How is YOUR county using CARES Act dollars?

Question: are your local county commissioners promoting how taxpayer money allocated through the CARES Act signed by President Trump is helping distressed workers get through the coronavirus crisis? 

The horror stories have been on the news for weeks; people suddenly out of work, unable to make their rent, mortgage, utility payments and put food on the table due to the decision to shutdown the American economy due to the coronavirus crisis. 

In a County Examiner exclusive, we take a peek into how one Southwest Florida county board of commissioners propose spending over $134 million received under the Act.

But first a recap:

As a supplement to the Paycheck Protection Program Federal coronavirus stimulus checks of up to $1200 per adult and $500 per dependent were electronically deposited or mailed to eligible families. Federal Enhanced Re-employment relief provided an additional $600 weekly benefit for individuals eligible for state Reemployment Assistance benefits.

Under the $2.2 trillion CARES Act $150 billion was also allocated to provide financial relief for families, government and business impacted by the public health crisis (Lee County, Florida public information)

Under the CARES Act Florida received $8.328 billion; $4.6 billion for the state and $3.7 for local governments:

Using the presentation to the Lee County (Southwest Florida) Board of Commissioners $194 million was allocated to the County Board of Commissioners, LeeTran, Human Services, Public Safety, the Lee County Port Authority and the Lee County Sheriff's Office as follows:

As for individual assistance the presentation recommended Lee County Commissioners devote over $23 million to help eligible households with mortgage, rent and utilities relief.

There's also a proposed voucher program for daycare assistance so parents can return to work :

The above presentation to the Lee County Board of Commissioners was a spending proposal; when the minutes from the May 12 board meeting are certified, County Examiner will report on the final spending plan. 

Open government advocates IMHO should obtain this information from their own county governments so they can "follow the money" and ensure your taxpayer dollars are spent as they were intended.

Mask-wearing suspect sought in robbery of Lee County 7-Eleven

In yet another edition of a problem associated with pushing Americans to wear face masks in public comes this blog post on a fourth mask-wearing robbery in Southwest Florida. 

Last week County Examiner shared stories reported by Southwest Florida news outlets NBC-2.com and the Englewood Sun about the law enforcement search and subsequent arrest of a man (emphasis mine) wearing a makeshift face mask who robbed a woman at a Publix supermarket.

Three days later two North Fort Myers convenience stores were robbed by a man wearing a bandana over his face.

And now the Lee County Sheriffs Office is asking the public for help identifying the black mask-wearing man who robbed a 7-Eleven store.

From Wink News:

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying and tracking down an armed man who robbed a Lehigh Acres 7-Eleven store early Tuesday. 

According to LCSO, the man entered the 7-Eleven store, located at 4325 Lee Blvd., just after 4:30 a.m., with a semi-automatic handgun. After firing several shots, he demanded all the cash from the register. The clerk complied and handed over an unknown amount of cash, after which the suspect fled on foot southbound toward Gunnery Road. No injuries were reported. 

The man is believed to be between 20 and 30 years old, approximately 5’10” with shoulder-length dreads with blonde tips and shells at the end. He was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved shirt, khaki pants and a black facemask.

At the time I opined how criminal opportunists are more emboldened  to rob people and businesses under even the slightest mention of guidelines or suggestions about folks wearing masks in public.

I haven't read a single blog or news article pointing out the public safety issue associated with being ROBBED as all this mask-wearing talk circulates in the era of cononavirus.

So I'm wondering; what's next? Public shaming (or worse) for NOT wearing a mask while out and about?

Two more SW Florida robberies by men wearing masks

Criminal opportunists are more emboldened  to rob people and businesses under even the slightest mention of guidelines or suggestions about folks wearing masks in public. 

Last week County Examiner shared stories reported by Southwest Florida news outlets NBC-2.com and the Englewood Sun about the law enforcement search and subsequent arrest of a man (emphasis mine) wearing a makeshift face mask who robbed a woman at a Publix supermarket.

