Political Rallies in Key West Ignore Reality By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco February 26, 2026 I’ve lived in Key West my entire life as a Cuban‑American, and in recent months I’ve noticed a wave of political activism on the island that often overlooks the lived experiences of the Cuban community. It has become common to see people wearing Che Guevara t‑shirts or ordering a “con leche”—a phrase that isn’t even the correct term for café con leche—as if these gestures alone reflect an understanding of Latino culture or Cuban politics. These displays are not cultural appreciation. They fall into cultural appropriation, and some activists may not realize the impact of what they are doing. Che Guevara is frequently portrayed as a symbol of rebellion, but he openly acknowledged overseeing the execution of Cuban political opponents. When his image is worn casually, it can appear to celebrate the violence and repression associated with his legacy. This reflects a misunderstanding of history rather than solidarity with the Cuban people. Connecting with Cuban culture requires more than clothing choices or trendy slogans. It requires respect, context, and a willingness to learn—not using someone else’s heritage to advance a political message. Many Latinos in Key West recognize when their identity is being used for political purposes, and they don’t appreciate being placed in that position. Key West’s Cuban history is long and significant. Cuban immigrants helped build cigar factories, contributed to the fishing and sponging industries, and shaped the cultural identity of the island. Carlos M. de Céspedes, elected mayor in 1875, came from a Cuban family deeply involved in Cuba’s fight for independence; his father even freed the enslaved people on his plantation in Cuba. For generations, Key West has served as a refuge for Cubans escaping oppression. Recent protests on the island often overlook this reality. For 67 years, Cubans have lived under an oppressive communist regime, a fact well documented by independent human rights organizations. When Cubans seek asylum in the United States, their claims are rooted in genuine fear of imprisonment, violence, or death. My own family’s story reflects this history. My parents and grandparents were born in Cuba and came to Key West in the late 1950s to escape Communism. I grew up hearing about families separated, property seized, and people killed for opposing the regime. I will never forget the expression on my Cuban cousin’s face—a recent immigrant—when she walked into a Winn‑Dixie and saw shelves full of food. Her reaction was that of someone who had known ration books, scarcity, and hunger. I am grateful every day to have been born in the United States. My appreciation for freedom is shaped by my family’s experiences. That is why it is difficult to hear people in Key West speak about oppression in ways that do not reflect their own lived reality. It is even more difficult when they attempt to speak on behalf of the Latino community. Protesters in Key West often hold “No Kings” signs while living in the most free and wealthiest country in the world. These signs feel dismissive of the experiences of Cubans who have lived under an actual dictatorship. I try to assume the good intentions of the protesters, but their disconnect from reality is obvious. I support the right to protest. Freedom of expression is a value I hold deeply. However, the contrast between protests in Key West and Cuba is stark. In Cuba, they protest knowing they may be arrested, beaten, or killed. In Key West, protests often resemble festive gatherings, complete with music, costumes, and a celebratory atmosphere.  Recently put in Cuban prison for making a protest video against the Cuban communist regime. The Cubans know real fear but protest anyway.  That is true courage.  The Americans protest knowing they are protected by the first amendment.  They can criticize the country giving them that freedom and nothing will happen to them.  The opposite happens to Cubans. In Cuba, young men and women are imprisoned simply for speaking out against the government. They face starvation, beatings, and isolation. One young man was recently found hanging in his cell under suspicious circumstances. Officials called it a suicide, but many Cubans believe otherwise. Cases like his are tragically common.   This raises important questions: Where are the protests for those Cubans? Where is the concern for people facing real oppression just 90 miles from our island? Why is it that only certain Latino experiences receive attention? Why are Latinos who oppose communism or support law and order overlooked? The upcoming “Latino” protest planned in Key West does not reflect the experiences of many Latinos, particularly Cuban‑Americans. Encouraging people not to show up for work for two days harms the local economy and does nothing to support Latinos suffering in Cuba.  The protest organizers are also asking for “no school, no restaurants, no deliveries and no shopping.”  They seek to totally shut down Key West.  They believe hurting our economy and the education of children is justified.   We live by the “One Human Family" motto in Key West, and we don’t hurt each other financially or use our children to make political points.  This type of extreme political activism has no place in Key West. It feels like something being forced upon us by people who don’t know us or understand our culture and history. The planned protest appears to focus on opposing law enforcement and advocating for open borders, not on issues affecting the Cuban community in Key West. As a Latina, I ask that our Latino community not be used to advance political agendas that do not reflect our lived experiences.  It should be called an “Open Borders/Anti-Ice” protest because that’s what it is.  It has nothing to do with the entire Latino community in Key West. If the goal is to stand up for justice, then the focus should include those who are truly suffering. Ignoring the realities of some Latinos in order to advance a political message is not solidarity. It undermines the voices of those who have endured real oppression. The recent political activists in Key West who claim to speak for all Latinos overlook centuries of Cuban history on this island and don’t represent Key West accurately. Its cultural heritage is deep and resilient. It won’t be erased by a few political protests from a small segment of the community who just recently showed up on the island. 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. Some articles are free for everybody. However, readers can access all articles and support her local independent news website by joining a   pay plan here  and cancel anytime without any hassles. Membership includes the use of a free App. Readers can also join the free   newsletter here .

