Thursday, September 17, 2020

Bill Person On The School Board Race

Come Tuesday, November 3rd General Election Day, voters in Hillsborough County have a major opportunity to save public education, as we know it, for decades to come. In early 2020, our current school board appointed a new leader, Superintendent Addison Davis, just prior to a district shutdown due to COVID 19. This leader has restructured the entire district, from instructional delivery, to support personnel and now he is implementing across the board unit cuts, including financial paring and key personnel adjustments to affect a leaner, more efficient school district. Now is a great time to change membership on our often dysfunctional and seemingly inept school board. Let's take a critical look at the four races in districts 1,3 5 and at-large 7.

District 3: Pro-privatization and supporter of for-profit managed charter schools, Incumbent Cindy Stuart, has resigned her seat to become the newly elected Clerk of the Circuit Court. The two winners in the primary are Jessica Vaughn, an educator and businessman Mitch Thrower. These two are polar opposites. Vaughn is a real people person with a  strong progressive stance toward improving public education for ALL students and instructional staff. She is opposed to vouchers, for-profit managed charter schools and privatization of public education.Thrower is supported by the private sector, which includes big bucks from the corporate world of for-profit charter schools, vouchers and privatization. He is funded by private sector friends and helpers in Tallahassee and developers and the like in our county. Thrower is another version of District 1 incumbent,Steve Cona III.

District 1 incumbent is a businessman, anti-union board member, promoter of for-profit managed charter schools,vouchers and Steve Cona, along with Stuart pressed hard in the past to privatize nearly 1500 district school custodians by moving to a contractor bid process for custodial services. He is being challenged by former teacher and educational business woman, Nadia Combs, a highly respected teacher and staff member previously employed by the school system. Combs dominated Cona in the primary election and she has a great chance to unseat this two-year incumbent who is supported by Mean-Girl Cindy Stuart and Mean-Girl Susan Valdes, a former school board member and current Florida State Representative. Valdes is also being challenged for re-election by Hillsborough classroom teacher, NPA, Laurie Rodriguez-Person and a Trump Republican supporter, Angle Urbina, in the general election.

District 5: This is an extremely heated race in the central Tampa/Temple Terrace/Seminole Heights areas between incumbent Tamara Shamburger and retired district Area Superintendent Henry "Shake" Washington. Neither have seemed greatly opposed to either Vouchers or for-profit managed Charter schools. Shamburger was initally opposed to the appointment of Superintendent Davis while Washington's campaign staff appears to be fully supportive of both Cona and Davis, Both Washington and his campaign staff and Superintendent Davis have stated publicly, "Charter Schools are here to Stay!" Political local office holder incumbents appear to lean in support of Shamburger but this race has proven to be a real show! Here, sparks really fly all the way to November.

District 7, at-large, county wide seat: This race is between incumbent and former teacher Lynn Gray and former school board member and former school district employee and private school owner Sally Harris. Gray has taught at many Hillsborough schools and also at Jesuit High School. She has the ear and support of the unions and school district employees. She is opposed to for-profit managed charter schools, generally, along with an aversion to vouchers and privatization. As a board member, she has been unafraid to "be an Army of One" pressing hard for kids, teachers and school communities. Harris was the fourth-wheel of the infamous "Mean Girls Four" along with long-gone, failed politican April Griffin, Susan Valdes and now Cindy Stuart. Harris lost her seat in 2018 to new board member and educator, Dr. Stacy Hahn, in South Tampa/South County/ South Shore areas.

