Thursday, February 7, 2019
Hillsborough County Approves $3M Corporate Welfare
County commissioners voted 6-1 on Wednesday to provide $3 million to reimburse the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee for expenses for hosting and marketing the Super Bowl in February 2021.
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Commissioner Mariella Smith was the sole member who voted against using $3 million of our money FOR marketing a corporate product. HERE
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The History of Corporate Welfare in
Hillsborough County
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The History of Corporate Welfare in
Hillsborough County
NEED SOME?
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What happened to the
Dem majority?
Tampa Pedestrians and Bicyclists Be Careful
A study, called Evaluating Bicycle and Pedestrian Quality of Service found the majority of our roads are considered unsafe for pedestrians and bicyclists. HERE
Biking While Black In Tampa
Between Jan. 1, 2014 and Aug. 30, 2015, Tampa police documented 9,121 bicycle stops. Though black people make up about a quarter of the city's population, they accounted for 7 out of every 10 bike stops. Among those stopped, black bicyclists were more likely to get a ticket than white bicyclists.
**This disparity disappeared after the Times investigation, researchers said, when Tampa police mandated that all bike stops be documented as "street checks."** According to a report by the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Tampa Police Department policy of writing tickets to black bicyclists didn't reduce crime, stop bicycle crashes, or curb bicycle theft. All it did was "burden" black bicyclists. "Though these stops were intended to reduce problems in areas with high crime rates, which were mostly black, the disproportionate citing of African-American bicyclists was unfair and, even if not intended as harassment, often perceived as such," COPS office director Ronald Davis wrote in the 72-page report. HERE
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
HART Riders Demand
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Before we build green-ways and freeways we want 25 shining new electric buses. Hire some nicer drivers and bring back #4.
Words of Rev. Russell L. Meyer
"Tampa has a strong mayor form of government. That means TPD works for the mayor. Look at the budget. TPD is unquestioned. It is the mayor's enforcement corps. It has been used for political repression. The mayor can direct sting investigations and felonize political opposition. A Chief of Police has far too many " HERE
Remembering Andrew Joseph, III
Just so that we are clear and the airways are open for further discussion. When you hear them talk of Safety First for Children at The Florida State Fairgrounds/ Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office and/or matters of Student Day. It's because of 14 year old Andrew Joseph, III killed February 7, 2014. The ultimate sacrifice was paid and he will not be denied. HERE
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Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Topher Morrison's Transportation Plan
Topher Morrison’s Clear Choice Plan will make Tampa’s streets and transportation system the best in Florida,
the Southeast, and beyond. HERE
Hillsborough County Crossing Guard Fundraiser
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Hillsborough County Commissioners will discuss what it would cost to provide crossing guard services at all middle schools
in the county.
Jane Castor's Republican Donors
Lema Construction Owner Johnathan Stanton $27,000 Tampa Developer Vincent Cassidy & Mary Cassidy $13,000 Amalie Oil Owners/Family: Anthony & Lorraine Barkett $2,000 Kenneth & Janice Barkett $2,000 Richard & Marie Barkett $3,000 Harry & Carmen Barkett $22,000 Charles & Rebecca Sykes $2,000 John Sykes $15,000 Richard Gonzmart $10,000 plus in-kind donations Carole Wallace Dep. Chief Opps Officer USF Health $10,000 Evan Brownstein $6,000 Reeves Automotive CEO Vivian C. Reeves $6,000 Attorney James Palermo $2,000 Real Estate Developer Chadwick Harrod $2,000 Lema Construction Owner Johnathan Stanton $27,000 CEO Kevin Robles Domain Homes $11,000 Private Equity Third Lake Capital CEO Kenneth Jones $2,000, Sandra McKinnon Construction Equipt. Dealerships $5,000 Wells Fargo VP Maureen Ayral $1,500 Chase Stockton $1,000 Real Estate Magnate Stephen Swindal $1,000 Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal $1,000 Steinbrenner Real Estate Companies $3,000 Brian & Kelly Castor $2,000 Commercial Real Estate Developer Brian Devlin $1,000 Attorney Keith Goan $1,000 Attorney Kevin Napper $1,000 Construction Owner Don Burkett $2,000 Veterans Nat'l Property Services owner Ruben Calles $2,000 Real Estate Developer Nicole DeBartolo $1,000 VP Dunkin Donuts Rick Colon $1,000 Lawyer & Radio Host Dominic Fariello $1,000 Attorney J. Rex Farrior $1,000 Equipt. Supplier Johnathan Gibson $1,000 Real Estate Appraiser Joni Herndon $1,000 Ballard Partners Lobbyist Todd Josko $500 Pepin Distributing Tom Pepin $2,000 RSA Consulting Group $1,000 Custom Homebuilder Martin Ryan $1,000 BLueSky Mast owner Scott Vanover $1,000 JVS Contracting CEO John Simon Jr. $1,000 Christopher Ligori Law Firm $1,000 Joseph & Laura Williams of Kimmons Contracting $2,000 Automotive Dealer Jason Kuhn $1,000 Tampa Tank Manufacturing VP Calvin Reed $1,000 Construction Services Owner Fred Lay $2,500. SOURCE
Tell Hillsborough County how to spend $5 million on affordable housing!