TrumpRX.gov Brings Lower Drug Prices for Key West Working Families By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco February 6, 2026 President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out TrumpRx.gov , a new website he says will give Americans access to the lowest prescription drug prices in the world. The administration is calling it one of its biggest wins yet in the push to bring down medication costs and take on Big Pharma. Trump announced that the site is now live and already offering major discounts on dozens of commonly used medications. The deals come from “most‑favored‑nation” agreements his administration negotiated with major drug companies, which he says stop Americans from paying more than patients in other countries. “Starting tonight, dozens of the most commonly used prescription drugs will be available at dramatic discounts,” Trump said, adding that the U.S. will now pay the lowest price any country pays for the same drug. He pointed to examples like AstraZeneca cutting the price of a popular inhaler from $458 to $51 — nearly an 800% difference. Other companies, including Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, and EMD Serono, have also agreed to steep reductions on medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, insulin, and fertility treatments. During the event, Joe Gebbia, chief design officer at National Design Studio, demonstrated the site’s features. TrumpRx.gov lets users search for medications, compare discounted prices, generate coupons, and redeem them at pharmacies or directly through manufacturers. Gebbia described it as a “smart site,” highlighting tools like pharmacy locators and related‑drug suggestions. A military spouse shared her experience with infertility and praised the program for making costly treatments more accessible, saying the administration’s push for price transparency is already making a difference for families like hers. Trump said the launch is a long‑promised reform that previous leaders never delivered. “For years, politicians from both parties have promised to bring down prescription drug prices and make health care more affordable, but they all failed,” he said. The new platform builds on deals with at least 16 pharmaceutical companies, using tariff pressure and most‑favored‑nation rules to push global prices down for American consumers. TrumpRx is a major piece of the America First agenda, aimed at lowering healthcare costs and putting savings back into the pockets of working families. 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. This website is free for everybody. However, readers can support her local independent news website by joining a   pay plan here  and cancel anytime without any hassles.   Readers can also join her free   newsletter here .  Please follow The Key West Post on social media to get notifications when new articles are posted: X Instagram TikTok Truth Social Substack

