(PENSACOLA) --- Every Pensacola City Council meeting, Council President Allison reads off the following.
"Speakers are expected to refrain from remarks or activity that would violate our rules of order and decorum," specifically noting "political campaigning by or on behalf of a candidate, personal attacks on members of council, the mayor, staff, or citizens."
Resident Stan McDaniels announced his defiance of decorum as soon as he took to the microphone.
"So, I do intend to break a couple of them (rules) today," McDaniels said, but before doing so, praised Councilman Jared Moore for attending the National Day of Prayer ceremony at Town Hall.
"So, I'm very thankful that somebody from the council showed up," McDaniels said.
(Photo: Stan McDaniels tells mayor, council members he will break decorum rules)
McDaniels warned citizens to focus on a new bill by Governor Ron DeSantis, effective in July, which, according to McDaniels, "without ever being charged with a crime, a person facing a restraining order starting in July can be put on an ankle GPS monitor."
The "unconstitutional violation of due process," according to McDaniels, will cost city residents.
"Florida needs to make these changes to these restraining order cases so that people can get their due process," McDaniels said.
(Photo: Joe Wade tells council, Mayor D.C. Reeves, Pensacola City Council that he rejects all candidates for the mayoral run)
Joe Wade also broke decorum rules during the LeRoy Boyd Public Forum, asking, "Who's running for mayor against Mayor Reeves?"
"In a nutshell, we've got two Trump-deranged communists, one good socialist, and one progressive Democrat," Wade said.
According to Wade, Reeves's "Strive to Thrive" plan promotes "globalist initiatives" and Marxist notions, including equitable, dense housing, bike lanes, and red-light cameras. Wade ends with another question, certainly breaking decorum.
Wade wanted to know just how many of Reeves' Republican base would vote in this election after Reeves' disregard for Flock protests and his "weak stance' during the "Drag Queen Christmas debacle."
Aside from Flock, data center protests, and many other concerns, including waterfront safety, street lighting, and environmental presentation, were also addressed, beginning with Bill Waters.
(Photo: Bill Waters confronts the council with waterfront safety concerns)
A lifelong Pensacola resident, Waters expressed concern about the lack of safety measures on the city's waterfront, specifically around the ferries to the Maritime Park.
"I'm sure you all know the stretch of waterfront from the ferries to the maritime park attracts people of all ages," Waters asked rhetorically.
Two areas of concern are Plaza de Luna and the area behind Wahoo Stadium, which do not provide water safety devices, including rings.
"I ask myself how would they (someone in danger) get out quickly," Waters said, answering his own question. "I am at a loss since there is simply no way to do so."
There is no reason why Pensacola should not have the devices Waters said he sees in several other cities.
"As far as I can tell, there is nothing someone could even hold onto until help arrived," Waters said.
(Photo: Mary Husky explains how recent fires are affecting the water quality in her neighborhood)
Speaking of water, Mary Husky told officials about the water quality in her neighborhood after the fire at the recycling center on Bayou Chico.
"I used to live two streets off of Bayou Chico, and one of the very main reasons why I moved was because the air over there always smells like nail polish remover from maybe some of the industrial park," Husky said.
Now the fires "make it where you cannot breathe outside," Husky said, noting the smell is that of metal batteries. Along with the smell comes water concerns.
"Our water quality in our area is so important to me," Husky said, noting she is specifically concerned due to the settlement regarding the plume and groundwater contamination.
"So I just am very concerned for our environmental things here in Pensacola," Husky said, ending with water quality concerns needing more attention from officials.
Sheri Myers also raised environmental concerns. The former councilwoman, who is running against Charles Bare for District 2, told the council that it must act on the adopted climate adaptation plan and address another citizen's concern about lighting at University Heights.
(Photo: District 2 Candidate, former Councilwoman Sheri Myers, confronts mayor and council on various issues during LeRoy Boyd Public Forum)
Myers said it is shocking that "a subdivision with underground utilities could be approved and built without streetlights, which are common in newer developments and a key benefit of living in the city."
Street lights are exactly the problem Patricia Stafford has, pointing Councilman Charles Bare right out. She called out Bare for his lack of concern, noting that he had ignored 10 phone calls over the past year. Stafford said Bare is too busy “buying chairs” for Tippin Park to care about neighborhood safety.
"Now I know they got money because he told me they had, but he keeps promising he's going to do something," Stafford said.
His lack of concern will cost him her vote.
(Photo: Patricia Stafford told Councilman Charles Bare that University Heights needs street lights)
Bare's lack of concern cost Stafford financially.
"I have glaucoma, so at night it's really dark for me," Stafford said, noting she hit her own mailbox backing up due to the lack of lighting.
It's also about safety, with Stafford telling Bare that lighting deters crime and should take priority over park amenities.
The LeRoy Boyd Public Forum also saw the usual Flock protestors, now accompanied by data center concerns.
As for council members, they used their time to speak and share their concerns, including state policy, local government, and the impact of external economic development agencies on the local economy.
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