Inweekly jan 7 2016

Independent News | January 7, 2016 | Volume 17 | Number 2 | inweekly.net

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winners & losers 4

outtakes 5

news

buzz 7

6

The Weeknd Calvin Harris

What if all the politicians were to get qualified and competent and solve all the problems?

Florence + The Machine Alabama Shakes Ellie Goulding Lenny Kravitz FLUME

+ 70 BANDS a&e

cover story

13, 18

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22

publisher Rick Outzen

art director Richard Humphreys

editor & creative director Joani Delezen

contributing writers Jason Leger, Jennifer Leigh, Emily Richey, Chuck Shepherd, Shelby Smithey

contact us info@inweekly.net

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. Š 2015 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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January 7, 2016

3

winners & losers

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losers

AMY MILLER The Port of Pensacola

director has begun her two-year term as president of the Gulf Ports Association of the Americas (GPAA). Miller is only the second woman president in the history of the organization. Formed in the 1940’s as the Gulf Ports Association, GPAA originally was a trade association of only U.S. Gulf of Mexico ports. Today, its membership stretches from Port Manatee, Florida, to the Port of Progreso on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

NO JOB CELEBRATION Gov. Rick Scott celebrated the addition of a million positions to Florida payrolls. He opens 2016 with a "Million Miles for a Million Jobs" bus tour that refers to how many miles he has traveled for jobs. Stops on the tour include Jacksonville, Melbourne, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, The Villages and West Palm Beach. Missing is the city of Pensacola, where most of the promised jobs have been postponed a year.

TOM GARNER The local historian found

TIME TRAVELER On Dec. 20, an uniden-

the Luna settlement, the first multi-year European settlement in the United States, in a developed neighborhood in Pensacola.

The artifacts discovered are evidence of the Spanish settlement by Tristán de Luna y Arellano from 1559 to 1561, which predates the Spanish settlement in St. Augustine, Florida, by six years, and the English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia, by 48 years.

HEROES AMONG US The local speaker

series that began as a fundraising venture to help an injured Marine has been designated a George Washington Honor Medalist by the Freedoms Foundation of Valley Forge National Awards Program. The Marine Distress Fund, created by Pensacola Marine Corps League J.R. Spears Detachment 066, has helped countless veterans with upwards of $60,000, all due to the Heroes Among Us speaker series.

tified Nashville man crashed his Dodge Challenger into a building on North Davis Highway in hopes of materializing the past, according to police reports. No one was inside the building. The time traveler was uninjured, but was taken to a local hospital for observation. Apparently he didn’t know that only Deloreans travel through time.

PORT WAREHOUSE 1 In 2015, Audu-

bon Florida honored the warehouse for its bird-friendly rooftop. Unfortunately the improvements done by Offshore Inland are in dispute, according to the daily newspaper. The port tenant and city are battling the reimbursement to Off Shore Inland for those improvements, because apparently the work was not bid. As of Dec. 24, Offshore Inland owed the city more than $300,000 for docking fees over 60 days past due.

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New Listings, New Subdivision in Milton

outtakes

by Rick Outzen

RETHINK EDUCATION The Escambia County School District is failing its African-American students.

Focusing on improving assessment tests scores and busing black students out of their neighborhoods to mega-schools has only marginally increased high school graduation rates.

And before you start thinking I’m blaming the teachers or about to say bad parenting as the root of the problem, stop.

The issue is the school system, its administration, decisions and policies.

The Pace Boulevard Palace doesn’t know how to educate the black children of Escambia County.

Other school districts have figured it out, and their improvements since 2010 reflect it.

Escambia County graduation rates have always lagged behind the national and state rates. However, from 2010-2014, the county closed the gap between the national rate by 6.7 percent and the state rate by 3.6 percent.

The biggest contributors were the white, Hispanic and other students not classified as solely black.

The graduate rate for white students went from 63.4 percent in 2010 to 74.6 percent in 2014—an 11.2 percent jump. The Hispanics, Asian and other races, excluding African-American students, went from 61.6 to 75.6 percent—a 14 percent increase.

The black students only improved 5.4 percent, going from 44.4 to 49.8 per-

cent. The state graduation rate for black students is 64.7. Half of the black students in the county’s 2014 senior class failed to graduate, and that is after spending a lifetime in the FCAT world and the closure of schools in their neighborhoods.

What is more troubling is that the improvement in graduate rates for the state and Marion County, a county that is often seen as a peer to Escambia County, don’t have the same disparity. The improvements are more uniform.

The state graduation rates for white students improved by 7.6 percent, Hispanic students by 6.9 percent and black students by 6.9 percent. In Marion County, the black students showed the greatest improvement in graduate rates, 15.4 percent. The white students improved by 14.5 percent, Hispanic students by 14.7 percent.

This week, community leaders are holding a summit on public education in Escambia County. The intent is to get a greater commitment from business, government and the community to improving the quality of education. It is a worthy and laudable goal, but there will be no improvement without focusing on education in the black community.

Time has come to not only revitalize public education here but also to rethink how we are educating. {in} rick@inweekly.net

It is a worthy and laudable goal, but there will be no improvement without focusing on education in the black community.

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5

GAETZ’S FINAL SESSION

Senator Don Gaetz / Courtesy Photo

By Rick Outzen

END CORRUPTION TAX

Since 2007, State Senator Don Gaetz (RNiceville) has sat down with Inweekly every December to discuss the upcoming legislative session. He has gone from rising star to Senate President to a “Lion in Winter” approaching his final term in the Florida Senate.

As always, he was optimistic about the upcoming session.

“I hope we will see some return to civility as between the Governor, the House and the Senate,” he said. “We were like Washington last year. It broke down and everybody pointed fingers, and nobody got much done, and everybody went away in a huff.”

The 2015 session ended when House Speaker Steve Crisafulli adjourned his chamber with hundreds of bills awaiting final votes.

“That was such a change from the two years previous to that, when I had a chance to work with a very outstanding gentleman as part of the House, Will Weatherford,” said Gaetz, “This year I hope that we'll have a return of civility, and we'll get something done. I'm certainly pushing some legislation that I hope gets considered.”

He added, “Mostly, I hope that my last 10 months in the Florida Senate will be months where we actually get things done, as opposed to just yelling at each other, like we did last year.”

Since he first went to Tallahassee as one of Northwest Florida’s two state senators, Gaetz has tried to strengthen the state’s ethics laws.

When he was Senate President in 2013, Gaetz and House Speaker Weatherford joined forces to pass ethics legislation that prohibited lawmakers from drawing a second public paycheck while in office; banned lawmakers from voting on issues if they have a conflict of interest; and made financial disclosure statements easily available online.

Last year, his Local Government Accountability and Ethics bill passed the Florida Senate but died in the House when that chamber abruptly adjourned. Negatively inspired by the Okaloosa TDC scandal, this bill aimed to “clean up goodol”-boy practices and wink-and-nudge government” for county and city governments. It required local governments to implement codes of ethics, act on findings of the Auditor General, strengthen public disclosure of budgetary matters and disclose who is lobbying public bodies for contracts or funding.

In his last legislative session, Gaetz waits to tighten the state’s ethic laws at the local level.

“Actually, there are two bills that I'm sponsoring,” he said. “One is the bill that Gannett was particularly interested in that deals with bid-rigging, and basically con-

“This year I hope that we'll have a return of civility, and we'll get something done. ” Senator Don Gaetz

66

tract fraud among government contractors and their relationship with county and city officials around the state including, unfortunately, in northwest Florida.”

Last summer, the four Florida daily newspapers owned by the Gannett Co., which includes the Pensacola News Journal, launched a statewide campaign for the Florida Legislature to eliminate what they called a “corruption tax.” The newspapers asserted that that Floridians paid hundreds of millions very year to absorb the cost of bid-rigging, bribery, fraud and waste.

The proposed bill adds government contractors to the legal definition of “public servant” so that state attorneys can charge them with corruption for bribery, bid-rigging and defrauding taxpayers. The law eliminates the burden of prosecutors having to prove defendants had corrupt thoughts or intent and only require the state attorneys to prove that the defendants acted knowingly.

“I'm a Lutheran, and we Lutherans tend to look at the real consequences of actions,” Gaetz told Inweekly. “Intent's important, but if you've committed fraud, if you've committed bribery, if you've illegally favored some pal or crony of yours in the writing of a government contract, the illegality, the immorality, the unethical nature of that behavior is shown by its fruits. I guess only philosophers and psychoanalysts can go back and try to find out, ‘Did I have a corrupt intent when I bribed this guy?’"

He has little mercy for those involved in bribery.

“It doesn't really matter. You bribed him, and so both of you ought to go down,” he said.

“That's why the state attorneys across the state have unanimously endorsed this legislation, because they believe that the corrupt act itself ought to be enough to take action against both of the parties who were engaged in it.”

