Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Mariella Smith. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query Mariella Smith. Sort by date Show all posts

Saturday, January 12, 2019

RAYBOR IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL DAMN IT!


For the last regular meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners, held on January 9, there was an item (Item F-8), which was added as an addendum to the agenda as the last item for discussion. Yesterday, Item F-8 was listed as an agenda item "F-8 Discussion concerning the County's representation in any future negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team regarding a stadium in the County.". Today, the official agenda (HERE) shows that Item F-8 has been deleted and relisted at the end of the agenda as "F-8 Off the Agenda". The discussion DID take place at the end of the Commission meeting, as you will see in the following videos, so it WAS officially addressed during the meeting. The following videos and texts will clearly show that the negotiations to bring the Rays franchise here to Hillsborough County and very possibly the original selected site in Ybor City are still very much active and still being held outside public scrutiny. During the discussion Mariella Smith, one of our new commissioners, placed a motion to disband the commission's involvement in the "informal" work group created in 2015 to negotiate with the Rays. In a 4-3 vote, Commissioner Smith's motion was defeated (Commissioners Hagan, Miller, Murman and Overman voted to retain the Commission's active involvement in the work group and therefore continuing negotiations). It was mentioned during the discussions that the contract for the legal firm hired by the Commission to represent them during their involvement in the negotiations will be taken over by the Tampa Sports Authority. Ken Hagen stated "The TSA assumed Council's contract and any future negotiations will be led by the TSA.". The TSA has no obligation to make public any of their proceedings.

I will present here segments of the video of this County Commission meeting, touching on the most pertinent statements during the discussion. With each segment, I will give some commentary of the VERY obvious implications that arose. The full video of the meeting can be found HERE and the Item F-8 discussion begins at 3:28:24 in the video.

In the first video excerpt, Mariella Smith explains why the working group, which was intended to work "out of the sunshine" is no longer needed.

In this excerpt, Ken Hagan explains why Commissioner Smith's intended motion is "moot" and, as he has many times, expressed that he is not and never was a "negotiator" during the dealings with the Rays. Hagan, quite obviously does not want negotiations to end because he, the County Administrator, Mike Merrill, and other friends of his, who were given information withheld from the public, have made serious financial investments into the success of a Rays stadium in Ybor. At the end of the video, I have added an excerpt from a radio interview Hagan did in 2017* (HERE) which clearly shows that he was taking a lead in the negotiations with the owner and manager of the Rays and that he was having private meetings with both. Though he stresses that he was never "officially" a negotiator, he was definitely a negotiator, if not the lead negotiator.

Pat Kemp states that things have changed since the last meeting, alluding to the fact that much of what the Commission intended to keep secret was ultimately reported by local media and that the public, namely the Ybor 6, responded. She also explains that even she, a commissioner on the board, had difficulties obtaining information from the working group. Les Miller then asks Commissioner Smith, "Do you think a motion is necessary at this point?", seemingly trying to encourage Mariella Smith to retract her motion. She doesn't but instead places the motion before the board.

And that leaves a couple final comments and the vote. Ken Hagan again tries to counter the motion by offending Commissioner Smith and calling it "meaningless", in a patronizing and insulting way. He then contradicts his "meaningless" comment by explaining that voting Yes on the motion might effectively "kill the deal" with the Rays. Les Miller climbs onto the misogynistic challenge to Commissioner Smith by calling the motion "fruitless" and "not appropriate". The motion is then voted on and defeated. Kimberly Overman, had she been the progressive she purports to be, could have been the vote to help kill the negotiations with the Rays but, instead voted to NOT disband the working group.

To wrap it all up, our County Commission is making it clear that negotiations are going to continue with the Rays franchise and that, because their plans for secrecy were thwarted by a local media outlet and the appearance of several citizens at the last meeting, voicing their clear opposition to RAYBOR, future negotiations will be conducted even further from the public eye. The negotiations are being handed chiefly to the Tampa Sports Authority in order to further conceal from the public what they are doing, in effect moving the back room dealing to a back room in the back of the back room. During the discussion, both Mike Merrill and Les Miller stated that "We have the money!" but they continue to ignore that they have only private investor's money, which amounts to 50% of the projected cost of a new stadium and ignoring that they ultimately intend to use $500 million, or more, of taxpayer funds to make up the other 50%.. Besides the private investments to partially fund the cost of the stadium, there is is also money invested in properties in the area surrounding the originally proposed Ybor City site and I have no doubt that the continuing negotiations will focus on Ybor City.

