WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THESE ISSUES: ▶CITY OF PENSACOLA Mayor Ashton Hayward ahayward@cityofpensacola.com City Administrator Bill Reynolds breynolds@cityofpensacola.com ▶CITY COUNCIL Council President P.C. Wu, District 1 pcwu@cityofpensacola.com Council VP Jewel Cannada-Wynn, District 7 jcannada-wynn@cityofpensacola.com Sherri F. Myers, District 2 smyers@cityofpensacola.com Andy Terhaar, District 3 aterhaar@cityofpensacola.com Larry B. Johnson, District 4 ljohnson@cityofpensacola.com Gerald Wingate, District 5 gwingate@cityofpensacola.com Brian Spencer, District 6 bspencer@cityofpensacola.com
Taking Lipstick Off The Pig | by Rick Outzen In August 2006, the Prosperity Pensacola released the Escambia County Indicator Report. The report presented data on 62 indicators of community well being, spanning seven areas: families, public safety, health, education, economy, community and environment. The report, which was funded by the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, was intended to provide a baseline for identifying priorities, developing solutions and tracking progress toward a better life for all members of the community, particularly the children. “You can’t fix it if you don’t know it’s broken,” said Jean Norman, the former United Way of Escambia County president, when the report was released. “The only way there will be improvement is to measure. These indicators will help us measure progress as we move forward.” Sadly, Prosperity Pensacola no longer exists. No follow-up reports were ever produced. In his book “Results That Last,” Quint Studer writes, “What gets measured gets improved.” Pensacola and Escambia County prove that axiom. The local officials haven’t measured and this community hasn’t improved. What has been measured isn’t reported to the public if the statistics aren’t favorable. Studer also believes that measurements are what hold people accountable, which is why we have published our inaugural Shame Issue. We are not only publishing the numbers, but also comparing them to other communities. The city of Pensacola’s six murders in 2012 might not seem to be many, but when you realize that the city hasless than 53,000 people, the per capita rate is higher than most of the January 31, 2013
state. The same goes for domestic violence and child abuse. This community must get our elected officials to face the statistics. We must measure their performances not by their press releases, ribbon-cuttings and photo opportunities, but by objective numbers. The politicians and bureaucrats don’t really have a choice. Others are measuring our city, county and school districts as they decide whether to move their companies and jobs here or go elsewhere. The numbers published in this article are available online to anyone who knows how to do the research. And if the potential employers and residents don’t know the statistics, other communities do and take advantage of our abysmal numbers to lure prospects away from us.
Megan B. Pratt, At Large District A mpratt@cityofpensacola.com
Incentive programs are nice in attracting businesses, but nearly every community has incentives. It’s public safety, schools and health that can close the deal—all three are sore spots for Escambia County and Pensacola. If the company executives are African-American or another minority, the chances of convincing them to come here are even slimmer because of the huge racial disparities. The statistics in this article have been gathered from local, state and federal government websites. Frankly, they are depressing and an embarrassment. However, nothing will improve unless we face them. There simply isn’t enough lipstick that we can put on this pig to make it a beauty queen.
SHRINKING POPULATION
Escambia County and the city of Pensacola have seen their populations decrease over the past 10 years. The county saw its population peak in 2008 with 317,553. By 2011, its population was 298,259, a six-percent drop. The city of Pensacola was hit even harder. Its population peaked last decade at 56,373 in 2008, but that was below the U.S. Census Bureau’s 1990 figure of 58,906. By 2011, the city’s residents had fallen to 51,839, an eight-percent decline. Meanwhile, the public school enrollment dropped from 2002-2011 by 3,889 students—nearly nine-percent. 2002
2005
2008
2011
Escambia
299, 485
303,623
317,553
298,259
Pensacola
56,271
54,827
56,373
51,839
School enrollment
43,547
42,960
40,391
39,658
Charles Bare, At Large District B cbare@cityofpensacola.com ▶ESCAMBIA COUNTY Interim County Administrator George Touart admin@myescambia.com ▶COUNTY COMMISSION Chairman Gene Valentino, District 2 district2@myescambia.com Vice-Chairman Lumon May, District 3 district3@myescambia.com Wilson Robertson, District 1 district1@myescambia.com Grover Robinson, District 4 district4@myescambia.com Steven Barry, District 5 district5@myescambia.com ▶ESCAMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT Superintendent Malcolm Thomas mthomas@escambia.k12.fl.us ▶SCHOOL BOARD Chairman Jeff Bergosh jbergosh@escambia.k12.fl.us Vice-Chairman Linda Moultrie, District 3 lmoultrie1@escambia.k12.fl.us Gerald Boone, District 2 gboone@escambia.k12.fl.us Patty Hightower, District 4 phightower@escambia.k12.fl.us Bill Slayton, District 5 bslayton@escambia.k12.fl.us
Source: City of Pensacola, FY 2013 Approved Budget 9
POVERTY & THE SINGLE MOM
The poverty rate for families in Escambia County is only slightly higher than the state and national rates. However, families with single moms, particularly those with only children under age 5, are much worse off. More than half of these single moms are living in poverty. The trend of children living in poverty has also deteriorated over the past 20 years. Greater than one of out every four children in Escambia County lived in poverty in 2011.
