From the subpoena:

Please provide the following documents regarding Cascades Holdings LLC d/b/a Edison Restaurant (Edison) and Adam Corey:

a. Any and all City of Tallahassee audit files and reports related to reviews, examinations or audits of the project undertaken by Cascades Holdings, LLC d/b/a Edison Restaurant and Adam
Corey.

b. Certified copies of the approval documents related to Edison including any and all staff evaluations.

c. Records of any and all votes by the Tallahassee City Commission-as to applications made related to Edison.

d. Copies of all proposals, business plans and submissions to the City of Tallahassee regarding Edison.

e. All electronic or written communications including, but not limited to emails, text messages, facsimiles and letters to and from Corey, City of Tallahassee officials or employees regarding Edison.

f. Documentation regarding any and all financial transactionss between the City of Tallahassee or Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency and Edison or Adam Corey, i.e. funding provided to rehabilitate the site now known as Edison.

The ethics questions surrounding the transaction involve a possible gift received by Fernandez from a city vendor and a job given to the former Edison employee Eddie Kring, who was the catering manager for his daughter’s wedding reception.

Here are four questions and four answers based on the investigation and previous reports.

What role did Fernandez play in securing the vendor for the catering event?

Previously Fernandez told the Tallahassee Democrat that “I just paid the bills.”

However, the documents show that City Manager Fernandez played a role in securing the Edison as the caterer for his daughter’s wedding through a private meeting with Adam Corey.

Also, the investigation shows that Fernandez talked to Edison owner Adam Corey when there were logistical problems running up to the event.

Who gave the discount and why?

Three former employees of the Edison told city ethics officials they believed the Edison owners directed catering services be discounted and by how much.

However, no witness ever heard or believes that Mr. Fernandez asked for a discount.

Also, the employees indicated Mr. Corey did occasionally give percentage type discounts for services, mainly for political events.

Did Kring talk to Fernandez about a city job?

Yes. The investigation reported the following:

“Rick ran into Kring weeks or months after the wedding when Rick first learned that Kring was job hunting. Kring said he “would love to get back into community relations”. Rick told him to submit an application to HR, as he does all the time in his position when he is approached by an aspiring job hunter, which is often. Rick had no more to do with Kring’s job hunt.”

However this statement seems inconsistent with other facts.

First, the investigator uncovered an email from Fernandez’s daughter asking her father why Kring was not still working at the Edison. Her father’s response was:

“He has been talking to me about coming to the City. I’ll find out.”

And second, the head of the Communications Department, Alison Faris, told TR that since Mr. Fernandez is her boss, he was aware of the hire.

Did Adam Corey talk to Fernandez about a job for Kring with the city?

TR has previously reported that sources indicate that Adam Corey talked to Fernandez about a job for Kring.

However, Jerry Currington, the lawyer for the Ethics Board that interviewed Fernandez, never asked Fernandez if he talked to Adam Corey about a job for Kring.

In 2016, when the discussions took place, Corey was a vendor with the City of Tallahassee and a registered lobbyists representing multiple interests before the City Commission.

In January 2017, the former Edison employee at the center of the discussion, Eddie Kring, was hired into a position that was only advertised to people in the city’s communications department where Kring had previously secured a part-time job.

Kring was hired into the full-time position by the head of communications department, Alison Faris, who reports directly to city manager Rick Fernandez.

The discussions of possible employment would have come during 2016 when City Manager Fernandez received a $5,000 “owners discount” from the Edison on a catering event for a member of his family.

Tallahassee Reports published a story about the catering discount which took place in March 2016.

Both the Florida Commission on Ethics and the city’s Independent Ethics Board is investigating the discount and the hiring of Eddie Kring.

Also in 2016, Tallahassee Reports confirmed that city manager Rick Fernandez received a number of football tickets directly from Adam Corey for exclusive seats in a private box at Doak Campbell stadium.

Sources say the tickets were distributed to city employees and members of the city manager’s family.

Sources also say that the alleged undercover FBI agents bought several season tickets from Mr. Corey during the 2016 FSU season.

The Florida Commission on Ethics is also investigating the the ticket issue.

This latest revelation adds to the connections between city manager Rick Fernandez and Adam Corey, who is a central player in the federal investigation of public corruption.

The decision comes after the full City Commission has repeatedly ignored the Board’s request for more authority to address similar complaints. The decision was reached after reviewing the facts of the complaint in a private meeting with the Ethics Board and staff.

This is the first time the Board has referred a complaint to the Florida Commission on Ethics. TR was told that a complaint will be drafted by Board staff and signed by the Board Chairman, Richard Herring.

The original complaint was based on a TR story documenting a $4,700 catering discount to a family member of city manager Rick Fernandez by the Edison Restaurant. The Edison Restaurant has a contract with the City of Tallahassee.

