Saturday, October 31, 2015
Walk to end Alzheimer's in Tampa
What Stogie And Pilar Had For Lunch
Rick Scott's Florida: Mental Hospitals
I was one of three journalists who spent the past year reporting on a single subject: the violence and decay inside Florida’s mental hospitals. After a grueling reporting effort, here’s what we found.
Demand Federal Criminal Investigation of Rick Scott’s Land Give-away to Koch Brothers
Georgia-Pacific/Koch Industries is permitted to discharge up to 60 million gallons per day of toxic waste into the St. Johns River, smothering the bottom with tons of solids and making the water unfit for human/animal use. The pipeline easement was issued by FDEP, as agent for the Florida Governor and Cabinet, after a highly misleading newspaper notice and no fair opportunity to request an evidentiary hearing. The river should be held in trust by the Governor and Cabinet for the people of Florida, not given away for private use as dumping grounds and without just compensation. here
Blocking Solar in the Sunshine State
How low Florida’s monopoly utilities are willing to go to protect their right to pollute and keep their captive customers. Frankly, it’s scary and that seems very appropriate given
Halloween is upon us. here
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It’s scary that Florida – the Sunshine State – gets only about 1/10 of 1 percent of the state’s energy needs met with solar.
Memo to Gov. Rick Scott
"Keep the oil in the soil unless you want the bird dogs on your tail." Message from environmental activists
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Rose Braz, with the Center for Biological Diversity , called the tactic "bird-dogging," and she encouraged several environmental groups and dozens of concerned citizens meeting Wednesday at the Holiday Inn near Florida Gulf Coast University to do the same.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Pam Bondi: Most Corrupt Florida Attorney General Ever!
Here we go again,
Attorney General Pam Bondi said her continuing challenges to federal environmental regulations are not political and instead are aimed at protecting Floridians. So she is joining 23 other states in challenging an Obama administration rule on power plant emissions designed to address climate change. Remember last year she challenged a Chesapeake Bay water cleanup plan that most of the states around the bay had agreed to but industry and agriculture groups opposed. She also is challenging federal wetlands rules that agricultural groups and stormwater utilities are opposing. here
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"The role of the Florida attorney general is to protect the citizens of Florida by going to court and providing legal services to government agencies. Instead Bondi is acting as the government arm of polluting industries that want to degrade the Florida environment at the expense of ordinary citizens." David Guest of the Earthjustice law firm office in Tallahassee.
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"The role of the Florida attorney general is to protect the citizens of Florida by going to court and providing legal services to government agencies. Instead Bondi is acting as the government arm of polluting industries that want to degrade the Florida environment at the expense of ordinary citizens." David Guest of the Earthjustice law firm office in Tallahassee.
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Florida's Solar Amendments
Floridians for Solar Choice
(backed by solar power companies and the League of Women Voters) want out of state solar power companies to be able to sell solar power to homeowners and businesses in Florida because the state’s existing utilities are not doing enough to promote that form of energy. here
Consumers for Smart Solar
are pushing an amendment that would in effect continue to allow only utilities regulated in Florida to provide solar power, and without competition from outside companies.
What Stogie Had For Lunch
Marco Rubio: Donor Bitch
Party With Kevin Beckner In Tampa
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Tampa Chamber Kissing Rick Scott's Ass
Last Friday, Bob Rohrlack, the respected Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, sent off a blistering letter to Rick Scott.
Now Mr. Rohrlack is in hot water with his own board after the publication of that letter was released.
“Although we asked Mr. Rohrlack to communicate the importance of appointments in the community, the letter you received was in tone, choice of words, and content not appropriate and not sanctioned by the Tampa Chamber Board,” Chamber Board Chair. Sam Christaldi
The ass kissing continues, he goes on to lavish Scott with praise, writing,”with your historic investments in our community and your steadfast commitment to job creation in the State of Florida. The Chamber is “appreciative” of the business initiatives that “you have advanced for the benefit of Tampa Bay. We hope that nothing in Mr. Rohrlack’s letter gave anyone a contrary impression.”
Labels:
Rick Scott,
Rick Scott's Florida,
Tampa Chamber
Marco Rubio's Cconnection To Florida's Religious Freedom Bill
American Bridge PAC singled out the Miami Republican for his relationship with District 74 Republican Rep. Julio Gonzalez, who last week filed HB 401, which would allow adoption agencies to not place children with couples whose lifestyle is “contrary to the religious or moral convictions” of the agency. here
Labels:
Florida GOP,
Julio Gonzalez,
Marco Rubio
Darden Rice Votes Against Electric Buses?
PSTA approves the purchase of seven new hybrid-electric buses.The decision came at Wednesdays PSTA meeting, where there was a very high turnout of all-electric bus supporters – most affiliated with the Sierra Club. here
Of the 15-member board, eight voted for buying hybrids; the other seven voted against it.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Marco Rubio Stop Ripping Us Off
Rubio had missed 92 of the year’s 284 roll calls, a 68 percent attendance rate. here
South Florida Sun-Sentinel lead editorial, entitled, “Marco Rubio should resign, not rip us off.”
