Archive for the ‘Maren DeWeese’ Category
Here are a few of the items we missed over the past few days:
Chamber hires new CEO. The Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has hired James Hizer as president and CEO. Mr. Hizer replaces Evon Emerson, who announced her intention to resign earlier this year. He comes to us by way of Bowling Green, Kentucky and sports an impressive resume. See also Rick’s Blog coverage here and here.
Outzen: Petition can’t stop stadium…
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Pensacola City Council members Maren DeWeese and John Jerralds filed to run for reelection last week.
Councilwoman DeWeese is presently in her first term, while Councilman Jerralds has served on the Council since 2000.
With the latest filings, all City Council races but District 6 have a declared candidate; in that race, Jewel Cannada-Wynn has not yet filed to run again, but is expected to do so…
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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…
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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…
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As many of you know, City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese has proposed gradually drawing down the City’s reserves from 15 to 10%, in order to cover the projected FY2011 budget deficit and other issues. It’s understandably a controversial proposal, so in order to promote a healthy discussion, let’s look at the history of the City’s general fund reserve.
In 1994, at the behest of the City Manager and Finance Director, the City Council established a policy of maintaining a general fund reserve. The reserve target was initially set at 7.5%…
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A few items we wanted to highlight today:
Roger Scott pool delayed til July. Jamie Page of the News Journal reports that the reopening of Roger Scott pool has been delayed to July. City Engineer Derrik Owens said at yesterday’s Council committee meetings that a pre-construction meeting will take place today, with construction expected to start next week and close within 90 (working) days. Meanwhile, the Cecil Hunter Pool at 200 East Blount Street will open April 12…
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Progressive Pensacola sends our regards to Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese, who celebrates a birthday today.
Councilwoman DeWeese, who received our Councilperson of the Year award in January, continues to impress. The Pensacola’s Promise committee is continuing to research the best ways to create a place-based scholarship program in the City of Pensacola. Her periodic beautification days continue to improve Scenic Highway’s appearance. She’s asking tough questions…
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The committee recently established by the Pensacola City Council to study Councilwoman Maren DeWeese’s “Pensacola’s Promise” proposal will hold its inaugural meeting tomorrow afternoon.
The meeting will be held beginning at 4:00 PM in the Whibbs Conference Room, first floor, City Hall.
Pensacola’s Promise — modelled after similar programs in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and elsewhere — would be a place-based scholarship program, providing the children of City residents…
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One year ago today, a new City Council took office. In the year since, the City has made some great strides. For the first time in a long time, individual Council members have been innovative and inspired, and are seriously influencing the agenda.
One freshman Councilwoman, though, has made a particular impact. In her first year on Council, Maren DeWeese has established herself as a force for change. Her visionary Pensacola Promise proposal could potentially have a transformative, almost revolutionary impact on the City…
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The Pensacola City Council this afternoon unanimously approved a committee to study, over the next 90 days, Councilwoman Maren DeWeese’s Pensacola Promise program.
The Pensacola Promise program, which Councilwoman DeWeese proposed last year, would provide a paid college education at PJC and UWF for any high school graduate residing within the City limits. It’s modeled after a very successful program in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The committee — which will be comprised of representatives…
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A few items we wanted to highlight today:
Hall calls out P. C. City Councilman Sam Hall calls out fellow Councilman P. C. Wu for his negative comments regarding the City’s new charter. Indeed, Councilman Wu did make several such comments during Monday’s Council committee meetings. Councilman Wu has long been involved with the Florida League of Cities and his opposition to the new charter seemed genuinely philosophical. That said, the voters have spoken; we will have a mayor-council government…
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In a post to her blog, City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese counters the claims made by the anti-Community Maritime Park group “No $48 Million Debt,” which is currently collecting petition signatures to force a referendum on the City’s financing plan for the project.
Here’s the statement on the group’s website:
“We want to see a 15 to 25 acre public park built on the city owned Trillium waterfront property. A park that would be a permanent monument to the citizens of Pensacola…”
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A few items we wanted to highlight today:
Abortion clinic closing. The Community Healthcare Center, the sole abortion clinic located within the City limits, and one of only two in Escambia County, is closing its doors. Last month, during a routine inspection, the state Agency for Healthcare Administration found that the clinic’s laboratory license was expired by 413 days, and fined the clinic $413,000. Unable to pay the fine, the clinic has decided to close….
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A few items we wanted to highlight today:
DeWeese weighs in on charter vote. Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese has weighed in on the charter referendum via a lengthy blog post in which she lays out her case in favour of the proposed charter. Councilwoman DeWeese argues that the mayor-council government will create an executive who is accountable to the voters, as compared to the current city manager, who is not accountable to voters…
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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”
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A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Maren DeWeese:
“Proposed Interlocal kills Pensacola Promise”
Pensacola News Journal:
“Pollution fears loom for downtown school site”
Pensacola News Journal:
“City recycling sees success in its first week”
Pensacola News Journal:
“City’s parades in peril”
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Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese has prepared a presentation on her college tuition idea for tomorrow’s City Council committee meetings, and she has made it available to the public at her blog. We’ve included it below.
