Tacos
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Stogie's letter to the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART)
The whole purpose of public transportation is to serve the public and your fare changes not only do not serve the public but they make it impossible for a large portion of your patrons, the working poor, to use your services. I am speaking for them. These are people who can not maintain a bank account or have the internet access needed to put funds into a Flamingo card and who do not live close enough to a facility that accepts money for a Flamingo card. Many of them have to transfer two or more times to get to work and back home every day and they have to beg for or borrow the money one dollar at a time to pay the fares. If they need $8 or more for those transfers, anything short of that $8 does them no good at all. It means they lose their jobs. Even borrowing enough to pay for a $4 day pass, something HART no longer accepts, is often difficult but certainly more possible than paying a separate $2 fare each time they have to transfer to a different bus. You HAVE to realize that many of your patrons live by a thread and the changes you have made to your fare system do them a great disservice. I am a staunch advocate for public transportation who relies solely on the HART bus system. I have had many discussions with other HART passengers and I know that doing away with day passes is a great concern for many of them. My comments here are not derived from conjecture but from first hand knowledge. By my own personal observations while riding the Hart buses every day a great many of your riders utilize the day passes and do not approve of your doing away with them. Your fare system worked and to change it only because it may be more convenient for you to no longer have to process those day passes is a horribly misguided idea. It would mean you are making the changes to benefit yourselves at the expensive of those who rely most on your service. You MUST go back to your previous fare system if you expect to remain what can be considered public transportation. Sure, there are charitable organizations who can help SOME of those working poor but your fare changes have only placed one more hurdle in their way.
I am not only an advocate for public transportation but I am also a writer for a local internet news service here in the Tampa Bay area. I have the means to broadcast this message to the public in this area and I intend to do just that.
Btw, the link you have posted on many of your bus stops that patrons are to use to submit comments about your fare changes is to a web page that does not exist.
USF students fight back against Trump’s DEI, FAFSA policies
Students at the University of South Florida (USF) are taking a stand against President Trump’s recent legislation.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) is rallying near the Tampa campus on Wednesday to protest what they call “Trump’s agenda.” The group, which advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), opposes the president’s policies on DEI programs and LGBTQIA rights.
GOP lawmakers urge Trump to respect federal court rulings
Senate Republicans are urging President Trump to respect the rulings of federal judges who have blocked his executive actions to freeze spending federal grants and loans, dismantle the U.S. Agency on International Development (USAID) and ban birthright citizenship.
GOP lawmakers have been reluctant to criticize Trump’s actions, fearing it could make them targets for primary challenges next year. But they are growing increasingly worried about the nation plunging into a constitutional crisis if Trump ignores court orders halting his most aggressive actions.
This is not Gaza, this is Jenin
This is not Gaza, this is Jenin moments ago as the Israeli army continues its offensive on the West Bank dubbing it "Operation Wall."
Dozens of civilians are killed, including children (as young as 2 years and 9 years old).
This situation is terrifying. Even those killed in Jenin are not allowed to be buried, they've been in the refrigerators for more than a week as the army closes off the cemetery.
“In our profession as war journalists we are required to wear bullet-proof vests with the PRESS insignia on them, and our cars are all also marked with 'PRESS/TV.'
It’s to be visible to armed groups, whether it’s the Israeli military or Palestinian resistance groups, that we are PRESS. With that, they’re all supposed to ensure our safety & not target us.
But in Palestine, being press means being a target. The gear which is meant to protect us has become a marker to attack us.
When the Israeli army is not around -even if I’m around Palestinian fighters- I actually don’t need my gear at all.
In fact, fighters are eager to speak with us- often commending our “bravery” to dare go by them because the Israeli military does not want their stories out.
It is only when Israeli army jets, drones, & soldiers are in the skies/ground do I find us- local and internationals- wearing our gear.
The flack jacket can’t protect me from a drone strike, a bullet to the neck, to the thigh, to the shoulder.”
American-born Palestinian writer, journalist, blogger, researcher, and commentator.
Hillsborough County Democratic Party: Concern Regarding Restriction of Public Discussion
Venessa Lester
Vanessa Lester and the Steering Committee
Hillsborough County Democratic Party
CC: Nikki Fried, Chairwoman, Florida Democratic Party
Concern Regarding Restriction of Public Discussion on Official Social Media Channels
Dear Ms. Lester and Members of the Steering Committee,
I am writing to formally express concern regarding the restriction of public discussion and comments on the official social media channels of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party. It has come to my attention that comments and engagement have been blocked on these platforms, raising potential legal concerns under First Amendment protections if these platforms are being utilized as public forums in coordination with government officials or public entities.
As established in Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump, government officials and entities cannot restrict public discourse in a digital public forum by blocking comments or engagement. If the Hillsborough County Democratic Party’s official social media accounts are operated in collaboration with public officials or are used for official government-related communication, preventing public participation could constitute viewpoint discrimination and an infringement upon free speech rights.
Given the Democratic Party’s commitment to open dialogue and civic engagement, I respectfully request clarification regarding the moderation policies governing these social media platforms and the legal basis for limiting public discussion.
Transparency in digital engagement is essential to maintaining public trust and ensuring fair access to political discourse.
