🌅 🚨 Fort Pierce Police Chief Resigns

Good Morning, Sunland

It’s Monday. Happy Monday and welcome in… Especially to all the newcomers. I appreciate you pulling up. Make yourself at home.

Quick note before we dive in: A friend recently told me about a spot called Pastaio in Tradition. Handmade pasta, fresh every day, and you can actually watch them roll it out. It’s officially on my want to try list. If you’ve been, hit reply and let me know what to order. … Alright

🌡️ Weather Update: It Will Be Hot!

☀️ Day: High of 92°F | ☀️ Mostly sunny skies with a light SSE breeze at 10–15 mph.
🌙 Night: Low of 73°F | 🌙 Clear skies, warm air, and a steady breeze.
🌅 Sunrise: 6:30 AM | 🌇 Sunset: 8:05 PM
🌖 Waning Gibbous: Moonrise at 1:22 AM | Moonset at 12:20 PM
🎵 Sounds like: “Brown Skin” by India.Arie 🌞🌙

🧱 Main Squeeze
Fort Pierce Police Chief Resigns Ahead of Key Vote

📢 The Gist: After weeks of growing pressure and public scrutiny, Fort Pierce Police Chief Diane Hobley-Burney submitted her resignation on Sunday, just hours before a special city commission meeting that could’ve led to her removal.

This story has been developing for a while. It started with an internal evaluation of the department, followed by the release of a consultant’s report that laid out 84 recommendations for improvement. Some of the concerns mentioned were related to staffing levels, pay, internal leadership development, and overall department structure.

While the report didn’t directly call for any personnel changes, several commissioners voiced frustration last week. One commissioner publicly called for a “change in management” at the department. Less than a week later, Hobley-Burney officially submitted her resignation via email to the city manager, citing a breakdown in trust and morale.

She has led the department since 2015, after serving nearly three decades with Tampa PD.

📬 Why It Matters: Leadership changes at the top can shift the entire tone and direction of a department. And for a city like Fort Pierce — navigating growth, budget challenges, and questions about policing — this kind of moment signals a crossroads.

City commissioners were scheduled to discuss the chief’s employment status Monday morning. But with her resignation now on the table, the conversation is shifting to next steps and what leadership looks like moving forward.

👉 Read the Full WPTV Report

🍊 Press Round
Big Moves, Big Money, and a Lifeguard Question

👮 $8M School Safety Deal Finalized in Martin County

After tense negotiations, the Martin County School District and Sheriff’s Office reached a three-year, $8 million agreement to keep school resource officers on all campuses. The district will contribute $4.5M annually, while the Sheriff’s Office covers the remaining $3.5M, including crossing guards.

👉 Get the Full Breakdown

⛽ Murphy Oil Plans New Gas Station at Victoria Square

A new Murphy Oil station is set to replace the long-demolished Shell at the corner of Port St. Lucie and Bayshore boulevards. Despite some concerns over plaza traffic flow, the project cleared Planning & Zoning review and now heads to City Council.

👉 Read the Update

🏖️ County May Take Over Vero’s Lifeguard Services

Vero Beach spends over $860K annually on lifeguards, but city officials want the county to assume operations. While the County Commission delayed formal discussion, talks are ongoing about folding the beach coverage into the county’s emergency services district.

👉 Explore the Proposal

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💡 Why it matters: Your support allows me to keep St. Lucie County informed and engaged through the daily Sunland News newsletter—and sets the stage for tackling bigger, in-depth reporting projects in the near future.

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🎉 This Week Around Town: MTWTHF

• 🧘 Sunset Yoga at The Gardens – Find your zen among the trees at PSL Botanical Gardens. Free for members. | Monday, May 19 | 7 PM–8 PM | $10 non-members | Details

• 🧘 Yoga Mondays at Pierced Cider – Stretch, sip cider, and set a positive tone for your week at this beginner-friendly class. | Monday, May 19 | 6:15 PM | $6 suggested donation | Details

• 🍕 Live Pizza Review at Benny’s – Join Baldy Eats & Slescanner for a live pizza rating and community meet-up in PSL. | Tuesday, May 20 | 12 PM–1:30 PM | Free | Details

• 🎉 Business Networking Event at Encore – Connect with business leaders over cocktails and door prizes in Tradition. | Tuesday, May 20 | 6 PM | $10 (cash at door) | Details

• 🍵 Ladies' Tea Party at The Brennity – Savor iced teas and sweet treats in a garden-style gathering with residents and guests. | Wednesday, May 21 | 12 PM | $20 | Details

• 🎨 Mosaic Magic: Create Your Own House Numbers – Make a unique mosaic address plate with glass, ceramic, and tile in this hands-on workshop at Peacock House. | Wednesday, May 21 | 5 PM | $35 (all materials included) | Details

• ⚾ United at Bat Baseball Night – Family night at Clover Park to support United Way. Tickets support local causes. | Thursday, May 22 | 6 PM | Varies | Details

• 🕺 MS Disco Night at Meating Street – DJ Super Jay Dee brings the party. Come dressed to impress for a chance to win a $100 gift card. | Thursday, May 22 | 8 PM | Free | Details

• ☕ Breakfast in the Square – Start your Friday with pastries and lakeside vibes from Tueste Coffee in Tradition Square. | Friday, May 23 | 9 AM–11 AM | Free | Details

If you have an event, send it to me here
Want more events? Go here

💧 The Last Drop
Big Openings, Big Dreams, Big Questions

1. 💙 Tradition’s Heart Sculpture Get’s Open Date
   Fencing is coming down and final polish is underway at the Heart in Tradition sculpture. A grand opening is expected in a month or two, with businesses around the plaza already open.
   👉 Get the Update

2. 🌊 Resilience Meetings Begin This Week
   Three public meetings will review flooding risks and climate resilience planning for St. Lucie County.
   📍 May 22 & 29 (in-person), May 27 (Zoom)
   👉 Register Here

3. 🕘 Drop-Off Center Hours Updated
   PSL’s Drop-Off Center now runs 9 AM–4 PM (Wed–Sat) and 9:30 AM–2 PM (Sun).
   👉 More Info

📸 This is Sunland: J’Qwan’s Cinema

You know those amazing photos that show up at the bottom of the newsletter each week? Well, most of them lately have been taken by my good friend J’Qwan, who also happens to have a short film screening this week. I had the privilege of helping him on this one, and I just wanted to let you know it’s happening.

🗓️ If you’ve got time, check out the event page here. If you’ve got even more time, come through to the screening. Would love to see you there.

See you tomorrow!
With Love, Ja’Min

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