After a recent shooting incident on West Pensacola Street, Reverend R.B. Holmes held a summit to address the continuing problem in our community with gun violence. One of the first remarks at the summit by Rev. Holmes was “we are not anti-law enforcement.”
That simple statement should not be newsworthy, but it is due to the anti-law enforcement environment that has recently been highlighted during local government meetings.
This anti-law enforcement view was front and center last week as two elected officials – City Commissioner Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow – and others demanded the continued presence of admitted police abolitionist, Taylor Biro, on the Tallahassee Citizens Police Review Board (CPRB).
After a contentious debate, the City Commission voted 3-2 to remove Biro.
The CPRB, discussed for years prior to its creation in 2020 after the George Floyd incident, has a narrow mission to “foster transparency, enhance communication, and ensure a relationship of trust and respect between the Tallahassee Police Department and the community..”
A majority of the city commission decided that Biro’s views and public actions were in conflict with the CPRB mission.
Commissioner Porter nominated Biro to the Board even though – as we now know – Biro had little respect for the Board’s mission. Biro, after her removal, told a local media outlet that “The board was designed to be toothless..”
In addition, Biro did not reveal her abolitionist views prior to her appointment to the CPRB. It was not until she penned an editorial stating that TPD could not be fixed and after she openly displayed an “Abolish Police” sticker that Biro owned up to her anti-law enforcement stance.
But Biro is a symptom of a more alarming problem, and that problem is the emergence of a progressive movement in Tallahassee that is taking steps to normalize anti-law enforcement views in our community.
For example – after Porter’s nomination of Biro – Commissioner Matlow appointed an admitted police abolitionist to the CPRB in September. Again, no public mention of these views before the nomination or the appointment.
Also, attacks on law enforcement during public comment opportunities happens more frequently at local meetings and goes unchallenged. Referring to police offices as killer cops and murderers is accepted speech.
And now – after challenging these extreme positions – Porter and Matlow and other community leaders are attempting to normalize these views by arguing that they are needed to provide diverse perspectives on citizen’s boards.
This rationalization makes no sense. Extreme views, like abolishing the police, have no room on volunteer boards.
This would be like arguing someone who wants to abolish public transportation should serve on a citizens committee with a mission to improve Star Metro operations. Or appointing someone who wants to abolish Community Redevelopment Agencies to the Frenchtown/Southside CRA Advisory Committee.
Such appointments are a recipe for conflict and confrontation on volunteer boards where citizens are charged with coming together to help the community move forward, not question foundational principles.
In addition, citizens boards were not created to be used as a platform to elevate a member’s activist political views or to promote extreme ideological positions.
If someone has strongly held, activists views about local government policy, they should run for office. They should not apply to serve on a citizen’s board in the name of diversity.
Steve Stewart: Progressives Seek to Normalize Anti-Law Enforcement Views in the Name of Diversity added by Steve Stewart on
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Tallahassee crime is out of control: Officers are paid the same every 2 weeks whether they sit in a parking lot or actively look for criminal activity. There is nothing “progressive” about rampant crime. Police need support from the community.
I agree to an extent, but I’m not so sure all of your points support your argument. The board was designed to be toothless. It has only the power to review and recommend, and I’m not sure is has the power to review without the ability to subpoena under oath.
Further, ” normalizing” anti-law enforcement views? That smacks of propaganda without proof. I would remind all that there are five commissioners, a city manager and the city attorney, all who have a voice and all could publicly comment on any outlandish speach at any commission meeting. If they don’t? Ask each why.
I’m wondering at anyone’s ability to describe various view points as extreme, especially now we’ve had a president and members of Congress overtly and covertly attempt to over throw the Constitution.
I would rather an “abolitionist” have a seat at the table just as I would have the communist party representative etc al on the federal ballot.
Trying to hide or bannish bad ideas is worse than the alternative.
We don’t need Police Reform, we NEED Judge, District Attorney, Prosecuting Attorney and Grand Jury Reform. They need to stop reducing Charges just to close a Case and they NEED to give LONGER Sentences to Repeat Offenders, Violent Offender and Offenders who use a Weapon (any kind of a Weapon). The Charge of “Attempted Murder” should be used a LOT MORE than it is. Not to long ago a Man was attacked with a Hammer, hit in the head a couple times, the Suspect was only Charged with Assault and Battery when it SHOULD have been Attempted Murder.
@ Lena: Your question SHOULD be, “When was the last time the Media Reported on criminality by the Democrats?”
A diversity of people on the Board is fine. However, there should not be a diversity of views regarding the police. The members of the Board should be impartial toward the police.
PostScript – this article makes a good argument on the need for a nationwide search for a city manager. The CPRB was improperly implemented. This falls on the city manager. Don’t all commissioners have to vote in each appointee? When an appointee has to be removed it shows there was a failure to initially properly vet.
Really stretching here. PBA really overdid it on this whole thing and should quit digging their hole of embarrassment.
Lena,
Rick Scott was a good leader for Florida even stepping in for Gillum when Gillum couldn’t handle his responsibilities after a hurricane.
You are also misguided and drink the Kool-Aid on Donald Trump and having Trump derangement syndrome. Trump was calling out treasonous activities by Biden and Hunter and it has led to a war where thousands are being killed needlessly. Trump was right. Democrats need to quit drinking the Kool-Aid and wake up.
I enjoy reading your comments and sometimes I even agree with you and I applaud you on expressing your views and not doing it by name calling. This time I disagree with you.
You have made the point that R B Holmes is a political figure that should stay in his lane and preach the word of God. It has become the culture in Tallahassee for some reason that politicians use him as a conduit for votes and that is disturbing. It would have more credibility if you would call the Reverend out on being silent on abortion.
The progressives are shown to have worked more for a Republican agenda however I disagree with their views on law enforcement and criticizing Republicans when they need to critique their own party’s failures. But, it was unfortunate and unnecessary the way law enforcement treated Matlow at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce event. It’s a two-way street.
Lena has issues… and apparently the latest talking-points memo. All categories of violent crime are skyrocketing in every major “Marxicrat-run” city across the country… and yet, according to Lena, it’s somehow the Republican’s fault.
… gotta love that Alinsky
The people of which you speak are anti-brutality, not anti-law enforcement.
The Republicans are perfectly comfortable voting for people who founded companies who committed massive Medicare fraud like Rick Scott.
They are also comfortable defending those who have thousands of lawsuits against them, two impeachments and possible pending charges for tax fraud, espionage and obstruction of justice charges like Donald Trump.
Wasn’t it last week that another Republican left the Florida Senate for PPP loan fraud?
How many Democrats have faced this level of criminality? None. The “anti-law” people are actually on the right.
Porter and Matlow both hate cops, let’s hope they never need one.
Well written, Mr. Stewart. Furthermore, your two closing sentences are worthy of repeating:
~ In addition, citizens boards were not created to be used as a platform to elevate a member’s activist political views or to promote extreme ideological positions.
~ If someone has strongly held, activists views about local government policy, they should run for office. They should not apply to serve on a citizen’s board in the name of diversity.