Good Morning, Sunland
It's Tuesday! And usually Tuesday I do a Florida at large story, but so much has been happening, a change in the regularly scheduled program is in order.
🎲 Back with an idea: I was talking to J'Qwan last night, head of Sunland Image, and we were thinking, what if we did live streams where we watched the city meetings but played bingo? It just would make it more interactive to watch. I just feel like it'd be really fun. So I want to put it to a vote. Do you think this is a good idea, or do you think this is a bad idea?
💜 People Pass Shoutout: Thank you to everyone supporting the newsletter! If you want to help keep this going, support here.
In today's newsletter:
🏛️ Fort Pierce City Commission voted 3 to 2 not to renew city attorney's contract
🏘️ Americans talking to neighbors less, especially young people
✈️ Former Spirit Airlines employees suing over abrupt shutdown
🔥 South Florida wildfires continuing active fire season
🎭 Beetlejuice the Musical at King Center Sunday
Ja'Min Devon
Founder, Sunland News
🟠 Main Squeeze: The Fort Pierce City Commission voted 3 to 2 not to renew the city attorney's contract
This story has been developing for weeks and it reached a new moment Monday night. The Fort Pierce City Commission voted 3 to 2 against renewing City Attorney Sara Hedges' contract at a meeting that ran deep into the evening and included pointed exchanges between commissioners about governance, loyalty and who is telling the truth inside city hall 🏛️.
Why it matters: Hedges has served as city attorney for nearly five years. The vote does not immediately end her employment. Her contract runs through September 10th and she addressed the commission directly, confirming she will still be present for her scheduled performance review on June 8th. But the 3 to 2 vote sends a clear signal about where the majority of the commission stands.
What happened 📋:
🔴 Commissioner Broderick made a motion to renew Hedges' contract for one year. Mayor Hudson seconded it
🔴 The motion failed 3 to 2, with Commissioners Dzadovsky, Gaines and Johnson voting against renewal
📄 Dzadovsky framed his position entirely around governance structure, charter authority and operational boundaries, stating he was not speaking to Hedges' work product or individual performance
✅ Broderick said plainly that he believes there is a faction of the commission targeting Hedges because of what he called her aggressive legal perspective, which he described as a valuable asset
🗣️ Commissioner Gaines said he had heard concerns from city employees since this situation began and had not yet had the opportunity to speak with Hedges directly before the vote was forced
What Hedges said 🗣️: Hedges addressed the commission after the vote, noting her contract requires 90 days notice if she chooses to leave. She confirmed she will be at city hall and at the June 8th review. She also told commissioners there is much she would like to say but that attorney-client privilege and confidentiality obligations prevent her from saying it publicly without a waiver from the commission, which she advised against granting.
Worth noting: Commissioner Johnson said he felt short-circuited by the vote being forced before he had the opportunity to meet one on one with Hedges. Gaines echoed that concern. Both said they intend to have direct conversations with her and the other charter officers before June 8th. Broderick said he suspects Hedges will already be looking for another position by morning 👀.
For context: We first covered this story when a wage garnishment involving the city's finance director triggered a public dispute between the city manager and city attorney in April. Last week we reported that Hedges' contract had been placed on the agenda after Commissioner Dzadovsky discovered the 90 day renewal window was closing.
What's next: The matter is expected to return to the June 8th agenda for the scheduled performance review. Hedges' contract expires September 10th if no further action is taken 📅.
🥳 Out-of-Towner: May 22 - May 24
Friday, May 22
Saturday, May 23
Sunday, May 24
🎭 Beetlejuice – The Musical – King Center for the Performing Arts, Melbourne. | 7:30 PM | Ticketed | Details
Send More Events Here
💧 The Last Drop: Neighbors Disconnecting, Spirit Lawsuit, and South Florida Wildfires
🏘️ Americans talking to neighbors less, especially young people – Just 25% of young Americans regularly engage with neighbors in 2025, down from 51% in 2012. Neighbor disconnect
✈️ Former Spirit Airlines employees suing over abrupt shutdown – 17,000 terminated workers filing class action claiming company violated federal WARN Act by not giving 60 days notice before May 2 shutdown. Spirit lawsuit
🔥 South Florida wildfires continuing active fire season – Max Road Fire west of Pembroke Pines burned 11,300+ acres in Everglades, 70% contained Tuesday. 172 Avenue Fire near Florida City burned 300 acres, 50% contained. State already hit 2,000+ wildfires this year amid severe drought. Wildfires continue
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