FAMILIES IN POVERTY - 2011 Escambia
Florida
U.S.
All families
12.80%
12.4%
11.70%
Families with single mom
37.30%
28.90%
31.40%
Single mom with children under age 5 only
56.3%
41.80%
47.90%
TREND OF CHILDREN IN POVERTY: 1990-2011 1990
2000
2011
Escambia
16.0%
24.1%
27.4%
Florida
18.4%
17.2%
24.9%
United States
17.9%
16.1%
22.5%
Source: United States Census Bureau
Greater than one of out every four children in Escambia County lived in poverty in 2011. HOME LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD
Escambia County has a domestic violence rate more than double the state rate and it has gotten significantly worse since 2008 . DV murders doubled, going from three to six. Forcible rapes, sodomy and fondling went from 29 in 2008 to 69 in 2011.
TREND OF REPORTED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS: 2008-11
Escambia County ranked in 2011 fifth in the state for the victim reports of physical abuse of children, ninth for sexual abuse. For the FY 2011, 430 children were removed for foster care, which earned the county another ninth place in the state. In addition, our rate of teen pregnancies is higher than the state and national averages. From the period 2002-2008, Escambia County had 3,961 teen births. The rate per 10,000 teens, ages 15-18, was 52窶認lorida rate 44 and National rate 22. The county ranked fourth among the top 15 most populous counties in the state. The Statewide Child Abuse Death Review Committee released last December its annual report. Escambia County is one of the worst in the state with 100 total child deaths and four verified child abuse/neglect deaths in 2011. The four deaths tied the county for ninth place for most abuse/neglect deaths behind much larger counties such as Broward (18 deaths), Palm Beach (11) and Duval (10).
CHILD MALTREATMENT & FOSTER CARE - ESCAMBIA COUNTY 10/2010 TO 9/2011 County
County Rate
State Rate County
Count
Per 10K
Per 10K
Rank
Maltreatment Reports
5,938
69
47
15
Victim Reports
1,233
14.3
9.4
15
Victim Reports of Neglect
564
6.6
4.4
20
Victim Reports of Physical Abuse
144
1.7
0.7
5
Victim Reports of Sexual Abuse
74
0.9
0.4
21
Total Removals to Foster Care
430
59.7
35.6
9
Source: Department of Children and Families
Our rate of teen pregnancies is higher than the state and national averages. RATE OF TEEN PREGNANCIES: 2002-08
CHILD DEATHS - 2011
2002-2008
Teen Births
Teens
Rate per 10K
County
Deaths
Orange
312
Miami-Dade
276
Hillsborough
241
Broward
210
Duval
148
Pinellas
144
Palm Beach
135
Escambia
100
Escambia
Murder
Forcible Rape
Forcible Sodomy
Forcible Fondling
2011
6
30
13
26
Polk
7,897
120,753
65
2010
4
34
8
22
Lee
5, 492
97,334
56
2009
4
21
13
22
Duval
10,661
198,713
54
2008
3
13
5
11
Escambia
3,961
77,138
51
Escambia
Aggravated Assault
Simple Assault Threat/ Intimidation
Per 10K Population
Hillsborough 13,369
266,933
50
2011
344
2,787
141
112.0
Orange
11,375
242,760
47
2010
429
2,667
135
106.1
Volusia
4,303
102,202
42
2009
524
2,018
112
86.8
Pasco
3,396
81,933
41
1,988
56
81.8
6,940
173,392
40
90
485
Pinellas
Alachua
2008
Percentage of State Rate
9, 429
251,141
38
65
State Rate
Palm Beach
Lee
Escambia Rate Per 10K Pop.
