Dozens of Miami activists lay on the floor in front of downtown Miami’s Freedom Tower, staging a die-in to protest further abortion restrictions being considered in the Florida legislative session.
The message: Banning abortion will lead to deaths.
State investigates his involvement in sham senate race
After losing the congressional Republican primary to Maria Elvira Salazar, Angie Chirino — daughter of Cuban salsa sensation Willy Chirino — wants to run for Florida Senate in District 39.
She joins Pinecrest Councilwoman Anna Hochkammer, a Democrat, in seeking the seat currently occupied by Sen. Anitere Flores, who is termed out and rumored to be eyeing a county seat — even possibly a mayoral run in 2020 (more on that later).
This open race, a unique opportunity in South Florida, is likely to attract a few more would-be candidates before qualifying even begins next year. Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez had originally and early on filed paperwork to seek the seat, which many believed was hers by right, but then she became the running mate to Gov. Ron DeSantis. She has since returned more than $3,000 in contributions, indicating that she will stay with DeSantis through the four-year term, even though she wants a South Florida office to work in (more on that later).
Chirino came in fifth in the nine-way primary last year that put Salazar in a contest with Democrat Donna Shalala, who eventually won the general election. That may only account for less than 7%, but it’s 2,678 people who she got to vote for her once before.
“I know this community extremely well,” Chirino said in a statement launching her campaign.
“District 39 is full of extraordinary people, and my diverse professional background has thoroughly prepared me to be a strong voice for all residents of our community.
It’s vital that we do everything possible to give the next generation of South Floridians the best start in life, especially those from challenging backgrounds.
One of the best ways we can do that is to address critical quality-of-life issues. For too long, South Florida families have been forced to spend too much of their valuable time stuck in traffic and too much of their hard-earned money on tolls.
I plan to be a tireless advocate for effectively addressing this issue as well as for state policies that protect our seniors and the beautiful environment we all enjoy.
There’s no question these are tough issues, but I believe working together, we can strengthen our economy and make sure South Florida continues to be the best place to live in the country.”
Chirino also worked for the Voices For Children Foundation, representing children in foster care.
Hochkammer, a relative newcomer who moved into the area in 2009 and served as PTA president at Palmetto High, has served as vice mayor in Pinecrest, where she was elected in 2016.
She also released a statement when she announced her bid. In part, it said:
“The state of public education and the constant attacks by the Legislature, and lack of real funding and opportunity keeps me up at night.
“I know the only place I can make a real difference in the lives of children and families in Florida is in Tallahassee. I am excited about the journey ahead to represent the wonderfully diverse and vibrant communities that make up District 39.”
More than 5,000 people voted to put Hochkammer in office in 2009, but Pinecrest sits outside the Senate district’s boundaries. Florida law requires legislators to live in Florida for at least two years before Election Day, but they can move into the district on Election Day as long as they live there while they represent the district. Hochkammer has said she is renting a condo in Key Largo, which is in the district.
There are likely to be other candidates for this open seat before qualifying really starts.
Republicans have shot themselves in the foot.
In just a few days, GOP legislators in Tallahassee. by forcing a program that puts guns in public schools, have done more for the Florida Democratic Party than anyone since Al Gore.
When the Florida Senate voted Monday 20-18 to pass the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Student Safety Act, which should have been a seamless and beautiful piece of legislation, they closed one of the most disgusting political deals Ladra has ever seen. Not only did they fail repeatedly to support even a partial ban or moratorium on the sale of assault weapons, the only thing that will really make us safer, the GOP majority basically held four badly needed measures — mental health funding, school infrastructure hardening, a ban on bump stocks and raising the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21 — hostage to putting guns in schools.
You want those four things? Plus better background checks for all? And we’ll throw in a mechanism for law enforcement to take firearms away from people who may be a threat to themselves or others. You like that? Well, then, you gotta swallow guns in schools.
It’s extortion, at worst. Disingenuous at best.
If our Republican legislators were sincere about making these changes, they would separate the items into independent bills. They would let the mental health funding and the hardening of schools stand on its own. The bump stocks ban and age limit could be paired in a separate bill. And the marshal program, cynically renamed the “Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program” after one of the victims — because that makes it prettier and sound safer, right? — would fly solo.
Related: Lawmakers vote to leave assault rifles on the street and arm teachers instead
Instead we get a law named for the school where 17 were killed by one gunman with an AR 15 that puts more guns in schools.
Because these Republican lawmakers are not sincere. They have been trying to get guns in schools for years. This is not an organic, reactive response to the tragedy in Parkland on Feb. 14. This is a big break for them in a long and seemingly futile effort that has been shot down every year because it’s absolutely crazy. And it would not gain traction on its own this year either. They needed the political cover so that anyone voting against the guns in schools could be cast as voting against mental health funding.
¡Qué descarados!
And a few Dems fell for it. Most notably Sen. Lauren Book of Plantation, who choked up repeatedly, broke into tears and was handed tissue as she talked about touring MSD High the day after the massacre to justify her compromise vote.
