Hillsborough County 'Safe Place' program helps kids and teens in need

Whether they've had a fight with their parents or are fleeing domestic abuse in the home, kids and teens without a place to go can visit a "Safe Place" location in Hillsborough County to get assistance.

National Safe Place Week is happening now through March 23 to help raise awareness about the vital program that provides kids, ages 10-17, who are in crisis access to immediate support services.

More info HERE

New library card policy goes into effect for Hillsborough County

A new library card system will go into effect Monday at all Hillsborough County libraries. The new policy gives children access to books based on their age, and then by levels inside those age groups. Parents get to choose what card they want their child to have.....Read More

Fight 4 Peace: Mental Health Awareness Event

FIGHT 4 PEACE

Mental Health Awareness Campaign

Perry Harvey Sr. Park

1000 E. Harrison S., Tampa

Saturday, September 30 · 12 - 6pm

Admission is FREE

More Info HERE

Enjoy a day of live music, local vendors, giveaways and more. All proceeds will go to local non-profits supporting individuals, family members, and loved ones impacted by mental illness (e.g., NAMI Hillsborough, Aaron's House, and Project LINK) and the Fight 4 Peace campaign for additional mental health awareness events in 25 major cities across the United States, including the production of the mental-health-based film, FIGHT.

Hillsborough County school board to vote on redistricting plan

Hillsborough County parents are keeping a close eye on Tuesday’s board meeting as boundary changes become part of the discussion once again.

The conversation about redistricting has been a source of controversy over several months.

The school board could approve the superintendent’s plan that would change where 15,000 students go to school in 2024.

More HERE

Let Teachers Teach—Time to Fight Back

A counterattack against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ war on truth, knowledge, and freedom stands on the launch pad with a well-known Floridian lighting the fuse.Ion Sancho, Leon County’s longtime former Supervisor of Elections, has declared that it’s time to “Let Teachers Teach” and that a Florida Constitutional amendment is the vehicle to allow that basic American right. Sancho remains active in defending democracy and is nationally recognized as an elections guru and reformer. Sporting no party affiliation, he’s a go-to talking head on news shows.

The best vehicle to obtaining the million or so signatures required to get teaching freedoms on a statewide ballot in 2024, according to Sancho: college students.“Students are already energized in the fight against far-right indoctrination,” he observed. “These activists are already protesting the governor’s attempt to marginalize women, non-whites, and the LGBT community through banning books.”The math is so simple that even neanderthal right wingers would understand it, even using their fingers and toes.There are 12 public universities and 30 private institutions of higher learning in Florida. Based on recent demonstrations against DeSantis’ war on truth, Sancho reckons each campus has between 100 and 300 vocal, high-participation activists. This does not include thousands more sympathizers who prefer a less visible role. A modest 150 average per campus totals 6,300 activists. That means these activists turned petition gatherers would need to average 159 signatures each—not a big ask.That number includes signatures above what’s called for because typically around 15 percent are tossed for technical reasons.

But Sancho doesn’t stop with student participation. He’s working the phones with the Florida Education Association and some of its chapters to get educators on board with advocating a Constitutional amendment. Parents and other private citizens would join the effort organically. Florida GOP legislators, in thrall to a corporatist, bigoted base, can’t bend over far enough to accommodate DeSantis. The threshold for a Constitutional amendment to pass as a ballot measure is 60 percent. Republican legislators, determined to marginalize democracy as well as groups that don’t align with their definition of “white Christian values,” are aiming to boost that number to 66 percent.

Sancho doesn’t see that increase as an impediment to passage of Let Teachers Teach.

“What Republicans are really scared to death of is the abortion issue,” he said.

So far, the 60 percent bar has backfired on the righties. The GOP-dominant Legislature referred three constitutional amendments to the 2022 ballot during the 2021 and 2022 state legislative sessions. All three measures were defeated. One amendment would have abolished the Florida Constitution Revision Commission and the other two related to property taxes.

The Republican-instituted proposals laughably would have passed if only a simple majority was required; they received 54, 57, and 59 percent.

At the governor’s behest, Rep. Alex Andrade (R), for the 2024 session introduced HB 999, a sweeping set of restrictions on higher education. The bill requires Florida colleges and universities to remove from its programs “any major or minor" in Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies, or Intersectionality, along with "any derivative major or minor of these belief systems."

Andrade's bill also prohibits the expenditure of funds "to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities" that "espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion" or "Critical Race Theory rhetoric."

