♪ >> WELCOME TO THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF POLITICAL CANDIDATE FORUMS AND ADVANCE OF THE AUGUST 23 PRIMARY ELECTION.

THIS FORUM IS A COOPERATIVE PRODUCTION OF THE WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE, TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

OUR FIRST GROUP OF CANDIDATES IS RUNNING FOR LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT ONE.

I AM TOM FLANIGAN FROM WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA JOINED BY WILLIAM HATFIELD FROM THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND DANIELLE IRWIN FROM THE LEAK OF WOMEN VOTERS FROM TALLAHASSEE.

WILL QUESTION THE CANDIDATES ON VARIOUS TOPICS SO LET'S GET A QUICK LOOK AT THE RULES AND.

>> IS FOR DISTRICT ONE SITTING LEFT TO RIGHT TERRANCE L BARBER, DONNA PEARL COTTERELL AND BILL PROCTOR, AND, IN THE RACE.

NO BILL PROCTOR IS NOT YET HERE.

WE ARE TOLD HE WILL ARRIVE SHORTLY SO WE WILL JOIN US IN PROGRESS.

FOR THOSE WATCHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HIT THE SHARE BUTTON AND HELP YOUR FRIENDS SEE TODAY'S DISCUSSION, TOO.

HERE'S HOW THE FORMS WILL WORK.

WE WILL ROTATE WHICH CANDIDATES ANSWER FIRST.

YOU CAN SEE GOT ALPHABETICAL ORDER GOING ON.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS SO WE WILL ASK MORE ANSWERS, 60 SECONDS, SOME WILL BE 30 SECONDS OR A MINUTE AND 30 BUT WE WILL SPECIFY A HEADER EACH QUESTION.

I'M NOT KEEPING TIME BUT WE ARE KEEPING TIME, WE HAVE A BILL THAT WILL DING WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP THAT WAS SOUNDS LIKE THIS -- THERE HUGO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO A DEAD STOP RIGHT THEN BUT FINISH YOUR SENTENCE AND WILL MOVE ON.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FORUM WE WILL ALSO HAVE A LIGHTNING ROUND.

WE ASK YOU TO KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO ONE SENTENCE.

AT THE END WE WILL GIVE YOU 90 SECONDS TO MAKE THE CASE DIRECTLY TO VOTERS AND SHARE YOUR WEBSITE OR ANY OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

>> IF YOU'RE WATCHING ON FACEBOOK AND HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE CANDIDATES, TYPE THEM IN THE COMMENTS AND WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS MONITORING THOSE.

WE'LL GET TO AS MANY AS WE CAN, TIME IS LIMITED.

YOU CAN IMPROVE CHANCES YOUR QUESTION WILL BE ASKED IF YOU KEEP IT BRIEF, POLITE AND MAKE IT A QUESTION APPLICABLE TO ALL CANDIDATES.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE START?

ALL RIGHT, LET'S JUMP IN WITH THE FIRST QUESTION.

>> BEFORE WE DO THAT, WE WILL MAKE NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE THIRD CANDIDATE AND RACE FOR LEON COUNTY COMMISSION BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT ONE HAS ARRIVED AND THAT IS INCUMBENT, BILL PROCTOR.

WELCOME, SIR.

SINCE YOU JUST JOINED US, YOU GET THE FIRST CRACK AT THE QUESTION HERE AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO RESPOND IF YOU WOULD AND THEN WE'LL GO DOWN THE LINE HERE.

MR. PROCTOR, WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE INTO YOUR WAY OF THINKING AFFECTING DISTRICT ONE AND WHY?

>> POVERTY, NO DOUBT.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

POVERTY IS THE NUMBER ONE THING.

ACCESS TO JOBS, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING, HEALTHCARE, ALL THE INDICATORS SUGGESTING PEOPLE STRUGGLING.

I BROUGHT HERE TODAY THIS BOOK WHICH COMES IN THE AFTERMATH OF TWO, THREE BOOKS AND I COMPILE IN 2019 CALLED TACKLING POVERTY AND INEQUITIES, A REPORT ON LEON COUNTY'S EFFORTS TO ENGAGE REVITALIZE AND INVEST IN 32304 NEIGHBORHOODS AND BEYOND.

THERE'S NO DOUBT THIS DATA IS COMPLETE.

IT'S COMPETENT AND GREAT THE DIFFICULTY OF ALMOST TWO WORLDS OF DIVIDE IN LEON COUNTY AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY.

>> VERY GOOD.

SAME QUESTION FOR YOU, DONNA PEARL COTTERELL, WOULD YOU CONSIDER THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IMPACTING DISTRICT ONE AND WHY?

>> I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PROCTOR THAT POVERTY IS THE MAIN ISSUE.

THE MEDIAN INCOME IN THE 32304 ZIP CODE THAT RESIDES IN DISTRICT ONE IS 24000 DOLLARS A YEAR, THAT'S LESS THAN HALF THE AVERAGE FOR MOST FLORIDIANS WHICH THE MEDIAN INCOME FOR MOST FLORIDIANS IS $55660 AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 14-POINT 4% OF THOSE LIVING IN 32304 HAVE A BACHELORS DEGREE OR HIGHER AND STILL NOT ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING WAGE.

AMERICANS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL IS A WIDE RANGE OF CHALLENGES.

MANY ARE STRUGGLING WITH BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE.

THESE PROBLEMS ARE ONLY MORE COMPOUNDED BY POVERTY.

WE AS A PEOPLE, AS RESIDENTS IN LEON COUNTY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY -- FOR THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY, TO HELP THEM AND I HOPE TO DO THAT.

>> TERRANCE BARBER, YOU GET TO FINISH US OFF.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I WOULD ECHO THE CANDIDATES SAID ABOUT POVERTY IN DISTRICT ONE.

DISTRICT ONE IS PREDOMINATELY BLACK DISTRICT, THE INHABITANTS OF THE DISTRICT ARE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK.

DISTRICT ONE LACKS THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUSTAIN EQUITABLE BLACK BUSINESSES WITHIN BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

I THINK THERE'S AN ILLUSION OF INCLUSION WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICT ONE AND DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY THAT HAS BECOME SO IMPOVERISHED NOW THE VALUE IS SEEN BY THOSE ON THE OUTSIDE.

WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE FRENCHTOWN REVITALIZATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FRENCHTOWN HISTORICALLY WAS A BUSINESS, A CONGLOMERATE OF BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES WHICH PROMOTED VITALITY IN THAT DISTRICT.

RIGHT NOW WHAT'S LEFT ARE REMNANTS OF THE FRENCHTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

[BELL RINGING] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE MUST HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TERRANCE, YOU WILL START OUR NEXT ROUND.

THE QUESTION WILL HAVE A RESPONSE.

OF ONE MINUTE AND 30 SECONDS.

DO YOU BELIEVE COUNTY COMMISSION IS DOING ALL IT SHOULD TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS?

PLEASE DISCUSS.

TERRANCE BARBER.

>> I DO COMMEND THE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE AND THE WORK WE SHALL CONTINUE TO DO.

I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AND WE CAN'T SAY THAT WE ARE HELPING OUT WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING, DISPLACING OR PEOPLE INTO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.

WE HAVE DEVELOPED COMING UP OR PROJECTED DEVELOPMENT COMING UP AND I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY WHO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

RIGHT NOW THERE MEANS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE TRAILER PARKS.

THESE TRAILER PARKS AREN'T ALWAYS THE MOST SUITABLE LIVING CONDITIONS TO WORK, LIVE AND PLAY.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK, LIVE, YOU WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ADDS QUALITY OF LIFE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, I DO NOT THINK WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN, THE MATTER HAS TO BE ADDRESSED, I THINK WE CAN'T REFER TO NEW DEVELOPMENT AS MUSKRAT EXPERIMENTS AND PUTTING TOO MANY PEOPLE IN ONE PLACE WILL DRIVE CRIME UP.

PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT -- [BELL RINGING] HIGH-SPEED INTERNET AND THE OTHER AMENITIES IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

DONNA PEARL COTTERELL, SAME QUESTION.

DO YOU BELIEVE THE COUNTY COMMISSION IS DOING ALL IT SHOULD TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION -- [BELL RINGING] OKAY -- IT'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, THE MEDIAN INCOME MAKES IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO MEET BASIC NEEDS LIKE HOUSING AND IF WE ARE NOT BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE ARE DISPLACING MORE FAMILIES AND I KNOW AS A WOMAN WITH 3 DEGREES, THE WAGES I EARNED OVER THE YEARS OFTEN TIMES I WAS TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET BY GETTING A SECOND JOB.

IF I AM A MOM WITH THREE KIDS THEN TRYING TO PAY RENT AND PAY UTILITIES, BUY FOOD FOR THOSE CHILDREN ON THE INCOME OF 24000, IT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD I'VE MET FOLKS WHO ARE HOMELESS, ONE WOMAN LIVING IN A VACANT APARTMENT RAISING HER KIDS IN A VACANT APARTMENT, VACANT BUILDING WITH NO ELECTRICITY.

