His campaign’s involvement in possible ballot tampering is being questioned after a WhatsApp conversation was leaked to local media.
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The transcripts shows alleged stealing and destruction of ballots for a special election to fill a seat on the Miami-Dade County Commission for District 5 last year. HERE
Already, Florida Republicans have instituted what amounts to a poll tax on former felons. And now, on Tuesday, state GOP lawmakers snuck a provision into a bill that would shield the public from accessing records of how many have had their voting rights restored. HERE
They are desperately trying to find ways to keep disenfranchising ex-felons — many of them black voters who overwhelmingly vote Democratic and thus could impact the GOP's stranglehold on the state.
"Tampa Port Authority is a member of the NRA's Business Alliance Program. Tampa Port Authority is a Hillsborough County Agency, but has seen it appropriate to join a national advocacy organization in no way related to shipping or trade." John Godwin
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Find the NRA's Business Alliance directory by going to the website HERE, entering "Tampa, FL" and checking the "Business Alliance" box.
Thomas Dunn, stabbed to death while driving a bus Saturday, called for tighter security and higher pay for bus operators during the Dec. 3 meeting of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit board. --- HART pays over a hundred grand a year for security. for their drivers. This is so sad, I ride the busand know some of the drivers. Incompetence down the line finally got us to this. The only security I see are the cameras and the guard they have at Marion who searches for smokers out of their area and is always telling me I can't take pictures. That kind of money is no where near enough. I hope the new regime spends the money from the new tax wisely and listens to their drivers. --- Local Hero Thomas Dunn RIP
A remarkable point to be included in the agreement is the extraordinary commitment by HMS Ferry to pay for all the operating, maintenance and repair costs — a $100 million commitment — making the Cross-Bay Ferry the only transit service in Florida not requiring ongoing operating subsidies. HERE --- The power shift is starting to show.
As we all know, The Ybor City Stogie is a melting pot of differing leftist thoughts and perspectives. I am proud to be a Stogie writer, and when necessary, offer rebuttals to opinions I disagree with. Andrew Gillum is doing everything in his power to turn Florida blue next year. To do so, he must register voters and energize those already registered, which is a massive undertaking that will require allies in powerful places. Rather than neglect the establishment outright, Gillum is doing what he deems necessary to reach his goal of registering a million voters and enlightening them to vote blue (and progressive!). By making symbolic gestures with FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo and donating money to the state Democratic Party, he is carefully putting together a coalition of change. My advice would be to remain cautious of powerful corporate Democrats, and stick to progressive ideologies and issue positions while empowering a big tent community. This community should not exclude centrist Democrats as this will cause too large a split in our electoral abilities—an important thing to consider as our remaining anti Citizens United SCOTUS Justices age on and onward. Gillum making gestures toward centrist Democrats, donating money to the FDP, and forming alliances where possible are steps to changing Florida. There is not substantial proof among this evidence to declare that he has been assimilated into the FDP establishment. I believe you can be a genuine progressive leftist while making peace with the centrist wing of the Democratic Party. That does not mean giving into being pro corporate or pro war or pro privatization, and it does not take away our agenda. Resistance is never futile; part of being a true activist is understanding the world, and not giving up, as doing so is just what our worst corporate adversaries want us to do and say. — Asher
Members of international environmental group the Sierra Club took their fight across borders Wednesday as members of the Tampa Bay chapter gathered outside Nova Scotia energy giant Emera’s annual general meeting.HERE