Stogie Expedition: Nearly There!

We are driving through rainfall and beautiful Pennsylvania countryside. We are ready to be in Vermont!
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We should be there tomorrow. And then, I will settle down, and start anew! I have a few places I’d like to show Julio, such as Kevin’s Sports Bar! Exciting stuff. 
I hope all is well in Tampa!
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—Asher

What Did Luis Viera Hear?

Is this legit or an overreaction?

Florida GOP Sued

An open-government watchdog group and several news outlets filed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and members of the Florida State Cabinet over a meeting being held in Jerusalem. HERE
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Republican megadonors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson were there 
HERE

Bernie Leading The Pack

Daily Kos Democratic Straw Poll: 

End of May edition

HERE

Stogie Expedition: North Through South

Day two on the long road has me contemplating family, friends, and the future. What political prospects might await me in Vermont? Will I be able to help heal our society? Time will tell, friends.

Through downpour rain in North Florida, marshlands in Georgia, woods in South Carolina, and now open land in North Carolina, we approach our Nation’s Capitol. We may stop before or after crossing through Washington DC. Time will tell, friends.

—Asher

Tampa Berners Needed

INFO

Hillsborough County's Gift To Hollywood

Nearly three years after Florida stopped giving out tax incentives for film and TV crews, producers are making their way back to the Sunshine State now that counties are picking up where the 
state left off.

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 Hillsborough County

$500,000 HERE

Ybor McDonald's workers walk out for union rights

Stogie Expedition: 2 Cats, 1 Hedgehog

As I make my way up to Bennington, Vermont, to start the next chapter of my life, I feel rather overwhelmed with all of the positive people in my life.

Together with my dear friend, Julio Rodriguez (founder of the Ybor City Stogie!), we are driving north with my two cats, Mia & Frodo Othello, and hedgehog, Pluto. I am eternally thankful to Julio for his helping me on this voyage, and I am eager to show him Bennington! Maybe introduce him to some original Berners!

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank and praise my friends Jason Marlow, Chris Bacon, John Godwin (whom, I didn’t realize, agreed to help on his Anniversary!) & my two amazing parents for helping me to pack up the truck in preparation for this trip. The help was monumental and I hope to host each of you whenever you’re up in Vermont—same goes for other friends and family.

So it’s Julio, 2 cats, 1 hedgehog, and myself, all on a road trip to Bennington. I am stoked and grateful.

—Asher

Asher's Last Day In Ybor

The View From Florida: A day in Ybor City

Ybor City Homeless

7th Ave

Ybor Musicians

Cliff

Ybor City Walk

Tampa Hoods

West Tampa

TECO Propaganda

TECO repeatedly cites their 2023 coal burning projection, artfully ignoring that the 10-plan that TECO filed with the Florida Public Services Commission just last month calls for future coal burning that vastly exceeds even 2019 levels. As a Public Utility TECO violates the Public Trust when they mislead the public about their plans for coal burning 
in Apollo Beach. HERE

Tampa Hero Thomas Dunn RIP

"In loving memory of HART driver Thomas Dunn. He was a loving father, and he lived his life w purpose. He was well loved by his union brothers & sisters in ATU 1593 and joined them in demonstrations against transit privatization in Sarasota. Reps from transit agencies across the country & as far away as Toronto attended. Thomas was fatally wounded by a deranged passenger as he was driving a bus. He managed to pull the bus to the curb as his last act. Rest In Peace." Commissioner Pat Kemp

Tampa Berners Needed

here

HART United

Britton Plaza

God Advising Florida GOP

“As plain as day, God spoke to me” 

Rep. Mike Hill said , while discussing his plans to ban virtually all abortions in the 
state of Florida. HERE

Mike Huckabee: Peasants Are Ruining My View

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Sirloin Tips

With Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

At Chops in Ybor

EAT LOCAL!

Gloria La Riva in West Tampa

Eyewitness Venezuela: National Speaking Tour

With longtime Venezuela activist Alvaro Montealegre

David Manard and Russell Giambrone 

Hosted by Answer Suncoast and  Answer Coalition

Party of a lifetime in Palm City

A post prom party - prevented. Hundreds of kids, charter buses, plenty of alcohol and pot. A 19 year old admitted planning it. Even charged 80 bucks a pop to get in. Sure. That’s the story. BUT WAIT. Why didn’t @MartinFLSheriff arrest the party planner? Details at 5 on @CBS12 pic.twitter.com/OXdGmcrvQT

— PaulCBS12 (@PaulCBS12) May 22, 2019

Ybor Bartenders

Hank at Reservoir Bar

Tampa Clean Team

Downtown

Ybor City Homeless

Meet Randy

Glock and Ready Teacher Betty Soto of Seminole

Soto had a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a six-inch fighting knife, and another smaller knife in a backpack she carried with her into a classroom full of children at Starkey Elementary School. HERE

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When asked why she did it, Soto replied: 

"Ask DeSantis."

Abolitionist Society of Tampa recruiting at Randall Middle School

Florida GOP Dennis Baxley Encouraged By Alabama Abortion Law

Days after Alabama’s governor signed the nation’s most restrictive abortion law, he almost wet his pants thinking about what that could mean for similar legislation here. MORE

Fight for 15 Protest McDonalds in Ybor City

Sadie Dean

Tim Heberlein and Debbie King

Jodi Cohen

Z

Nina Tatlock

Jason Eames with Debbie

Wayne Schucker and Kelly Benjamin with Tim

Ybor City, Florida

Fight For 15 Florida
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#FightFor15 #metoo

Ybor City Homeless

Kirsten

Florida GOP Alex Diaz de la Portilla Exposed

His campaign’s involvement in possible ballot tampering is being questioned after a WhatsApp conversation was leaked to local media.

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 The transcripts shows alleged stealing and destruction of ballots for a special election to fill a seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission for District 5 last year. HERE

Florida GOP Desperate

Already, Florida Republicans have instituted what amounts to a poll tax on former felons. And now, on Tuesday, state GOP lawmakers snuck a provision into a bill that would shield the public from accessing records of how many have had their voting rights restored. HERE

They are desperately trying to find ways to keep disenfranchising ex-felons — many of them black voters who overwhelmingly vote Democratic and thus could impact the GOP's stranglehold on the state.