“My community was rocked. School children were murdered in their classroom,” Book (photographed right) said. “I could not live with the choice to put party politics above an opportunity to get something done that inches us closer to the place I believe we should be as a state.”
But we were all rocked, Sen. Book, and it’s not about party politics. It’s about insane measures that do nothing to keep our kids and our communities safe.
Also voting with the bill Monday were the well-intentioned but misguided Democrat Sens. Kevin Rader of Delray Beach and Bill Montford of Tallahassee.
If just one of these three Dems had voted no, the bill would have failed and, Ladra is certain, a special session would have been scheduled to debate just how to respond to the school shooting in an appropriate way, at an appropriate pace. The busloads of students and teachers and parents would demand that they address it. The television cameras and pundits hammering on it 24/7 would pressure them to address it — the right way, without holding any part of the bill hostage.
Maybe they don’t want to have to go back to Tallahassee?
Sens. Bill Galvano and Rene Garcia hug and celebrate after they pass a bill to arm educators.
Now, the bill moves to the House where it is almost certain to pass. Then to Gov. Rick Scott, who has said he is against arming teachers and could exercise his veto power. But Ladra doubts he would veto the whole bill and piss off the powerful Sen. Bill Galvano, who sponsored the act, just as he is running for Senate. Especially now that our own Sen. Rene Garcia of Hialeah passed a feel-good amendment that makes it look like classroom teachers won’t have guns, giving Scott the political power to sign off on it.
Because Garcia’s last minute tweak doesn’t really keep the guns out of the hands of all teachers. Any teacher who is former military, or reserve law enforcement, or also a coach or has some auxiliary position like activities or athletic director may be able to participate in the gun-toting program. Up to 10 employees in each school — coaches, janitors, librarians, principals, APs, security monitors, counselors, support staff and lunch ladies — can still be armed on campus after passing background and psychological tests and 132 hours of training.
Which raises a question: If psychological tests are a good idea for teachers with guns, why aren’t they a good idea for everybody else?
Republican lawmakers were sure to repeat over and over again how this is voluntary. School districts and county police agencies have to opt in. But both of those bodies are impacted by political pressure. While Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent has strongly rejected the idea of guns in our schools, he is not going to be there forever. This opens the door to a slippery slope.
Students from MSD High who want an assault weapons ban and are opposed to guns in schools watch silently from the gallery above the Senate floor as our elected officials betray us.
And what matters also is the message that the Senate is sending. That despite the pleas of the public, the survivors and victims’ families from Parkland and school officials and the PTAs and parents and teachers across the state, despite a poll that shows that a majority of Floridians support an assault weapons ban and oppose guns in schools, they’re going to push their agenda.
Republicans, and specifically Galvano State Reps. Jose Oliva and Carlos Trujillo — who have pushed it in the House — have sent a message to us. They have told us that they don’t listen to their constituency. They don’t represent us. They represent the gun industry and the National Rifle Association. They represent their pockets and their political action committees.
Related: Florida State Rep. Jose Oliva must go — before he becomes House speaker
But, albeit unknown to them, they also sent another message: Elect Democrats.
Let’s take them up on it. Now is the time for us to send a message right back — that we are not going to tolerate electeds who serve some special interest instead of their constituents. That we are not going to allow them to push their upside down agenda on us. That we are going to make them irrelevant.
This has become a wedge issue like no other Ladra has ever seen. Several voters have told me that they are going to base their votes in November on what happens in Tallahasee this week. One Homestead woman told me at the town hall held by Sen. Annette Taddeo and School Board Member Lubby Navarro — both against arming teachers — that she has voted for both Republican and Democrat candidates, but that she was going to vote straight down the D line if this passes.
While alt right lunatics on Facebook are boycotting the companies that have severed ties with the NRA, all over Florida, voters of all walks of life and all party affiliations are starting another boycott: Republican candidates.
Ladra is in that group. I’m a self-confessed deep purple, card-carrying NPA with Hillary issues — but not only am I voting Democrat just because of this, I pledge right here and now to help other good Democrats across the state get elected. Ladra has always been bipartisan — meaning that I distrust and disdain both parties equally — but we need to send a message back to these people:
If you won’t represent us, we will elect someone who will.
On Wednesday, a 19-year-old former student with an assault rifle walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Broward County and opened fire, killing 17 people and wounding at least 15 more.
On Thursday, at 1 p.m., the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee will consider a bill that would make it easier for convicted felons who have had their rights restored to get a gun permit without the state first getting all the criminal background information.
Yep, you heard that right. Convicted felons whose rights have been restored can’t vote, but they can sure get their guns. Paperwork, schmakerwork.
This is in addition to a slew of proposed bills in the Florida House that will allow guns in private schools (HB 113), allow guns in public schools (HB 621), allow guns on property owned, rented, leased or used by churches or religious institutions (HB 1419) and make it easier for people to get their guns back after they’ve been confiscated by police (HB 6013). Ladra will watch as these move through committees. Stay tuned.
