and a wearinessover the negatives, many of whichhave been on that list for far toolong.
But mainly there should be awillingness to discuss and assessthese strengths and weaknesses
fairly and honestly.
2. It’s time to shed the moni-ker “government town.”
There are 50 state capitals in theUnited States. Not all of them havesuccumbed to the idea that becausethe state workforce is based in astate capital, the city’s destiny issealed.
Is Austin, Texas, a “governmenttown?” Nashville? Raleigh?From the Research Triangle toMusic City to Austin’s eclectic artsand outdoors identity, these South-ern state capitals (and many oth-ers) have stepped out of the shadowof their Capitol domes and estab-lished new brands.
Sure, they all have legislators,lobbyists, lawyers and the like. Butthe economic base is diversified.The brand is far from government-centric.
None of that should diminish theimportant role government plays inthat market nor tarnish the contri-bution of those who enter into pub-lic service.
But being a “government town”simply isn’t a brand that travels.
3. It’s time to look – serious-ly, soberly and thoroughly –at consolidating government
For us, this isn’t mainly aboutefficiency (although that should be
created) or saving money (althoughthat should happen as well).
This is directly related to thepoint above.
This town is hyper-politicized.Part of the reason government hasdominated Tallahassee’s brand isthat we have all let it happen. Per-haps it is just trickle down from thestate legislature, but a city this sizeshouldn’t have so many careerlocal politicians, local political con-sultants and the like.
This also goes to the issue of aculture of honesty and transpar-ency – the more layers of localgovernment, the more likely thereis to be posturing and spin when itcomes to the city’s image.
This leads to the ultimate “brandtrap,” according to Greg Clark, anonresident senior fellow at theBrookings Institution’s Metropol-itan Policy Program, who studiescommunity brands. In a Wall StreetJournal interview last year, Clarksaid: “The worst situation is whenyour product is worse than yourimage.”
If Tallahassee can’t solve itscrime problem, there isn’t a catchyslogan in the world that’s going toovercome that reality.
Maybe a unified countywidepolice force and the consolidationof other city and county serviceswon’t solve the problem. Maybe itwill. But at the least, it will go along way toward de-politicizing oursystem and surely that’s a goodthing in the long run.
4. On the other hand, it’stime for the private sector toput on its big boy pants
There is a legacy of private sec-
OUR OPINION
See Our View, Page 10A
A brand new dayin Tallahassee?It’s time for hyper-politicized city to consider consolidationand step outside the looming shadow cast by the Capitol
JOE RONDONE/DEMOCRAT
The Florida Capitol
“A brand for a company islike a reputation for a person.You earn reputation by tryingto do hard things well.” - JeffBezos, CEO of Amazon
So, you want to (re)brandyour city, do you?OK, we’re in.But if you think this is anexercise in creating logos,slogans and snappy cre-
atives, you’ve come to the wrongplace.
Whether Tallahassee’s brandneeds a tweak, an enhancement ora complete overhaul, the processshould be deliberative, transparentand, well, difficult.
It should reflect three key con-stituents – residents, visitors andbusiness.
And it should be driven by whatmakes us unique – what sets Talla-hassee apart?
Anybody who plops down ata table and says: “THIS iswhat our brand should be!”is missing out on the tidalnature of formulating thesetypes of things. The magic isin the collaboration. This isnot about winning a slogancontest or some fictional bat-tle of best ideas — it’s aboutlaying out threads and thenseeing how they tie together.
To that end, this tractate is aneffort not at solving the puzzle, butof assembling some of the piecesthat would constitute Tallahassee’sbrand – or at least contribute to it.
Some of these are reflections ofour current state; others are rec-ommendations for future condi-tions.
1. It’s time to create and de-mand a culture of honesty
Too many are only willing to talkabout Tallahassee in terms that fittheir agenda.
The entire city is corrupt and evil.ORThis is an A-plus city.It’s time for the demonizers and
glorifiers to step aside.We need a brutally honest assess-
ment of our city.The list of positive attributes is
long – small town feel; everythingthat comes with being a three-col-lege town; amazing natural re-sources that bring endless recre-ational opportunities; proximity tothe coast; capital of the state; andthe list goes on.
But there are also giant, persis-tent problems – one of the worstcrime rates in the state; too manypeople in poverty, leading to eco-nomic segregation; a “good oldboy” network that often brings adark-cloud to community decision-making and leads to a lack of confi-
OPINIONPA G E 9 A » S U N D AY , J U N E 4 , 2 017 @TDONLINE » TALLAHASSEE.COM
President: Skip Foster, 599-2126,[email protected]
Editor: William Hatfield, [email protected]
News Director: Jennifer Portman599-2154, [email protected]
Platform Editor: Randi Atwood599-2149, [email protected]
Storytelling Coach: Andrew Skerritt599-2168, [email protected]
Sports Editor: Jim Henry599-2316, [email protected]
EDITORIAL BOARD
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or “My View” columns (up to 500 words) to [email protected]. Include full name, address and phone for verification; only names, city and emails will be published (emails will be withheld if requested). We may condense submissions and edit for grammar and clarity. You may also send to P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
Tallahassee, we are on our own withcare of the environment. At least,carry reusable bags in your car forgroceries!
It is always a great way to start theday when you open the paper andsee one of your Zing!s published.
The mutual aid agreement betweencity and county law enforcementagencies is the best thing that couldhave happened. As long as they allunderstand how it works.
Trump better hope Mar-a-Lago floats.
I hope all the whining liberalsunderstand they are free to reducetheir own carbon footprint. I suspectit’s another case of wanting others tomake the sacrifices.
Can Macron please be our president,too?
Pulling out of the Paris Accord hurtsthe economy as well as theenvironment, and helps no one. Well,maybe Russian oil millionaires...
What will the media do when theRussia hoax finally vaporizes? Startcriticizing Trump for not trimming hisnose hairs?
If God meant for us to eat raw fish,he would not have given us fire.
With allies like Merkel and Macron,who needs enemies?
Dear Europe: Please accept ourapologies for the ineptness currentlyin our country’s highest office.Sincerely, the Majority.
It appears that, unlike Mussolini,Trump won’t even be able to get thetrains to run on time.
Interesting article in Friday’sDemocrat about augmented realitywith the new iPhone. In the ‘60s and‘70s we didn’t have iPhones, but wemanaged some pretty good realityaugmentation without them.
Maybe the National Hurricane Centershould begin naming Trump’s Twitterstorms.