And now on April 16 the News-Press reported two North Fort Myers convenience stores were robbed by a man wearing a bandana over his face.

A suspect alleged to have robbed two North Fort Myers convenience stores within an hour overnight is being sought by Lee County authorities. 

Police reports said the first incident occurred at 11:27 p.m. Wednesday at the 7-Eleven at 15999 North Cleveland Avenue. 

A store clerk said the male suspect entered the store wearing a bandana over his face and approached the counter.

Roughly a half hour later, at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, the same suspect walked into the Circle K at 4600 Bayline Drive.

After briefly browsing through the store, he approached the check-out county and pointed a gun at the clerk, again demanding all the money in the register. In fear for her life, the clerk complied, after which the suspect fled eastbound on foot. 

Now is not the time to let your guard down with the false sense of security that everyone you see wearing face masks is "safe" to be around.  On the contrary, the age of COVID-19 is a reminder to always be cognizant of your surroundings. 

















https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/city-of-miami-orders-people-to-wear-face-masks-at-grocery-stores-more/2217409/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241864981.html

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article241746246.html

https://www.news-press.com/story/news/crime/2020/04/16/two-north-fort-myers-convenience-stores-report-armed-robberies/5143511002/?fbclid=IwAR3ARg1JA62Y3feC8LS_urAD9yIoW-SilD5Sj8I_vYhDUzxdVFArSl1Juqk

Eight Republicans file in the primary race to represent Florida's 19th Congressional District

With the announcement that Congressman Francis Rooney would not run for re-election to represent Florida CD-19 in Washington, DC , County Examiner begins an eight month series on the District and the eight Republicans vying for the GOP nod. 

Rooney, reported Politico back in October 2019, was the first House Republican to express openness to voting to impeach President Donald Trump. 

But first, a little bit about the District using the map ordered by the Florida Supreme Court, December 2, 2015.

Florida's 19th Congressional District is located in Southwest Florida and encompasses the majority of Lee County and a portion of Collier County. The major cities of Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs and Sanibel and the Village of Estero are in Lee County, as is the Town of Fort Myers Beach. The city of Marco Island and a portion of the City of Naples are also in the portion of Collier County included in the District. Additional Census Designated Places in the District (CDP) such as Captiva, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers can be found here.

According to the Florida Division of Elections, and because 2020 is a Presidential election year, the primary election date (with the exception of the President Primary Election) will be held August 18. The winner of the Republican party primary will face a Democratic opponent on November 3, 2020. 

Next up: the eight Republicans running in the GOP primary sourced from the Federal Election Commission.

Another illegal alien arrested in Florida- this time for brutal assault of Federal DHS agent

Florida Democrats fought with all their might against Governor Ron DeSantis's bill SB 168 banning sanctuary jurisdictions and requiring local and state law enforcement agencies and entities honor immigration detainer requests ban during the 2019 Legislative session. 

Not the 2018 case of the Fort Myers police officer shot and killed in the line of duty by an illegal alien visa-overstay nor the 2017 case of two paramedics in Jupiter killed by an illegal alien driver charged with the driving while intoxicated second degree felony death of the EMTs would sway the Democrats steadfast objections to the rule of law and supporting the lives of all Florida first responders and law enforcement.

Florida Democrats just didn't think law enforcement should cooperate with the Feds to remove dangerous illegal aliens from Florida communities; Governor DeSantis was right to push the Legislature to pass that bill.Opponents called it "one of the worst anti-immigrant laws in the country."

Now in just a few seven months after the Governor signed the bill into law comes ANOTHER illegal alien arrested in Florida only this time for the brutal assault of a federal agent.

Jorge Asencion Monge, 48 years old and an illegal alien living in Bonita Springs, Florida was arrested and booked into the Lee County jail on November 14, 2019 on charges of first degree felony assault on a federal Department of Homeland Security agent and second degree felony resisting arrest with violence. And YES, the jail booking records reflects he was subject to an ICE hold. 