PEN America, a 101-year-old organization of writers is dedicated to protecting free expression in the United States and worldwide. It termed DeSantis’ proposal as "the most draconian and censorious restrictions on public colleges and universities in the country." FIRE, a group that defends free speech, academic freedom, and religious liberty, asserted the proposal is “laden with unconstitutional provisions hostile to freedom of expression and academic freedom."

Last week, DeSantis tilted his lance at the mythical “woke culture.” He unveiled a 2024 school board hit list featuring 14 school board members across the state who "do not protect parental rights and have failed to protect students from woke ideologies." Two of the targets are in Hillsborough: Jessica Vaughn and Nadia Combs,

Sancho served for 28 years, from 1989 to 2017. In five of those seven elections, he was unopposed.

During his time in office, Sancho was admired for his integrity as a voter advocate and elections expert, and became nationally known for his role in the Florida presidential election recount of 2000. He was also known for his appearance in the 2006 investigative documentary Hacking Democracy.

Jim Bleyer

Neo-Fascists target Hillsborough County School Board Members under guise of Parental Rights

Governor Ron DeSantis and his neo-fascist allies are wading into school board races as part of a calculated plan to up-end all the progress made since the Civil Rights movement. Public education has been the core component of social mobility in America. It now stands under attack at every avenue. Whether the efforts to decertify teacher’s unions, remove diversity and equity trainings, or out right erase history with white-washed fallacies, all these multi-pronged attacks serve one ultimate goal, the reversal of progress in America. Progress has been characterized as “Woke” ideology. To understand this fight, first allow me tell you what “Woke” truly means…

For those familiar with the 90s-2000s movie franchise of the Matrix, a dystopian future where artificial intelligences utilize human beings asleep in a virtual reality as batteries in the real world, being woke is to unplug from the artificial reality. Much in this way the moniker of “stay woke” was popularized by young African American scholars in last 20 years as a reminder to avoid falling prey to the artificial realities created by the mainstream media and global political systems. And, somehow right-wing activists and politicians have co-opted and appropriated “woke” as a blanket term to classify any policies which forward diversity, equity, and inclusion. Their long standing war on LGTBQ+ culture has now allowed them to target African American culture and any allies to either group. Gone are the days when political correctness would have right wingers call these folks special interest groups. Political correctness itself is now seen as woke ideology. Where their grandfathers had no problems dropping racial epithets in public speech, now Ron DeSantis and his Moms for Liberty now utilize the term woke in its place. These are dog whistles to a conservative base that fears the progress in America. Years ago I recall the warnings that conservatives were going to begin targeting school board races to reverse the work of desegregation. Now it is clear that they affirm to go much further in controlling curriculum from pre-K to PhD. Fascism in America was always going to be wrapped up in rallying cry for liberty while carrying a cross. This is exactly what DeSantis and his allies intend. To play victim and say their freedom is under attack, that their Christian values are lost in a public school system separated from Church by the State.

Their next target is Hillsborough County. Jessica Vaugh and Nadia Combs, two outstanding school board members are being targeted in this next election cycle by Moms for Liberty for their progressive ideals and desire to keep kids safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make no mistake, if DeSantis gets his way, Hillsborough County will no longer be a school system that produces scholars that can compete on an international level. We will become a bastion of pseudo-science, fascism, and false history instituted by a regime of his choosing as part of the greater culture war to destroy American progress. Gone are the days when David Duke and Klan are actively working to reverse our hard fought progress, now its Karens claiming their parent rights are infringed upon because their kids have to learn that their grandparents didn’t want to attend integrated schools. I would encourage any human being with an ounce of sanity and the right to vote to get out in this next election and ensure that these Moms for Liberty have several seats, and not ones on the school board.

Christopher C. Cano, MPA, Concerned Tampeño

Raybor: The Monstor That Won't Go Away

The negotiations to entice the Tampa Bay Rays to a new stadium near Ybor City are still ongoing but now are being conducted by the Tampa Sports Authority behind closed doors and beyond public scrutiny.

This writer wants to know....what is more disturbing, the look of the new proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium (pictured above) or the hundreds of baseball fans, having no concept of the cultural beauty of Historic Ybor, who will be invading 7th Avenue several nights a week during the baseball season?

In 2018 we came razor close to closing a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays to move to Ybor City  but a concerted public pushback convinced the Hillsborough County Commission to nix the deal. 

