The Merchants Of Ybor

Gaby and Manny of Mace Multimedia having having lunch at
Stone Soup Company in Ybor City. It's nice to see Ybor City merchants supporting each other. 
STAY LOCAL!

.Mi Gente Tampa Bay: Florida Kid Care

Local Artist Manny Potter

mannypotter.com

David Warner's Story

Our own David Warner editor at CL Tampa had his  civil union certificate signed by Howard Dean who in 2000 was the first governor to legalize civil unions for same-sex couples. His  husband was on the fundraising team for Dean.
Read his story here

Speak up Tampa Bay: Homelessness

Rick Scott Preemptively Blocks Paid Sick Leave

Florida’s Governor Rick Scott is the latest Republican to block any initiatives in his state to enact paid sick leave for workers. As attempts to dehumanize the workplace go, few could be more sadistic than forcing workers to come to work sick, but that’s precisely what the Florida legislature and Governor Rick Scott recently did. This throwback to the Satanic mills era of industrial relations came in response to a successful petition by 50,000 voters in Orange County, Florida, to place on the ballot an initiative to guarantee a certain number of paid sick days to all workers in the county. Governor Scott and the state legislature did this at the behest of some of Florida’s largest employers, including Disney World, which might otherwise have suffered the inconvenience of employees being able to go to the doctor without losing their jobs.  A survey by the advocacy group Restaurant Opportunities Centers United found 64% of food service workers have reported working while sick.

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Imagine learning that your favorite restaurant doesn’t provide paid sick days for its employees. This would mean that criminally underpaid chefs and servers would have to come to work every day, even if they’re sneezing up a storm, in order to make ends meet. Pretty gross, right?
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Tampa Bay Driverless Cars

Tampa became one step closer to driverless vehicles on Florida highways.

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority (THEA) voted to develop a survey on implementing autonomous vehicle technology in Hillsborough County. The study is a collaborative effort between the THEA and the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research.

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Ybor City

 

 Lazy Afternoon

Kevin Beckner Is Making Progress

The Tampa politician brings some much-needed sanity to the Hillsborough County Commission. Beckner at a victory party celebrating the repeal of Hillsborough gay pride ban at Hamburger Mary’s in Ybor City.

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Tampa Bay Homeless

 The city is one step closer to enacting a new set of restrictions on homeless people.
Council members discussed two proposed ordinances that would add more restrictions to an existing six-day-a-week ban on roadside panhandling. The first would ban panhandling near downtown, Ybor City, banks, ATMs, sidewalk cafes and transit stops in an effort to stop people from begging in places others can't easily leave. The second would prohibit people from storing their property in public, urinating in public, and sleeping or camping in parks, on sidewalks or in public rights of way.
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thankfully we have  Mary Mulhern who said the city must first increase its shelter offerings before passing an ordinance like this. Courts have ruled that cities must ensure there are adequate alternatives before banning behaviors — such as sleeping on sidewalks — that are closely associated with homelessness. She was the only council member to vote against both proposed ordinances.

Elvis Sighting In Tampa

Met him on a HART bus.He has gone green and says he has lost a lot of weight since he started riding the bus. He is looking for gigs. Call him at 813.850.3085

Local Right-Wing Reacts

 "I believe the Supreme Court made a serious mistake today when it overstepped its important, but limited role." U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla

"It impacted federal law, not state law. In 2008, Florida voters amended our constitution and said that we are a traditional marriage state — marriage is between a man and a woman. As the governor of this state, I'll uphold the law of the land, and that's the law of our state." Florida Gov. Rick Scott

"Today's Defense of Marriage Act ruling flies in the face of common sense, tradition, reason and morality." Bishop Aubrey Shines of Glory to Glory Ministries in Tampa

"America, and Florida specifically, will continue the debate and advance the truths about why marriage is between a man and a woman and why it matters for children, civil society, and the common good of society." John Stemberger, Florida Family Policy Council

"Courts at every level are definning the social fabric of America" Terry Kemple, Local Bigot
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Turanchik Bay Lines

High-speed ferry backers to hold community meetings. The group, fronted by former Hillsborough commissioner Ed Turanchik, a lawyer with the Akerman Senterfitt firm, holds its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dickman Community College Center at Hillsborough Community College's South Shore campus. The address is 551 24th St NE in Ruskin. The second meeting takes places at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Hilton Tampa Downtown in the Buccaneer B Room. The address is 211 N Tampa St.

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Florida Gas Drilling

It is just another sunny day in sunny Florida, but on this quiet day, two men ring your doorbell. You answer, of course, and find out that these men are from Total Safety, Inc., a company contracted by the independent oil company Dan A. Hughes Company, from Beeville, Texas. They ask you to provide your contact information and any other emergency contact info, just in case disaster strikes at the drill site operating barely 1000 feet from your house. For most of the citizens of Naples, Florida, this is the first they have ever heard of drilling, in their neighborhood.

