I wasn’t the only one that thought something smelled funny about this Cone Ranch deal, a recent proposal by
Commissioner Ken “Half Truth” Hagan
(to subdivide and sell public land to private investors) and in the process serve up millions to Republican donors for brokering the deal..........here
These words were written in 2004. I see the same things happening now that have happened the last few years in our party. It angers me and it saddens me. Those who spoke truth are seldom heard, and those who push a rather pandering sort of middle ground get all the attention...........madfloridian
The federal probe of former Hillsborough Elections Supervisor Buddy Johnson led agents two months ago to the chic, South Tampa offices of Schifino Lee Advertising & Branding.......here The contract signed by Johnson and one of the firm's presidents, Ben Lee, limited the firm to no more than $40,000 of work. Yet the company billed taxpayers $643,016
The Club for Growth, the bane of Republican moderates, takes another shot at Florida GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, this time nominating him for its May "Comrade of the Month" Award........here
Is Rose Ferlita, current Hillsborough County Commissioner, and maybe a Tampa Mayoral candidate of the future, an anti-railer trying to sneak under the wire and gain Tampa's top spot, potentially undoing everything the current Mayor Pam has worked so hard for?...........here
Congratulations to the residents of FishHawk Ranch, on becoming the first green certified community in Hillsborough County and the largest in the Tampa Bay area...........here
A price tag is now emerging for what last year's collapse of investment giant Lehman Brothers could cost the state of Florida: more than $1 billion. The losses could make Florida and its citizens among the biggest casualties in the biggest bankruptcy ever.........more
The liquor will continue to flow at a bar near the University of Tampa despite an effort by school officials to stop the cocktails. A 6-0 vote Thursday by the Tampa City Council upheld a city board's decision to allow the Retreat to keep dispensing hard liquor..........here
Eighty-two years ago, a Spanish immigrant who once worked cutting sugar cane and taught himself English with a phonograph opened the doors to a restaurant in Tampa.........here
Is President Barack Obama the anti-Christ? That's the question the Rev. Ken Link will answer Sunday during his sermon at Clearwater's Lakeview Baptist Church..........more
Hillsborough County Animal Services needs volunteers at its shelter, 440 N Falkenburg Road, Tampa. Duties include walking, bathing and grooming pets; escorting adopters to kennels; taking pictures; assisting veterinarians.........more
In an effort to show they are feeling the pain of county employees facing layoffs and pay cuts, commissioners voted 5-0, with two members absent, to cut their own car allowances by more than half...........here Will someone please clone Kevin Becker?........Tom from St. Petersburg
To mention all the usual benefits of buying local, like keeping money in the hands of the farmers, reducing petroleum waste from production and transportation, and buying meat that’s actually fresh.........here
St. Pete Pride organizer David Schauer said Gibbons was trying to avoid taking a firm stance on various issues important to the gay community to avoid controversy. "He is trying to walk a fine line between being a Republican and not wanting to upset his base, and his base is not really comfortable with gay constituencies,".............here
No ceremonial photo-op for this signing, probably because nobody wants to see the Governor bending over for special interests but in my opinion that is exactly what he did by signing SB 360. This bill guts Florida’s growth management laws (yes, we had some) and everyone but special interests and their politicians are against it..........here
It's important to note that had the driver stopped that February night, probably no charges would have been filed. But leaving the scene of a deadly crash is a serious felony. The detective decided he couldn't put a 16-year-old cheerleader named Jordan Valdez at the wheel of the Nissan Murano believed to have hit Sjostrom. He gave the teenager a ticket and a stern lecture at her lawyer's office as she cried. Then the case was administratively closed...........more
The craigslist.com ad posted Friday night featured an 18-month-old little girl, for sale. The mother wrote she didn't have time to take care of the child, so she wanted to find her a good family and would even sign a bill of sale........here
Because Creative Loafing Political Editor Wayne Garcia would be far too modest to tell you himself, I’m reporting that this here blog, “The Political Whore,” won first place in the category of Blog-Affiliated last night in the Sunshine State Awards...........here