The plan to Make America GreatAgain starts with ignoring history,eschewing science, reversingprogress, and starting over with a“good-ole-comrade” paradigm.
We have enough problems inAmerica, so it’s OK to make Americafirst, then consider wisely what taxdollars you are going to give away tohelp others.
Oh, no. Got my Zing! Now I’mhooked again.
You’ll never escape. Just give in. Visitwww.Tallahassee.com/zing to submityour Zing! and check out the Zing!blog at Tallahassee.com.
Zing!READERS’ OPINIONSSTATED SUCCINCTLY
“Nothing is so admirable in politics
as a short memory.”
JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH
A TANGLED WEBFBI INVESTIGATION
The Summer of 2017.It has been marked by dark clouds.
Lightning strikes. Electricity.Literally, it has rained almost ev-
ery day.Figuratively, storm clouds of an
FBI investigation loom large.Everyone seems to be bracing for
a monsoon of truth.The Tallahassee Democrat is com-
mitted to this community and its well-being — now and for the future.That’s been our proud history: track-ing a large part of Tallahassee’s histo-ry by reporting the news, good andbad, even when it’s unsettling or un-pleasant. It’s what we do.
So, let’s talk about this federalprobe and how the newspaper hascovered it.
We report the news — based on thefacts available to us and others thatwe uncover by our aggressive butfair reporting. By doing that on thiscontinuing saga, we have found our-selves taking arrows from both thepolitical left and the right. I think thatlikely reflects we’re doing this job aswe’re supposed to do it. We can han-dle it — and while we welcome com-ments and criticisms, responsiblyconveyed, it will not deter, delay ordistract us from doing our job as webelieve it should be done.
While some think we are “overcovering” the FBI corruption investi-gation and others think we haven’tdone enough, we think we’re doingour job as professionals.
We’ve assigned two ace reporters,Jeff Burlew and Jeff Schweers (yes,we call them “the Jeffs” in the office),to this story, nonstop. Our oversighteditors, William Hatfield and Jenni-fer Portman, are among the best andbrightest in our industry anywhere,too.
And while generating online traf-fic and readership is not somethingfor which we apologize, I believe wehave eschewed the sensational andare defaulting to a responsible ap-proach to this story that must be cov-ered.
There’s a good chance that some ofthe people named in the subpoenaswill never be indicted. That makes usespecially attentive to our reportingand editing, ensuring that what wepublish meets our highest bar of rele-vance and accuracy.
On the other hand, the aggressive-ness of our reporting should be com-mensurate with revealing any breachof the sacred trust of those serving ina government funded by and for tax-payers.
And I hasten to add this: There is alot — I mean A LOT — of informationwe have that clears a high bar, but notquite the highest bar that we have setfor ourselves. We have chosen not topublish such information in an effortto err on the side of truth, fairnessand accuracy.
For all of our neighbors who worryabout how this scandal, publicityabout it and the ultimate still-elusivefinal truth are only serving to dragdown the city’s image, here and else-where, and hurting our ability to pro-
mote, recruit, retain good people andthings, let me be clear: This is notpersonal. This is our job.
I want nothing more than for us tobe a part of a growing, vibrant city,county and region. The paper hastried hard to take a leading positionwhen it comes to discussions about avision for the future of Tallahassee,including its brand. It’s why we alsocover the just-past Chamber confer-ence attended by 500 diverse leaders,the United Way campaign, the localsports stories of wins and losses byteams we love, and the triumphs andtragedies of daily life in this greatcommunity.
Yet, as a parallel, while rooting forthe success of area sports teams iseasy and a no-brainer, that rootinginterest has to be totally subservientto our very highest calling: holdingthe powerful accountable. We allmust be accountable.
Corruption is a corrosive force in ademocracy such as ours, erodingpublic faith in our key institutions.Corruption is corruption. And crimeis crime. We cover both — becauseit’s news.
We don’t delight in it — but wewon’t shy away from this seriousduty.
When corruption is on the table,our first and foremost responsibilityis to shine a light on it, as best we can.If that has a negative effect on ourmarket, then with the utmost respectI would say that’s the fault of thepurveyors of corruption.
What if it turns out there was notprovable corruption? Well, if thathappens, we’ll be covering those wholaunched the investigation with asmuch vigor as the investigation itself.
But I have to tell you, this old jour-nalist turned publisher thinks thechance of that happening is very,very low.
And so, your updated forecast forthe next few weeks: a 100 percentchance of both truth telling and cau-tion, with severe legal storms, likely.
For all of us, in this 2017 in Talla-hassee — this is the summer when theclouds got in the way. We will get toclearer skies, as the facts and truthemerge.
Skip Foster is president and pub-lisher of the Tallahassee Democrat.
Truth will clear the cloudof FBI investigation
Skip FosterPUBLISHER
WILLIAM HATFIELD/DEMOCRAT
USA TODAY cover on Aug. 16
President: Skip Foster, [email protected]
Editor: William Hatfield, [email protected]
News Director: Jennifer Portman599-2154, [email protected]
Platform Editor: Randi Atwood599-2149, [email protected]
Storytelling Coach: Andrew Skerritt599-2168, [email protected]
Sports Editor: Jim Henry599-2316, [email protected]
EDITORIAL BOARD
OPINIONK1
PA G E 4 A » T H U R S D AY , A U G U S T 17 , 2 017 @TDONLINE » TALLAHASSEE.COM
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or “My View” columns (up to 500 words) to [email protected]. Include full name, address and phone for verification; only names, city and emails will be published (emails will be withheld if requested). We may condense submissions and edit for grammar and clarity. You may also send to P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
Over the weekend, along with many eyes across thenation, we watched in growing horror as the eventsunfolded in Charlottesville. A Nazi-inspired march ofhate was happening in a college town not so unlikeTallahassee.
The hate amplified when a car plowed into counter-demonstrators, killing a young woman named Heather.
On Sunday, invites for rallies and gatherings tostand against hate and with Charlottesville began topop up across the country. Some events organized withthe idea of solidarity in mind; other gatherings fo-
cused on rallying against white supremacy, racism andhate.
The need to speak out against hate and racism goeswithout question, but a small group of Tallahasseeleaders was also struck by the even greater need tobring people together. This desire to balance the needto collectively grieve for the lives lost in Charlottes-ville while also having space to come together forhealing sparked an idea: a community gathering thatcould be a rallying point for unity.