Miami-Dade
20,952
573,968
37
2011
112.0
59.1
190%
Brevard
3,829
110,914
35
2010
106.1
60.4
176%
Broward
12,047
384,744
31
2009
86.8
62.1
140%
Seminole
2,564
95,081
27
2008
81.8
60.2
136%
Leon
1,928
79,738
24
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement 010 1
STOLEN CHILDHOODS
Source: National Center for Health Statistics
Source: National Center for Health Statistics inweekly.net
FAILURE TO PROVIDE EDUCATED WORKFORCE
Escambia County’s overall graduation rate ranked 60th out of 67 Florida counties. For white students, the rank was 54th; for African-American students, 64th out of 67 counties. The high school graduation rates for four-year students are calculated using the methodology developed by the U.S. Dept. of Education to develop a graduation rate that provides parents, educators and the public with better information on their school’s progress while allowing for meaningful comparisons of graduation rates across states and school districts. This new graduation rate measurement more accurately accounted for dropouts and students who do not earn a regular high school diploma.
For the Love of Running
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION - 2011 (out of 67 counties) Rank
County
Graduation Rate
67
Jefferson
42.60%
66
Hamilton
55.00%
65
Okeechobee
58.90%
64
Putnam
58.90%
63
Franklin
59.00%
62
Suwannee
59.50%
61
Gadsden
61.40%
60
Highlands
62.10%
60
Escambia
62.10%
3012 E. Cervantes Street
Source: Florida Department of Education
M-F 10a-7p • Sat 10a-5p • Sun 12-4p • 435-9222
Statewide 29.6 percent of the 10-12th graders take AP exams for an advanced placement in college. Escambia County has 18.3 percent. While Escambia has improved the percentage since 2009, the gap between the county and state percentages widened from 9.6 to 11.3 percent.
w w w. w e r u n w i l d . c o m
TOTAL
2012 AP Takers
2009 AP Takers
Change
2012 Passing Tests
2009 Passing Tests
Change
State
29.6
23.4
6.2
45.2
42.9
2.3
Escambia
18.3
13.8
4.5
45.3
46.2
-0.9
Difference
-11.3
-9.6
-1.7
0.1
3.3
-3.2
Upscale Chinese Dining
Source: Florida Department of Education When you breakdown the AP numbers, the gap between the district’s white, black and Hispanic students is startling. No African-American student passed an AP Exam at Escambia High, Tate High or West Florida High. Among Hispanic students, only those at Pensacola High passed an AP exam. Pine Forest High students struggled the most with the AP exams. West Florida High had only 8.2 percent of its students take an AP exam, but 81.6 percent pass the exams they take. School Name
Total Percentage of AP Test Takers
Total Percentage of Students Scoring 3-5
West Florida High
8.2
81.6
Pensacola High
46.5
55
Washington High
18.7
43.9
J. M. Tate High School
21.6
43.3
Escambia High School
11.1
30.6
Pine Forest High
16.3
17.1
Source: Florida Department of Education January 31, 2013
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FAILURE TO PROVIDE EDUCATED WORKFORCE
cont'd The state tracks the post-secondary plans of high school graduates. Across the state, 66 percent of the high school graduates planned in 2010-11 to attend a community college or university—28 percent community college, 32 percent university, 6 percent out-of-state. Escambia County had only two out of every five of its high school seniors report that they would be attending college or a university. Santa Rosa reported 77 percent. Okaloosa reported 52 percent. When you add in trade schools, continuing education and enlistment in Armed Forces, the Escambia County percentage jumps to 48.86 percent. The state average goes to 73.19 percent. Only three districts have a lower percentage than Escambia County—Flagler 42.25 percent, Manatee 48.77 percent and Orange 30.75 percent.
POST-SECONDARY PLANS: 2010-2011 GRADUATES Graduates
Community College
University
Non-Florida College
Total
Florida
109,257
28%
32%
6%
66%
Escambia
2,149
11%
23%
8%
42%
Santa Rosa
1,675
19%
47%
11%
77%
Okaloosa
2,014
13%
31%
9%
53%
Source: Florida Department of Education
NO TROJAN MEN TO BE FOUND
When it comes to infectious diseases, Escambia County has problems. The county ranks third in the state in the rate of Infectious Syphilis cases per 100,000 population; eighth in Gonorrhea rate; and 10th in Chlamydia rate and in the rate of all Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
FLORIDA COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST RATE OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES - 2010 Rank
County
2010
1
Gadsden
1,366.26
2
Leon
1,363.73
3
Hamilton
1,002.64
4
Alachua
850.40
5
Duval
830.65
6
Madison
825.43
7
Jefferson
766.13
8
Hillsborough
742.94
9
Orange
693.22
10
Escambia
691.55
Florida
502.01
DYING IN PARADISE
Florida ranks in the bottom third of the nation in key health indices and Escambia County is below the state’s averages. The health assessments for 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2012 have shown the county has failed to make any sustainable progress improving the health of its residents, despite having four hospitals. The Partnership for a Healthy Community recently published the 2012 health assessment. Out of 234 health and wellness indicators, Escambia County faired unfavorably with 61.3 percent of them when compared to the state averages or peer counties. Escambia County doesn’t compare well to some Third World countries either.
