Friday, April 10, 2015

Fight For $15 Rally In Tampa

University of South Florida 
Copeland Park, 11001 N 15th St, Tampa
April 15, 3pm

Everglades Rally With Jimmy Buffett

Tampa Bay SDS Stands Against US Intervention in Venezuela

April 11, 2015, 3pm
Corner of Fowler Ave. and 56th St, Tampa

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: In-group and Out-group

Anyone who has attempted to expand the rooftop solar industry has been ostracized. The reason, Florida’s largest utilities have invested heavily in state political campaigns to fend off competition. 

Campaign records show utility companies have sunk $12 million into the campaigns of state lawmakers since 2010.
That money comes from the bills paid by customers of the state’s four largest utilities — Duke Energy, Gulf Power, Florida Power & Light and Tampa Electric.
The recipient of the most utility money since 2010 is Gov. Rick Scott’s 2014 reelection campaign, which took in more than$1.1 million. here

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Florida DINOS In Tampa

Two of Florida's prominent DINOS Bob Buckhorn and Patrick Murphy have a love fest at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on Tuesday. here

Black Farmers Association and Florida for Care Continue Fight for Inclusion of Minorities in SB 7066

SB 7066 is the low THC medical marijuana bill filed by Senator Bradley, R-District 7, which has a requirement where nurseries that have been in business for at least thirty years are the only ones that can apply for a license to grow and process the medicine. Earlier this week Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, who sponsored the amendment last year that allowed the requirements stated, “I thought the ones who’ve been here the longest should be the first in line”.
This requirement makes it impossible for black farmers to even apply for one of the five highly sought after licenses- However, the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association is not going to sit idly by while this bill is pushed through committees.
Last week during the Health Policy Committee meeting members from the association stood lobbying against the requirement stating the injustices to not only the black farmer, but the small farmers in Florida.  Howard Gunn, an Ocala farmer and President of the Florida Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association said, “We basically would love to get into this business. We see the profitability. We think the black farmers can somehow make a better living”
An Amendment to SB 7066 has been filed that will change the requirement. The Amendment sponsored by Minority Leader, Senator Joyner of District 19, should it pass, will allow nurseries who have been in business for five consecutive years to apply for one of the highly sought after licenses.
Right now the Rules Committee is meeting and will vote on the amendment to change the requirement from thirty years to five. Florida for Care is hopeful this egregious requirement will no longer exist. “When you see such a large group of people being marginalized, it’s much easier to understand the injustice of this rule”, said Dan Rogers, Director of Legislative Affairs, “and let’s face it, no one wants to be called racist. This requirement is racist- it may not have been intentional- but there’s no denying the reality.”
The Black Farmers Agriculturalists Association is not going to rely on hope. They are at the Rules Committee this morning to once again lobby for their right to apply for a license. “5 years will be a lot better than 30, but I have constituents with me that believe there should not be any restrictions.” Stated Howard Gunn. In regards to the overall status of the bill he said, “We are hopeful the right decision will be made that will help all people and not just some people. We understand it’s been a long time coming for patients.”
“Florida for Care is about creating a free and robust market- passing this amendment will bring us closer to that goal.” said Ben Pollara, Executive Director of Florida for Care.

Florida for Care will spearhead legislation in March of 2015 in Tallahassee, setting the standard for what the state’s medical marijuana system should look like and how it can function most effectively. Such a system must balance three core principles: first, safe, affordable patient access; second, a tightly controlled state regulatory structure; and third, a robust, free market commercial enterprise.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Ben Pollara or Dan Rogers, please contact Bianca Garza via email at Bianca@floridaforcare.org

Florida did you know 3 wealthy people donated 98.5% of funds to oppose Florida's Amendment 2

Sheldon Adelson
Mel Sembler
and Carol Jenkins Barnett
daughter of Publix Super Markets founder George Jenkins
Where do you shop for groceries?