Now we are again faced with the looming prospect of the monster called Raybor reappearing in the neighborhood. Will we again see RAYBOR banners hanging from the 2nd floor balconies of Historic Ybor buildings? One of the more prominent real estate developers in Tampa, Darryl Shaw, is gobbling up properties, including the site of the proposed stadium, in and around Ybor City with the clear intent of gentrifying the neighborhood and a major league baseball stadium would be a glaring benchmark of this gentrification.

This stadium would cost over $1 billion and a large portion, perhaps half, of that would be funded by public funds, primarily the county bed tax. This is money that should be earmarked for the benefit of the local economy and not a cashcow for wealthy property owners and investors in the Tampa Bay Rays franchise. Numerous academic studies conclude that major sports stadiums are of little or no benefit to the local economies where they are built. In fact, money spent at sports stadiums that would often be spent in local entertainment establishments ends up instead in the hands of land owners, investors, athletes and other sports personnel, where it has no impact on the local economy at all.

I only hope that I, and others, have the energy to fight another round against Raybor.

From the Devil's Own Mouth

 Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan still thinks it's 50/50 that the Rays end up in Tampa

Ken Hagan says that he was not surprised by the Rays redevelopment deal, and that this is a good thing for the team and the area. Pat (iHeart Radio's Pat and Aaron Show) asks him if this makes Tampa more aggressive, and Ken Hagan says he doesn't blame him and others for thinking that Tampa isn't being aggressive. He says that the Tampa Bay Rays know that they need to be in Tampa, and that they are waiting for all the info from the Pinellas side to come through. He says they won't be able to go into a bidding war with St. Petersburg, and that Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays know that. He goes on to say that it would be a huge black eye on the area if they were to lose the team.

Listen to the Ken Hagan interview HERE

In this interview, Ken Hagan unabashedly states that Pinellas County would be able to invest more in a new stadium than Hillsborugh County because they collect more in their "bed tax" than Hillsborough County does. This is a clear indication that Hillsborough County would use public funds to help pay for the new stadium.

Only 1 name on Tampa mayor ballot in March

There will only be one name printed on the ballot for the next Tampa mayor election in March — Jane Castor.

The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Election told News Channel 8 that the mayor is not unopposed but will go up against one write-in candidate, Belinda Noah.

Read More Here

Letter to Hillsborough County school Board Member Jessica Vaughn

 Yesterday, the Hillsborough County School Board had an intense and robust conversation about our award winning equity policy. We’ve been notified by the state that we needed to review our policy, as they are concerned parts of it might be out of compliance with the new “anti-woke” legislation - specifically our purpose statement that talks about “institutional racism”. And even though we repeatedly asked for more clarity regarding how our policy might conflict with the law, we haven’t been provided with any more clarity from the state regarding any specific violations. I urge you all to watch the workshop for yourselves, when you have time.

n response to yesterday’s workshop, here is an email that I received this morning. I honestly can’t tell if this is genuine or satire.

(Possible trigger warning)

Subject: Major racism issue Hillsborough County Public Schools ignores

“Hello Hillsborough County Public Schools Board of Education members,

With all the accusations in Hillsborough County Public Schools of systemic racism against minorities (not supported by the facts) and an emphasis on “institutional racism”, there's a growing movement to have a Thank You White People Day

· White people created the very high standard of living all races in the USA enjoy

· They allowed non-Whites from all over the world to immigrate to the USA

· By 2044 Whites will no longer be the majority (Census Bureau) in the highly advanced country they created, extremely generous of them

· Many immigrants don't want to assimilate (destroys the cohesiveness and harmony of a country)

The USA was almost 90 percent White until the deceptive Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (proponents claimed it would not change demographics) flooded the country (chain migration big factor) with non-White immigrants (the USA became an economic superpower by about 1890).

White people created the government, the corporations, industries, technology, healthcare system, the banking system, the universities, made the US dollar the international currency etc.

The ubiquitous word “diversity” in the media, education and politics supports discrimination in hiring in companies, organizations, government agencies and education (especially management positions) against heterosexual White males and in many cases White females.

The ubiquitous phrase “people of color” intentionally divides society and marginalizes White people, Caucasians in one group and everybody else in another group. White is a color, White has 52 shades.

These days, there is more racism among the minority groups than from Whites to any minority group. For example, go to a Black neighborhood and tell them the Mexicans and the Vietnamese are moving in and see what happens.

Canada, Australia and many European countries, such as Sweden, Germany, Great Britain and France, are also generously allowing a vast number of non-White people to immigrate to their countries (huge amount of problems including financial and violence), perhaps they should also have a Thank You White People Day.

Are any non-White countries with an above average standard of living such as South Korea, Japan or Uruguay opening their countries to poor people of all races from all over the world? No, just White countries, yet White people are called racists, it’s absurd.

White people have sent billions of dollars to Africa and a vast amount of food and medicine and other vital items.

They also created the Affirmative Action program in the 1960’s so companies could hire Blacks based on their skin color and colleges could enroll Blacks based on their skin color.

Due to all the inaccurate information about White people (the most generous race in the world), perhaps Hillsborough County Public Schools can create a Thank You White People Day to show appreciation for their enormous generosity; they allowed millions of poor non-White immigrants (expensive) from all over the world to immigrate to their country and enjoy a high standard of living even though they're going to become a minority in the United States.

Best, Brian

How are you voting?

Fellow Stogie readers,

If you plan to vote by mail, make sure you know what rules your state and local area have set, because you do not want your ballot to go uncounted!

It might be wise to bring your mail in ballot to an approved polling place—you can find this out by visiting the website for your Secretary of State (for which ever state you live in) or Supervisor of Elections (for which ever county you live in). With hope, these websites will be easy to finagle through, and perhaps there will be a phone number listed somewhere accessible.

For Hillsborough County, Florida, here is a helpful link.

https://www.votehillsborough.org/VOTERS/Voting-Precincts

For the State of Vermont, here is a helpful link.

https://sos.vermont.gov/media/kxqnjcql/2020-vt-primary-general-tm-polling-places.xlsx

If you vote at the polls, early or on Election Day, please be sure to wear a mask, bring water and food if you think the line to vote will be long, and practice whatever social distancing that you can within reason.

Whatever you decide to do, please vote! I encourage you all to vote for the Democratic Party ticket and for progressive non partisan candidates. Thank you. Please be safe out there when you vote.

From the Heart,

Asher

Question for the Hillsborough DEC

 

Hello Tampa friends,

I have been watching Tampa Bay politics evolve and devolve over the past sixteen months. I am a bit flabbergasted by some of the conduct I have seen down there.

The Hillsborough County DEC (Democratic Executive Committee) and Democratic establishment has to answer a few questions. Why is it that we have top ranking Democrats, including DNC members and elected officials, who are endorsing Republican candidates during this election year?

Whether it is Commissioner Les Miller endorsing Republican Commissioner Sandy Murman over Democratic Commissioner Pat Kemp in a potentially county altering election; or DNC Member Alan Clendenin endorsing Republican Mitch Thrower over Democratic candidate Jessica Vaughn in a potentially county altering election; this trend is unfortunate and egregious.

My question to DEC Chairwoman Ione Townsend, FDP Committee-people Russ Patterson and Alma Gonzalez, and any others who stand for Democratic accountability — particularly in crucial elections — where has accountability gone off to wherein we have higher ranking Democrats blatantly going against electing Democrats?

The rules shouldn’t change because the Democrats are more progressive or aren’t universally “liked” ... I have made it a point to openly endorse people like Joe Biden for President and Molly Gray for Vermont Lt. Governor when neither were my initial choice. Many issues matter to me, and when it comes down to it, often times Democrats hold the better torch when compared to their Republican counterparts. There are rare exceptions, of course; I am not asking that we should always be rank and file. I do believe in being a team player, and supporting Democrats in most instances, especially in important elections which hold the balance of power on a thread.

Les Miller, Alan Clendenin, and other prominent Democrats clearly do not share that value with people like myself. My question to Hillsborough County’s DEC and other Democrats nationwide facing this same kind of problem: What should we do about it, and how far should we go to call this behavior out?

For those down there who are keeping strong, fighting the good fight, and striving to remain civil in the face of adversity, well done. Thank you, and please, let us make our predecessors proud. There is a lot to be thankful for, and a lot of good work being done by Democrats, (Greens, Libertarians, etc, even some Republicans) in the Tampa Bay Area and beyond.