TODAY 6 PM
Robert W. Saunders Library
Ybor City
Monday, February 4, 2019
Asher’s Choice for Tampa Mayor!
As y’all may know, I have been contemplating my choice for Mayor of Tampa for some time now, and I’m prepared to make an official endorsement. Before I dive into that, I will share reasons why my “top 4” are worth consideration should any of them make it into the municipal runoff.
Activist Ed Turanchik has been a part of my political life longer than most others — he’s bold on transit issues, an advocate for ferries, and has solid endorsements from two of my favorite elected officials, Commissioners Pat Kemp and Mariella Smith. He did a great thing in supporting their respective bids for local office. While Ed did not endorse my 2014 campaign for School Board, I still have maintained a great deal of respect for him! A leader for Tampa, elected or not.
Businessman Topher Morrison made a positive impression on me from when I first met him (I was organizing a group at a Tampa Charter Review Meeting). He has always been attentive, genuine, and earnest. This is needed in politics. He has great platform positions including cannabis legalization and introducing gondolas as a means of transit. He has support from people like millennial rockstar and author Juhi Kore. I have a great deal of respect for Topher, and I hope to see him run for other offices should his current bid not proceed beyond the runoff. He’d likely have my support in a future election.
City Councilor Mike Suarez has always been kind to me. His sincerity and support for the Tampa community is strong; and I like that he has support from friends of mine such as DEC Membership Chair Alex Alaya and former Phil Hornback staffer Jason Marlow. I know Mike has Tampa’s best interests at heart.
City Councilor Harry Cohen has done so much for Tampa, having spearheaded ordinances to better maintain and fix our flood water systems. He has a strong, ambitious platform, with support for cannabis legalization, transit, innovation in housing, and opposition to “Stand Your Ground.” He is a genuine person, who listens and learns, despite already having a wealth of experience. Harry was the driving force behind the cannabis decriminalization ordinance that went into effect in 2016. Let’s take a look at that action.
I am an adult who uses cannabis responsibly, and primarily to treat my Tourette Syndrome. I have not previously “come out” as a cannabis user, and figure that doing so now is better late than never. It is an important thing to consider as I share this story.
I did applaud the cannabis ordinance when it passed, but admittedly scoffed as it seemed to be but a small step in reforming our government. That being said, I worked as a pet sitter in 2016, going from house to house in South Tampa to walk dogs, and look after beloved pets. One day, I was at a home (wearing my red “Unleashed” pet sitter shirt) where I had to check in on cats and clean out their litter box.
As I took the bag of cat excrement out to the garbage bin in the yard, I noticed a neighbor looking at me from their yard; as I often do, I waved and smiled as I put the bag into the bin. No response or noticeable emotion from the neighbor. Ok, that’s fine, I thought to myself. I went back into the house to finish up and make sure that the cats had their water, etc.
Upon exiting the home and walking to my car, a Tampa Police officer approached me and told me to spread my legs, and lean on the hood of my car. I immediately cooperated, and as a group of about five other officers encircled my vehicle, I explained that I was at the house to pet sit on behalf of the company I worked for.
Once they realized what I was doing at the home, one of the officers commented that he smelled something on my car and suggested a search; to which, another officer replied with something along the lines of “Oh, that’s a code blah blah blah, we don’t do those anymore” and no search was initiated. It seemed as if the officer was referring to a recent change in police code. Had the police searched my car and discovered the cannabis, I could have faced incarceration, and been put on a trajectory that would have landed me somewhere quite different than I am today.
A couple of weeks ago something clicked in my head as I recalled the experience. The reason I wasn’t persecuted was because of one practical progressive who’s action ensured that I would not be arrested and institutionalized for possessing marijuana.
When you make the connection that an action carried out by a candidate impacted YOU, well, that is a powerful sentiment. I am honored and ecstatic to endorse Harry Cohen for Mayor! Vote for Harry, as he is the best choice for moving Tampa into the future, and I hope that you will join me in supporting a genuine, practical progressive for Mayor!
The Right Wing In Tampa
The city of Tampa wants to stop the use of gay conversion therapy for minors. But the Liberty Counsel is suing to
keep it legal. HERE
keep it legal. HERE
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