Gaetz agreed that the “corruption tax” needed to be fought.

“We're talking about really a corruption tax, hundreds of millions of dollars that the state-wide grand jury has found is really a corruption tax when you have favoritism, and cronyism, and back-room deals, with City Hall pals, for contracts and bids,” he said. “Then the extra cost of all of that gets shifted onto the taxpayers in more expensive schools, more expensive bridges, more expensive roads.”

Gaetz said, “That's just wrong.”

His second ethics bill may be even more difficult to get through the Senate

and House. Gaetz wants to push for more financial disclosures by local officials, which is something the Florida Association of Counties and Florida League of Cities have fought in the past.

“This that has an even heavier lift, that calls for local officials to do what state politicians have to do now, and that's disclose all of their financial interests, and financial transactions in relationships, and places a bunch of other ethical standards in local government that now we have, thanks to some ethical legislation that we passed a couple of years, in state government,” he said.

NEW BAY BRIDGE

Gaetz is credited for convincing Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature to appropriate over half a billion dollars for a new Pensacola Bay Bridge. He gave Inweekly an update on the project’s progress.

“I'm very pleased that it's moving along according to schedule,” he said, “The Department of Transportation has begun to go through the selection of folks to build it. They've got it down to about five firms right now that they've invited to submit proposals.”

He added, “My hope is that the first turn of the shovel will be before I leave office next November. That'll be a real achievement for all of us in northwest Florida, to get that bridge replaced, to make sure that we have something that's safe, that's attractive, that works, and that doesn't disrupt the economy and culture of our community by requiring people to pay $4 or $5 to go back and forth to work, to school, to church.”

Mayor Ashton Hayward and his supporters have been working for input on the bridge’s design. The governor was sent a letter protesting the selection process.

“There are a couple of folks in Pensacola, powerful, respected individuals, who had a favorite company that they didn't understand why they didn't get picked over everybody else to get the bid for this half-a-billion-dollar project,” said Gaetz.

“I personally don't care who builds it. I haven't got any stock in any bridge building company. I don't want a job with one. I'm not going to be a consultant to one.”

He said, “I don't care who builds the bridge, as long as they build it on budget, on time, and make sure that it gets done before politicians east and south of here decide to reach in and take our money because we're bickering with each other.”{in}

“My hope is that the first turn of the shovel will be before I leave office next November. That'll be a real achievement for all of us... ” Sen. Gaetz

inweekly.net

market. As a result, this has all been tied up in court, and it's been abysmal and wronged.”

Gaetz had a simple solution that would take the profit motive out of the medical marijuana market.

“By God, and I don't usually say stuff like this,” he said. "I think we ought to have the University of Florida just grown the stuff and give it away for free to people who are in pain, and people who need it for medical reasons."

He added, “I'll tell you what, if I were king of the world, I would make it so that these greedy growers who are tying all this up in court couldn't earn a dollar out of this.”

by 1 percent, and American Indian by 1.2 percent.

When you compare the improvements with Marion County, one of our peer counties, the variances are even more profound.

Marion County’s gains are spread evenly among white, black and Hispanic students (15.4-14.5 percent), as are the improvements in statewide rates (7.6-6.9 percent).

CANDY STORY TO OPEN On News

Rolling Hills C&D

BEGGING EPA The Wedgewood/Rolling Hills/Olive Heights Homeowners Association has written the Environmental Protection Agency for help. Recent soil reports indicate the Lewis Powell ballparks near the opening gate of Rolling Hills landfill are covered in arsenic.

The independent testing commissioned by the Escambia Board of County Commissioners showed the samples taken on Dec. 3 exceeded regulatory limits for arsenic.

Unfortunately, a control sample taken at the Southwest Sports Complex in the Perdido area also exceeded the limits.

Dr. Gloria Horning, a member of the homeowners association, wrote the EPA that “our playgrounds in the neighborhood are covered in arsenic, and our air is full of hydride sulfide.”

She said that the eight landfills surrounding the neighborhood have impacted health, lessoned the values of the homes, and forced others to abandon their homes because of the toxic air surrounding their homes.

“One landfill, Rolling Hills C&D owned and operated by South Palafox Properties, was issued seven years straight with the same 17 violations, including toxic air and water contamination,” wrote Horning. “Yet (it) was never fined, nor closed. It took a handful of dedicated residents to force the county and the department of the environment for Northwest Florida to make a move.

Yet, here we are — still breathing toxic air, and our children are playing on soil covered in arsenic.”

She asked, “When is the EPA going to come here to see what we are living with on a daily basis? Our community, our homes and, most of all, our children are not safe.”

UNSAVORY GREED In 2014, the Florida

Legislature passed a law that made noneuphoric cannabis legal for children and others battling severe forms of epilepsy. The product, commonly referred to as “Charlotte’s Web,” has yet to be grown and distributed in Florida due to repeated legal challenges.

“This is the story of unsavory greed and immorality,” said State Senator Don Gaetz. “As you know, Representative Matt Gaetz, my son, passed the Charlotte's Web law, which provides for non-euphoric marijuana extract to be used to help these children and others who could benefit from a form of marijuana.”

He explained, “It can’t get people high, but it does ease pain, and it does palliate, or maybe even eliminates some of the violent seizures that affect children who have epilepsy and other disorders. Matt passed that law.”

Sen. Gaetz blamed the growers for delaying the implementation of the law.

“What you’ve had is a bunch of greedy vendors who said, ‘We want to file a protest, because we want to be the ones to grow it and sell it; no, we don't want them to, we want to,’” he told Inweekly. “A bunch of people who really aren't caring a whole lot about children with seizures or about people in intractable pain, began to be greedy and grab for a

“When is the EPA going to come here to see what we are living with on a daily basis? Our community, our homes and, most of all, our children are not safe.” Dr. Gloria Horning

January 7, 2016

Talk 1370’s “Pensacola Speaks,” developer Quint Studer said that pro golfer Bubba Watson’s candy store will open in early 2016 in a temporary location.

“We are moving up the candy store quicker, because it was just taking so long to get things built with floods and expense,” said Studer, whose wife Rishy is partnering on the venture. “Right now we have a store that's a pop-up store right next to Nom on Palafox. As soon as they move out in December, we're going to move the candy store right into there which gets it up and running a year or so earlier than it could. “

“I think we ought to have the University of Florida just grown the stuff and give it away for free to people who are in pain, and people who need it for medical reasons.”

Senator Don Gaetz

BLACK GRADUATION RATE FALLS BEHIND While the overall graduation rate

for Escambia County has improved from the 2009-10 school year to the 2013-14 school year, analysis shows that the improvement was uneven, and the AfricanAmerican students have fallen further behind the statewide graduation rate.

In 2010, 57.8 percent of all black high school seniors in the state of Florida graduated, while only 44.4 percent graduated in Escambia County—a variance of 13.4 percent. In 2014, 64.7 percent of all black high school seniors in the state of Florida graduated, while only 49.8 percent graduated in Escambia County—a variance of 14.8 percent.

Our African-American students have fallen behind since 2010, while our white students have closed the gap with statewide rates by over 3 percent, Hispanic students by 17.6 percent, multiple race students by 11.1 percent, Asian students

CHALLENGING CORPORATE RULE

Move to Amend, the national campaign to abolish Corporate Personhood, will host a community forum on “Creating Democracy and Challenging Corporate Rule” with guest speaker David Cobb of the Move to Amend campaign.

Part history lesson and part heart-felt call to action, the event will be at the Santa Rosa County Auditorium at 4530 Spikes Way in Milton. It will be from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14.

Organizer Mike Potters said, “The recent U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. FEC opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending on elections. Cobb, an attorney and organizer for the Move to Amend coalition, will help local residents understand the history behind the recent decision and how they can work to abolish ‘Corporate Personhood’ and reestablish a government of, by, and for the people.”

He said the forum will focus on how people in Santa Rosa County and Escambia County can join the national movement against Corporate Personhood. Cobb will provide information about the issue and facilitate a discussion about local action in the local area and in communities across the United States to win the amendment campaign through grassroots mobilization.

To learn more, visit MoveToAmend.org {in} 7

A C E L E B R AT I O N O F D I F F E R E N C E M A K E R S I N P E N S ACO L A Pensacola has been blessed with families who have helped to mold our community, generation after generation.

They came here ready to work hard and take risks to make a difference. This series of stories celebrates Pensacola’s 1st generation and the legacy of contributions they started.

