The ACLU of Florida recently published a report, with 14 recommendations to decrease overcrowding at the Escambia County Jail. The report, titled “Smart Jail for Escambia County: Factsheet and Recommended Solutions,” notes that Escambia County spends about $46.5 million annually on incarceration. In addition to recommendations to address overcrowding, the report also addresses issues such…
Emerald Coast Utility Authority (ECUA) Board members voted 4-0 to approve a 5% rate increase for sanitation on June 29, 2017. The Board also voted 3-1 (Mr. Dale Perkins voting against) to hold a public hearing July 27th, 2017 for a resolution to establish a “capital improvement fee” for upgrades to the water and sewer…
UPDATE: July 10, 2017: Florida Carry announced it filed an appeal to U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of Norman v. State of Florida: Florida Carry filed a petition for a writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court in the matter of Norman v. Florida. The case was heard by the Florida Supreme…
2017 Florida bills propose a variety of criminal justice reforms. A Florida Senate Bill (SB 290) sponsored by Criminal Justice and Darryl Rouson (D) proposes ending mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses, allowing judges to depart from the 118 mandatory minimum sentences under Florida law [CS/HB 641 is a similar House bill]. The bill would exclude…
The Florida Constitution, Article 1, Section 8, specifically guarantees the right to keep and bear arms in self-defense: “The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by…
Several bills have been introduced in the 2017 legislative session to address the issue of “corporate welfare.” HB 9, sponsored by Rep. Paul Renner (R), deals with VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism marketing organization, a quasi-government agency which uses taxpayer dollars to promote tourism to Florida. The agency recently came under fire for a…
As reported in the Pensacola News Journal PNJ| Viewpoint: Amendment 1 against ‘free market’ By: Christian Wagley October 28, 2016 Some of the biggest matchups of the college football season are upon us. But imagine if the best teams refused to play each other because they were afraid. That’s the situation with the anti-solar energy…
Florida residents may soon vote on a constitutional amendment regarding medical marijuana. The proposed amendment (Amendment 2) can be viewed here (and below). A “yes” vote for Amendment 2 would create a Constitutional Right for use of marijuana for debilitating medical conditions, which are defined such that, “Debilitating Medical Condition” means cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, positive…
Under Florida law (790.053), it is currently a misdemeanor to open carry a firearm other than the exceptions listed in F.S. 790.25 (e.g. during target practice under safe conditions and in a safe place not prohibited by law or going to or from such place, or when going to, or returning from, or when engaged in…
PNJ: Escambia eyes marijuana dispensary moratorium Will Isern, wisern@pnj.com 3:05 p.m. CDT July 20, 2016 As medical marijuana prepares to hit Florida in a big way, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is moving to implement a year-long moratorium on dispensaries opening here. County commissioners took the first of two votes on Tuesday to…