Documentation obtained by TR showed that the “salesperson” for the catering event, Eddie Kring, was eventually hired by the City of Tallahassee without publicly advertising the position. TR confirmed that Fernandez was aware of the hire.

The Independent Ethics Board was created by a charter amendment that was adopted with almost 70% of the vote in 2014. The purpose of the Board was to avoid the Florida Commission on Ethics by creating a city ethics code with an independent enforcement board.

However, the City Commission, after a formal request, failed to adopt a city ordinance that would give the Ethics Board the proper authority.

Also, documents show that the employee, Edward Kring, was the “sales rep” for the Edison catered event that resulted in a $4,700 “owners discount”  for the family of Tallahassee City Manager Rick Fernandez.

TR recently published an investigative story about the discount.

In addition, TR has learned that the job was not publicly advertised. Rather, it was advertised only within the the City’s Communications Department over the Christmas holidays in 2016 for one week. The Communications Department is listed as having a total of eight employees.

TR has obtained documents that show 3 months after the discounted catering event, which took place in March 2016, Mr. Kring submitted an application to the City of Tallahassee’s Communications Department and was subsequently hired in a temporary position in October.

This temporary position allowed Mr. Kring to have access to the full-time position that was advertised to only employees in the Communications Department.

On December 23rd, 2016 the head of the Communications Department, Alison Faris, signed an employment requisition form for a “Customer Involvement Coordinator.” Based on city organization charts available online, Ms. Faris reports directly to City Manager Rick Fernandez.

You can review the employment requisition here.

The requisition form indicates the position was new and instructed the city’s human relations department to “Please advertise for one week internal to Communications.”

The form also shows that Ms. Faris requested advertising dates to be from 12/24-12/30. These seven advertising days include the 24th and 25th, which was a weekend, and the 26th, which was a holiday for most of the employees that work with the City of Tallahassee.

On December 29, 2016 Mr. Kring submitted his employment application for the position. Also, Mr. Kring listed his job title as a “Community Affairs Director” with the Tallahassee Hospitality Group and also listed his affiliation with the Edison.

Adam Corey, the owner of the Edison and the Tallahassee Hospitality Group, was listed as a reference on the employment application.

Tallahassee Reports was told that Mr. Kring’s application was the only application received by the City of Tallahassee for the position.

To secure funds for the new position, emails obtained by TR show that Ms. Faris requested a vacant position be transferred from Star Metro to the communications department on January 13, 2017.

Further investigation revealed that the position in Star Metro had been vacant since January 31, 2015. When it was occupied, the salary was $30,118. Mr. Kring was hired into the position at $47,840.

When contacted by Tallahassee Reports, Ms. Faris said that Mr. Kring was well qualified for the position. She cited his work in a community affair’s position with the Big Bend Homeless Coalition from September 2011 to January 2014. Mr. Kring listed his annual salary in that position as $29,000.

Ms. Faris said the position was transferred from Star Metro as part of the city’s reorganization in 2016.

Ms. Faris also told TR that since Mr. Fernandez is her boss, he was aware of the hire.

The event was the wedding of Mr. Fernandez’s daughter held on March 5, 2016. The invoice can be viewed here.

The top of page 2 of the invoice has a line that shows the “Owner Discount” valued at $4,761.39. The total cost of the discounted services was $14,964.

The middle of page 2 of the invoice shows that the total paid was $14,284.17. This includes the discounted amount, service charges and sales tax.

Repeated attempts to reach Edison co-owner Ryan Grindler were unsuccessful.

TR requested a comment from City Manager Rick Fernandez through the city’s Communications Department, however no comment was provided.

The City of Tallahassee signed a 13-page lease with Cascades Holding LLC on August 26th, 2014 that allows Cascades to operate the Edison restaurant. The lease was signed by the Tallahassee City Manager at the time, Anita Favors Thompson. Mr. Fernandez was appointed city manager on November 21, 2015.

The lease provides a number of provisions that must be regulated by the City of Tallahassee. The lease can be viewed here.

In February 2016, the city commission took up the issue of operating hours and voted 3-2 to allow the restaurant to stay open until 4 am. See our report here.

Chapter 112 of the Florida Statutes regulates gifts from vendors to individuals that work in government. Florida Statutes 112.3148 states:

A reporting individual or procurement employee or any other person on his or her behalf is prohibited from knowingly accepting, directly or indirectly, a gift from a vendor doing business with the reporting individual’s or procurement employee’s agency..if he or she knows or reasonably believes that the gift has a value in excess of $100;

Tallahassee Reports will continue to seek comments from city commissioners and other officials.

Check back for updates.

The scrutiny has resulted in various media reports and an audit request by City Commissioner Scott Maddox.

However, what media reports have failed to address is a persistent question that appears in many different forms across social media: how did an expensive, non-family friendly restaurant end-up in the middle of a park built to attract families?

Matthew Isbell, a Tallahassee based Democratic political consultant weighed in on the controversial restaurant on twitter. Among his comments was this: “fact is, the Edison is political…” Mr. Isbell’s comments were based on the clientele the restaurant attracts. He also recommended the powers to be “turn it into a family restaurant or close it.”

The political ties the Edison has with the City of Tallahassee, as detailed below, explains Mr. Isbell’s observations and also explains why many people believe politics was at the center of this public -private partnership and continue to impact the operations and perception of the restaurant.

The political ties begin with Adam Corey, the owner of the Edison.

Mr. Corey was the treasurer of Andrew Gillum’s campaign for Mayor in 2014. In addition, Mr. Corey has donated to the campaigns of city commissioners Nancy Miller, Gill Ziffer and Scott Maddox and to the mayoral campaign of Andrew Gillum.

Mr. Corey was appointed to the Tallahassee Housing Authority.  While on the board, Mr. Corey represented a company that builds affordable housing. After a story by TR, Mr. Corey left the board.

Mr. Corey is currently a registered lobbyist with the Tallahassee City Commission and represents a number of business interests.

The political ties between the Edison and the City of Tallahassee increased substantially when it was revealed that Sean Pittman was an investor in the restaurant.

Mr. Pittman has served as the City of Tallahassee lobbyist in various forms since the early 2000’s. His lobbying contract with the City of Tallahassee was recently extended by the full commission based on a recommendation by Mayor Andrew Gillum.

Mr. Pittman has made political donations to all five current Tallahassee City Commissioners and was paid as a consultant for Gillum’s 2014 Mayoral campaign. Pittman has also donated, personally and through business entities, $45,000 to a Gillum for governor affiliated political action committee.

Mr. Pittman, for a number of years, has hosted a Mayor’s brunch. The brunch is a private affair to honor the Mayor of Tallahassee. Recently, the event was held at The Edison and was sponsored by Mr. Pittman.

And finally, Corey, Pittman, and Gillum have a business/mentor/political relationship as Tallahassee Reports  and the Tallahassee Democrat has documented in stories about their travels to various cities on behalf of various entities.

These political ties with the City of Tallahassee explains why The Edison is so often in the news and why the restaurant may never be able to escape “insider deal” characterizations.

Approximately six months after moving to Tallahassee from South Carolina to take the job, Tallahassee Reports has confirmed Adams is no longer with The Edison.

Sources say the separation was due to “business and financial reasons.”

A phone call to The Edison revealed that Adams’ was no longer employed by the Edison. TR was referred to Mike Xifaris who preferred not to make a comment on the separation.

Mr. Adams’ had a strong resume and a great reputation in Tallahassee through his previous work in other high profile operations. He was the director of food and beverage for Hunter + Harp Hospitality, which operated Hotel Duval, Shula’s, Level 8,and the Front Porch.

Sources say that after the legislative session restaurant businesses prepare for a slowdown and then brace for the summer doldrums. However, hiring someone with Adams’ experience only to let them go for “business and financial reasons” six months later is not smart planning by the owners.

Last summer The Edison ceased serving lunch for a period of time.

Another source, who did not want to go on the record said, “they brought in one of the best hospitality operators from South Carolina to fix the failing Edison and then let him ago at the end of session. This is not how you treat people.”

Check back for updates.

The Edison, a city subsidized establishment without a liquor license, reportedly won a bid to host a party that is being advertised as  a “Funkfest Kickoff and Alumni Mixer.”

The party which is slated for the Thursday (October 20th) before FAMU homecoming, is scheduled to last until 2 a.m.

TR published a report on the Edison’s last late night party which generated concern among City Commissioners at a January 27, 2016 meeting.

At that meeting, City Commissioner Scott Maddox pointed out the City wanted a high-end restaurant in Cascades Park not a nightclub. He made a motion to set a closing time of 11:00 p.m. but the vote failed 3-2. City Commissioners Curtis Richardson and Nancy Miller and Mayor Andrew Gillum voted against the measure.

Complicating the issue is the web of connections the Edison owners and investors have with Mayor Andrew Gillum and other City of Tallahassee power brokers.

Also, the operation of The Edison has come under fire from a number of local restaurant owners who have complained about the unfair competition from a city subsidized establishment. Concerns have also been raised about how the owners of the Edison have been successful in skirting liquor regulations.

Tallahassee Reports has been informed by Randall Mills, a representative of the Old School, that the party scheduled for tonight has been cancelled. Old School released a statement which reads: “There are no events tonight at Old School. A third party promoter violated our terms and conditions and we were forced to cancel the event.”

Multiple sources told TR the decision to cancel the event happened sometime yesterday.