C. V. Rainwater

THE

FAMILY

Several of Pensacola’s best remembered families are recalled because of enterprises—or products—with which they were first associated. Involved in both the 19th and 20th centuries were banking, law, fishing, real estate, advertising, railroading…and Coca-Cola! It was Charles Veazey and Crawford Rainwater whose works helped transform the carbonated beverage from “an occasionally enjoyed refreshment” to a national icon. Their story began in 1900, when C.V., a youth just completing business school, was employed as the first staff in the newly created Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Through almost four decades he rose to become a national officer in all levels of the company’s production and marketing. In the process he and family members became owners of more than a dozen regional bottling and distribution franchises. In 1938 their Hygeia Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Associated Companies was relocated to Pensacola; a headquarter was erected on Palafox Street. Veazey Rainwater remained an active force until his death in 1973.

Crawford Rainwater, center, with his father at right and Eugene Smith, a company executive, at left.

Also in the 1930s C.V.’s sons, Crawford and Brown, joined the organization. Within months Crawford had become a corporate officer. One of his first civic acts in Pensacola was as part of the Junior Chamber of Commerce; he and three associates led the reopening of the Community Chest, which depression conditions had closed earlier. When WWII came, Crawford became a Navy Seabee.

Brown too became a military officer.

Postwar Crawford’s bride was Betty Gregg, whose father was a steel industry executive. The pair’s family came to include Elizabeth, Nancy and Crawford, Junior.

The two Rainwaters, father and son, maintained strong ties to the national Coca-Cola organizations and, stage by stage, expanded their franchises and their facilities. Crawford became recognized for his skills development of the company’s corps of managers. In time the 1930s Pensacola plant and general corporate headquarters was relocated along Davis Highway. Employment totals grew, and the company became known for its levels of assistance to community programs and projects. Plant tours by students became a regular feature for many schools.

Golf was a recreational passion for both C.V. and Crawford Rainwater. Here C.V. (center) is shown receiving an award from golf’s immortal Bobby Jones.

Crawford’s personal interest, sometimes were shared by his brother and children. He was the Community Chest Campaign Chairman in 1953, and United Way president for 1963 and ’64. The family shared interests in a huge ranch breeding Angus cattle. Those interests broadened to assistance to the 4-H movement. A boy scout as a youth, Crawford’s adult involvement led to his receipt of the highest awards scouting offers. His efforts led to financing and expansion of camp sites for regional scouting.

Presentation of the Silver Beaver scouting award was but one of many honors Crawford received. With his wife Betty, he is shown with national scouting leaders.

His management methods helped establish the Pensacola Junior College Foundation. Crawford was Rotary Club president (1956-57) and he served several times as a vestryman for Christ Church, where the family was much involved. Crawford became a director of Baptist Hospital, and family involvement there included assistance in establishment of the Rainwater Specialty Care Center. Recognizing his variety of community services Crawford Rainwater was named Man of the Year by the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce.

In 1980 Crawford retired from his corporate position and established Durnford Enterprises, through which family members and others acquired, then remodeled, The Brent Block, using the ongoing skills of son-in-law Kenneth Wolfe.

Pensacola has benefitted greatly from The Rainwater Family. C.V. and Crawford brought a thirst for growth and progress and the energy and enterprising spirit needed to quench it. With their strong character, civic mindedness and willingness to share, they inspired and empowered future generations to continue making a difference.

Saluting 1st Generation Difference Makers: If you have a suggestion for a family to feature, email Quint@studergroup.com.

SponSored 88

QS0490 Rainwater Family IN.indd 1

by

Quint and R ishy studeR inweekly.net

1/5/16 1:05 PM

by Rick Outzen

“The density of residential housing downtown— perhaps more than any other factor—spurs the development of a vibrant, safe, and healthy city.”

—URAC Final Report, 2012 Nearly four years ago, Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward formed an Urban Redevelopment Advisory Committee to create a framework for the continued redevelopment of Pensacola’s Community Redevelopment Agency District, including downtown, the waterfront and the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Community Redevelopment Area is in the southern half of Pensacola and covers more than 300 blocks between East Cervantes Street and the Bay. The CRA contains several historic neighborhoods, including East Hill, Historic Seville, Belmont-DeVilliers and the southern portions of North Hill and Long Hollow, as well as downtown Pensacola.

Since the Urban Core Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Pensacola adopted its first plan in 1984, increasing and diversifying residential housing in the district have been key goals.

In 2004, the City had Zimmerman/Volk Associates conduct a market analysis of the residential market potential of downtown Pensacola and the CRA. They determined that more than 2,300 empty nesters and retirees, younger singles and couples, and familyoriented households represented the potential January 7, 2016

market for new market-rate housing units within the CRA. The new development in the urban core, according to the analysis, should concentrate on the higher-density housing types that support downtown development and redevelopment most efficiently, including rental and for-sale lofts, apartments, townhouses, rowhouses, and live-work or flex units.

“Downtown Pensacola is a special focus of this study because it is critical to create new dwelling units within the urban core to support and strengthen commercial vitality throughout the Community Redevelopment Area,” said Zimmerman/ Volk Associates.

In 2008, the consultants were hired to update their market analysis. Zimmerman/Volk Associates found the size of the annual potential downtown market had increased significantly. Younger singles and childless couples represented nearly half of the market for housing units in the CRA and 54 percent in downtown Pensacola.

“The challenge in capturing this potential market is being able to produce new units that are attractive to young people (lofts,

not suburban-style apartments), at rents and prices the majority can afford,” Zimmerman/ Volk Associates said. “Since land and construction costs in downtowns are typically higher than in other neighborhoods, this can be difficult to achieve without some form of development incentives.”

In 2010, two years before the URAC report, the Pensacola City Council adopted the Urban Core Community Redevelopment (CRA) Plan to leverage the funding resources available and continue to stimulate economic growth in the CRA district.

The plan provided policy, programmatic and fiscal direction for the CRA as Pensacola reshapes its urban landscape and waterfront.

The 2010 plan set a goal of adding 2,000 new residential units resulting in a potential 3,500 households by 2040.

“Vibrant downtowns depend on a critical mass of residential development to support restaurants, retail shops, offices, and to activate parks and open spaces,” the report stated.

“Residential tenants/owners also provide a security system of ‘eyes on the street’ that thwarts criminal activity after business hours.”

“The challenge in capturing this potential market is being able to produce new units that are attractive to young people...”

Zimmerman/Volk Associates

The plan called for the promotion of higher-density, mixed-use development in the Downtown Improvement Board District, Governmental Center District, Waterfront District, and ECUA site. The City of Pensacola was to explore incentive options to attract to the district mixedincome residential developments, both for sale and for rent.

The 2010 CRA plan even included a demonstration study for how the Pensacola News Journal building on Romana Street could be redeveloped. The Pensacola News Journal site was chosen as a demonstration site due to its unique location between the Pensacola Historic District, Palafox Street and the DIB District. The example illustrated how redevelopment should be planned and implemented that would connect surrounding neighborhoods to the DIB District.

Among the features illustrated in the demonstration were: •Ground floor retail uses along key connector streets, •Structured parking with minimal visibility from the street, •High density residential with amenities, •Pedestrian-friendly streetscapes with wide sidewalks, trees, and decorative street lighting, and •Connectivity by creating an active, vibrant streetscape.

9

Community Redevelopment Plan 2010 / Courtesy Image

‘HEART AND SOUL’ OF DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT

Adding rental housing to a downtown area has worked in other communities. Over the holidays, Baton Rouge’s The Advocate (“No longer a 'wasteland,'” Dec. 26, 2015) reported that downtown Baton Rouge has, for the first time in several decades, emerged as a popular residential destination.

Davis Rhorer, director of the Downtown Development District, said some 2,200 people live in the downtown residential neighborhoods today. However, he said it took more than 15 years to persuade developers, banks and insurance companies to invest in downtown and create neighborhoods that attract families and young professionals.

For Rhorer, the residential component was vital, because it created a built-in customer base that made downtown even more attractive to businesses contemplating relocations or expansions. Since 2008, 309 apartments have come on the market in downtown Baton Rouge.

Rhorer told The Advocate, “Residential development has become the heart and soul of making redevelopment downtown happen. It’s the beating heart of making everything go together and click as one.”

Clearwater, Florida is actively seeking developers to build residential units in its downtown core. City officials last year hired the Urban Land Institute to conduct a market analysis of downtown Clearwater.

The consultants said the area would support 400-600 more rental units in the next five years.

The Urban Land Institute agreed that multi-family apartments could be a catalyst for economic development.

010 1

“This area has had no new apartment construction since the recession, though several projects have been proposed to fill the gap,” said the consultants. “Given the pent-up demand and the availability of capital, as well as a high level of investor and developer interest in building new rental communities throughout the country, the time is right to move forward on building additional units in the study area. This will also be an incentive for potential new employers to locate nearby, because most employees would prefer to live closer to, rather than farther, from their workplace.”

The consultants realized that city officials might get some pushback for apartment construction, but the potential economic gains were worth it.

