Some of the Independent\u2019s public records requests have been ignored or not fulfilled in the timely manner required by Florida\u2019s records law \u2013 a growing pattern since the suspension of the media policy.<\/p>\n
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Key BIscayne VIllage Council on Jan. 28, 2025. (KBI Photo\/John Pacenti)<\/p>\n
The Independent\u2019s editor in chief, Tony Winton, called the draft resolution a \u201cdisappointing\u00a0 whitewash of an unconstitutional act undertaken by Manager Steve Williamson that limited the public\u2019s right to know.\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is neither a promise of better behavior nor a clear affirmation of transparency,\u201d Winton said. \u201cInstead, this resolution would actually embrace the manager\u2019s power to issue vague media guidelines that could easily be used to once again suppress speech by Village employees, under a fig leaf that they would be \u2018voluntary.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
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Williamson ordered the media policy after an Independent article that reported that the Village was investigating whether\u00a0 GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, moved belongings into her new Key Biscayne condominium before a certificate of occupancy had been issued by the Building, Zoning & Planning Department.<\/p>\n
Williamson and Salazar\u2019s office tried to get the Independent to remove the article from its website, even though accurate information was given to the publication by Building, Zoning and Planning Director Jeremy Gauger for the story. Gauger has never again spoken to the Independent.<\/p>\n
Williamson is trying to get government dollars for his signature stormwater project \u2013 the Big Dig. It has more than doubled in price for just the first zone.<\/p>\n
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Vice Mayor Oscar Sardinas and Council Member Michael Bracken confer at the Jan. 28, 2025, Council meeting. (KBI Photo\/John Pacenti)<\/p>\n
The media policy stated that all staffers must be approved to speak to the media and that all media inquiries must go through Williamson or Public Information Officer Jessica Drouet.<\/p>\n
Council Member Ed London called the media policy \u201cnonsense.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI am completely against the policy they have. In my opinion, we have nothing to hide,\u201d London said. \u201cI mean, this is a small community. It is absolutely absurd to have this.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Society of Professional Journalists has called media policies limiting employees from speaking freely to reporters as \u201cCensorship by PIO.\u201d The organization is keeping track of municipalities that instill such policies through its project, Gagged America.<\/a><\/p>\n David Cuillier, director of the Freedom of Information Project at the Brechner Center, said Village officials are wise to stop playing games with public information<\/p>\n \u201cIn the cases where we see where these policies are challenged, they always lose, right?\u201d he said. \u201cThey need to send a newsletter out to all government officials. \u2018Don\u2019t do this, or you\u2019ll be embarrassed and waste time and money \u2013 and tax dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n Winton said adoption of the proposal would amount to an abdication of the Council\u2019s duty, delegating a core government function to a bureaucrat. It must write any guidelines itself, with due public process, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s be clear: the Council sets policy, not the manager,\u201d Winton said. \u201cIt should direct this administration, and all future ones, to be open, prompt, and transparent with all media and public inquiries.\u201d<\/p>\n Invest in Local News for Your Town. Your Gift is tax-deductible<\/a><\/p>\n
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