Brevard County Commissioners approved a motion during public hearing to allow individuals on the sex offender registry on the Commission meetings and at the Viera county government center premises.
The amendments were first introduced during the March 22 meeting by County Attorney Abigail Jorandby who suggested changing the code to allow registered offenders entry into the facilities to conduct government business.
Prior to that, offenders were banned from the premises because of a 2006 rule prohibiting them from being within 1,000 feet of ny public building where children are present. Individuals on the list could not enter the Brevard County Government Center because Brevard Public School district and Viera High School are nearby.
In the fall of 2020, commissioners voted to expand the ordinance by redefining a park as “all publicly owned or operated property and private property specifically designated as being used for recreational purposes and where children regularly congregate.”
It also instituted a process in which businesses could register their establishments as a park if children visit the location regularly.
Families, friends, and advocates for those on the registry attended the meeting to protest the new rules, but those on the registry could not attend because of the 1,000-foot buffer zone created because of the 2006 ordinance.
All voted for the 2020 ordinance except for former commissioner Bryan Lober. “It is a little troubling that we can’t have folks here who this going to directly impact,” he said back in 2020.
That precipitated a lawsuit filed by attorney Ray Taseff with the Florida Justice Institute.
Moving forward, those on the registry may be allowed within the county building for specific purposes. This includes conducting official government business, or for health, court, educational or religious-related reasons.
Hmmmm….. what happens if I need to go to a non-county government office? Can I count on not being in violation of the ordinance if I need to go to a municipal City Hall or Building Dept? Can I stop by a municipal fire dept. station and have my blood pressure checked? My fear is that the County Commission did just enough to pull the suit off the court docket thereby reducing its exposure to a proper judicial review. It’s a TREMENDOUS first step!! I fervently hope that it’s not the only step.
I realized after I read my previous comment that I appeared skeptical or ungrateful. NOT EVEN CLOSE!! I know Bob Munsey as a good friend. The admiration I have for him, and the other gentlemen, is immeasurable. My skepticism is aimed squarely at the County and their political/legal wrangling to give absolutely as little as possible to just placate the courts while keeping the ordinance 99.5% intact.
Roger
When I see some of these Sheriff’s get giddy over sending someone to prison during “Fake” stings, it reminds me of the joy Hitler felt over killing innocent people. It takes a special kind of sickness to destroy an entire family’s lives.
So many forget that these arrests a large swath of individuals. I understand if someone does something wrong, they have to pay a price. But shaming people who were caught in a fake sting on the tv before they are even found guilty cannot be reversed, the damage to that person’s entire family will last for a long time.
And many of these people end up getting more time for a “Fake” sting with no victim, than someone who robs a store with a gun. Am I saying that none of the people caught are bad people? I do not know any of them, but the penalties do not seem to match the crime.
Nowadays we are dealing with some politicians who are part of a rhetorical political movement. It is a movement that was somewhat initiated by Theodore Roosevelt and grew from there. At one time in our nation’s history our political leadership concentrated on ensuring the citizens that their efforts would be to support and operate under the dictates of the Constitution. Then things started to happen. Politicians started promising things they only hoped they could produce to gain political office, and many self-centered citizens started to believe them. What is rhetoric? It is showy, elaborate language that is empty and insincere. One of the requirements for it to be politically effective is a crisis must be created. The process has three parts:
While forward progress has been made, the current revision to the ordinance is still supported by the false information and lies that supported the 2006 ordinance. The commissioners cannot claim ignorance of the subject because they have all received the 12 Media Blitz letters that provided them factual information as to the low recidivism rate for registered citizens. It appears that four of the commissioners want to appeal to the uneducated public in an effort to retain their positions. When facts are ignored by elected officials our society is in trouble and subject to the rule by tyrants.
Is the lawsuit still moving forward? And if so? Does this change anything?
It is still moving forward to completion, but our lawyer has asked us not to discuss it until it is final. The results are positive.
Bob,
We’ve had the opportunity to talk about the situation with the suit several times. As a loud & clear disclaimer, We NEVER discussed any details specific to the action, we always talked about the impact it has on our daily lives in very general terms.
As I said in my comment above, to myself, I have the utmost respect and admiration for your willingness to step forward and proceed publicly without listing yourself as “John Doe #1”. I am encouraged that the action will proceed to trial (hopefully) and that the courts will see through the County”s attempt to give just enough ground to get the action dropped. I’m not an attorney by any stretch, I simply think that if the court looks at the ordinance in it’s totality it will rule in our favor and that result will be that we have unfettered access to more than just Commission meeting and a few County offices.
Understood. Godspeed and good luck.
To bring about change you must speak up. I would still sue them for the proximity ordinance for being unconstitutional. Good job making those p.o.s politicians cave. Hopefully the expost facto lawsuit for next month goes good as well for us.
Remember it takes money to file lawsuits, every cent helps.
Great news! But will the commission eliminate the provisions for arresting a PFR who is too close to an area where children congregate? Or will that require another lawsuit?
Every ordinance that was passed in violation of the Governing in the Sunshine Law is in jeopardy of being voided.
We are just into phase 1 of our attack on the unconstitutional efforts by some of the county commissioners.