Right Wing Infestation In Hillsborough County

Names being floated on the Republican side for Hillsborough County commissioner in the countywide District 6 seat being vacated by a term limited Kevin Beckner in 2016 include former County Commissioners Jim Norman and Ronda Storms. Norman is reportedly all but officially in the race. here

PEST CONTROL
Registered Voters in Hillsborough County
Democrats:308,465
Republicans:246,959

Speak Up Tampa Bay: Homelessness

Brian Willis running for Hillsborough County Commission

Visit him here

#BlackLivesMatterTampa

#BlackLivesMatterTampa is an online forum intended to build connections, spark dialogue, and to encourage social action and engagement in Tampa, FL. here

Florida Vote No on Fracking Bills

NO on HB 1205/SB 1468 and HB 1209/SB 1582. These bills would allow more dangerous fracking in our state, and prevent Floridians from knowing what chemicals are being used in the process.

Florida should ban fracking, which is why we support HB 169/SB 166, and encourage you to do the same. Florida is the Sunshine State and we should be investing in clean energy sources of the future, like solar, rather than clinging to the polluting industries of the past. here

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Florida, Call Rep. Jeff Brandes


Demand that the bill #SB300 pass the Senate!
Keep pushing the Florida Senate!
Tallahassee Phone: 
(850) 487-5022
Tweet him: @JeffreyBrandes support #SB300 now!
 #Not1More deportation! 

Florida's Culture Of Corruption: Marco Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio attended a fundraising event Monday night at the home of a major Florida shipbuilder who is competing for a multibillion dollar contract from the Coast Guard,
an agency Rubio helps to oversee as the chairman of a key Senate subcommittee. here

Florida Dino Patrick Murphy's Source of Funds


Patrick E. Murphy is a top recipient from the following industries in 2013-2014:
Architectural services 
Accountants 
Subcontractors 
Foreign Policy 
General Contractors 
more
He now has $1.6 million cash on hand here

Stand Up for Transportation Day In Tampa

Join us for a Transit Town Hall on Stand Up for Transportation Day with Kathy Castor
April 9th, 10am @ HART'S Marion Transit Center here

Florida GOP Charles McBurneyCuts Off Kid in the Middle of His Pro-Gay Speech

Rally Against The KKK In Tallahassee

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and other groups will be rallying against recent Klan activity in Tallahassee and North Florida on April 9. A Ku Klux Klan chapter has been flyering in Tallahassee neighborhoods, passing out racist and Islamophobic messages in an attempt to recruit. Recently it was revealed that three KKK members who worked for the Florida Department of Corrections were plotting to murder a black prisoner.

Students will rally at Florida State University’s Westcott Fountain at 7:00 p.m. and will then march to the steps of the Old Capitol. here

Florida’s Third senator: Bob Menendez

Florida political insiders have long chuckled that the state is the only one in the nation with three senators: Marco Rubio for the Republicans, Bill Nelson for the Democrats, and Bob Menendez for wealthy donors.” here

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Support for medical marijuana, 84% among Florida voters

New poll came out that showed support for medical marijuana, in general, 
has reached 
84% among Florida voters.
While we're not surprised support is increasing, we have to take these numbers with some caution - as we learned in 2014 there's a big difference between general support for the concept of medical marijuana, and actual support for the ballot amendment itself.  (Especially when voters are being told outright lies by our well-funded opposition.)  In fact, a good number of our opponents last year - including two key spokespeople for the No on 2 side - expressed support for medical marijuana in general.

For that reason, we have to mobilize, right now - projecting a reasonably close race.  More (and younger) voters vote in presidential years, and that will help us - but not to the tune of 84%.

Please help us by signing the petition, signing up as a volunteer, and contributing to our outreach so we can do in this next election what legislature should be doing 
right now!

