Archive for the ‘Larry B. Johnson’ Category
Progressive Pensacola wishes Larry B. Johnson a happy birthday.
In his freshman term, Councilman Johnson has been one of just a few Council members unafraid to take principled stands. He stood up to the scheme which enabled good old boy Jim “Big Stuff” Reeves to weasel his way onto the CMPA. He stood up against BP, pressing for a surety bond to cover any damages at their operations at Bayou Chico.
In a City Council that has for decades been…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Several sources have told Progressive Pensacola that Molly Nobles, wife of former City Council member Jack Nobles, has a Mercedes-Benz purchased in 2010 which bears a City of Pensacola “official business” sticker.
Mr. Nobles left office in January 2009 after serving on Council for fifteen years.
Confused about why a former Council member or his wife would be displaying such stickers eighteen months after he left Council…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson appeared on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews yesterday afternoon.
Matthews: Larry Johnson’s a councilman down in Pensacola, sir, thank you very much. What is your reaction on hearing the president say that he’s got a $20 billion commitment up front in an escrow account for BP to pay those hurt by this spill?
Johnson: Chris, I think that’s a step in the right direction…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Here’s a round-up of local figures in the state and national media over the last few days. Also check out our recent recap of Mayor Mike Wiggins’ media appearances.
Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson spoke with Miami’s CBS 4 this past Sunday. Mayoral candidate Ashton Hayward makes a cameo appearance.
Councilman Johnson also spoke with FOX…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Below is is video of Pensacola City Council members dressing down “BP Barbie” Liz Castro, who appeared before the Council Monday with no answers to questions about BP’s new Bayou Chico operations. For more on that meeting, see our story, “‘BP Barbie’ clueless before Council.”
WEAR reported last night that Ms. Castro “has been relieved of her duties as BP’s spokesperson for the Pensacola area.”
Check back for more video…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few items we wanted to highlight today:
Ashton Hayward profile. The Pensacola News Journal profiles mayoral candidate Ashton Hayward. For Mr. Hayward’s campaign announcement and Progressive Pensacola’s photos of his filing yesterday, see “Hayward files for mayor.”
Johnson conciliatory on Maritime Park. Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson, who recently led an unsuccessful attempt to remove CMPA board member Jim Reeves…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
With his back against the wall and apparently stripped of reasonable arguments, Jim Reeves has resorted to making things up about the City Council members who oppose his recent controversial appointment to the Community Maritime Park Board of Trustees.
In an article in today’s News Journal, Jamie Page quotes Mr. Reeves as saying that Councilman Larry B. Johnson opposes his appointment because — get this — he won’t let Mr. Johnson into his invitation-only Irish Politicians Club…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Earlier this week, City Councilman Larry B. Johnson told the News Journal’s Jamie Page that he had gone into City Attorney Rusty Wells’ unoccupied office to leave a message, and found a stack of signed campaign petitions for Mayor Mike Wiggins on Mr. Well’s chair.
In an email to Councilman Johnson, Mr. Wells offered an explanation:
“The event actually begins last weekend, when I was standing in the street where I live…”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Yesterday’s Council committee meetings featured an expansive presentation on a new vision for the Port of Pensacola, courtesy of CRA Director Thaddeus Cohen and Port staffers Clyde Mathis and Amy Miller.
The presentation painted the Port of Pensacola as a “boutique” or “specialty” port, which rather than being “all things to all people” intends to concentrate on serving niche markets like energy and offshore operations. The presentation also included concepts for converting…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
City Councilman Larry B. Johnson filed today to run for reelection. Councilman Johnson is serving his first term on Council, having ousted former Councilman Marty Donovan last November. His announcement today makes Councilman Johnson the first sitting Council member to file for reelection.
Councilman Johnson said he made his announcement today “to let the citizens of District 4 know that they can count on me to keep working for them.”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Progressive Pensacola is pleased that the Pensacola City Council opted last week to not adopt a formal communications policy. Several Council members had suggested that the Council adopt a policy similar to the one recently adopted by the Escambia County Commission, which we feel is overly restrictive.
Instead, Council members agreed on an informal “gentleman’s agreement” to keep communications devices “out of sight” during meetings…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Airport coverage. The Sunday News Journal has two stories concerning the City-owned Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport. The first deals with the push to bring Southwest Airlines to Pensacola; the second is a profile of the airport and its expansion efforts under the leadership of interim director Melinda Crawford. Those who want to help out with the efforts to bring Southwest to Pensacola can check out the Chamber of Commerce’s web site or join the cause on Facebook…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Progressive Pensacola wishes Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson a happy birthday. Councilman Johnson, who was elected last November, has been a welcome addition to Council. He’s taken a proactive role, working to speed up road projects and putting forward new ideas like the green library. He’s also been a tireless advocate for trees, waterways, and other environmental issues.
If you aren’t already reading it, check out Councilman Johnson’s blog. He’s been using his blog to open discussions and keep citizens informed. Keep up the good work!
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few things I wanted to highlight today:
The Buzz:
“Attorney General Holly Benson?”
The St. Petersburg Times political blog The Buzz reports that Republican strategist Sally Bradshaw is floating Pensacolian Holly Benson’s name as a possible Republican candidate for Attorney General in 2010. Ms. Benson presently serves as Secretary of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration, and is the sister of Pensacola City Councilwoman Megan Pratt…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Rick’s Blog:
“IN celebrates 10th Anniversary”
Happy birthday, IN!
Pensapedia: “Henry C. Mustin”
Maren DeWeese: “Goals”
Independent News: “The Buzz”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson has two interesting posts up on his blog concerning Council member compensation.