This Thursday, everyone is invited to gather atLake Ella near the gazebo for “Embrace Tallahassee –Unite in Love.” The program will begin promptly at6:30 p.m. The community is invited to enjoy live musicfrom musical duo Hot Tamale near the gazebo startingat 5 p.m. Just across Lake Ella, Food Truck Thursdayoffers a chance to support local businesses.
This free unity event will include remarks fromlocal clergy and community leaders. The event willconclude with a communal candle lighting and walkaround Lake Ella after remarks.
Community organizations will be on hand to offerinformation on how to talk about hate groups at homewith your family as well as with friends and neigh-
bors. Suggestions for next steps for action and oppor-tunities to get involved in working toward solutionswill also be available.
The need for unity among family, friends, neigh-bors and strangers is more relevant than ever in ourcountry. All are welcome to attend some or all of thegathering.
While we have some candles on hand for the vigil,we encourage attendees to bring their own. Attendeesmay also bring flowers for peace and love. To helpsupport the sense of community, flowers brought canbe given away to a neighbor, friend or communitymember in a gesture of unity.
On Thursday, each flickering candle will spread amessage of love and unity and share the light of hopewith all of Tallahassee. We hope you’ll join us. Formore information and to RSVP via Facebook, visitEmbraceTallahassee.com.
Sean Cooley serves as external relations co-chair ofNew Leaders Council Tallahassee. Joy Dixon serves onthe New Leaders Council Tallahassee Advisory Board.Rachel Pienta serves as contributing faculty in theRichard W. Riley College of Education and Leadershipat Walden University.
Join us Thursday to stand against hate, ‘Unite in Love’
Sean Cooley, Joy Dixonand Rachel PientaMY VIEW
Zing!READERS’ OPINIONSSTATED SUCCINCTLY
Looks like next year’s re-enactment atNatural Bridge will be a punt.
Should TLH consider changingApalachee Parkway to ApalacheeSpeedway?
Trump had a chance to help heal thewound but instead poured salt in it.
Corcoran the anti-corruptioncrusader. Right. He’s just mad all thatCRA graft didn’t pass through hisdirty little paws.
Yup! Destroy historical statues andartifacts just like the Taliban and ISISdo. Good job, liberals.
The president has compared theConfederate statues to those ofWashington and Jefferson. I musthave missed class the day they talkedabout Washington and Jeffersonbeing traitors to the United States.
John Thrasher is exhibiting true moralleadership. Maybe President Trumpcould come observe him for a fewdays.
Statues are erected to show honorand removed to show hate.
How long until the collegesnowflakes label the Bobby Bowdenstatue as offensive and tear it down,too?
What’s a guy gotta do to get a Zing!published?
Wow! USA Today sectionWednesday! Tallahassee hits the bigtime!
Sure, the cancer was aggressive. Butthe chemotherapy was also veryaggressive. There was aggression onboth sides.
I want my swag bag / Does theChamber have some left / For peonslike me?
Zing!’s with you – bring on the swag!Visit www.Tallahassee.com/zing tosubmit your Zing!
“What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of
everything and the value of nothing.”
OSCAR WILDE
OPINIONPA G E 9 A » S U N D AY , A U G U S T 2 7 , 2 017 @TDONLINE » TALLAHASSEE.COM
President: Skip Foster, 599-2126,[email protected]
Editor: William Hatfield, [email protected]
News Director: Jennifer Portman599-2154, [email protected]
Platform Editor: Randi Atwood599-2149, [email protected]
Storytelling Coach: Andrew Skerritt599-2168, [email protected]
Sports Editor: Jim Henry599-2316, [email protected]
EDITORIAL BOARD
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or “My View” columns (up to 500 words) to [email protected]. Include full name, address and phone for verification; only names, city and emails will be published (emails will be withheld if requested). We may condense submissions and edit for grammar and clarity. You may also send to P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
Trump’s prodigious feats ofself-puffery put Steve Bannon toshame.
I could have knocked a personover with the force I used to swatthat teeny mosquito.
Whenever Trump reads from ateleprompter, I’m certain he’sreading those words for the veryfirst time.
The left is full of useful idiots whothink their thuggery will qualifythem for ruling.
Our transgender children are notgood enough to fight and die forthe USA but our straight childrenare good enough to fight and diefor the USA, according to ourpresident.
Regarding checks and balances,it’s looking like the press is theonly organization that is servingthat function.
Trump doesn’t need advisers orstrategists, he just needs aproducer and a director.
Thank you, Tallahassee Nurseries,for the big happy signs for theride to and from work!
Please don’t build the wall yet, Imay still need to leave.
I don’t think Trump understandsthat as President he actually hasto get stuff done.
It’s 2017 people. You can wearwhatever you please with sandals.I prefer black-and-white stripedsocks.
Can’t wait for the headline, Mr.President. “You’re fired.”
Instead of draining the swamp,Trump has sold swampland to hissupporters.
If you aren’t really rich, thensurround yourself in yellow andpretend it’s gold.
If the statues belong to all of us,then why can’t we vote on theirfuture? Who decides?
I had ancestors on both sides ofthe sad Civil War and rememberthem all.
Supporters of Obama and hisnational debt should be requiredto pay for it.
The Zings have not been thatfunny lately! Probably becauseyou haven’t been printing mine!
Hahahahahahaha. Visitwww.Tallahassee.com/zing tosubmit your zing.
JOE RONDONE/DEMOCRAT
Mayor Andrew Gillum has pledged to cooperate with the FBI and says he’s not the focus oftheir probe.
It’s not unusual in small- and medi-um-sized American cities and townsfor public officials to occasionallyrun into awkward intersections ofpersonal, professional and politicallife.
What IS unusual is for 20 FBIagents to spend two years investigat-ing a city, spending at least some ofthat time with public officials at thosevery intersections.
Mayor Andrew Gillum, who isrunning for the Democratic nomina-tion for governor of Florida, is one ofthose officials. He has spent the pastfew days unsuccessfully explainingthe time he spent with Mike Millerand other undercover federal agents.
In particular, we are referring toan August 2016 trip to the Big Apple.
Gillum’s New York trip was for aseries of events for the People for theAmerican Way, a self-described “pro-gressive advocacy group” that em-ployed the mayor up until Februaryof this year. There is the professional.
It included time with his goodfriend and former campaign treasur-er Adam Corey. There we have per-sonal.
And on it he spent time with un-dercover FBI agents who had been inTallahassee pitching a $100 millionsouth-side development. There is thepolitical.
But wait. Gillum claims that timeto also be personal.
