Tampa Comes In 98th

The recession is hurting U.S. cities at "radically varying levels," which will lead to an uneven economic recovery, according to a new study by the Brookings Institution.......here
Via....Tim In Tampa

Hillsborough County Adminstrator Pat Bean

I had my own concerns with two of her minions getting these raises. Lucia Garsys is listed in the Times article as a “former planner,” yet she makes even more money than the head of The Planning Commission. How can Bean justify this, and more importantly how can Commissioners let her get away with this? Especially with elections nearing?........Kevin Beckner

Confiscated Yorkies Up For Adoption

Two dozen Yorkshire Terriers will go up for adoption Thursday at Hillsborough Animal Services. The dogs were confiscated from a suspected puppy mill being run by a mother and son out of two locations in Seffner and Tampa..........here

Deputy Lorrie Fluker

88.5 WMNF 2ND ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

In keeping with the growing worldwide celebration of Juneteenth, WMNF is, in its second year, embarking on pre-empting its regular broadcast to provide a full day of African American programming on Friday, June 19, 2009 commencing at 4:00 AM until 6:00 AM on Saturday, June 20, 2009..........here

Homeless In Town N' Country

Tampa

Hillsborough Ave And Countryway Blvd

Under Surveillance

The Cone Ranch Deal In Hillsborough County

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

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Club

$6.95..........At Pop And Sons, 4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa

Eat Local

Closet Obama Marine

In Oldsmar

Democrats, In Pursuit Of Big Dollars

Have Neglected The People We're There To Serve.

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

Buddy Johnson And Ben Lee's Ad Campaign

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

Cindy Sheehan In St. Pete

Nova 535 Art Lounge
535 9th St. N.
St Petersburg

click

Charlie Crist

Comrade of the Month

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

via.....FPC

Wingnut In Spring Hill

here

What Stogie Had For Dinner

Chopped Steak

With Baked Potato, Green Beans And A Salad

$8.95..........At 3 Coins, In Seminole Heights

Eat Local

Redneck Birdfeeder

Land O' Lakes

Homeless

In New Port Richey

Friends Of Stogie

At Baba Louies In Tampa

Tampa Bay Community Gardener

Lisa J. Montelione

Seminole Heights

here

Sheldon Road And Gunn Highway

Under Surveillance

Is Republican Rose Ferlita Anti-Rail?

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

FishHawk Ranch First Green Community in Tampa Bay

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

Both Sides Of Abortion Co-Exist In Tampa

When a nonprofit pregnancy center decided to expand in North Tampa, it found the perfect location: next door to an abortion clinic........more

Councilwoman Mary Mulhern supports the Employee Free Choice Act

Ybor City By The Tracks

ZHONGHETING

Jeb Bush And Lehman Brothers

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 Retreat Prevails In Battle With University of Tampa

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

Recalling Tampa's Valencia Garden Restaurant

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

The Urban Cafe In New Tampa

The State Theatre: Tampa Bay's Hippest Concert Venue

here

Clearwater's Lakeview Baptist Church

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

Cool Job For Local Pet Lovers

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

Less Gas Money For Hillsborough County Commissioners

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

What Stogie Had For Dinner

Corned Beef And Cabbage

With A Salad

$8.95...........At 3 Coins, Seminole Heights

Green In Ybor City

Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Church

Stogie's Favorite Beer Has A Blog

here
Drink Local

Where To Buy Pork In Tampa Bay

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

Finca Vicmari

Why Stogie Is A Liberal!

Sunset Over Tampa Bay

Our Vanilla Life

Toll-Free Number to Find Charlie Crist

1-800-403-2195

Via.....FPC

Republican Deveron Gibbons To Skip St. Pete Pride Forum

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

Charlie Crist Bends Over For Special Interests

And Floridians Get Screwed

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

Charlie Crist's Reputation

What about Missy?

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