Juvenile Diversion Push Gets Start In Florida Senate
February 5, 2017
A Senate proposal aimed at keeping young offenders out of the criminal justice system got off to a rocky, but successful, start passing its first committee despite concerns from some Republicans and law-enforcement officials.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved the measure (SB 196) on a 5-2 vote, with Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, opposed. But even some of the lawmakers who supported bill, offered by Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, said they were uncomfortable with some provisions.
Supporters say programs that issue civil citations to young offenders or otherwise send them to pretrial diversion programs can save money and help youths avoid being marked for the rest of their lives for youthful indiscretions. Children in diversion programs are required to do community service and receive counseling, substance-abuse help or other interventions.
The programs are either in place or are being put in place in 62 of Florida’s 67 counties.
Flores’ bill would require counties to have programs and would require law-enforcement officers to issue citations if juveniles commit one of a list of nonviolent misdemeanors for the first time. Officers could also issue citations for other misdemeanors or for second or third offenses.
According to supporters, about 10,000 children were eligible for civil citations during the state’s last fiscal year, which ended June 30, but didn’t receive them. Flores said that included 620 offenders who were 12 years old, and some who were even younger.
“There are three 7-year-olds somewhere in the state of Florida that committed one of these misdemeanors and were put into the criminal justice system — at 7 years old,” she said. “That is wrong. It is wrong. And we have an opportunity to get it right.”
The bill is in line with a push by Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, to offer for more diversion programs for younger offenders.
Even some boosters of civil citations, though, argued that Flores’ bill goes too far. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, whose department frequently uses diversion programs, said data about children who could receive civil citations under the bill hasn’t been closely examined.
“What’s included in that data are kids who are 17 years old, 6-foot-2, 230 lbs., who smack their mom in the face,” he said. “There are kids included in that with a heroin syringe. There are kids included in that with a crack pipe.”
Gualtieri also said officers might be less willing to lower crimes that would technically qualify for felonies down to misdemeanors — in order to give young offenders a break — if the officers would then have to issue civil citations.
For example, if a shoplifter was caught with just over the amount that makes retail theft a felony, the officer might decide under the new law to go ahead charge the juvenile with a felony. Currently, an officer might go with a misdemeanor.
“When you’re taking away discretion, you’re totally taking it away,” Gualtieri said.
Brandes was among those looking for another way. He proposed, then pulled, an amendment that would have limited the bill’s requirement for civil citations by making it apply only to offenders younger than 14. It also would have allowed only drug-paraphernalia offenses related to marijuana to be eligible for diversion programs and would have excluded domestic batteries from the list of misdemeanors.
Brandes’ amendment would have also made it easier for juveniles who enter pre-arrest or post-arrest diversion programs to have their records expunged.
“Ultimately, my belief is that law enforcement should never be left in a position where they can’t remove somebody and arrest them if that’s what they feel is the absolute best issue,” he said. “But also, we should not let children carry this around with them like a scarlet letter the rest of their lives, either. And so the ability to expunge those records to me is ultimately what will get us to the place where we feel comfortable with the policy.”
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida
IP Explosion: Watch Out For Scams
February 5, 2017
As previously reported, the Unified Command Team has been made aware businesses are contacting community members potentially impacted by the Cantonment International Paper explosion. The businesses are offering various services including water testing, pressure washing and carpet cleaning for a fee.
International Paper, through the Unified Command Team, is not currently coordinating with any business other than Cotton and CTEH, who are managing the community cleanup. All community questions and concerns should be coordinated directly through the UC’s Joint Information Center available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-850-968-4208.
The Unified Command is comprised of International Paper, Escambia County EMA/Public Safety, Florida Department of Health, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Teen Airlifted After Being Severely Burned
February 5, 2017
A 13-year old was airlifted to a regional burn center after suffering severe burns near Flomaton Saturday afternoon.
Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton said the girl was burned all over her body during an incident involving an “outside fire” at a home on Wolf Log Road about 1:24 p.m.
The victim was airlifted by LifeFlight helicopter to the USA Burn Center in Mobile for treatment. The victim’s name has not been released.
Stanton said Flomaton Police Office Leon Kiser was on routine patrol when the driver of a pickup truck flagged him down and asked for an escort to DW McMillan Hospital in Brewton. Kiser said he could not, but told the driver to follow him to a nearby location where Stanton, several firemen and an 0ff duty police officer were having a hunting club cookout.