This explanation strains credulity.These undercover agents weren’t
in Tallahassee to make friends. Theywere here to expose corruption. Theircover was that they were developers,wanting to do a project on the southside of town and use the CRA in theprocess. Even if they hadn’t turnedout to be FBI agents, to claim timewith Mike Miller was “personal” isakin to Bill Clinton saying “I didn’tinhale.”
The mayor’s credibility is alsoundercut by his confusing responsesto questions from the media and se-lective utilization of what we not-so-lovingly call the “Shelley Doctrine.”That refers to Tallahassee City At-torney Lew Shelley’s advice to com-missioners to not discuss the FBIinvestigation.
Gillum jettisoned that advice whenWCTV obtained a picture of Gillum,Corey and Miller boating on a sunnyday in New York harbor. He waxed atlength about the nature of the voyageand what it meant. He characterizedthe trip as “a couple of friends gettingtogether” and “hanging out.”
But when faced with simple “yes/no” questions from the Democrat
about whether or not he attended aNew York Mets baseball game or theBroadway show “Hamilton,” Gillumducked behind the Shelley Doctrine.
Sorry, Mr. Mayor, but that’s notgood enough.
First, Shelley’s advice is just that,advice. Legally, there is absolutelynothing preventing Gillum from com-ing clean with constituents about anyand all associations with the under-cover agents – especially if he’s not atarget as he has so often claimed inmultiple prepared statements.
Second, it really isn’t very good PRto only respond in detail when con-fronted with photographs of youractivities. And third, surely you knowthat if you can’t answer “no” to thosequestions, most will, with some justi-fication, assume that you actually didattend them. Given that he did notsubmit gift disclosure forms, thisbecomes a problem.
To take this even further, let’s setaside for the moment the inanity ofthe mayor’s explanation that this timewas all “personal.” This is dangerousdouble-edged political swordplay forGillum.
If he spent enough time with MikeMiller and his posse to be closefriends, one would have to ask – soexactly WHY did you spend so muchtime with people who turned out to be
undercover FBI agents? Becomingclose with undercover operatives ishardly a winning claim to fame, espe-cially for a public official.
If he really didn’t spend that muchtime, then the question becomes: Howcan you claim the time spent withthem in New York as “personal?”
As an aside, we can’t help but no-tice that the mayor’s use of the word“personal” matches the word used bycity attorneys who claim they canunilaterally declare certain cityemails to not be public record if itexclusively involved “personal”matters. That coincidence causes usto be concerned that emails related tothis trip or other so-called “personal”matters have not been released to thepublic.
Mayor Gillum can put all this torest by sitting down for an interviewabout these and other interactionswith Miller and Co.
We certainly understand theseintersections of personal, politicaland professional can be complicatedand would love to be part of clearingthe record. If the mayor hasn’t doneanything wrong, it should be a rela-tively easy conversation.
Until that happens, this intersec-tion of personal, professional andpolitical activities is a pileup waitingto happen.
OUR OPINION
A simple yes or no could helpclear FBI clouds for mayor
Zing!READERS’ OPINIONSSTATED SUCCINCTLY
“Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a
monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss
gazes also into you.”
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Former state Sen. Greg Evers, a“down-home gentleman,” died Mondaynight in a single-vehicle accident nearhis home in Okaloosa County.
Greg Evers was my friend. We metin the Spring in 2001, when my partnerGerry and I traveled to his home inBaker to do a screening. It was some-thing we did back then, screenings setup as initial interviews to determinewhether he or she would make a goodcandidate and whether a race could bewon. Campaigns were our lives.
Maybe things get a little easier asyou move up the political ladder, but inmy life, the higher I climbed, the lessreal my life became. The lobbyistsswoop in. Your circle of friends wid-ens. It is no longer acceptable for youto wear sweatpants and say what youreally think anymore.
It wasn’t for me, and that’s why I’venever served as an aide to anyonewhom I’ve helped elect. Politicschanges people. Getting elected, andbeing in the public eye, having a voicesomeone listens to, the ability tochange a law, add a new one, dump anold one – bring a program to life, orkill one, that has an impact.
These things matter, and the peoplewho make it happen matter. But theyaren’t the only ones who matter be-cause at the heart of it all are the peo-ple who live around you, the ones yousee at Publix, at school at church.
These are sometimes friends andneighbors, some are strangers to you.Some politicians get too “big for theirbritches,” as Greg would say. They aretoo busy, have climbed the ladder too
high and too far, to stop and listen. Greg did listen. He cared about “the
people” and he knew that there wasn’treally one “the people” but a lot ofindividuals. He listened to everyone bylistening to anyone. He didn’t set ap-pointments in Tallahassee based onhow important you were. He left hisdoor open and made himself available.That is how a legislator should be.
Politics may change a person, but itcan also amplify the human spirit to dogood for others.
For many years, I have worked as avolunteer advocate. I do what I can tohelp parents and children with specialneeds. Yes, I have children with au-tism, ADHD, and Down syndrome, sothere is a personal motivator.
But I realized somewhere along theway that helping people is all thatreally matters.
Greg realized that too. That is whatI saw in him the first day we met be-fore we signed on to run his campaign.That is what I saw in him last yearwhen he came to speak at one of thecauses for autism.
Greg wasn’t doing it for politicalreasons. He loved helping people, and
he loved being able to pick up thephone, or pick up a pen and tablet,write a letter or make a call to solve aproblem for someone. If we had theability to open up and see man’s trueheart, Greg’s heart centered aroundprotecting his home and family andhelping his community.
My partner and I did a really goodjob on his first and toughest campaign.But it was Greg, and his amazing fam-ily, an army of people who loved andsupported him who sparked the magic.
They loved Greg because he wasworthy of love. He had many friends,because he was a friend to all, even tohis opponents. Greg was the first toforgive and the last to hold a grudge.Of the 50+ races I’ve been involved in,Greg’s stands out because he was trulyspecial. I was a better at my job, Iworked harder, I thought more cre-atively because he made me careabout his people, and believe in him.
That day we met, Greg convincedus he would be the best man for thejob. I am really glad he had the oppor-tunity to make such a big differencefor our state and that he will be re-membered for more than just a coupleof pieces of legislation, but also for thegood-natured, kind-hearted, caringperson that he was.
Greg Evers was unlike anyone elsein Tallahassee, didn’t come from mon-ey, wasn’t groomed to be a politician. Ifanyone had given him a silver spoon Ibet he would have melted it down toput on the tip of his cowboy boots.
