Developers, residents, and home rule - Weekly briefing - 4 July 2023

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Our Community Voices

Florida's hurricane evacuation model pitted developers against residents. Hurricane evacuation modeling is based on population data from the U.S. Census and simulates how efficiently the current population can evacuate the area before a disaster events. The model was used to justify more growth in 2012, and is expected to do so again. Some residents say no. 

• Public hearing recap. Locals turned out for three meetings earlier in June to express their concerns.  (Citizen, $)
• Last Stand said "safety first."  Our local advocacy group implored the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to prioritize resident safety over all other considerations when determining capacity for more development in Monroe County. The brief window for public comment closed on 30 June. (Last Stand)
• Failing infrastructure not in the model. Motorists traveling north in the Upper Keys on June 18 were stuck in heavy traffic after a sewer line break closed a road lane. Can you imagine if that were to happen during a hurricane evacuation? (Keys Weekly)
• Post Ian, Lee County put even more of its residents in jeopardy. So says Craig Pittman, who reminded us that Ian slammed a Captiva resort around like Barbie’s Dream House being stomped on by Godzilla. "While working to rebuild the resort, the owners decided to make a few changes – changes that led to a tense showdown last week with an angry crowd that packed a Lee County Commission meeting." (Florida Phoenix)

Home rule eroded. The power of people across the country determine the destiny of their own communities is all too often preempted by lobbyist influenced state legislatures. 

• Trial lawyers' dream. DeSantis signs bill letting businesses sue local governments, halt ‘arbitrary or unreasonable’ ordinances. (Florida Politics)
• Shameless support. Linda Cunningham reported on Facebook that both state Rep. Jim Mooney and state Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez voted in favor of the legislation. It's clear neither believes in home rule and that they'll support the state Republican takeover agenda over local control.
• Elsewhere, too. San Francisco's city leaders don't want driverless cabs, but are powerless to stop them. (Washington Post, $ / free)

Mooring field expansion. The Monroe County Commission has moved forward this month on plans to expand the City of Key West mooring field and develop its own mooring field in Boca Chica Basin. (Citizen, $)

Boat races, dead grass and city neglect. Ray Warren decried the City's neglect of the portion of Truman Waterfront torn up by the boat racers. "Race World Offshore (RWO), the organizer of the event under current city contracts, is supposed to repair any damage to the park. This is not happening." (Key West Progress) 

Collision. A car and a scooter collided Saturday 24 June at Fleming and Duval streets, sending two victims to Lower Keys Medical Center, and one later sent to Miami aboard Trauma Star. (Citizen, $)

Awaiting agenda. The agenda for the next City Commission meeting on 13 July should be posted later this week. Highlights and details in next week's Voices. 

Great bicycling city. Chris Hamilton reported that Key West was 20th among 946 small cities in the annual U.S. bicycling industry’s trade association PeopleForBikes ranking of U.S. cities. Provincetown was first. (Friends of Car-Free Key West) 

Observations from Fort Zach. Linda Cunningham warned of sunburn and even sharks this summer. (Key West Island News)

Fish crows. Mark Hedden said it’s a good idea to remind yourself that you live on an island. (Keys Weekly)

Monroe County at 200 years. Activities were planned to commemorate the establishment of Monroe County on 3 July 1823. (Citizen, $)

Bite me? A North Carolina man was arrested early Monday, June 26, for felony battery after biting a bouncer at Sloppy Joe’s in the face. (Citizen, $)

Don't be a jerk. Mandy Miles said we have to stop pissing each other off by doing stupid stuff. (Keys Weekly)

Our Eyes

A plethora of stunning sunrise and sunset photos were posted to social media this week. 

Lynne Bentley-Kemp

Previously in Key West Voices

Hurricane evacuation modeling remained on the minds of locals and organizations. 

• Enough! Last Stand expressed its opposition to the model and its potential result; more development in the Keys. It asked the public to submit comments before the 30 June deadline. (Last Stand)
• Full house. Despite a light turnout at the first public workshop in Key West, there was a full house for the workshop in Marathon. (Keys Weekly)
• Flawed model, flawed process. Last Stand's Dottie Moses offered a comprehensive and full-throated critique of flaws in the model itself and the larger process of determining the carrying capacity of the Keys. This six minute video is a must-see. (Last Stand)
• Preposterous and dangerous. That's how former Monroe School Board member Ed Davidson described the model used in 2012. He explains in this twenty minute video of his public statement. (Last Stand)

Bed tax for affordable housing? Maybe, probably not. Although the Monroe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a plan to divert $25 million in collected bed taxes, state law does not allow the funds to be used for affordable housing projects. The BOCC also postponed a controversial decision on abandoning a county road in favor of a homeowners association. (Citizen, $)

Charter County? In its 21 June meeting, the BOCC began consideration of becoming a charter county, a move that would require voter approval. Charter counties have more power to levy taxes, and prospectively more autonomy from Tallahassee. (Keys Weekly)

• Different. Charter counties are different. (Florida Association of Counties)
• Only 20. There are currently 20 charter counties in Florida. (Florida Association of Counties)
• Dense language. A 2007 write-up delved into the differences. (Florida Bar Association).

Native flamingos. Mark Hedden wrote about flamingos spotted in the Keys in the 19th century. (Keys Weekly)

Got mango? Linda Cunningham has had enough. (Key West Island News)

Staples bridge. Christopher Hamilton anticipated a new and better bridge for the Crosstown Greenway. (Friends of Car Free Cities)

Swamp Story. Nancy Klingener recommended a Dave Barry audiobook for road trips in Florida. (nancyklingener.com)