The Ybor City Stogie

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Sky White at The Fly

Sky U. White

Democrat for Hillsborough County Commission

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Help her here

These guys, the Charter Review Commission were about to examine the city’s charter to determine if our city charter needs to be changed to make term limits in Tampa a law. They asked for public input and ideas.

5:30 PM What's wrong with this picture?

Local activist D'Angelo Amore

did speak up!

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here

“We in America do not have government by the majority.

We have government by the majority who participate.”

Thomas Jefferson

The Florida Democratic Party Racism and Suppression of Progressives

The 1964 Civil Rights Act—the racists that lead the Florida Democratic Party might want to read it.

If the Florida Democratic Party doesn’t clean up its act—and soon—it might as well gird for a November calamity.

The Blue Wave that pundits expect nationally could amount to a trickle in the Sunshine State. This in spite of Democrats holding a registration edge, albeit a narrow one.

Corporatist Democrats have controlled the party for decades. The end result: getting pounded by Republicans in statewide races and ceding both houses of the state legislature by large majorities.

The arrogant chairwoman of the state party, Terrie Rizzo, continues to foster racism while her cohorts in power attempt to suppress dissent. Rizzo and her gang’s main goal is to maintain party power, collect money from corporatists, and stifle minorities and the progressive wing.

The latest: a proposed confidentiality clause that would essentially protect sexual abusers and racists.

Resentment over Rizzo’s inaction in excommunicating racists and her encouragement of suppression is boiling over in Duval County. There, unhappy Democrats have taken to barraging social media with their discontent over the Rizzo regime and local committeewoman
Lisa King.

Jimmy Deininger, one of the most vocal critics, has bombarded Facebook with lengthy discourses accusing local and state leaders of failing to eradicate racism from the state committee.

“Because the Florida Democratic Party refused to address multiple requests concerning the validity of the ‘Lisa King confidentiality’ bylaw clause Kimberly Love and I were forced to file a official grievance to FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo via United States Postal Service certified mail,” Deininger stated.

The “confidentiality” clause was introduced after John Parker, King’s husband, was forced to resign after Politico Florida and other news outlets exposed his racist statements.

The confidentiality clause would, in effect, protect abusers and muzzle the voices of complainants from seeking their first amendment rights, according to Deininger.

Kimberly Doctor, a nurse (no kidding), expressed deep concern that the confidentiality clause would protect sexual abusers. Her letter appears below:

“If the FDP and Party leaders around this state refuse to hear the many calls from members and elected officials like Reggie Brown calling for Chair King’s resignation and a total restructuring of DCDEC leadership they should expect multiple grievances exposing further racism, corruption, and collusion in this Party,” Deininger warned.

Duval County isn’t the only region dissatisfied with Rizzo’s leadership. Introduced at a Democratic gala in Hillsborough County last Saturday, Rizzo’s reception was something short of a golf clap. Activists on the county Democratic Executive Committee oppose the weighted voting that gives Rizzo’s Politburo disproportionate representation and influence.

The state Democratic apparatus has always been slow to address racism within its ranks. Former Democratic state party chairman Stephen Bittel made disparaging remarks about black legislators at a major party fundraiser last June 17. He apologized and then the Florida Democratic Party carried on as usual.

Five months later Bittel resigned in the face of sexual harassment allegations by six women. A party leader exhibiting racism didn’t qualify as a capital offense in the eyes of his minions.

Condo commando Rizzo hasn’t made any racist remarks publicly but condoning bigotry amounts to a transgression of equal proportions.

By Jim Bleyer
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"I guess the FDP thinks it’s just A-Okay to put a stop to #MeToo. Excuse me? I guess it also believes #BlackLivesMatter is NOT true, but that just proves how wrong the FDP is on BOTH counts. Does the FDP REALLY want to kill the Blue Wave? Is it THAT much of a powermonger that it can’t see how it’s acting JUST like the horrors in the WH?!" Susan Lee

Florida GOP Mayor Susan Haynie Busted

Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie spent two and a half hours in the Palm Beach County Jail.

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She was charged with four felonies
and three misdemeanors — including official misconduct, perjury and corrupt
misuse of office.

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here

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Coffee with R. David Walker

Imagine a political candidate solely interested in conserving our natural resources and protecting our state’s environment in order to ensure its strong economy. I know, it sounds incredibly far-fetched. That is, until you meet Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture, R. David Walker.

Walker is a 5^th generation Floridian from Plant City with a passion for protecting Florida’s natural resources. His strong history of conservation, coupled with his environmental background, make him the ideal candidate for Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture. As President of the South Florida Audubon Society, R. David Walker worked to foster conservation through local and regional environmental advocacy. He also sits on the Everglades Regional Conservation Committee, and he is the Vice President of the Broward Chapter of the Democratic Environmental Caucus.

R. David Walker is a new generation of progressive Florida leaders committed to environmental stewardship and preservation. His love for our state and its natural resources, along with his desire to protect consumers, make Walker the perfect candidate for Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture.

Reclaiming My Mind Episode 05: What Do You Think the Word Progressive Means?

Host, Jessica Vaughn (President of Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay) talks to Susan Smith (President of the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida).

A Conversation about Marijuana with Chris Cano and Joe Redner in Seminole Heights

Hear about the history of cannabis prohibition and legalization
from Chris Cano, Executive Director
of Central Florida NORML.

Also, Tampa businessman and progressive candidate Joe Redner will be talking about his recent court victory that allows him to grow his own marijuana and his efforts starting a cannabis business.
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Hosted by
Democratic Progressive Caucus of Tampa Bay
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info

Tampa Paparazzi

Syd and Kara

R. David Walker for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture

Florida is at a crossroad. Republicans are in power for over 20 years and nothing has been done to protect our environment, our public land, or our water. Our beach is given away to developers and special interest, and we have pollution of our water system. This has to stop and this year is our best chance for change.

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My Republican opponents have the NRA, the fossil fuel industry, developers, and other special interest, but I have you and other concerned citizens who want change.

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Help him here

Tampa Hoods

Downtown

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Hang Out With Sky White In Downtown Tampa

Tomorrow, April 25 at 5:30 PM

At The Fly Bar

info

Dine With The Hillsborough County GOP In Tampa

The dinner, described by Hillsborough County Republican Party Chairman Jim Waurishukmost as the “most lavish and exciting annual Republican political event in Hillsborough County.

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With special guest

Pam Bondi and Rick Scott

Dennis Ross, Gus Bilirakis and Vern Buchanan
will also be there.

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But the speakers list is just the warmup. The highlight of the annual event is a raffle — and this year, the prize is a Colt pistol valued at $949.

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here

Sandy Murman and Gerry Mander

"The problem in Hillsborough is not the quantity of commissioners but the quality." here

Local Treasure Olivia Babis Needs Our Help!

She is running against Republican Rep.
Joe Gruters for the District 23 seat.

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Olivia Babis is a third generation Floridian. She was born and raised in Lakeland where she graduated from George Jenkins High School. Olivia was drawn toward public service at a young age. Having been born with a physical disability, she frequently had to advocate for herself. She incorporated those experiences into her career and made building a more equitable society
her passion.

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You can help her here

Andrew Gillum: Opportunity

Monday, April 23, 2018

Tampa's Little Secret

A long time ago Scott Street was in the middle of Tampa's Central Avenue District until Interstates 4 and 275 (Malfunction Junction) came along. It was the core of the city's African American community. Today Central Park Village public housing is gone and it is being replaced by new housing developments. But this beautiful

little church is still there.

I spoke to Pastor Frank Williams Jr. and he told me his church is protected, no one tears it down unless he wants it tore down.

Today it is both a political statement

And a treasure trove of Tampa history

here

Tampa Hoods

Seminole Heights

Mayor Andrew Gillum Backs Marijuana Legalization to Boost State

The only one of the candidates for
Florida governor that does.

Ybor City Homeless

Kristen

Sunday, April 22, 2018

I Am Now A Democrat

Only took me 42 years!

Please no hate mail or comments. The blog stays as is. This is just temporary so that I can vote for Andrew Gillum and Tamika Lyles. Hopefully by 2020 Florida will be an open primary state and I won't have to do it again to vote for Bernie.

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I registered to vote in 1976 as an Independent (Now NPA). I never thought much of party politics. A fellow local blogger became an American citizen (No not from a shit hole country) in 2016 just so she could vote for Bernie. I should of done it then, but I didn't. A friend has shown me the importance of being able to vote in the primaries. So I am not going to let that happen again.

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If you want to take back our government you should too.

By the time the general comes, it is too late.

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Thank you Nina!