Remarks by Ben Marciano
50 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 2 of 2
- Play at 1:02:20
“I had a question. So what is the possible economic impact this event will have on our community?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:03:06
“I'm sure our local businesses will appreciate that.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:14:41
“So you're saying you have a procedure, though, that would essentially protect us if the new one was in place?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:17:31
“Chief, Deputy, Lou, go back one. Can you go back one slide? So, I just want to make sure I'm reading this, right? The Baker Acts are 364 compared to 640 year-to-date or 640 for the whole year? That is. 640 for the whole year. Okay. But we're trending down is what you're saying? Okay.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:18:53
“Right? Great work. Yep. See the numbers going in the right direction.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:20:33
“Chief, I have one question. Was OPD reporting on the opioid overdose deaths, or was that a report that you would normally give? We had both given it in the past. Are we still seeing the trend in the right direction?”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:21:11
“Okay. If you could get me the report, I'd like to see it. Sure. Thanks. All right.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:23:51
“I know. I personally heard about your call today. I would have called you back.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:23:59
“Well, I would have definitely got back with you. I would have got back with you. I heard about your phone call today, literally at 2 o'clock.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:24:12
“I can't speak for the others, but I'm answering. You were asking me why I didn't call you back. I heard about it at 2 o'clock today. I planned on calling you back.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:24:27
“I'M ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU AFTERWARDS WHEN THE MEETING IS OVER IN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:29:48
“Can you speak into the mic, Sonia? Yes. Thank you.”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 1:49:31
“Mayor. All right. Well, thank you for coming out today. And, um, Kibbe, I appreciate it. And, you know, we've the, the, um, I've had several conversations with the attorney general and the, uh, the testing for the synthetic Kratom is there's one, there's one place that does it. I think it's DAX. And they have to come up with some more testing facilities to be able to put a major focus on the synthetic kratom, which I do agree is causing a lot of issues in the community. And there needs to be a focus on that. And I'm going to be working on that to be able to get that done. So I appreciate the…”
City Council · Aug 18, 2026
- Play at 23:17
“Congratulations. All right, Pete, make sure I give everything to her after I'm done reading this. Well, every month we recognize someone who's doing outstanding work with the mayor citizens award. And again, we get to acknowledge someone who's doing an amazing work in our community. I want to read your nomination and then hopefully give you the chance to share a few words if you'd like. So your nomination, Victoria Clifton, for the past 20 years has been an integral member of the Child Protection Team. She has conducted and supervised thousands of interviews helping safeguard children that…”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 26:31
“All right, it's our honor to recognize Florida Line Workers Appreciation Day. Whereas in 2012, the Florida House of Representatives designated August 26 as the annual Line Worker Appreciation Day to honor the thousand of men and women who work in high-risk environments to provide electricity to their communities, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently listed utility line worker as one of the most dangerous jobs in our country. Whereas the line worker profession demands passion, Dedication, continuous training, and unwavering commitment to public service, with line workers 24…”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 35:47
“Well, it is truly an honor to recognize National Purple Heart Day, whereas on August 7th, 1782 in Newburgh, New York, General George Washington established the Honorary Badge of Distinction Badge of Military Merit to be awarded to regular soldiers and non-commissioned officers who demonstrated extraordinary courage and fidelity. In 1783, the Badge of Military Merit was initially awarded to three Revolutionary War soldiers, Whereas General George Washington declared the award to be a permanent one. But once the Revolution War ended, the badge of military merit was all but forgotten until the…”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 1:45:06
“I WOULD JUST SAY IT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I VISITED THE CAPSTONE ACADEMY AND THEY'RE EXTREMELY IMPRESSIVE WHAT THEY DO. THE KIDS WERE, WHAT THEY WERE LEARNING AND THE WORK AND YOU COULD TELL JUST THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND PROFESSIONALISM, I THINK THEY'LL DO A GREAT JOB AND ADD EXTREME BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY. SO IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:33:47
“Mayor. Yeah, I'll keep it short. I know last meeting I brought up the issue about Kratom, and it was asked, you know, why am I so passionate about this? And over the last couple weeks, these are some of the emails that I've received from loved ones, people that have lost loved ones to Kratom. I've been in touch with the Attorney General's office, and I think we have a way to move forward that might help the community, and ultimately the goal is to save lives and help the community. looking at all aspects of what this would look like. But right now, the next steps forward, work possibly with…”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 2:35:44
“They wanted the HO, whatever that is. 70H, sure. I would say the synthetic kratom is the stuff that's being sold in the gas stations and the smoke shops. That's the really harmful stuff. That's the stuff that's killing people. And that would be a focus of what I would say we would go after. And, again, that will be something that I'll be able to get more information as we move forward over the next couple weeks. Thank you. Thank you.”
City Council · Aug 4, 2026
- Play at 27:21
“I would just, I know Ken and Wendy are here. I just got to say they do a great job. I mean, I'd love to see this contract even grow to get some of the other homeless people that are, you know, in some of our parks. They do an amazing job getting people off the streets and back on their feet. And our city is clean because of what they're doing. So thank you, both of you.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 56:41
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:02:56
“THAT WOULD BE ONE OPTION TO USE CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND THEN MY OFFICERS would support that process. In fact, we'd be the ones to monitor it. But if we wanted to make it where they're breaking the law, it's a second misdemeanor, we could go that route. But we felt like the code enforcement option would be the easiest to keep it out of the courts to be able to essentially use our law enforcement to enforce it.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:05:21
“Yeah, you can buy it in shots. And it's right on the counter, right next to everything else, next to the candy. You can buy it in a powder form, a pill form. And I didn't even speak in the amount of people. I've spoken to people who... You know, they've become so highly addicted. They say that you can actually have a harder time coming off this than an opioid once you become addicted to this. So it is a serious issue in the community. But yeah, if you were to go into a gas station, the major chains do not carry this. And I think that speaks volumes that the major chains are not carrying it.…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:13:57
“THAT'S A COMPOUND OF CRATEM. OTHER KINDS.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:16:54
“I'm finished. Actually, you know what? I don't know if James Haynes is here tonight. I just want to recognize him. Over the last three weeks, he's, I would say, at least five instances where he's helped individuals. He's calling me late at night trying to find housing for veterans or different scenarios, but the guy really just goes out of his way and does an amazing job. Brothers Keeper has been a great resource for us lately to help people that are struggling, but I just wanted to acknowledge James, and then I also want to acknowledge Matt Groh. I don't know if he left. I heard he did an…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026