‘It’s not my time right now’: Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera discusses mayoral race, storm recovery and more

Everyone now knows that—despite his popularity and presence in local politics since 2016—Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera will not run to be the next mayor of Tampa.

“It’s not my time right now,” Viera, who is terming out of his District 7 seat, told The Skinny last Friday. He did not rule out runs for seats on Hillsborough’s county commission or even in the Florida legislature.

MORE

Councilman Viera, Tampa police address crime concerns in New Tampa area

Some neighbors in New Tampa had the opportunity to voice concerns over crime and safety Tuesday evening.

Councilman Luis Viera hosted a community forum at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, alongside Tampa police. Viera called for the town hall after a fight outside a movie theater last month led to a shooting.

MORE

Tampa City Council approves Racial Reconciliation Committee to address racial inequities

The Tampa City Council unanimously passed a resolution creating the racial reconciliation committee after a nearly four-year effort.....Read More

Jen McDonald Endorsed by Councilman Luis Viera

HELP HER HERE

Tell Tampa City Council to Reverse Course

"Thank you Commissioners Mariella Smith and Patricia Kemp for writing Tampa City Council to urge us to reverse course and support the Tenants Bill of Rights. Commissioner Kimberly Overman will be speaking to Council in support of this initiative." Tampa City Councilman

Luis Viera

Dunedin man in need of kidney

"Joshua Tannen will be speaking to Tampa City Council to make a public plea for a kidney. Joshua’s mother donated a kidney to him in 2002, but the transplant failed in 2011. For ten years, Josh and his family have been on a search for a donor. Josh is on dialysis every night for ten hours.I invited Josh to speak tomorrow to make his case before Tampa. Please share this story so that Josh’s plea can be heard far and wide. If he was your kid or loved one, you’d be yelling it from the roof top - so the least we can do is a share.

Any leads for Josh? 

 Email me at luis.viera@tampagov.net

Thank you so much to Mitch Perry for doing this story." Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera

Tampa councilman Luis Viera wants more support for families impacted by gun violence

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera - A fine Ramadan to my Muslim friends

Today I went to the New Tampa Mosque to wish my friends a happy and peaceful Ramadan

and check in.

I am always proud of the rich cultural and religious diversity that we have in Tampa, including New Tampa. We are one community with many religious faiths and cultural traditions, but united by our best historic American values.

And I always love to hear the stories of immigration from these congregants - most came here knowing limited English and “strangers in strange land ” and today they and their children live the American dream.

Thank you to my good friends at the New Tampa Mosque and Muslims For Democracy and Fairness - MDF for having me today during your Ramadan traditions.

Photo Credit Luis Viera

Luis Viera Takes On Tampa Slumlord

Elected officials are looking into the claims from residents living in some of Tampa’s affordable housing units. Residents say the conditions they’re living in are deplorable.

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera heard from residents during a recent virtual workshop. Each person detailed their living conditions at apartment complexes owned or managed by Tzadik Properties.

“Well you know I’m not gonna get into name calling right now,” Viera said. “Let’s just put it this way. What I saw out there, was deplorable. What I saw out there was shameful.”

Viera said he teamed up with the city’s code enforcement and paid a visit to Tzadik Properties Timberfalls Apartment Complex to see the conditions for himself. HERE

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera's Great Tour at Iron Workers Local 397

I am pushing for the City of Tampa to promote the use of apprenticeships in our contracting process. Apprenticeships in areas like iron work, welding, carpentry and electrical work, promote a pathway to economic security. Want to help fight the school to prison pipeline and promote a pipeline to the middle class for our young people? Then invest in these apprenticeship programs.

Sometime in November

City Legal will be coming back with 
a draft ordinance.

 Do what you can to let the City know how you feel about this program. In this time especially, we need to do all that we can to promote a pathway to economic security for those historically left behind.

PhotoCredit: Brannon Jordan lazo

Luis Viera's Letter To Tampa Slumlord

We can not let apartments like this particularly those that get PPP subsidies paid for by taxpayers living in their apartments get away with 
conditions like this.

