Redington Beach, FL — July 7, 2025 | By: Redington Residents Against Corruption
In a brazen attempt to deflect from the mounting evidence of corruption outlined in our recent report, Redington Shores has orchestrated a manipulative media narrative with ABC News, portraying itself as the victim of a beleaguered community. The coverage, aired and available on YouTube (https://youtu.be/XOxH0USe7gQ?si=1Jfm4P-P0vyzYfE-), claims over 140 citations were issued in 2025 and alleges a resident attacked a code enforcement officer, yet provides no evidence or context to support these assertions. This is not journalism—it’s a calculated distraction designed to shield town officials, SAFEbuilt, and their cronies from accountability for exploiting hurricane-ravaged residents.
The Fake Victim Narrative Unraveled
The ABC segment, led by investigator Adam Walser, paints a picture of a town struggling to enforce codes amid hurricane aftermath, with Rob Peebles, the building official, lamenting a “tough situation” and pleading for patience. Residents like Bennett Walling are quoted expressing frustration with blighted properties, yet the report conveniently omits the predatory role of Peebles and SAFEbuilt in exacerbating the crisis. The claim of 140 combined new cases related to tall grass and weeds—about one per ten homes—sounds alarming until you realize this figure is dwarfed by the over $300,000 in fines imposed on homeowners for minor repairs, a fact buried by the town’s selective storytelling.
The most egregious fabrication is the assertion that a resident attacked a code enforcement officer last week, with deputies called to the scene. No details, video evidence, or police reports are provided to substantiate this claim. This vague accusation seems designed to vilify residents and justify aggressive enforcement tactics, yet it conveniently aligns with the town’s narrative of being under siege—ironic given their own documented overreach.
Exposing the Weaponization of ABC News
Redington Shores’ decision to call ABC News reeks of desperation to rewrite the narrative after our report exposed SAFEbuilt’s profit-driven delays, Tidal Basin’s fraudulent damage assessments, and Marquis Fitzgerald’s questionable hiring despite his violent past. The town’s portrayal as a victim flips the script on residents who have faced $300,000 in punitive fines, forced inspections of undamaged homes, and misapplied building codes—all while recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. By amplifying 140 minor citations and a single unverified attack, they aim to distract from the systemic abuse detailed in our findings, including Peebles’ conflict of interest and the town’s failure to process permits efficiently compared to neighboring municipalities.
The transcript reveals a glaring omission: no mention of SAFEbuilt’s contract, which funnels 100% of permit fees to the company, or the town’s refusal to adopt transparent performance metrics. Instead, Peebles’ plea for “balance” ignores how his employer profits from delays, while the segment sidesteps the $300,000 fine haul that has crippled vulnerable homeowners—especially the elderly and uninsured.
Moreover, ABC News shamelessly exploits the presence of rats to instill fear, a tactic reminiscent of the fearmongering seen across all news channels during COVID. The segment features a child asking, “Aren’t we going to be sick?” implying a plague-like threat, yet fails to clarify that rats—specifically palm tree rats—have been a normal part of Redington’s ecosystem for decades, alongside snakes, both of which pose no unusual health risk to locals. This scare tactic targets non-local viewers unfamiliar with the area, amplifying panic where none is warranted. The real story, ignored by ABC, is the blatant delay and intentional incompetence of Mayor David Will and previous Redington Shores leadership, who waited months to clean up post-hurricane garbage stacked 10 feet high in front of every house. This neglect brought thousands of rats into the neighborhood, a direct result of their failure, not a sudden plague.
The Real Story: Residents Under Attack
Contrary to Redington Shores’ victimhood, the true victims are the residents. The ABC report glosses over how Tidal Basin inflated damage assessments, labeling second-story homes as “substantially damaged” with fabricated data, forcing costly rebuilds. It ignores Fitzgerald’s illegal property entries and retaliatory “incident records,” as well as Mayor David Will’s weaponization of the town against dissenters. The claim of sensitivity to uninsured residents rings hollow when fines are five times the normal permit fee, and forced inspections threaten condemnation for non-compliance.
Neighboring municipalities like St. Petersburg and Madeira Beach processed permits immediately without charging fees, proving Redington’s delays are not hurricane-related but a product of SAFEbuilt’s profit motive. The ABC segment’s silence on this comparison exposes its bias, serving as a mouthpiece for the town rather than an impartial investigation.
The Attack Claim: A Convenient Lie
The allegation of a resident attacking a code enforcement officer lacks credibility without evidence. Given Fitzgerald’s history of intimidation—prowling backyards and harassing families—it’s more plausible that an officer provoked a confrontation. Without a breakdown of the incident, police report, or witness accounts, this claim smells of a fabricated excuse to escalate enforcement and garner public sympathy. Residents, willing to volunteer to help non-compliant neighbors, are not the aggressors here—the town’s predatory policies are.
Call to Action: Reject the Distraction
Redington Shores’ media stunt with ABC News is a desperate attempt to dodge accountability ahead of the July 9, 2025, town hall meeting, where the SAFEbuilt contract renewal will be voted on. Residents must not be fooled. Attend the meeting, demand the contract’s rejection, and call for Peebles’ and Fitzgerald’s removal. File complaints with the Florida Department of Emergency Management ([email protected], 850-413-9900) and the Governor’s Office (www.flgov.com/contact-governor/), citing SB 180 violations. Submit public records requests to uncover the full truth behind these 140 citations and the alleged attack.
This is not about blighted yards—it’s about a town betraying its people for profit. The community must unite to expose this fake news narrative and hold Redington Shores and Redington Beach accountable for its corruption. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!