Monday Briefing: Debating Alvin Jackson, Caroling for Seniors, FPC Band Benefit Concert, Might Is Wrong

flagler sheriff NEFRC award staly — The Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC) has named the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office the winner of the Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Award for Excellence in Public Safety. Sheriff Rick Staly accepted the award on behalf of the agency at the Northeast Florida Regional Awards luncheon on December 5 in Jacksonville. The agency was nominated for the award by Flagler County Administrator Jerry Cameron for making Flagler County’s Streets and Community Safer using cutting-edge technology. The nomination highlighted the use of Rapid-ID, a secure digital fingerprint capture device that, along with software, runs the unknown individual’s fingerprints against the state and federal database of prior arrests and those with outstanding warrants. If a warrant exists, the name and pertinent information is displayed to the deputy in the field or the individual’s real name is provided. The nomination also highlighted trhe use of license plate readers and the implementation of a real-time crime center. The NEFRC is an independent, regional government agency serving Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Putnam, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Above from left, County Administrator Jerry Cameron, Sheriff Rick Staly, NEFRC CEO Elizabeth Payne, and NEFRC President Len Kreger.

Today: Partly cloudy. Areas of fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 50s. South winds 5 mph.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s National Commemorations.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 173
Global Warming: The daily carbon count.
A.Word.A.Day from Wordsmith.org. Today’s word: hyaloid.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Statista’s Chart of the Day
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“… everything went to the dogs. The strong simply robbed the weak of everything they had. People called it the right of might, or ‘fist-law’. Of course, might is never a right, nor is it right. It’s simply wrong.”

–From E.H. Gombrich’s “A Little History of the World” (1909).

Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

Take the 2019 Palm Coast Community Survey.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Granny Nannies Caroling for Seniors: Granny Nannies of Palm Coast, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Flagler 4-H are joining together to bring Christmas to Senior Citizens living at Grand Oaks Health & Rehabilitation Center, 3001 Palm Coast Pkwy SE, and Flagler Health & Rehabilitation Center, 300 Dr Carter Blvd, Bunnell. There will be Christmas caroling and gifts distributed to all residents. 4 p.m. at Grand Oaks Health & Rehabilitation Center

The Bunnell City Commission meets at City Hall at 7 p.m., Commission Chamber, City Hall Building 3, 201 West Moody Boulevard. For the third time in as many meetings, commissioners will discuss, at the instigation of Commissioner Jan Reeger, her proposal to immediately fire City Manager Alvin Jackson. Also, the city’s police department received a $500 donation from Justin and Judy White, Bunnell residents, a donation that will require a budget amendment. See all agendas and background materials here. Listen to the meetings here.

Flagler Palm Coast High School’s band holds a Benefit Concert at 7 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 4600 Belle Terre Pkwy, Palm Coast.

Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings: Alateen, part of Al-Anon Family Groups, is for teens bothered by someone else’s drinking. The group meets at 8 p.m. every Monday at Advent Health, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, at the south entrance, in meeting room D. Al-Anon meets at the same time. For more information about Alateen or Al-Anon, call toll free 1-888-4AL-ANON, or visit www.al-anon.org. Note: All Aalteen meetings are only open to teenagers who have been affected by another person’s drinking. For AA and NA meetings in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell, go here.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by

going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Monday: Plantation Bay Golf Course, 200 Plantation Bay Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday: AdventHealth Palm Coast, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, 3100 South Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday: MPower Fitness, 160 Cypress Point Parkway (City Marketplace), Palm Coast, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday: Starbucks in Target, Target Shopping Center, 5100 State Road 100, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: Starbucks, Island Walk, 250 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Statista’s Chart of the Day:

“A large share of countries around the world are now using Chinese AI surveillance technology, including facial recognition technology, in full or in part. This is according to a report by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.” See details here.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

Last Updated: Nov. 18

Segments 1 is complete.

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

The work on the new median curbs and flumes is continuing and is approximately 80% complete. All sidewalks have been poured, and driveways are 75% complete. Work on the southbound roadway continues as the contractor has placed limerock base between 18th and 19th street, with paving for Segment 2 tentatively scheduled for later this month. The traffic separators are 90% complete.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive):

Wall construction is complete, and walkover construction will begin once Hurricane Season is over.

