Extraordinary hurricane season expected - Weekly briefing - May 28, 2024

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Extraordinary hurricane season expected. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be extremely active. Forecasters expect 17 to 25 storms to form in the Atlantic between June 1 and the end of November.

• As one of the strongest El Niños ever observed nears its end, NOAA scientists predict a quick transition to La Niña conditions, which are conducive to Atlantic hurricane activity because La Niña tends to lessen wind shear in the tropics.
• Hurricane preparation Zoom. The Monroe County Tourist Development Council, in partnership with the Lodging Association of the  Florida Keys Keys and Key West, is organizing the free three-hour Zoom virtual event on Thursday, May 30, at 1 p.m. Register for the conference here. 

Most competitive.  Key West attorney and  Bahama Village resident Marci L. Rose is the third candidate to enter the race for the District 6 seat on the city commission.  Rose faces two other candidates — Aaron Castillo and Thaddeus Cohen — in the most competitive city race thus far. Longtime District 6 commissioner Clayton Lopez is term-limited out of office.

San Carlos ownership dispute. The historic San Carlos Institute, the center for Cuban culture in Key West, is at the center of a legal battle about ownership and is threatened to be sold to pay part of a $63 million legal judgement against the Republic of Cuba.

Casting blame. Linda Cunningham was amused when the “oh-so-awares” get into a slugfest over who or what is to blame for climate change, for dying smalltooth sawfish, spinning sea creatures, King Tide flooding, sargassum carpets, supersized Cat 5 hurricanes, Wizard-of-Oz tornadoes, sea-level rise, coral bleaching and assorted other environmental disasters.

Micro-transit curb-to curb service to debut in July. Chris Hamilton reported that Monroe County awarded a contract for on-demand, micro-transit service. The service, branded as “Conch Connect,” will start in July and will cost $2 per trip in the service area from Stock Island to Key West. 

Farewell, Weenie. Mandy Miles fondly remembered her former downstairs neighbor and seafood department manager at Publix, who passed away recently. 

A rainy day on Grassy Key. Mark Hedden noted that the old KMart in Marathon's parking lot was so flooded it looked as if the blue whale in the Wyland mural might take the opportunity to jump down and swim through the water for a while.

Our Eyes

Liquid Gold - Lynn Bentley-Kemp

Previously in Key West Voices

Fired TDC director to file suit. Stacey Mitchell, who was fired from her leadership position at Monroe County's Tourist Development Council in the wake of unfavorable audits, will file a wrongful termination lawsuit sometime this year, according to her attorney.

• Alleges campaign of retaliation. Her attorney said the audits only came after county commissioner Craig Cates, of  Key West, was initially denied TDC funds to pay for a drone show.
• First audit in 20 years. The first three of several audits of the TDC were done by the Monroe County Clerk, whose office is independent of the Monroe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), of which Cates is one of five members.

Tavernier CEMEX / Publix development derailed by the state. In a surprising ruling, Florida's Department of Commerce, Division of Community Development filed an order rejecting the plan for an overlay zoning district that was approved by the BOCC in February. 

• Inconsistent. The order said that the special zoning district, created to allow the major development to circumvent land development restrictions, was inconsistent with development limits under provisions the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern designation. 
• Staff opposed. County planning staff had recommended denial of the proposal due to its inconsistency with the goals and objectives of the Tavernier Livable CommuiKeys Plan, which guides development in the area from Tavernier Creek to MM 97. 

Casa Marina development delayed. After hearing strenuous objections by many residents of the Casa Marina neighborhood, the Key West city commission voted to postpone its decision on a zoning change request by the resort's owners until the Nov. 14 commission meeting, when four of seven members of the commission will be newly elected. 

• New transient licenses sought. Park Hotels & Resorts is promising they’ll rebuild the employee housing on one of the parcels if they can build six new buildings on the other parcel with 23 new hotel rooms, requiring new transient licenses that have not been newly issued in Key West for more than a decade.

$300 million bond issue to go to Key West voters. Key West voters in November will be asked to approve issuance of $300 million in general obligation bonds, which will be funded by increased property taxes. 

• Approved by the commission. The city commission on May 9 voted to give preliminary approval to the ballot question, although a second reading is required next month before it is formally placed on the ballot. 
• Potential projects could include a new fire station on Kennedy Drive, renovations to the police station, revitalization of Mallory Square, replacement of the Martin Luther King Community Pool, Bayview Park renovation and addition of a splash pad, and several road-raising, draining improvement projects.