WE'VE DEFINITELY GOT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING PROBLEM, LOOK INTO TINY HOMES OR CONTAINER HOMES.

AIR PROPERTY WHERE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD -- [BELL RINGING] WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE A HOME, A PERMANENT HOME.

>> THANK YOU, DONNA.

BILL PROCTOR, YOU GET TO RUN US OUT.

>> THE COUNTY AND MIKE ESTIMATION IS NOT DOING ALL IT CAN TO ADDRESS VARIABLES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING YET SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THE COUNTY HAS NO STATUTORY MANDATE TO BE A BROKER OF HOUSING, A REAL ESTATE AGENCY OF HOUSING.

TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE COUNTY IN TERMS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE DO NOT SET INTEREST RATE, WE DO NOT SET PRICES OF HOMES AS THE ESCALATE.

WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY.

I CAN'T EVEN CONTROL THE HAIR ON MY HEAD FALLING OUT, I GOT NO CONTROL AND HAVE AS LITTLE CONTROL OF INTEREST IN MARKET FACTORS WHICH IN AMERICA, REAL ESTATE IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE PRIVATE MARKET AND HAS NOT BEEN CONTROLLED.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ELEMENTS WHICH WE ALLOW DEVELOPERS TO BUY AND PURCHASE THEIR WAY OUT OF THE INCLUSIONARY, WE CAN SET DON'T ZONING TYPES FOR CERTAIN HOUSING WHICH IS USUALLY MULTIFAMILY -- [BELL RINGING] AND THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE NOT EXHAUSTED WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE RESPONSIBLY TO DO THAT AT ALL.

>> THANK YOU.

GIVEN THE INTENSITY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DISPARITY ISSUES THAT YOU'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED IN DISTRICT ONE, WITH GOT A SERIES OF QUESTIONS WE WANT TO POST TO EACH ONE OF YOU STARTING IF YOU, MR. BARBARA.

YOU EACH HAVE ONE MINUTE TO RESPOND TO THE INITIAL QUESTION AND THEN I'VE GOT FOLLOW-UPS ON TOP OF THAT SO BE FOREWARNED.

NUMEROUS NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN TALLAHASSEE LEON COUNTY ARE STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY AS WE MENTIONED, WHAT ROLE SHOULD LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES PLAY IN PROMOTING MORE EQUITABLE PROSPERITY AND WHAT IS ONE SPECIFIC PLAN YOU WOULD IMPLEMENT TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN THIS GENERATIONAL CHALLENGE?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND EQUITY IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS FROM A COMMISSION STANDPOINT, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT A BETTER PROBATE PROGRAM IF WE LOOK AT THE COUNTY OF ALACHUA, THEY HAVE A ROBUST PROGRAM IN WHICH TO HELP OUT WITH PROBATE ATTORNEYS CAN BE EXPENSIVE, I LOST MY MOTHER ABOUT 23 MONTHS AGO AND WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC ON THE PROCESSES PRIOR TO THE PASSING OF A LOVED ONE.

A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T HAVE LIVING WILLS, WE DON'T HAVE TRUST, PAPERWORK OR DOCUMENTATION IN PLACE.

I THINK TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, WE NEED TO START TO EDUCATE OUR PUBLIC AND MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE ENTITLED TO AND ALSO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE COST OF THOSE PROCESSES.

>> FOLLOW-UP NUMBER ONE, MORE AND MORE DEVELOPERS ARE BUYING SOUTH TALLAHASSEE, HOW DO YOU BALANCE A DESIRE FOR INVESTMENT OR REINVESTMENT IN SOUTH CITY WITH CONCERNS BY RESIDENTS AND IN MANY CASES FEELS THEY ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF CERTAIN AREAS?

>> I'M NOT AGAINST DEVELOPMENT BUT I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO INTERJECT THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTH SIDE, WE LIKE HEALTHY EATING PLACES, WE LIKE TO HAVE ACTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE LIKE TO GO SKATING, WE LOVE NICE PARKS AND NICE THINGS AND I THINK WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL WE DISPLACE THE INDIGENOUS, A WORD I HATE BUT A LOT OF TIMES USED ON THE DICE.

I THINK WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED FROM A COMMUNITY BUT THEN ADD INFRASTRUCTURE, IT AND APPLICABLE AT THAT TIME.

>> ANOTHER FOLLOW-UP IF YOU WOULD, WE HEARD AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT WORKFORCE AND JOBS CRISIS IN TALLAHASSEE IN THE ON COUNTY BUT HOW DO WE BRING NEW JOBS TO LEON COUNTY PARTICULARLY WHEN NEW DEVELOPMENT IS OFTEN CRITICIZED AS CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTY?

>> I THINK TO BRING NEW JOBS WE FIRST HAVE TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO START BETTER TRAINING OUR USE, BETTER TRAINING LOCAL CITIZENS TO BE READY FOR THE WORKFORCE.

THIS COMMUNITY IS CHARACTERIZED AS A COLLEGE TOWN AND ESTIMATE IS NOT JUST A COLLEGE TOWN.

WE RIGHT NOW HAVE JOBS, I'VE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND RIGHT NOW IT'S HARD TO FILL THE POSITIONS THEY HAVE FOR WHATEVER THE REASON MAY BE BUT POST PANDEMIC YOU WOULD THINK SOMEONE HAD TAKEN TIME -- [BELL RINGING] TO THINK THIS OUT.

SO WE ARE BETTER PREPARED WHEN THAT DOES COME.

>> THANK YOU.

FINAL FOLLOW-UP HERE, HOMELESSNESS IS ALSO BECOMING A MUCH MORE VISIBLE PROBLEM IN LEON COUNTY.

WHAT IS ONE THING WE COULD DO TO HELP ON THAT FRONT?

>> I THINK WE FIRST HAVE TO RECOGNIZE HOMELESSNESS IS NOW BECOMING MORE VISIBLE IN OTHER PARTS OF TALLAHASSEE.

WHEN THE HOMELESS SHELTER SAT ON THE CORNER OF TENNESSEE AND COMBS STREET RIGHT IN THE HEARTS OF BRICKS TOWN, HOMELESSNESS WAS PREVALENT IN DISTRICT ONE AND FRENCHTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD AND THAT AREA.

I THINK UNTIL WE ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS HEAD ON AT THE FOREFRONT, I THINK URBAN MISSION, ALL THESE DIFFERENT HIGH-LEVEL DEBATES THEY ARE HAVING, I THINK OF SOMEONE ELSE SEES THAT, WE SHOULD SEE IT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MS. DONNA PEARL COTTERELL, SAME QUESTIONS, FIRST UMBRELLA ONE MINUTE RESPONSE.

WITH ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN TALLAHASSEE AND LEON COUNTY STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY, WHAT ROLE SHOULD LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES PLAY IN PROMOTING MORE EQUITABLE PROSPERITY AND WHAT IS ONE SPECIFIC PLAN YOU WOULD IMPLEMENT TO MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN THIS GENERATION?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AS MR. BARBARA HAS SAID.

WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC VITALITY ADMINISTERED, LOCAL SALES TAX TO BE ABLE TO HELP ECONOMICALLY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS THEY DECIDED TO GIVE $27 MILLION TO FSU TIED IN A BOW.

FOLKS VOTED FOR AND VOTED FOR AGAIN IN 2014, WE DIDN'T EXPECT OUR PENNIES TO GO TO A WELL-FUNDED STATE-FUNDED UNIVERSITY BECAUSE THOSE DOLLARS COULD HAVE GONE TO 2000 PEOPLE, $10000 LOANS.

FOLKS WHO DON'T ORDINARILY HAVE THE CREDIT WORTHINESS TO GET A LOAN COULD HAVE OPENED UP A SMALL BUSINESS.

IMAGINE THAT.

[BELL RINGING] IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MORE MONEY INTO THE COFFERS AS WELL AS SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY.

>> THANK YOU, 452nd FOLLOW-UP.

MORE AND MORE DEVELOPERS LOOKING AT THE SOUTH SIDE AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT BALANCE, THE DESIRE FOR INVESTMENT OR REINVESTMENT IN SOUTH CITY WITH CONCERNS BY RESIDENTS BUT THAT COULD ULTIMATELY WIND UP DISPLACING THEM?

>> IT'S A SHAME WE HAVE TO LOOK TOO BIG DEVELOPERS FOR SOLUTIONS TO HOUSING ISSUES.

WE HAVE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL SHACKS, SADDLEBACK HOUSES AND SOUTH SIDE AS WELL AS FRENCH TOWNS THAT COULD BE REHABBED.

IF THEY CAN'T BE, THE FOOTPRINT COULD HOLD A TINY HOME OR CONTAINER HOME, YOU CAN DIE OF A CONTAINER HOME OR OLD TRAILER BEDS FOR $6500.

