Why Florida's next Attorney General should be Aramis Ayala

The Hump Day Hot Topics...

Last night, I was honored to serve as a co-host for the Aramis Ayala for Florida Attorney General campaign's evening fundraiser in Tallahassee. As large as the world is, it actually is quite small in that I had never had the chance to formally meet Ayala, the first Black person to be elected as a State Attorney back in 2016, but we share scores of real life and social media friends—so it was inevitable that our paths would eventually cross!

When Ayala was sworn in as State Attorney for Orlando's Ninth Judicial Circuit five years ago, her victory led then Gov. Rick Scott (R) to take the unprecedented step of removing her discretion on death penalty cases due to her views about the racial impact of capital sentences, and the expenses incurred on Florida's Death Row. By that point, I had been practicing as either a prosecutor or a death penalty certified defense lawyer for about 18 years, and I had never seen such a brazen power grab by a sitting governor who was meddling in the inner workings of a duly elected State Attorney's office.

But Scott did, so I criticized his meddling in an article for The Hill, and did my best muckraking to remind all that I truly believe that the problem was not that Ayala held grave concerns about the well documented racial disparities of capital punishment and the exorbitant costs of keeping inmates on Death Row, but that she was Black—and a woman—and raising concerns about those well documented racial disparities and exorbitant costs!

Gov. Scott and State Attorney Ayala battled all the way to the Florida Supreme Court and ultimately, the Court sided with Scott, which led to many of the Orlando offices murder cases being transferred to the Ocala, Florida State Attorney's Office. 

(A decade ago, Ol’ Hobbs (left) exchanging words with then Florida Gov. Rick Scott after Attorney Mutaqee Akbar and I led a protest march to his office and demanded that he appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Trayvon Martin’s murder in Sanford, Florida)

But still, Ayala's refusal to back down won her a true fan in Ol' Hobbs, which is why I was so very honored last night to learn that she was aware of my own work in blasting the "systemic" aspects of systemic racism through the years.

For all of the foregoing reasons, the Hobbservation Point is FULLY in support of the Ayala for Attorney General campaign, because that cabinet level position will provide her WIDE latitude for meaningful progressive reforms ranging from crime and punishment, discrimination based on race, gender, and sexual identification or orientation, and of immediate importance, easing the price gouging by greedy corporate leaders in our state!

For now, click on the following link and contribute to the Ayala campaign!  And stay tuned in the days ahead for a Hobbservation Point Podcast that will feature this brilliant, progressive, and fearless Black woman who will become Florida's next Attorney General!

Spanning the Globe

*** Yesterday, President Joe Biden displayed that his cut off game remains strong as he announced that Russia is henceforth cut off from doing business with the United States. This latest embargo will ban imports of Russian oil, gas, and coal, and tracks a similar embargo from Great Britain. 

Yes, I know that America imports less than five percent of her oil from Russia, but even if this particular aspect is somewhat symbolic, it is important because it will inspire other U.S. allies and trading partners that depend more heavily on Russian oil to stand firm so that the economic pinch will be felt all the way to the Kremlin in Moscow. 

*** Also yesterday, Democrats on the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee, led by “Auntie” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Ca), blasted rising inflation across the country. According to The Hill, "The committee’s Democrats and Republicans traded blame over the root causes of the worst inflation the U.S. has seen in four decades as the price of gas, food, housing, cars and common household goods has skyrocketed."

(U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters)

As I noted last week, the simple truth is that the modern day Robber Barons continue to rob the American people of their hard earned dollars in their efforts to derive even greater profits for themselves. Such has always been the way of American capitalism, and with far too many politicians more beholden than ever to their "corporate sponsors" than the very people whose votes sent them to Washington, it remains to be seen at what point the tenuous unity that we've witnessed between the parties on the Russia-Ukraine war abroad devolves into rigid partisan fighting about economic suffering right here at home?

***Well, it took them long enough, but Starbucks and McDonald's finally announced yesterday that they were suspending operations in Russia, too. 

I will always have an affinity for McDonald's because my first job, from 10th grade until I went to Morehouse, was as a Mickey-D's crew member. Thus, my kudos to the company for promising to pay its Russian workers during this crisis despite shutting down to avoid deriving profits (or being taxed directly by Russia for funds that could fuel the Red Army's murderous acts in Ukraine). 

***Several days ago, the NFL suspended Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for a full season after it determined that he gambled on five football games last season. Said league Commissioner Roger Goodell, "There is nothing more fundamental to the NFL's success — and to the reputation of everyone associated with our league — than upholding the integrity of the game."

(Calvin Ridley)

Integrity you say, Mr. Goodell? Maybe it's just me, but I find it rather perverse that NFL players can beat or sexually assault women and get suspended for a couple-few games, but if a player gambles...on games…in a league that is optically in league with gambling houses from Las Vegas to Atlantic City…that said gambler loses a whole season of playing time and salary?

It makes NO sense…

***My sincerest prayers are with Deion Sanders, the NFL Hall of Fame legend and Coach of the Jackson State University football team, who reportedly had two toes amputated due to blood clots. 

There is a cruel irony in the fact that one of the fastest and quickest football/baseball stars of all time is now suffering from the effects of playing ball at its highest levels, but such is yet one more reminder that "Father Time" is undefeated, and that those of us blessed with longevity of years invariably will have health challenges that we will face with the help of the Heavenly Father. 

Get well, Primetime!

Thank you for subscribing to the Hobbservation Point—have a great Wednesday!