If you hate your job, senator, follow the honorable lead of House Speaker John Boehner and resign it. Let us elect someone who wants to be there and earn an honest dollar for an honest day’s work. Don’t leave us without one of our two representatives in the Senate for the next 15 months or so. You are paid $174,000 per year to represent us, to fight for us, to solve our problems.
Did GOP Hillsborough County Commissioners Sabotage GO Hillsborough?
The odds of the county even producing a ballot measure for Hillsborough County seem to dwindle, in part because of the reluctance of commissioners such as Murman and Higginbotham to stand by the process. Commissioners, who always seemed intimidated by the Tea Party activists from the get-go on this effort, have certainly created enough doubt for the most ardent pro-transportation tax advocate to feel skeptical right now, to say the least.
Mitch Perry
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This was meant to fail from the beginning!
Read what this blog has been posting about this sham here
Local Hero Wendy Bradshaw
Polk County teacher has posted her resignation letter online and it's gone viral. Wendy Bradshaw said she can't justify making students cry anymore. She said the problem is standardized testing. here
Publix One Penny More Per Pound Of Tomatoes
Dozens of protesters gathered outside a Publix super market on Bay Street Sunday in Sarasota to encourage the grocer to join the Fair Food Program. For five years, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers has prodded the corporation to join the program, which helps improve wages for farm workers by asking retailers to pay one penny more per pound of tomatoes. It also calls for a code of conduct to prevent wage theft, human trafficking and sexual harassment in the fields. here
Florida’s New “Religious Freedom” Bill
Is already gaining traction, It begins with an Indiana-esque guarantee that most businesses and corporations may legally turn away gay couples if doing so “would be contrary to [their] religious or moral convictions.” Similarly, the bill allows private adoption agencies to refuse to place children with same-sex couples if such placement goes against “the religious or moral convictions or policies of the agency.” In other words, an adoption agency needn’t even articulate a specific religious reason why it would rather keep a child orphaned than place her with a loving gay couple. The agency need only state that its “policies” mandate such homophobia, and it is protected by the bill. here
Movie Night at the Museum with Sierra Club and Surfrider Foundation
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Ask the PSTA to Choose Zero Emission Buses!
On Wednesday, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
( PSTA ) will decide on how to replace its oldest buses: with new zero emission electric buses , or with diesel buses that will spew carbon and smog - forming nitrogen into the atmosphere for years to come. You can make a difference by telling the PSTA how you'd like to see this public agency to spend your tax dollars: buses that will burn diesel and pollute until 2030 , or zero emission electric buses whose source of energy will get cleaner every year they're serving our community, as we move forward with solar power. Last week the finance committee recommended buying 9 new diesel buses based on outdated information, instead of diesel hybrid or electric. info
( PSTA ) will decide on how to replace its oldest buses: with new zero emission electric buses , or with diesel buses that will spew carbon and smog - forming nitrogen into the atmosphere for years to come. You can make a difference by telling the PSTA how you'd like to see this public agency to spend your tax dollars: buses that will burn diesel and pollute until 2030 , or zero emission electric buses whose source of energy will get cleaner every year they're serving our community, as we move forward with solar power. Last week the finance committee recommended buying 9 new diesel buses based on outdated information, instead of diesel hybrid or electric. info
Hillsborough County GOP E-Mail Scandal
Hillsborough County Commissioners Sandy Merman and Ken Hagan possibly violated Florida Sunshine Laws when they failed to produce Emails they said didn’t exist. It was not until community activist Tom Rask threatened to sue that Hagan and Merman agreed to release dozens of previously hidden emails relating to county business.
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Ms. Murman is sorry
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Ms. Murman is sorry
“I didn’t mean any harm”
And Hagan blamed his staff.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
Labels:
Florida's Culture Of Corruption,
Hillsborough County Commissioners,
ken Hagan,
Peter Schorsch,
Sandy Murman
Marco Rubio's Dirty Energy Policy
Marco Rubio portrays himself as a leader for the future. But the energy policy he has outlined is stuck in the past, relying on the dirtiest fuels and playing to energy industry campaign donors at the expense of jobs, public health, consumers, the environment and global security. It is a backward approach that fails to recognize the importance of renewable energy and the clear threat of climate change, and it would be particularly harmful to Tampa Bay and Florida. here
Florida Frackers Not Giving Up
Bills that would allow energy companies to frack in Florida died last spring, when the regular legislative session imploded over health-care issues.
But they’re back.
The two Republican lawmakers who sponsored the legislation, Sen. Garrett Richter of Naples and Rep. Ray Rodrigues of Estero, have filed new bills (SB 318 and HB 191) that would amend state laws on the exploration and production of oil and gas in the state.
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Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have put forward their own bills to ban fracking. The legislation (SB 166 and HB 19) is sponsored by Sens. Darren Soto of Orlando, Dwight Bullard of Miami and Jeff Clemens of Lake Worth and Reps. Evan Jenne of Dania Beach and Lori Berman of Lantana. Going a step further, Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Parkland, wants voters to consider banning fracking through a constitutional amendment.