They were able to provide medical care for the teen until the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department and an Escambia County (FL) EMS unit from Century arrived on scene to prepare for LifeFlight.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
FDOT: Weekly Traffic Alerts
February 5, 2017
Drivers will encounter traffic variations on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County:
· Nine Mile Road (S.R. 10/U.S. 90A) Widening from Pine Forest Road (S.R.297) to U.S. 29- A new detour configuration is being initiated on Nine Mile Road between Stefani and Waring roads. Please use extra caution when traveling through the construction zone as drivers adjust to the new traffic pattern. Alternating lane closures continue on Untreiner Avenue as crews drive temporary sheet pile and prepare for jack and bore operations.
· Garden Street ( U.S. 98), Bayfront Parkway/State Road (S.R.) 196 and Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Double Bridge Run- The Double Bridge run will be held Saturday, Feb.4. Lane restrictions will be in place from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control.
· Pensacola Bay Bridge (U.S. 98) Routine Maintenance –East and westbound outside, right lane closures from 11 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 as crews repair overhead lights.
· Interstate 10 (I-10) Routine Bridge Maintenance over Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) - East and westbound outside, right lane restrictions, three miles west of U.S. 29, from 10 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 as crews perform routine bridge maintenance.
· U.S. 29 Routine Bridge Maintenance at I-10 Underpass- Southbound outside, right lane closed from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. as crews repair underdeck lighting.
· Nine Mile Road from Beulah Road (County Road 99) to Pine Forest Road (S.R. 297) Widening – Traffic will be reduced to one lane at the intersection of Nine Mile Road and Eight Mile Creek Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as crews relocate utilities. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct drivers through the work zone.
· I-10 Widening from Davis Highway (S.R. 291) to the Escambia Bay Bridge- Alternating lane closures on Scenic Highway, south of I-10, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. the week of Monday, Feb. 6 as crews install drainage structures beneath the roadway. Traffic flaggers will be on site to safely direct traffic through the work zone.
· Perdido Key Drive (S.R. 292) Resurfacing from the Alabama State line to the ICWW (Theo Baars Bridge) – Lane closures will be in effect 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 6 through Friday, Feb. 10 as crews perform paving operations between the Alabama State line and the ICWW (Theo Baars Bridge). Drivers can expect delays.
· U.S. 29 (S.R. 95) Widening from I-10 to Nine Mile Road- Alternating southbound lane closures near the I-10 interchange from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. continue through Saturday, Feb. 11 as crews perform drainage work. Also, alternating north and southbound U.S. 29 and east and westbound Nine Mile Road lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. near the U.S. 29/Nine Mile Road overpass continue to accommodate for the bridge construction operations.
· Fairfield Drive (S.R. 727/295) Resurfacing from Mobile Highway (S.R. 10A) to North Pace Boulevard (S.R. 292)- Traffic on Fairfield Drive will encounter lane restrictions, a shift, and temporary detour from 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 to 6:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 4 as crews perform paving operations. The westbound inside, left lane will be closed just east of Ruby Avenue and traffic shifted to the outside lane. New Warrington Road Spur under the Fairfield Drive overpass, will be temporarily closed and traffic detoured to Mobile Highway, south to the on ramp leading back to New Warrington Road. Drivers traveling eastbound on Fairfield Drive will encounter a lane shift just west of the overpass over the New Warrington Road Spur. Traffic will be transitioned to the westbound travel lanes to bypass the overpass, transitioning back to the eastbound lanes at Ruby Avenue. Law enforcement will be on site to assist with traffic control. Motorists are reminded to obey the posted speed limit and to watch for construction vehicles and equipment entering and exiting the roadway. In addition, intermittent and alternating lane closures continue between Mobile Highway and North Pace Boulevard between 8:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. as crews perform paving operations.
Santa Rosa County:
· I-10 Resurfacing from east of S.R. 87 to the Okaloosa County Line- Intermittent and alternating inside lane closures between the S.R. 87 interchange and the Okaloosa County line from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5 through Thursday, Feb. 9 as crews perform paving operations. Motorists are reminded the speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH within the lane closure.
Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through the construction zone, and to pay attention for workers and equipment entering and exiting the work area.
Sailor With Local Ties Receives Commendation Medal
February 5, 2017
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Scott G. Searcy has been decorated with the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
The medal is awarded for meritorious service or heroism in a combat or non-combat role. Its recipients have demonstrated either consistently superb performance or a singular exceptional act of heroism, service or professional leadership that contributes greatly toward accomplishment of the unit’s mission.
Searcy is the son of Tim Searcy of Nolensville, Tenn., and Joyce L. Searcy of Nashville, and husband of Anna T. Searcy of Cantonment..
He is a 2005 graduate of John Overton Comprehensive High School, Nashville, Tenn.
Pictured: Rear Adm. Michael White, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), presents a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to Petty Officer 1st Class Scott G. Searcy of Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station during this year’s NETC Sailor and Instructor of the Year awards ceremony. Searcy, the husband of a Cantonment woman, was named mid-grade Instructor of the Year. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Possible Police Chase Ends With Wreck, Vehicle Fire
February 4, 2017
A reported police chase from Santa Rosa County ended with a vehicle crash and fire in Escambia County early Saturday morning.
The crash and vehicle fire were reported at the intersection of Rockey Branch Road and East Quintette road about 12:05 a.m. Initial reports indicated that the vehicle was being chased or closely followed by deputies from Santa County for an unknown reason prior to the wreck.
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene of the crash.
The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol. Further details, including information about the possible police chase, have not been released by the FHP or the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
IP Explosion: Neighborhood Cleanup Update
February 4, 2017
Here is the latest update on the International Paper explosion cleanup in Cantonment:
- Cleanup work is progressing well, with cleanup crews completing the majority of cleaning required for approximately 10 homes per day.
- The Unified Command has directed that soil samples be taken at each residence at the conclusion of cleanup operations.
- Unified Command representatives are collecting daily air, water and soil samples from various locations in the impacted area and presenting the data to the environmental unit, which is comprised of the Florida Department long-term environmental monitoring plan will be implemented after daily monitoring and cleanup efforts have been completed.
- Residents who believe their property may have been affected by the material released as a result of the incident and would like further information should call the Joint Information Center available 24/7 at 1-850-968-4208.t of Environmental Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Escambia County, the Florida Department of Health and International Paper.
Rollover Crash Under Investigation
February 4, 2017
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a vehicle rollover accident Friday night near Cedar Tree Lane and North Highway 29. The driver of the vehicle had apparently fled the scene prior to the arrival of authorities. Further details have not been released. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Barbour, click to enlarge.
Gulf Power’s Bentina Terry Headed To Georgia
February 4, 2017
Bentina Terry, Gulf Power’s Customer Service and Sales vice president, has been selected as senior vice president of the Metro Atlanta Region for Georgia Power. In this role, she will be responsible for the company’s operations, sales, customer service, economic and community development, and external affairs activities across metro Atlanta, which includes 1.2 million customers.
“My time in Pensacola has been an incredible part of my life. I’ve met and become close with so many special people who will continue to have a big impact on who I am,” said Terry.
Terry expressed how grateful she is to those who have supported her as well as her hopes and dreams for this community.
“Most importantly, I want to thank our customers. I’ve learned and grown so much through serving them and plan to take those lessons with me in my new role serving customers in Atlanta,” she said.
Terry began her career with Southern Company in 2001 at Georgia Power and progressed through leadership roles in compliance, ethics, power delivery, customer service and external affairs.
She came to Gulf Power in 2007 as the External Affairs and Corporate Services vice president where she was responsible for the company’s external efforts including regulatory affairs, governmental relations, environmental affairs, community and economic development, corporate communications and corporate services.
In 2014 Terry moved into her current position as the energy provider’s Customer Service & Sales vice president. In this role, she has been responsible for the company’s marketing, customer service, community and economic development, and community relations organizations.
“Since coming here in 2007, Bentina’s vision has helped our team position Gulf Power as more than your local energy provider,” said Stan Connally, Gulf Power’s chairman, president and CEO. “Over the last nine years, her dedication and passion for our customers and our community has made us better.”
In 2013 Terry received the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leader of the Year award. And, in 2016 she was named No. 1 on the InWeekly Power List of the top 100 most powerful and influential people in greater Pensacola.