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D iscrimination At Hands On Children’s Museum in Jacksonville

Is very specific about who gets a “family membership,” specifying that a family must include one mom and one dad. Karen Lee-Duffell’s family has had a membership there for three years, but when an employee noticed she had a same-sex partner, she was told she’d have to pay more to renew this year. As far as the museum’s staff is concerned, Lee-Duffell and her partner do not constitute a family.

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The Museum denies discrimination against renewing couple's membership.
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Learn How To Swim Miami

By century's end, rising sea levels will turn the nation's urban fantasyland into an American Atlantis. But long before the city is completely underwater, chaos will begin.

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You guys might also want to learn how to scuba dive. You might try Sea Dwellers Dive Center just down the road. I use them all the time.

Clean Out Rep. Jodie Laubenberg R

During a debate in the Texas House of Representatives, Rep. Jodie Laubenberg explains that rape kits will "clean out" a rape victim "basically like a D and C." D and C stand for dilation and curettage. It is an abortion procedure. It is not similar to a rape kit. Wow! Put an R at the end of his name and these people would elect Charles Manson.

Sit-In At Marco Rubio's 0ffice In Tampa

The LGBT rights group GetEQUAL--best known for its sometimes confrontational protests of Don't Ask, Don't Tell--today staged a sit-in at Florida Senator Marco Rubio's office in Tampa.

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Brew Benefit in Ybor City

You are invited to Brew Benefit in Ybor City, Sunday, June 30th from 2-5pm.
This benefit is for WMNF and Meals on Wheels.
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Commissioners Pay Millions Of Dollars For 375 Jobs

Commissioners voted unanimously (Shame on you Mr. Beckner) to give Amazon.com millions of dollars in corporate welfare for 375 jobs. TheCommissioners were enthusiastic about the vote. Chairman Ken Hagan called it a "grand slam" A grand slam for who?

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Support Same-Sex Marriage In Florida

A group that supports same-sex marriage in Florida said Wednesday that it isn't confident an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling will nullify the state's gay marriage ban and is starting a public opinion campaign while waiting for the court to decide. The idea is to build public support for gay marriage in Florida and eventually overturn the state's ban regardless of the Supreme Court's rulings.

more, Get Engaged

Jeff Jewett GOP Voter Fraud Whistle-Blower

Last year, Jeff Jewett was the field coordinator for a private vendor used by the Republican Party of Florida in Jacksonville. He discovered that one of his employees turned in seven bogus forms. He fired the employee, contacted elections officials and turned in the counterfeit forms. Yet, he was never interviewed. Such a lack of initiative is baffling for an investigation into a crime that Gov. Rick Scott and Republican lawmakers had made a top priority in prosecuting and preventing. Ironically, the only widespread incidents of voter registration fraud in last year's elections involved Republicans.

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Immigration Wall of Shame

Jeb Bush: Immigrants are 'more fertile
Exposing bigoted language in the fight for immigration justice.
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March With The ACLU In Temple Terrace

Tampa: Temple Terrace July 4th Parade

Thursday, July 4, 2013 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm -Greco Middle School

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.Marco Rubio: It Should Be Legal to Fire People for Being Gay

Stogie Recommends

Moonrise Kingdom a 2012 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Wes Anderson, written by Anderson and Roman Coppola, and starring an ensemble cast.Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton and Jason Schwartzman. The film received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. It was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.

The Right Eat Their Own

Not long ago Marco Rubio was the darling of the tea party, the lovefest is over.
Allen West Threatens To Challenge Marco Rubio In 2016 Primary.

Tampa Has Strippers And It's Probably Dolly Parton's Fault

In the mid-'60s, a gentleman named Bobby Rodriguez purchased a country bar in Tampa called The Deep South. The bar was a rough-and-tumble place where up-and-coming country stars often performed. The bar wasn't that profitable so Bobby decided to make some changes. First off, he attempted to tone down the fighting in the place. With that problem solved but the bar still not making much money, Rodriguez turned his sights on the entertainment. He went to the books and realized that one of the best nights they had in terms of the crowd was the night they had Dolly Parton on stage. Rodriguez realized the majority of her fans were men, and that they were not listening to her talents but rather gawking at them. Pacheco said Rodriguez figured he could toss any beautiful woman on stage, dress her scantily, have her dance and pay her a fraction of what he paid talented musicians, and the same men who came to see Dolly Parton would pay to see the unknown beauty.

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Mi Familia Vota, Florida

Senator Marco Rubio's Tampa Office, 3802 Spectrum Boulevard, Suite 106

Come join members of Mi Familia Vota, Florida, clergy members, allies, and MoveOn, as we participate in a vigil at Senator Rubio's office Wednesday at 12 p.m. to ask that he see the error of his ways regarding increased militarization, accepting campaign funds from GEO, an arm of ICE, and also adding English proficiency before undocumented Americans may be legal permanent residents. That's way before they would be eligible for citizenship. We will pray for him to do the right thing. Bring some signs, and we will pray together for the good of all Aspiring Americans. Can you join us in Tampa on Wednesday?

