Tampa's Unmagnificent Seven

Tampa’s uninspiring mayoral race enters its final month with a clear leader, no spark from the seven suits seeking to succeed Bob Buckhorn, and a questionable process in reaching the average voter. The Big Yawn began in earnest Nov. 7, the day following the 2018 midterms. 

Councilmen Mike Suarez and Harry Cohen sharing the chutzpah award. Their rhetoric, depending on the neighborhood group they are addressing, doesn’t match their eight-year record. MORE

Blue Ticket Consulting: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The ethical boundary has always been blurry for political operatives in the midst of a heated campaign, but that line may have been crossed by St. Petersburg-based Blue Ticket Consulting in the Tampa City Council races going on now.

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The ethical lapse could have been triggered by a string of previous losses by the Democratic consulting firm.

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Blue Ticket is representing Ed Turamchik in the Tampa mayor’s race. Turanchik so far has spent $14,640.90 with Blue Ticket,  His gravitas with Tampa’s progressive community has evaporated.

More by  Jim Bleyer

Is this the same consulting firm that advised Mr. Turamchik to kick off his campaign with 2 of Tampa's greatest Right Wingers who have made their careers on bashing Dems? Maybe that is where the 
evaporation started! 

John Godwin for Tampa

“I couldn’t accept his continued neglect of our communities of color, our LGBT neighbors, and our environment. Flipping this seat from Miranda to me will result in a more progressive approach that the council has needed for  nearly 30 years.”

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Promising new and innovative leadership, Godwin said he will help prepare Tampa to be a 21st century city while protecting its history and character. more

Tampa Heroes and Zeros

A Tampa media entity suffered amnesia last week, denying three city mayoral candidates the opportunity to participate in a Jan. 9 debate it is sponsoring. Spectrum Bay News 9 forgot its major responsibility of fully informing the public and its viewership, not to mention any notion of fair play. ---

HEROES

David Straz

Bill Carlson

 John Godwin

 and Joe Citro 

ZEROS

Spectrum

Mike Suarez

The city councilman, with an undistinguished record and no real base, played “ every man for himself.” He twisted arms at Spectrum and was allowed to participate in a debate that still excluded two candidates. His basic philosophy: the hell with King and Morrison..I’ve got mine. Zero.

Ed Turanchik

who never met a mirror that he didn’t fall in love with, bragged that he was one of the “chosen” people declaring that limiting the debate was the right thing to do. Turanchik’s social media post (which appears to have been since deleted) speaks for itself. n Turanchik’s mind, the original chosen four are the “leading candidates.” A Tampa Bay Business Journal poll, taken a few weeks ago, begs to differ:

Jim Bleyer

Florida Elections Guru Ion Sancho

Ion Sancho, former Leon County Supervisor of Elections and a nationally-recognized expert on voting policy and procedure, told Tampa Bay Beat that DeSantis’ slow walking implementation of the constitutional amendment could have serious consequences.

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“Basically, the Florida Division of Elections is putting a hold on its responsibility,” Sancho explained. “With the governor demanding legislation for implementation, it could be that the Division won’t act until May.” The “hold” will certainly affect important, local spring elections in the cities of Tampa (nonpartisan) and Jacksonville, Sancho, a Democrat, went on. Ex-felons will be deprived of their voting rights in those mayoral and council races. more

Tampa Bay Rays: Going, Going, Gone!

Major League Baseball’s near decade-long attempted extortion of Tampa Bay taxpayers is over. here

Tampa NAACP Receives Death Threats over Anti-Transit Stance

Less than two weeks after it came out against a proposed Hillsborough County transit tax, the Tampa NAACP was targeted with a hate letter that included death threats.

The threats were leveled at all African Americans. Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was specifically mentioned.

By Jim Bleyer
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Press release:

HILLSBOROUGH NAACP IN OPPOSITION TO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION REFERENDUM

TAMPA, FLA (November 2, 2018)—The Hillsborough County National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) officially announed its opposition to Hillsborough County Referendum Number 2, the All for Transportation backed plan.
The amendment proposes a 1% sales surtax to fund transportation and roadway improvements countywide.
“This tax will place a significant burden on working class individuals in our communities today and the generations of tomorrow,” said Hillsborough County NAACP Branch President Yvette Lewis.
An overwhelming majority of the branch’s Executive Committee are also in agreement that the plan does not clearly define the potential for economic impact and job creation, which would benefit inner city residents tremendously.
The organization’s decision to vote against the transportation referendum was also based on the exclusion of East Tampa residents and the NAACP from early discussions when there was an opportunity for the referendum to be revised.
“Now, we’re in another position where the train has left the station without our voices being valued, much less heard,” 
said Lewis.

Fraudulent Transit Plan Skewered at Tampa NAACP Meeting: They Will Vote ‘No’

There is one group in Hillsborough County that Jeff Vinik can’t buy.

The Vinik-inspired sales tax referendum came under heavy fire Thursday night when Tampa’s African American community attacked it as vague, promoting unwanted gentrification, and a bailout for development interests at the expense of the working poor.

Vinik’s three stooges—Rena Frazier, Brian Willis, and Michael Stephens—were envisioned by their boss as glib emissaries.  At the end of the evening, the trio were tongue-tied and nonplused by incisive questioning and criticism over Vinik’s hidden agenda.

Tampa Bay Beat has learned from two independent sources that certain people close to the NAACP were offered cash to wheedle an endorsement of what amounts to a multi-billion dollar taxpayer swindle. 

Tyler Hudson, Vinik’s point man in the grossly misnamed All For Transportation (AFT) effort, sat grim faced in the audience as criticism from Tampa’s black community rained down on the plan.  Cristina Barker, Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s former protegé on loan to Vinik, sat frowning and scribbling notes. Kevin Thurman, the fourth stooge and relegated to the audience, ineptly tried to explain the glaring flaws in the $15 billion, 30-year developer bailout which would make Hillsborough County the Florida county with the highest sales tax.

No local media were in apparent attendance.
By Jim Bleyer

Hillsborough Progressives Reject Janet Cruz

When the Democratic Progressive Caucus issued its endorsements this week, one prominent name was omitted: Janet Cruz.

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Call it payback for the term-limited Cruz’ reprehensible power play last February when she muscled progressive Bob Buesing out of the race to challenge Republican 
State Sen. Dana Young.

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This most recent gut punch to the Cruz campaign culminates her fruitless quest to regain the trust of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing. 

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Priot to Cruz’ heavy handedness, Bob Buesing had already raised an ample war chest and hit the campaign trail, salivating over a promising rematch.  Progressives were ignited.

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Not any more. They have decided not to reward treachery.

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At the outset of the Young-Cruz race it was considered by the Florida Democratic Party as a flippable seat.  That possibility is now considered a long shot by most independent observers.

By Jim Bleyer

The Progressive Wing of the Florida Democratic Party owns responsibility for this election

By choosing King, Gillum ensured that the progressive wing of the Florida Democratic Party owns responsibility for this election.  Progressives for years have been flinging brickbats at the party establishment for backing centrists.  Except for U. S. Sen. Bill Nelson, FDP candidates have consistently failed in statewide general elections; there hasn’t been a Democratic governor in 20 years.

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Democratic powerbrokers split their allegiances in the primary between former Miami Beach Mayor Phil Levine and Graham.  The Tallahassee mayor was virtually ignored until he surged in the last three weeks of the campaign.  Even then, he garnered virtually no support from the

 so-called corporate wing.

By Jim Bleyer
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Image credit Andrew Gillum's Dank Meme Stash

Rick Scott’s Failed Leadership Cost Seniors Their Lives

Scott promised Florida nursing homes he would be a problem-solving resource in pre-hurricane preparedness calls and went so far as to give facilities his personal cell phone number to call if they experienced problems.  But, when executive action was needed, Scott ignored his promise and abandoned Hollywood Hills 
and its residents. here

By Jim Bleyer

Tampa Indy Media

http://tampabaybeat.info

Pay-for-Play Blogger Continues to Disgrace Himself with Racist Tweet

No one ever confused Peter Schorsch with Heywood Campbell Broun, Ernie Pyle, Nellie Bly, or even the rawest 
cub reporter.