Labels:
Florida Frackers,
Garrett Richter,
Ray Rodrigues
Ken Hagan's Sports Complex
Cost: $15 million
County commissioners will consider the recommended site
Marco Rubio: "If You Don't Want to Vote on Things, Don't Run for Office. Get a Talk Show”
Monday, October 26, 2015
What Pilar And Stogie Had For Lunch
Cerviche and Crab Bisque
With Bloody Marys and Rum Runners
At Rum Fish Grill in St Pete Beach
Visit them here
Elijah Manley Of Fort Lauderdale For President
November Solidarity Sunday
What Stogie Had For Lunch
Sunday, October 25, 2015
$264 Million In Corporate Welfare Since Rick Scott Took Office In 2011
He wants $80 million more!
Best States For Business: Florida #20
Florida INC. Out Of Money
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The state's ability to attract high-wage manufacturing jobs has not increased alongside a sharp rise in taxpayer-funded economic incentives (Corporate Welfare), which are often designed to attract those jobs, according to the Legislature's top economist.
Labels:
Corporate Welfare,
Rick Scott,
Rick Scott's Florida
Florida GOP Carlos Curbelo: The Yes-Man For The Republican Party
Just minutes after Rep. Paul Ryan announced his intentions for speaker, Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo was already behind Ryan for the position. here
Three Cheers For Mayor Rick Kriseman
"The vision is clear: ferry service that makes the trip from St. Pete to Tampa fun; that takes cars off our congested highways; that saves time and aggravation for commuters; that takes us to ballgames, museums, concerts, the theater and other public events; that helps our tourists shuttle between all of the attractions within the Tampa Bay region; that reduces the isolation of our South Hillsborough County residents; and that one day may connect us to Key West, New Orleans or even Cuba."
Florida GOP: Julio Gonzalez's Right To Discriminate Bill
Who was enthusiastically endorsed by Marco Rubio, has introduced a wide-ranging "right to discriminate" bill in the Florida house that many believe is in reaction to the legalization of gay marriage. here
Take Action
Take Action
Party With Pat Kemp In Tampa
10.28 - 5:30pm
CopperFish
1502 S Howard Ave, Tampa
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Local greats Mariella Smith, Betty Castor, Mary Mulhern, Al Fox and
Ed Turanchik will also be there.
Ed Turanchik will also be there.
Labels:
Al Fox,
Betty Castor,
Ed Turanchik,
Mariella Smith,
Mary Mulhern,
Pat Kemp
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Open Letter From The Best Writer @ SPB: Janelle Irwin
"It’s strange to me that you consider killing living things a sport. That you smile over the carcass of a once-living thing and revel in your kill both shocks and offends me. Killing animals for food is one thing – cows are cute, but I love me some steak – but to do it for “sport” just seems sick." Janelle Irwin
Sarasota Tea Partiers Want To Hang President Obama
Sarasota Tea Party Idiots Pat Wayman and Steven R. Fields voted to establish a “people’s common law grand jury,” which sovereign citizens and other anti-government extremists have proposed to investigate and prosecute government officials for treason — which, as they frequently point out, carries a potential death penalty. “Grand jury powers come from God,” Dowdell said.
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Tea Party activists have been trying to set up common law grand juries, which don’t actually carry any legal authority, for years in hopes of convicting — and hanging — President Barack Obama for treason. here
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Tea Party activists have been trying to set up common law grand juries, which don’t actually carry any legal authority, for years in hopes of convicting — and hanging — President Barack Obama for treason. here
Best States For Business: Florida #20
Labels:
Corporate Welfare,
Rick Scott's Florida
Rick Scott’s GOP Propaganda
His public relations event on Pine Island touting our “pristine waterways” was yet another feeble attempt to convince the public that he and his policies are making Florida a better place to live. The supporting cast of Representatives Matt Caldwell , whose legislation is frequently a gift to big sugar, and Ray Rodrigues now sponsoring legislation to remove home rule on oil and gas fracking were there singing the same tune.
Labels:
Big Sugar,
Florida Frackers,
Florida GOP,
GOP Propaganda,
Matt Caldwell,
Ray Rodrigues,
Rick Scott,
Rick Scott's Florida
Florida GOP: Subsidiary Of The NRA
The Florida GOP, basically all but an owned subsidiary of the National Rifle Association, is forging ahead with more gun friendly legislation against the will of their own voters. Because they parrot the talking points of the NRA and its lobbyist Marion Hammer. here
Faces of Floridians for Solar Choice - Shout Outs!
Visit them here
Friday, October 23, 2015
Words From Our Leader Susan Smith
"I'm very proud to be a Democratic woman tonight. (I say this as a Bernie supporter.) Hillary did US proud. I'm only sorry that the tragic deaths of four Americans were used for partisan gamesmanship."
Susan Smith
Susan Smith
No Family Vacations In Open Carry Florida!
The Sunshine State may soon be far less family friendly. State lawmakers are considering giving gun owners with concealed carry permits the right to openly carry their firearms in public places, even allowing them to hold their guns in their hands as they walk around. here
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