Showing posts with label Jim Bleyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Bleyer. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Let Teachers Teach—Time to Fight Back

A counterattack against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ war on truth, knowledge, and freedom stands on the launch pad with a well-known Floridian lighting the fuse.Ion Sancho, Leon County’s longtime former Supervisor of Elections, has declared that it’s time to “Let Teachers Teach” and that a Florida Constitutional amendment is the vehicle to allow that basic American right. Sancho remains active in defending democracy and is nationally recognized as an elections guru and reformer. Sporting no party affiliation, he’s a go-to talking head on news shows.

The best vehicle to obtaining the million or so signatures required to get teaching freedoms on a statewide ballot in 2024, according to Sancho: college students.“Students are already energized in the fight against far-right indoctrination,” he observed. “These activists are already protesting the governor’s attempt to marginalize women, non-whites, and the LGBT community through banning books.”The math is so simple that even neanderthal right wingers would understand it, even using their fingers and toes.There are 12 public universities and 30 private institutions of higher learning in Florida. Based on recent demonstrations against DeSantis’ war on truth, Sancho reckons each campus has between 100 and 300 vocal, high-participation activists. This does not include thousands more sympathizers who prefer a less visible role. A modest 150 average per campus totals 6,300 activists. That means these activists turned petition gatherers would need to average 159 signatures each—not a big ask.That number includes signatures above what’s called for because typically around 15 percent are tossed for technical reasons.

But Sancho doesn’t stop with student participation. He’s working the phones with the Florida Education Association and some of its chapters to get educators on board with advocating a Constitutional amendment. Parents and other private citizens would join the effort organically. Florida GOP legislators, in thrall to a corporatist, bigoted base, can’t bend over far enough to accommodate DeSantis. The threshold for a Constitutional amendment to pass as a ballot measure is 60 percent. Republican legislators, determined to marginalize democracy as well as groups that don’t align with their definition of “white Christian values,” are aiming to boost that number to 66 percent.

Sancho doesn’t see that increase as an impediment to passage of Let Teachers Teach.

“What Republicans are really scared to death of is the abortion issue,” he said.

So far, the 60 percent bar has backfired on the righties. The GOP-dominant Legislature referred three constitutional amendments to the 2022 ballot during the 2021 and 2022 state legislative sessions. All three measures were defeated. One amendment would have abolished the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and the other two related to property taxes.

The Republican-instituted proposals laughably would have passed if only a simple majority was required; they received 54, 57, and 59 percent.

At the governor’s behest, Rep. Alex Andrade (R), for the 2024 session introduced HB 999, a sweeping set of restrictions on higher education. The bill requires Florida colleges and universities to remove from its programs “any major or minor" in Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies, or Intersectionality, along with "any derivative major or minor of these belief systems."

Andrade's bill also prohibits the expenditure of funds "to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities" that "espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion" or "Critical Race Theory rhetoric."

PEN America, a 101-year-old organization of writers is dedicated to protecting free expression in the United States and worldwide. It termed DeSantis’ proposal as "the most draconian and censorious restrictions on public colleges and universities in the country." FIRE, a group that defends free speech, academic freedom, and religious liberty, asserted the proposal is “laden with unconstitutional provisions hostile to freedom of expression and academic freedom."

Last week, DeSantis tilted his lance at the mythical “woke culture.” He unveiled a 2024 school board hit list featuring 14 school board members across the state who "do not protect parental rights and have failed to protect students from woke ideologies." Two of the targets are in Hillsborough: Jessica Vaughn and Nadia Combs,

Sancho served for 28 years, from 1989 to 2017. In five of those seven elections, he was unopposed.

During his time in office, Sancho was admired for his integrity as a voter advocate and elections expert, and became nationally known for his role in the Florida presidential election recount of 2000. He was also known for his appearance in the 2006 investigative documentary Hacking Democracy.

Jim Bleyer

Monday, September 28, 2020

Local GOP Fumes As Previously Unknown Traci Koster Shows Her Dark, Selfish Side

According to sources in the state capitol, incoming House Speaker Chris Sprowls, who resides in Pasco County, with approval from the office of Gov. Ron DeSantis, used his superior political clout to override the local party and select Traci Koster, a Tampa attorney. MORE

Friday, September 18, 2020

An Accurate Census? Don’t Count on It!

Every ten years the public is reminded, through news reports, commentary, and public service announcements just how important census-inspired statistics are to our economic well being and representative government.
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Dozens of critical social services, education, and infrastructure programs depend on census-guided federal grants that provide many billions of dollars to states and local areas each year.


Monday, July 27, 2020

Stubborn Castor Perpetuates Tampa’s Racism Reputation

A three-dimensional black and white chess game continues to be played out in Tampa between city officials and the African-American community with no resolution in sight.
As in the board game, the queen, Mayor Jane Castor, is going full throttle to protect the king, Police Chief Bryan Dugan. Only in this instance, the royalty is racist.
The queen is only playing for time, hoping to wear down her opponent until it vanishes.  Guess again. The black chess pieces aren’t going away.