Click below for more details and to RSVP
here

Publix: Stop Funding Rght-Wng Llobbyists

Publix Super Markets is giving money it earns from our business to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC has supported voter suppression laws, legislation to roll back renewable energy and other environmental initiatives, so-called "right to work" legislation that really means the right to work for less than a living wage, and other legislation that hurts the vast majority of Publix customers. This makes a mockery of Publix "Greenwise" products and their collection of food for the poor.

 Liz Horne, a MoveOn member in Gainesville started a petition.

Tampa Street Preachers

Downtown

J.R.R. Tolkien Would be Arrested Under Florida Law

We can thank our very own Darryl Rouson from St. Pete for all this.

Fundraising Reception In Honor Of Mary Mulhern

Candidate for Hillsborough County Commission, Dist. 7 (county-wide)
Wednesday, June 26th, 2013 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Home of Mark Anderson & Keith Bucklew
3110 W. Agawan St. Tampa
Cocktails and Appetizers will be served
Suggested Contribution Levels: $50-$100 (Supporter), $250 (Host)
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Prospective Juror, Potential Voter

On the third day of jury selection f o r State of Florida vs. George Zimmerman

Potential juror No. 2 moved to the area four months ago and could tell you everything that happened on The Real Housewives of New Jersey , her favorite show, but not much about the shooting. 'What is your source of news?' the state attorney asked. 'It's … nothing,' she said.
Potential juror No. 3 Do you subscribe or have an opportunity to read the Orlando Sentinel  ,' the lawyers asked. 'I do subscribe,' No. 3 said, 'but it's mainly for the coupons.'

Potential juror No. 4 The first African-American said he doesn't 'do newspapers' and watches Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly on Fox News. He says he objected to the Rev. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson 'saber rattling' and to Rep. Wilson, D-Fla., who said Martin had been 'hunted down like a rabid dog.'
Potential juror No. 5 let the court know she had three dogs, four cats, a couple of lizards, a crow and ferrets (or did she say parrots?), gets the newspaper, but does not read it. She uses it to line the cage. 'The only time I see them is when I put them down on the floor,' she said. 'It's media. I'm not a big fan.' 'How do you get news?' the state attorney asked. 'I don't,' she said. 'I let my hus­band deal with it.'
Potential juror No. 13 Gets all her news from church.
And Potential juror No.19 Gets his/hers from Facebook.
'The jury system puts a ban upon intelligence and honesty, and a premium upon ignorance, stupidity and
perjury,' wrote Mark Twain in Roughing It . 'I wish to so alter it as to put a premium on intelligence and
character, and close the jury box against idiots, blacklegs, and people who do not read newspapers.'
opefully these folks are part of the 50% who don't vote.
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Florida Summer BreakSpot

Saw this on the side of a HART bus.

•WHAT? Free food and fun all summer long

•WHO? Kids and teens 18 and under

•WHERE? At a location near you!

Through the Summer BreakSpot, free, healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks are available to anyone 18 and under all summer long!

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In November, We'll Remember

On June 4, 2013 Governor Rick Scott vetoed a commonsense bill that would have let over 100,000 legal immigrants, known as DREAMers, obtain driver's licenses. The bill passed the Florida legislature 151-2. Floridians will remember Scott's failure to embrace bipartisan solutions and impose his rigid ideology on our state.

WMNFs Americana/Roots Festival

Saturday Jun 29 4:00PM - Skipper's Smokehouse Tampa

More Hillsborough County Corporate Welfare

The state and Hillsborough County are poised to reward an out-of-state corporate giant that has avoided collecting Florida sales tax for more than a decade by offering it millions in tax incentives to finally hire Floridians and contribute to the state's economy. Gov. Rick Scott tried to sell his tentative agreement with Amazon on Thursday as another sign that he is improving Florida's economy. Don't be fooled. Amazon is once again getting just what it wants — access to the Florida market at less cost than competitors who have been here for decades.
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Buy Local!

Tea Party Senators Kick Off Ralph Reed's God Fest

Marco Rubio revisited his campaign theme of American exceptionalism. He used a biblical passage from Matthew chapter 5 to encourage activists to keep bringing their faith into their political activism, especially, he said, at a time when people are told they should silence their faith. Rand Paul of Kentucky told activists that there is a worldwide “war on Christianity” that is being waged not only by “liberal elites” but also by American taxpayers through the country’s financial support of countries that persecute Christians. “American taxpayer dollars are being used to enable a war on Christianity in the Middle East.”
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Visit my post Republicans And Jesus.

Support Democracy - One Pint At A Time

Drinking Liberally Brandon
Every Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm
Square 1 Burgers, 2042 Badlands Dr in Brandon
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