Her active participation across the state of Florida was recognized in 2015 when she was named one of Influence Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Florida Politics. She also served our region and our state as chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation from 2012-14 and as chair of Leadership Florida from 2014-15.
“These accomplishments and many others will have a lasting and positive impact on our customers, our community and our company. We are so grateful for her service and wish her well in Atlanta. She will be missed,” added Connally.
Florida Gov’t Weekly Roundup: Now Everybody’s Talking
February 4, 2017
Like any capital city, Tallahassee is often dominated by talk — from rumors about running for office, to discussion of policy proposals, to analysis of how the latter might influence the former. The size of Tallahassee just amplifies the chatter.
“This town’s so small a whisper can be heard a mile away. And people here will gossip when there’s nothing else to say,” Reba McEntire sang in “Rumor Has It,” and it’s as fitting a description of Florida’s political players as of a troubled relationship.
This week, in particular, talk drove the news around the capital. One of the state’s more prolific talkers, trial attorney John Morgan, continued to test-drive a message in case he runs for governor in 2018, while one state senator floated his name for governor and another plunged into a Cabinet race.
The Associated Press’ annual legislative planning event put Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders before reporters and editors who quizzed the officials on their intentions for the session that starts March 7. The upshot was another escalation in the war of words between Scott and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, a Land O’ Lakes Republican who poured lighter fluid on the yearly guessing game about whether the Legislature might fail to get a budget done by the end of the regular session.
As usual, all of that brand of talk could come to nothing more than pre-session speculation. But as Reba sang, “Talk is cheap but the price is high when it’s true.”
NETFLIX FOR NOTEBOOKS
The AP’s annual planning session is akin to binge-watching press conferences. This year, Scott, Republican and Democratic leaders of both legislative chambers and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam were on the docket, each speaking for a half an hour (give or take). And among the babble, some news emerged.
Scott followed recent tradition and used his presentation to the group to unveil his proposed budget for the year that begins July 1. Some of the biggest-ticket items — $618 million in tax cuts, an expansion of the Bright Futures scholarship program and tens of millions of dollars for business incentives and tourism marketing — had already been released. But details matter in budgets, and reporters were finally able to dig beneath some of Scott’s numbers.
What they found in the $83.5 billion plan was some of the same kind of creative calculus that other governors have employed: far-fetched projections of cuts in parts of the budget that Scott doesn’t like and at least one non-starter with the House of Representatives.
In perhaps the most sizable new detail in the proposal, Scott would once again boost per-student funding for public education, to $7,420.99, an increase of 3 percent. But that would rely heavily on an infusion of $557.9 million in additional local property taxes resulting from an increase in property values.
Meanwhile, his recommendations cut deeply into payments for hospitals. The state would reduce payments to public hospitals by $298 million. It would also save $581 million by allowing the managed-care plans that handle Medicaid patients to tweak how they reimburse hospitals. Another $50 million in funding for inflation and automatic Medicaid increases would be eliminated.
All of which technically could be done by the Legislature, but leaders weren’t eager to jump on board. And Corcoran flatly ruled out using the proceeds of increased property values, saying it constituted a tax hike.
“I’ve said it a thousand times: The House will not raise taxes,” Corcoran said Tuesday, drawing out the last six words for emphasis.
The speaker also suggested he was willing to push the legislative session into overtime because of the disagreement.
“We will not raise taxes,” Corcoran said. “And if that means a lengthy year, we’re prepared for that. But we will not raise property taxes — not today, not tomorrow, not ever.”
The comments seemed to echo Corcoran’s vow not to “dance” with the Senate on an alternative to Medicaid expansion in 2015, when Corcoran was House budget chairman — and the Legislature had to return for a special session to finish its work on the spending plan.
BUSINESS BATTLE
The budget proposal also contributed to a long-running skirmish between Corcoran and Scott over the governor’s plan to spend $85 million on business incentives and another $76 million to market the state’s tourism industry. Scott didn’t mention Corcoran by name when he threw a few elbows in his budget speech, but he left no doubt about the target of his remarks.
“I believe that those who oppose investing in growing businesses simply don’t understand how business works,” Scott said. “We need to compete for jobs here in Florida so we can diversify our economy for generations to come.”