In the first, he expressed his disappointment at comments critical of Council members’ compensation made at last Thursday’s City Council meeting, and countered the notion that City Council is a “part-time” job:
“Pensacola City Council members receive a salary of $13,998/year for what is for me a full-time job…”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Pensacola News Journal:
“CMPA lawsuit was the result of years of frustration”
Megan Pratt:
“City pensions—a couple of quick fixes”
Larry B. Johnson:
“Pace Boulevard school site”
St. Petersburg Times:
“Little cheer for Florida legislators…”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Pensacola City Councilwoman Megan Pratt has raised the idea of closing Bayfront Parkway on weekends to create a venue for public access to the waterfront. She cites the example of Memorial Drive in Boston, which is closed to vehicular traffic each Sunday from April to November and opened up to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Fellow Council member Sam Hall has chimed in with his support, posting a video of the Ciclovía in Bogota, Colombia, in which main streets are opened up to bicyclists, and events like free aerobics lessons are staged in the city’s parks. Both the Boston and Bogota events have been successful year after year…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Rick’s Blog:
“Gaetz aims to stop double-dipping”
State Senators Mike Fasano (R-Port Richey) and Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) have introduced S 1182, which would close a loophole which allows state and municipal employees to retire, begin collecting their pension, and then be rehired and collect a salary and pension simultaneously…
Larry B. Johnson:
“City boards”
Larry B. Johnson:
“Art of Fashion 2009″
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
A few items we wanted to highlight today:
Pensacola News Journal:
“City garage isn’t filled with ‘Cadillac’ pensions”
City employee Michael Faulkner offers a valiant, informed, fair-minded defense of City pensions…
Larry B. Johnson:
“Turtle-Friendly Lighting on Pensacola Beach”
Megan Pratt:
“Marketization: A new approach to government services”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Mark O’Brien: “The judge is out of order on CMPA”
The News Journal columnist calls out CMPA chair Lacey Collier in a big way…
Larry B. Johnson:
“Bayou Boulevard resurfacing moved up”
Looks like freshman Councilman Larry B. Johnson is making things happen. Irritated about the condition of Bayou Boulevard from 12th Avenue to Firestone Boulevard, Councilman Johnson repeatedly pressed the issue…
Rick’s Blog: “We are a broken city”
Rick Outzen reprints a letter sent from Pensacola architect Brian Spencer…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson has joined the blogosphere, bringing the number of Councilmembers with an online presence to five — 50%.
Councilman Sam Hall became the first City Council member to establish a blog after his election to Council in 2006. Rookie Councilwomen Maren DeWeese and Megan Pratt followed after their elections last November, and Councilwoman Diane Mack launched a frequently-updated wider-focus site last week.
At a minimum, Councilmember-operated blogs help increase communication with their constituents…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
The News Journal’s man on the government beat, Jamie Page, is on a prolific streak, with several readworthy posts today:
“Councilman wants big charter changes”
Mr. Page spoke with Councilman Larry B. Johnson about changes Councilman Johnson hopes the Charter Review Commission will implement. The Councilman’s hopes, along with a few thoughts…
“Outside firm investigating city land deal”
“City getting proposals for new library”
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Progressive Pensacola sat down with Pensacola City Councilman Larry B. Johnson this morning to get his thoughts on how to use the $6 million the City has budgeted for a new library.
The bottom line: Councilman Johnson wants to build a green, LEED-certified library that will serve as “another piece of the puzzle to creating a vibrant downtown Pensacola.”
Mr. Johnson proposes using land at Palafox and Gregory Streets, now occupied by an underutilised City-owned parking lot. The land is about two blocks from the current library site…
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Larry B. Johnson has handily defeated 7-year Councilman Marty Donovan to take the District 4 seat on the Pensacola City Council. With all precincts reporting, Johnson holds 61% of the vote to Donovan’s 39%, a margin of more than 450 votes. In the other race of the evening, three-term councilman Ronald Townsend prevailed over challenger [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Progressive Pensacola would like to reiterate its prior endorsement of Larry B. Johnson for Pensacola City Council, District 4. We do so with no ill will toward his opponent, incumbent Marty Donovan. Regardless of any specific policy agreements we may have with Mr. Donovan, the fact of the matter is that he is simply too [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Unfortunately, voters only retired one City Council incumbent on Tuesday — but it was a good one. Congratulations to Maren DeWeese for ousting 20-year incumbent Mike DeSorbo. I can’t tell you how satisfied I am that our City government is rid of him. Congratulations also to Megan Benson Pratt for her sound victory in the [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Progressive Pensacola endorses Larry B. Johnson for Pensacola City Council, District 4. Mr. Johnson, 51, is an area businessman and community activist perhaps best known for his involvement with the environmental group Emerald Coastkeeper. He’s been a longtime advocate for environmental issues, and recognises that in order to attract and retain businesses and new residents, [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Heading up to the general election on November 4, we’ll be featuring a brief look at the various races. Some races we’ll cover more extensively than others, because some races are more important or more competitive than others. Today, we’ll look at the race for Pensacola City Council, District 4. The Office Races for seats [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Earlier this year, a citizen inquiry forced Larry B. Johnson and Rhette Anderson, candidates for City Council in District 4, to resign their seats on the City’s Zoning Board of Adjustment. The city charter requires candidates for City offices to resign any other City offices or appointed positions, but apparently no one had noticed. Council [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Larry B. Johnson has joined the District 4 race for Pensacola City Council. This is only bad news for Marty Donovan, whom I think could have handled Rhette Anderson alone, but whom will has an uphill battle ahead of him with Johnson joining the race. Despite our differences, most clearly on the Community Maritime Park, [...]
Continue Reading...
Next post
Previous post
Subscribe to our feed
Get updates via email
Follow us on Twitter