According to the arrest record reviewed by County Examiner, the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a call for assistance from two Department of Homeland Security agents the evening of November 14. Due to an incident at a federal hearing that took place on an unknown date and regarding a fake identity the agents were out in the community to take Monge into custody.

The probable cause statement explains how Monge assaulted one of the DHS agents after also making a move for the agents firearm.

Think about it.

Monge HAD a prior interaction with law enforcement and that's when ICE should have taken him into custody--THATS why honoring immigration detainer requests with other jurisdictions in accordance with the rule of law and passing SB 168 was necessary.

German national charged with felony death of Lee County pedestrian overstayed her visa

County Examiner has obtained more information more about the driver charged with the first degree felony death of a pedestrian on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers, Florida the evening of Wednesday September 19, 2019.

Public records reviewed by County Examiner reveal a Department of Homeland Security detective told the Traffic Homicide Investigator that Beatrix Lutz, a German national, entered the United States on July 19, 2008 and was supposed to return to Germany on January 18, 2009. 

Lutz failed to comply with her visa and remained in the United States illegally for the past ten years. The THI on the scene was also advised the German driver license provided by Lutz was not valid nor could Lutz obtain a Florida driver license due to her illegal status.

Court filings reveal Lutz retained private defense counsel.

On October 18, 2019 the Lee County Sheriff's Office was provided notice of an immigration detainer filed on Lutz, required pursuant to Florida Statute Chapter 908.

Lutz is due back in court for a bond hearing on Monday November 25 at 9 a.m.

The case is 19-CF-000466.

Illegal alien gets 15 years for sexual molestion of a child

A man sentenced to 15 years in Florida state prison following his conviction for felony molestation of a child has a notice of an immigration detainer filed, Lee County court filings reveal.

Lee County court records disclose on October 29, 2019 Juan Mateo Ruiz, 32 years old, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of second degree felony lewd or lascivious molestation of a child aged 12-16.

Ruiz was arrested on May 9, 2018 and a Lee County jury found him guilty in September 2019. 

The notice of immigration detainer was filed October 17, 2019.

   

Illegal alien arrested in Collier County hit and run

An illegal alien was arrested for misdemeanor hit and run and felony grand theft auto in Collier County, Florida after receiving notification that a Lee County (Florida) Sheriff Deputy was following a suspect that had reportedly stolen a boat in adjacent Lee County.

Breitel Bejerano Perez, 34, crossed from Lee County into nearby Collier County along State Road 82 at approximately 10:18 a.m. on September 10. According to law enforcement records, the Lee County deputy activated his patrol car emergency lights as if to conduct a traffic stop. The suspect appeared to comply by pulling his vehicle over to the side of the road. However, in an effort to escape the suspect accelerated quickly and with boat in tow, spun out and into the grassy shoulder.

The suspect jumped out of the vehicle and unsuccessfully attempted to disengage the trailer and boat  from the 2005 GMC Yukon he was driving. After climbing back into the Yukon, he pulled onto State Road 82 and later crashed into the Lee County Sheriff Office vehicle near State Road 29. Law enforcement records further note the impact of the crash resulted in the boat/ trailer becoming unhitched from the vehicle.

With the suspect still behind the wheel and upon accelerating to speeds in excess of 90 MPH, both LCSO and CCSO deputies pursued the vehicle. A subsequent tire blow out caused the Yukon to slow, eventually crashing a second time into a civilian vehicle. In an attempt to evade arrest the suspect jumped out of the Yukon and fled on foot into a nearby Wendy's restaurant, where he was eventually captured.

Deputies discovered the suspect was a convicted felon and had a suspended driver license with a habitual traffic offender status. Bejerano-Perez will be arraigned on October 7. 

Law enforcement records reveal there is an ICE detainer on Bejerano-Perez. 