Key West City Commission Meeting Agenda Overview for Feb 11, 2026 By: Staff Writer February 6, 2026 Meeting Overview The Key West City Commission meets Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at City Hall, 1300 White Street. The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. and reconvenes at 5:00 p.m. It is a busy agenda with many votes. Items include city events, budget decisions, ordinance changes, and policy updates. The City Commission agenda and video is available here. Consent Agenda and Minutes Commissioners will vote on a consent agenda of routine items unless something is pulled for discussion. This includes approval of the January 6, 2026 meeting minutes. Most consent items are passed in a single vote. Click the image below to download the meeting agenda. City Events and Activities The agenda includes multiple resolutions approving special events across the city. These cover street closures, alcohol sales, and noise ordinance exemptions. Events include a kickball tournament, Moose March, Finnegan’s Wake Wake, the Florida Keys Latin Festival, a Waterfront Playhouse fundraiser, Taste of Key West, the Sport Fishing Championship, Run for Rhonda, Salute to Service 5K, and the Pride Street Fair and Pride Parade. These items are classified as city activities and generally have minimal budget impact. Employment, Contracts, and Administration Commissioners will consider amendments to City Manager Brian Barroso’s employment agreement. They will also vote on renewing general engineering services contracts with seven firms and architectural services contracts with six firms. These items require commission approval and involve administrative and budget oversight. Brian L. Barroso took over as Key West’s city manager on January 8, 2025, following the City Commission’s unanimous approval of his contract the day before. A Key West native with a background in banking and finance in North Carolina, Barroso returned home after years of service on local boards, including the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and the Rotary Club of Key West. His selection was a move to bring both hometown insight and financial expertise to City Hall. His hiring came after a turbulent period that included the June 2024 termination of former manager Al Childress in a 4–3 vote. Interim manager Todd Stoughton oversaw operations during the transition but did not pursue the permanent role. Click the image below to read the proposed contract amendments. Budget and Financial Actions Several votes directly affect the city budget. The commission will consider a $50,000 increase to an inspection services contract. Members will vote on legal and workers’ compensation settlements totaling $95,000, $80,000, and $490,000. The agenda also includes a $3,000 donation to the Monroe County School District Pre-K program, purchase of a 2026 Ford F-150 for up to $70,000, and acceptance of up to $800,000 in FDOT grant funding for the Park and Ride Garage. Property, Easements, and Infrastructure The commission will vote on extending a dock use agreement with American Cruise Lines. An easement at 1341 Tropical Street is also on the agenda. Commissioners will review and approve the final design for the Welcome and Thank You for Visiting Key West signs at the city’s main entrance. Proposed designs for entry and exit signs for the Key West entrance known as "The Triangle": Click to expand image. Click to expand image. Proclamations Two ceremonial proclamations are scheduled. These recognize Cooking With Love Month and City of Key West Mentoring Month. These items do not involve budget votes. Presentations and Recognition The meeting includes employee recognition presentations. These include Employee Service Awards and Employee of the Quarter. These items are informational and do not require a vote. Rules, Procedures, and Governance Commissioners will consider changes to City Commission meeting rules. This includes amendments to meeting times and dates. These changes require a formal vote and fall under rule review. Ordinances – First Reading Several ordinances are scheduled for first reading. One major ordinance updates purchasing and budget authority. It raises spending thresholds for the City Manager and Finance Director, redefines small purchases, and adds quarterly reporting requirements. Other first-reading ordinances address solid waste, dumping, tire, and recycling fees, as well as amendments to the Comprehensive Plan adding a zoning subcategory in historic public and semi-public areas. Ordinances – Second Reading The agenda includes a final adoption vote on the Conch Tour Train franchise. This ordinance grants a city-wide sightseeing and shuttle franchise. It sets fees, routes, inspection requirements, and enforcement terms. Final approval is scheduled for this meeting. Discussion Items Commissioners will hear an update on the HARC review process. The discussion also covers code enforcement in the historic district. No vote is scheduled for this item. HARC oversees exterior changes in the historic district and requires Certificates of Appropriateness, but recent debates over “rainbow picket fences” have highlighted concerns about inconsistent enforcement of rules, and the balance between preservation and community expression. Some residents warn that loosening standards could threaten long‑standing protections such as National Register status, while others argue the guidelines need to be changed. City staff has advised against changing the rules to accommodate one group, noting that other groups will also seek to paint fences with their own messaging. The February 11 agenda item updates commissioners and the public on the status of those efforts ahead of possible future policy changes. Read more about this issue in the letter written by a concerned citizen here. Meeting Overview The February 11 meeting includes numerous budget-related votes, approval of more than a dozen city events, several administrative resolutions, and multiple ordinance changes. Rule reviews and purchasing authority updates are a major focus. The most significant policy vote is the Conch Tour Train franchise approval. The most controversial item is most likely the city manager contract amendments. Contact City Commissioners at this link here.