---

“I read the story in the Times on these apartments and was outraged. The best part of being in public office is that you get to use your voice for causes you care about and this has to be a cause that we all care about. In this pandemic, families are falling through the cracks and the allegations made in the article disturb me. I look forward to speaking to the apartment owners on their plans to do better. They have to know that the allegations made in the story are unacceptable.”
Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera

Tampa Councilman Luis Viera on Voter Suppression

Like everyone I am frustrated over what I read in the news on voting access and the post office. I say it again: voting rights are a holy cause, paid for with blood. Don’t just vote - get ten people to vote, be a poll watcher, volunteer for Biden-Harris and make calls. Today I volunteered with Hillsborough County Democratic Party to be a poll watcher. Do all you can so that we can have a unified “hell no” to what is happening in our country. We are better than this - so let’s prove it.

I will be damned if a nation that just mourned the loss of John Lewis lets 
this happen.
---
Call Your Senators - #SaveThePostOffice

HERE

Another Major Endorsement For Hillsborough County School Board Candidate Jessica Vaughn

HELP HER HERE

Vote Blue No Matter What?

Orlando Gudes
 Joseph Citro
 Bill Carlson
 Guido Maniscalco
 John Dingfelder
 Luis Viera
 Charlie Miranda
 Patricia Kemp
 ---
All endorsed SUSAN VALDES, a candidate who voted against HOME RULE and protecting 
our tree canopy!!

Florida House District 62 Representative SUSAN VALDES (DINO) joined the Republicans in the legislature voted YES on HB 1159 which takes all local control away from the citizens of Tampa who want to preserve our beautiful 
tree canopy.

Susan Valdes All-Stars

"Many of the names on this list of elected officials who support Valdez don't surprise me. However, there are a plethora of names that do surprise me.

Bill Carlson STRIKE #1

Joe Citro 

John Dingfelder 

Charlie Miranda

Guido Maniscalco

 Mike Suarez 

Harry Cohen

 Janet Cruz 

 Darryl Rouson 

 Fentrice Driskell 

Dianne Hart

 Adam Hattersley

Wengay Newton

Chad Chronister

Bob Henriquez

 Julianne Holt 

Cindy Stuart

 April Griffin
For so many people who demand party loyalty, it's incredibly surprising to see support for a candidate who has REPEATEDLY voted against the Democratic platform and done so often. So much in fact, that she openly jokes about not being partyless". Jessica Vaughn HERE

Pat, Luis and Orlando WTF

---

"VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! CANDIDATES RECORDS MATTER!!!

Susan Valdes continues to show support for charters, breaking from her party this year as the only House Democrat to vote in favor of expanding the Schools of Hope program critics said would lead to a flood of new charter schools." Beth Eriksen Shoup

Medicare for All in Tampa

The Tampa City Council is set to vote on a local resolution in support of Medicare for All.

Call the councilmembers listed below 

Who have not yet committed to 
voting YES.

John Dingfelder 813-274-8133

Bill Carson 813-274-8134

Luis Viera 813-274-7073

Joseph Citro 813-274-7072

Charlie Miranda 813-274-7074

Call Guido and Orlando who are on board 
and tell them Thank You!

Orlando Gudes 813 274-8189

Guido Maniscalco 813-274-7071

Tampa vote the bums out!

"See (above) to know which local politicians are bought and paid for by special interests and which stand with the people. If you see an X next to them, be sure to make them an Ex-elected official next election. Vote the bums out!" Christopher Cano

Untainted Hillsborough County Commissioners

The Hillsborough MPO voted 11-5 to keep TBNext (TBX) on the Transportation Improvement Program. This move will keep TBNext in line to one day receive state funding and get built.

What Did Luis Viera Hear?

Is this legit or an overreaction?

Gaslight Park Crackdown Begins

Tampa, Florida

Big event in town this weekend 

so the city removed all the benches. 

The community got together 

and brought people chairs. 

They were having this today.

This guy enhanced my experience

By telling me I could not take pictures.