Tony Yaniz stays on storm soapbox

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Tony Yaniz has no problem being a troublemaker.

The former Key West City Commissioner clashed publicly with Mayor Craig Cates and spoke his often-unfettered mind at commission meetings. So why would the confusion swirling post-Irma over when evacuees could return not grab his attention?

Yaniz, who did not evacuate, joined the swelling chorus of angry Key West residents who heeded the order for mandatory evacuations but then were stuck on the mainland for several days while power, water, sewer and cell phone service were restored. Yaniz took to Facebook to chastise local and Monroe County officials for not allowing residents and business owners back in.

“It’s extremely important to go back to our normal routines,” he said in a telephone interview with Konk Life on Friday, before the next day’s announcement that people could begin returning on Sunday. “This place is ready to begin receiving people. I’m asking [Key West City Manager] Jim Scholl and Craig Cates to put their big boy pants on.”

During the storm itself, Yaniz and his wife, Becky, decided to rent a room at the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel on North Roosevelt Boulevard to ride out the storm. Not only did the hotel not close, it opened its ballroom, a Category 5 shelter, for free to residents who did not evacuate. Yaniz said first responders were there, as were elderly people with oxygen tanks and one woman who had just had surgery.

“The mood was very calm. They [sheltering residents] felt it was a Cat 5 shelter. And the hotel staff went out of their way to see they had bagels, water and bathrooms, access to telephones,” Yaniz said. “I truly believe they saved lives.”

Once the storm passed, Yaniz’ undamaged house on Fifth Street became an information clearing house of sorts, with people passing through to ask for and offer services. But official communications were severely lacking. FEMA did not know what the county was doing and vice versa, Yaniz said. People had trouble learning when food drop sites would open and where they were.

“There was not only a lack of information but misinformation. There was huge miscommunication. I am shocked. After [Hurricane] Wilma, trucks started rolling in 24 hours later. I really think FEMA dropped the ball,” he said.

Yaniz fervent social media posts galvanized many residents to begin making public their complaints about not being allowed to return. A storm of posts on Facebook and other media sites got officials’ attention. And to Yaniz’ credit, when the order to allow people back into to Key West was made, he was back on Facebook thanking Cates and the other officials.

“I’ve been on this island for 47 years. I’ve been an activist for decades. I was a troublemaker long before I ran for office,” Yaniz said, adding, “It’s the responsibility of everyone to stand up and speak.”

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