HEALTH INDICATORS (rate per 100,000 population) Deaths due to
Escambia
Peers
Florida
Alzheimer's Disease
32.3
26.6
26
Cerbrovascular Disease
58.3
42.9
45.3
Chronic Lower Respiratory
65.7
55.3
56
Diabetes
36.3
26.2
27.2
Heart Disease
240.4
212.9
234.4
Stroke Deaths
45
37.1
37.1
Source: Florida HealthTrac
COMPARISON TO OTHER NATIONS Deaths due to
Escambia
Rank
County
2010
1
Leon
1,027.33
2
Gadsden
1,024.21
3
Hamilton
887.47
4
Alachua
660.43
5
Duval
624.59
6
Hillsborough
581.23
7
Madison
579.77
8
Jefferson
577.96
9
Orange
543.84
10
Escambia
524.53
Florida
395.32
FLORIDA COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST RATE OF INFECTIOUS SYPHILIS Rank
County
2010
1
Miami-Dade
15.0
2
Broward
12.6
3
Escambia
12.4
4
Hillsborough
9.8
5
Orange
7.8
6
Polk
7.7
Colombia
Cuba
Honduras Indonesia Iraq
Alzheimer's Disease 32.3
0.4
21.4
0.5
3.8
1.0
Breast cancer
79.3
5.2
11.0
5.8
9.8
6.5
Cerebrovascular Disease
58.3
35.9
74.8
48.9
59.3
45.3
Diabetes
36.3
20.0
17.1
34.1
22.0
8.8
7
Leon
7.3
Heart Disease
240.4
142.2
296.9
181.3
223.9
243.2
8
Calhoun
7.0
Lower respiratory infections
65.7
15.2
55.3
27.3
65.7
90.5
9
Alachua
6.2
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers
69.0
8.2
16.0
14.2
10
Pinellas
6.1
8.8
40.1
Florida
6.3
Source: World Health Organization 212 1
FLORIDA COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST RATE OF CHLAMYDIA - 2010
Source: Bureau Of STD Control and Prevention inweekly.net
FLORIDA COUNTIES WITH HIGHEST RATE OF GONORRHEA- 2010 Rank
County
2010
1
Gadsden
342.04
2
Leon
336.40
3
Madison
245.66
4
Duval
206.06
5
Alachua
189.98
6
Jefferson
188.17
7
Dixie
179.30
8
Escambia
167.02
9
Hillsborough
161.72
10
Putnam
158.70
Florida
106.69
Have you experienced IRON yet?
Source: Bureau Of STD Control and Prevention
Most of the victims are teens or twentysomethings.
Everyone is talking about Pensacola’s newest eatery. IRON at Marcus Pointe features delicious culinary creations. IRON is open Monday-Saturday for lunch and for dinner Wednesday-Saturday evenings
LAW AND DISORDER
During the last election cycle, Sheriff David Morgan was attacked for the spike in violent crimes and homicides in 2010. Fortunately, the murders dropped in 2011. However, the city of Pensacola has seen a steady increase. The violent crime rate inside the city has been escalating to a much more dangerous level. In 2009, the Independent News was writing about drive-by shootings. Shots were fired over crowds, few people were injured. In 2010 and 2011, people were shot and killed on the streets, in front of houses, in parking lots—but the homes were relatively safe. Now they are kicking in doors, not caring who’s in the house. They shoot people in front of their children, mothers, wives and girlfriends. Most of the victims are teens or twenty-somethings. In 2012, the City of Pensacola had seven murders and outside the city the county had 16—meaning a person inside the city limits was more than twice as likely to be murdered than someone in the unincorporated areas. {in}
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MURDERS BY YEAR: 2008-12 Pensacola
Escambia
Combined
2012
7
16
23
2011
2
14
16
2010
3
26
29
2009
3
15
18
2008
4
18
22
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement
MURDER RATE PER 10,000 POPULATION: 2008-12 Pensacola
Escambia
Combined
2012
1.35
0.65
1.99
2011
0.39
0.57
0.95
2010
0.55
1.01
1.56
2009
0.55
0.58
1.13
2008
0.73
0.70
1.42
Source: Florida Department of Law Enforcement January 31, 2013
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