As a three-time candidate, unsuccessful at that, for School Board District one in 2016, 2018 and in 2020 and as a 35 year teacher, principal, director and general director, I recommend you support and elect: Jessica Vaughn, Nadia Combs, Lynn Gray and Henry "Shake" Washington and help save our 
beloved school district.  Bill Person

Help The Crowbar - Ybor City


Tampa Dems Devoid of Ideology

"Democrats with NO POLITICAL IDEOLOGY whose ENDORSEMENTS 
CAN BE BOUGHT!!!"
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Seeking Sanctuary?
Our Revolution is a ideological group,
not a political party group.
Political parties shift,
they do not. Join them HERE
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What Stogie Had For Lunch

Pu Pu Pplatter & Fried Rice
New China - 3801 W Gandy Blvd
(813) 837-6865


Trump/DeSantis Bromance Is Over

DeSantis has watched his approval ratings tumble through the coronavirus pandemic, and that growing unpopularity could cost President Donald Trump re-election.
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“Everybody in the White House besides the president can’t stand Ron anymore because they realize, and now I think the president is realizing, that he made Ron DeSantis, 
and Ron isn’t really doing anything to 
help him win Florida.”  HERE

Cycling Through Tampa

Tampa Bay's Small Music Venues Struggle

Most local music venues have been shut down for six months and as long as they can't welcome back large crowds, many are staying closed. Owners are pleading for financial help from all levels of government in the hopes that they can ward off permanent closure. HERE

Pro Covid Rally At Florida Target

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera's Great Tour at Iron Workers Local 397




I am pushing for the City of Tampa to promote the use of apprenticeships in our contracting process. Apprenticeships in areas like iron work, welding, carpentry and electrical work, promote a pathway to economic security. Want to help fight the school to prison pipeline and promote a pipeline to the middle class for our young people? Then invest in these apprenticeship programs.
Sometime in November
City Legal will be coming back with 
a draft ordinance.

 Do what you can to let the City know how you feel about this program. In this time especially, we need to do all that we can to promote a pathway to economic security for those historically left behind.

PhotoCredit: Brannon Jordan lazo

Ybor Chickens Society: Weekly Sweep-n-Sleep

Friday at 6:30 PM INFO

MaskUP St. Pete

16 year old siblings, Ella and Jaeden, have founded a nonprofit company, MaskUP St. Pete, during quarantine. Together they are creating and working locally to manufacture 100% cotton face masks that are not only stylish but comfortable to wear. 
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With many patterns available and additional patterns in production, you can show your individuality while protecting those around you. Let's work together to keep each other and 
our community safe.
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VISIT THEM HERE


Congratulations Candy Lowe


Thank you, George Edgecomb Bar Association. 
I am honored to receive the 
2020 Francisco Rodriguez Award 
outstanding service to the community. 
Pressing forward together during these challenging times.

Conspiracy Theories Circulating Throughout South Florida's Hispanic Communities

Congratulations Florida Representative Ben Diamond

"2020 People First" Report Card
Florida state legislators who voted to put people first 
instead of powerful special interests


Ybor bar owners warn customers to ‘play by the rules or they’ll shut us down

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Tampa Berner Under Attack

By her own party!

 Jessica Vaughn is running for 

Hillsborough County School Board


Tampa Dem Alan Clendenin donated 

to her GOP opponent. HERE


Her opponent in the primary 

Alexandra Gilmore is endorsing 

her GOP opponent. HERE


Her other opponent in the primary 
Jennifer Hill is also endorsing him

HELP HER HERE

LOCAL BERNERS VOLUNTEER

Fun Spots - Ybor City


Congratulations Florida Representative Jennifer Webb

"2020 People First" Report Card
Florida state legislators who voted to put people first 
instead of powerful special interests


HELP HER HERE

A walk through Ybor City


Songs For Kathy Lewis! Campaign Kick-Off and Fundraiser

"I know how to solve problems. I know how to win against unwinnable odds. I know how to get things done in a fearless and caring way. Please join me for this special online campaign kick-off September 18!" Kathy Lewis

Join Kathy Lewis on FB Live for her campaign kick-off and fundraiser,
“Songs for Kathy!”
September 18, 2020, at 7 p.m. HERE
Guest speaker
Florida Senator Annette Taddeo

Florida Latinos Swamped by Right Wing Propaganda

Wild disinforSmation is inundating Spanish-speaking residents of South Florida ahead of Election Day, clogging their WhatsApp chats, Facebook feeds and even radio airwaves at a saturation level that threatens to shape the outcome in the nation’s biggest and most closely contested swing state. HERE