Supervisor of Elections race will no longer be non-partisan

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved the adoption of a note in the county charter signifying the position of Supervisor of Elections will no longer be a non-partisan race.

A justification of the note was outlined in agenda documents reviewed by County Examiner. The item summary and background history are as follows:

In April 2019, the Florida Supreme Court in the case of Orange County v. Rick Singh held that the Florida Election Code expressly preempts a Charter County’s authority to impose term limits or provide for non-partisan elections for six county constitutional officers. Lee County’s Charter requires a non-partisan election of the Supervisor of Elections. To comply with the Courts’ ruling, Lee County’s Charter ordinance will be notated to comply with the Court’s holding. This notation will provide that Article III, Sections 3.1 and 3.2 of the Lee County Charter has been preempted by the holding in Orange County v. Singh and is therefore of no further force or effect. Therefore, future elections for the Office of Lee County Supervisor of Elections shall no longer be on a non-partisan basis.

In November 1996, Lee County placed a proposed charter before the electorate to decide whether to become a charter county. The electorate approved Lee County becoming a charter county. In a 2008 referendum, the Lee County Charter was amended to require the Supervisor of Election be non-partisan. The Lee County Charter contains a Savings Clause that states, “if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or provision of this Ordinance is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the Ordinance shall not be affected”. Since the Florida Supreme Court has declared county charters containing provisions requiring constitutional officers to be elected on a non-partisan basis unconstitutional, the County Charter will reflect the ruling. Upon adoption of this requested action, future elections for the Office of Lee County Supervisor of Elections shall be on a party, partisan basis.

Tommy Doyle, current Lee County Supervisor of Elections is up for reelection in 2020.

City council approves funds to purchase license plate readers

Fort Myers city council recently approved funding distribution in the amount of $45,652.00 for the acquisition of license plate readers for the Fort Myers Police Department.

According to documents reviewed by County Examiner, representatives of the Fort Myers and Cape Coral Police Departments, along with the Lee County Port Authority Police and Lee County Human Services met in June to agree on the distribution of $188,768 in funds set aside by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).

Funding originated from the 2018 Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program for use by all units of government within Lee County.

In a letter transmitted from Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson, the funds will be distributed accordingly:

An examination of the grant application revealed Fort Myers Police Departments prior purchase of equipment from Vetted Security Solutions and finding them to be a reputable company. The acquisition of six additional LPRs from Vigilant will allow FMPD to set the system so it flags:

• Expired License Plate Tags 

• Expired Registration 

• Insurance that is expired 

• Persons of interest in criminal matters 

• Suspended driver's license 

• Outstanding arrest warrant 

• Unpaid taxes or fines 

Florida Statute (316.0778) addresses the records retention requirements of license plate readers. In consultation with the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of State shall establish a retention schedule for records containing images and data generated using an automated license plate recognition system. The retention schedule must establish a maximum period that the records may be retained. 

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Take a peek inside public school mental health plans

Will elected officials and media report on exactly what is inside the Florida public school "mental health" plans currently under review by school boards across the state? And how thoroughly do parents of school-age children read the darn plans before they sign consent forms associated with registering or in some cases, re-registering their kids?

County Examiner took a peek inside the mental health plans for two public school districts in Florida. 

Collier County

While requiring informed parental consent, on page 10 of this plan document Collier County public schools disclose all children ages 3-5 enrolled in a District operated pre-kindergarten program are subject to "universal mental health screenings. 

Should a child be determined by an outside agency as struggling with a stressful life-event, page 11 of the plan reveals the opportunity for an outside agency to file a "Handle With Care" alert with the school, resulting in reduced homework.

Manatee County

As part of their mental health plan, the Manatee County Public School District reveals the "It's Your Choice Program" Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant is beginning the ninth year of implementation during the 2018-19 school year, annually serving over 3,000 students in higher risk Manatee County zip codes. 