The idea, which is inspired by the Kalamazoo Promise, would provide a minimum of 2 years’ college tuition for high school graduates residing in the City of Pensacola. See also Progressive Pensacola’s thoughts on the idea.
Councilwoman DeWeese also has another blog post…
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You’ve probable heard about Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese’s suggestion that the City of Pensacola provide a paid college education for kids who reside in the City limits. If you haven’t, check out her blog post where she laid out her plan. It’s inspired by the Kalamazoo Promise, a program initiated by the Kalamazoo Public Schools in 2005.
Provided a dedicated funding source can be identified, Progressive Pensacola endorses the idea wholeheartedly. It’s the ultimate investment in our community, and a potential gamechanger when it comes to economic development…
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A few items I wanted to highlight today:
Pensacola News Journal:
“Project a walk in the park”
Maren DeWeese:
“Scenic Bluffs Park… What a difference 3 hours can make!”
Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese organised a volunteer cleanup this past Saturday at Bay Bluffs Park…
Maren DeWeese:
“WHAT IF?”
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In a blog post this morning, Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese airs her discontent with the City’s budget process, specifically the unrealistic revenue projections submitted by City staff:
“To say I was disappointed would also be an understatement. The County, the School Board and other government entities are forecasting at least a 7% decrease in property taxes and our staff submitted a budget with tax revenue flat and equal to last year. While staff stated they did not want to speculate on proposed decreases at this time I pointed out that we are fooling ourselves…”
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Progressive Pensacola wishes Pensacola City Councilwoman Maren DeWeese a happy birthday today. Ms. DeWeese, who was elected last November, has been a welcome addition to City Council. Her inquisitive nature and responsiveness to District 3 neighbourhoods are refreshing.
If you aren’t already reading it, check out Councilwoman DeWeese’s blog at http://pensacolad3.blogspot.com. She’s done a great job thus far of breaking down important issues and explaining her positions. Her blog is a great example of how public officials can use the internet to inform and communicate with their constituents.
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Slow news day. A few things I want to highlight:
Sarasota Herald-Tribune:
“Question: ‘Morning Joe’ or Sen. Joe?”
Rick’s Blog:
“Who will greet the King and Queen?”
Mark O’Brien:
“Blogs offer Pensacola new views”
Krispy Kreme in danger?
Celebrate Pensacola lectures
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From Rick’s Blog:
“One of the most surprising discoveries last year … was that the Pensacola City Council were included in the city’s retirement plan and the taxpayers were fitting the bill.
At the time, we were told by several council members that they had to do it and they had no choice because they were paid for their services.
Well, Council member Maren DeWeese pressed the issue and found out that she could opt out of the Florida Retirement System and the citizens will not be paying for any retirement contributions…”
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I wanted to recap some things from Council committee meetings Tuesday and the Charter Review Commission today.
Committee meetings
Councilwoman Megan Pratt was appointed by unanimous vote to the CMPA board after Mayor Wiggins withdrew his name from consideration. Wiggins says he wants to be able to lobby CMPA members. I’m not sure that’s legal either way.
On a motion by Mayor Wiggins, the Committee of the Whole voted to direct the City manager to find the $1 million needed for recycling cans citywide…
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Freshman Councilwoman Maren DeWeese isn’t wasting any time. She’s diving right in.
Check out an email she sent to Community Redevelopment Director Thad Cohen, and his response to her, annotated with her opinions.
Councilwoman DeWeese takes issue with the fact that City staff wants to award Neighbours in Seville PCIP funding to print brochures for a self-guided walking tour. Mrs. DeWeese believes that brochures are ineligible for PCIP funding, and that other projects are more worthy…
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The PNJ ran a nice feel-good piece today about how the two mothers of young children elected to the Pensacola City Council (those two being Maren DeWeese and Megan Benson Pratt) bright “new insight” to the Council. I hope they’re right. I hope that being the mother of young children would spur one to think [...]
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Councilwoman-elect Maren DeWeese apparently feels strongly that the lease at the Port of Pensacola of Halcorp, a liquid asphalt distributor, should not be renewed. I tend to agree, although I don’t take the hard line that she does. I am certainly critical of the Port of Pensacola, foremost for the fact that it is an [...]
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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 [...]
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Progressive Pensacola endorses Maren DeWeese for Pensacola City Council, District 3. DeWeese, 40, is a former mortgage lender that has been a stay-at-home mom since 2002. The bottom line: DeWeese is smart, and her experience with financial analysis could be a great asset considering the dire financial straits in which our City government finds itself. [...]
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Jeff DeWeese, husband of Pensacola City Council candidate in District 3 Maren DeWeese, circulated the following email after Council last night: Mike [DeSorbo], You and Jack owe Mr. [Bill] Cummins an apology for your lack or respect of a citizen before Council tonight. The tape will confirm that after Jack mistakenly showed his lack of [...]
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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 3. The Office Races for seats [...]
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