Alina Valdes for Congress

Alina Valdes 
Is running for U.S. Congress in Florida's CD 25, encompassing parts of Broward, Collier, Hendry, and Miami-Dade Counties. 
Check her out here 

She is running against 
Rep. Mario (Fredo) Diaz-Balart 

Miami Cuban Mafia Ezposed

We Rise!” (¡Adelante!)

The AFL-CIO launches a national immigration training plan, “We Rise!” (¡Adelante!). It is designed to reach, mobilize and organize immigrant workers in their workplaces and in their communities. here

Florida House tries to kill public education

Without a word of debate the Florida House approved a controversial proposal that could require school districts to share tens of millions of dollars in construction funds with rival charter schools. here

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Ruben
With chips
At Katies Cafe in Bradenton
EAT LOCAL!

Monday, April 6, 2015

Raíces en Tampa May Day Shirts

Only 20 more needed to print!
$13.64

Marijuana supporters want to get Ybor City buzzing

The Central Florida chapter for a national advocacy group will host a music festival to bring out Ybor City’s marijuana enthusiasts. here

Tampa Bay Homeless

Meet Howard
He is from Alabama

Rachel Maddow: Jeb Bush’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Support of Right-Wing WACKOS in Florida

Annette Taddeo For Florida's 26th District

Barely three months into his congressional career, Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo has drawn a re-election challenger: Democrat Annette Taddeo, who plans to formally announce her candidacy Monday. here

Good. She has matured and I think she can pull it off. Besides, he is an idiot and doesn't belong in Washington.. Geniusofdespair

Save The Friendship TrailBridge

The long-delayed demolition of the 58-year-old Friendship TrailBridge is back on track and could occur this year.

Die-hard defender Neil Cosentino, a member of the committee that saved the bridge from a wrecking ball in 1997, argued its structure is safe. Cosentino invited County Administrator Mike Merrill and commissioners to walk the bridge with him so he could prove its durability. “If we find anything wrong with the bridge, I’ll buy (Merrill) any dinner he wants at Bern’s Steak House,” Cosentino said. “I also invite commissioners to do the same after we take the first walk to make sure the bridge is safe.
 I’m absolutely sure the bridge is safe.” here

Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Citrus Taliban: Joshua Feuerstein

After a bakery in Casselberry, Florida, refused to decorate a cake with a anti-gay marriage message" they started to receive hundreds of hateful, threatening calls. Former TV evangelist Joshua Feuerstein posted a video of his call to YouTube and his own Facebook page, then encouraged his viewers and fans (of which there are apparently more than a million, because humans are terrible) to call Cut the Cake themselves and complain.

Shockingly,* hundreds of Feuerstein's viewers decided to take this as an opportunity to leave Cut the Cake hateful or threatening messages, calls which at last blush 
were still ongoing. 

Picking a random bakery, placing them in an unwinnable position, then encouraging your followers to threaten their lives over it: totally what Jesus would do! here

Like them on Facebook here

Kevin Beckner For Higher Office

Mayor, Senator, Governor, Presitdent?
Clerk of the Circuit Courts? Why go backwards?

Jeb Bush “I think Governor Pence has done the right thing.”

WMNF 2015 Tropical Heatwave!

34 Years of Tropical Heatwave! One of the longest running festivals in the country, Tropical Heatwave has become an annual rite of spring for fans of eclectic music, with excitement, mystery, and legend contained in memories of the annual extravaganzas for longtime Heatwave devotees. And every year there are first-timers who discover that Heatwave is one of one of the most fun weekends and best musical experiences they have ever had. The festival is a manifestation and celebration of the sense of community that WMNF has created. 

Welcome To Tampa


Expect Delays

For kids up for adoption, is Florida the next Indiana?