Third candidate files for KW City Commission District 6. Local attorney and Bahama Village resident Marci L. Rose entered the race for the commission seat that Clayton Lopez is vacating due to his term limit. She faces candidates Aaron J Castillo and Thaddeus Cohen in the August primary. The top two vote-getters would then square off in November, unless a candidate gets over 50% of the vote to win outright in August.  

DeSantis appoints a Toppino, a Spottswood, and a Spottswood employee to LKMC hospital board. Gov. Ron DeSantis is sending three new members to the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District (LFKHD) Board of Commissioners, where they’ll serve alongside five current members he just reappointed.

• Concerned residents. The appointments come in the wake of a packed meeting this month at which residents shared concerns that many of their health needs — including cancer care — aren’t being met.

$35 million of TDC funds for workforce housing. The BOCC approved an ordinance and policy change, so if and/or when the governor signs a bill, the county can move forward on putting $35 million in Tourist Development Council funds toward affordable housing projects. The funds would be restricted to housing for tourism industry employees, in a sense a taxpayer subsidy for the tourism industry. 

Increased trash cost. The BOCC tentatively agreed to increase the residential trash rate by as much as 20% (in unincorporated Monroe County), 10% more than staff recommended, for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

New Seven Mile bridge considered. State transportation officials hosted a meeting about replacing or conducting major repairs to the Keys’ iconic bridge. Any such work would be years away. 

Hot weather. News outlets nationwide reported on record setting hot weather in the Keys last week. On Tuesday, Key west tied its highest heat index ever at 115 degrees. 

But no climate change in Florida. Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation to eliminate climate change as a priority in making energy policy decisions, despite the threats it faces from powerful hurricanes, extreme heat and worsening toxic algae blooms. The measure also removes most references to climate change in state law, bans offshore wind turbines in state waters and weakens regulations on natural gas pipelines.

Florida GOP opposes weed. The Florida Republican Party officially decided to oppose Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 years and older. 

• No one else is selling no. Campaigners bankrolled by dominant players in the cannabis and CBD marketplace launched a $5m advertising blitz in support of a ballot measure.
• Medical marijuana passed in 2016 with 71.3% support. A supermajority of 60% of the vote is required for the referendum to pass.  

Lucky 17. Linda Cunningham with Ranger Ed and friends scored a great camp site at Ft. Jefferson, and loved it, despite the nearby construction. 

Rock star. Mandy Miles told us how the tax collector's rock star auditor and a software tool have identified tax cheats and enabled collection of more than $400,000 in unpaid bed tax, interest and penalties - in less than a year. 

Hedden double header. Because of delayed posting of links, we have two columns today from marvelous Mark Hedden, from May 14 and 17. 

• (May 14) A walk in the park. Mark visited the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and found a common yellowthroat lurking low in the bushes.
• (May 17) A hundred-and-twenty-three-thousand birds flew over Ft. Zach in one day day last week, but few of them stopped over. 

Fond appreciation. Every seat was filled at Williams Hall for the community's celebration of the life of Shirley Freeman. 

Fired TDC director to sue | Arrested developments - Weekly briefing - May 21, 2024

Essential human-curated Florida Keys news, all in one place. 

Subscribe to Key West Voices for free. See something that should be in Voices? Click here to share it with us.

Our Community

Fired TDC director to file suit. Stacey Mitchell, who was fired from her leadership position at Monroe County's Tourist Development Council in the wake of unfavorable audits, will file a wrongful termination lawsuit sometime this year, according to her attorney.

• Alleges campaign of retaliation. Her attorney said the audits only came after county commissioner Craig Cates, of  Key West, was initially denied TDC funds to pay for a drone show.
• First audit in 20 years. The first three of several audits of the TDC were done by the Monroe County Clerk, whose office is independent of the Monroe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), of which Cates is one of five members.

Tavernier CEMEX / Publix development derailed by the state. In a surprising ruling, Florida's Department of Commerce, Division of Community Development filed an order rejecting the plan for an overlay zoning district that was approved by the BOCC in February. 

• Inconsistent. The order said that the special zoning district, created to allow the major development to circumvent land development restrictions, was inconsistent with development limits under provisions the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern designation. 
• Staff opposed. County planning staff had recommended denial of the proposal due to its inconsistency with the goals and objectives of the Tavernier Livable CommuiKeys Plan, which guides development in the area from Tavernier Creek to MM 97. 

