Why is the concept of compliance so foreign to so many people? The solution to the problem is DON'T SPEED! In order to get a ticket, a person typically has to be at least 10 mph above the posted speed limit. Reckless and speeding driving has become an epidemic in Florida.
I typically would not respond to false accusations, but since my name has once again been brought into this discussion, I want to set the record straight. My role at the shelter was to bring structure and accountability to a previously unregulated volunteer program. Structure and accountability are essential for any successful program. I'm incredibly proud of the work I did, ensuring volunteers were well-trained and animals received the best care possible. While change can be difficult, my focus was always on the well-being of the animals and the integrity of the organization.
I left the shelter in July 2023, yet my name continues to be used in a way that does not reflect reality.
It’s disappointing to see continued misinformation and personal attacks, particularly when they distort the truth. I encourage anyone with genuine concerns to seek out facts rather than opinions based on personal grievances.
The original concept of insurance was a not for profit shared risk structure. Today the insurance industry is a for profit corporation designed to create dividends for stock holders. There are infrastructure costs needed to run this business but the main object is to create returns for the investors not to pay claims. Since this report has traced the flow of funds generated by policy payments it should be possible to see what the actual revenues and claims costs would be without profit taking. The State could then set up a not for profit insurance program everyone could buy into. The current system is voluntary and some people choose to go bare this could work the same way or it could be mandatory and the same actuarial cost calculations used by the for profit industry would be used for either option by the State.
No details and no links! I assume Glenn is talking about this:
https://www.fox13news.com/news/mosaic-inc-exploring-underground-wastewater-well-raising-concerns-amongst-environmental-group
https://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/2025/02/18/mosaic-phosphate-wastewater-drilling-hillsborough-tampa-bay-florida/
Have you ever wondered how early education shapes career choices? I believe showing the Olivia video is beneficial for students as it illustrates the development of life. This is no different from teaching students about the reproduction of frogs, fish, butterflies, or other animals. Understanding human development is as important as learning about other creatures taught in schools. I learned about frog development in kindergarten, and this type of science education sparked my interest so much that I became a biologist. Perhaps I would have pursued a career in medicine if I had been shown life development in humans. Certainly, the Olivia video represents legitimate science. I encourage you to consider the benefits of including human development in the curriculum. Consideration of adding the Olivia video to curriculum is a good idea. Not everything needs to be made into politics.
Mitch and Dawn, always love listening to your podcast on local topics. You both are spot on Regarding: Storm Water review, not what citizens were looking for. Joing COB &MCG meeting and "affordable housing/rent" desperately needed for local Manatee County EMS staff as well as LEO and Healthcare professionals. Finally the "fly over", I have submitted many monkey surveys to FDOT on the US 41 relief bridge for traffic. We all love to live,work and play in Manatee County, but you can't get from here to there in a timely manner. Keep up the excellent local reporting.
So who do the Lawyers sue in the future when it is proven that persons' exposed to this radiation develop cancer? I am sure the politicians and the phosphate industry will have some form of protection against law suits.
Well said and pretty much what I have been saying to all three of our elected officials for the past month. I have yet to receive any feedback from Vern Buchanan (even when I indicate I would like a reply).
If these "leaders" are afraid of Trump - please - let's get new leaders.
New College's finances are so bad and their cost per student so high that the governor is now trying to merge stronger state universities (FSU's Ringling Museum and USF-SM) into New College to support New College. Merging the other direction would make more sense.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rejected selling SRQ airport land to New College in April 2024, then rejected their appeal. This month the FAA put restrictions on any New College development on the airport land. This is another reason for the mergers-New College covets their adjacent neighbors land.
Mitch, agree with your comments and input. I have stated several times to FDOT thru different surveys a fly over, like Tampa's crosstown is the only logical option. Not only will this assist in the downtown area of Bradenton and Palmetto with bottle necks/grid lock. It will assist Manatee County EMS (ambulances) and all other 1st responder agencies get thru that congestion area's in emergency situations. Currently ambulances are having extended response times and critical patients are having delays to the arrival of Emergency Departments.
Hoping FDOT listens to local leaders and the citizens to improve the area that we live, work and play in, and attempt to drive thru.
