Melissa Ptomey

02/25/2026

Another one bites the dust.

BREAKING: MARATHON CITY MANAGER TERMINATED

In a Tuesday night bombshell, the Marathon City Council voted to terminate City Manager George Garrett without cause in split 3-2 decision.

Councilman Kenny Matlock, a longtime outspoken critic of Garrett, added the manager’s review as an agenda item at the start of Tuesday’s session, later making the motion to fire him. Declining to publicly provide a reason for the motion, Matlock was joined by Vice Mayor Debbie Struyf and Mayor Lynny Del Gaizo, who provided the tiebreaking vote. Council members Lynn Landry and Robyn Still opposed the motion.

Per the terms of Garrett’s contract, he may continue to serve in his current role for up to 30 days.

The Keys Weekly will update this story online and in the Feb. 26 edition of the Marathon Weekly as more information becomes available.

02/24/2026

They are selling the Keys off for a pennies on a dollar, just to be shaded by those money trees:

"You lookin' like a easy come-up, ya bish
A silver spoon I know you come from, ya bish
And that's a lifestyle that we never knew (We never knew)
Go at a reverend for the revenue

Pick your poison, tell me what you doin'
And I been hustlin' all day
This-a-way, that-a-way
Through canals and alleyways, just to say
Money trees is the perfect place for shade
And that's just how I feel

Nah, nah
A dollar might just f**k your main b-h
That's just how I feel, nah
A dollar might say f-ck them that you came with
That's just how I feel, nah, nah
A dollar might just make that lane switch
That's just how I feel, nah
A dollar might turn to a million and we all rich
That's just how I feel"

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupMoney Trees · Kendrick Lamar · Jay Rockgood kid, m.A.A.d city℗ 2012 Aftermath/Interscope RecordsReleased on: 2013...

10/25/2025

Sitting in a police car, while reading this book, and realizing that this story is not far from home.

Many people are reaching out to me about things I never intended to know when I ran. Deep corruption exists in this county and we have only seen the things that were done sloppily. Many people coming forward. A tale I wish I never knew.

You all pi**ed off a lot of people in this County, and no, I’m not talking about anyone on the BOCC.

Perhaps, if I received the help my family needed in 2017, I would let it go. But I know there is truth in the things that have been revealed to me because of what I experienced long before becoming involved politically.

09/25/2025

We the establishment doesn’t like their power threaten, they try to bring on legal trouble to those that challenge their authority.

Too bad for them that many people in this County have woken up to their tactics.

VINDICATED, Sherri Hodies & Rhonda Rebman-Lopez found NOT GUILTY in an investigation for campaign ethics and finance violations during the Monroe County, Flo...

09/11/2025

Great work for all those that came out, exerted pressure at the meeting, emails, phone calls, etc. I am a little surprised that they listened to this issue in full force after years of seeming to ignore so many other requests.

We need to stay on top of this issue, but great job to all that spoke up! It takes all of our voices, no matter if we feel they will be heard or not.

Dangerous US 1 Residents Request County OfficialsAttend US 1 Listening Session What: “Listening Session” for County Commissioners to hear residents speak on dangerous US 1 congestion. Speakers will have three minutes each.When: Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Where: 53 High Point Roa...

09/11/2025

I was going to save the full version of this quote for the BOCC meeting today and now it serves as dual meaning.

The devil lives strong in those that think they have a right to wish ill will on others in the name of their version of “righteousness” and will tell themselves anything to feel better about being an as***le and a downright evil hearted person.

06/04/2025

Not a good look MCSO - Florida Keys 🤯

I’m starting to think the the MCSO had a lot more knowledge about the Fentanyl scandal that got Roman Gastesi indicted than they let on. Like A LOT more…

The Monroe County Sheriff’s office was “intentionally and systematically excluded” from key parts of a three-year FBI investigation into co***ne distribution in the Florida Keys amid concerns at least one official with the local agency was leaking to the alleged head of the operation, accordin...