IMAGINE IF YOU COULD AS A FAMILY, CREATE A HOME FOR LESS THAN $10000 ON A FOOTPRINT THAT MAY BE LEFT BY HER FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY ARE SOLUTIONS, WAYS TO WORK AROUND USING BIG DEVELOPERS TO CLEAR CUT, TEAR DOWN AND REMOVE -- [BELL RINGING] HOMES RATHER THAN RENOVATING AND REBUILDING HOMES.

>> THANK YOU.

THE NEXT FOLLOW-UP HERE, WORKFORCE JOBS CRISIS, ALL THAT WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT BUT HOW DO WE BRING NEW JOBS TO LEON COUNTY ESPECIALLY WHEN NEW DEVELOPMENT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS OFTEN CRITICIZED AS CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTY?

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE MIGHT THINK JOBS, THEY THINK FACTORIES, A LOT OF THAT IS NOT COMING HERE BUT WHAT IS HERE IS A COTTAGE INDUSTRY, A LOT OF FOLKS WHO MAKE THEIR OWN GOODS WHO SERVICE FOLKS THROUGH WHETHER MEANING HOMES OR LAWN CARE AND AS MR. BARBARA SAID, IT DOESN'T TAKE A COLLEGE DEGREE TO DO THOSE THINGS.

WE CAN TEACH PEOPLE TO USE THEIR OWN SKILLS AND TALENTS AND ABILITY TO MAKE A BETTER LIFE, I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.

[BELL RINGING] >> AND FINAL FOLLOW-UP HERE WITH HOMELESSNESS BECOMING SUCH A VISIBLE PROBLEM IN THE ON COUNTY, ONE THING WE CAN DO TO HELP OUT ON THAT FRONT IN YOUR ESTIMATION.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD QUESTION, I MYSELF HAVE A LEAST BUILDING AND WE TOOK IT UPON OURSELVES AS A NONPROFIT TO OPEN UP A COLD-WEATHER SHELTER.

WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS EXTREMELY COLD, SOMEONE DIED IN FRONT OF THE CO-OP MARKET ON APALACHEE PARKWAY.

SIX PEOPLE WERE THERE THAT NIGHT.

PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE MASSES RIGHT NOW ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT.

[BELL RINGING] 2100 INDIVIDUALS, THOSE CHILDREN ARE HOMELESS.

WE HAVE TO DO MORE, WE HAVE TO DO BETTER.

>> THANK YOU MS. COTTERELL.

WE WRAP UP THIS SEGMENT WITH YOU, MR. PROCTOR HERE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN TALLAHASSEE, LEON COUNTY STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY.

THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS AND INCENTIVES PACKAGES WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT SHOULD THAT PLAY AS FAR AS A ROLE IN PROMOTING MORE EQUITABLE DIVISION OF PROSPERITY AND ONE SPECIFIC PLAN YOU WOULD ENDORSE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

ONE MINUTE.

>> WE SHOULD HAVE BANKS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WE BANK WITH FOR THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, LEON COUNTY, UNIVERSITIES, THANKS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THOSE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD SET ASIDE MONEY DESIGNATED FOR INVESTMENT AND HOMES.

THAT'S ESSENTIALLY NEEDED AND REQUIRES COMMUNICATIONS, IT REQUIRES THINKING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE.

I BELIEVE THE EFFORT TO BRING AMAZON HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS EXCEPTIONAL.

GOING AFTER BUSINESSES BUT I HOLD THE PHILOSOPHY WHY WE HAVE TO GO AFTER IF WE LEARN TO EXPAND AND HELP THE EXISTING BUSINESSES SO I'M NOT ALTOGETHER SOLD ON THE IDEA WE HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE TO COME HERE IF WE INVEST IN HELPING THOSE WHO ASSIST HERE.

>> 452nd FOLLOW-UP WITH MORE AND MORE DEVELOPERS LOOKING AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF TALLAHASSEE.

HOW DO YOU HAVE MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONCERNS ABOUT RESIDENTS ALREADY IN THE AREA THAT THEY WILL DISPLACE.

>> TALLAHASSEE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAVE EXCEPTIONAL MODEL AND THEY ARE GIVING FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL TO TENANTS WHO HAVE LIVED IN SOUTH CITY, IN THEIR PROPERTIES HIM GIVEN THEM THE FIRST RIGHT TO RETURN TO BE MEMBERS OF REVITALIZED COMMUNITY.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD APPROACH.

WE NEED A COMMUNITY ENGAGER FOR COMPANIES LIKE HORTON COMING DOWN WOODFIELD HIGHWAY AND MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS ENGAGED.

I'M NOT ALTOGETHER SURE WHAT WE CAN DO WHEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING STARTS, IN EXCESS OF $300,000 AND THAT THE DYNAMICS OF INCOME CAPTURED IN THIS BOOK, THERE'S A GAP I CAN SEE RESOLUTION IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

>> IN REGARDS TO WORKFORCE, THE JOBS CRISIS IS ALREADY MENTIONED.

HOW DO WE BRING NEW JOBS TO LEON COUNTY PARTICULARLY WHEN THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IS OFTEN CRITIQUED AS POTENTIALLY CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA IT MOVES INTO?

>> WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO LISTEN TO PERSONS, USE THE WORD INDIGENOUS, RESIDENTS FOR A LONG TIME.

WE HAVE TO ENGAGE THE INVESTMENT THEY'VE MADE OVER TIME YET TO BALANCE WHO THOSE PERSONS COMING HERE MIGHT BE, WE HAVE TO LOOSEN, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PRISSY PRISSY JOBS.

WE TALK ABOUT INNOVATION PARKS, THE 75000.

[BELL RINGING] TYPE JOB.

WE NEED BLUE-COLLAR IDEAS.

WE PROBABLY NEED STAFF TO SEE IT LIKE THAT.

>> THANK YOU, FINAL FOLLOW-UP HERE FOR 45 SECONDS.

HOMELESSNESS BECOMING THAT VISIBLE PROBLEM WITH ALREADY ADDRESSED HERE, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A PRIMARY RESPONSE TO RESOLVING THAT ISSUE?

>> IT WOULD BE MY IDEA WE CREATE CAMPUSES, HOMELESS CAMPUSES WITH DIGNITY, WITH RESPECT, EASTSIDE NEEDS A CAMPUS, WEST SIDE NEEDS A CAMPUS AND WE NEED AND DO, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TO ALLOW THE HOMELESS SHELTER TO BE THE GODFATHER WHAT OCCURS WITHIN THE COUNTY, PUMPS MONEY IN AND EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE MONEY.

WE NEED A CAMPUS AND THE PROBLEM WITH HOMELESSNESS IS IT RECEIVES IT CRASHES.

[BELL RINGING] WITH PROPERTY VALUES AND WANT TO GET THE CLASS WITH EXISTING NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THIS WOULD BRING IN VALUE DOWN, NOBODY WANTS THE DROP SO WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION IS A VARIATION INSPIRED FROM URBAN LEAGUE.

BY OUR ACCOUNTS ON TALLAHASSEE.COM, 12 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, 44 INJURED AND 70 SERIOUS SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR AT THE CAPITOL CITY.

JUST LAST NIGHT TO PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND TWO DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS IN OUR APARTMENT.

WHAT SPECIFIC INITIATIVES WILL YOU TAKE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM CRIME?

SOMETHING THAT HASN'T BEEN TRIED BEFORE AS THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE BEEN GRAPPLING WITH FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

ONE MINUTE AND 30 ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AND WE WILL START WITH YOU, COTTERELL.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HATFIELD.

THERE ARE MANY SOLUTIONS AND AS A FORMER EDUCATOR, IT STARTS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WITH READING, LITERACY BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILDING PRISONS BASED ON THIRD GRADE READING SCORES AND ONE, WE ARE VERY LOW IN OUR READING LEVELS IN TALLAHASSEE, IN LEON COUNTY.

WE ARE LOSING OUR KIDS, STUDENTS ARE DROPPING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.

WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE IN THE STREETS, THEY ARE NOT AT SCHOOL, WE HAVE TO FIND THINGS FOR THEM TO DO AND WHETHER IT'S RETENTION PROGRAM, I KNOW THERE ARE SEVERAL BUT HOW ABOUT ART BASED COMMUNITY PROGRAMS?

I MENTIONED THIS AT THE CITY BUDGET MEETING BECAUSE WE AS A CITY, WE FIND A LOT OF ART BASED PROGRAMS BUT VERY FEW IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND EVEN FEWER IN DISTRICT ONE.

I, AS A KID WHO WAS EXPERIENCING WITH ALL THE WRONG THINGS AT THE AGE OF 13, 15 WAS INTRODUCED TO THEATER AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE.

SEVEN CHILDREN, I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WENT TO COLLEGE AND FINISHED COLLEGE AND TWO MASTERS DEGREE AND I ATTRIBUTE IT TO A SUMMER THEATER PROGRAM SO IMAGINE IF WE HAVE ART BASED PROGRAM IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE KIDS COULD EXERCISE OR CREATE TALENTS.