Casa Marina development delayed. After hearing strenuous objections by many residents of the Casa Marina neighborhood, the Key West city commission voted to postpone its decision on a zoning change request by the resort's owners until the Nov. 14 commission meeting, when four of seven members of the commission will be newly elected. 

• New transient licenses sought. Park Hotels & Resorts is promising they’ll rebuild the employee housing on one of the parcels if they can build six new buildings on the other parcel with 23 new hotel rooms, requiring new transient licenses that have not been newly issued in Key West for more than a decade.

$300 million bond issue to go to Key West voters. Key West voters in November will be asked to approve issuance of $300 million in general obligation bonds, which will be funded by increased property taxes. 

• Approved by the commission. The city commission on May 9 voted to give preliminary approval to the ballot question, although a second reading is required next month before it is formally placed on the ballot. 
• Potential projects could include a new fire station on Kennedy Drive, renovations to the police station, revitalization of Mallory Square, replacement of the Martin Luther King Community Pool, Bayview Park renovation and addition of a splash pad, and several road-raising, draining improvement projects.

Third candidate files for KW City Commission District 6. Local attorney and Bahama Village resident Marci L. Rose entered the race for the commission seat that Clayton Lopez is vacating due to his term limit. She faces candidates Aaron J Castillo and Thaddeus Cohen in the August primary. The top two vote-getters would then square off in November, unless a candidate gets over 50% of the vote to win outright in August.  

DeSantis appoints a Toppino, a Spottswood, and a Spottswood employee to LKMC hospital board. Gov. Ron DeSantis is sending three new members to the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District (LFKHD) Board of Commissioners, where they’ll serve alongside five current members he just reappointed.

• Concerned residents. The appointments come in the wake of a packed meeting this month at which residents shared concerns that many of their health needs — including cancer care — aren’t being met.

$35 million of TDC funds for workforce housing. The BOCC approved an ordinance and policy change, so if and/or when the governor signs a bill, the county can move forward on putting $35 million in Tourist Development Council funds toward affordable housing projects. The funds would be restricted to housing for tourism industry employees, in a sense a taxpayer subsidy for the tourism industry. 

Increased trash cost. The BOCC tentatively agreed to increase the residential trash rate by as much as 20% (in unincorporated Monroe County), 10% more than staff recommended, for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

New Seven Mile bridge considered. State transportation officials hosted a meeting about replacing or conducting major repairs to the Keys’ iconic bridge. Any such work would be years away. 

Hot weather. News outlets nationwide reported on record setting hot weather in the Keys last week. On Tuesday, Key west tied its highest heat index ever at 115 degrees. 

But no climate change in Florida. Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation to eliminate climate change as a priority in making energy policy decisions, despite the threats it faces from powerful hurricanes, extreme heat and worsening toxic algae blooms. The measure also removes most references to climate change in state law, bans offshore wind turbines in state waters and weakens regulations on natural gas pipelines.

Florida GOP opposes weed. The Florida Republican Party officially decided to oppose Amendment 3, the constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 years and older. 

• No one else is selling no. Campaigners bankrolled by dominant players in the cannabis and CBD marketplace launched a $5m advertising blitz in support of a ballot measure.
• Medical marijuana passed in 2016 with 71.3% support. A supermajority of 60% of the vote is required for the referendum to pass.  

Lucky 17. Linda Cunningham with Ranger Ed and friends scored a great camp site at Ft. Jefferson, and loved it, despite the nearby construction. 

Rock star. Mandy Miles told us how the tax collector's rock star auditor and a software tool have identified tax cheats and enabled collection of more than $400,000 in unpaid bed tax, interest and penalties - in less than a year. 

Hedden double header. Because of delayed posting of links, we have two columns today from marvelous Mark Hedden, from May 14 and 17. 

• (May 14) A walk in the park. Mark visited the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and found a common yellowthroat lurking low in the bushes.
• (May 17) A hundred-and-twenty-three-thousand birds flew over Ft. Zach in one day day last week, but few of them stopped over. 

Fond appreciation. Every seat was filled at Williams Hall for the community's celebration of the life of Shirley Freeman. 