Senator Evers, you “done good,”you made your family proud, and youwill be missed by many.
Funeral services for Greg Everswill be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Bap-tist Church in Milton. Visitation will befrom 5-7 p.m. Monday at the church.
Claudia Cotten Randolph worked onGreg Evers campaign and is a long-time friend.
ClaudiaCottenRandolph
MY VIEW
Greg Evers had big heart, loved helping people
CLAUDIA COTTEN RANDOLPH
Greg Evers at an autism event in 2015 forFSU CARD talking to Britney Stone, a musictherapist about the benefits of musictherapy.
The city’s obstruction of public information
If you think the city of Tallahasseegrasps and appreciates the grav-ity of what it faces in the wake ofthe current FBI investigation,you must not have watched the
end of Wednesday night’s meeting.Obfuscation, mischaracterization
and stonewalling continue to rule theday.
Let’s break it down.The Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion has now issued subpoenas ontwo separate occasions regardingthe activities of the city, the Commu-nity Redevelopment Agency, and atleast one of its commissioners.
This newspaper – and other mediaoutlets – made a public records re-quest for everything that was sent tothe FBI in response to the subpoe-nas.
The response from the city wasthat it would cost this newspapermore than $3,000 to receive the por-tion of the request that included cityemails. Officials said the nature andvolume of emails – about 50,000 –would require “extensive” review toblack out any information that canbe exempted under state law and tokeep from the public nebulous socalled “non-public records.” To per-form this service was estimated at acost of $25 an hour.
In light of the vital public interestin this matter, this newspaper lob-bied members of the city staff and
then a majority of commissioners towaive the fee for all who request theinformation. Our position: This is thetaxpayers’ business and the lastthing the city wants and needs is forthe Democrat – or any other organi-zation – to be writing stories or edito-rials about the city making it harderfor people to have access to informa-tion on this federal investigation.
Wednesday night, City AttorneyLew Shelley seemed eager to enterthe discussion and completely mis-characterize the request. No one atthis newspaper has asked for thefees to be waived for just one outlet.The argument was: given the gravityof this investigation, records shouldbe made public to everyone.
Commissioner Scott Maddox’smisdirection was even more blatant.He argued that waiving the fees forthis request would mean waivingfees for ALL requests.
No, it wouldn’t.The city could easily establish a
policy that requests for informationrelated to the FBI’s corruption in-vestigation be free of charge to thepublic and that all other requests aretreated as they normally are treated.
Only commissioner Gil Zifferseemed to really get it.
“Let’s make it available to anyoneand move on,” Ziffer said. “If wedon’t, it looks like we’re hiding some-thing and we’re not.”
Making this information availableto the public at no charge should be ano-brainer.
It’s remarkable (and yet oddlyunsurprising) that Maddox and May-or Andrew Gillum – the two cityelected officials photographed withundercover FBI agents – are leadingthe charge to obstruct the public’saccess to information. And onceagain Shelley seems to think his jobis to do everything possible to shieldthe public from the city’s businessrather than advocating for transpar-ency.
This is exactly the type of leader-ship which has led to a dark cloud ofsuspicion over the City of Tallahas-see.
It’s time for the public to demandbetter.
After all, these are YOUR recordsof YOUR government which YOUpaid for. Now we are all being askedto pay thousands of dollars simply tosee records the FBI has demandedabout how your own governmentwas operating.
What’s particularly concerning isthat even if these records are re-leased/purchased, the city has madeno bones about the fact that it is re-moving what it calls “personal” rec-ords from what was sent to the FBI.Who decides what is personal?
The city attorney.And the beat goes on …
OUR OPINION
Federal authorities have demanded records from the city related to top local developers and projects linked to the CommunityRedevelopment Agency. JOE RONDONE/DEMOCRAT
President: Skip Foster, [email protected]
Editor: William Hatfield, [email protected]
News Director: Jennifer Portman599-2154, [email protected]
Platform Editor: Randi Atwood599-2149, [email protected]
Storytelling Coach: Andrew Skerritt599-2168, [email protected]
Sports Editor: Jim Henry599-2316, [email protected]
EDITORIAL BOARD
OPINIONPA G E 4 A » S AT U R D AY , S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 017 @TDONLINE » TALLAHASSEE.COM
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or “My View” columns (up to 500 words) to [email protected]. Include full name, address and phone for verification; only names, city and emails will be published (emails will be withheld if requested). We may condense submissions and edit for grammar and clarity. You may also send to P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORTransfer of elementary teacher was the wrong decision
As a grandmother of two boys aged10 and 11, I find the decision to moveteacher Chloe Bressack from CanopyOaks Elementary School to Adult andCommunity Education shameful, espe-cially since just 24 hours earlier Teach-er Bressack received full-throatedsupport from Superintendent RockyHanna.
Leon County was faced with theperfect teachable moment for our stu-dents and those watching – and weflunked the test. Instead of furtheringthe obvious lessons of acceptance, in-clusion and understanding of others, weopted to close our minds and our heartsand hunker down in fear of people witha different world view. Instead ofteaching our children acceptance, wehave taught them, through our exam-ple, that if they dare to be different,they risk being ostracized or kicked tothe curb.
We must do better. Let's hope thatnext time, if we get the chance, we openour hearts and our minds as we havebeen taught and set a better examplefor our children.
Mary Ellen Bateman, Tallahassee,[email protected]
Government should not be inthe development business
The CRA director, Roxanne Man-ning ,finally said what we all probablyknow: “We are essentially developersor redevelopers” and “A CRA helpstake some of the risk out of large-scale development and pays for thingsa developer could not or would notpay for.”
Why should our taxpayer dollars beused to subsidize private develop-ment? Developers are in the businessof making money and are rewardedhandsomely for making good deci-sions. Government should have norole in taking on their risk or payingfor the cost of development or rede-velopment.
Why should we (taxpayers) bepaying for roads (Welaunee) or otherinfrastructure? These costs should befactored in up front before making adecision to go forward with a devel-opment.
The response by supporters ofCRAs is that these government sub-sidies provide jobs and income. Thisis not disputed. However, these eco-nomic benefits would also occur withno government subsides.
So why do most of our elected lead-
ers continue to support the diversion oftaxpayer dollars away from more le-gitimate community needs? Maybe
Mike Miller will eventually tell us. John Outland, Tallahassee, out-
BILL DAY/FLORIDAPOLITICS.COM
Zing!READERS’ OPINIONSSTATED SUCCINCTLY
Please don’t ruin our town trying tomake it look like a big city. It doesn’tfit.