From the heart,

Asher

A Little Stogie Fearmongering

Remember Ronda Storms

Tampa's PRIDE used to hold the distinction of the state's largest LGBT pride event. From 2005 to 2013, Hillsborough County enforced a ban on acknowledging, participating or promoting anything to do with gay pride events. The ban was spearheaded by then GOP County Commissioner Ronda Storms 

It wasn't repealed until we elected 
progressive democrat Kevin Beckner.
---
Do we want to go back to that?
Progressives have been making great progress with the addition of Kemp, Smith and Overman.
---
Now they have to it again!

Re-elect Pat Kemp and add Gwen Myers

Majority rules!

Hillsborough County Corporate Welfare: $15.5 Million

On July 15, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners, by a vote of 6 to 1, approved a proposal from the Tampa Sports Authority (TSA) to spend $10.4 million of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act money to implement Corona Virus safety measures at Raymond James Stadium.

The beneficiaries: the Tampa Bay Bucs, a highly profitable private company, who would be able to have more fans attend their games.

Well, we can’t have the Lightning and the Yankees (both also highly profitable private companies) feeling left out.

So early this month the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners, once again by a vote of 6 to1 (Stacy White being the only ‘no’ vote) approved a total of $4.1 million of CARES money for Amalie Arena and George M. Steinbrenner Field for safety improvements related to Corona Virus.  $2.4 million will go to Amalie Arena and $1.7 million will go to Steinbrenner Field. MORE

The total of CARES money given to professional sports franchises in Tampa is now $15.5 million.  One has to wonder how many small businesses in Hillsborough County, with legitimate and pressing needs, have been unable to get even a dime of this money.

School Board Madness

Hello and salutations!

As I watch my former home unravel in political tension and chaos, I shake my head in disappointment. The Hillsborough County School Board is a hotbed for political disaster, terrible candidates, and occasional greatness.

Take the election in District 3 for example. There we have a bonafide progressive, Jessica Vaughn, running to fill the seat against an openly conservative gentleman by the name of Mitch Thrower. It would seem that the obvious choice in this election is Jessica; she supports public education, progressive values, and ending the school to prison pipeline. Mitch, on the other hand, does not support any of these things, and represents the mediocre status quo of the Hillsborough School Board — which, in turn, represents the pungent toxicity of Tampa Bay politics. To continue supporting the diversion of public funds to private interests and accept monies from private prison groups is a bad message.

It is a shame to see former candidates endorse this kind of message. I do not know Ms. Gilmore, though I wish I understood her rationale in supporting more of the same mediocre politics for the School Board. I support Jessica Vaughn and advise you to do the same. Granted, Jessica Vaughn (a friend of mine) has been known to not get along with certain people from the more conservative corners (not necessarily, always “conservative”) of the local Democratic Party. Knowing that, and wanting to elect Democrats (or people who at least support better ideas), why would someone who is a Democrat decide to support the right wing status quo?

I have asked myself this question as it pertains to endorsements. I, for instance, endorsed Sally Harris for the District 7 primaries, even though I no longer vote or live in Tampa Bay. While I personally get along with Sally, and will always respect her decision to oust corrupt former Superintendent Mary Ellen Elia, I am not convinced that I should endorse her again for the general election. She is a Republican, true enough, though she has been engaged with some more than questionable campaign tactics, and was too lenient with a former Superintendent. Lynn Gray has been an ally of public schools, fitness in education, and (my least favorite) has been known to be friendly with the anti-trans Melissa Snively. I am not sure if I should endorse either candidate this go around; based on what would be better for the School Board, I am not certain.

District 1 is an easy one. While I do not know as much about Nadia Combs, I do know that she represents positive change on the School Board more so than Steve Cona, an anti-public school conservative. Why would Democrats support Cona over Combs? Shady business, petty rivalry, some other reason. I am curious to know. I support Nadia Combs and advise you to do the same.

District 5 is a bit tougher. While I like and respect Shake Washington, as well as many of his surrogates, I am more keen to support Tammy Shamburger. While Tammy has a history of not getting along with certain teachers, she also has a remarkable history of getting positive results! Take school lunch as an example, wherein she passed an ordinance to ensure no child would be denied a hot meal due to their financial background. She has championed racial equity in schools, financial discipline, and getting more kids in lower income areas to graduate. She is a true fighter and has done well for the School Board; she, Karen Perez, and (to an extent) Lynn Gray are the only School Board Members who represent positive growth. While I wish Shake well, I do support Tammy Shamburger for re-election and advise you to do the same.

What a mess Tampa politics has become. It has some bright sides, make no mistake. I will post more in the near future, and I apologize for my recent absence on the Stogie. I love this blog and progressive politics, in Tampa as well as my home in Bennington, Vermont. I will have news regarding my political life up here in due time. Until next time...

Stay groovy,

Asher

Kevin Beckner Before It Was Popular

For the role of Hillsborough Clerk of Court, I fully endorse Kevin Beckner. Kevin was a trailblazer of human rights long before it was popular, serving as an openly gay county commissioner in Hillsborough, he pushed for LGBTQ rights to be part of the County's protected classes long ago. I am most interested in Kevin's priorities (priorities are noticably absent on other clerk 

candidates websites):

Equal Access to the Justice System

In partnership with the Hillsborough County Bar Association, I will establish a Self-Help Center to provide high-quality legal assistance at an affordable price. Income should not be a barrier to receiving equal access to the justice system.
I will also expand offices and community outreach in underserved and minority neighborhoods.

Fairer Justice System

The Clerk of the Court is responsible for issuing summons to appear for jury duty.

The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees an individual the right to a trial by an impartial jury. That requires the services of a large number of qualified and diverse jurists.

Did you know the Clerk determines jury calls? I hadn't either.

While we have way further to go to an equitable (or an actual...) justice system, and it's not going to be solved within the Clerk office, it is important the right attitude is within the Clerk's office.

D'Angelo Angel

HELP HIM HERE

His Résumé on this blog

Unprovoked Use of Force by Tampa Police Department

Black Elected Officials of Hillsborough County Joint Statement

The recent reports of the Tampa Police Department’s unprovoked use of force against protestors peacefully exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and to freedom of speech cannot go unchecked. At least three incidents that have come to our attention.

The first occurred on the afternoon of May 30, 2020, when the Tampa Police Department reportedly used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse a peaceful gathering of protestors at Cyrus Greene Park. The second occurred on the evening of June 2, 2020, and into the early morning hours on June 3, 2020, when the Tampa Police Department used the same aggressive and dehumanizing tactics to disperse crowds of peaceful protesters in downtown Tampa. 

The third occurred on June 1, 2020, when the Tampa Police Department reportedly used force against an unarmed black man while on the grounds of Tampa General Hospital. While this last incident is unrelated to any protest, it is equally disturbing.

Let us be clear: we strongly condemn the use of force or violence by law enforcement against any protestor who peacefully exercises their rights to the freedom of assembly 
and expression.

We also condemn the use of force or violence by law enforcement against unarmed individuals whose only crime appears to be living while black.

To reiterate our recent joint statement against the rioting by those who crossed the line from civil disobedience to destruction, we maintain our united call for peace. But make no mistake: in order for our community to experience the healing that it desperately needs, all stakeholders must be
equally committed to doing their part to attain peace. This means that law enforcement must be held accountable for its actions as well.

It is time for a new era of common-sense reforms to ensure greater transparency in policing and stronger limits on the use of force.

Hence, we, the undersigned black elected officials, call on
Mayor Jane Castor and Tampa Police Department Chief Brian Dugan to end the wrongful practice of the use of force during otherwise peaceful protests immediately. We further call on Mayor Castor and Chief Dugan to provide with respect to the aforementioned incidents an
accounting of the officers’ actions, a report on what corrective action, if any, TPD has taken based on complaints about the officers’ conduct and/or feedback from the community, and an explanation to the community as to why TPD used force against protestors engaged in peaceful and lawful actions in the first place.

Further, the officers involved in the incident at
 Tampa General Hospital should be relieved of duty at this time until the investigation into their conduct is complete.

Senator Darryl Rouson,
Representative Dianne Hart
Representative Fentrice Driskell
Representative Wengay “Newt” Newton
County Commissioner Lesley “Les” Miller
City Councilman Orlando Gudes
School Board Member Tamara Shamburger

Nestor Ortiz: The Case for Sky U. White in 6 Acts

Act 1: “Sky has NEVER held political office.

”Although this is true, I believe that’s a great thing for the constituents of District 3 and the County as a whole. Sky not having previously served in public office means she’s not “stuck” to the way politics used to work in Hillsborough County and will come with a fresh perspective and new ideas. Never having held political office before also means she will not be constrained by or beholden to the old-guard politics of the past but instead will be driven by the many substantive possibilities 
moving forward.

Growing up in and around the communities found in District 3 her entire life and utilizing the resources made available to all its residents means she has first-hand knowledge on what’s working and what’s not for District 3. That kind of familiarity with the average resident will bode well for a commission that can be seen as far removed from the average (county)
 Jane and Joe.