“Although the panel heard from some individuals opposed to new housing in downtown, most interviewees were strongly supportive of both new and rehabilitated housing,” said the Urban Land Institute. “The panel feels that housing in the downtown area is a key component of economic growth bringing new customers and activity.”

The city has identified six potential properties—some owned by the city, some privately owned—suitable for apartment buildings and has put together marketing brochure in hopes of attracting developers, builders and architects.

DOWNTOWN BELIEVER

Councilman Brian Spencer has lived in downtown Pensacola for over 25 years. As an architect and developer, he believes in the impact high-density residential housing can have on economic development in a downtown.

“When businesses, whether it be retail or even corporations, are making decisions about where they may locate, relocate and expand,

they want to see how many residences are within close proximity to an area that they may be interested in investing in,” said Spencer. “If they see a low density, they immediately are going to ask what's ahead in the future for that area.”

He said that downtown Pensacola with its waterfront, historic architecture and streetscapes and “blocks and blocks of history” is a natural attraction for entrepreneurs to locate here.

“When they start to peel back that layer, they see that the population, 24/7 population, is lacking,” said the councilman.

Spencer agrees with the CRA 2010 Plan and the mayor’s URAC report on the need for apartments downtown.

“Apartments provide a price point for people to live downtown that currently is not that available,” said Spencer. “It also means more feet on the street, more people in the stores, without burdening the streets with the influx of vehicles.”

More people living downtown also improves the sustainability of the retailers and restaurants that have already invested in downtown and the overall quality of life.

“Our downtown businesses have difficulty growing because of the lack of customer growth,” said Spencer. “Also, a resident has inherently a higher level of concern and ownership for a neighborhood, than a daytime employee.

They become stewards of downtown.”

While high-density residential has been a goal for downtown Pensacola for years, no developers have stepped up despite market reports showing there is a demand. The councilman said several events had significantly changed the formula for developers of high-density rental properties.

“Hurricane Andrew was the first Florida event that resulted in amending building codes in a way that improves the life-safety measures by increasing wind and impact pressure for all buildings,” said Spencer. “Eventually, that moved its way, all the way to the panhandle of Florida. The cost-per-square-foot of construction increased significantly, while the rental rate did not follow it.”

In other words, the household incomes are lower in Pensacola than other parts of the state, while the construction costs are the same, or maybe higher.

“It’s difficult to make a high-density housing project work in downtown Pensacola because of these factors,” he told Inweekly.

“Several developers have come to town and chose to do other projects, because they couldn’t make the numbers work.”

THE DAILY CONVO

In 2014, Quint and Rishy Studer purchased the former 5.85-acre PNJ property for $3.4 million, under the corporate entity Daily Convo, LLC. Their goal was to develop residential apartments, commercial offices and retail. The project would be the first new apartment building constructed in the CRA, a step towards meeting the CRA and Mayor Hayward’s URAC goal of adding more high-density, mixed-income residential in downtown Pensacola.

Andrew Rothfeder, Studer Properties president, talked about the decision process.

“We're not a typical developer that picks a specific niche, gets really good at it, and it keeps doing it,” he explained. “If you go to developers around the country, you'll see there are office developers, retail developers, mall developers, apartment developers.”

Rothfeder said, “That's not who we are.

We're about building projects that help move Pensacola forward. Whatever the next right thing to do that Pensacola needs is the project we're working on, which speaks to how we've done historic rehabs, put retail on Palafox, or rehab buildings in Belmont-DeVilliers.”

They reviewed the CRA 2010 plan which showed that the Jefferson Street area was a barricade to downtown expanding.

“You're never going to connect those neighborhoods like Aragon to Palafox, because you had this old, industrial, blighted north-south strip,” said Rothfeder. “Tearing down that old PNJ building and creating this sort of active streetscape from east to west was getting rid of that barrier.”

He added, “The research said, as well as the CRA plan approved by the city council and the mayor’s URAC report, we need more people living downtown. Our downtown retailers can't continue to survive without it. It's the three-legged stool—work, live and play.”

Studer Properties market research determined there was a demand for apartments at all levels of income.

“The one that's the fattest, the one that's needed the most, is middle market rental housing. That's the one that's needed more than anything,” said Rothfeder. “Over the next five years, downtown Pensacola could absorb 700 rental housing units.”

The next decision was to determine the rental rates which the market could bear— how much do people make, and what can they afford for housing to live downtown?

“Our downtown businesses have difficulty growing because of the lack of customer growth.” Brian Spencer

inweekly.net

The other thing that made the project viable was the Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions incentive.

“This is the absolute definition of when an incentive is needed to do a project,” he said. “If tons of people have looked at it and said, ‘I can't do it without some type of incentive to fill that gap and keep the project affordable,’ it's just not going to happen without an incentive.”

Rothfeder added, “The lower required rate of return, combined with filling the rest of the gap with the 10-year tax exemption just on the Mayor Hayward at URAC Press Conference / Courtesy Photo county and city portions, made the project get just The researchers came back with rates that over the line that the Studers were willing were about 60 percent the rates the same to do and for which lenders would loan the group could afford in a bigger market, like capital.”

Birmingham, Nashville or Atlanta, accordThe $50-million four-story complex ing to Rothfeder. will have 260 units, studios, one-, two- and Another issue was parking. To build a three-bedroom units. The majority of aparthigh-density project, you have to build a ments will be one bedroom and priced under parking garage. $1,000. Studio apartments will run about “It's a monumental leap in the kind of $750 a month. A dozen of the units will be development you do,” he told Inweekly. three-bedrooms and run $2,100 a month.

“People are either going to park on a Over 540 are currently on the waiting list. surface lot on the street, or they're going The parking garage will have 568 spaces to park in a parking garage. If it's a surface to accommodate the apartments, the downlot on the street, you can build about 20 town YMCA being built across the street, percent of the number of units that you can and a potential building on the parcel next build if you have a parking garage.” to YMCA. A parking space in a parking garage “We want to have the future ability to decosts $14,000 per space. A surface space velop that parcel into something other than costs $2,000 per space. Rothfeder said the a fast food restaurant with surface parking, garage adds another level of cost to the so we had to go ahead and build this parking project. In the end, the research said the high-density apartment complex with a parking garage didn’t make financial sense, because the market couldn't support the rents that are needed.

“We define ‘making financial sense’ as what a lender will loan us to be able to do the project,” he said. “Lenders; they're not going to lend money to a project that's not going to be successful.”

However, two things still made the project viable. The Studers were willing to do a project with a lower rate of return than any other developers would accept to take the risk to do the project.

“Every study talks about how much this is needed and how much demand there is,” said Rothfeder. “Well, why hasn't it happened in 10 or 20 or 30 or 40 years? The answer is people have tried, but it hasn't taken them long to realize that they can't get it to make any sense.

They can't borrow money to do the project, because it can't work.”

garage with enough parking to handle that, whatever is developed there someday,” said Rothfeder.

The apartment complex will have about 15,000 sq. ft. of retail space. He said, “The retail strategy is to recreate a shopping center similar what one might have near a house in the suburbs. We want to recreate that so that all of your necessary items for living are available in the ground floor of the project. Things like a small grocery, a small convenience store, a pharmacy, a coffee shop. Several restaurants at different levels serving different types of food, a dog groomer, a nail salon, a cell phone store.”

When asked about the recent debate whether the project truly needed the incentives, Rothfeder said, “What is the purpose of an incentive? It’s to achieve a goal that the market doesn't support at that time.”

Fortunately, Mayor Hayward, Pensacola City Council, and the Escambia County Commission all agreed the project’s goal of adding high-density housing in downtown Pensacola deserved an incentive.

tion exempted another $214,000 a year. Daily Convo would still pay roughly $397,000 a year to the Escambia County School District and more to the Downtown Improvement Board.

EDATEs are renewed annually for 10 years, but the Daily Convo would only get the exemptions for eight years, since the building will not be completed until 2017.

However, there was a cloud that hung over the approvals. The Enterprise Zone program expired on Dec. 31, 2015, placing in doubt whether the property exemptions for such zones were still valid.

The Florida Enterprise Zone Program, created in 1994, offered an assortment of tax incentives to businesses that choose to create employment within an enterprise zone, which is a specific geographic area targeted for economic revitalization.

Local governments could provide additional incentives for projects located within their boundaries.

The city of Pensacola and Escambia County have granted EDATEs as part of their economic development incentives for developments in their enterprise zones.

The EDATEs did not have to be tied to job creation.

With the sunset of the enterprise zones looming, city and county officials hoped that Attorney General Pam Bondi would rule those projects approved for the EDATEs be allowed to keep them. However, the Attorney General’s office punted on the issue and recommended officials seek “definitive judicial resolution in this matter.”

