Big Pine Key
Big Pine Key, FL · Municipal
The Key West Citizen
City moves forward on Duval Street maintenance plan
The city approved a resolution to Thursday to direct the city manager to develop a maintenance and beautification plan for Duval Street. The Key West City Commission voted 6-1 to pass the item. Commissioner Lissette Carey was the lone dissenting vote. The resolution, sponsored by Mayor Sam Kaufman, directs City Manager Brian L. Barroso to review how the city maintains its main commercial corridor. The review covers trash cans, sidewalk pressure-washing, weed removal, and curb painting and striping. The plan is also expected to recommend posting maintenance schedules on the city’s website so business owners can see when their blocks are scheduled for work. The resolution names Commissioner Mark Rossi as the commission’s liaison and calls for input from the Mayor’s Beautification Committee. It also asks the city manager to review Duval Street improvements made during the COVID-19 pandemic to see which could be continued, restored or expanded. The city manager must deliver an initial report within 30 days, including estimated costs and funding options, followed by monthly progress reports for six months. The resolution encourages improvements that can be made with existing staff and budgeted money, and requires any new spending to come back to the commission for approval.
The Key West Citizen
City Manager’s Report for November 2026
Fantasy Fest DebriefFantasy Fest is one of Key West’s largest annual events and requires months of planning and coordination among City departments and partner agencies. This year’s event was conducted safely and successfully because of the exceptional efforts of our Police, Fire, Parking and Transit, Community Services, and emergency personnel, together with our local, state, federal, and regional partners. KEYS Energy also positioned crews along Duval Street to provide an immediate response in the event of a power outage. I want to recognize our Community Services employees, who worked throughout the festivities to remove trash and maintain our streets. Following Saturday night’s events, crews continued working into the early morning hours to clear debris and pressure wash Duval Street. By Sunday morning, the streets were clean and ready to welcome residents and visitors. On behalf of the City, I extend my appreciation to every employee and partner agency whose professionalism and behind-the-scenes efforts contributed to a safe and successful Fantasy Fest. Recognition of City Employees Who Are VeteransAs Veterans Day approaches, I would like to recognize the 53 City of Key West employees who have served in the United States Armed Forces. These men and women served our nation and
The Key West Citizen
Seaman from Marathon earns Military Excellence Award
Seaman Christopher Harper graduated as the top Sailor from Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, earning the Military Excellence Award (MEA) Nov. 5, 2026. Harper, 42, of Marathon, Florida, arrived at boot camp 25 years after he first dreamed of the military being a possibility, and left as the top recruit in his graduating training group. “I was honestly shocked to be named the top recruit of my class,” Harper said. “At 42, I was just hoping to graduate without breaking a hip. But in all seriousness, it was an incredible honor. I pushed myself to my absolute limits and never let mediocrity be acceptable. I let my failures become opportunities for growth.” The Military Excellence Award is presented to the recruit who best demonstrates enthusiasm, devotion to duty, military bearing and teamwork throughout training. As part of the recognition, recipients receive a flag letter of commendation. The dream that brought Harper to RTC was older than most of the recruits standing beside him. At 17, he had wanted to join the Navy, but chose the corporate world instead, a path that led to nearly a decade as a travel-company CEO and the founding of a Florida nonprofit. Two years
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The Key West Citizen
The Key West Citizen
First Coast News
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Homeowners with homestead exemption don't need to act for Amendment 3 increase, appraisers say
Fortune
Ken Griffin and Jeff Bezos helped make Miami a billionaire magnet—but Florida’s new $250,000 homestead exemption barely makes a dent for them
A middle-class homeowner and the owner of a $50 million mansion could save about the same $2,000 a year under Florida’s new property tax cut. Only one of them will notice.