"Thus far, over 25,000 students have been served by this program. "it’s yoUR choice" provides a continuum of services designed to prevent teen pregnancy and reduce repeat teen births for students attending five traditional middle schools, four traditional high schools two alternative schools, and the TAPP (Teenage Parenting Program) program. One aspect of this program is counseling to help young girls maintain strong mental health in order to break the cycle of teen pregnancy

County Examiner previously reported the development and existence of a Mental Health Allocation Plan is a requirement of a comprehensive Florida statute addressing school safety. We reported on the expansion of the Lee County Public School District which included the addition of (4) school psychologists and six licensed mental health professionals bringing the total plan cost to over $2 million for the 2019-2020 school year.

School districts are receiving grant and other monies for serving ever increasing numbers of students with teen pregnancies and performing more & more mental health screenings. Let that sink in for a bit.

See where this is heading and why reading these plans before signing any parental consent forms is important?

Honduran national pleads guilty to illegal reentry

A Honduran national pleaded guilty to the felony offense of illegal reentry after deportation, court records show.

Public records reveal after being deported on three prior occasions, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered the individual in Lee County, Florida on May 30, 2019.  Court documents filed July 23 disclose the Honduran national was found to have illegally reentered the United States on an unknown date.

The penalties for violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) include up to two (2) years in jail and a fine not to exceed $250,000.

A sentencing date is scheduled for October 22,2019. 

County school district proposes spending $2 million on student mental health infrastructure

One Florida school district will take action on a proposal to approve the $2 million Mental Health Allocation Plan for the 2019-2020 school year.

Public records reviewed by County Examiner reveal the Lee County School District 2019-2020 Mental Health Allocation Plan is a requirement of a comprehensive Florida statute addressing school safety.

Documents reveal the addition of (4) school psychologists for the 2018-2019 school year, one of which was assigned full-time to the Districts’ Success Academy. The Success Academy is one of forty-five Title 1 schools in the District.

The six licensed mental health professionals represent an expansion of school mental health personnel from the 2018-2019 school year.

Upon Trustee approval, the plan will be transmitted to the Commissioner of Education by an August 1 deadline.

Florida school district set to adopt policy hiding evidence of student crimes from taxpayers

One Florida county is set to adopt a zero-tolerance policy for school -related crimes that excuse the school from reporting certain student-committed crimes to law enforcement.

Draft policy documents publicly posted on The Lee County School District website reveal language taken almost word-for-word from a provision of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act excusing school districts from reporting certain student-crimes to law enforcement.

“Petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors do not require reports to a law enforcement agency, these include, but not limited to:

(a) Disorderly conduct

(b) Simple assault or battery

(c) Affray

(d) Theft of less than $300

(e) Trespassing

(f) Vandalism of less than $1,000

If a student commits more than one misdemeanor, the School Threat Assessment Team must consult with the school resource officer to determine if the act should be reported to law enforcement.

Florida SB 7026 signed into law by former Florida Governor Rick Scott in 2018 requires all county school districts adopt this policy and implement these procedures:

Here’s the exact language of Florida SB 7026, section 1006.13:

“Zero-tolerance policies do not require the reporting of petty acts of misconduct and misdemeanors to a law enforcement agency, including but not limited to:

a)    Disorderly conduct

b)    Disrupting a school function

c)    Simple assault or battery

d)    Affray

e)    Theft of less than $300

f)     Trespassing

g)    Vandalism of less than $1000

With pressure now placed on school resource officers (SRO) to report or not report these types of student-related crimes to law enforcement, open government watchdogs have lots more ammunition with which to criticize school districts and LEO---becoming more opaque versus more transparent—and policies such as these put SROs in possibly very tenuous circumstances.

County Examiners role serves to remind Florida school districts and SROs that our 2018 Legislature passed this bill and our former Governor signed this bill into law. And in their haste to rush this bill through the Lege we now learn they've endorsed hiding evidence of school-related crime, keeping the public in the dark about legitimate public safety issues occurring in the grounds of their neighborhood schools.