Crowley Political Report

Panhandle beachgoers lose to Mike Huckabee, Ron DeSantis says pound sand

There was a lot of reaction over the Memorial Day weekend to the controversy over public beach access in Walton County. Let's just say the residents there are quite unhappy.

We received a lot of feedback after talking about the issue on our podcast - High Tops and Politics.

This is an important issue. Beach access is critical not only to Walton County but to all the coastal areas of Florida which count on beach-going tourists. And it is especially important to the economic viability of small counties such as Walton.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet told Floridians to pound sand by going ahead with their "ceremonial" meeting in Israel. 

It is an unnecessary blemish on the record of a new governor who has done rather well during his first months in office. He has won the praise of some Democrats, and the affection of many environmentalists - especially those who care about Everglades restoration.

While the faux Cabinet meeting will soon be forgotten (lord knows what precedent has been sent and it remains disturbing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody participated), the issue confronting tiny Walton County is not like to go away any time soon.

Public beach-goers are already dealing with private security guards, signs and fences intended to keep them off the "private" beaches of the wealthy.

Here is a video showing deputies chatting with beachgoers about the issue.   

(Note you may have to scroll down a bit on the tweeter feed to see the video but it worth watching).

Mother Jones has an in-depth story about how Mike Huckabee used his political clout to turn the public beach into his private beach. You can read it here.

And below is our podcast chatting about what is happening in Walton County.

 

First Amendment Foundation and others file suit against DeSantis and Cabinet

In an effort to protect the public's right to know what their government is doing, the First Amendment Foundation and several Florida newspapers have filed suit against the Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet for holding a public meeting in Israel. 

From a First Amendment Foundation release:

Today the First Amendment Foundation, joined by the Miami Herald, the Tampa Bay Times, Gannett, and GateHouse Media have filed a complaint against the Florida Cabinet for violations of the Sunshine Law related to the scheduled Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. In filing the complaint, Foundation President Barbara Petersen said:

 

"The decision to challenge tomorrow¹s meeting of the Florida

Cabinet was not lightly made - it came after long deliberation and many discussions of both public policy and legal issues. Florida¹s constitution requires that meetings of the Cabinet at which public business is to be transacted or discussed be open to the public. We wish the Governor and his Cabinet success on their trade mission. But as our complaint makes clear, there are legitimate concerns regarding the constitutionality of holding a Cabinet meeting that Floridians cannot attend."

- Barbara A. Petersen, President, First Amendment Foundation

 

As we reported before here on Crowley Political Report, and during this week's High Tops and Politics podcast. the notion of conducting a public meeting in a foreign country is an affront to the Florida Constitution and Florida citizens. It is especially troubling that Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is participating in this charade. As Attorney General she is supposed to be a guardian of the Sunshine Law just like every Attorney General before her.

 

In a feeble attempt to dodge the law, DeSantis and the Cabinet are now calling it a "ceremonial" meeting. There is no such thing envisioned in the law and the fact is they intend to discuss public issues concerning the environment and emergency management.

 

Florida citizens have a constitutional right to attend these meetings and to speak at these meeting. Simple watching the meeting on a live stream from 6,000 miles away does not meet either the spirit or intent of the Sunshine Law.

 

Here is a PDF of the complaint filed by the First Amendment Foundation. (Disclosure: I was once served as a Trustee on the Foundation board.)

 

https://files.constantcontact.com/4cd4cac7201/d0a4ddf0-f23c-49d6-94f5-aa81fe459ec3.pdf

Ron DeSantis shares long list of those joining him in Israel

Moments ago, the governor's office released this rather lengthy list of folks joining him on his trip to Israel.....and here it is:

 

Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the leadership and delegation for the Governor’s Business Development Mission to Israel, which takes place Saturday, May 25^ththrough Friday, May 31^st. Organized in conjunction with Enterprise Florida, Inc., the mission includes more than 90 delegation members and serves to strengthen the economic, academic and cultural bonds between Florida and Israel.

“This group of diverse Florida leaders will represent our state and nation proudly on this historic business development mission to Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East,” said Governor DeSantis. “Our delegation includes professionals and experts from a wide range of policy and business areas, representing every corner of our state. During this trip, we will affirm Florida as the most pro-Israel state in the nation and strengthen the bond between Florida and Israel for decades to come.”

Business Development Mission Leadership and Delegation

Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet tell citizens to screw themselves

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are saying the Sunshine Law does not matter to them.

 

Sure visiting Israel is fine...but conducting a Cabinet meeting there is wrong and probably illegal. No Cabinet member should attend the meeting if they care about the rights of Florida citizens.

 

Here is the agenda for the meeting. 

 

MEETING OF THE GOVERNOR AND CABINET
May 29, 2019
United States Embassy – Jerusalem, Israel
INVOCATION
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
RESOLUTION – ISRAELI-FLORIDA RELATIONSHIP, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet
PRESENTATION – VICTIMS OF TERROR
PRESENTATION – WATER QUALITY
PRESENTATION – EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CLOSING, Governor Ron DeSantis

 

There is a nonsensical note at the bottom of this otherwise useless agenda that is silly and worthless: *This agenda does not involve the composition of any collegial body consisting of the Governor and Cabinet as a board, commission, or otherwise.

 

 

Please, Attorney General Ashley Moody, explain the legal foundation for this meeting. Tell us how it does not violate the Sunshine Law. Please explain what precedent it sets for future meeting not just of this body but of any governmental entity in the state.

 

 

Please, CFO Jimmy Patronis and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried, explain your justification for attending this meeting that clearly was not the intent of the Sunshine Law.

Ron DeSantis gets a surprise, NRA is unhappy, and locals win one over Tallahassee

Episode 10 of High Tops and Politics is a fun one. A mix of humor and serious discussion. 

Thank you for all the positive feedback. 

Please enjoy and share it with your friends.

 

Episode 9 from Mojitos to Trump and more.

In this episode of High Tops and Politics, Brian Crowley and Mary Anna Mancuso chat about Donald Trump's visit to the Panhandle, Joe Biden's efforts in Florida, Brad Meltzer's new book about George Washington, South Florida Jeopardy finalists, Florida Man, a Mojito expert, Guess who is on their way to the Democratic Debates, and much more.

Enjoy Florida's best political podcast (iTunes -5 stars)....

And tell your friends.

Episode 9 from Mojitos to Trump and more.

In this episode of High Tops and Politics, Brian Crowley and Mary Anna Mancuso chat about Donald Trump's visit to the Panhandle, Joe Biden's efforts in Florida, Brad Meltzer's new book about George Washington, South Florida Jeopardy finalists, Florida Man, a Mojito expert, Guess who is on their way to the Democratic Debates, and much more.

Enjoy Florida's best political podcast (iTunes -5 stars)....

And tell your friends.

This week co-hosts Brian Crowley and Mary Anna Mancuso chat about:

Who stole the Plastic Cow?

Florida binges.

Florida Legislature plants corn?

Charlie Crist get 15 minutes.

This week's High Tops Award, and much more. 

Thank you for joining us.

 

A bit of Jeopardy for Visit Florida, Joe Biden and more

In Episode 7 of High Tops and Politics Brian Crowley and Mary Anna Mancuso chat about Visit Florida, Joe Biden, Andrew Gillum, plus someone in Jeopardy, this week's High Tops Award, and much more. 

High Tops and Politics - Mister Geppetto did what?

In Florida politics you can run but you can't hide.

High Tops and Politics chases it all from Tallahassee to Mar-a-Lago as only veteran political journalist Brian Crowley and political strategist Mary Anna Mancuso can do.

Join us for our often amusing run through the Sunshine State.

Episode 6 - A problem with Starbucks and cellphone? Will Florida drones be wearing badges? Are Florida elections safe? Is the GOP undermining local government? This week's High Tops Award, and much more.