“In light of the significant tax implications and real property and development

“What is the purpose of an incentive? It’s to achieve a goal that the market doesn't support at that time.” Andrew Rothfeder

EDATE DANCE

In December, the Pensacola City Council and Escambia County Board of County Commissioners approved Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemptions (EDATE) for Daily Convo LLC. The project qualified for the incentive, because it is located in an enterprise zone.

The exemption would preclude the Daily Convo from having to pay $383,025 annually in property taxes to the county. The city exemp-

Corner of Romana St. & Jefferson St. / Courtesy of Niles Bolton Associates

January 7, 2016

11

consequences related to the resolution of this matter,” wrote Senior Assistant Attorney General Gerry Hammond, “the Florida Attorney General’s office recommends the courts be consulted.”

One part of the letter from the Attorney General’s office caused concern for Escambia County Property Appraiser Chris Jones. Bondi said that no enterprise zone would exist past Dec. 31, 2015. If no enterprise zones exist, the tax exemptions for businesses in those zones cannot be renewed. Under the old law, counties and cities had to submit EDATE applications for renewal annually.

There are eight local businesses that have tax exemptions, because they are in enterprise zones. They are in various stages of the ten-year exemption period. Jones has sent them a letter that their exemptions are at risk, and the businesses need to contact city and county officials.

“The simplest fix is for the state legislature to pass a law that says if your business was approved for a tax exemption because of enterprise zone before Dec. 31, 2015, then you can keep the exemption,” Jones told Inweekly.

State Rep. Clay Ingram is working on such a fix.

“The thought was that the attorney general would give some clarity to the issue,” Rep.

Ingram told Inweekly. “Her punting on the issue leaves two remedies to communities that want to continue some sort of tax abatement program, either through the courts or to change the statute.”

However, changing a state statute can have unintended consequences. He said, “The concern is that obviously we have a big project here, but when you tinker with statute, it changes the law for everyone in the state.

That's a weighty thing to do.”

Ingram plans to create a framework by which a project that qualified for exemptions under the old enterprise zone program would remain able to qualify for those programs with local governments.

“The immediate concern is these projects that have been vetted, they're in the pipeline and ready to go and all of a sudden there are uncertainties around them,” said Ingram. “I think it's fair to say that if we are not able to address the project that we all are most familiar with locally, it could be in jeopardy.”

Ingram believed the best way to modify the state statute was by adding the proper wording to a committee bill.

WUWF Presents

“They're typically the glitch fixes, and the big picture policy questions that we need to address with the state, not the typical member bills, and stuff like here,” he said. “The House Economic Development Committee would be the ideal vehicle for it to come from, but I think it would have to go to the Finance and Tax Committee, and then also the Appropriations Committee.”

The state lawmaker cautioned that getting a bill passed by the Florida House is only one step in the process.

“I should give the caveat that I've been working on one half of the legislative branch, the House,” said Ingram. “There's a whole other half of the legislative branch (Florida Senate), and the executive branch that must sign off on this.”

State Senator Don Gaetz told Inweekly that changing the law was a “heavy lift”, because there has been little research to prove its effectiveness, but he will work with his fellow lawmakers on a solution.

“The problem is that Enterprise Zones actually have been criticized by folks, including the state's chief economist, as not really

“The immediate concern is these projects that have been vetted...” Clay Ingram

providing a strong return on investments to the taxpayers,” said Gaetz. “The Studer project sounds to me like a good project with real value. When local government makes a decision like this, then the state ought to be respectful of it.”

MORE SOLUTIONS NEEDED

Councilman Brian Spencer believes the city may need to develop other incentives to make high-density residential projects viable for downtown.

“I do not see EDATE as being the single solution that will chart downtown Pensacola's course long-term,” he told Inweekly. “ I hope that we will study other options to reduce the expense for developers of high-density, mixed-income residential projects and help create price points that would be affordable for a variety of household incomes.”

He said that he has met with urban planners that have spoken at the lecture series at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, including Ray Gindroz who worked on plans for both the maritime park and the historic downtown district.

“If I go down the list of the people that have been here, they all walked away with the same observation,” said Spencer.

“Your downtown's great, but you're missing the residential component.” {in}

Join WUWF in Celebration of Our 35th Anniversary With a Visit From

The Capitol Steps in Concert Friday, January 15, 2016, 7:30 p.m.

Pensacola Saenger Theatre Tickets available through Ticketmaster 800.745.3000.

wuwf.org • 88.1 FM • 850.474.2787

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WEEK OF JANUARY 7-14

Arts & Entertainment art, film, music, stage, books and other signs of civilization...

Duncan Stewart: Artist and Mentor Remembered

by Shelby Smithey

Duncan Stewart / Courtesy Photo As a respected artist and teacher, Duncan Stewart had a profound influence on countless students and served as a mentor to several artists in Pensacola. Stewart passed away in 2013 at the age of 72, but his legacy will be a fixture in the Pensacola art scene for years to come.

Stewart was an art teacher for 35 years at Pensacola State College and then the University of West Florida, as well as a founding

REMEMBRANCES “I met Duncan as a student at UWF and started working with him almost daily. At graduation he offered to rent me a room in his studio. I enjoyed 18 years of a magical art ride.

We critiqued, shared ideas, studied art books and made art. Every week, there was always a stack of different art books that he would bring to the studio to study and just look at and absorb ideas. What was not to love about Duncan? He had a wonderful sense of humor, a great laugh, he was a great dancer, and he loved to share his knowledge. Most of all, he was a kind and good soul. The creative part of my life has been given back to me. Gracious Duncan granted me the honor of teacher and artist to share. Duncan was more than a friend to me. We became family.” —Donna O’Neal “I met Duncan in the fall of ‘74 when I arrived at UWF. By the summer of ’75, he was loaning me his VW bus for the entire summer. I drove Duncan and the entire Stewart family to New Orleans so they January 7, 2016

member of Art on the Tracks and Artel Gallery.

His work primarily involved collage, but he was also a painter, print maker and film director.

To celebrate Stewart’s life and work, a memorial exhibit has been curated by his friends and family at Open Books. Doug Craft, who curates art exhibits for Open Books, said that he, Elaine Sargent, Donna O’Neal, and curator of the PSC Switzer Gallery, Vivian Spencer, organized the retrospective exhibition to honor Stewart.

“The art for this show was chosen by Duncan's family,” Pensacola artist Donna O’Neal said. “He was a serious artist, and he considered his work as such even though you will find much humor in some of his work.”

O’Neal shared a studio space with Stewart for several years; a bright yellow and blue shotgun house on Strong Street.

“His pieces will give you something to think about,” she said. “There will be laughing, sharing stories, probably some tears.

Many people considered Duncan Stewart their favorite professor and friend. This show is to honor him and what he did for everyone.”

Stewart had a long career as a teacher, was always working on new art, and was energetic and active in the Pensacola art

helping others see beauty in art. community. Craft first met Duncan in 1971 at “Duncan's art was totally creative, because Pensacola Junior College. he did not care if any of it sold, a luxury af“He had dozens of new students in his forded by being a teacher at PJC and UWF,” classes every year,” Craft said. “He took Craft said. “He made art and lived his life as teaching seriously, and had a personal intera true shaman, unmotivated by ego or greed, est in his students. As a teacher, he had a giving it all away for free. great sense of humor, an infectious laugh, Craft said that Duncan's body of art alone and never put on airs or talked down to warrants a museum dedicated to his memory, students. He was the ‘cool professor’ that but his legacy lies in the dozens of local artists everybody loved and enjoyed. He always he directly influenced and mentored and the tailored his advice or instruction based on hundreds of students whose eyes were opened what the student was interested in, and he to the wonders and value of art. recognized artistic talent and befriended "I've always followed whatever direction many young artists becoming their mentor.” interested me without concern for consistency Craft said that Duncan was always getof style or artistic career," Stewart wrote in ting involved and leading the way with the 2009. "I taught for 35 years so I could follow my Pensacola art scene. own artistic meanderings.” {in} “He was a big supporter of the Pensacola Museum of Art,” he said. “He served on the board of PMA and also gave many art lectures as part of their outreach/educational program.

Many don't realize that Duncan was one of the big reasons there is WHAT: Opening Reception now a Gallery Night in Pensacola.

WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 He supported and helped build an WHERE: Open Books, 1040 N. Guillemard St. art scene in Pensacola.”

DETAILS: openbookspcola.org Craft said that Duncan was really

could catch the train going west. Duncan wouldn't fly; he never trusted that anti gravitational science. During the following decade, I would find myself behind the wheel of the VW bus many more times.

Duncan and I made a few trips to New York and back, always delivering or picking up artwork, sometimes his, sometimes other folks’ work. And these trips were always non-stop; 24 hours in a VW van crammed with artwork. We devised quite a few ways to keep each other awake when the conversation had subsided. We had a batteryoperated laugh box sitting on the dash.

