Tampa Secession

Residents of the east Tampa neighborhood of Belmont Heights are tired of the neglect and are demanding change. Prominent black leaders Candy Lowe, Connie Burton and Jarvis Karim El-Amin are on board with the initiative and they are looking for others to join them.

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Threats of secession can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.

The Merchants Of Ybor: Ybor City Food Mart

VISIT THEM HERE

Sandy Murman's Fantasies

Democrats hold a 74,000-person advantage over republicans in party enrollment among Hillsborough county voters HERE

Stogie Approved Progressives!

Hello friends!

I would like to add some candidates to the list of those who are Ybor City Stogie endorsed!

Sky U. White is running for Hillsborough County Commission, District 3. A Democratic Socialist (DSA) candidate, Sky is prepared to bring progressive values surrounding affordable housing and environmental justice to Hillsborough County! I support her bid for BOCCD3!

Julie Jenkins is running for the Florida State House, District 60. She is running to restore decency to the Florida legislature. She wants to fight for people with disabilities, as well as for Medicaid expansion & voting accessibility. I support her bid for FLHD60!

Kevin Beckner is running for Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court. He was a progressive County Commissioner who championed LGBT equality during his tenure. I would love to see him serve in this capacity given his extensive knowledge of the County and past achievements. I support his bid for Clerk!

Who else should The Ybor City Stogie endorse? Why? Let us know!

Stay groovy,

Asher

Belmont Heights, Florida

We need to start our own city, 

Belmont Heights, Florida

 our own mayor, city council and police chief, self-governing.

"How many Black Leaders can I get to get on board with this initiative? Candy Lowe, Connie Burton they are on Board. Who's next? Any Black Clergy? Any Black Attorneys? Any Black Talk Show Host? Any Black Elected officials?"
 Jarvis Karim El-Amin

Self Isolate Blues

Silenced by St. Pete City Council Chair Ed Montanari

WTF: black residents who were mobilized and excited about public comment, most notably around the city of St Petersburg's "African-American quality of life" committee were just silenced by council chair Ed Montanari during today's meeting because of the actions of white supremacists. earlier in the meeting, trolls joined the call and used the public comment to call for the death of "n*****rs." council understandably went into recess. many residents waited for over an hour for the meeting to resume, and when it did, council allowed the police chief and community liaison to present a sanitized narrative around the protests that have happened in St Pete, and again refused comments from residents whose lived experience may contradict their story. this is deeply troubling, but unsurprising. for a city who claims the sun shines for all, how very shady...**for the record, Amy foster was the only council member who pushed back against the dismissal of public comment, and Ms Deborah Figg-Sanders made a notable comment during the announcements portion 

of the meeting.

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Ashley Green

Ybor Life

Acropolis

Fight For 15 Warrior Deatric Edie of Ft Lauderdale

HERE

Christopher Cano: Live as a coward co-signing racism with silence

I want police to respect the constitutional rights of all. I want my black friends to feel safe in the country and communities they built. I want justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Arthur Green, and hundreds of others. I want to see the every mayor and police chief who launched assaults on protestors removed from office for violating their oaths. If that makes me a radical, then come for me. I would rather die fighting the powers that be than live as a coward co-signing racism with silence.

Christopher Cano

Offshore Drilling Coming To Florida

The Trump administration is preparing to open the door to oil and gas drilling off Florida’s coast — but will wait until after the November election to avoid blowback in a swing state whose waters both parties have long considered sacrosanct, according to four people familiar with the plan. HERE

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Dolmades at Acropolis - Ybor

Café con Tampa Online Interview with Candy Lowe and Elizabeth Carson Racker

Ybor City Chickens

Centennial Park 

Visit their Caretakers
Ybor Chickens Society

Self Isolate Blues

Citizen Review Board For TPD

6.23.2020 - 6 PM @ Tampa Convention Center

Flim Flam Man Marco and Rick vs. Ron

No Police Reforms in Florida

Florida GOP turned down a request to call a special session for police reforms following the death of George Floyd and nationwide protests over police shootings of black people. HERE

Demand that The Most Privileged In Tampa Take Action

HERE

BLACK BUSINESS BUS TOUR 14th ANNNIVERSARY BLESSING

June 20, 2020 marks the 14th anniversary of the black business bus tour tampa. Please help me HONOR, CELEBRATE, and SHOW SUPPORT to Miss CANDY LOWE, an East Tampa Hometown Hero, a Tampa Treasure, and a Blessing to our Entire Community.
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Candy is a longtime organizer, activist, and community leader who founded the BLACK BUSINESS BUS TOUR to showcase Black-Owned Businesses throughout Tampa Bay. She hosts twice-monthly community conversations at her TEA & CONVERSATION which grew out of the BBBT and led the formation of Tampa's Independant Black Chamber. For years she has been fighting for economic justice, mentoring and empowering Black Entreprenuers and Small Business Owners.

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The Covid-19 Pandemic has laid bare the many injustices our Black and Brown brothers and sisters have suffered in all areas including healthcare, environmental, educational, justice systems, and which affect economics. Black Businesses have always struggled to survive, even during good times. Because there are so few of them, it is more important than ever to seek out and support those in our community.

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Lowe's business enterprise, The Black Business Bus Tour has suffered a negative financial impact because the buses can't run due to the coronavirus. We can change that.

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I AM CALLING ON THE COMMUNITY to celebrate the 14 YEARS of the Black Business Bus Tour by bestowing our LOVE & BLE$$ING$ to our sister. HERE

Ybor Paparazzi

Scott

Self Isolate Blues

Protestors Want TPD Chief Brian Dugan Fired

A Tampa protest is scheduled for this Sunday the 14th in Hyde Park, but this time with one specific demand of Mayor Jane Castor.

Fire the Police Chief Brian Dugan

“We call on Mayor Castor to fire Chief Dugan for his lack of transparency surrounding less than lethal force used on peaceful protestors,” said the organizers. HERE

Tampa Locavore: El Tapatio Kissimmee

VISIT THEM HERE

EAT LOCAL!

Ybor Amistad

MORE

Berner Megan Carter for Osceola County Commissioner

Megan Carter is a progressive Democrat and third-generation Osceola resident running for County Commissioner because our community deserves better. In order to get Megan’s name on the ballot for the August primary, there is a $5060 qualifying fee. Carter for County Commissioner is a grassroots campaign supporting policies that prioritize mental healthcare, provide living wages, and improve transparency in our local government. HERE

VISIT HER HERE

Florida Police Shoot Protestor In The Eye

Major Labor Endorsement For Sky U. White

We are honored to have the endorsement of the IBEW local 824. Many of you know that I am a trade school graduate of Erwin Vocational Technical College's Practical Nursing Program and a big supporters of unions. As your next Commissioner, I will continue to advocate for our union workers & working families while ensuring they, along with minority contractors, are involved in the revitalization process 
of our county. HERE

#TheSKYIsTheLimit

Ybor Paparazzi

Danial at Chillum

BLM Support In Ybor

There were reports that the  owner of this place wanted to shoot paint balls at protesters.

#BlackLivesMatter

Self Isolate Blues

George Floyd Protest In Ybor City

Ybor City, Florida
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Ybor City, Florida
#justiceforgeorgefloyd, #BlackLivesMatter