Our Eyes

Frangipani Hornworm - Liz Acar

Previously in Key West Voices

Cans kicked down the road. The Key West City Commission, ahead of August and November elections that will result in four new commission members (out of seven), postponed until November two votes on issues facing vocal local opposition. 

• Not so fast. The commission tabled a proposed ten year lease for use of Mallory Pier by American Cruise Lines, whose smaller ships are already calling Key West. Local advocacy group Safer Cleaner Ships supported the lease, while many public comments were opposed for a variety of reasons, including the length of the lease. A spokesman for local businesses said that at least 50 opposed the deal. 
• Speculation only. The proposed ten year lease for smaller ships could limit any return of larger ships to Mallory Pier should the next City Commission choose to relax or rescind the strict limits it enacted in the wake of three city referenda earlier approved by large majorities of Key West voters. 
• Not now, but not no. The commission also postponed voting on a development plan for a portion of the Casa Marina resort, despite opposition of many area residents. The resort’s owners want rezoning of about 3 acres of nearby property to develop 23 market rate residential units and 25 workforce housing units, with the eventual conversion of the market rate units to transient rentals. 

We're number two! The National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, released a report showing Florida as having the the second lowest average teacher salary among the 50 states and District of Columbia.

Yet another TDC audit released. Following three problematic audits of Monroe County's Tourist Development Council by the County Clerk's office, the audit of the tourist-tax funded entity commissioned by the County Commission itself was released. 

• Nothing new. The audit, which cost roughly $375,000, reiterated previous concerns of the other audits, which looked at the relationships between TDC’s contractor Visit Florida Keys (VFK) and public relations firm NewmanPR and advertising firm Tinsley Advertising & Marketing.
• Improper and excessive spending. “Based on our study and analysis of the documents and information provided... personnel, at the direction of and/or under the supervision of VFK former Marketing Director Stacey Mitchell, caused improper and excessive expenditures to be paid and failed to adhere to established policies and procedures,” according to the audit.

Insurrectionists among us plead guilty. A Marathon couple await sentencing after pleading guilty for their roles in the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

Unopposed. Monroe County’s lead prosecutor, public defender, and a county judge will return to their posts after a qualifying period ended with no electoral challengers.

• State Attorney Dennis Ward, Public Defender Robert Lockwood, and County Judge James “Jimmy” Morgan III all were unopposed by the noon deadline on April 26. 

Follow-up - sawfish rescue case detailed. Following reports last week that a rescued smalltooth sawfish had been euthanized in captivity, Keys Weekly ran a detailed narrative of the rescue attempt and euthanasia decision amid continued uncertainty about the cause of the unprecedented die-off. 

• Death rate slowing? The number of smalltooth sawfish dying from a mysterious ailment or water quality issue dropped in recent weeks in the Florida Keys, as Keys waters have begun to warm up and the sawfish begin migrating north off of both the west and east coasts of Florida.
• Square grouper found. A classic example of the Keys' unique species was found on Long Key by a beachgoer. The bundle of 65 pounds of cocaine has a street value of about $1 million, according to federal agents.

Canal restoration photo-op. Monroe County Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein viewed canal restoration efforts in Key Largo. Restoration includes backfilling the canal to raise its bottom to an optimum depth of about 7 feet to allow maximum flushing and tidal flow.

San Carlos ownership disputed. Duval Street's San Carlos Institute, built by Cuban exiles in the 19th century during Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain, is in the midst of a legal battle over its ownership.

Prepared. Linda Cunningham was all ready for the challenges of her annual camping trip to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. 

Shirley Freeman. A celebration of Shirley's life will be held at Williams Hall, 729 Fleming St, Key West at 5:00 p.m. on May 14.

Cans kicked down the road - Weekly briefing - May 14, 2024

Essential human-curated Florida Keys news, all in one place. 

Subscribe to Key West Voices for free. See something that should be in Voices? Click here to share it with us.

Our Community

Cans kicked down the road. The Key West City Commission, ahead of August and November elections that will result in four new commission members (out of seven), postponed until November two votes on issues facing vocal local opposition. 

