Rep. Kathy Castor’s Exceptional Courage

In a first for U.S. politics, a Florida member of Congress is becoming a figurehead for the U.S. movement to normalize relations with Cuba. The Center for Democracy in the Americas, a Washington-based advocacy group, highlights Rep. Kathy Castor’s increasingly prominent role by honoring her on June 27 for “exceptional courage” in speaking and acting in favor
of dropping the U.S. embargo and travel ban.

here
Pic: Ms. Castor with Cuban dissident/blogger Yoani Sanchez Mar 29, 2013 in DC.

Endangered Tiger Cub Trio Born at Busch Gardens

Three endangered Malayan Tiger cubs were born at Busch Gardens Tampa on March 31. The litter consists of two males and one female, each weighing between six and seven pounds.

here

Cuba Journal: An Open E-Mail to Barack Obama

Cuba Journal repudiates and condemns your failed policies toward Cuba. Cuba IS NOT a terrorist state. What you should do instead is put a stop to your extra-judicial executions with unmanned drones throughout the world. That constitutes real state-sponsored terrorism.
here
Sign Petition

John Stemberger: Florida Family Policy Council

'Anything That Has the Word 'Gay' on it [is] Inappropriate for Kids'
John Stemberger is the president of the Florida Family Policy Council, a conservative Republican group.

Good News For The Keys

Zarubezhneft abandons offshore drilling in Cuba, for now
More than one month after the owner of a drilling platform said it would pull its rig from Cuba, state oil company Unión CubaPetróleo (Cupet) announced in a terse official note that Russian state company OAO Zarubezhneft postponed further offshore exploration. The pullout effectively ends all offshore exploratory drilling in Cuba, for now.
here
We must do all we can to discourage Cuba from drilling off it's coast. Venezuela has all the oil they need.
 If they want to resurrect the cash-starved Cuban economy they should find another way.

Right-Wing Attacts Rubio In Florida

Anti-Immigration Reform
A group called Californians for Population Stabilization said it has spent $100,000 to run a week's worth of ads. Already seen in Brevard County, anti-immigration reform TV ads have popped up
in Tampa and Orlando.
here
Another group called Floridians for Immigration Enforcement have erected a billboard attacking Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposed immigration bill along I-75.
here
Hang in there Mr. Rubio. These people better be thankful they were not around when their ansestors Immigrated to America.

Tampa Hotbed Of Apologists And Proponents Of The Castro Regime

It seems that Tampa has now become a hotbed for apologists and proponents of the vile Castro regime. This motley crew of elected officials and community leaders led by U.S. Representative Kathy Castor are expending large amounts of energy and money to defend and promote the lawless regime of the Castro family, which is the bloodiest dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere.".......Alberto de la Cruz 

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: HB 999

Gov. Rick Scott has signed HB 999, a bill so detested by a host of environmental groups that they brought in former Sen. Bob Graham to try in vain to stop it.  The bill drew more than 350 letters or emails urging him to veto it, They don't care what we think. They care about people like Frank Matthews, who lobbies on behalf of developers, phosphate miners, boat manufacturers, sugar growers, power companies and a garbage company who said
 ""He couldn't be more accommodating, my clients appreciate the Legislature and the governor continuing to protect Florida's resources while promoting economic development and recovery. It's unfortunate regulatory reform is often sensationalized and characterized as anti-environment."
The bill won approval in the House 98-20, with some Democrats joining the Republicans.
more
"I care a lot about the environment," the governor said. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City, sponsored the bill. (Patronis is ALEC’s leader in the Florida Legislature.)

Hillsborough County To Revisit LGBT Pride Ban

Cmmissioners will consider a motion to lift the county’s ban on recognizing gay pride events on Wednesday, June 5. at 8:15 a.m. at the County Center at 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa. Kevin Beckner, the county’s only gay commissioner, introduced a motion at the last commission meeting that would lift the ban which has been in place since notorious anti-gay, former commissioner Rhonda Storms pushed the bill through.
more
“We hope the Commissioners will end this national embarrassment and daily insult to gay people in Tampa Bay.”...Ed Lally Equality Florida’s Tampa development coordinator

Right-Wing Conservative Nut Case

Democrat Jamie Grant

 Nearly made the professor gag.
“We’re not speeding up the death penalty. We’re just slowing down fraud. We’re just simply saying you can’t abuse rules of civil procedure in the appellate process.”
Stephen Harper a professor at Florida International University’s College of Law, nearly gags when he’s read Grant’s quote. “All litigation is legitimate litigation if somebody’s life is at stake,” he responds. Harper worked for nearly three decades inside the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. He says if a state has a death penalty system it’s imperative that there be a “significant amount” of post-conviction remedies available, because it’s “very complicated stuff.”
here
Tell Gov. Scott to veto HB 7083 here

Peter Schorsch A Thing Of Beauty

Next week, Mayor Bill Foster will ask the City Council to appoint Schorsch to the City Beautiful Commission, which promotes the beautification of the Sunshine City. Schorsch, the president of the Crescent Lake Neighborhood Association, said one of his goals is to preserve and enhance the aesthetic value of the city.
more
“I spend some of my free time literally mowing the lawns of elderly neighbors who can't do it for themselves and picking up the snipe signs illegally placed in right-of-ways, I hope I can contribute to making St. Pete a great place to live and work.”
Congratulations

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Is A Democrat?

Nan Rich: Dem Party is "inappropriate" for blocking 5-minute gala speech.
Chairwoman, Allison Tant It's blocking former state Senate Democratic leader Nan Rich, a gubernatorial candidate, from speaking at the annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Tant, who decided along with party leaders to keep the June 15 fundraiser at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood limited to three speakers: Congresswoman and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and featured speaker Julian Castro, the mayor of San Antonio. I have a solution, lets boot DINO DWS and let Ms. Rich speak instead.
here, Via Pushing Rope
Nan Rich, Democrat for Governor

Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society

The Tampa Bay Chapter of Students for A Democratic Society is a student/youth activist organization. We fight against budget cuts, racism, and social injustice. We organize for good, affordable education, equality, and better future for our community and country.Our aim is to organize ALL students in the Tampa Bay area and give them a voice and power on campus, in their workplaces, and

in their community.

Join them here

Antonio Lee Shot To Death In Tampa

Sligh Middle Magnet School Begging For Books

Why does a public school in Tampa have to beg for books?
On so many levels, this is a disturbing story. In the 9th biggest district in the county (America, …remember America?) a public school (mostly minority) has to beg for books, … while the district has three lavish district headquarter sites (coffee shops included) filled with an army of highly paid administrators… a superintendent making more than $263,000 and many, many others outside the classroom making six figures.
here The story at The Times here

Keyshawn And The Bieber

It seems Justin Bieber likes to drive his  Ferrari around his LA hood like a crazy man. Bucs great Keyshawn Johnson and Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson also live there.  Johnson chased after the singer in his Prius and tried to confront the singer about his dangerous driving habits -- but JB ran away like a scared little child.  Dickerson tweeted "I live in Calabasas too and he needs to slow his ass down."

here

Rally At Rubio's Tampa Office

Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Join us at a rally to let Senator Rubio know that we won't settle for any immigration reform that does not include our GLBT families. Bring signs. Bring a friend. Help us spread the word. We will meet outside the main entrance to the building Can you join us in Tampa on Friday?
Click here for more details and to RSVP