Grand Jury Report Update by City Manager Barroso
- Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
- Dec 3, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Grand Jury Report Update by City Manager Brian Barroso
By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
December 3, 2025
At the December 2, 2025 City Commission meeting, City Manager Brian L. Barroso presented a detailed update on the City’s progress in addressing the recommendations issued by the grand jury last spring.
The recent Monroe County grand jury report uncovered widespread fraud and misconduct in the City of Key West’s Building Department, leading to felony indictments of several top officials. To be fair, grand jury indictment does not mean guilt. It simply means that a grand jury has reviewed evidence presented by prosecutors and decided there is enough to formally charge someone with a crime and move the case forward to trial.
Key Findings:
• The 29‑page report, released May 29, 2025, described a “pervasive culture of negligence, nepotism, manipulation, and abdication of duty” at City Hall.
• Investigators found fraud, evidence tampering, and obstruction of justice within the Building Department and related offices.
• Three officials were indicted: Ron Ramsingh, former City Attorney; Raj Ramsingh, Chief Building Official; Jim Young, former Code Compliance Director
• Charges included organized fraud (a first‑degree felony), evidence tampering, and obstruction of justice.
• The report recommended audits and systemic reforms to restore public trust.
The grand jury was impaneled in April 2025 and spent five weeks reviewing testimony, documents, and evidence. Their findings revealed that corruption was not isolated but reflected deeper problems in city leadership. The report emphasized that reforms must go beyond personnel changes to address structural weaknesses in oversight and accountability.
For Key West residents, the report is significant because the Building Department directly affects daily life—everything from permitting and inspections to code compliance. Fraud and manipulation in this office undermine fairness, delay projects, and erode trust in local government.
The grand jury’s recommendations, now being implemented by the City Manager and Commission, are intended to rebuild transparency and ensure that residents can rely on city services without fear of favoritism or corruption.
The city has a website with the Grand Jury report, graphs showing corrective actions, and rates of completion. Readers can access that website here.
The detailed update about actions taken by the City of Key West is in the PDF below which readers can download.
In summary, out of the 27 recommendations, 16 have already been fully completed. Five more are 90 percent finished, one is 75 percent complete, three are halfway done, and only two remain at 10 percent. Barroso explained the specifics of the items still in progress and emphasized the City’s commitment to accessibility, openness, and transparency in carrying out the reforms.
Barroso noted that the City has been working closely with Assistant State Attorney Colleen Dunn and members of the former grand jury to ensure that the recommendations are implemented in both letter and spirit. He stressed that collaboration and accountability remain central to the City’s approach, and that progress is being tracked continuously.
For residents of Key West, this report is more than just numbers—it represents a tangible effort to rebuild trust in local government. By making the progress report available at the very top of the City’s official website, leaders are giving voters and taxpayers direct access to monitor improvements. This transparency helps ensure that residents can see how reforms are being carried out, reinforcing confidence in the City’s ability to follow through on promises and strengthen public accountability. City Manager Barroso should be commended for cleaning up a mess he inherited with total transparency and professionalism.
Source
City of Key West. Grand Jury Report Progress and Data Portal. Smartsheet, published Dec. 2025, https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=2b741b3ee7024b7da101881c9b7146d6.
City of Key West. City Commission Meeting, December 2, 2025. City Hall, 1300 White Street, Key West, FL. Agenda and minutes available at https://keywest.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
Liana is a Key West native who loves writing about her island home. She taught English to students in grades 6–12 for nearly 35 years in Key West schools, sharing her love of literature and language with generations of local students. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida. Liana is the owner of Conch Media Group, LLC, and the creator and manager of The Key West Post. Her goal is to keep readers informed about the issues that matter most in Key West. As a lifelong local, she offers a perspective often missing from corporate media and from journalists and bloggers who are new to the island. When Liana isn't writing and managing this website, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family. On most days, you’ll find her walking, biking, or running outdoors, soaking up the natural beauty, friendly people, and diverse cultures that make Key West so special.
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