Corcoran gave as good as he got, implying that the governor and other incentive supporters were uneducated on the issue.
“They haven’t read enough,” Corcoran said, if they support “the concept that those who create jobs will all believe that picking winners and losers and having government engage in free market is a good thing.”
Scott kept up the pressure on Thursday, urging members of Enterprise Florida — which oversees the state’s business recruitment efforts — to lobby lawmakers to move ahead with the funding.
“Let House members in your area, and your senators, know,” Scott said during a meeting of the public-private Enterprise Florida at the Caribe Royale in Orlando.
Meanwhile, the House Careers & Competition Subcommittee was planning a hearing next week on a 172-page bill that would make wide-ranging changes in economic development, including abolishing tourism marketer Visit Florida, repealing laws that established and govern Enterprise Florida and transferring funds related to Enterprise Florida programs to the state Department of Economic Opportunity.
Scott also held a two-day “jobs summit” where he, business leaders and others raised concerns about what would happen if incentives went away. Kelly Smallridge, president of Palm Beach County’s Business Development Board, said the state is already experiencing the impact of the House leaders’ stance.
“I can already see a slowdown in the prospect pipeline, which is pretty scary,” Smallridge said.
On the final day of the summit, Scott suggested he wasn’t too concerned about the House’s move toward demolishing Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
“I’m very comfortable that there is no way a bill like that is going to go through the Legislature,” Scott told reporters.
THE PERMANENT CAMPAIGN
There was only one elected Floridian who officially plunged into a statewide campaign this week: Sen. Denise Grimsley, a Sebring Republican who said she will run for agriculture commissioner in 2018.
A hospital administrator and registered nurse, Grimsley said in a campaign announcement that she is a fifth-generation Floridian who has long been involved in the citrus and ranching industries.
“We will continue to fight for a smart statewide water policy, we will protect our environment and blessed Florida resources, and we will pursue expansion of the over 2 million jobs Florida agriculture provides our state,” Grimsley said in the announcement. “I offer my broad life experience and an optimistic vision to achieve so much for our state.”
Putnam, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election, is rumored to be angling for Scott’s job, which also will open up because of the state’s two-terms rule. But both Putnam and Scott, who’s expected to run against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., stayed away from too much overtly political discussion this week
.
“We’ve got a lot to do and there will be plenty of time to focus on ‘18 after the session,” Putnam said Tuesday.
As one might expect given his brash personality, Morgan was more willing to talk about his possible plans — though the ever-present television pitchman and Democratic mega-donor suggested he won’t make a decision on whether to run for governor until next year.
No term limits would be needed to pry Morgan out of office, he said during a visit to Tallahassee’s Capital Tiger Bay Club, part of a “talking tour” that the attorney is undertaking to gauge his potential support.
“Why do we need two terms of governors? Isn’t one term enough of these guys?” Morgan said at one point. “If I ran, I’d only give you one term, I’m sorry to say. Then I’d go back to St. Bart’s. Up in Virginia, it’s a one-term deal, and it works just fine. If you can’t get it done in one year, you damn sure don’t need eight.”
Morgan suggested he would make a push to increase the minimum wage a central issue of his campaign, after he waged a successful fight to broadly legalize medical marijuana through a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2016.
Morgan would join a Democratic primary that could also be shaped by the decision of former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, the daughter of former U.S. Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham. The younger Graham is also considering a bid.
In addition to Putnam and possibly Corcoran, the GOP also got another potential candidate for governor this week: powerful Senate Appropriations Chairman Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater.
“I’ve been involved in Florida government and politics for a long time. I think I understand it as well or better than anybody else who’s been interested in becoming a candidate,” said Latvala, a political veteran considered by many in the legislative process as one of the state’s savviest tacticians.
STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Rick Scott unveiled his complete $83.5 billion budget proposal on Tuesday, opening up confrontations over local education property taxes and business incentives.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “We kind of went downstairs in the kitchen at about 3 in the morning and we turned on the lights. And I don’t mean this in a disparaging way to anybody, but there’s cockroaches everywhere and I think you’re seeing that. You turn on the lights, and there’s Enterprise Florida and you say, let’s take a closer look to it.”—House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, on House efforts to examine agencies such as Enterprise Florida.
by Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida