Ybor City
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Florida Atlantic University Student Government joins UM, UF
In unanimously approving resolution to boot Wendy’s from campus! HERE
Monday, March 25, 2019
Corruption at TPD
MORE
"When I asked Jane Castor almost 10 years ago, what was she going to do to clean up the department and she replied there were no bad cops under her, I was flabbergasted. Now we see her ineffective leadership in the racist cops she covered for finally coming to light." Chris Cano
"When I asked Jane Castor almost 10 years ago, what was she going to do to clean up the department and she replied there were no bad cops under her, I was flabbergasted. Now we see her ineffective leadership in the racist cops she covered for finally coming to light." Chris Cano
Florida Inc. Killing Dolphins?
Toxic algae blooms could be linked to a brain disease similar to Alzheimer's, according to a new study published by researchers at the University of Miami.
The seven Florida dolphins that were studied were found in areas with toxic recurring algal blooms - the Atlantic Ocean, the Banana River, the Indian River Lagoon and the Gulf of Mexico.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
Jesus Calderon
In Loving Memory
When I arrived at the home of Jesus Calderon, I was feeling regret that I had not known the man. No stories, no information can ever give a person the real sense of a tragedy as that unexplainable thing that reaches into the heart. By the end of my communion with Jesus' family, I felt strongly that I not only knew the man, that he had been my friend, but that it was right for me to grieve his loss. Without reserve, Jesus' family drew me and numerous others into their world with the message of how immense was their love and how unbridled was their grief. It was a true lesson of brotherhood I will not forget.
Memorial placed where Jesus fell
Jesus Calderon, "Tio Chu" to his family and closest friends, was once the primary breadwinner and familial center of all around him but several years ago a serious accident left Jesus with a head injury resulting in greatly diminished motor skills and mental disabilities. He was aware enough of what had happened to him that he fell into a state of chronic and severe depression. Despite this, he was just as loved, honored and respected by his family and friends as he ever was.
Jesus Calderon
Having myself battled clinical depression all of my adult life and having, numerous times in my past, reached out to authorities to save me from myself, I could not stop thinking that it was likely my privilege alone that may have saved me more than once from the same fate as that of Jesus. I was profoundly aware of the injustice that led to the death of Jesus and the suffering his loss is causing. More than once, I had the thought, because I have always been perceived by responding officers as "one of them", my life and safety was held in much higher regard than the life and safety of Jesus; An "us vs. them" perspective all too common in law enforcement.
Aerial View (click picture to enlarge)
Deputy Kevin Stabins
In uniform with a taser holstered on his left hip.
It is the opinion of this author and the family of Jesus Calderon that, given the known history of Jesus peaceful interactions with emergency services, and, given the proximate distance between Jesus and Deputy Stabins, that non-lethal measures could certainly have been used to diffuse the situation. It is the opinion of this author that it was Deputy Stabins who needlessly escalated the situation and, without cause, took the life of Jesus Calderon. It is the well considered opinion of this author and friend to Jesus' family that the misleading and untruthful statements by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office clearly show that this life so unjustly taken away was and is of no value to them and that the Sheriff's Department has no consideration for the devastation their deputy left in the wake of his callous and deadly actions.In uniform with a taser holstered on his left hip.
Please, if this death of an innocent loving and loved man has touched you, please consider a donation, large or small, HERE to help give Jesus the dignified funeral and burial he deserves.
I will end with a few statements from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and statements from family and eye witnesses to the killing of Jesus.
Sheriff's Dept. statement: "The deputy had no time. It happened so fast when the deputy first approached the subject, he came in close proximity, he didn't see the knife until the subject jumped up and aggressively began displaying the knife."
Eyewitness testimony: When Deputy Stabins exited his patrol car, Jesus was sitting in a chair about 32' away from him. Jesus stood from the chair and began to walk slowly toward Stabins. Because of his physical disabilities, Jesus was incapable of anything more than a slow shuffle. The knife was clearly visible in Jesus' hand during the whole encounter. Deputy Stabins shot Jesus 3 times in the chest from a distance of about 14', after Jesus had dropped the knife. Witness testimony is that the knife was very small and could not have presented any threat.