It’s called the Jimbo Limbo. How lowcan he go?
Throw a thousand dollars at me andall you’ll get back is a thank you.
The Democrat should have picked upErwin’s thousands of dollars and usedit to fund the public records request.Two birds, one stone.
“DREAMers’ parents paid exorbitantfees to coyotes to escape.” Cry me ariver.
Nobody’s paycheck should be tied toa show of patriotism. This is America,not North Korea.
This “taking a knee” probably meansyou have a weak spine.
Let’s change national anthem to “Letit Go.”
Requiring nursing homes to haveexpensive emergency generators isjust another government overreachmaking it hard for these businesses tomake a profit and provide jobs!
Hugh Hefner said he never foundtrue love but I give him an A foreffort.
If this tax plan doesn’t benefit Trump,I’ll send him my piggy bank.
Bill Cotterell: Please don’t disparagetoads. They’re beautiful in their ownway.
Just princes in disguise. Visitwww.Tallahassee.com/zing to submityour Zing! and check out the Zing!blog at Tallahassee.com.
"History teaches us that men and nations
behave wisely once they have exhausted
all other alternatives.”
ABBA EBAN
transparency.The city’s initial response to the
public records request was as vagueas it was unhelpful: “We have con-cluded the search for this informa-tion and found no information for thebelow request,” wrote Susan Myersof the treasurer-clerk’s office.
The Democrat then asked for clar-ification on its request for Fernan-dez’s texts five different times. Eachtime the newspaper was met withobfuscation and delay.
Who was calling the shots here?What was done to recover the texts?
One basis the city has asserted forexcluding documents from publicrecords requests is the so-called “per-sonal” exemption. It was first in-voked by City Attorney Lew Shelleyin April when this newspaper wasexamining how Andrew Gillum’soffice had become a nexus of thepersonal, professional and political,where the mayor’s second job andpolitical ambitions ran parallel toofficial city business.
Since news of the FBI swoopinginto town, the city has been pointingto the “personal” exemption withalarming frequency.
In a recent email to Shelley andDeputy City Attorney CassandraJackson, the city’s Matt Lutz actuallytalked about creating a private“bucket” of emails that would beremoved from a public records re-quest and never be revealed to thepublic. Lutz wrote that he was col-lecting: “Items that may be ‘personal’and therefore a non-record.”
Our fear has been: The city isusing the “personal” exemption toclassify what could be at the heart ofthe FBI investigation as “private”business.
And now we have a smoking gun.The text from Fernandez to a lobbyistwith Unconventional Strategies –Adam Corey’ s firm which at the timewas registered to lobby the city – isNOT personal. If it was excluded as“personal,” what else is being wrong-ly classified that way? If it was sim-ply not turned over, that’s in directdefiance of the public records law.
We also can’t help but hearken
The Democrat has written morethan 60 stories on the FBI investiga-tion into city corruption and relatedissues of ethics and impropriety.
None has been more startling –and has included such a smoking gun– as the one published in Wednesday’sDemocrat on Tallahassee City Man-ager Rick Fernandez’s Sept. 27, 2016,texts to a lobbyist requesting footballtickets for Florida State’s Oct. 1 gamevs. North Carolina.
Here are the facts:In August, Fernandez denied to a
Democrat reporter ever requestingtickets from Adam Corey’s lobbyingfirm.
When the Democrat requested allof Fernandez’s text messages fromthe week of Sept. 26, 2016, the city’sresponse was: There were none.
But now we know those two thingswere simply not true.
In a string of texts stretching fromFernandez’s initial request for ticketsto the personal delivery of them tohis office, the reality of what hap-pened is laid bare for all to see.
By the way, if you are inclined tobrush this off because the ticketsdon’t have much value, understandthat these were luxury box seats withan estimated total value of almost$2,000.
Unsurprisingly, legal and ethicsexperts say this is not good. TheDemocrat also confirmed that thestate ethics commission has sub-poenaed and is in possession of thesetexts. But the more pressing questionfor Fernandez is – does the FBI havethem too?
And now the city commission musttackle this issue, a task complicatedby the reality that one or more com-missioners may be in the FBI’ssights.
But the questions don’t stop there.Where does the city attorney’s officefit into this equation? It certainlywasn't doing anything to promote
back to Gillum’s New York trip withthree undercover FBI agents whomhe thought were developers seekingto do a deal in Tallahassee. Remem-ber how Gillum’s chief of staff DustinDaniels referred to that trip? Here isthe quote: “The mayor has alreadyaddressed this trip, which was per-sonal and not for city business.”
“Personal.” Really? Is there evenany such thing as a “personal” out-of-town trip with real estate developersthat want to spend millions on a largetaxpayer-subsidized development.
Is it just a coincidence that theword “personal” is the same languagethe city attorney’s office uses to with-hold even the existence of certainemails?
iii
If you are saying to yourself:“How can I have confidence in citygovernment under current circum-stances?” we’re sorry to say that thisis a fair question.
Fernandez must explain what hashappened here – in immaculate de-tail. He must satisfy his bosses –Tallahassee city commissioners – whomust then explain to their constitu-ents what happened.
And the questions can’t just beabout the ethics and legality of re-questing tickets from a lobbyist whohad clients appearing before the city.Elected officials must also addresswhat is happening inside the cityattorney’s office. The culture ofstonewalling and secrecy must stop.
This office needs to start withwhat is in the public’s interest, notcovering for commissioners or staff.And by the way, the idea that Shelleyshould be allowed to hand-pick hissuccessor is laughable. Confidencewill not be restored by the status quo,but by an independent process lead-ing to an independent advocate.
A crisis in confidence is devel-oping within our city’s government.
It’s time for the public to be pro-vided answers, not obfuscation.
After all, the taxpaying public ispaying for this government out oftheir own pockets. They deservestraight answers and transparency.
Mostly, they deserve the truth.
OUR OPINION
A crisis in confidencePublic deserves answersabout city managerasking for football tickets
This textexchangeacrossthreephotosshowsCityManagerRickFernandezasking alobbyistforfootballtickets.SPECIAL TO
THE
DEMOCRAT
If you go» Conversation about Music and Abilitiesfollowed by a reception, 5-7 p.m. Thursday,FSU College of Medicine Auditorium, free,reservations required through Eventbrite» James Durbin Motivational Outreachprogram, noon-1 p.m. Friday, TCC StudentUnion Ballroom, free, all invited to walk in» James Durbin in Concert, 6-7 p.m. Friday,TCC Student Union Ballroom, free, ticketsavailable at Eventbrite
As James Durbin belts out the power-ful lyrics to “Knock ‘Em Down” fromQuiet Riot’s new album, “Road Rage,” itis difficult to believe he faces the chal-lenges that come with being “born differ-ent,” as he describes it.