Today’s scheduled discussion will be about Senate Bill 740, sponsored by Sen. Kelly Stargel (R-Lakeland). Buried in a couple of paragraphs near the end of the 98-page Senate Bill 740 — an agricultural piece of legislation about oyster harvesting and water vending standards and seed labeling and restrictions on telephone solicitors — is a change in the law that allows agents with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to grant firearm permits within 90 days even when the criminal background checks are not complete.
Here’s the actual language from page 88 of the bill:
“In the event the department receives incomplete criminal history information or no final disposition on a crime that may disqualify the applicant, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services must expedite efforts to acquire the final disposition or proof of restoration of civil and firearm rights, or confirmation that clarifying records are not available from the jurisdiction where the criminal history originated. Ninety days after the date of receipt of the completed application, if the department has not acquired final disposition or proof of restoration of civil and firearm rights, or confiration that clarifying records are not available from the jurisdiction where the criminal history originated, the department shall issue the license in the absence of disqualifying information. However, such license must be immediately suspended and revoked upon receipt of disqualifying information.”
So, basically, they’re gonna take the guns back when they give them to people who shouldn’t have them. “Ooooops. Sorry, Mad Dog. Can we have that AK back?” Not sure how that’s gonna work.
Currently, gun permit applications are held indefinitely until all the background criminal history information is complete. And according to published reports quoting proponents of the bill, only 1% of gun permit applicants are denied based on incomplete information. So we need to change the law for this one percent? What possible public policy purpose could this relaxation on background checks — which reportedly was requested by Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam — provide the community? I can’t think of one.
Well, maybe, just out of respect for the 17 students and teachers killed Wednesday in a high school, maybe the committee members ought to table this for another day.
Could El Zorro come to the rescue again?
One of the names being batted around for a special election to replace disgraced former Sen. Frank Artiles — who resigned Friday after 
making inappropriate and racist comments earlier in the week when speaking to a few colleagues — is his all-time rival and nemesis, former Miami-Dade Commissioner and former State Rep. Juan Zapata.
Zapata abruptly withdrew his candidacy from his re-election to the county commisison last year. He had grown sick and tired of the retaliatory tactics of the mayor and his allies and the hat trick maze that is the county budget. But he had been one of the good guys, asking the right questions, not playing politics or favorites with the other electeds and watching, more closely than anyone else, the taxpayer’s money.
Now, maybe we can have him in the Senate.
Read related story: Frank Artiles resigns, but still needs to apologize to Hialeah
Zapata was out of the country Friday on business but returned a text message from Ladra about it.
“Yes, I am seriously considering it,” he wrote, and followed it with a smiling emoji. The big smiley one, not the little smile.
“I wasnt going to be able to contribute much in the county commission. The state senate would obviously allow for way more,” Zapata told Ladra. “This is my area. I have always fought and worked for it. Nobody knows it better than I and my experience has prepared me well.”
It would only be gravy if he gets to replace his longtime nemesis (my words, not his).
Zapata and Artiles have been rivals. Artiles ran for state rep against Zapata twice and lost. He then basically recruited and ran police officer Manny Machado against Zap in the 2012 county commission race (lost then, too).
Other Republicans being considered for the job would be State Rep. Jose Felix “Pepi” Diaz — but he is being groomed for Attorney General — and State Rep. Jeannette Nunez, but she has filed to run for Sen. Anitere Flores‘ termed-out seat in 2018 in what is a slightly safer district for her and probably with Flores’ blessing.
The GOP can’t just pick anybody off the street. 
They are going to want someone with name recognition who can win on a shorter campaign cycle and thwart the efforts of state Democrats, who want to get their seat back in a district that slightly favors the blue. Artiles, who was a state rep for six years — only winning the House seat once Zap left office to run in the — had beaten former State Sen. Dwight Bullard by 10 percentage points, mostly by calling him a terrorist.
Naturally, Bullard is one of the Democrats being considered. But seeing how he moved out of the district to try to get the chairmanship of the Florida Democratic Party, it would be easy to attack him if he just moved back in to run for his old seat again. I can see the mailers now. Instead of Arab headwear, he’d be carrying luggage. Besides, Bullard might win a primary but he won’t win the general in a district that is about 60% Hispanic. He already tried that once and failed.
Read related story: Chased out: Juan Zapata leaves hostile work environment
The others are perennial candidate Annette Taddeo (who would also win a primary but not the general) and former State Rep. Ana Rivas Logan, who is the person that should have won that seat from the get go, but the Democrats decided to back Bullard and she didn’t even campaign.
Rivas Logan told me she had gotten several phone calls already by lunchtime Friday. Of course, she’s the female flip version of Zapata — a moderate Democrat (she used to be Republican) who has bocoup name recognition.
“It depends on the timeline,” said Rivas Logan, a high school administrator who retires in October. “This is how I make my bread and butter. Politics is a hobby.”
A date has not been set yet for a special election, but it could come as early as this summer, with a 60 day campaign.
We are already envisioning a showdown between Zapata and Rivas Logan, which will be clean and on the issues, and we can’t wait for these two longtime public servants to show the rest of the puppies how it’s done.
“He would be a formidable opponent,” Rivas Logan said. “That would be a good race.”
Yeah boy, it would!