Mr. Barfield, thank you for your detailed reporting and sharing the facts. My wife and I purchased our first home in 1987 in South county. I stood in front of the BOCC in 1988 when a small 61 home community called Centre Lake had a flooding event. In 1992 Centre Lake had a large event where the residents needed to be evacuated by then Oneco-Tallevast FD. These too were classified as 100 year flooding events. After this event Charlie Hunsicker and Sia Mollazar met with Centre Lake homeowners with some opportunities to fix the issues. Some of those recommendations did occur. Like a flapper gate on the centre lake drain, cleaning the Pearce canal and surrounding ditches. Around the same time in 1991 ordinance 91.25 was created which had some actionable plans to reduce flooding. It also shared certain preventable actions that we didn't have then, and still don't today. My family moved out East and Centre Lake continued to have flooding with the more recent events of 2017, and 2024. We maintain friendship with many residents that reside at Centre Lake and they continue to look for help. With the last large event of August 2024, we too had flooding that we never had in 26 years living off Rye Rd. Again, classified as 100 year flooding events. I am hoping the board takes action, listening to staff (especially Tom Gesterberg), the citizens out cries for help and have some storm water plans including maintenance as indicated in the ordinance from 91.
Finally, within the outside review that was presented on September 19th of the events in August, it was stated "the Dam functioned as intended, by a controlled release." Most of the citizens, are aware that the spillways did not have a controll release, but some other factors that created the additional water to be released creating a large issue of flood waters in areas that never ever have had that. The lack of storm maintenance for decades and this release created the issues for homeowners. Our BOCC needs to take action on all the points made from staff, the citizens as we can't continue to have 100 year floods every five years or at least six events in my 40 years of living in Manatee. Thank you
Phosphate mining has a huge detrimental impact on the environment and our water supplies. Duh! Palmetto Point, and the risk to the Peace River as a fresh water supply!
Jason Bearden is an unstable bully, always ready to explode. He is about as smart as a petland puppy. His favorite word is “constitution”, but he does not have a clue about constitutional principles like Article 1, section 8, which spells out the powers of a legislative body (like a County commission) - which include the power to regulate commerce. In fact, whatever policy the BoCC sets - whether to ban puppy stores, not ban them, or something in between - that policy is completely Constitutional. Bearden’s inability to grasp Constitutional principles was made clear when Kruse pointed out Bearden’s constitutional inconsistency in opposing final plats. Bearden raised his voice (as usual) in reply, making the brilliant statement: “because traffic affects me, that makes it unconstitutional.” Huh? Bearden went on yelling that he is the “most consistent commissioner on the board.” Seriously? Give me a break. Bearden is the poster child of flip flopping. Based on his voting record over his first 2 years, Bearden has changed his position 180 degrees on development, on impact fees, on infrastructure, on wetland protection…being pro-petland is about the ONLY thing he has not flipped on in his pathetic attempt to remain on the public payroll. I don't like his angry man theatrics. I don’t like his having a hissy fit every time someone on the board points out his inconsistency. I don't like his going on a personal attack when a commissioner disagrees with him. He is the opposite of a good statesman. He does not debate, he yells, he makes it personal. I disagree with his antics even when I agree with his new, flip-flopped position.
If you want to control growth, then you must limit growth. I am aware of a city west of Denver that has considered limiting "new build" to 2% of existing property values. Don't know if this has been implemented.
Mike Meehan
Not only is there food insecurity, but when Trump cuts Medicaid from the budget line, what will happen to the stress on our hospitals? We cannot starve people and let them die on the side of our roads. Wake up America! We will become a third-world country.
70% of our homeless are Vietnam Veterans!!!
And I am not crazy; face the truth!
If you want clean waters, don't forget to sign the petition to put the question to the voters on the next statwide ballot — let the voters decide whether they want clean water (not just the investors funding their politicians).
Get a petition that is automatically filled with your correct voting information that only requires your signature and the date. They are available at the site, https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/ — send the link to others, too.
It is up to us to make sure the voters can make this choice, not a few developers who want no restrictions while they pollute.
Get the petition, sign it, return it (mail, drop-off, even picked-up, or a printed copy delivered if you need that). Send the link to help get other voters to sign also — surely, you know five or ten who would. Let's get us off that hot spot map!
LWV Manatee County apologizes for mistakes reported regarding Tillman Elementary School.
The Principal's name was misspelled. She is Marla Massi-Blackmore. Tillman achieved a B in the Florida School Accountability System for the last six years and has now earned an A.
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