An article from The Sarasota Phoenix -- the local media outlet that exposes corruption and injustice in Sarasota government and politics.

Mayor Battie bringing Ybor City Corona Cigar Bar to Downtown Sarasota

BATTIE RECENT RACE CARD RANT HAS DIVIDED THE CITY OF SARASOTA WITH HIS OUTRAGEOUSLY STUPID REMARKS AND CITY COMMISSION RESPONSE IS BIZARRE

BATTIE NEEDS TO END RACIST GENTRIFICATION OF NEWTOWN INSTEAD OF PUSHING DOWNTOWN BARS AS HE BAR HOPS DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

MAYOR ALPERT FALLS FOR BATTIE RACE CARD HOAX/ONLY AHEARN KOCH QUESTIONS BAR HOPPING BATTIE’S REMARKS

NOT ONE PENNY FOR DEFENDING BATTIE DIVIDNG CITY WITH HIS OUTRAGEOUS STUPID REMARKS

SPD NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE BATTIE RACE CARD HOAX AS ARROYO AND BATTIE TURNING DOWNTOWN SARASOTA INTO YBOR CITY

ARE CORONA BAR FREE DRINKS AND CIGARS REWARDS FOR ARROYO AND BATTIE?

ARROYO AND BATTIE PARTY HARDY AS THEY BECOME WATER BOYS FOR MERRILL AND HIS “PAY TO “PLAY” DEVELOPERS

BROWN LEADS BATTIE AROUND FOR HIS PATRONS AT ARGUS AND ALLOWS BATTIE TO USE RACE CARD TO ATTACK NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVISTSTS

BATTIE RACE CARD RANT ON FRANKLIN 

Franklin

Sarasota City Commissioner Kyle Battie recent maliciously mean-spirited rant calling out one of Sarasota most respected Sarasota neighborhood activist Kelly Franklin, who also happens to be one of most intelligent, articulate, political savvy, liberal progressive Democrat is outrageously stupid.

BATTIE NEEDS TO END RACIST GENTRIFICATION OF NEWTOWN INSTEAD OF PUSHING DOWNTOWN BARS AS HE BAR HOPS DOWNTOWN SARASOTA

It is appalling that while attacking Franklin and her fellow activists in Downtown Sarasota and beyond, Battie has NEVER taken the same approach calling out the racist gentrifications of the neighborhoods he represents in North Sarasota, as he does promoting the party hardy Ybor City culture in Downtown Sarasota.

Take a look, as then Mayor Battie of Sarasota partying hardy drinking the most expensive cognac and cigars bestowed upon him by the owners of Corona Cigar Bar in Downtown Sarasota.

Battie is the same person, who days after being swearing in as Sarasota City Commissioner and drinking for hours in a Downtown bar on Palm Avenue with one of his friends, who had been in various drug and alcohol rehabs found himself in the gutter after threaten to f*** up a Sarasota resident according to SPD reports.

BATTIE ANOTHER UNIPARTY COMMISSIONER

Battie calling one of his fellow Democrat, who exemplifies over years the core values of the Democrat Party is similar to how so-called Democrats Rita Ferrandino, Christine Jennings and a few others attacked hard core Progressive Democrats like Kelly Kirschner and Susan Chapman in 2015, which led to UNIPARTY Commissioners like Battie, Liz Alpert, Debbie Trice and Hagen Brody being elected to the City Commission.

CALLING OUT FRANKLIN RACIST COMPLETLY IRRATIONAL

Any rational individual involved in the Sarasota community knowing the above concerning Franklin would immediately question the authenticity of the racist Facebook page attributed to Franklin.

Not with Battie, who along with his cronies, who are as stupid and totally politically naïve as Battie proceeded to make total fools of themselves by calling one of strongest advocate of diversity, equality and inclusiveness a racist.

Franklin has stated. “I’m horrified that he (Battie) would believe that of me and horrified he wouldn’t reach out to me, the city manager or the city attorney when he got this a week ago. No one should get that kind of harassment.”

Battie’s recent vicious scandalous attacks on one of Sarasota most respected neighborhood activist, who is in stage 4 cancer has been called by Franklin’s attorney, Richard Harrison; “that in his 35 years of working among and observing local politics, he has never seen an elected official attack a resident like Battie did.” Harrison said, “The only innocent explanation is that he (Battie) is really dumb.”  

Harrison

Tampa base attorney Harrison is Franklin’s attorney in her lawsuit placed against Battie after Battie doubled down on his attacks on Franklin and members of the City PAC organization.

By the way, the two of the members of the CityPAC, who Battie called racist are two of the most respected Black leaders in Sarasota. Those two are former City of Sarasota Mayor Willie Shaw and longtime Black leader in Sarasota, Jetson Grimes.