Monday, July 6, 2020

Tampa’s Castor: A Distrusted, Unrepentant Racist

Her actions as Tampa’s police chief from 2009-2015 undermined race relations and her inaction to repair them as mayor during her turbulent 14-month tenure lend validity to that perception. Jane Castor wears the title of Tampa mayor but a more accurate representation to the city’s majority of African Americans would be Racist-in-Chief.
"Racial profiling, violation of civil rights, and direct violence are all behaviors and policies that Jane Castor failed to address as Chief of Police. Utilizing tear gas and pepper spray against demonstrators, arresting journalists, and condoning police corruption are all crimes that in any other place would be considered war crimes and crimes against humanity. The recent calls for Chief Dugan to resign were met by the Mayor with a clear statement 
of solidarity.” Chris Cano

The Restorative Justice Coalition is demanding that Castor answer for the 2014 death of Arthur Green Jr., a 63-year-old black elder who had a diabetic emergency.  Tampa Police Department responded by placing him in a similar position as George Floyd, which led 
to his death. 
Jim Bleyer

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Corporate Con Artist Jeff Vinik Gets Tax Break Intended for Poor

When Congress approved the creation of “opportunity zones” as part of Donald Trump’s 2017 tax code overhaul, it didn’t have half-billionaire Jeff Vinik in mind as the legislation’s sole beneficiary in downtown Tampa.
But a cabal of enablers—Senator Rick Scott, former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, and current Mayor Jane Castor—has dumped millions of diverted dollars in Vinik’s lap and itches to give 
him even more.
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Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Hagan Only Tip of Iceberg in FBI Probe

The federal investigation into shady land deals in Hillsborough County includes several targets besides County Commissioner Ken Hagan and his family, Tampa Bay Beat has learned. Those being investigated include private citizens as well as other public officials, according to our source in Tallahassee.

HERE

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

FBI Eyeing Public Corruption Throughout Florida

The guilty pleas entered last week by former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox and a confidante is not the end of public corruption investigations in Florida.

That’s the word from Lawrence Keefe, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, and sources at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Maddox and Paige Carter-Smith have agreed to cooperate with law enforcement authorities about other possible misdeeds in Tallahassee and Leon County.

A sentencing date for the pair has been set for Nov. 19. They could receive up to 25 years in prison on fraud and income tax charges for their role in helping ride share giant Uber get a favorable ordinance in exchange for cash and accepting payments from a developer that turned out to be an FBI front company.

But Lawrence Keefe, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, declared the Maddox investigation should put all Florida public officials on notice.

“A public office is a sacred trust,” Keefe told the Tallahassee Democrat in the wake of the Maddox and Carter-Smith plea deals.

The FBI never discusses its ongoing investigations but the agency should look at Hillsborough County if it isn’t already.

In his 2018 re-election campaign, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan solicited and accepted donations from real estate interests that stand to benefit from construction of a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays in Ybor City.

St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, considered antiquated by 2019 standards, has been the home of the Rays since they first took the field in 1998. Despite recent success, attendance has perennially stood at or near the bottom of the 30 major league baseball teams.

Owner Stuart Sternberg has maintained that a new stadium will solve the team’s attendance woes and found a ready and more-then-willing ally in Hagan. Talks between the Rays, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa struck out last year when it was determined no public funding existed to finance a $850 million stadium in Ybor, even with Sternberg willing to chip in $200 million.

Ybor City as the site for a new Rays home has always been puzzling. Low and middle income families would be displaced. One of the country’s iconic historic districts would be destroyed. And the rationale for any projected attendance increase never has been documented.

But Darryl Shaw, who acquired thousands of acres around Ybor, and Jeff Vinik, whose Water Street Tampa project is in nearby Channelside, would reap benefits from the increased traffic generated by a new ballpark.

Sternberg’s latest canard—sharing the franchise with the city of Montreal—has not being taken seriously by most observers. St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman did not disguise his disdain for the scheme. His initial response:

“The Rays cannot explore playing any Major League Baseball games in Montreal or anywhere else for that matter prior to 2028, without reaching a formal memorandum of understanding with the City of St. Petersburg,” Kriseman said. “Ultimately, such a decision is up to me. And I have no intention of bringing this latest idea to our city council to consider. In fact, I believe this is getting a bit silly.”

The City of St. Petersburg continues to investigate whether or not Sternberg violated the terms of his lease agreement which decrees he must get permission to discuss relocation with representatives of other geographical entities.

As for Hagan, he continues to promote Ybor City for a Rays Stadium, despite the fanciful prospect of sharing a split season with Montreal. Hagan and Sternberg, at least publicly, are a minority of two in that respect.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Maddox plea deal, federal law enforcement authorities have put Florida politicians on notice that viola
tions of that “sacred
trust” will be prosecuted.