Quiet Riot drummer Frankie Banalidescribes Durbin as an amazing perform-er with an “insane vocal range,” and more.“He is also a very gifted songwriter andbrought to the record totally unique origi-nal lyrics and melodies. Not only do theyfit perfectly to the music we wrote, buttook the songs to a completely new level.”
Though the heavy metal lead singerhas Tourette's syndrome and autism, hehas not faltered in his pursuit of success.
“Now,” Durbin says, “I want to be
living proof that different is awesome.”Durbin is living proof and will be in
Tallahassee this week to talk about hislife’s journey of music and disability andperform an acoustic concert.
Durbin’s visit coincides with the finalweek of National Disability Employ-ment Awareness Month, the initiativethat celebrates the talents and value ofworkers with disabilities.
“Inclusion drives innovation” is thisyear’s NDEAM theme and it follows along effort to recognize people who haveexceptional skills and to ensure that theyare included in the fabric of our society.
From the 1920 Smith-Fess Act thatestablished the Vocational Rehabilita-tion program to the 2015 WorkforceInnovation and Opportunity Act thatfocuses on improving employment op-portunities for people with disabilities,the U.S. has steadily advanced policythat enables careers.
Though policy has been strengthened,low employment rates for people withdisabilities are a national, and even glob-
al, phenomenon. The employment rate ofworking age Americans with disabilitieshas fallen almost continuously since thelate 1980s. Of people with disabilitiesaged 18-64, only 34.9 percent were em-ployed in 2016, compared to 76 percent oftheir non-disabled peers.
These dismal statistics can bechanged if we look into the faces of ourfellow Americans and see them as peoplefirst, not as people with disabilities.
As Durbin said, “I have Tourette’s
and Asperger’s, but Tourette’s and As-perger’s don't have me... You know, I'mJames Durbin.”
He’s James Durbin first, and he’s astar.
Let’s celebrate Durbin’s accomplish-ments and those of all people with dis-abilities by welcoming them into ourworkplaces, whether it is on stage or off.
To celebrate diversity, ability, andinclusion, Durbin will deliver motiva-tional talks with a few songs at schoolsand colleges in the capital city on Thurs-day and Friday. His appearance at Flori-da State University marks the first eventof the “University of Choice” initiativethat advances accessibility and inclusionfor all FSU students.
Durbin wraps up National DisabilityEmployment Awareness month with afree acoustic concert at TallahasseeCommunity College on Friday.
Susan Baldino is regional programdirector for VSA Florida, the state organi-zation on arts and disability. She can bereached at [email protected].
Rock musician James Durbin proves different is awesome
Susan BaldinoMY VIEW
President: Skip Foster, [email protected]
Editor: William Hatfield, [email protected]
News Director: Jennifer Portman599-2154, [email protected]
Platform Editor: Randi Atwood599-2149, [email protected]
Storytelling Coach: Andrew Skerritt599-2168, [email protected]
Sports Editor: Jim Henry599-2316, [email protected]
EDITORIAL BOARD
OPINIONPA G E 4 A » W E D N E S D AY , O C TO B E R 2 5 , 2 017 @TDONLINE » TALLAHASSEE.COM
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or “My View” columns (up to 500 words) to [email protected]. Include full name, address and phone for verification; only names, city and emails will be published (emails will be withheld if requested). We may condense submissions and edit for grammar and clarity. You may also send to P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
Zing!READERS’ OPINIONSSTATED SUCCINCTLY
The Leon County Attorney alreadymakes more than the Chief Justice ofthe United States Supreme Court. A10 percent raise makes sense to me.
James Madison Institute says to stopcriminalizing addiction. Finally,compassionate conservatism.
If Jimbo would quit calling theplayers kids and call them men, thenmaybe they would start playing likemen.
A county commission that gives twomanagers $52,498 in annual raises isquite out of touch with me and myfamily
Does anyone else think a picture ofGov. Scott in a suit and tie looks like asnapping turtle?
As an FSU fan, I feel like a Democratafter the election.
Whether you like him as agubernatorial candidate or not,Mayor Gillum’s call on unified crimefighting is a needed and correct call!
Do county commissioners just givemoney away like that because theythink they can?
The EPA is sticking its head in thesand until rising waters drown it.
A flat fact: Ignore his tacky tweetsand look at his policy, appointmentsand accomplishments and you’ll findTrump is doing a mighty fine job.
A 12:20 p.m. game is still a noongame.
Proctor was right: Move the Capitolto Carrabelle.
I was with the ’Noles when they were0-18 too, but the tickets sure werecheaper then.
Wasn’t everything? Visitwww.Tallahassee.com/zing to submityour Zing! and check out the Zing!blog at Tallahassee.com.
"Beware of all enterprises that
require new clothes.”
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Tallahassee Democrat ❚ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 ❚ 4A
President: Skip Foster, 599-2126,[email protected]
Editor: William Hatfield, [email protected]
News Director: Jennifer Portman599-2154, [email protected]
Platform Editor: Randi Atwood599-2149, [email protected]
Storytelling Coach: Andrew Skerritt599-2168, [email protected]
Sports Editor: Jim Henry599-2316, [email protected]
EDITORIAL BOARD
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or “My View” columns (up to 500 words) to [email protected]. Include full name, address and phone for verification; only names, city and emails will be published (emails will be withheld if requested). We may condense submissions and edit for grammar and clarity. You may also send to P.O. Box 990, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
Opinion
Zing!READERS’ OPINIONSSTATED SUCCINCTLY
“An undefined problem has an infinitenumber of solutions.”
Robert A. Humphrey
Raise your hand if you would like tovolunteer at your workplace to go onan indefinite paid leave.
OK, 90 percent of Tallahassee-LeonCounty, you can put your hands downnow.
For the other 10 percent, in case youaren’t clear, an indefinite paid leave iswhen you get paid not to work.
Somehow, Tallahassee city com-missioners are viewing this action —taken against City Manager Rick Fer-nandez — as some sort of punishment.Or at least as a viable short-term pol-icy.