We have GOT to continue to pressure the officials in our government to listen to the citizens they are sworn to serve and end forever any further negotiations to move the Rays to Hillsborough County, and especially to Ybor City, and to realize that the voters of this county will NEVER accept having to fund half of the third most expensive stadium ever built, yet the smallest stadium in all Major League Baseball, smaller even than Tropicana Field. It would be doomed to fail and destroy Ybor City along with it.

* Correction: Ken Hagan's interview with Sports Talk Florida took place on May 31, 2017 instead of in 2015 as I mistakenly stated.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

RUTH’S LIST FLORIDA ENDORSES MARIELLA SMITH

Ruth’s List Florida, the state’s only resource dedicated to recruiting and aiding Democratic women candidates, announced their endorsement of Mariella Smith in the Hillsborough County Commission race, lauding her ongoing commitment to stand up for Florida women and families.

 “Mariella Smith is a small business owner and a dynamic leader who supports equal opportunity for all and stands up to powerful special interests” said Pam Goodman, Ruth’s List Florida Executive Director. “The Ruth’s List community – now tens of thousands members strong – is excited to support her candidacy.” 

"I am grateful for the grassroots help Ruth’s List Florida provides Democratic women in Florida," said Mariella Smith. "I’m proud to accept their endorsement and the endorsement of the tens of thousands of Ruth’s List members and supporters who believe, like I do, that Florida leaders should advocate for improvements to transportation and transit, support smart growth management, protect our environment, and make sure our government works for all citizens.”

Visit her here

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Kathy Castor Endorses Mariella Smith

"Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy. She has a deep understanding of how to move Hillsborough County forward on transportation, smart growth, the environment, and economic prosperity. She is a vigilant advocate for open and honest government and an outspoken partner on issues important to Hillsborough families. I have seen firsthand how she is not afraid to stand up to powerful special interests. I strongly endorse and support Mariella Smith for Hillsborough County Commission.”
-----

Friday, February 15, 2019

Community Forum on Transportation - February 13, 2019

Opening comments by Commissioners Mariella Smith, Kimberly Overman and Pat Kemp (left to right)
 
Please forgive me if the video and sound are slightly out of sync in these videos. In the rush to get this post out today, I neglected to preview the final edited versions of the videos. The sync should be close enough that you won't be distracted from the message.

Two days ago a Community Forum on Transportation was held at the Seminole Heights Library. It was hosted by the Sierra Club, a well recognized environmental advocacy organization that has been around since 1892. Considering the critical impact our new transportation initiative will have on the immediate and long range plans for transportation within Hillsborough County, I expected a huge turnout of both community activists, or advocates if you prefer, and public officials directly charged with implementing new plans for improving transportation here . I saw neither.


Questions and Answers

There were about 50 people representing the interests of the public and a grand total of 3 public officials on the panel. In this first serious attempt to establish a line of communication between our government officials and the public, of the 7 members of the County Commission, only 3 bothered to answer the open invitation to attend, Commissioners Mariella Smith, Kimberly Overman and Pat Kemp. Of the 14 members of the HART Board of Directors, only 3 members attended and coincidentally they were, Mariella Smith, Kimberly Overman and Pat Kemp. Of the 7 members of the City Council of Tampa, not one councilperson showed up. In the audience, there was 1 candidate for the upcoming election for mayor, Topher Morrison, and 2 candidates for councilmen, Walter L. Smith II and John Godwin. This dismal turnout of county government officials and candidates seems to me a clear indication that, despite the rhetoric to the contrary, the large majority of present and future hopeful officials have their own agenda of how they intend to spend this new transportation windfall and have no serious interest in the wants or needs the public, who voted for the initiative and is financing it in full. I have to add that John Turanchik, the son of Ed Turanchik, candidate for mayor, spent some time outside the event handing out flyers promoting Ed's "Go Plan", his agenda for transportation. John didn't attend the event itself. If your interest is in the people who actually rely on the bus system in Hillsborough County, I can only add that, when the host of the event asked for a show of hands of how many people in the audience had taken a bus to get to the event, only 1 person, myself, raised his hand. When he asked how many WOULD have taken a bus if there was one available to get them there, nearly half the audience raised their hands. I think the host was trying to make a point of how lacking our bus system is by asking these questions but I, personally, interpreted the responses completely differently. I found the responses rather odd because the HART MetroRapid has a stop 3 blocks from the event and I find it difficult to believe that I alone among the 50 or so attendees of the forum live near enough to a bus line capable of getting me to the event. I hope you get my point.