When needed, you would reach up and hit the button. Obnoxious clown laughter only got better as the battery wore down. Or banging on a 2-gallon olive oil can, picked up off the sidewalk in Little Italy. When in New York, I always drove. Duncan was always entertained by my urban driving methodology, making sure the VW held its own in the sea of Checker cabs. There will always be a special connection for me to that VW van and the man we all admire and miss so much.” —Tony Krysinsky

“I feel really lucky to have known Duncan, not only as a teacher but as a counselor and friend. In addition to the technical and aesthetic skills of printmaking or painting, or collage, he was able to drag in the history and reasoning for each step, as well as push me to seek outside just the ‘art’ realm and not limit where ideas or work came from.

He reached so many people over his life and career. I am glad I was one.” —James Caudle

DUNCAN STEWART MEMORIAL SHOW

only concerned with making art and

“I first met Duncan in 1971 while taking a Humanities Art class at PJC, and I got to know him better while hanging out in the Switzer Building with friends who were art majors. Duncan was

"Demons Fishing for Souls" by Duncan Stewart / Courtesy Photo 13

not take himself seriously.

He was one of the coolest people I ever got to know and become friends with.

Duncan suggested I take a Spiritual Aesthetics class, and it was to prove pivotal for me as an artist, musician, scientist and human being. This class was truly a direct apprenticeship with a master artist, and it set the creative path for the rest of my life. Duncan taught me about the value of critique, and we would discuss both his recent work and the new pieces I was beginning to create. I realized then that making art and all creative vocations, including science, were meditative activities that could form the basis for an authentic personal spiritual practice. Even though I worked as a research chemist for my "Kiddie Car" by Duncan Stewart / Courtesy Photo career in Colorado, we always approachable, friendly and funny. I would always get together will never forget that cackling laugh of his when I visited Pensacola and share work and learning all kinds of odd details about and life. Duncan really modeled the artistic painters and art during random conversalife – and always told me to keep working tions with him. There was always a new and work regularly. When I moved back collage, painting or print he was making, to Pensacola in 2012, I knew Duncan was and his work was always edgy and highly sick and had been dealing with recurrent creative. I realized early on that Duncan cancer. I invited him to participate in a was the real deal – a serious artist who did

monthly Movie Night at my place where we screened artistic films and discussed the films afterward. These were special times to share with him, and I am glad I was able to spend a little more time with him before he died. Duncan was a cultural treasure for the whole world, but he was here in Pensacola and deserves recognition for the impact he had on the deep and meaningful cultural life of this town and all the students and colleagues who were lucky enough to know him.” —Doug Craft “Duncan was my teacher for Printmaking, Modern Art, and Contemporary Art. I had the pleasure of spending two weeks in Paris with him in 2001. He led a tour of Art and Architecture. I pulled out my journal from that trip and found a couple of quotes from Duncan. We stumbled upon an organ concert at a cathedral. While sitting there, Duncan leaned over and whispered, ‘The bells of the church are like the wings of God.’ At the end of the two-week tour, we all gathered for a farewell dinner. Duncan gave a toast, ‘At the table, no one grows

old.’ He ended the dinner by giving out awards. The award was a coaster that had a famous painting printed on it. Everyone got one, and he read each one aloud. Mine was, ‘For Marcy, who's beginning to see.’ I miss his playful demeanor and cackling laugh.”

—Marcy McGahan {in}

"Candy Bar" by Duncan Stewart / Courtesy Photo

TICKE TS START AT

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JAN 22 & JAN 24

The true story of a scandalous love affair starring internationally-renowned soprano Elizabeth Caballero

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inweekly.net

calendar night. City Grocery, 2050 N. 12th Ave.

Ears & Fingers

LATIN DANCING 6:30 p.m. Learn the basics

by Jason Leger

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2016

RADIOHEAD-TBA

The British innovators will be back with their 9th full length in 2016. I’m excited to see in what format it will be released and if the band will come anywhere nearby. The release has already been labeled by the band as them “working in limits.” While I’m not entirely sure what that means, I’m expecting somewhat of a reduction in experimentation and perhaps a return to simplicity.

The buzz surrounding Hinds has been kind of unheard of. They have posted very few demos and have no proper releases yet, but the indie rock world has been soaking up everything it can from these Spanish ladies. In early January, it’ll all be on the table, as they finally release their debut full length.

M83- TBA

Word broke the week before Christmas that Anthony Gonzalez was finished with the follow up to 2011’s “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming. It’s been a long wait, but this immediately tops the albums I’m most anxious about in the coming year.

This album was supposed to be released, yet pushed back for the majority of 2015.

Fingers crossed that it will see the light of day this year.

DIIV “IS THE IS ARE”

TRACK OF THE WEEK:

DIIV have already released a string of singles from this upcoming LP, and each seems to be better than its predecessor. Assuming the band doesn’t release each song individually, “Is the Is Are” will be released in early February.

THE XX-TBA

While there has been no proper announcement, there are rumblings from the xx camp following the huge success of Jamie xx’s 2015 album, “In Colour.” I’ll keep you posted on any upcoming revelations.

BON IVER-TBA

This is more of a fingers-crossed situation.

Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver got wildly popular

THURSDAY 1.7

FRIDAY 1.8

thing new every week at Aragon Wine Market’s regular wine tasting, only a few blocks from downtown. Aragon Wine Market, 27 S. 9th Ave. aragonwinemarket.com

Downtown will host Pensacola Mardi Gras Kick-Off Celebration! Head downtown along with the Krewes, their Kings and

WINE TASTING AT AWM 5 p.m. Try some-

ANY HIP-HOP ARTIST

The recent trend of surprise releases means that we should be ready for an album from Jay-Z, Kanye West, Bubba Sparxxx, Mase, or Shaq to pop up at any moment. This is your warning; stay on your toes.

CHROMATICS “DEAR TOMMY”

HINDS “LEAVE ME ALONE”

following 2011’s self-titled release. Ssince then, he seems to be ignoring the thought of putting anything else out under that name. Recently, however, he has announced a tour of Asia, while being careful to qualify that this tour does not mean that a release is on the horizon. I’m kind of hoping that turns into exactly what it means.

PENSACOLA’S 12th NIGHT—MARDI GRAS KICK OFF 5 p.m. The Historic streets of

Sleigh Bells ‘Champions of Unrestricted Beauty’

With no formality or announcement of anything pending aside from an album in the unforeseen future, Sleigh Bells released ‘Champions of Unrestricted Beauty’ last month. While I have never been a huge Sleigh Bells fan, I can appreciate their niche, and I think that they have begun to master and surpass it.

‘Champions’ is uplifting and considerably more laid back than much of the band’s material. It’s a welcome change, and it’s in good hope that this brings out a more mature, while still bombastic, Sleigh Bells in the future. {in}

Queens, King cake, and the town crier. 1401 E. Gregory St. visitpensacola.com WINE TASTING 5-7 p.m. Out and about in East Hill on Friday night? Stop by City Grocery for their free weekly wine tasting before settling in or heading out for the

of salsa dancing. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com ICE HOCKEY 7:05 Come out and support Pensacola’s Ice Flyers against the MS RiverKings. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. $15-$29. pensacolabaycenter.com BIG EAL BURLESQUE 8 p.m. Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $12-$45. vinylmusichall. com

SATURDAY 1.9

SANTA ROSA FARMERS MARKET 8 a.m.-1

p.m. Fresh local produce, honey, baked goods, and live music. Pace Presbyterian Church, Woodbine Road, Pace.

PALAFOX MARKET 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Fresh produce, live plants, baked goods, fine art and antiques are just a few of the items offered at the weekly Palafox Market.

Items originate directly from participating vendors, including dozens of local farmers, home gardeners and area artists. Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, N. Palafox. palafoxmarket.com 40 FOR 40 3-6 p.m. Quayside Gallery is raising money towards the major repairs that their building needs by selling 40 original works for $40 each. Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zaragossa. quaysidegallery.com DUNCAN STEWART MEMORIAL SHOW 6-9 p.m. Many Pensacola Artists were taught and influenced by Duncan Stewart, and he was a well-loved and respected teacher and working artist. Duncan was an art teacher at Pensacola State College and then the University of West Florida as well as a founding member of Art on the Tracks and Artel Gallery. His work primarily involved collage, but he was also a painter, print maker, and film director. Open Books Bookstore, 1040 N. Guillemard St. openbookspcola.org BEETHOVEN & BLUE JEANS 7:30 p.m. Pensacola Symphony presents this perennial favorite. Pensacola Saenger, 118 S. Palafox. $22-$90. pensacolasymphony.com

SUNDAY 1.10

BRIDAL EXPO 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Planning a wedding? Don’t miss this event! Over 100

—Creative Organic Vegan Cuisine, Coffee & Catering—

Marital and Family Law New Location: 127 Palafox Place Suite 100 Pensacola, Florida | 466-3115 January 7, 2016

Now Featuring: Cooking Classes Once A Month | Menu changes weekly — Plus Daily Specials Sunday Brunch with champagne specials —Thursday 3 Course Gourmet Dinner

610 E. Wright St. | 429-0336 | eotlcafe.com 15

calendar vendors will be on hand with information, displays and samples. Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. $10. pensacolabaycenter.com

MONDAY 1.11

COUNTRY & WESTERN DANCING 6:30 p.m.