06/03/2025

“F**k being rational, give 'em what they ask for

It's not enough
Few solid - left, but it's not enough
Few - that'll really step, but it's not enough

Say you bigger than myself, but it's not enough
I get on they ass, yeah, somebody gotta do it
I'll make them - mad, somebody gotta do it

Hey, turn his TV off
Ain't with my type activities?
Then don't you get involved
How many should I send? Send 'em all
Take a risk or take a trip”

Kendrick Lamar “GNX” is available now: https://my-gnx.com/https://www.myGNX.comhttps://www.instagram.com/kendricklamarhttps://twitter.com/kendricklamarhttps:...

06/03/2025

Tis only the beginning…

Wait until you see the outcome of the spark that was ignited that day.

We had the same response by the Commissioners than we do at the regular BOCC meetings.

Wait, actually…I can say with confidence they listened more intently than ever before.

Do you know what was lit at this meeting that made it more dangerous than people with pitchforks?

HOPE. Hope for a better future, hope for a better tomorrow, and hope for a more responsive government. Hope that we can plan any number of meetings without the limits of an unresponsive BOCC that treats us like minions that are lucky enough to speak to Royals.

Hope that we will get things done with open doors, solve problems without begging our elected officials to do it for us, grow into a movement, and make substantial positive changes to this community.

And you know whose blessing we DON’T need?

The cowards, their cronies, and those that they pledge their alliance in exchange for an insurance policy of their continued re-election.

Dangerous US 1 Residents Request County OfficialsAttend US 1 Listening Session What: “Listening Session” for County Commissioners to hear residents speak on dangerous US 1 congestion. Speakers will have three minutes each.When: Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Where: 53 High Point Roa...

05/29/2025

Sweet Deal-Manipulated US 1 Studies Bring More Development, More Congestion.

Monroe County Commissioners are required to conduct a US 1 Road Study every other year, at taxpayer expense. If the average speed to get from Mile Marker 112 to Key West is 45 MPH, that is awarded an acceptable C grade (on an A-F scale). If the grade falls below a C, no new development (other than single family homes) is permitted.

Numerous studies have been conducted over the years that show US 1 is overcapacity:

· 2019 Study awarded a D for entire length of US 1. But County Commissioners did not approve, and instead, used the 2017 Study. Thus, more development.

· 2021 Study awarded an acceptable C grade – because nationwide Covid lockdown significantly reduced tourism -- and was approved County Commissioners. Thus, more development.

· 2023 Study awarded a D. Commissioners did not approve the study, and instead, used the 2021 Covid Study. Thus, more development (Cemex/Publix).

The Tavernier Cemex/Publix mega development approval was based, in part, on the 2021 Covid Road Study, and developer still fell short meeting traffic standards by 16 vehicle trips. Commissioners let developers pay a mitigation fee $177,000 ($11,080 per trip) to get the project approved. If the more recent 2023 Road Study was used, the developer would have had to pay mitigation for 1,738 trips, totalling $19 million! Sweet deal.

US 1 To Expand to 4 Lanes

In February, the Monroe County Commission approved adding more lanes to US 1, including bridges, from Key Largo to Key West. Numerous studies show that expanding lanes does not provide a long-term solution to traffic congestion but attracts more drivers.

Expanding US 1 to four lanes would:

· Eliminate the Right of Way currently used by many businesses for parking. This would be particularly devastating to small businesses in Islamorada.

· Increase the danger for pedestrians crossing four lanes instead of two.

· Reduce hurricane evacuation times, thus allow more development.

· Increase further traffic disruptions for the next several years on US 1 as it expands to four lanes.

· During the lengthy construction period, County Commissioners suggest using the Old Highway for two northbound lanes of US 1.

Read full story here: https://open.substack.com/pub/keyskap/p/sweet-deal?r=55xkyt&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

05/20/2025

Official music video for “Sabotage.” REMASTERED IN HD! Order your copy of the ‘Ill Communication’ 30th anniversary edition now: https://BeastieBoys.lnk.to/Il...