The Ybor City Stogie

Thursday, March 30, 2017

March and Vigil for Human Rights from Publix to Wendy's In Tampa

wendy's on Kennedy Blvd.

Publix - Hyde Park

The Incredible Sparkle-Pony

John, Wayne and Susan

Ashley

Jaime

Marc

Roger

David

Kelly

Chris and Norwood

Alvaro

Gonzo

Michael

Kofi

more

The Mel Sembler Medical Marijuana Act

The Florida House just held its first vote on legislation to implement Amendment 2 the way Mel Sembler, Calvina Fay and the Drug Free America Foundation see fit. The folks who spent 4 years and over $10 million dollars to deny sick and suffering Floridians access to medical marijuana is now helping draft the language to implement the law that over 71% of us approved.

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Ben Pollara was at the committee meeting in Tallahassee yesterday where the bill was being heard. When it came time for public comment, the first person to stand up was Calvina Fay, the longtime head of the Drug Free America Foundation. She expressed her support for the bill, thanked the sponsor for taking so many of her recommendations, and suggested it could be a model for legislation across the country.

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Folks, this bill is bad. If passed, it would basically cancel out the vote we had last fall, if not make the situation worse.

Here's just some of what HB 1397 proposes:

Bans smoking, vaporizing and eating medical marijuana.
Patients have to wait 90 days to certify.
Patients must recertify every 90 days.
Creates numerous, new criminal penalties for even minor violations.
Patients must sign an "informed consent" document warning them of all the dangers of marijuana use and reminding them it is federally illegal.

This IS NOT what we voted for. This WILL NOT help patients. This IS NOT what the constitution says.

Help Florida for Care fight back today. We need your support to educate members of the legislature so that we can actually pass meaningful implementing legislation. here

2003 Florida Law Prohibits Local Mmunicipality From Establishing A Minimum-Wage Law

The City of Miami Beach lost the first round of a battle to raise the minimum living wage to $13.31 an hour. Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Peter R. Lopez ruled the ordinance was not valid under the 2003 Florida law, which prohibits any local municipality from establishing a minimum-wage law. here

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Mayor Philip Levine vows he will fight back, possibly with a constitutional amendment to get the law through.

Floridians Working For Trump

Hillsborough GOP Chairwoman

Deborah Cox Roush

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Rick Scott's former general counsel and jobs chief

Jesse Panuccio

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Former senior adviser to Rick Scott

Mary Anne Carter

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Others

Wilbur Ross

Ben Carson

Dean Alexander Acosta

Caroline Wiles

here

Florida INC. Approves FPL Hand Job

A House committee overlooked opposition by residential and commercial utility customers Tuesday and approved a proposal sought by Florida Power & Light to allow the company to expand its rate base by charging customers for investments in natural gas fracking operations in other states. here

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The bill, HB 1043 is by Florida GOP

Rep. Jason Brodeur of Sanford.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Help Becky Killik Come Home

Help Becky Killik, native Tampanian and one of Tampas absolute BEST organizers, return home and set up camp. She's always there for her community, let's return the favor!!! here

FPL Customers About To Take It Deep

The Florida House Subcommittee on Energy and Utilities on Tuesday will hear the proposal sought by Florida Power & Light to allow the company to expand its rate base by charging customers for investments in natural gas fracking operations in other states. here

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If the bill is approved, It would be the first time in the nation that a utility company would be allowed to shift the risk of an exploratory drilling to customers, instead of shareholders, without determining whether the investment is prudent.

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: Richard Corcoran

Blurring the lines between his role as an up-and-coming Republican legislator and his job as an attorney, the law firm of House Speaker Richard Corcoran once charged the state for a meeting with Corcoran in his capacity as a lawmaker. here

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

The Stogie Gets To Eva

I have an old friend who I been preaching my environmental causes to for years.
I never thought she was listening.

Then the other day I went over to visit and saw this.

Great job Eva!

Trump Tuesday In Tampa

Kennedy Boulevard and Dale Mabry Highway

And of course the Trump Comemierda

Monday, March 27, 2017

Big Cock Memorial in Ybor City

Tampa Paparazzi

Cliff

From Liverpool, UK

Watching his beloved soccer club Everton.

Rick Scott Among The Losers

Florida’s maverick Republican governor has spent years decrying the Affordable Care Act. And ever since his pal Donald Trump was elected president in November, Scott has paid several visits to Washington hoping to convince Congress to repeal and replace Obamacare. here

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“I want a repeal as quickly as (they) can get it done. Day one would be nice for me.”
Rick Scott

State Ethics Investigation Into Sandy Murman, Ken Hagan And Bob Buckhorn

The Florida Commission on Ethics is interviewing the three local officials alleged to have steered a $1.35 million Go Hillsborough contract to the client of a politically connected public relations consultant.

Investigators interviewed Hillsborough County commissioners Ken Hagan and Sandy Murman last week in Tallahassee. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will meet with the ethics commission while in the state capital Monday and Tuesday. here
And here