Learn the country two-step at this weekly class, which is followed by a social dance at 8 p.m. DanceCraft, 8618 Pensacola Blvd. $10. dancecraftfl.com

TUESDAY 1.12

TUESDAY NIGHT POETRY NIGHT 7 p.m. Free,

open mic poetry event every Tuesday. Sluggo’s Vegetarian Restaurant, 101 S. Jefferson St. facebook.com/TNPN

WEDNESDAY 1.13

REVEREND HORTON HEAT 7 p.m. With Unknown Hinson, Nashville Pussy, and more.

Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox. $20. vinylmusichall.com

2015 Member's Show at Artel / Courtesy Photo

arts & culture

≥exhibits

NEW IN THE Q

Reverend Horton Heat / Photo by Josh Miller

Quayside Art Gallery welcomes Deb Chilote, watercolor & acrylics, Amber Dawn, portraits in acrylic on plexiglass, Irmi Presutto, seascapes in acrylics, Ginger Osborne, water colors, Kat Bush, seascapes, pet portraits in oil, Cathy Painter, stained glass and kaleidoscopes, Joyces Williams, glass engraving,Karin Gundmundson, acrylics, and JC Findley, photography. Museum

hours and location: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zarragossa St. quaysidegallery.com

ANNUAL ART FOCUS The PMA

presents the 62nd annual Youth Art Focus exhibition, in partnership with the Escambia County School District and in recognition of National Youth Art Month. The exhibit highlights the best works from over 500 art students and educators within Escambia County Schools.

Museum hours and location: Tuesday-

Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum.org

EXPERIMENTING ON YUPO Walk

into the vault to experience Patricia O’Neal’s works created on YUPO paper. On display until January 8. Museum hours and location: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artel Gallery, 223 Palafox Pl. artelgallery.org 2015 MEMBER’S SHOW Members are

currently adorning the gallery walls and floor, what a great way to end the year! Artel’s board of directors would like to extend their appreciation to ALL

Feeling Cheated by Volkswagen Diesel?

Did you buy a 2009-2105 VW because you wanted an environmentally friendly car that got great mileage? Recently, VW has admitted they programmed cars to cheat emissions tests so thier cars appeared more economical and environmentally friendly. You may have a claim for:

•Diminished value of your car, •Unfair and deceptive advertising and trade practices, •Several other violations and misrepresentations.

We are reviewing these cases now at no cost to you. If you have a 2009-2015 Volkswagen diesel or certain 2014-2105 Porsche or Audi diesels, we would be happy to talk to you about your potential claim. Call us now to discuss how you can seek justice for this misrepresentation to you, the innocent consumer.

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calendar members for their support. On display until January 8.

Museum hours and location: TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Artel Gallery, 223 Palafox Pl. artelgallery.org COLLECTION IN CONTEXT: WOMEN CREATING This

exhibition presents the diversity and growing strength of the PMA’s Permanent Collection, highlighting female Modern and Postmodern artists through a variety of media. On display until February 27.

Museum hours and location: TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. pensacolamuseum. org

classes & workshops

ALLA PRIMA WORKSHOP 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday, January 7 and Friday, January 8. Join Cece Hines, instructor and member of Quayside Art Gallery, for this two-day workshop where she will demonstrate her unique “wet on wet” technique.

Framing By Design, 4718 N. W. St. quaysidegallery.com

“MAKE-YOUROWN-GLASS” CLASS 10a.m.-3 p.m.

Friday, January 8 and Saturday January 9. Held weekly on Friday and Saturday, First City Art Center offers weekly “MakeYour-Own-Glass” classes, no previous glassblowing skills necessary. The classes are open to anyone age 8 and older and range in price from $25-$45.

Pre-registration and pre-payment are required and can be made by calling January 7, 2016

429-1222. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

INTRODUCTION TO POTTERY ON THE WHEEL 6-8:30 p.m.

Monday, January 11.

During this weekly workshop held on Monday evenings at First City Art Center, instructor Pearl VanHoove works individually with students to develop consistency in throwing on the wheel.

Participants receive an introduction to materials, equipment and throwing techniques. Each session begins with a brief demonstration followed by hands-on time at the wheel. The class is $40 and open to individuals age 14 and up.

Pre-registration and pre-payment are required and can be made by calling 429-1222. Class is limited to two participants. First City Art Center, 1060 N. Guillemard St. firstcityart.org

bars & nightlife

≥bar games

Thursdays POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com POOL TOURNAMENT 8 p.m. The

Ticket 2, 2115 W. 9 Mile Rd., ticketsportsbar.com Fridays DRAG BINGO 6-8 p.m. Ages 21 and over. Emerald City’s The Other Side, 406 E. Wright St. emeraldcitypensacola. com POOL TOURNAMENT 8 p.m. The

Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com Mondays

TEXAS HOLD ‘EM

FOR FUN AND TRIVIA 7 p.m. The

Sandshaker Lounge, 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker. com TRIVIA NIGHT 7-9 p.m. World of Beer, 200 S. Palafox. wobusa.com/locations/ Palafox BAR BINGO 8 p.m.

Apple Annie’s at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. sevillequarter.com MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA 9:30-10:30

p.m. Mugs and Jugs, 12080 Scenic Highway. facebook.com/ MugsJugs Tuesdays TUESDAY TRIVIA 8 p.m. The Bridge Bar and Sunset Lounge, 33 Gulf Breeze Parkway. facebook.com/ thebridgebargb TICKET TEAM TRIVIA 8 p.m. The Ticket

1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar. com POKER 8 p.m. The Ticket 2, 2115 W. 9 Mile Rd., ticketsportsbar.com TEAM TRIVIA 9 p.m.

Hopjacks. 10 S. Palafox. hopjacks. com Wednesdays PUB TRIVIA NIGHT

7-9:30 p.m. Goat Lips Beer Garden, 2811 Copter Road. facebook.com/ goatlipsdeli

WEDNESDAY QUIZ TRIVIA 8 p.m. The

Cabaret, 101 S. Jefferson St. cabaretpensacola.com

TICKET BAR BINGO

8 p.m. The Ticket 1, 7250 Plantation Rd., ticketsportsbar.com BAR BINGO 10 p.m.

Play, 16 S. Palafox, Suite 200. iplaypensacola.com

≥karaoke

Thursdays Lili Marlene’s at Seville Quarter, 8 p.m.

130 E. Government

St. sevillequarter. com The Sandshaker Lounge, 9 p.m. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker. com Mondays The Cabaret, 9 p.m.

101 S. Jefferson St. 607-2020 or cabaretpensacola.com Tuesdays The Sandshaker Lounge, 8 p.m. 731 Pensacola Beach Blvd. sandshaker. com Play, 9 p.m. 16 S. Palafox, Suite 200. iplaypensacola.com

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Join us for Wine Tastings Thursdays 5-7 p.m.

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433-WINE or 433-9463

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≥live music

THURSDAY 1.7 LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD 6 p.m. The

Deck, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola. com GLEN PARKER 7 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

FRIDAY 1.8 THE BLENDERS 8:30 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

SATURDAY 1.9

LUCAS CRUTCHFIELD

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6 p.m. The Deck, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola. com

WEDNESDAY 1.13 JORDAN RICHARDS

7:30 p.m. Hub Stacey’s Downtown, 312 E. Government St. hubstaceys.com

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9 p.m. The Deck, 600 S. Barracks St. fishhousepensacola.com

for more listings visit inweekly.net

On Sale Now @ Amazon.com BarnesandNoble.com • iBooks 17

a&e

by Jennifer Leigh

Steppin’ Out Newport has, of course, enjoyed the switch to the stage.

Every week, she and the other head writer, Mark Eaton, take from the recent headlines and create a witty parody. At times, you have to dig deep for a joke, and sometimes it’s like low-hanging fruit.

“Sometimes the news is so absurd you don’t know what to do but laugh,” Newport said.

self. Newport counts it as one of the more crazy stories they’ve parodied — “it’s right up there,” she said. It’s also a sign of the times, since sites like Twitter are relatively new in the scope of the last three decades.

Parodies run the gamut of issues from environment, “Ain’t No Pipeline, Now it’s Gone,” to international, “Greece! The Musical”, social issues, “I’m Just a Pill,” and of course elections, “Jeb is Ready, He’s my Brother.”