NOT EVERYBODY IS GOOD AT SPORTS.

[BELL RINGING] SOME PEOPLE CAN USE CREATIVE TALENTS TO BETTER THEMSELVES.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. PROCTOR.

SAME QUESTION.

>> CLEARLY SHERIFF MCNEIL IS JUST A REVOLUTIONARY IN RESPECT TO UNDERSTANDING WE CANNOT LAW ENFORCE OUR WAY OUT OF CRIME.

BOYS AND MEN, MEN AND BOYS INITIATIVE THEY'VE BROUGHT FORWARD HIS EXCELLENT.

MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT IS IGNORED, YOU LOOK AT THE CRIMES AND DO THE ANALYSIS AND LOOK AT FIVE-YEAR STUDY SHERIFF MADE, HOMICIDE, WHAT IS IT CALLED?

ANATOMY OF A HOMICIDE, YOU FIND CONFLUENT ELEMENTS, POVERTY, LOW SCHOOL PREPARATION AND YOU FIND MENTAL HEALTH.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE JAIL POPULATION, A THIRD OF THE JAIL POPULATION IS ON MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

WE HAVE ISSUES WE'VE IGNORED AND THEN COVID, EXPERTS ARE SAYING IN THE AFTERMATH OF COVID, THESE MASS SHOOTINGS OCCURRING ACROSS THE NATION, BEHAVIOR WE'VE NOT SEEN, MAYBE WE NEED TO GO DEEPER AND LOOK INTO CORRECTIVE STEPS TO LEAD US OUT OF COVID.

FINALLY, I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA BEING AGGRESSIVE AND HAVING ACTIVITIES, THE YMCA BUT HAVING EVERYBODY ON BOARD AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, THE YMCA AND CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES, I DO BELIEVE THE CHURCH, THERE IS ROOM FOR THE CHURCH.

[BELL RINGING] OUR THERMOSET.

>> TERRANCE L BARBARA, YOU HAVE THE LAST ANSWER ON THIS QUESTION.

>> REPEAT THE QUESTION PLEASE.

>> SURE.

BY OUR ACCOUNT, 12 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, 44 INJURED, 70 SERIOUS SHOOTINGS THIS YEAR IN THE CAPITOL CITY COUNTY.

WHAT SPECIFIC INITIATIVES WILL YOU MAKE TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE?

>> I THINK CULTURALLY RIGHT NOW THE VIOLENCE PLAGUING OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE ONCE AGAIN SYMPTOMATICALLY OF POVERTY.

I THINK WE HAVE TO START THEIR TRAINING OUR WORKFORCE, WE GET INSIDE THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMMING WHERE SOME OF THESE YOUNG ADULTS OF OTHER THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO POST- GRADUATION AND JUST SIMPLY COLLEGE.

I THINK WE COULD PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE IMMEDIATELY, WE GET INSIDE OF THESE, I DO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER PROCTOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE A HUGE ISSUE.

I MEMORIALIZE, THE PASSING OF A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WHILE AT WORK WITH HIS CHILD, JUST WORKING AND NOW IS THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.

I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS KILLED HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND TO BE HONEST, THE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAS ALWAYS BEEN PUBLIC.

IT'S JUST BECOME MORE POLITICIZED NOW BECAUSE NEW DEVELOPERS COMING INTO THE AREA AND OF COURSE WE HAVE TO SHOW MORE INITIATIVE NOW BECAUSE WE WANT TO WELCOME THE GUEST TO EITHER LIVE AMONGST INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS OF THE AREA OR ONCE WE DISPLACE THEM BUT WE NEED TO GET GRAVEL ON THIS AND TALK TO THESE HUES AND BETTER COMMUNICATING.

RIGHT NOW WHAT WE GET FROM CURRENT LEADERSHIP IS A LOT OF ANSWERS BUT THEY ARE NOT LISTENING AND THAT IS MY JOB IS TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND FILL THE VOIDS AND BRIDGE THE GAPS.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BILL PROCTOR, THIS IS FOR YOU, ONE MINUTE FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

PLEASE DISCUSS WHETHER YOU FEEL THE CURRENT ETHICS CODE FOR LEON COUNTY, GOVERNMENT BLUE PRINT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY ARE ADEQUATE ESPECIALLY REGARDING LOBBYISTS REGULATION.

REDUCE, WOULD YOU SUPPORT OVERSIGHT OF BOTH THE COUNTY AND/OR BLUEPRINT?

>> THE WORD ETHICS IS SUCH A BROAD PARAMETER.

YOU COULD LOOK AT IT FROM COMMISSION CONDUCT, STAFF CONDUCT AND I THINK WITH RESPECT TO THE MELO SEEKING JUDGMENT, CAN THE STAFF MEET AND NOT BE IN THE SUNSHINE?

CAN THEY MAKE MILLION-DOLLAR DECISIONS AND FRAME THE REQUEST OF COMMISSIONERS TO AGREE ON THAT THEY HAVE DEALT WITH BUT THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM?

THERE IS THAT ANGLE.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM THE COUNTY SIDE, THE COUNTY HAS HAD MENTAL ETHICS ISSUES.

THE BLUEPRINT IF YOU MIX IT WITH THE CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, WHEN THE CITY AND COUNTY JOIN, YOU MIGHT SAY OUR COUNTERPARTS HAVE HAD MORE ISSUES RELATED TO ETHICS AND AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I SEE NO.

[BELL RINGING] CONDUCT ON OUR PARTS THAT WARNS THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

TERRANCE BARBER, NEXT.

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> PLEASE DISCUSS WHETHER YOU FEEL CURRENT ETHICS CODES FOR LEON COUNTY COMMISSION, LEON COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND BLUE PRINT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGENCY ARE ADEQUATE ESPECIALLY REGARDING LOBBYISTS REGISTRATION.

WOULD YOU SUPPORT INDEPENDENT ETHICS OVERSIGHT OF EITHER OR BOTH?

>> MY SHORT ANSWER IS I THINK ETHICS IS A PERSONAL DECISION FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT THE PEOPLE WE ELECT INTO THESE POSITIONS ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.

I WILL SAY I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE MORE INSIGHT TO THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DO THINK IT IS DEAD WRONG TO PRESENT A CERTAIN ENTITY WITH A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY AND THEN EXCEPT MONEY FROM ORGANIZATIONS OR AFFILIATES WITHIN THAT SAME ENTITY.

I THINK IT IS WRONG, IS IT ILLEGAL?

I DON'T THINK SO BUT ETHICALLY, ABSOLUTELY YES.

>> THANK YOU, TERENCE BARBER.

COTTERELL, YOUR NEXT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO LEON COUNTY GOVERNMENT, I'LL SAY THEY ARE DOING A BETTER JOB IN THE CITY.

WE'VE SEEN SOME MEAN-SPIRITED WAYS OF SHUTTING DOWN FOLKS WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ETHICS.

WHEN IT COMES TO BLUEPRINT, EVEN COMMISSIONER PROCTOR HIMSELF CALLED OUT MAYOR DALEY IN TERMS OF ACCEPTING MONEY FROM FSU BIG DONORS AND OTHERS WHO WERE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY WENT TO FSU INSTEAD OF THE COMMUNITY THAT TO ME ON HIS FACE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ETHICALLY.

I KNOW COMMISSIONER THAT LOW AND COMMISSIONER PORTER HAVE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY.

IN TERMS OF THE COUNTY, IT MAY BE NOT AS BLATANT BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT SCOTT MADDOX WENT TO PRISON AND REPORTED.

[BELL RINGING] I WILL SAY, APPOINTMENT AND THE DEAL WAS SEALED OVER SOME ALCOHOL BEVERAGES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> CAN I GET A CHANCE FOR TEN SECONDS?

>> TEN SECONDS.

>> HE DEEMED IT WOULD BE VOTER SUPPRESSION FOR HIM TO NOT ACCEPT THE MONEY.

THAT WAS MY CONCERN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO STAY WITH THE STADIUM HERE.

TERENCE L BARBER, HE WILL HAVE THE FIRST SHOT AT THIS QUESTION.

THE PENNY SALES TAX PROGRAM ARE REQUIRED IN A DIFFERENT POT AND USED FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

MOST OF THE FUNDS SPENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS ROADSIDE ROCKS AND PARKS, 12% WILL BE SPENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS HAVING A GENERAL PUBLIC PURPOSE IMPROVING GLOBAL ECONOMIES.

WHAT WAS YOUR POSITION ON THE RECENT ALLOCATION OF 27 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE STADIUM FROM THE MONEY REQUIRED TO BE SPENT ON DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.

ONE MINUTE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I THINK WE CAN SUM UP OUR DECISION MAKING INTO TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

I THINK IT WOULD BE THE REASONS AND THE RESULTS.

IN THIS PARTICULAR MATTER, THE REASONS DON'T COUNT.