Schorsch is the St. Petersburg-based owner of Florida Politics, the widely acknowledged pay-for-play echo chamber for Florida politicians, political operatives, and lobbyists that lamely attempts to pass itself off as a “news” website.

On Saturday, the day before the “Souls to the Polls” American ritual, Schorsch posted the (above) abhorrent tweet.  His vile sentiments went viral before he could pull it.  The fact that Schorsch’s racist garbage received seven likes and one retweet mystifies.

By Jim Bleyer
more

The Vinik Tax

Liberty County has the highest sales tax in Florida at 8 percent.  It could get company in November if Hillsborough County voters approve a one percent increase in its sales tax ostensibly for transit.

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The regressive measure, being heavily promoted by developer and former hedge-fund manager Jeff Vinik, will hurt low-income families, communities of color, and retirees. Known more popularly as The Vinik Tax, it is essentially a bailout for his financially troubled downtown Water Street Tampa project. more

By Jim Bleyer

Dana Young Going Full Throttle While Janet Cruz Uses Cloak of Invisibility

Cruz’ late entry into the race infuriated the progressive wing of the party as she essentially forced attorney Bob Buesing to quit the race. 
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Self-styled kingmaker Alex Sink, corporatist and the state’s former Chief Financial Officer in what seems a lifetime ago, threatened Buesing with the denial of crucial endorsements and financial support if he contested Cruz in a primary. Sink’s power within the Democratic party is incomprehensible. 
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On balance, the candidates she has supported have lost. Sink has shown an uncanny ability 
to fail.

By Jim Bleyer more

Tampa Mayor Buckhorn Actively Seeking Lt. Gov. Slot

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is actively seeking the second spot on the Democratic gubernatorial ticket, Tampa Bay Beat has learned, but such a candidacy would bring more baggage than benefit.

Buckhorn has reached out to both the camps of Phillip Levine and Gwen Graham in his bid for the Lieutenant Governor slot. more

By Jim Bleyer

Rays New Stadium Presentation in Ybor City

Unveiling of plans for a shiny new $892 million stadium in Ybor City by the Tampa Bay Rays organization Tuesday struck out on the key question: a funding source.

The presentation is seen by many—supporters, opponents, and skeptics alike—as an effort to gain converts. more

By Jim Bleyer

Florida Democratic Party Continues to Alienate Progressives

The Florida Democratic Party is going all in on its marginalization of its progressive wing.

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Progressives are roiling in several counties including Broward, Duval, Orange, and Hillsborough.  All are populous, all have significant communities of progressive Democrats 
and left-leaning NPAs.

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In Hillsborough and statewide, there is are racist overtones in the Democratic schism.  Democratic National Committee member Alan Clendenin has attacked the party’s only black gubernatorial candidate, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum and the PAC of black businesspeople 
that support him.

Clendenin called The Collective Super PAC as a “Republican front,” a patent falsehood that was interpreted to mean that black candidates and contributors cannot function within the same parameters as white 
Democratic candidates.

By Jim Bleyer

Tampa Plutocrats Grandiose Deception

Transit Petition Winners: Vinik, Sternberg, Local Fishwrap; Losers: Everyone Else

The proposed $15 billion Hillsborough County transit initiative is primarily designed to rescue two failing private-sector entities and bring to fruition a taxpayer subsidized ballpark for 
the Tampa Bay Rays.

The fact that those bankrolling the petition effort are hiding behind a “non-profit,” tells voters all they need to know.  The front man for the effort refused to tell us who hides 
in the shadows.

By Jim Bleyer

Florida Corporate Dem Victor DeMaio Blows His Cool In Tampa

Victor DeMaio, A veteran Tampa political operative totally blew his cool and embarrassed himself after Florida House candidate Susan Valdes was videoed stumbling and bumbling by Justin Diaz over questions regarding her donors and would-be donors.

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 DeMaio, who is a consultant for the Valdes campaign, called Diaz and made personal threats if the video was released.Then made good on his threat to call State Attorney Andrew Warren, the employer of videographer Justin Diaz. 
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 Warren reportedly told DeMaio that Diaz
 “had done nothing wrong.”

By Jim Bleyer