Sunday, April 16, 2017

Ybor Paparazzi

Serena and Samantha 

The Keys Need Help

Last week Florida Keys fishing guides assembled their skiffs in Florida Bay, spelling the word for an aerial photograph: "Help!". The bay, since the 1980s, has endured repetitive algae blooms that stripped biodiversity from hundreds of square miles from pristine wilderness, leaving behind ghostly scenes reminiscent of chemical warfare. here 

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Florida's Right Wing Infestation Spreading

Lawmakers in Tallahassee are currently in the middle of the annual 60-day legislative session. While the Florida Constitution only requires them to do one thing, adopt a budget for the state, lawmakers have spent a lot of time discussing ways to shift the balance of power in our state by taking away local control from our communities. 
Some bills look to transfer power away from elected officials on city commissions, county councils and school boards, while others are trying to curtail the power of the courts. here 

Are you $%#@$ kidding me????

"[Drug Free America Foundation] and its lobbying arm, Save Our Society from Drugs, sent state lawmakers a list of suggestions that it says will prevent Florida's medical cannabis program from being abused. About half of the 43 suggestions made it into HB 1397 pushed by the Florida House's majority leader and Florida Facker Ray Rodrigues of Estero."
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I'll ask again:
Are you $%#@$ kidding me????
It gets worse:
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"Chief among the Drug Free America recommendations that made it into Rodrigues' bill is one requiring doctors to have a three-month relationship with their patients before recommending marijuana to them. Patients and advocates say this needlessly delays treatment."
here
You are needed in Tallahassee 4.18. here

Tampa Paparazzi

City Hall

Beyond the Moment: Uniting Movements - Tampa

4.18 - 9 pm

HART Drivers

Kennedy and Marion

Friday, April 14, 2017

Trump Has Cost Florida Taxpayers $3.5 Million

Palm Beach County Sheriff 
Ric Bradshaw says his agency 
has racked up about $3.5 million in total expenditures since Trump’s November victory. here

Tampa's Reign Of Terror

Fascinating labor history from
 Ybor City's early days
Read it here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Pepper Steak
With yellow rice and platanos
At Supersaver Supermarket in Suitcase City
Eat Local!

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: Rick Scott

Rick Scott’s political committee last month raked in more than $600,000 in contributions from companies with major bills before the Legislature that could end up on his desk next month to veto or sign into law. here
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The largest amount, $100,000, came from U.S. Sugar, a group that opposes Senate President Joe Negron’s ambitious plan to build an Everglades water storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.

NORML Lobby Days - Tallahassee

4.18 - 10 am
Tallahassee

Thursday, April 13, 2017

New College Students Fasting In Support Of American Farm-Workers

Central Florida Republicans Want To Suspend Aramis Ayala

Bob Cortes - Altamonte Springs

Scott Plakon - Longwood

Mike Miller - Winter Park

Rene Plasencia - Orlando

Mike La Rosa - St. Cloud

71% of Floridians

Over 71% of Floridians voted "yes" for Amendment 2 last November. Now the legislature is working to implement the law and they need to hear our voices again. They need to know we're paying attention. They need to remember they are implementing the will of 71% of Floridians. here

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: Carlos G. Muniz

As a top aide to Florida's attorney general Pam Bondi, Carlos G. Muniz helped defend the office's decision to sit out legal action against Trump University. Now Trump is naming him to be the top lawyer in the U.S. Education Department. here

Florida GOP Vote Down LGBTQ Protections

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Florida for two whole years, yet under state law, employers in the Sunshine State are still well within their rights to fire or refuse to hire people solely because they're gay. Likewise, landlords can boot tenants or refuse to rent to them based on their sexual orientation. here
Don't expect that to change anytime soon. A House bill adding sexual orientation to the state's nondiscrimination clause is all but dead after getting passed over in committee.

Communist League of Tampa Statement on war with Syria

We, the Communist League of Tampa, resolutely oppose the recent attacks on Syria that have united the Democratic and Republican war-machine. An attack on the people of Syria is an attack on our fellow citizens of the world and must be opposed for that reason alone. here

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Florida GOP Ken Hagan Wrong Again

The City of Tampa may have a highlight reel to show off its successful 2017 College Football Playoff championship, but Hillsborough County doesn't seem to have the tax receipts to prove the event was an economic success for the region.
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When Tampa landed playoff championship week more than three years ago, Hillsborough Commissioner Ken Hagan claimed the event would bring somewhere between 1,700 and 1,800 full-time jobs, as well as $250 million to $350 million in economic impact. However, that kind of revenue would have generated an extra $17.5 million to $24.5 million in sales taxes, which there seems to be little evidence to support. here

March for Science St. Petersburg / Tampa

4.22 - 10 am
Poynter Park - St. Pete

Florida INC Culture Of Corruption

Florida Power & Light. was so intent on influencing the implementation of a constitutional amendment expanding solar installation in Florida, it drafted legislation designed to create new requirements for homeowners and businesses that install rooftop solar and sent it to the legislator who was authoring the language. here
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The proposal, HB 1351 by Florida Fracker Ray Rodrigues, was passed Wednesday by the House Ways and Means Committee, it contains sections that include verbatim language supplied by NextEra Energy, the parent company of Florida Power & Light.

The Marco Rubio Rescue

We'll probably need Sarah McLachlan warbling a few bars of Angel to get through this public service announcement in support of "The Marco Rubio Rescue" organization. Won't you please help find our poor, beleaguered and homeless junior senator a new Tampa office? Just a few pennies a day could make all the difference. here

Urge Florida Legislators to Support an Animal-Abuser Registry!

Animal abuse is a community concern, and people who abuse animals often do so repeatedly and harm humans as well. With this in mind, Florida legislators are considering House Bill (H.B.) 871, which, if passed, would require residents convicted of felony cruelty-to-animals crimes to register, thereby providing law-enforcement officials, animal shelters, and concerned citizens with quick access to a list of offenders in their communities.
This important measure needs your voice. 
Click here 
and please urge your Florida legislators to support
 H.B. 871.