5 September 18-24, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | city’s RFP, but also materially deviates from Boucher’s own proposal,” the motion reads. “Shockingly, after selecting Boucher’s pro- posal, the city allowed closed-door negotia- tions to delete its own requirements and to walk back promises Boucher made to win in the first place.” ‘Out of Patience’ The text messages also show that Steve Boucher frequently had a direct line to then- City Manager Alina Hudak. “Good afternoon Alina. I know you’re ex- tremely busy running the city (doing a great job) please fit me some time soon to discuss some items at your convenience,” Boucher wrote to Hudak on January 17, 2024. “Thanks.” A week later, Boucher sent two texts with requests for the city manager: One was for a two-minute conversation with Hudak, the other for Hudak “to set up a meeting for to- morrow regarding special events.” “I am not requesting you to be in the meet- ing,” he wrote. “If possible, someone from special events. Hopefully an asst manager or director, and myself to discuss some issues. I am extremely frustrated and like to put some open items to rest. I’ve been frustrated for over two years, and I am out of patience. Re- spectfully, Steve.” Five hours later, Boucher thanked Hudak for setting up the meeting so quickly. “If possible, please call when driving home,” he added. Arriola Likes the Beach Other text messages reveal then-Commis- sioner Arriola’s ties to Steven Boucher. In the messages, the commissioner frequently re- quested umbrellas and cabanas for beach vis- its with his family. “Hey bud — sorry to bother you — Tracy wants to take [our son] to the beach tomorrow (Wed) — can we get a cabana down by the Stanton?” Arriola asked Boucher in a July 19, 2022, text that appears to reference Boucher Brothers’ rentals outside the Marriott Stanton South Beach, where cabanas go for $27, queen daybeds run $150 to $300 depending on the day, and chair rentals cost $30 a pop. “No problem I’ll have it set up,” Boucher promptly replied. In a message two months earlier, Arriola thanked Boucher for “taking care” of him. “Steve — thanks for taking care of me and my guests,” he wrote. “That was a lot of fun!” “Anytime my friend,” Boucher re- sponded. “Next year will be even better. Let’s get lunch soon.” Steve Boucher declined to comment for this story. When New Times reached Arriola to discuss his fun under the sun, the former commissioner asserted that he was not much of a beachgoer. “I don’t think I frequently go to the beach — maybe 2-3x a year,” he responded in an email. “If I go and want to rent a cabana or lounge chair, I call or text Steve beforehand so I can reserve one. I always pay. It’s no dif- ferent than getting a reservation at a restau- rant — I want to make sure I can get the amount of chairs or umbrellas I may need in the area of the beach I am going to,” the for- mer commissioner wrote. “Steve is someone I consider a friend and someone I like, but we are not ‘close’ friends,” he added. On that note, the Herald’s Aaron Leibow- itz documented Arriola’s apparent affinity for sand and saltwater back in 2023, detailing November 2022 text messages in which Arri- ola arranged a beach day through Boucher Brothers. He subsequently backed the beach rental company for the Nikki Beach site even though city staff recommended that the con- tract be put out for a competitive bid. According to the Herald, Arriola said he paid for the chairs and umbrellas like any other customer, dismissing questions about his relationship with Boucher as “silly.” and today’s decision underscores that commitment,” added Evan Power, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, in a written state- ment. “The court made clear: Flor- ida cannot extinguish the rights of ordinary, law-abiding citizens. We applaud this decision and stand with millions of Floridians in support of the Second Amendment.” Senate Resistance Despite verbal support by DeSantis for the leg- islature to repeal Florida’s ban on open carry, the Florida Senate in particular has proven re- sistant to such a change. During the 2023 legislative session, then-Sen- ate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples) said she didn’t support repealing the law because the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) didn’t want it. Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula) succeeded Pas- sidomo as Senate President last November. He also opposed a repeal, saying he didn’t want to cross the FSA. “I trust my law enforcement offi- cials,” he said. “That’s where I stand.” The Florida Sheriffs Association did not im- mediately reply to a request for comment. Editor’s note: New Times occasionally shares articles from the Florida Phoenix, part of the nonprofit States Newsroom network. Contact the Florida Phoenix at [email protected] or follow the site on Facebook and X. [email protected] “History confirms that the right to bear arms in public necessarily includes the right to do so openly,” Judge Stephanie Ray wrote in the unanimous opinion. 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