BATTIE “PLANNED AND PLOTTED PUBLIC ACTTACK”

"In a cold and calculated manner, Commissioner Battie planned and plotted every step so as to ensure that his very public attack on Ms. Franklin would come as a complete surprise to the City Commission, the administration, the meeting audience, the public at large, and Ms. Franklin,” Harrison said.

Harrison also included a timeline of events that he alleges is evidence that Battie and Corona Cigar Co. co-owner Tanya Borysiewicz knew as early as mid-December that a social media post portraying Franklin as a racist was a hoax.

Harrison has called, “a clownishly bad hoax” that “should have been recognized as such immediately by any person of reasonable intelligence.”

ALPERT FELL FOR BATTIE ATTACK ON FRANKLIN

What is very disappointing and appalling is that Sarasota City Mayor Alpert fell for Battie’s well-orchestrated stupid attack on Franklin and members of CityPAC organization.

Alpert indicted Franklin by stating “that the same person, who is the Publisher of the City Pac newsletter (which is Franklin) is the same person who did this picture (which is Franklin).” Alpert was referring to the picture on Battie’s bogus piece of garbage put together by those who created this hoax to divide Sarasota.

Alpert further indicted Franklin by stating “whose picture is on this post (Battie’s bogus Facebook letter) is the wife (which is Franklin) of someone running for my (City Commission) seat.”

It is incredulous that Battie and Alpert could think that someone as intelligent, political savvy and has condemned racism as Franklin has, would be so stupid to put up such a scandalous racist message on her Facebook page, especially in that her husband is running for the Sarasota City Commission.

Brown

What is another indictment of the Shit Show going on at City Hall ever since City Manager Marlon Brown turned City Hall over to “Pay to Play” developers is that Brown did not question what Battie intentions were in placing an item of the agenda to come before the City Commission.

Seidman

How Battie was allowed by Brown to make his outrageous comments without any back up material turning what Sarasota Herald Tribune columnist Carrie Seidman recently stated, “Sarasota's politicians allowed a racial hoax to divide our City” --needs a full explanation from Brown.

How this totally irrational piece of Battie garbage called. “Unfinished Business: Civility, Respect, and Rhetoric discussion” got on the agenda without back up material to attack Franklin and the CityPAC organization is but another example of the Shit Show going on at City Hall.

Ahearn Koch

These City Commissioners, who sat there and said not a word except for Jennifer Ahearn Koch when Battie went on his now fraudulent race card rant now have voted to pay for Battie’s legal fees, which is bizarre and appalling.

BATTIE’S ATTORNEY 

Legal fees will go to who Battie’s has hired as his attorney, Brian Goodrich. The same Goodrich who put together the Common Sense for Sarasota PAC with a $10,000 from “Pay to Play” developers ($2,500 from Scott Eller, $2,500 from Jason Cincotta and $5,000 from Mark Vengroff) to take out Battie’s opponent for the City Commission, Willy Shaw.

Bentley

The same Goodrich who is partner to Morgan Bentley, who defends Pat Neal’s political operative Bob Waechter and the 68 CONVICTED felon and the “Con Man’s Con Man”, Michael Barfield. Bentley is the "go to" lawyer if you desire a favorable decision from Pat Neal "Pay to Play" judges, as witnessed many times in the past.

Battie now joins a Neal political operative convicted of political fraud (Waechter) and a 68 CONVICTED felon (Barfield) as a Bentley client.

AN SPD INVESTIGATION OF BATTIE AND HIS CRONIES IS A NECESSITY

Battie’s outrageous rant against respected neighborhood activists Franklin and members of CityPAC, which has turned into despicable hoax needs a City of Sarasota Police Department investigation.

An SPD investigation is a necessity being that evidence now shows that Battie and his friends at the Corona Cigar Bar involved in this hoax, which has divided Sarasota knew a month before Battie put together his well-orchestrated race card rant that it was a phony. No other rational person could possibly believe this photo was not a phony other than Battie or his cronies.

BATTIE AND ARROYO PRIORITIES NEEED NOT CENTERED ON YBOR CITY FRIENDS AT THE DOWNTOWN CORONA BAR

Battie new found friends Tanya Borysciewicz and Jeff Borysciewicz, who own the Corona bar in Downtown Sarasota where Battie hangs out at their VIP lounge drinking their liquor and smoking their corona cigars, must be as absurd as Battie in thinking Franklin is just some neighborhood activists they run over in putting their cigar bars in Ybor City.

It is disgraceful that Battie sees fit to attack neighborhood activists, who desire not to have a Ybor City culture created in Sarasota exemplified by the Corona Bar, which has two similar Corona bars in Ybor City.

