Uptown Surge: Mark Sharpe

The Mark Sharpe Entrepreneur Collaborative Center

It will also have state-of-the-art technology and space that can be used by local non-profits and other agencies to host events, network and promote community engagement. here

Opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 

2101 E. Palm Ave. in Ybor City.

The stain on Hillsborough County's reputation

 A majority of the commissioners — four of the seven — have expressed to the 

Tampa Bay Times their qualified support for expanding Hillsborough's human rights ordinance to also ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in hiring, housing and public accommodations. here

Democrat Les Miller and Republicans Victor Crist and Sandy Murman told the Times they support barring discrimination against gay and transgender people, but would need to see the actual ordinance in writing first. Commissioners Al Higginbotham and 

Mark (Sailors Haven) Sharpe, both Republicans, wouldn't weigh in before Wednesday.

One local conservative activist has started mounting an effort to defeat the ordinance. Terry Kemple, a Hillsborough School Board candidate, called the offices of several commissioners Monday to express his concerns. "It's bad policy, and this is a huge issue," Kemple said in a phone interview. "This puts government in the position of trampling on people's religious liberties in favor of people's sexual preferences."

Florida Anheuser-Busch Distributors

There are 100 craft breweries in Florida,

and 31 of them are in Hillsborough County.

A bill backed by Anheuser-Busch distributors,

passed Monday by a state Senate committee

would put them out of business.

Commissioner Mark Sharpe tried in vain to help,

the other commissioners are sitting this one out.

Who is Anheuser-Busch?

They are owned by a Belgian-Brazilian

multinational beverage and brewing company headquartered in

 >Leuven, Belgium

 

Local distributors

Pepin Distributing -  Great Bay Distributors

more> 

 

Why Are You Drinking Their Beer?

>Stay Local!

No New District

Hispanics who spent years pushing for a Hillsborough County Commission district that would enable them to elect one of their own thought that was finally going to happen Wednesday. But commissioners rejected the idea, refusing in a largely partisan vote to put the issue on the 2014 ballot. Commissioners voting in opposition, Victor Crist, Sandra Murman, Ken Hagan and Al Higginbotham all republicans. Mark (The next politico to leave the GOP.) Sharpe joined Democrats Les Miller and Kevin Beckner in backing the proposal........more 

GaYBOR Proclamation

In the recent past, it would seem almost unthinkable that the Hillsborough County Commission would salute a group promoting the region to gay business owners and tourists. But something stirred at Hillsborough County Center this week, when the commission's gay board member circulated an annual proclamation heralding GaYBOR Days in the Ybor City historic district. For the first time in the event's six years, a majority of the seven-member board has signed it.  Ken Hagan signed it, a Republican who in the past has declined to sign the proclamation. So did Republican Mark Sharpe. Republicans Sandra Murman Al Higginbotham and Victor Crist did not. Mr. Crist said he first wanted to review marketing brochures for the event that he said in the past have not been "family friendly."
more
Is it just me or does Crist remind you of Gene Hackman's character Monroe 'Eagle' Cole in the film
Welcome to Mooseport?

We Won -- Again

Yesterday morning over 50 citizens helped represent you in front of the Hillsborough County Commission to get the conversation started there about how to create more options after two and a half years of silence. We won. It was a unanimous vote to bring the cities and transportation agencies to the table within 6 weeks to find a way to create economic development and improve quality of life by creating more transportation options. You made this happen. Many said it wouldn’t happen and that you couldn’t get it done, but the Hillsborough County Commissioners listened to you and we won.

Please take a minute to send the Commissioners a note to thank them for this step
– and ask them to keep moving forward.
here

Corporate Welfare In Tampa Bay

Hillsborough County commissioners approve $6.25M subsidy for Bass Pro Shops

Hillsborough County commissioners have approved spending $6.25 million to bring a Bass Pro Shops store to the Brandon area. The vote was 6-1 with

Commissioner Kevin Beckner casting the only "no" vote.

more
Again Mr. Beckner does the right thing. Remember these other folks come election time. We can start here
Mary Mulhern, for Hillsborough County Commission, District 7

Throwing Hillsborough Transit Into Reverse

These are major, systemic problems. County Commissioner Mark Sharpe, who serves on the board, gets it; he changed his mind and supported a tax increase for HART, which would cost the average home­owner about 41 cents a year. But his colleague, Commissioner Sandy Murman, a fellow Republican, is still playing politics. Murman said she won't support an increase "even if it's a penny."

Even if it's a penny? This is the mind-set Hillsborough needs to change if it hopes to address transportation and job development in a meaningful way.

From a letter to the St. Pete Times, more.