I request a formal response addressing this concern no later than 10 business days from the date of this lette. If no response is received, I will explore further options to ensure that public discussion is not improperly restricted.
I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Carolina Ampudia, M.D.
Past President DPCF
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
PROTEST THE TRUMP AGENDA
PROTEST THE TRUMP AGENDA
MONDAY FEB 17th - PRESIDENTS DAY
TAMPA CITY HALL @ 3PM
* note, if you get off work between 4-5, protest will still be going on. it went until around 7:30ish last week 🫶
Join us & fellow groups/activists as we protest the trump agenda along with 50 other states on another mass day of protesting.
As always, stay peaceful, stay vigilant and stay safe. Bring signs/posters, wear comfortable shoes and weather appropriate clothing. Know your florida protesting rights 🤟
Stogie Athlete Of The Week: Jordan Zade, Tampa Bay Sun FC #37
Jordan is a graduating player out of the University of Nebraska. In her four years with the Cornhuskers, Jordan made 74 appearances and had 21 goal contributions as a defender. At just 21-years-old, Jordan is a top collegiate player. Jordan signed her first professional contract with Tampa Bay Sun FC in the USL Super League.
Nationality: American
Club: Tampa Bay Sun FC
Position: (RB) Right Fullback, (LB) Left Fullback
Red, White and Blue Land
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) released the following statement today after introducing a bill authorizing President Trump to acquire Greenland and renaming it Red, White, and Blueland:
“America is back and will soon be bigger than ever with the addition of Red, White, and Blueland. President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal.” here
Trump issues Gaza ceasefire ultimatum to Hamas as he warns 'all hell is going to break out' if hostages not returned
Donald Trump says the Gaza ceasefire should be cancelled if all remaining Israeli hostages are not returned by noon on Saturday - as he warned Hamas that "all hell is going to break out".
He also said Palestinians would not have the right to return under his plan for US "ownership" of Gaza - contradicting officials in his administration who said they would be relocated temporarily.
27 religious groups sue Trump administration to protect houses of worship from immigration arrests
More than two-dozen Christian and Jewish groups representing millions of Americans — ranging from the Episcopal Church and the Union for Reform Judaism to the Mennonites and Unitarian Universalists — filed a federal court lawsuit Tuesday challenging a Trump administration move giving immigration agents more leeway to make arrests at houses of worship.....MORE
Tracking the U.S. Congress (Feb 10, 2025): The Funding Two-Step and Possibly More Cabinet Confimations
Budget Reconciliation And Appropriations
Much of the work is happening behind the scenes, with the two major focuses of work being Budget reconciliation and Appropriations.
Budget Reconciliation: a two-step process by which the House and Senate coordinate a legislative package that can address spending, revenue, and the debt limit.
Appropriations: another thorny issue. Congress should have enacted spending bills for Fiscal Year 2025, which began October 1, 2024, but instead they passed a Continuing Resolution (often called a “CR”).
The Major Legislative Action In Congress This Week Are Votes On Trump’s Cabinet Nominees
It is likely that we will see votes on Tulsi Gabbard to serve as director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy to lead Health and Human Services. We also may see votes on Howard Lutnick to serve as head of the Department of Commerce, Brooke Rollings as secretary of Agriculture, and Kelly Loeller as head of the Small Business Administration.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Letters from an American: February 9, 2025
On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order “protecting Second Amendment rights.” The order calls for Attorney General Pam Bondi to examine all gun regulations in the U.S. to make sure they don’t infringe on any citizen’s right to bear arms. The executive order says that the Second Amendment “is foundational to maintaining all other rights held by Americans.”
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Democratic rep says Trump’s Gaza takeover idea is ‘ludicrous’
USF Bulls Lifted The Curtain On Women’s Lacrosse And Put On Quite A Show
Sofia Chepenik won the opening draw, the Bulls went on the attack and Julianna George carved out her place in USF athletic history by scoring the first goal in the first lacrosse match.
George’s historic marker, all of 48 seconds in, was the first of many memorable moments in Friday evening’s 19-6 win over Kennesaw State at an energized Corbett Stadium.
Weaving a fascination for lace
A delicate jewel among textiles, lace is an elegant and deceptively simple creation whose appeal has been spun for centuries. Correspondent Lee Cowan teases the threads of the misunderstood history of lace, and talks with some of the hundreds of lacemakers who shared their craft at the annual convention of the International Organization of Lace, Inc.
Tampa Bay Sun FC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC 02/08/2025
Youtube Video (7:07)
Author's Video (6:44)
The Auther
DARK GOTHIC MAGA: How Tech Billionaires Plan to Destroy America
29min51sec
A look into how the tech leaders may be using the new administration to achieve their own agenda. Looking specifically at Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Marc Andressen, Ben Horotwitz, Brian Armstrong, and David Sacks as well as their relationship with figures like JD Vance, Balaji Srinivasan, and Curtis Yarvin. There is a focused discussion on how a shaping of the government might take place based on convergences between the ideas of Yarvin, who influences the tech libertarian right, and Project 2025, who have authored a playbook exclusively for President Trump to help with his transition to power.
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