• Not so fast. The commission tabled a proposed ten year lease for use of Mallory Pier by American Cruise Lines, whose smaller ships are already calling Key West. Local advocacy group Safer Cleaner Ships supported the lease, while many public comments were opposed for a variety of reasons, including the length of the lease. A spokesman for local businesses said that at least 50 opposed the deal. 
• Speculation only. The proposed ten year lease for smaller ships could limit any return of larger ships to Mallory Pier should the next City Commission choose to relax or rescind the strict limits it enacted in the wake of three city referenda earlier approved by large majorities of Key West voters. 
• Not now, but not no. The commission also postponed voting on a development plan for a portion of the Casa Marina resort, despite opposition of many area residents. The resort’s owners want rezoning of about 3 acres of nearby property to develop 23 market rate residential units and 25 workforce housing units, with the eventual conversion of the market rate units to transient rentals. 

We're number two! The National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, released a report showing Florida as having the the second lowest average teacher salary among the 50 states and District of Columbia.

Yet another TDC audit released. Following three problematic audits of Monroe County's Tourist Development Council by the County Clerk's office, the audit of the tourist-tax funded entity commissioned by the County Commission itself was released. 

• Nothing new. The audit, which cost roughly $375,000, reiterated previous concerns of the other audits, which looked at the relationships between TDC’s contractor Visit Florida Keys (VFK) and public relations firm NewmanPR and advertising firm Tinsley Advertising & Marketing.
• Improper and excessive spending. “Based on our study and analysis of the documents and information provided... personnel, at the direction of and/or under the supervision of VFK former Marketing Director Stacey Mitchell, caused improper and excessive expenditures to be paid and failed to adhere to established policies and procedures,” according to the audit.

Insurrectionists among us plead guilty. A Marathon couple await sentencing after pleading guilty for their roles in the U.S. Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

Unopposed. Monroe County’s lead prosecutor, public defender, and a county judge will return to their posts after a qualifying period ended with no electoral challengers.

• State Attorney Dennis Ward, Public Defender Robert Lockwood, and County Judge James “Jimmy” Morgan III all were unopposed by the noon deadline on April 26. 

Follow-up - sawfish rescue case detailed. Following reports last week that a rescued smalltooth sawfish had been euthanized in captivity, Keys Weekly ran a detailed narrative of the rescue attempt and euthanasia decision amid continued uncertainty about the cause of the unprecedented die-off. 

• Death rate slowing? The number of smalltooth sawfish dying from a mysterious ailment or water quality issue dropped in recent weeks in the Florida Keys, as Keys waters have begun to warm up and the sawfish begin migrating north off of both the west and east coasts of Florida.
• Square grouper found. A classic example of the Keys' unique species was found on Long Key by a beachgoer. The bundle of 65 pounds of cocaine has a street value of about $1 million, according to federal agents.

Canal restoration photo-op. Monroe County Mayor Holly Merrill Raschein viewed canal restoration efforts in Key Largo. Restoration includes backfilling the canal to raise its bottom to an optimum depth of about 7 feet to allow maximum flushing and tidal flow.

San Carlos ownership disputed. Duval Street's San Carlos Institute, built by Cuban exiles in the 19th century during Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain, is in the midst of a legal battle over its ownership.

Prepared. Linda Cunningham was all ready for the challenges of her annual camping trip to Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas. 

Shirley Freeman. A celebration of Shirley's life will be held at Williams Hall, 729 Fleming St, Key West at 5:00 p.m. on May 14.

Our Eyes

Female cardinal on Big Pine Key - Philip Dodderidge

Previously in Key West Voices

Rescued sawfish euthanized in captivity. Following a decision made under guidance from Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission, the distressed smalltooth sawfish rescued April 5 off of the Lower Keys was humanely euthanized when its condition deteriorated. The cause of the animal’s distress remains unknown. 

• The sawfish was rescued on April 5 and transported to an interim holding tank at Mote Marine's Lower Keys facility. Following treatment and monitoring, the animal was driven April 11 to another Mote quarantine facility in Sarasota for further observation and treatment.

Florida's new six-week abortion restriction took effect. Beginning May 1, most abortions in Florida are banned beyond six weeks of pregnancy — before many women know they are pregnant. The ban has exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking.

• Florida voters will have the option to restore access to abortion up until the time of viability with a ballot initiative to amend the state’s general election ballots on Nov. 5. The ballot initiative must garner at least 60% of the vote to take effect.

Florida teacher pay was ranked lowest in the 50 states in a new study by the National Education Association. 

Large turnout expected for hospital meeting. Expecting a larger turnout for its meeting on May 8, the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District board moved its meeting to 3:00 p.m. at the Harvey Government Center at 1200 Truman Avenue in Key West.

• Advocacy group urges turnout. Our Hospital Key West, a citizens advocacy group is directly seeking for detailed information from the board, and urging the public ti attend Wednesday's meeting.  
• The 2029 lease expiration has drawn attention in the community, and Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman formed a task force comprised of community members, local doctors and other medical care providers.
• “The Task Force recommends that the Lower Keys Hospital District Board commit to develop a fair process and conduct a comparative analysis of interested hospital operators who can provide the best quality and breadth of medical services for our community,” Kaufman wrote in a news release following the task force's first meeting on April 19.

Dude, where's my car? Key West Police responded promptly to an eyewitness report of a car driving into the water off Simonton beach, and saved the driver who was trapped inside the sinking vehicle. The driver, a Navy sailor who’s new to Key West, was subsequently charged with misdemeanor DUI. 

Dude, where's my bike? Chris Hamilton celebrated the installation of additional bicycle parking, and  the Key West Connect app to find bicycle parking and recommend locations for installation of new racks. 

Land acquisition Writing for herself (not as a long-time member of the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Land Authority Board Advisory Committee),Linda Cunningham expressed her concern over an expert's recent assertion that Monroe County's Land Authority, which used to focus on conservation land acquisitions, has recently paid more attention to buying land for affordable housing defending against takings lawsuits. She knows that the priority should be and is protecting environmentally-sensitive land.

Loud and high up. Mark Hedden wrote of two species of birds, the screaming piha and the white bellbird, that contend for the honor of being the loudest birds ever recorded.  

Rescued sawfish euthanized - Weekly briefing - May 7, 2024

Essential human-curated Florida Keys news, all in one place. 

Subscribe to Key West Voices for free. See something that should be in Voices? Click here to share it with us.

Our Community

Rescued sawfish euthanized in captivity. Following a decision made under guidance from Florida's Fish and Wildlife Commission, the distressed smalltooth sawfish rescued April 5 off of the Lower Keys was humanely euthanized when its condition deteriorated. The cause of the animal’s distress remains unknown. 

• The sawfish was rescued on April 5 and transported to an interim holding tank at Mote Marine's Lower Keys facility. Following treatment and monitoring, the animal was driven April 11 to another Mote quarantine facility in Sarasota for further observation and treatment.

Florida's new six-week abortion restriction took effect. Beginning May 1, most abortions in Florida are banned beyond six weeks of pregnancy — before many women know they are pregnant. The ban has exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking.

• Florida voters will have the option to restore access to abortion up until the time of viability with a ballot initiative to amend the state’s general election ballots on Nov. 5. The ballot initiative must garner at least 60% of the vote to take effect.

Florida teacher pay was ranked lowest in the 50 states in a new study by the National Education Association. 

Large turnout expected for hospital meeting. Expecting a larger turnout for its meeting on May 8, the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District board moved its meeting to 3:00 p.m. at the Harvey Government Center at 1200 Truman Avenue in Key West.

• Advocacy group urges turnout. Our Hospital Key West, a citizens advocacy group is directly seeking for detailed information from the board, and urging the public ti attend Wednesday's meeting.  
• The 2029 lease expiration has drawn attention in the community, and Key West City Commissioner Sam Kaufman formed a task force comprised of community members, local doctors and other medical care providers.
• “The Task Force recommends that the Lower Keys Hospital District Board commit to develop a fair process and conduct a comparative analysis of interested hospital operators who can provide the best quality and breadth of medical services for our community,” Kaufman wrote in a news release following the task force's first meeting on April 19.

Dude, where's my car? Key West Police responded promptly to an eyewitness report of a car driving into the water off Simonton beach, and saved the driver who was trapped inside the sinking vehicle. The driver, a Navy sailor who’s new to Key West, was subsequently charged with misdemeanor DUI. 

Dude, where's my bike? Chris Hamilton celebrated the installation of additional bicycle parking, and  the Key West Connect app to find bicycle parking and recommend locations for installation of new racks. 

Land acquisition Writing for herself (not as a long-time member of the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan Land Authority Board Advisory Committee),Linda Cunningham expressed her concern over an expert's recent assertion that Monroe County's Land Authority, which used to focus on conservation land acquisitions, has recently paid more attention to buying land for affordable housing defending against takings lawsuits. She knows that the priority should be and is protecting environmentally-sensitive land.