I'VE HEARD SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS FROM SITTING COMMISSIONERS AS TO WHY THEY VOTED IN THE DIRECTION THAT THEY DID BUT THE ACTUAL RESULTS SAY THAT IT WAS NOT PHYSICALLY FEASIBLE NOR FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE TO DO IT.

I THINK WE ALSO MUST LOOK AT REWARDS AND REGRETS.

I THINK WHAT YOU SEE YOU HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE DECISION YET YOU DON'T REGRET IT, MAYBE THERE ARE REWARDS GIVEN THAT WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT.

>> THANK YOU.

DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

SAME QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU MR. HATFIELD.

ONE THIRD OF THOSE FUNDS GIVEN, THEY ARE TIED UP IN BONDS AND FINANCIAL SERVICES WHICH MEANS THE BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ARE GETTING RICHER, NOT THE PEOPLE IT WAS MEANT FOR.

THAT TAX WAS CREATED, IT WAS CREATED FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.

IN PARTICULAR LIKE DISTRICT ONE WHO NEEDED IT.

IT'S MORALLY OBSCENE FOR A STADIUM TO GET LUXURY UPGRADES WHILE THE FOLKS ARE IN THE SAME ZIP CODE THAT IS A POOR ZIP CODE THAT ARE SUFFERING.

PEOPLE NEED TO GET A HANDOUT, RESIDENTS ARE BEING IGNORED.

IT TOOK AWAY FROM THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO SAD.

IT'S WHAT'S WRONG WITH LOCAL LEADERSHIP TODAY.

OTHER DEVELOPER PROJECTS SHOW THEY ARE BENDING OVER BACKWARDS TO PLEASE DEVELOPERS.

COUNTIES LIKE PINELLAS ARE BUYING PLANS TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NO OTHER COUNTIES BY FIXING UP STADIUMS WITH THEIR LOCAL PENNY TAX.

>> THANK YOU.

BILL PROCTOR, YOU SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT, SAME QUESTION.

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS OF LOOKING AT THIS AND PROBABLY BASED UPON YOUR ADAGE., THEY ARE ALL CORRECT.

WHERE I LOOK AT IT, 80%, FOOTBALL TEAMS AND LAST 20, 30 YEARS IS MADE UP OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.

IT'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH INVESTING IN PROGRAM WHERE THE BENEFIT, THE BOYS WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE A CHANCE HIGHER EDUCATION TO COME THROUGH FLORIDA STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR EVERY YOUNG PERSON WHO GOES TO COLLEGE, IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO SPECIFICALLY WOULD NOT GET INTO FSU WITHOUT ACCESS TO A FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

FSU HAD $20 MILLION DESIGNATED 2014 TAX, 20 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A PROJECT, THE COST OF THEIR CENTER WENT UP TO 60 SOME THOUSAND, THEY COULDN'T DO IT.

THEY ASKED PERMISSION.

10 MILLION ANOTHER BUT 20 MILLION FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

[BELL RINGING] HAD BEEN.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MAY I RESPOND, TEN SECONDS?

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, EVERYTHING MR. PROCTOR IS POINTING OUT, IN NO WAY SIGNIFIES A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT.

IF FSU HAS HAD SIX PLAYERS FROM LEON COUNTY, THEIR FOOTBALL FIELD GOING ON TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS WITH THEIR LIVES, WE COULD SAY THAT BUT THAT WAS NOT -- [BELL RINGING] POST $27 MILLION, THANK YOU.

>> DO YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THIS QUICKLY?

>> VERY QUICKLY, YES.

>> I WILL LET YOU CLOSE.

>> YES, MOST OF THOSE BOYS DON'T LIVE HERE AND BUILDING WEALTH OFF 1% OF THE BOYS WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL WHO ACTUALLY END UP IN THE NFL, MOST OF THEM DON'T COME OUT AS MILLIONAIRES.

THEN SIDING WITH A FEW LOSERS AND TOP ADMINISTRATORS -- [BELL RINGING] IS NOT THE WAY -- >> PROCTOR TO CLOSE AND THEN ONE 32nd FOLLOW-UP.

>> I AM VERY PROUD OF ONE MAN COME THROUGH WITH 156, 60 GUYS GOING TO THE NFL SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

>> THANK YOU.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST CONTENTIOUS ISSUES TO COME BEFORE BLUEPRINT AND ALMOST IS HISTORY, WAS THERE A MIDDLE GROUND HERE?

WHY COULDN'T WE REACH IT?

MR. PROCTOR AND THEN WE WILL WORK OUR WAY THROUGH.

>> THERE'S ALWAYS A MIDDLE GROUND AND IT WAS POLARIZED SO QUICKLY, WE WERE INVITED TO A TOWN HALL MEETING AT LINCOLN NEIGHBORHOOD AND PEOPLE WERE SITTING ALL ACROSS AND DECIDED IT WAS EITHER OR.

ONCE THE PUBLIC POLARIZED THE ISSUE AS EITHER OR, WE ALL RAN AND THERE WAS LITTLE ROOM LEFT FOR MIDDLE GROUND SO I EXCEPT SOME RESPONSIBLY AND NOT ARTICULATING OR FINDING A MIDDLE GROUND BUT IT WAS POLITICIZED, THE COMMUNITY WAS UP IN ARMS -- TRAIN SEVEN AND WE FLED.

>> SAME QUESTION.

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> WAS THERE A MIDDLE GROUND WITH THE STADIUM ISSUE?

WHY COULDN'T WE REACH IT?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO THE COMMISSIONER, TRIED TO AMEND AND GUARD AS SOME SORT OF MIDDLE GROUND.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT AS A COMMISSIONER, WE ARE TO BE STEWARDS OF THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IN INVESTMENT.

I THINK WITH NOT ONE PERSON ON THE COUNTY COMMISSION, NO ONE ON THIS DAIS TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO AT LEAST LEVERAGE OUR INVESTMENT WITH FLORIDA STATE -- [BELL RINGING] WE GOT A STRUGGLING STRONG SMALL BUSINESSES.

>> THANK YOU, MR. HATFIELD.

THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND.

IF THEY BASED THEIR VOTE ON THE FACT THAT FAMILY GOT 10 MILLION, WHY NOT GIVE FSU 10 MILLION AND THAT THE OTHER 10 MILLION GO FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TALKED ABOUT?

IT TAKES 20 YEARS FOR BLUEPRINT TO GET $1 BILLION.

FSU CASSETTE EVERY YEAR IN THE STATE BUDGET.

THEY DIDN'T NEED 20 MILLION.

IF WE WANT TO BE THERE BECAUSE OF FAMILY GOT 20 MILLION, WE COULD HAVE SPLIT THAT AND GIVE THEM TEN -- [BELL RINGING] AND THE REST COULD HAVE GONE TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE UP THE PACE A LITTLE BIT AND DO A LIGHTNING ROUND.

THE WAY IT WORKS, A SIMPLER QUESTION AND YOU GET BASICALLY MOST CASES YES OR NO AND A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN IN ONE SENTENCE.

OF COURSE YOU CAN USE THE WORD AND BECAUSE BUT WE ARE HOPEFUL YOU WON'T STRING ALONG TOO MANY OF THOSE.

WE WILL BE STARTING WITH DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

HOW MANY MEETINGS HAVE YOU ATTENDED AND HOW MANY HAVE YOU SPOKEN AT AND ON WHAT TOPICS?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I HAVE BEEN TO TWO COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS.

I BELIEVE I SPOKE AT BOTH.

I'VE BEEN TOO SEVERAL BLUEPRINT MEETINGS, I WOULD SAY OVER THE LAST YEAR END A HALF -- >> TOPICS?

>> TOPICS?

MAINLY BLUEPRINTS BUT ALSO, WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THAT $27 MILLION?

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER PROCTOR, I DON'T KNOW HOW RELEVANT THIS IS, I KNOW YOU SPOKEN AT MANY.

>> YES, SIR.

I'M GUILTY OF HAVING BEEN TOO SEVERAL MEETINGS.

COUNTY COMMISSION MEETINGS, CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS, TRANSPORTATION PLANNING MEETINGS, BLUEPRINT MEETINGS.

JUST TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HISTORICALLY THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTY THAT PROBABLY IS NOT ANOTHER PERSON WHO'S ATTENDED MORE MEETINGS THAN I HAVE.

>> THANK YOU.

TERRANCE L BARBER, SAME QUESTION.

>> I'VE ATTENDED SEVERAL, SEVERAL MEETINGS.

I HAD A BUDGET MEETING EARLIER TODAY.

>> THE TOPICS?

>> THEY RANGE FROM NEIGHBORHOOD FIRST PROGRAMS, TOO MANY TO NA NAME, FAR BEFORE THE FSU VOTE.

>> BILL PROCTOR, THE NEXT QUESTION, AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, YOU WILL HONESTLY, YOU WORK WITH YOUR COUNTY PARKS AND COMMISSIONER, TOWARD THE END, WHO WILL YOU ENDORSE FOR MAYOR OF TALLAHASSEE AND WHY?

