Pensacola, FL | October 21, 2024 (Original Publication Date)
Update (October 22, 2024, 6:20 AM)
During my investigation, I uncovered that the discretionary funds allocation for BRACE is listed on the consent agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting on October 24, 2024. Items placed on the consent agenda are generally routine and expected to pass without debate unless a council member requests further discussion.
This process provides important context for BRACE’s early public acknowledgment of Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier’s sponsorship. It appears that BRACE’s acknowledgment was based on the expectation that the allocation would be approved as part of the consent agenda, which is standard procedure.
Based on the facts gathered, there is no indication that Councilwoman Brahier acted improperly. The timing of the acknowledgment appears to be a reasonable procedural oversight, not an intentional breach of City Council policies.
I will continue to monitor the outcome of the Council meeting on October 24 and provide further updates as necessary.
Update (October 22, 2024, 8:31 PM)
In addition to my conversations with Dr. Nick Jackson from BRACE and Councilwoman Brahier, I have sent a second follow-up email to Mr. Adam Cobb, the City Attorney, seeking clarification on how BRACE’s early acknowledgment aligns with the City Council’s Discretionary Fund Policy. I have yet to receive a response but will continue to follow up and update the story as necessary.
Update (October 21, 2024, 6:10 PM)
I spoke with Councilwoman Brahier to clarify BRACE’s public acknowledgment of her sponsorship before the City Council’s vote on discretionary funds. During our conversation, she expressed uncertainty about whether the Facebook post referred to a past event or a more recent sponsorship.
For accuracy, I have requested that she provide an official statement or quote in writing. I will update the story once I receive her response.
Update (October 21, 2024, 1:30 PM)
Dr. Nick Jackson, CEO of BRACE, confirmed that BRACE prematurely acknowledged Councilwoman Brahier’s sponsorship before the City Council had voted to approve the discretionary funds. Dr. Jackson clarified that the funds have not yet been received and apologized for the early acknowledgment, noting that this will be addressed in future practices to avoid similar confusion.
Original story follows
Councilwoman Jennifer Brahier’s name is being publicly thrown around as a sponsor for an upcoming BRACE event, but here’s the thing: those funds haven’t even been approved yet. Yep, you read that right. The discretionary funds that BRACE is thanking her for are still sitting on today’s City Council agenda, waiting for a vote.
Let’s lay out the facts. BRACE, the local emergency preparedness organization, publicly thanked Brahier for sponsoring their Rev-Up Rally, an event aimed at raising disaster preparedness awareness. But according to the City Council’s own rules (Section 3.28 of their Policies), those funds don’t just get handed out without approval. In fact, discretionary funds are supposed to promote the City of Pensacola, not individual council members, and they must go through a council vote before they can be used.
So, how is Jennifer getting a public shout-out before the council has even had a chance to vote on it? It’s on the agenda for today’s meeting, but BRACE has already posted their thank-you (see screenshot below). Something doesn’t quite add up.
This isn’t about slinging accusations. The facts are simple: the funds haven’t been approved, and BRACE has jumped the gun by thanking a sitting councilwoman during this election season. The timing of this acknowledgment raises a real question: is this just bad timing, or does it raise ethical concerns about how discretionary funds are being handled?
I’ve reached out to Brahier, BRACE, and the City Attorney for their take on this. As of now, no responses, but the question hangs—are we looking at a simple oversight, or something more concerning?
Here’s hoping we get some clarity soon. The public deserves to know if their taxpayer dollars are being used properly and if public funds are being leveraged for personal gain.
Stay tuned. This story isn’t over.