Announcements/Press Releases:

Home Instead Senior Care once again is calling on the community to give a gift of love through their “Be a Santa to a Senior” program. It’s easy to participate. Just visit one of the area Walgreen’s or Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate/Synergy. Choose an ornament from the tree and purchase the gift. These gifts will be distributed by Flagler County Senior Services. Touching our Seniors lives by sharing this Holiday Season.

Walgreen’s: 215 Palm Coast Pkwy., NE
1109 Palm Coast Pkwy., SW
5000 E. Highway 100

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate/Synergy
412 Beach Village Dr., Flagler Beach

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

CONSTITUTION REVISION COMMISSION TARGETED: The House State Affairs Committee will consider a proposal (HJR 301), filed by Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, that seeks to repeal the Florida Constitution Revision Commission. The commission, which meets every 20 years, drew heavy criticism last year, in part because it tied together seemingly unrelated issues in single ballot proposals. (Monday, 1 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

AFFORDABLE HOUSING MONEY BACKED: Sen. Debbie Mayfield, R-Rockledge, Sen. Annette Taddeo, D-Miami, and Rep. Sam Killebrew, R-Winter Haven, will take part in a news conference about protecting money in a state affordable-housing trust fund. Lawmakers in the past have frequently used the money for other purposes. (Monday, 1 p.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)

‘BEST AND BRIGHTEST’ REPEAL EYED: The Senate Education Committee will take up a proposal (SB 486), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would repeal the controversial “Best and Brightest” teacher bonus program. The bill would help carry out one of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ key teacher compensation proposals. DeSantis wants to repeal the Best and Brightest program and replace it with a new $300 million plan. DeSantis is proposing to target higher bonuses to teachers and principals who work at public schools in low-income areas. The bonuses would be based, at least in part, on gains that schools make in the state’s school-grading calculations and would be up to $7,500 for teachers and up to $10,000 for principals. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

EXEMPTION SOUGHT FOR COUNTY ATTORNEYS: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will consider a bill (SB 248), filed by Chairman Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, that would create a public-records exemption for personal information about county attorneys and assistant county attorneys. The bill would shield from disclosure information such as home addresses, dates of birth and photographs. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

ETHICS ISSUES DISCUSSED: The House Public Integrity & Ethics Committee will consider a bill (PCB PIE 20-01) that deals with penalties for violating a constitutional amendment that bars public officials from abusing their positions to obtain disproportionate benefits. (Monday, 2 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SMOKING IN PARKS TARGETED: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will consider a bill (SB 670), filed by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, that would ban smoking in state parks and allow counties to restrict smoking on county-owned beaches or public parks. (Monday, 4 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON CONSIDERED: The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee will take up a proposal (SB 640), filed by Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, that would create a state matching-grant program for projects to help the Indian River Lagoon. Money could go to such projects as expanding wastewater-treatment facilities to provide service to homes and businesses that are not currently connected to the facilities. (Monday, 4 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SINGLE SUBJECTS SOUGHT: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will consider proposals (SJR 176 and SJR 396), filed by Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, that would place a single-subject limitation on constitutional amendments proposed by the Constitution Revision Commission and the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The issue drew heavy attention when the Constitution Revision Commission placed proposed amendments on the November 2018 ballot that tied together seemingly unrelated issues. (Monday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SEA-LEVEL RISE EYED: The Senate Infrastructure and Security Committee will take up a bill (SPB 7016) that would establish a Statewide Office of Resiliency in the governor’s office and create a Statewide Sea-Level Rise Task Force. (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

Coming Days:

The Live Calendar is Flagler County’s and Palm Coast’s most complete, detailed and searchable community calendar of events, including culture, the performing arts, theater, government, the courts and justice system and a lot more. If you’re not listed here, you’re not getting the visibility you deserve. To include your event, please fill out this form. Any other issues, email the editor.

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Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Nov. 25, 2019:

Click to access 1-1.pdf

See the full Week in Review here.

Cultural Coda

Alexandre Tansman – Variations on a Theme by Scriabin (performed by Karmen Stendler)