“If you ever wanted to see Vldamir Putin come out singing ‘Putin on the Blitz’ or Joe Biden sing a show tune or Barack Obama sing a rock song, then this is your show,” Newport said.

For years, the Capitol Steps was comprised of solely Washington, D.C. staffers, but during the Bill Clinton scandal, Newport said they needed performers and fast. So they relaxed the rules and have since let regular song-and-dance folks audition, although they may be asked not just if they can sing, but if they can impersonate George W. Bush as they sing. An average show consists of 30 songs, countless wigs and only five performers.

“Someone once told us we have more changes than a Cher concert,” Newport joked.

After 34 years, and even more albums, the Capitol Steps have garnered a lot of bipartisan support.

“That’s kind of been a surprise over the years,” Newport said. “We had one senator that was mad after one show because we didn’t a song about him.”

Not only has the comedy group been grateful for another election to provide material, but Newport said the group always enjoys a trip to Florida to say “thank you” for years of inspiration.

“Thank you for Jeb and Marco and for a huge amount of material from 2000 and on,” she said with a laugh.

Is there ever an end to Capitol Steps?

Will the day come when politics have not one shred of comedy?

“We’ve worried about that,” Newport said.

“What if all the politicians were to get qualified and competent and solve all the problems?”

Until that happens, they just keep writing. {in}

“Sometimes the news is so absurd you don’t know what to do but laugh.” Elaina Newport

This year, the Capitol Steps have a lot to be grateful for.

Not only has it been a year of presidential candidates, but also a year of characters.

“We thought it couldn’t get any better than 2012 with Herman Cain — that’s when we wrote ‘Love Potion Number 9-9-9’ about his 9-9-9 tax plan and all the women…,” said Elaina Newport, founding member of Capitol Steps.

In 2015, The Capitol Steps were gifted with not one, but 14 Republican candidates, including none other than Donald Trump.

“We were astonished,” Newport said.

“We thought maybe we’d have him for a couple of weeks...this will be fun. But it’s not just Donald Trump...we’ve watched some of them drop. Thank goodness we never wrote a Bobby Jindal song.”

This December marked 34 years that The Capitol Steps have been poking fun at politics writing parody songs about both 818 1

sides of the aisle. The comedy troupe was born when a group of staffers for Sen. Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party in 1981. They planned a few song parodies and skits and were surprised by the positive response.

“We didn’t lose our jobs,” Newport said with a laugh.

For some time, senate staff juggled their Washington, D.C. jobs and performed on the side as The Capitol Steps. Some left their day jobs behind, like Newport.

“No one would have us back at this point,” she joked.

But the two jobs aren’t so completely different. You still have to read the news, and you have to be ready to improvise.

“There’s a little bit of showbiz in politics,” Newport said. “You’re always trying to stage things like senate hearings to get press...and at the time, Ronald Reagan had gone from acting to politics.”

Writers tend to stick to bigger news stories. Although, Newport pointed out, they enjoy playing for public radio crowds — like the upcoming show hosted by WUWF — since the audience tends to be educated on national and world news.

“You don’t want to get so inside...if you know who Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi is, you’ll get it,” Newport said. “We stick to the front-page headlines.”

Writers prove there’s always something to laugh about. The Capitol Steps have a policy to back away from natural disasters, but in 2014, when the Ebola crisis caused national hysteria, the team wrote the song “Fever Airways” about the Transportation Security Administration’s response to the crisis.

“People think the TSA is funny...it was fair game,” she said.

“We’re always looking for an angle.”

Sometimes songs are written within hours so that shows are timely, like the song about Pope Francis.

“It was a huge story, and we didn’t know anything about him, except that he was from Argentina,” Newport said. “So we did ‘Don’t Cry for Me I’m from Argentina.’ We also just happened to have a pope costume.”

Thanks to social media, news travels around much quicker than before, which means sometimes writing can be a pressure-cooker.

But Newport says that just means WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15 they get extra points from the WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox audience for timeliness.

COST: $40, WUWF members get 10 percent off Social media can also be a on up to 10 tickets godsend, like in 2011, when thenDETAILS: wuwf.org/tickets Congressman Anthony Weiner tweeted an explicit photo of him-

THE CAPITOL STEPS

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news of the weird HARD TIMES FOR SCIENCE A tractortrailer driver with a load of bottled water tried to make it over a historic bridge in Paoli, Indiana, on Christmas Day, with the obvious outcome when 35 tons of water starts across a limit-6-tons span. The driver told police she saw the 6-ton sign but did not know how that "translated" to pounds.

•Among the activists denouncing a proposed solar-panel farm at a December Woodland (North Carolina) Town Council meeting were a husband and wife certain that vegetation near the panels would die because the panels would (the husband said) "suck up all the energy from the sun."

His wife (described as a "retired science teacher") explained that the solar panels prevent "photosynthesis" (and also, of course, cause cancer). The council voted a moratorium on the panels.

RECENT RECURRING THEMES Paul Stenstrom of Tarpon Springs, Florida, is among the most recent Americans to have discovered the brightest side of federal bankruptcy law, having lived in his mortgaged home basically free of charge from 2002 until 2013 by using the law to stave off foreclosure. Even though none of his 15 petitions was ever approved, he followed each one immediately with another petition, and it was not until 2013 that one judge finally declared Stenstrom a "serially abusive filer," barring further petitions for two years—at which point his bank was able to conclude the foreclosure. Upon expiration of the two-year period in September 2015, Stenstrom quickly filed another bankruptcy petition—to keep from being evicted from the townhouse on whose rent he is four months behind.

BRIGHT IDEAS In October, once again, police (this time in Liyang in eastern China) arrested a man whom they accused of stealing women's underwear, prolifically, with a device likened to a fishing rod, enabling him to reach into windows and extract goodies. The suspect, 32, admitted to a three-year scheme, and in his van police found 285 bras and 185 panties.

LEAST COMPETENT CRIMINALS Nurse's aide Candace McCray, 36, is the most recent theft suspect to have worn some of the purloined jewelry when meeting police detectives investigating the theft.

An assisted-living resident in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, had described her missing gems, and McCray was questioned as someone with access to the woman's room.

•Joshua Jording, 26, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, became the most recent burglary suspect caught on surveillance video during the crime wearing a shirt with his name on it (which was later found in Jording's home, along with a stash from the Dec. 2 burglary).

by Chuck Shepherd

MORE CORE FAILINGS OF CARJACKERS Albert Luna, 19, was arrested in Coachella, California, in December and charged with swiping the keys while a Federal Express driver was unloading a package. The driver reported that Luna later walked away when he could not figure out how to drive the truck. (Bonus: The arrest report noted that during the entire episode, Luna was naked.)

•Kyle Blair, 25, was arrested in Surrey, British Columbia, in November when he approached a car at an intersection and attempted to pull the driver out. For one thing, the two men in the car were later described as "big, burly" guys, but more important, they were plainclothes police officers on a stakeout.

ANOTHER WAY TO TELL IF YOU'RE REALLY, REALLY DRUNK Her passengers had run away, leaving Elena Bartman-Wallman, 23, behind the wheel but oblivious on a December afternoon in Aleknagik, Alaska, and her car's tires had started to smoke. She had lodged her foot against the accelerator, facing the wrong way on the road, with her wheels spinning continuously, and by the time police arrived (to discover Bartman-Wallman passed out), the front tires had melted down to the rims.

ALMOST NO LONGER WEIRD When a woman leaped to her death on Dec. 12 from an apartment building in New York City, she of course landed on top of another woman, 71, who was left in critical condition.

•In December, Russia's independent RT news site, culling a story from the country's rural far eastern coast, reported the most recent case of a "declared dead" man awakening in a morgue. After a harrowing few hours, the man returned to the site of the party—to find his friends "still drinking but (by) this time commemorating him."

A NEWS OF THE WEIRD CLASSIC (NOVEMBER 2011) Enterprising reporters get stories by earning the trust of their sources, which Simon Eroro of the Post-Courier (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) obviously did. At a banquet in November (2011), the News Corporation (Rupert Murdoch's empire) awarded Eroro its "Scoop of the Year" honor for reporting on militant tribal fighters of the Free West Papua movement —a scoop he had to earn by (to prove his sincerity) undergoing a ritual circumcision, with bamboo sticks. (Some of the rebels still wear penis gourds whose size varies with the status of the wearer.) {in}

From Universal Press Syndicate Chuck Shepherd’s News Of The Weird © 2015 Chuck Shepherd

Send your weird news to Chuck Shepherd, P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, Fla., 33679 or weirdnews@earthlink.net, or go to newsoftheweird.com January 7, 2016

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Independent News | January 7, 2016 | inweekly.net