Over the past few weeks there has been a lot in the news about the use of religious exemptions laws as a means to legalize discrimination. We can’t let that happen in Florida. There’s a bill in the Florida legislature that would allow adoption agencies that are contracted by the state to deny loving families to children based on the agency’s religious or moral objections, rather than a family’s ability 
to care for a child.
Send a message to your house representative to oppose this discriminatory bill! here

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Fight for $15 rally in Tampa

University of South Florida 
Copeland Park, 11001 N 15th St, Tampa
April 15, 3pm

Local Artist Nicki La Rosa At C4G

Ms. La Rosa with her mom

What Stogie Had For Lunch

Chicken with Arroz Con Gandules
At Azucar Sandwich Shopin Clair-Mel City
Eat Local!

Welcome to the New America

GOP presidential contenders are on a collision course with the American electorate.
“There is simply no way that Republicans can seem like a modern political party with widespread appeal in the New America unless they adjust to the new reality on at least a few of their long-standing policy positions. . . . Foremost in this area are gay rights,” Dana Milbank

Sydney Smoot, a fourth grader at Brooksville Elementary

Friday, April 3, 2015

Seven Democrats sold us out in the Florida House

They voted against healthcare expansion
Bruce Antone
 Randolph Bracy
 Daphne Campbell
 Alan Williams
 Darryl Rouson
 Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda 
and Dwayne Taylor

Hollywood, Florida Kicks Out Their Homeless

Like ragged refugees seeking a promised land, a mass exodus of Hollywood's homeless hit the road. They will be staying at a Haines City motel.
 here

Big Sugar supporters hire actors to protest

Screen grab of a Broward Acting Group’s Facebook post offering to pay for pretend protesters to back Big Sugar’s attempt to get out of the land deal they made with the State of Florida. 
The Facebook post has since been taken down.
Who exactly is paying the fake protesters? Inquiring Floridians want to know.

Dear Tallahassee Politician

You, Tallahassee Politician, are going to lose your moral authority in about 30 days.
When we put medical marijuana on the ballot in 2014 - so many of you objected, saying legislature was the best place for this to get done.We all know what happened next:  A billionaire put in $6 million, funded an outrageous set of lies and exaggerations about the amendment, and then we came just short of the 60% we needed, despite our 3.4 million votes cast in favor of medical marijuana.

Maybe some of you think we're bluffing.  Maybe you don't believe our expert pollster - who said that if we ran the exact same race in 2016 as we did in 2014, we'd win.  (We're going to run a better race, regardless.)

Florida GOP

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Rushia Brown At C4G Tampa

Stop by C4G today at 4pm to meet WNBA Legend, Rushia Brown!  All are welcome for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!  This will be a great time to get pictures and autographs!
105 W. Sligh Ave. Tampa

Marco Rubio's Sugar Daddy

Norman Braman is not your typical GOP megadonor—and he may single-handely keep Rubio in the race. here

HUGE MILITARY EXERCISE IN FORT LAUDERDALE

Florida Charter School accused of grade tampering

Newpoint High, one of Escambia County’s high-performing charter schools, has been accused of fixing grades to earn an “A” grade from the state. here

C4G: First Friday Seminole Heights Art Walk

Friday, April 3 at 7:00pm
105 W Sligh Ave, Tampa

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Shine a Light to Prevent Political Corruption - Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach - Pier 60 
 4/2/2015 - 7:30 PM info

Arrogant. Deceitful. Insulting Florida GOP

These would be a few words (among others) to describe how the Florida Legislature is implementing Amendment 1. This measure to purchase sensitive land for conservation and recreation was approved by 75% of Florida voters last November, receiving more votes than any other item on the ballot. So what is the legislature doing? The exact opposite of what voters just told them. here

The ducking, dodging Florida governor

Local Great Darden Rice: Wage Theft Ordinance

The average wage theft claim in Pinellas County is estimated at about $500. Some 15,000 employees were affected over a year and a half and that’s just those who reported it. here

USF students against U.S. intervention in Venezuela, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine

Over a dozen students at the University of South Florida (USF) gathered outside of Russell M. Cooper Hall on campus, March 30, to condemn recent interventions by the U.S. in Venezuela, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine here