Opinion: Food Pantries & Outrage Politics in Key West
- Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
- Dec 4, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Opinion: Food Pantries & Outrage Politics in Key West
By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco
December 4, 2025
If you received e‑mails asking for campaign donations after false accusations that commissioners refused to help food pantries, that was no accident—it was part of a calculated plan. The tactic is familiar: first, say something outrageous to get voters angry. Then, climb on the soapbox and beat down the strawman you created. The goal is to demonize your opponent so you look better.
After that, spread the lie on social media, where outrage fuels donations and votes. Finally, enlist a biased media outlet that happily repeats the narrative, because anything that stirs anger also brings them clicks and readers. By the time the truth comes out, the mudslinging has already done its damage.
The truth of the December 2, 2025 city commission meeting was far simpler. Five commissioners and the mayor sat on the dais, all committed to helping the most vulnerable in Key West. The disagreement was not about whether food pantries matter, but about how to fund them responsibly.
Commissioner Kauffman wanted to release $40,000 immediately, without assessing the level of need or which organizations required the most support.
Commissioner Carey asked a practical question: “Has staff been able to identify where the $40,000 in funding would come from?”
City Manager Barroso responded candidly:
“We also have Christina…that could field that question, but the answer on the cursory is no, we don’t, we budget to zero. So we don’t. We would need a little bit more leadership on if it does pass, you know, especially from the individual that sponsored it with their recommendation, where that would come from.”
Finance Director Christina Bervaldi confirmed there was no allocation or line item in the budget, though she suggested reallocating unused UNESCO funds. She said:
“I know we’ve done this in the past. Yeah, we’ve done this around the COVID time. We allocated around $143,000, which at that time we took it from allocations for the youth leagues and the nonprofits, in order to fund the nonprofits to feed with the food. I don’t recommend doing that this time.”
Carey pressed further, suggesting that the city should establish needs first and then allocate money, noting that the community’s needs might exceed $40,000.
Mayor Henriquez agreed, directing staff to “Come back with who needs this and identify all of them other than just the four and how much. So I would like to have something to come back to for now.”
Commissioner Lee offered a compromise: “Maybe a compromise would be to lower the allocation for $20,000 and identify the money would come from UNESCO in the resolution.”
Commissioners Castillo and Haskell weighed the trade‑offs, acknowledging both the importance of food pantries and the need to protect youth programs.
Haskell noted that “providing money for food pantries is as important as providing money for youth sports programs.”
Yet Kauffman staged outrage, declaring: “So for us to say and sit here that this $40,000 wouldn’t make a huge impact and help our community, it’s ridiculous.”
The problem with his comment is that no one had said that. His performance was designed to fire up voters, not to reflect the actual debate. Both his $40,000 motion and his later $20,000 compromise failed, not because commissioners opposed food pantries, but because they wanted to ensure funds were allocated responsibly.
Commissioner Kauffman’s claim that others said the $40,000 wouldn’t help the community is a classic strawman. No one said that. He invented a weaker version of their position, then attacked it to appear morally superior.
The facts are clear: no one on the dais dismissed the importance of food pantries. They were struggling with a tight budget and the mechanism for identifying needs. Shame on those who twisted this into a false narrative for political gain. Outrage may bring donations and votes, but it erodes trust and misleads the public.
Elections will show whether these tactics succeed, but history shows voters don’t reward ugly politics. Trump’s huge victory in 2024 is proof of that. In Key West, the fires lit by exaggeration may eventually burn those who started them when the truth comes out.
[The video of this discussion can be viewed here. Video opens in a separate tab.]
Update, 12/9/25: a special meeting has been called for 3 PM on 12/10/25, Thursday. Now that information has been collected, a new resolution sponsored by Mayor Henriquez will be voted on. A summary of that resolution is pictured below:
If you want to donate to a food pantry, volunteer, or need help, the following list is a good place to start:
1. Glad Tidings Assembly of God, located at 1209 United Street in Key West, FL 33040, operates a food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM and can be reached at (305) 296-5773.
2. St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen, located at 2700 Flagler Avenue, Key West, FL 33040, serves one hot meal and a bag lunch daily, 364 days a year, and can be reached at (305) 294-2772.
3. The Florida Keys Outreach Coalition (FKOC) Food Pantry, at 2221 Patterson Avenue, Key West, FL 33040, provides groceries to food-insecure residents and can be contacted at (305) 293-8189.
4. Monroe County Social Services – Nutrition Services, based at 1100 Simonton Street, Key West, FL 33040, offers nutrition support for eligible residents and can be reached at (305) 292-4588.
5. SOS Foundation Food Pantry on Stock Island, located at 5640 Maloney Avenue, Stock Island, FL 33040, is open Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and can be reached at (305) 292-3013.
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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