Loud and high up. Mark Hedden wrote of two species of birds, the screaming piha and the white bellbird, that contend for the honor of being the loudest birds ever recorded.  

Our Eyes

"Bicycle Shadows & Reflections" - C.J. Groth

Previously in Key West Voices

Abortions banned in Florida after six weeks. A ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy takes effect in Florida on Wednesday, May 1. The strict new law will replace a 15-week ban and require most Floridians and other Southerners seeking the procedure to travel to Virginia or farther.

3,000, not 8,000. Despite a proposal for 8,000 new residential building permits in the Keys, only about 3,000 possible vacant, buildable lots remain, according to the latest information provided by local governments in the Keys.

• Late last year, FloridaCommerce considered a scenario to give the Keys as many as roughly 8,000 new building allocations, which would require raising the residential hurricane evacuation time to 31 hours to accept them. The roughly 8,000 figure represents the number of total vacant lots in the Keys, including those buildable and not.
• Accepting more than 220 permits would require a change in state statute because such an allocation would increase the allowable hurricane evacuation time for residents and tourists beyond what is currently allowed. 
• According to the statute, tourists are supposed to be evacuated 48 hours before a hurricane is expected to make landfall in the Keys, while residents must be able to evacuate 24 hours prior to a storm. But because the previously rare phenomenon of  'rapid intensification'  has become much more frequent due to record high water temperatures, a 48 hour warning may itself become a rarity.  

TDC's structure isn't the problem. Keys Weekly and the Citizen ran  follow-ups on the Monroe Board of County Commissioners' (BOCC) decision not to take over the bed tax-supported Tourism Development Council. It’s not the TDC’s structure – it’s the financial controls that were the problem, the BOCC agreed at its April 17 meeting.

• In October 2023, County Clerk Kevin Madok launched the first of four separate audits on the TDC and its advertising and marketing partner agencies. 
• Even nonprofits on shoestring budgets have to undergo an audit every year, yet the TDC went unchecked for decades, the commissioners noted. "...it was 20 years or longer since they had had an audit,” said commissioner Craig Cates.
• The TDC's  four-cent “bed tax” on every dollar spent at Keys lodging establishments is used to advertise the Keys as a vacation destination, promote events that attract visitors and fund construction projects to enhance tourism. 

CEMEX Construction seeks exception for Tavernier Publix. In an email to his supporters, BOCC candidate Chris Massicotte expressed dismay over CEMEX Construction's proposal to the BOCC to obtain 86 building permits necessary for workforce housing units by circumventing the County's Comprehensive Plan.

• County Staff determined that building the Publix and housing units in Tavernier would create a county-wide impact, affecting the ability of a 24 evacuation during a hurricane.

Six amendments on the ballot. The Citizen shared a summary of proposed amendments to Florida's Constitution to be decided by voters this fall.  

• Reproductive rights. Although Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and lawmakers approved preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy (to take effect Wednesday), the proposed constitutional amendment says: “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
• Marijuana. After an amendment to legalize medical marijuana passed in 2016 with over 71% of the vote, activists were successful in getting an amendment to legalize recreational use on this year's ballot. 
• Other proposed amendments address campaign finance, hunting and fishing, school board elections, and the homestead property tax exemption. 

Money to harden homes. The Miami Herald offered a guide to applying for state funds from a popular state program called My Safe Florida Home that awards up to $10,000 to harden homes, saving homeowners (and their insurers) from costly repairs after hurricanes and storms.

Two Florida men met. DeSantis and former president Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met privately Sunday morning in Miami. The Washington Post said that DeSantis agreed to help Trump with fundraising. 

Monroe County Sheriff's Animal Farm makes national news. CBS News ran a nice five minute segment on the animal rescue facility on Key West during its Sunday Morning show. 

• The small zoo on the grounds of the jail in Key West was started by accident in the mid-1990s when word got out that the sheriff had rescued some ducks from a nearby road. Since then, many animals – abandoned, abused, confiscated or donated – have been brought to the farm, which is maintained by a small team of people incarcerated there. More than 100 animals currently live there. 

Conspiracy theory tragedy in New York. Local columnist John Bartus reflected on the sad tale of the man who self-immolated outside Donald Trump’s hush-money trial in New York City.

“Let the child read” Linda Cunningham said that it's simple: If you don’t cater to a book, play, sculpture or piece of music; don’t read, watch, look or listen. I’ll make my own choices, thank you.