__________________________

Tallahassee Reports has confirmed that the owners of the City of Tallahassee subsidized restaurant, the Edison, are also part owners of a venue, known as the Old School, that will host an event on June 10 2016, featuring “pole dancers.”

TR received a number of phone calls questioning the legality of the event on a number of fronts.

The owners of the Edison, Adam Corey and Ryan Grindler, are listed as managing partners of Old School LLC and part-owners of the Old School property located at 633 West Pensacola Street.

Mr. Corey, according the City of Tallahassee, is also a registered lobbyist. One of his clients is the Leon County School Board. He is also the former owner of the night club 101 which was recently closed.

The Old School is described on their website as a private club comprised of Florida State alumni and fans that come together each home football game to commemorate the heritage and tradition of our beloved Seminoles.

Based on online promotional advertising, on June 10, 2016, the Old School is scheduled to be transformed into the “Belaire Mansion” for a pool party. The advertisement is listed below.

The advertisement states that the party is the ultimate bachelor party and that “Mizhani  and Spyda” will perform live.

Research indicates that”Mizhani” is a “pole dancer.” Videos of her performances show Mizhani barely dressed and dancing around a pole with men throwing dollar bills on stage.

The video link of a prior performance in Tallahassee at the Cheeks Lounge can be seen here. CAUTION, GRAPHIC MATERIAL.

Cheeks Lounge was the location where a Tallahassee Police Officer shot and killed 18-year-old Duane Strong in May of 2014. The City recently settled the case for $325,000. The club is now shut down.

Other social media advertisements verify the event and encourages patrons to “BRING YOUR $1’s.”

TR talked to the City of Tallahassee’s Growth Management Department who said that an event selling tickets could not be held at the Old School property location based on zoning issues. The property is listed as single-family in a zone labeled University Transition.

However, as of Thursday night, code enforcement was unable to say if the show would be stopped.

Based on Leon County adult entertainment ordinances, questions have also been raised about the sale of liquor during such events.

TR tried unsuccessfully to reach the City Attorney, Lew Shelley.

TR will continue to seek answers about the regulations in place for such activities.

Commissioners Maddox and Ziffer had recommended closing times consistent with restaurant operations in the area, but each time their proposals were shot down by Mayor Gillum and Commissioners Miller and Richardson.

When Commissioner Ziffer asked if any commissioners had concerns about  late night parties at the Edison, Commissioner Miller took the opportunity to respond.

Commissioner Miller mentioned the recent incident at the El Patron, where a murder was committed, and said she was concerned about late night parties at all establishments not just the Edison.

When she was reminded that the City is the landlord for the Edison and not other establishments, she responded, “that does not matter.”

Also, Ms. Miller just weeks earlier voted to expand operating hours for night clubs from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. Ultimately she refused to consider restaurant hours for the Edison.

From the beginning of the project, people were concerned that the only way the Edison could survive is if it became a restaurant/night club and increased revenue through alcohol sales.

The concern was based on the operations of the 101 restaurant which is owned by Adam Corey, the owner of the Edison. The 101 restaurant has failed a liquor audit within the last 18 months.

Coming next, Tallahassee Reports will take a look how the owners of the Edison have increased their influence over the City Commission.

Tallahassee Reports has previously written about the possibility of late nights at the restaurant. That report can be read here.

The City subsidized operation marketed the event using an out of town promoter with the tag line “Dare to Be Different, Dare to Be Sexy” and used phrases such as “Truly for the Sexy” in social media marketing.

Previously, TR was contacted by a number of restaurateurs who were concerned that the Edison would violate their requirement to be a restaurant and eventually turn into a nightclub.

On Saturday, TR received calls from concerned citizens and restaurateurs about the Friday night event which seems to validate previous concerns.

The Event

The event held Friday night was not publicized on The Edison website or any of the restaurant’s social media platforms.

Rather, the event was publicized by a promoter in Atlanta, Georgia. The information about the event was found on a website entitled www.doyousoiree.com.

Research indicates that the event was part of a commencement celebration for FSU and FAMU that took place last week.

TR was told that a practice being adopted by a number of local restaurants is to hire promoters that have extensive social media contacts in the community and can deliver large crowds “on demand.”

The events are financially successful because they focus on the sale of alcohol. TR could find no marketing of the Edison event that mentioned anything about food.

The marketing discovered on social media for the event is listed below.

Click on image to enlarge.

Click on image to enlarge.

Questions for City of Tallahassee

The event held Friday raises several questions.

Was the City of Tallahassee aware of this event?

Does the City of Tallahassee, as a partner in this venture, support events like the one held Friday?

If yes, will the City eventually support a liquor licenses for the Edison? The Edison does not currently have a liquor license and per state law, must keep alcohol sales at 49% of total sales.

TR plans on following up with elected officials this week.