ONE SENTENCE.

>> I WILL NOT MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT FOR THE MAYOR OF TALLAHASSEE AND THAT TODAY, YOU SAID WE CAN USE THE AND CONJECTURE, TODAY THE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING WE DID PAST 5% INCREASE FOR OUR WORKERS AND $15 MINIMUM WAGE WHICH THIS COMMISSIONER LED THE CHARGE.

>> THANK YOU BUT NO ENDORSEMENT FOR MAYOR?

>> NO.

>> ANY REASON?

>> NEITHER ONE OF THEM HAVE GONE INTO ENDORSEMENT.

>> TERRANCE L BARBER, SAME QUESTION.

>> THE COMMISSIONER, THEY STILL MIGHT ANSWER.

I HAVE NO INTENTION AT THIS JUNCTION OF ENDORSING OTHER CANDIDATES WHILE A CANDIDATE MYSELF.

I WISH THEM BOTH WELL AND IF I WERE TO ENDORSE EITHER OR, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE ONE WHO ENDORSES ME.

>> DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I AM ONE, I AM NOT ASHAMED OF MY FAVORITE AND IT'S SOMEONE WHO HAS LIVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND KNOWS ESPECIALLY DISTRICT ONE VERY WELL, THE THIRD.

>> THANK YOU.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S ALWAYS THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THIS TIME IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHO'S YOUR PICK FOR GOVERNOR?

>> THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WILL BE INTERESTING.

WE HAVE CHRIS COMING BACK TO FLORIDA, NIKKI FRIEDE, BLAZING TRAILS.

I'M NOT CERTAIN OF ANY OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE TO MAKE A DECISION ON THAT BUT MAY THE BEST CANDIDATE WHEN.

>> DONNA PEARL ALVARADO.

>> THAT'S A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE I BELIEVE WOMEN SHOULD BE IN CHARGE, I'LL JUST SAY THAT.

[LAUGHTER] >> IN CHARGE OF WHAT?

>> EVERYTHING.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT, VERY GOOD.

BILL PROCTOR.

>> CHARLIE -- >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND A REASON?

>> HIS EXPERIENCE, HE'S LEADING IN THE POLLS AND SPEAKS MY LANGUAGE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ARE THERE ANY LIMITS ON WHO YOU WILL ACCEPT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM?

ONE SENTENCE.

>> REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> ANY LIMITS ON WHO YOU WILL ACCEPT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM?

>> I WILL NOT ACCEPT CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION FROM ANY BIG DEVELOPERS.

>> THANK YOU.

BILL PROCTOR.

>> I WON'T ACCEPT ANY FROM THE PROUD BOYS.

>> TERRANCE L BARBER.

>> I TURNED DOWN ABOUT AS MUCH AS I'VE RAISED.

>> CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE YOU'VE TURNED DOWN?

>> I WANT TO NAME ANY.

EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED IS PUBLIC RECORD.

>> PLEASE TELL THOSE WHO HE HAS TURNED DOWN THAT I WILL ACCEPT THEM.

>> WHO DO YOU VIEW AS YOUR LOCAL MENTOR AND LIFE AND PURSUING THIS SEAT?

BILL PROCTOR.

>> A MENTOR?

MY MOTHER, ACTUALLY.

I HAVE TO GO WITH MY MOTHER AND MY FATHER, THOSE ARE MY TEACHERS.

>> TERRANCE L BARBER.

>> MY MOM, 42 YEARS.

AS A COUNTY, MY DAD.

A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER, MY UNCLE WHO RAN THE SAME RACE WHEN I WAS IN THE TENTH GRADE IN 1998 SO YES.

>> DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

>> ASIDE FROM FAMILY, WHO DO YOU VIEW AS YOUR LOCAL MENTOR IN LIFE AND PURSUING THIS SEAT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY LOCALLY, JOHNSON, A TRAILBLAZER AND STILL DOING WONDERFUL THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRANCE L BARBER, ONE THING THE COUNTY IS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON AND ONE THING THEY ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON.

>> RIGHT NOW TOO MUCH MONEY IS GOING INTO RECREATION.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 2 MILLION SLATED TO REDEVELOP THE FAIRGROUNDS, IT'S BEEN SAID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY IS ALMOST ANONYMOUS.

I THINK THE DATA IS SKEWED.

>> ONE THINK THE COUNTY IS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY ON, DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

>> NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO HELP THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY AND SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON BIG GIANT HOUSING THAT NO ONE CAN AFFORD LIVING ON A MEDIAN INCOME OF $24000.

>> BILL PROCTOR, SAME QUESTION.

>> TOO MUCH MONEY ON TREES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE COUNTY IS NOT SPENDING ENOUGH MONEY WITH MINORITY BUSINESSES.

I AM DISAPPOINTED IT REMAINS SO OUR POPULATION WE ARE NOT DOING ENOUGH BUSINESS WITH BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS IS A NONPARTISAN RACE BUT THESE DAYS THESE POLITICS ARE UNAVOIDABLE IN ALL THINGS.

ON THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM FROM EXTREME LIBERAL TO EXTREME CONSERVATIVES HIM AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, WHERE YOU DEFINE YOURSELF?

COMMISSIONER PROCTOR.

>> EVERYWHERE.

WE WENT OVER THE ISSUE, SOMETIMES IT NEEDS ME TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND SOMETIMES EXTREMELY PROGRESSIVE.

SOMETIMES IT NEEDS ME TO JUST JUMP UP AND DOWN AND ACT WILD SO I WILL WILD OUT IF NEEDED.

>> IT'S HARD TO DEFINE MYSELF WITHIN THE BOX OF ANY AFFILIATION.

I WILL SAY I AM DEMOCRAT, MOST CANDIDATES I'VE AGREED WITH AND SUPPORTED.

THEY JUST SO HAPPEN TO BE DEMOCRATS.

>> DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

>> MOST PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME WOULD MOST LIKELY SAY I AM VERY PROGRESSIVE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

ONE E-MAIL WAS THIS QUESTION, THE SAME TIME AS THE JANUARY 6 HEARINGS THIS MORNING.

DO YOU BELIEVE DONALD TRUMP HAD THE 2020 ELECTIONS STOLEN FROM HIM?

TERRANCE L. >> I LIKE TO LIVE MY LIFE IN TERMS OF THINK AND NOT BELIEVE AND I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THAT SUBJECT IN ORDER TO FORM AN EDUCATED OPINION ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

>> I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO SAY NO.

THE ELECTION WAS NOT STOLEN, THANK YOU.

>> BILL PROCTOR.

>> TRUMPS ATTORNEY GENERAL BAR INCLUDED IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S RESEARCH SAID THERE WAS NO INSUFFICIENCIES OF RIGHT RULES FOLLOWED, THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN SO I WOULD HAVE TO SIDE WITH MR. BARR.

>> TERRANCE L BARBER, YOU GET THE LAST QUESTION OF OUR LIGHTNING ROD, WHAT IS THE SINGLE BIGGEST THING, JUST ONE THING YOU'VE DONE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE COUNTY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE?

>> SINCE 2016 PRIOR TO BEING A BUSINESS OWNER MOST OF MY LIFE, MY FOCUS HAS BEEN THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

MOST SPECIFICALLY MINORITY BUSINESSES IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I MOVED THE NEEDLE -- >> THANK YOU.

>> ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC WHEN MONEY WAS ON THE LINE.

>> DONNA COTTERELL.

>> THE NONPROFIT COMPANY I FOUNDED IN MASSACHUSETTS AND BROUGHT IT DOWN HERE TO TALLAHASSEE WITH ME AND I'M GRATEFUL SO MANY YOUNG ONES, THANK YOU FOR EXPOSING ME TO THEATER.

>> BILL PROCTOR.

>> I WOULD SAY BEFORE ME IS THIS BILLION DOLLAR BILL THAT REPRESENTS THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS INVESTED IN DISTRICT ONE.

I THINK A CUMULATIVELY MY VALUE HAS BEEN MY VOICE AND ALSO WHEN YOU SAY THE WORD BILL PROCTOR, IT'S IMPACT ON EVERY FACET OF LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

YOU'VE SURVIVED THE LIGHTNING ROUND, WELL DONE.

>> I THINK I HAVE MORE GOALS IN LIGHT, THEY'VE GOT YOUNG ONES.