It is equally disgraceful that while attacking Franklin and her fellow activists in Downtown Sarasota and beyond, Battie has NEVER taken the same approach promoting the party hardy Ybor City culture in calling out the racist gentrification of the neighborhoods he represents in North Sarasota.

The former masseur and door greeter Battie is now a Very Important Person at the Corona Cigar Bar.

There is no doubt that Battie went on his over 30-minute rant attacking Franklin and member of the City Pac organization to essentially attack Franklin and the City PAC members for their opposition to the Corona Bar in Downtown Sarasota, which Battie happens to be a VIP member.

Arroyo getting congradulations on winning the Montecristo Cincuenta 100ct Humidor from his friends at Corona Cigar Bar in Downtown Sarasota.

Both Battie and Arroyo are seen much more in Downtown bars promoting the Ybor City culture then in the neighbors they represent. The video of Battie as part of the opening of the Corna Bar in Downtown Sarasota views Battie partying hardy drinking an expensive cognac drink and a $100 dollar cigar, while Blacks living in his district are surviving on an annual income of $13,000 is outrageous.

By the way, God only knows how many drinks Mayor Battie consumed and who picked up the tab. God only knows, who pays for Battie's VIP bar tab at the Corona Cigar Bar.

BATTIE NEEDS TO EMULATE BLACK LEADERS WHO CAME BEFORE HIM

Battie attempting to portray that he is following in the footsteps and being the same type of Black leader, as Jerome Dupree, Ed James II, John Rivers, Dolores Dry, Fredd Atkins, Willie Shaw, Carolyn Mason, Johnny Hunter, Valeria Buchand is as bogus as his race card rant calling out Franklin and others as racists.

None of the Black leaders of years past would be found in any Downtown Sarasota bar partying hardy in the Corona bar drinking expensive alcohol beverages and smoking expensive cigars like Battie is seen in the above video.

Battie has absolutely no history in being involved in turning the horrid conditions at Janie Poe in today’s Janie Gardens. No involvement in the reconstruction of Booker High School or the Newtown Rec into the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex.

I never saw Battie during my five years, as the investgative reporter for TEMPO NEWS involved in any of those developments.

While all these and other developments were going in Newtown, Battie was parading around New York City and Miami Beach as a failed model or walking dogs in Indianapolis.

Brody

BRODY RECRUTIED A UNIPARTY UNQUALIFED BATTIE TO TAKE OUT SHAW FOR ARGUS AND OTHER WHITE SOCIAL ELITES

Before running for City Commission, this UNIPARTY Battie had never been to one Coalition of City Neighborhood Association (CCNA) meeting, one local neighborhood meeting, never applied to serve on a City Advisory Board and only voted 11 times in 30 years. Battie never did one thing in the community other than help keep local bars in business.

Battie had returned to Sarasota from Indianapolis a few years ago after being evicted from his apartment and arrested for abusing an animal (a dog). On his return, Battie became a unlicensed masseur and a bar and restaurant greeter. Battie had no auto license, due to numerous traffic violations leading to a suspended license and rode a bike around Downtown Sarasota bar hoping on his bike.

Shaw

Battie was recruited for the Sarasota City Commission when he ran into another barfly, the now deposed Sarasota City Commissioner Hagen Brody. Brody was searching for someone to take out Sarasota City Commissioner Willie Shaw.

The white social elite at Selby Gardens who jumped on the Battie campaign to take out Shaw 

Shaw has been gathering the disapproval of the Argus organization/local Chamber of Commerce/Gulf Coast Builders Exchange (GCBX) and the white social elite of Selby Gardens. They did not want some uppity Black giving them a problem with $millions$ of Tax Increment Funding (TIF) and voting down their other multi million-dollar City of Sarasota projects.

BATTIE A UNIPARTY CANDIDATE WHO “LOOKS GOOD IN A SUIT”

Caraguilo

A UNIPARTY Paul " Fredo" Caragiulo gave his approval for Battie stating, despite Battie's deficiencies to be a City Commissioner, "he does looks good in a suit."

Thurlow/Hament/James III

After Caragiulo, Brody and his patrons at Argus and Selby Gardens found the candidate to take out Shaw, Brody introduced Battie to his cronies, the UNIPARTY and LGBTQ political operatives Gabriel Hament, Ed James III and George Thurlow. They proceeded to run the successful campaign of Battie to replace Shaw.

Arroyo/Brody/Battie

The UNIPARTY "THREE BRO'S"

Battie was elected leading to Brody being selected as the City of Sarasota Mayor and creating what became the creation of THE THREE BRO'S deep into "Pay to Play" developer's pockets.