I also hope that, in the near future, I will see a real concerted effort to establish a working relationship between our government officials and the citizens of Hillsborough County. I'd like to see the schools in the county handing out notices to their students, to take home to their parents, advertising upcoming forums in their school auditoriums. I'd like to see questionnaires on all the buses that can be filled out and returned to any driver, asking riders what they want from the new bus system and inviting them to future outreach events. I'd like to see an upsurge by the public, demanding of the county officials, who THEY elected and whose salaries they pay for, listen to their concerns about the future of the transportation system they are funding. I'd like to see an indication by our county representatives that they will at least make an effort to reach out to the public they supposedly represent. Voting for the transportation initiative is a fine example of talking the talk. County officials telling each other how important it is to establish a concerted program of community outreach is a fine example of talking the talk. I'm hoping to see many, many more of these people begin actually walking the walk......but I'm not holding my breath.


Finally, there are thousands of Hart patrons who rely on the buses to get back and forth to work or school every day and will continue to suffer a dismally broken bus system for at least another year thanks to a lawsuit, meant to completely undermine the intent of the transportation initiative, filed by the self-serving Commissioner Stacy White. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or any other political affiliation, you must know that Stacy White does not represent you and should not have a seat on our county commission. I urge everyone to keep this in mind when the elections come around next year.

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Mariella Smith for County Commission 2018

Visit her website here
Like her on Facebook
-----
2003
We have been waiting to post this for a very long time!
Check her out on this blog here and here
-----
“Mariella has been a tireless advocate for our neighborhoods and our environment. Mariella has spent decades working for smarter growth and transportation investments that will get us out of gridlock. I look forward to serving on the County Commission with Mariella Smith so we can work together to build a prosperous future for Hillsborough County.” County Commissioner Pat Kemp

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Pissed Off Florida State Park Fans

Florida GOP Department of Environmental Protection has been proposing major changes in the state park system for over 3 years. — mostly to make money. 

 "Those beach parks are real cash cows," said 
Julie Wraithmell of Audubon Florida

They tried at Honeymoon Island State Park.
That proposal ran into a firestorm of opposition. 
A public hearing in Dunedin drew about 
1,000 pissed off fans.

Now they want Hillsborough County's Cockroach Bay. Thankfully we have Mariella Smith watching The South Shore. 

DEP did not consult with local officials or activists who had already worked on improving Cockroach Bay, said 
Mariella Smith of the Sierra Club.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Pat Kemp Wins In Landslide

Victory party at The Bad Monkey

Congratulations Pat Kemp

Mariella Smith and Ashley Whitney

Laila Abdelaziz and Asher Edelson

Amina Minka Spahić with Pat

Kate, Kelly and Asher

Ed Turanchik and Kent Bailey

Pat and Ashley Whitney

Ed Turanchik and Pat

Mariella Smith and Laila Abdelaziz

Laila and Kesha

Carlos






Local Treasure Pat Kemp coasted to a decisive victory in a four-way Democratic primary, with 45 percent of the vote. Pics from her victory party at The Bad Monkey in Ybor. here
Check out the people in these pics.
The Grassroots wins every time!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Mariella Smith WMNF Interview

A Hillsborough County company is asking the county for permission to spread tons of human sewage waste over its property along the Manatee River system; but environmental activist Mariella Smith is fighting back against the proposal by Chris’s Plumbing Service. She calls it a ‘sludge farm. here

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Victor Crist's Racket Exposed

This guy received tens of thousands of dollars from developers who profit from sprawl, and then he votes for sprawl.
-----
The developers for ONE of the huge sprawl projects he approved donated $8,000 to his re-election bid. Of the $78,000 Crist has raised for this election, $22,000 are from clients of ONE big developer-lobbyist. And besides that ONE lobbyist, Crist’s whole campaign donor list is a Who’s Who of developers and special interests.
-----
He didn't know. He blamed it on 
two little old ladies. here
----- 
Check out our friend  Mariella Smith,, she has been fighting sprawl for decades. and she doesn't take brides. We can vouch for that, check out her history on this blog.
-----
She is not getting the big bucks from developers that Victor Crist gets. She is running a grassroots campaign.
 She needs our help.
-----
"Unlike Victor Crist, let me assure you I DO look at who writes checks, and each and every one of your contributions is important to our campaign." 
Mariella Smith

Monday, May 13, 2019

Commissioner Mariella Smith's response to the Tampa Bay Times

The Times wrote, “There is no reason local taxpayers should be paying for express service to MacDill” — by ferry. Yet they have never said that we should stop funding the express service to MacDill by bus, and ferry service is quicker and more efficient. HART’s 3 express bus lines from South County to MacDill transported 121,926 riders last year. These are the only express routes to see consistent increases in ridership, with a combined 10.5% growth in the past year. The demand for commuter transit services to MacDill is great.
Every day 18,000 people stream into MacDill Air Force Base. Most of them have no other choice but to drive a car alone to the base. The Ferry will not only provide a quicker, more direct route for commuters to MacDill, it will also remove thousands of cars from the roads during rush hour, from South County to Bayshore, making commutes easier for other drivers and reducing pollution and wear and tear on our roads.
I don’t understand why the Times singles out the workers of MacDill as any less deserving of public transit options than any other commuters. We should strive to provide mass transit wherever we can identify any large group of commuters regularly traveling from one area to another, regardless of whether those people are working at a private company, a public agency, or a military base. The MacDill route is a great place to start commuter service by ferry.
Meanwhile, the evening and weekend service connecting South County to Tampa and St. Pete will provide transit service to South County — an underserved area that has so far not seen much benefit from the tax dollars they contribute to our transportation system. This is why I constantly hear a lot of enthusiasm expressed for this ferry service in South County. And the high ridership numbers from the Cross-Bay Ferry Pilot Project definitely justify increasing ferry service on the Tampa – St. Pete route.
We have been working on this high-speed ferry transit project for 6 years now. No one has come up with a better plan, and no ferry company has offered us a better deal than the current offer by HMS Ferries’ commitment to pay all the operating costs for 20 years.
If we proceed with this ferry project, it can be the start of more robust ferry service in our future. But if naysaying and foot-dragging finally sinks this ferry project, odds are we will not see another opportunity to have ferry transit crossing Tampa Bay for decades to come.
Mariella Smith

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Mariella Smith Best Local Candidate In Years

 "Mariella Smith is among the best local candidates to come along in years." 
Tampa Bay Times
---
We can vouch for that!

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Mariella Smith: Letter To Marco Rubio

Senator Marco Rubio sent me a galling fundraising letter. Now. He was just elected in November to a six-year term and he's already asking for money for his next election! Here's my response:

Dear Senator Rubio,
Your next election is 6 years away. Stop campaigning & fundraising and start doing your actual job: meet with your constituents and listen to us — all of us — left & right. It is seriously off-putting that you would be asking us all for money while you refuse to listen to us all. You refuse to hold town hall meetings because you can’t bear to hear some people who might disagree with you, yet you ask us all to support you financially. And please stop sounding like such a scaredy cat about the "barrage of attacks from Democrats.” You are supposed to work for ALL your constituents, from all parties. YOU are supposed to lead us together, toward healing our divides — not rile us up into fearing one another so you can profit off this fear-mongering.
You are our Senator. Start acting like a statesman, instead of a politician.
Sincerely,

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Progressives Party In Ybor With Mariella Smith

L'Union Italiana

When Mariella throws a party, everybody comes

Kent Bailey and Kate Connolly

Marina Welch

Our next mayor Ed Turanchik with Jim Bleyer

Kathy Castor

Pat Kemp

Kimberly Overman

Rebecca Barkdoll

John & Lynn Dingfelder

Dave Cutler





Endorsed by Kathy Castor, Pat Kemp and Linda Saul Sena
Help Mariella Win here
---

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Neil Cosentino Is Headhunting

    Interested in being a 2016 candidate 
    NPA or Dem 
     Give us a call 
    NPA Florida 
    813-784-4669

    The Stogie RECOMMENDS
    Linda Saul-Sena, Pat Kemp, Mariella Smith, Susan Smith
    Jadell Kerr, Gabrielle Perham,Connie Burton 
    Nadine Smith, Marisol Márquez, Bianca.A.Garza
     Joe Redner, Kelly Benjamin, Ben Kirby, Tom Tito, Chris Canto, 
    Ray Seaman, Carrie West, Alex Pickett, Alan Snel, Neil Cosentino, 
    Wanna be on this list???
    ontact@yborcitystogie.com

Sunday, March 8, 2015

International Women's Day 2015

Outstanding Tampa Bay Women
Jan Kaminis Platt - Pat Kemp - Betty Castor
Darden Rice - Kathy Castor - Betty Reed
Arthenia Joyner - Mary Mulhern - Lisa Montelione
Gabrielle Perham - Leilani Polk - Marisol Marquez
Bianca A Garza - Mariella Smith - Alicia M. Gazga
Linda Saul-Sena - Nadine Smith - Deborah Newell Tornello
Helen Gordon Davis - April Griffin - Ella K. Coffee
Catherine Durkin Robinson - Dawn M.Morgan - Jadell Kerr
Susan Smith - Becky Rubright - Cathy Salustri