Fernandez, you probably know,texted a local lobbyist asking for FSUfootball tickets during the far-more-successful 2016 season. Not just anyfootball tickets, mind you — these werefour seats in a swanky, luxury box witha total value of around $2,000.
The Florida Commission on Ethicsis looking into this matter. But giventhat Fernandez told the Democrat henever asked for tickets, then said in re-sponse to a public records request thathe didn’t have any texts during thetime frame he requested the tickets,we don’t understand why that behav-ior is being rewarded with whatamounts to a long, paid vacation.
The City Commission, apparentlyintent on bungling this matter in everyway possible, tabled the issue until itsnext meeting, so it could see what ac-tion the Florida Ethics Commission
takes at its December gathering.One problem: The state ethics com-
mission meets two days AFTER theDecember city commission meeting. Itcould be months before the matter isdecided.
So what? Another month or two ormore of paid leave?
Here’s an idea: Why doesn’t the cityof Tallahassee actually conduct an in-vestigation into this?
There is no rule that says the cityhas to wait around for some statewideethics commission to do its thing, es-pecially when you have a local ethicsboard that has proven itself able to in-vestigate the city manager’s dealings.
Consider Friday’s front page wherethe ethics board scolded Fernandez forwhat it called an “unacceptable levelof poor judgment” when he acceptedan owner’s discount at a city subsi-dized restaurant for his daughter’swedding reception. The tongue lash-ing came after a thorough but expedi-tious investigation by the city’s own
ethics officer.In such an investigation, we doubt
the city will encounter some sort ofsurprise defense. The only thing Fer-nandez has offered as mitigating evi-dence (to two commissioners) is thatbefore he asked for the tickets, theywere offered to him.
We don’t see how that fact materi-ally changes anything as the texts andFernandez’s earlier denials speak forthemselves.
In a city hungry for strong, ethical,decisive leadership, city commission-ers are once against acting tentativelyand “protecting their own” rather thanserving the public. What will be paid toFernandez through December couldhave gone a long way toward hiring an-other law enforcement officer or givingpolice better equipment.
Instead, he will earn around$20,000 a month to do nothing.
Raise your hand if you think that’sthe right thing to do.
Yeah, we don’t either.
EDITORIAL
Fernandez still getting paidwhile city dithers on his fateThe Editorial BoardTallahassee DemocratUSA TODAY NETWORK - FLORIDA
CityManagerRickFernandezlistensduring theOct. 25 CityCommissionMeeting atCity Hall.HALI TAUXE/
DEMOCRAT
RICK MCKEE/THE AUGUSTA CHRONICLE
We are writing to clarify a recent mis-representation of the FSU College ofLaw.
A fellow FSU law student recentlywrote an op-ed in the Tallahassee Dem-ocrat voicing her concerns with Presi-dent Thrasher’s alcohol ban for all FSUstudent organizations. We find many ofthe opinions and premises in the op-edconcerning, as they do not adequatelyrepresent the law school’s efforts to as-sist its students with job placement, nordo they fully represent the students andalumni who have worked hard to con-tribute to the legal profession responsi-
bly.The recent op-ed grossly undersells
what FSU has to offer regarding both jobprospects and alcohol-free networkingevents. Our administration and studentorganizations host many eventsthroughout the year to encourage stu-dent engagement with members of thelegal community in personal and pro-fessional settings, many of which do notinvolve alcohol.
First and foremost, the law schoolrecognizes the importance of living ahealthy and happy life as an attorney.Each year, the Student Bar Associationand the law school host a “MentalHealth Awareness Week.” The studentbody is proud to attend a law school thatemphasizes the importance of mentalhealth in the legal community. More-over, the law school’s career office hasput a great deal of effort into planningmonthly “Food for Thought Luncheons,”which feature attorneys discussing awide variety of practice areas.
Furthermore, our student organiza-
tions provide opportunities to engagewith the legal community responsibly.For example, the Law Review hosts bi-annual judicial breakfasts featuringfederal judges who come to speak withmembers of the journal. Additionally,our nationally recognized advocacyteams, Moot Court and Mock Trial, pairstudents with local practitioners andjudges as coaches for competitions.Each advocacy team frequently utilizesthe legal community for practice panelsfor the moot and mock arguments lead-ing up to their competitions. Also, theSBA hosts a “Legislative Preview,”where members of the Florida legisla-ture, lobbyists, and attorneys comespeak with our students about their ex-periences working in the legislative sec-tor.
In sum, we are proud of the numer-ous networking events that do not in-volve alcohol hosted by both our facultyand students.
How does the ban truly affect the lawschool? As leaders and members of
multiple organizations, we believe thatyoung professionals are perfectly capa-ble of having a drink at networkingevents without jeopardizing their healthor safety. However, the passing of ayoung man is tragic, and we supportPresident Thrasher’s decision to dowhat he felt was immediately necessaryfor the entire FSU community. The safe-ty of our students is far more importantthan having a drink with future employ-ers at a school event.
Finally, we want to clarify that thestudent body understands the lawschool’s principal concern is education.We all chose FSU because of its superbacademics, exceptional faculty, and loy-al alumni.
Daniel Buchholz, Michael Kaney, Lil-lian Sharpe, and Hillary Thornton areall law students and presidents of vari-ous student organizations. These viewsrepresent their personal opinions andare in no way representative of any or-ganization they belong to or positionsthey hold.
Law student’s column on alcohol ban did not represent all opinions
Your TurnDaniel Buchholz, Michael Kaney,
Lillian Sharpe, and Hillary Thornton
Guest Columnists
Who needs snow days when youhave escaped prisoner days?
If Jimmy Buffett can wear ahearing aid in a publicity photo,maybe I can finally convince mydad to wear one.
Coach has an awful season. Oth-er schools try to hire him, ormaybe we have to give him araise. Say what?
Give an act of kindness to astranger and tweet about howgood it felt tomorrow.
If the Capitol moved, the poli-ticians and lobbyists would go,too? Don’t let the door hit you!
They say I’m unread, but I’vebeen Zing!-published a dozentimes.
Every one of the celebrities intoday’s birthdays have at least10 years on me! I’ll be feeling likea spring chicken until tomor-row’s newspaper arrives.
That Waffle House frog has Mor-gan and Morgan written all overit.
I was so sorry to learn that thefrog had croaked.
My wife just told me that I havethe body of a god – Buddha.
How many women have accusedMike Miller of improper sexualadvances so far?
I hope the guy who invented au-to-correct dies in hello.
We aglee. Visit www.Tallahassee.com/zing to submit your Zing!