By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco

By: Staff Writer

By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco

The following letter was presented during public comment by Dr. Penny Walker at the HARC meeting on January 27, 2026: The Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC) in Key West maintains clear and longstanding guidelines regarding fences, as reaffirmed in its December 16, 2025 memorandum on “rainbow fences in the historic district.”  This memo clearly states, in the HARC exterior colors guidelines, wood fences and gates be painted white or remain unpainted in a natural wood finish. Multicolored or “rainbow” fences do not fall within the traditional Key West color palette and would therefore require HARC Commission review if proposed as a permanent alteration.  Staff does not recommend allowing a number of pickets to be painted, even in small sections, as doing so would be inconsistent with the guidelines and could set a precedent that complicates future reviews of non-traditional fence colors or patterns. In addition, staff recommends maintaining the current guidelines which require that wood fences be painted white or remain natural wood for compliance with HARC guidelines and any proposals should require HARC commission review.  In the City of Key West HARC Guidelines: Page 16 “5. Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a historic property shall be preserved.” Page 19 “These standards recognize that some exterior and interior alterations to the historic buildings are occasionally needed to assure continued use, but it is important that such alterations do not radically change, obscure, damage, or destroy character – defining materials, features, or finishes.” Page 35 “Specifically states under TRADITIONAL COLORS OF KEY WEST: Wood fences & gates: white  Iron fences & gates: dark green or white” The City of Key West was added to Florida’s Certified Local Government (CLG) Program in 1991. The CLG Program was enacted as part of the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980. The program links three levels of government - federal, state and local - into a preservation partnership for the identification, evaluation and protection of historic properties.  Designation as a certified local government, either as a municipality or a county, makes historic preservation a public policy through passage of a historic preservation ordinance. The ordinance establishes a historic preservation board to develop and oversee the functions of its historic preservation program. Since its inception in 1986, Florida’s Certified Local Government Program has assisted in the survey, designation and preservation of thousands of historic and cultural resources and it has helped to increase public awareness of historic preservation. Participation in the program is also an important consideration in the local planning process, as governments in Florida are required to address historic preservation in comprehensive planning decisions. By identifying historic resources in a local government’s comprehensive plan, proposed development projects will be reviewed for consistency with preservation goals and strategies. Through the Florida Division of Historical Resources’ (FDHR)  Small Matching Grants program , CLGs in good standing are eligible to compete for pass-through subgrants funded by the Historic Preservation Fund grant that the FDHR receives annually from the National Park Service.  The federal CLG subgrants may be for survey, planning and National Register nomination projects. In addition, Small Matching Grant match funding requirements are waived for all grants awarded to CLGs in good standing, whether state or federally funded. The nonconforming violations of the HARC guidelines significantly impact the historic nature of the neighborhood (my neighborhood). At the December 17, 2025, Key West HARC meeting, the commissioners discussed broadening exceptions to the historic guidelines to permit these nonconforming situations by calling them temporary exceptions.  This approach suggests HARC does not intend to enforce or is considering changing its existing guidelines in clear violation of its primary historic purpose and in violation of its obligations as a Certified Local Government. Residents of the historic neighborhood do not support such violations of the Key West HARC guidelines.  It took decades of dedication to earn our place on the National Register, and even longer to preserve it. Please fly your pride flags proudly—just avoid painting fences or structures in ways that could jeopardize our city’s historic status. Let’s celebrate who we are while protecting the heritage we’ve all worked so hard to maintain. With all due respect, the HARC commission does not have the legal authority to change how code enforces violations. Code violations are enforced by code officers. There is already a legal process which currently follows Florida Statute Chapter 162. Resource Links: For more information about this issue, read The Key West Post article here . To submit a letter to the editor, get directions at bottom of the page here . Jan. 27, 2026 HARC meeting agenda and video can be found here . If you would like to contact the Key West City Commissioners about this issue, the e-mail links can be found here .

By: Liana Gonzalez-Blanco