Brody and Brown

BATTIE WAS BRO NO. 3 IN THE DYFUNCIONAL CITY GOVERNMENT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF SARASOTA CITY MANAGER BROWN AND MAYOR BRODY

Brody turned over dysfunctional City Government to BRO NO. 2 Arroyo

BRO NO.3 BATTIE RACE CARD RANT EXAMPLIFIES SHIT SHOW AT CITY HALL

Not only does Battie actions in calling out Franklin and other grassroots activists need full disclosure, many other actions taking place at Sarasota City Hall need full disclosure, as City Hall has turned into a total dysfunctional Shit Show under the direction of Sarasota City Manager Brown, Argus E.D Christine Robinson and “Pay to Play” Icard Merrill attorney William Merrill III in passing directives to their flunky Brown.

Robinson

The Sarasota City Commission is under the control of "Pay to Play" developers at the Argus Foundation, whose E.D Robinson work hand in hand with Merrill in passing directives to their flunky Brown.

Merrill and Robinson have been turning Sarasota into Paradise Lost ever since Merrill took out former Argus E.D, Kerry Kirshner at Argus and placed, then a Sarasota County Commissioner Robinson, as the E.D of Argus.

Merrill

Merrill is third generation "rainmaker" attorney for "Pay to Play" developers, who have turned "Pay to Play" developments into cash cows for those who have corrupted Sarasota County. Merrill and his cronies at Argus have made $millions turning Sarasota into an eventual urban sprawl disaster like Ft. Lauderdale.

The Robinson's

Under the direction of Merrill and Robinson, who is the wife of Eric "The Prince of Dirty Dark PAC Money" Robinson, the “Pay to Play” developers at Argus and their cronies haves turned City Hall into a version of the Sarasota County Commission in the pockets of "Pay to Play" developers.”

The Shit Show at City Hall is similar to the Shit Shows at the Sarasota and Manatee County Commission. It works like this at City Hall. A trio made up of City Planning Director Steven Covert, Merrill and Robinson essentially advises Brown what they want on the agenda.

What is put on the agenda are "Pay to Play" projects "massaged" by Covert and his staff, which first gains approved by the City of Sarasota Planning Board. Covert then moves the projects onto the City Commission where Brown places the proposal on the agenda.

After Covert’s staff presentations and public input, City Commissioners vote approval by a either a 3-2 or a 4-1 by UNIPARTY Commissioners stuffed in "Pay to Play" developer's pockets.

Prime example is the proposed ordinance to establish new definitions for restaurants and bars outdoors, bottle clubs and nightclubs, such as the Corona Cigar Bar. After presentation by Covert's staff, strong public opposition and discussion by Commissioners, Battie asked for approval and after seconding by Arroyo the proposal was approved by Commission voting 4-1 with Ahearn Koch voting against.

1/16/24 is the same day that Battie made his now completely fabricated racist attack on Franklin and the members of the CityPAC.

At that same meeting another proposed ordinance amending the City to update the primary use for several zoning changes is proposed by Arroyo and seconded by Battie. After discussion, another 4-1 vote for approval with Ahearn Koch voting against.

On that same date, Battie then proposes that the Comprehension Review of the City of Sarasota Zoning be adopted and it was seconded by Arroyo. After discussion the Battie’s motion is accepted 4-1 with Ahearn Koch voting against.

All three of these items all favorable to “Pay to Play” developers like Merrill, which were all put on the City agenda by Merrill and Robinson’s flunky, Brown.

LOBECK CALLS BATTIE OUT FOR "CARRYING WATER FOR MERRILL"

Longtime Sarasota resident and neighborhood activist attorney Dan Lobeck called out Battie in asking for a comprehensive review of Sarasota zoning stating, "this is exactly what developer Merrill desires in destroying long standing City of Sarasota Zoning regulations, which protect Sarasota neighborhoods."

Lobeck told Battie, "to stop carrying water for Merrill and start protecting your constituents." Lobeck called Battie's proposal, "a declaration of war on the neighborhoods" and called "Battie a waterboy carrying water for Merrill." Lobeck stated that, "he was appalled that Merrill controls Battie."

BATTIE'S RACE CARD COMMENTS CALLING OUT FRANKLIN ON BEHALF OF CARONA CIGAR BAR IS PART OF SHIT SHOW GOING ON AT CITY HALL  

As mentioned above, not only does Battie actions in calling out Franklin and other grassroots activists on behalf of his drinking friends at the Corona cigar bar need full disclosure, other numerous actions taking place at Sarasota City Hall need full disclosure, as City Hall has turned into a total dysfunctional Shit Show under the direction of Sarasota City Manager Brown, “Pay to Play” attorney Merrill III and the Argus E. D Christine Robinson.

Jon Susce

The Sarasota Phoenix team is the last guardian in Sarasota of the vital fourth estate. While the rest of local, mainstream media outlets have been overtaken by profit driven directives, the Sarasota Phoenix is the only local media outlet laying bare for all to see how Sarasota local government is operating like a Latin American Junta.

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