>> WE DO HAVE ONE FROM OUR FACEBOOK AUDIENCE, I WANT TO POSE TO EVERYONE BECAUSE IT WASN'T INCLUDED IN OUR ORIGINAL LIST OF QUESTIONINGS IN THE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE PARTICULARLY IN THE MINORITY COMMUNITY AND LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF OUR COUNTY FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

STARTING WITH YOU, DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

OUR HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATE THAT CONTINUES TO OUTPACE NOT ONLY IN THE COMMUNITY BUT ALSO STATEWIDE, AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHAT COULD YOU DO TO ADDRESS THAT DISPARITY?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT MORE BLACK WOMEN LED DULA SERVICES BECAUSE IT'S A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND IT'S SAD WE HAVE HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATE MULTIPLE TIMES WHITE COMMUNITY BUT IF WE HAVE BLACK WOMEN SERVICING OR MIDWIFE THINK WOMEN GIVING BIRTH IN THEIR CHANCES OF HAVING A HEALTHY BIRTH MUCH GREATER IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THOSE DULA TO HELP THEM.

>> TERRANCE L BARBER.

>> I THINK WE MUST UNDERSTAND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUATE TO WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND UNTIL WE IMPLEMENT BETTER LIFESTYLES AND HEALTHY FOOD WITHIN OR AT LEAST CLOSE TO THESE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK WE CONTINUE TO HAVE INSUFFICIENCIES WE SUFFER.

>> THANK YOU.

AND BILL PROCTOR.

>> ONE OF THE TRICKY THINGS ABOUT BLACK INFANT MORTALITY IS PERHAPS DONNA IS AWARE, INFANT MORTALITY DISREGARDS SOCIAL STATUS, EDUCATION STATUS, INCOME STATUS, IT HAPPENS TO ALL BLACK WOMEN SO WE CAN'T SAY SHE DIDN'T GET PRENATAL, SHE DIDN'T GO TO THE DOCTOR, BLAH BLAH.

IT'S SUGGESTING RACISM IS A VARIABLE AND STRESS FROM RACISM HAS BEEN A VARIABLE IS AFFECTED AND IMPACTS INFANT MORTALITY.

YOU CAN DEDUCE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AFFECTS ALL, REGARDLESS OF POVERTY OR EDUCATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SERVES AT THE PLEASURE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION.

SINCE 2011, WHAT LETTER GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR END WHY?

WHAT HAS HE DONE WELL AND WHAT CAN HE DO BETTER?

>> FINS LONG IS A PHENOMENAL ADMINISTRATOR, AMONG THE VERY BEST IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

HE WILL HEAR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FINS LONG COMING REAL SOON.

I'VE BEEN PROUD OF VINCE, HIS WORK AND LEADERSHIP, THE WAY WE HANDLE DISBURSEMENT OF DOLLARS CREATING AN AGENCY, A PROCESS FLOW OF DISTURBING MONEY HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE THOSE PERSONS, THE COUNTY GOT A NATIONAL AWARD WE RECEIVED LAST WEEK.

THE CHIEF JUDGE BECAME COUNTY COMMISSION AND GAVE VINCE AND ALAN A PACK.

THE JUDGE IS OUT TIME, THE JUDGE GIVES OUT HARSH SENTENCES BUT THE I'VE NEVER SEEN JUDGE GET A PLAQUE FOR THIS SERVICE AND ITS LONG ACHIEVED THAT FROM THE SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

THANK YOU.

>> EVENT WAITED WITH MR. LONG FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I'VE LEARNED MORE RECENT MY UNCLE GAVE MR. LONG HIS FIRST JOB WITH THE COUNTY WHEN HE WAS ADMINISTRATOR OVER THE BUDGET.

I LEARNED SOMETIMES MY UNCLE WOULD VISIT HIS HOUSE ON COTTERELL STREET AND THAT WOULD BE MY GRANDMOTHER'S.

I'M NOT STUDIES HIS RECORD ENOUGH TO DRAW A CONCLUSION AS TO HIS PASSING BUT I WILL SAY I THINK MR. LONG IS A SOLID INDIVIDUAL.

I THINK HIM FOR THE WORK HE DOES DO IT IF I WERE GIVING UP GRADES, HE PASSES.

>> WHEN WE TAKE A LITTLE TIME OUT TO SAY FAREWELL TO THOSE LISTENING TO THE RECORDED VERSION OF OUR CANDIDATES FORUM ON WFSU 88.9 FM, WE ARE RETURNING TO OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING AND THE BALANCE OF THIS FORM AND OTHERS WILL BE ARCHIVED ON OUR WFSU AND TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT WEBSITES ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE WE ARE OVER WERE SHORT, WE WILL THINK OUR CANDIDATES FOR TAKING PART, TERRANCE L BARBER, DONNA PEARL COTTERELL AND BILL PROCTOR, THANK YOU.

>> MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO CLOSING, WE WILL LET YOU MAKE CLOSING ARGUMENTS.

>> THIS IS KIND OF OUR FAVORITE QUESTION RIGHT NOW THAT KEEPS RETURNING TO SOMETHING WE HAVE CERTAINLY ADDRESSED BEFORE BECAUSE RECENT MEETINGS OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND THE BLUEPRINT ORGANIZATION HAVE ON OCCASION BECOME TESTY AFFAIRS, LET'S FACE IT.

HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE LEVEL OF STABILITY AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO AS FAR AS POTENTIALLY SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO BRING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE MEETING DOWN?

DONNA PEARL COTTERELL, IF WE COULD ASK YOU THAT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

YOU ARE RIGHT, IT IS TESTY.

I BELIEVE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOM IS CLEAR INDICATION THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM AND THE WAY IT IS BEING DONE.

I THINK MR. MATT LOW HAS INITIATED A LAWSUIT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NASTINESS OF BLUEPRINT.

I THINK THE ONLY REAL THING YOU CAN DO IS FIND OUT IF THEY WERE UNETHICAL HIRING THROUGH A BLUEPRINT BUT ALSO HOW MONEY IS BEING SENT AND WHO IS DIRECTING HOW THE MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

WHAT HELP CLEAR UP A LOT OF ISSUES?

>> THANK YOU.

BILL PROCTOR, PLEASE.

>> SOME OF THE TESTING IS, I'M THE ONE WHO ADDED A LOT OF VOLUME TO IT.

I'M FROM FAMILY WHERE TESTING THIS IS JUST PART OF, IT JUST GETS TESTY.

MY THRESHOLD LEVEL MAY BE CULTURE, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS, I AM OKAY WITH THE MEETINGS.

I THINK WHAT USUALLY HAPPENS IS OUR STAFF ORCHESTRATES MEETINGS AND OPTIONS WHICH BRING US TO THOSE MOMENTS OF CONTENTION AND WHEN THE STAFF GETS DEFENSIVE ABOUT THESE ARE THE OPTIONS, THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, IT IS FORCING US TO COMMAND THE STAFF WORKS FOR US.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND THE VISION AND DESIRES OF THE COMMISSIONERS AND NOT FOR COMMISSIONERS TO COME HAVE TO EAT HUMBLE PIE AND BENT DOWN, BOW DOWN TO WHAT THE STAFF IS MANDATING.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, OUR STAFF IS NOT LISTENING AND COORDINATING RESPONSES WHICH WOULD NOT HAVE TO COME SO MUCH BUT AS LONG AS THEY ARE WRONG, I WILL GO ON THE SQUAD OF.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TERRANCE L. WHAT COULD YOU POTENTIALLY DO AS A JANIK COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO TURN DOWN THE DEGREE OF THE TRAIL AND ANIMOSITY IN BLUEPRINT MEETINGS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I WILL START BY SAYING BUILDING CONSENSUS AMONGST YOUR CONSTITUENTS IS A VERY VITAL PART OF BEING A COUNTY COMMISSION.

I THINK WE MUST REFRAIN FROM MISTAKING MOVEMENT WITH PROGRESS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF POLITICIZED ISSUES WITH A LOT OF MOVING PIECES YET STILL NO PROGRESS FOR THE COMMUNITY SAID TO BE SUFFERING FROM THESE DECISIONS.

I THINK UNTIL AS COMMISSIONERS, KIND OF LEARN TO GIVE AND TAKE AND UNTIL WE START WEIGHING OPTIONS, UNTIL WE START, STOP BEING SO DIVISIVE ON SUCH MATTERS ALREADY DECIDED AND UNTIL THEY START ACTUALLY BUILDING CONSENSUS AMONGST THEMSELVES, ALL THE MOVING PIECES IN THE WORLD WON'T CREATE PROGRESS UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER MOVING PIECES LIVING TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BILL PROCTOR, WE WILL START WITH YOU AND YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR THIS RESPONSE.

CLIMATE CHANGE CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE TO DISTANCE TO CONCERNED WITH THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.

ARE THERE SIGNS OF CLIMATE CHANGE YOU SEE IN THE ON COUNTY?

WHO IS OR MAY BE MOST AFFECTED AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

>> IS PROBABLY A SIGN OF SOMETHING, ALL THE TOXIC STUFF, I BELIEVE IT REFLECTS SOMETHING.

I AM NOT A SCIENTIST ON THAT, I'M NOT QUALIFIED TO KNOW ALL OF THOSE ANSWERS BUT GIVEN THE LIKES OF THE PERSON THEN VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND MANY OTHER INFORMED ENVIRONMENTALISTS, LEADING EXPERTS ARE SAYING OUR CLIMATE IS CHANGING.

