Florida Democrats' Infighting Escalates

Chairwoman Allison Tant fired two high-ranking staff members late Thursday, the same day it was reported she discovered the existence of a fundraising committee that could be controlled only by incoming House Minority leader, former Republican Darryl (Bong) Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. Gone are Jeff Ryan and Chris Mitchell, the party's chief staffers behind financing and strategy of House races. The pair helped set up the committee with Rouson without Tant's consent. Many Florida Republicans tweeted in glee over the backbiting. On the quality of Rouson's leadership, Republican strategist Rick Wilson tweeted, "That reminds me I need to send him a check."......more>

The Merchants Of Ybor

Nicahabana Cigars on 7th ave.

Ybor City Chickens

Metro Welcomes You

info

Right Wing Love Fest In Tampa

A "hometown campaign kickoff" at a waterfront home in Tampa for Attorney General Pam Bondi is scheduled for Sept. 10. the same night that Rick Scott had once set as the execution date for Death Row inmate Marshall Lee Gore. The execution was moved to a later date at Bondi's request. Among the members of the event's host committee are republicans Will Weatherford, Wesley Chapel, Jack Latvala, Clearwater, Bill Galvano, Bradenton, Tom Lee, Brandon, Wilton Simpson Trilby, Jeff Brandes, St. Petersburg, and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.......more>
At Pushing Rope.

The Merchants Of Ybor

 

 The Ritz

The Gandy Connector

The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) was asked by the City of Tampa and the Florida Department of Transportation to investigate a toll-feasible solution for traffic in the Gandy corridor......more

The Florida Civility Project

Off their website:
The Republican Party of Florida invites all Floridians to join together and work toward common sense solutions through friendly debate and discussion, while avoiding negative attacks and the politics of personal destruction.
On August 22:
The Republican Party of Florida has fired off a bunch of releases recently referring to Democratic Chairwoman Allison Tant as TANT RANT. Yesterday, the state GOP sent releases referring to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida as "Debbie Dunce."

Florida's Backdoor Tax Increases

Sen. Jeff Brandes filed SB 144 to repeal Florida’s red light traffic laws.

“We have had red light cameras in Florida for over three years. They were initially sold as safety devices, but I have come to firmly believe that they are now being used as backdoor tax increases,” stated Brandes. “We have seen municipalities that have installed these devices shorten yellow light times and set arbitrary standards on right turn on red violations. I believe cities will continue to install these devices if left unchecked.”

Earlier this year, WTSP Channel 10 reporter Noah Pransky reported that the state had quietly reduced the minimum number of seconds for yellow light intervals — specifically for those that were equipped with red light cameras. The result? Citation rates spiked by almost 40 percent in municipalities that have the cameras......more>

Ybor Paparazzi

 Meet Agent Bauer he works at La France in Ybor.

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Firehouse Cultural Center In Ruskin

Local  treasure Mariella Smith has launched a new website for the Firehouse Cultural Center in Ruskin. Their ribbon cutting is on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, 10:00 a.m. It looks like a cool place, they offer quality programming with a focus on a full spectrum of the arts, and on education for all ages. Check it out here

Vote No On Military Force In Syria

Call your member of Congress now and tell them to vote 'No' on an Authorization to Use Military Force in Syria? Here are the numbers to call: 
Senator Marco RubioPhone: (202) 224-3041
Senator Bill NelsonPhone: (202) 224-5274
Representative Kathy CastorPhone: (202) 225-3376

Report your call here

A Bad Month For South Florida Mayors

An FBI sting operation on Aug. 6 nabbed the mayors of Sweetwater and Miami Lakes for taking suitcases and envelopes stuffed with cash. the two mayors, Manuel Maroño, of Sweetwater and Michael Pizzi, of Miami Lakes, not only took bribes in exchange for helping businesses apply for federal grants, but they plotted together to siphon off a share of the grant money for themselves. Steven Bateman, mayor of Homestead, was arrested Wednesday on charges that he secretly took a $125 per hour consulting position with a health care company that was doing business with the city.

here

Ybor Paparazzi

Local comic Will Ejay with friends at The Improv.

Rubio Raising Money For Right Wing Extremist Ken Cuccinelli

Sen.  Marco Rubio will appear at a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli, according to an invite. Tickets start at $50 for a luncheon and boom to $25,000 for chair status and a table for 10.....more>

Who is Ken Cuccinelli? Check him out here. Nice company Rubio keeps.

Hometown Hero Laci Carnes