By Jim Bleyer

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

TECO Coal Plan Would Add to Tampa Health Woes

The Tampa Electric Company is playing a high-stakes shell game with the health and lives of the three million people who reside in the 
Tampa metropolitan area. HERE

Friday, June 21, 2019

Those Cute, Pesky E-Scooters: Amenity or Menace?

Embraced by many American cities, including Tampa, the dockless, shareable two-wheelers have experienced mounting injuries, many serious.  Initial enthusiasm has been replaced with a healthy 
dose of reality. MORE

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Bill Carlson's penchant for a good cigar

Don’t be deceived by Bill Carlson’s calm demeanor.  The rookie city councilman’s passion for Tampa runs wide, deep, and beyond his avid penchant for a good cigar.
Along with enthusiasm for all things Tampeño, Carlson brings to City Hall a world view, willingness to explore and expand Tampa’s potential, and a recognition of what constitutes perception, reality, and where they intertwine. HERE

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Andrew Gillum Has Been Assimilated

He was at USF with Terrie Rizzo,  Ione Townsend, State Sen. Darryl Rouson and State Rep. Fentrice Driskell.  He gave $100,000 to the Florida Democratic Party. HERE
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He has joined the hive. 
He is  officially part of the Collective. 
Resistance is futile! HERE
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My post from Feburay 1, 2018 HERE

Monday, May 6, 2019

Deflecting Tampa's Attention

A Hillsborough transit tax activist and noted conspiracy theorist has filed an ethics complaint against Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White in a transparent attempt to deflect public attention from just how misguided the special interest levy is and how it was sold to a misinformed public. 
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Monday, April 29, 2019

Jeff Vinik Owns Tampa Bay Times

in Case You Hadn’t Noticed


According to corporate records obtained by Tampa Bay Beat from Bloomberg, the world’s primary distributor of financial data. 

Tampa Bay Beat HERE

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Tampa Mayor’s Race Mercifully Winds Down

The Tampa Mayoral runoff Apr. 23 matching former police chief Jane Castor against billionaire David Straz will end with one sure loser: Tampa residents. HERE

Thursday, March 7, 2019

City Elections Reflect Tampa’s Apathy, Resistance to Change

Tampa voters are satisfied residing in a large city with no national identity, an out-migration of tech-savvy, well-educated Millennials, a below-average public education system, and an eight-year stream of negative 
national headlines. 
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The City Council races also reflected the city’s reluctance to change. Longtime City Councilman Charlie Miranda, who has served without distinction for decades, received 57 percent of the vote against two challengers.  One of them, John Godwin,  enumerated innovative programs for transit, the environment, housing, and a culture of inclusiveness 
to no avail.

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Tampa’s good ‘ol boy network

Six of the seven candidates haven’t offered anything new or inspirational -- only Topher Morrison, owner of a small business and political neophyte, touts unique innovation and total inclusiveness.  Sadly, he is a long shot to make the anticipated two-person runoff despite energizing the youth vote.
The remaining aspirants are intent on perpetuating Tampa’s good ‘ol boy network that chains Tampa to third-rate status among the country’s big cities. 
 These candidates include a legacy candidate, two city council members with notably unremarkable records, an out-of-touch billionaire who hasn’t grasped the issues but is convinced he can buy the office, a former county commissioner with a checkered record whose rhetoric exceeds his accomplishments, and a former police chief who was castigated by the Department of Justice for racial profiling. MORE

Friday, February 22, 2019

Tampa Bay Indymedia

Publishes independent news and analyses.
No advertising revenue.

(Bay Post Internet On-Line) 
Published by Dr. Gene Webb, a retired 28-year employee of the City of St. Petersburg.

Published by Tampa Tea Party leader 
Sharon Calvert and others.

Published by indepedent left-leaning 
journalist Jim Bleyer.

Topher Morrison Connecting with Younger Tampa Voters

In a Tampa mayoral campaign noted for its bland, good ‘ol boy gentility, political neophyte Topher Morrison has injected vitality into the race—directly challenging opponents, attracting a cadré of dedicated workers, and most importantly, energizing a key electoral demographic. MORE

Monday, February 18, 2019

Dems Aim Knives at Each Other in ‘Non-Partisan’ Tampa Races

Candidates for Tampa mayor have been so excruciatingly bland during the runup to the Mar. 5 primary that the campaign has been dubbed “The Big Yawn” by locals.
Not to worry.  The fervor expected to be epitomized by the seven mayoral hopefuls has shifted to their supporters.  The sniping, which touched on what constitutes “progressive,” gender preference, and defamation, all emanates from the Democrat playpen.
The latest dustup pits Jessica Vaughn, President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay, against Bryan  Farris, a  veteran political operative with a nebulous political philosophy.  The war played out 
on social media. MORE