IT WILL IMPACT FLORIDA IN RESPECT TO THE RISING OF OUR OCEANS, IT WILL AFFECT FOOD SUPPLIES, IT WILL AFFECT SPECIES BEING ABLE TO EVOLVE SO I THINK IT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH, WE SET GOALS AT LEON COUNTY TO LOWER THE OMISSION OF HUMANS AND GAS IN GETTING THE WORD SET GOALS BY 2030 TO COME DOWN.

>> TERRANCE BARBER, YOU ARE NE NEXT.

CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION?

>> CLIMATE CHANGE CAN SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE TOO DISTANT TO CONCERNED WHEN WE STRUGGLE WITH SO MANY CHALLENGES IN OUR COMMUNITY TODAY.

WHAT SIGNS ARE YOU SEEING OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE ON COUNTY X WHO IS OR MAY BE MOST AFFECTED AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, WE WILL ALL BE AFFECTED, CHANGES THAT OCCUR ON A LARGE SCALE AS CLIMATE CHANGE.

I'M NO SCIENTIST BUT I WILL SAY AS A BLUE-COLLAR WORKER THAT THIS IS NOT FEEL LIKE THE SAME SOUND WE PLAYED IN AS CHILDREN BUT I DO NOT TAKE THAT AS SCIENTIFIC FACT.

ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT ON THE ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS THE ELECTRICITY OF THE THINGS WE DO, IT'S WHAT WE CAN DO CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE, ALL SUGGESTIONS TO THAT ARE WELCOME.

>> DONNA PEARL COTTERELL, ONE MINUTE.

>> I AM NOT A SCIENTIST, BUT WE TALK ABOUT THE RAIN FOREST BEING CLEAR, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS IT'S OUR LUNGS OF THE EARTH BUT RIGHT HERE IN TALLAHASSEE, WE CLEAR CUT FOREST AND THE RUNOFF FROM THE NORTHEAST AND TO THE SOUTH, THAT LEG IS ONE OF THOSE RESULTS BUT WE ALSO KNOW IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY, THE ENVIRONMENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN WHETHER IT'S EXHAUST FROM THE RAILWAY SYSTEM GOING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE BUT ARE TREES ARE LUNGS HERE IN TALLAHASSEE AND WE WANT TO PRESERVE THEM AND NOT CLEAR-CUT FOR FOR LARGE DEVELOPERS BECAUSE IT'S AFFECTING ALL OF US.

WE NEED THE TREES TO KEEP OUR AIR COOLER.

[BELL RINGING] >> YOU MADE IT THROUGH THE QUESTIONS.

THAT LEAVES US WITH ONE MINUTE AND 30 FOR EACH OF YOU TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO VOTERS, WHY SHOULD THEY VOTE FOR YOU?

EACH 90 SECONDS AND START AT THE TOP WITH TERRANCE L BARBER.

>> I WANT TO START BY SAYING THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO THE TALLAHASSEE LEGAL WOMEN'S VOTERS FOR HOSTING SUCH A PROLIFIC PLATFORM SUCH AS THESE.

VOTERS ABOUT ALL THE CANDIDATES, BUT WE NEED TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IS GET OUT AND VOTE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE AND EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

WE CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH AND FREEDOM WAS NOT FREE.

PEOPLE HAVE FAULT AND DIE FOR YOUR RIGHT TO EXERCISE AND BE PART OF THIS DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

I'M THANKFUL TO SIT ON THE STAGE TODAY AND ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITIES BORN AND RAISED MY MOTHER, 42 YEARS WITH THE ON COUNTY LIBRARY WILL ONLY GO HERE IN THIS.

EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE NO, I AM NOT OF THE STRONGEST THIS COMMUNITY MAKING, I WILL SEE MY HOME YOUNG COUNTY THE COUNTY THAT CULTIVATED ME AND MY BROTHERS, MY MOTHER UNCLES AND NIECES AND NEPHEWS, TIME TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT AND TAKE BACK OUR VOICE.

A LOT OF TIMES IT'S GOOD TO HAVE A CLEAR VOICE BUT RIGHT NOW WE NEED CONSISTENT PROGRESS AND PEOPLE GOING TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TALKING TO THOSE MOST AFFECTED BY THE ISSUES WE FACE.

IT IS TIME FOR THE CLASS IN THIS COMMUNITY WHETHER OR NOT TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, WE HAVE RETURNING CITIZENS THAT IS HER QUALITY OF LIFE JUST AS THOSE WHO GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY.

[BELL RINGING] YOUR ZIP CODE SHOULD NOT DETERMINES THE QUALITY HE LIVE IN.

>> DONNA PEARL COTTERELL.

>> THANK YOU.

I AM DONNA PEARL COTTERELL IF I DIDN'T SAY THIS BEFORE, PEARL IS A FAMILY NAME.

MY MOTHER'S MIDDLE NAME, MY DAUGHTER'S MIDDLE NAME AND MY MIDDLE NAME.

THIS PEARL HAS BECOME IRRITATED AND SHE'S COMING OUT OF HER SHELL SO I AM ONE WHO WANTS TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY DISTRICT ONE WAS ACTUALLY BUILT FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF BLACK PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND NO ONE IMAGINE ONE PERSON TO BE IN THAT SEAT FOREVER.

WE NEED A CANDIDATE READY FOR NEW DIRECTION.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO CAN TAKE US WHERE WE NEED TO GO.

WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES AND BRING PROSPERITY TO THE SOUTH SIDE AS WELL AS FRENCHTOWN.

WE CAN BUILD REAL PROJECTS, REAL ECONOMIC GROWTH AND ADMINISTER OUR COUNTY FUNDS TO HELP THE LEAST OF THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEED REAL SOLUTIONS TO REAL PROBLEMS, EVERYDAY PROBLEMS AND AS A PERSON WHO LIVES IN THE DISTRICT AND LOVES MY COMMUNITY, I WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER PROCTOR.

>> AL GREEN MADE A SONG A FEW YEARS AGO THAT I LIFT UP IN CONVEY AND SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCE.

LET'S STAY TOGETHER.

MY NAME IS BILL PROCTOR, I'VE DONE I BELIEVE A TREMENDOUS ROLE AND I CAME TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT ONE WAS NOT NECESSARILY REGARDED FOUGHT AGAINST WITH THE LEVELS OF FLIGHT WHICH I HAVE EXPERIENCED.

I AM GRATEFUL TO BE A LONG DESCENDENT OF THE PROCTOR FAMILY DATING BACK TO THE 1700S.

ANTONIO GEORGE JOHN, BILL PROCTOR.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR FAMILY LEGACY THAT SPEAKS TO CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THIS COMMUNITY OVER 200 YEARS.

I AM ALSO WONDERFULLY FORTUNATE AND THANK GOD FOR THE YEARS I'VE SERVED AND I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT CONTRARY TO HIS COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER 18 RANKED PUBLIC PWI IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE NUMBER ONE RANKED PUBLIC UNIVERSITY HBC YOU IN THE UNITED STATES.

I DARE TO BELIEVE WITH THOSE TWO ECONOMIC INTERESTS WE NEED A COMMISSIONER WHO HAS A SUBSTANTIVE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION TO UNDERSTAND THIS BIG ECONOMIC ENGINE, TO ENGAGE IT, TO UNDERSTAND, TO MAKE DEMAND OF IT.

[BELL RINGING] WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND I REMAIN TO BE THAT PERSON AMONG THE THREE WHO ARE RUNNING.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

>> WE THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF TALLAHASSEE, TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND THE FOLKS AT WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA FOR THIS PROGRAM TODAY.

YOU CAN FIND A REPLAY ON OUR YOUTUBE PAGES, TALLAHASSEE.COM AND WFSU.ORG.

THE RECORDED BROADCAST IS SET FOR THIS THURSDAY, JUNE 23 AT 11:00 A.M. ON WFSU 88.9 FM.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS, TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS, TELL EVERYBODY.

>> OUR NEXT FORUM WILL BE AT 1:00 P.M. THURSDAY, JUNE 23.

IT WILL BE WITH THE THREE CANDIDATES FOR LEON COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT THREE.

THAT'S RICK MINOR, JOEY AND DANE VICTOR.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ADD A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, CAMERAS IN THE CONTROL ROOM, WFSU, I'VE BEEN DOING THESE FORMS FOR A WHILE AND IT'S COME A LONG WAY FROM BEING IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE TALLAHASSEE ROOM.

THANK YOU ALL.

YOU CAN LOOK FOR SPECIAL ELECTION SECTION, THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT WITH INTERVIEWS WITH ALL THE CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT WHICH WILL BE PRINTED AND INSERTED SUNDAY, AUGUST 7.

YOU WILL HEAR FROM US.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING, HAVE A GREAT DAY.

♪ >> I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS ROOM.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S NEVER BEEN FREEZING COLD TO ME.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ ♪