Act 2: “She’s TOO young.”
I know our first inclination is to pick someone older (because we’ve been taught to equate older with wiser) and who may have done it before, but we are in unprecedented times. We are tackling issues that none of us have ever faced and that requires a new look at things. From increasing transit woes to the speedy gentrification of our county (most especially in District 3) and from community resilience to an unstable economy in the time of a pandemic. In the face of such challenges, someone with youthful creativity and exuberance should be seen as a benefit to the County not a detriment. With a healthy understanding of intergenerational cooperation, Sky will work tirelessly to bridge the concerns of our younger families and newer residents with the significant contributions made by the families that have left a legacy in our thriving County.
Bringing in someone younger can also help add some age balance to a significantly older county commission that may not currently reflect or understand the concerns of younger folks from a personal perspective. She would be the youngest commissioner on the Board that represents an ever-increasing landscape of younger residents growing in and moving to Hillsborough County.

Act 3: “I’ve never heard of her.”

Yeah, you probably haven’t but she has been fighting for a seat at the table since 2017 in her County-Wide race against Kimberly Overman where she did significantly better than anyone would have expected for a first time candidate with no name recognition. And when her campaign ended in second place in the five-person democratic primary, she actively championed for Commissioner Overman and helped her get into that seat.

If you've never had the chance to actually meet Sky, she is accessible, genuine, and down to earth and doesn’t exude that slick “politiciany” feeling that other candidates do. She is a nurse, the proud mom of a teenager and an active member of the community. She’s not afraid to be vocal and push back on what she sees as important to the communities she serves. There’s so much to say about Sky but the best place to check her out is on her website at skyuwhite.com.

Act 4: “Does she really represent the communities of District 3?”
So this is where it gets a little more nuanced but the immediate answer is “YES”! District 3 is broken out into several smaller communities, about 12 give or take. Each of those communities represent a certain majority demographic in terms of age, race, gender, household income, and so on. A younger-ish, educated, woman of color that is not rich and is raising a child as a single parent is very much representative of the communities found in District 3. From East Tampa to Progress Village to parts of West Tampa, North Hillsborough, University Area, Tampa Heights, Thonotosassa and all of the other communities look very much like that. She knows what it’s like to be young in this time, to be a person of color in this time, to be a woman in this time, to be a single parent in this time, to have to worry about money and bills in this time. And in this time, representation matters more 
now than ever.
It’s also important to note that Sky doesn’t see things in black and white but can effectively work with others (in the grey) to get things done that benefit the larger community. She does so every day as she sits on the non-partisan Tampa Tiger Bay Club Board as well as through her work on the Hillsborough County MPO Citizen Advisory Board (an appointment made by her once political rival, Commissioner Overman). White is also a member of the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay and the NAACP.

Act 5: “She can’t raise enough 
money to win.”

She could if people took her candidacy seriously and didn’t underestimate her. So many people have ruled her out for all the reasons mentioned throughout this article. I don’t think anyone would deny that Sky is not as politically connected as some of the other candidates. She doesn’t know all the players or have access to major campaign donors but she’s a smart and tenacious fighter. I wish local politics wasn’t about who can raise the most money especially in a district that has historically represented lower income residents, instead I wish it was about who will listen and work for every constituent in their district. I believe Sky is that person.

And why do we continue to support the shuffling of the same politicians around in new seats? We keep hearing the same names go around and around. They’re certainly not all bad but there is no guarantee that they will be better in one seat versus the one they came from. Personally, I would love to see people with resources also investing in some of the political power and promise of those up-and-coming future leaders that are going to inherit the problems we find ourselves in today.

Act 6: “Can she REALLY win?”

YES! Hillsborough County is growing and changing daily, most especially in the areas of District 3. As such Sky will do everything in her power to protect the intergenerational significance of all the communities in District 3 that are so important to who we are as a county. She sees what’s wrong with the system and will proactively work on making things better for everyone while staying squarely focused on making sure District 3 is represented on the County Commission in a real and meaningful way.

I would like to close with a quote from President Obama’s recent commencement speech:

“First, don’t be afraid. America’s gone through tough times before — slavery, civil war, famine, disease, the Great Depression and 9/11. And each time we came out stronger, usually because a new generation, young people like you, learned from past mistakes and figured out how to make things better.”

HELP HER HERE