Sheriff's Dept. statement: "When Calderon refused to drop the knife, Sheriff Chad Chronister says the deputy was forced to shoot."
Eyewitness testimony: Jesus did not speak or understand English. A family member at the scene was frantically translating for Jesus the commands of Deputy Stabins. When Jesus understood that he was being ordered to drop the knife, he did so BEFORE Deputy Stabins shot him. Jesus was about 14' from Deputy Stabins when he dropped the knife and was shot by Stabins, causing his death.
Sheriff's Dept. statement: When the deputy first approached the subject and came in close proximity, he didn’t see the knife until the subject jumped up and aggressively began displaying the knife, advancing toward the deputy. The Sheriff's Office said deputies have been called to the house 7 times since September of 2018. All calls involved suicide attempts involving a knife.
Eyewitness testimony: On this 8th call, the family informed the 911 dispatcher that Jesus had a knife. The responding deputies knew before they arrived that Jesus was in possession of a knife. As a result of the brain injuries sustained by Jesus, and the resulting physical disabilities, it was impossible for him to have "jumped up" and he never showed any aggressiveness.
Lastly and needing no counter comment.
Sheriff's Dept. statement: "He's visibly emotional, he's upset," Chronister said of the deputy. "I think visibly bothered by the fact that he had to deploy deadly force."...Sheriff Chronister said in his news conference this is the eighth suicidal subject call the sheriff's office has received from the home since 2018. "I think it says we need to make treatment available to everyone who needs it," Chronister said.
This I can't contradict. Treatment for severe depression is far more expected and hoped for than an execution.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Vote for Orlando Gudes!
I want each of you who live in Tampa’s District 5 to vote for Orlando Gudes! District 5 covers much of Seminole Heights, East Tampa, Sulphur Springs, Jackson Heights, Ybor City, Downtown Tampa, and Channelside.
Orlando has been a dedicated youth mentor in Tampa for years. He has served on the Tampa Charter Review Commission wherein he has gained crucial insight to issues ranging from sensitivity training for city officials to mayoral term limits. Orlando would be a fantastic voice for public transit, and stood strong for HART to keep the Intowner Bus, a free transit option for commuters within the Downtown Tampa area. He aims to be an assertive voice for young and old folks alike, and that is something dearly needed in District 5, which has been largely ignored by the Buckhorn administration.
I know that Orlando’s heart is in the right place. Being a genuine spokesperson for a community is so important in today’s political climate. Orlando was the only candidate to get onto the ballot by getting petitions signed which is significant; that means his supporters stood alone in succeeding to get thousands of petitions signed to ensure Orlando qualified for the ballot without having to pay the fee.
It is true that I work indirectly for the Gudes campaign. I only work for candidates who I believe in, such as Andrew Gillum and Mariella Smith. It is an honor to be on Team Gudes, and I encourage you to join me! I hope that each and every one of you will support and vote for Orlando Gudes to be your City Councilor! The runoff election is April 23rd, with early voting and vote by mail (VBM) preceding that date! Go Gudes!
— Asher
Florida GOP Stacy White has costed us $158,000 and counting
Public agencies are spending thousands on lawyers to defend a lawsuit by County Commissioner Stacy White that challenges the voter-approved measure.
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Rex Barbas ruled last week that White could not challenge the tax in his official capacity as a county commissioner. HERE
Florida GOP James Grant Takes On Ocasio-Cortez
He WANTS TO DEBATE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ OVER 'POLL TAX'. HERE
Friday, March 22, 2019
Florida's Right Wing Infestation
Fox News anchor Shannon Bream is scheduled to keynote a fundraiser for a conservative group alongside Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and
Ashley Moody.
Ashley Moody.
The group, James Madison Institute, describes itself as “Florida’s premier free-market think tank.” The organization has ties to billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch.
UF Wants Wendy's Off Campus
The University of Florida Student Government escalated student pressure on Wendy’s – and on UF President Kent Fuchs.
Voted unanimously to call on the UF administration to cut the university’s contract with Wendy’s until the fast-food giant joins the Fair Food Program. The vote came just days after students, farmworkers and Gainesville community members organized a huge march on President Fuchs’ office, demanding action in support of Florida farmworkers’ fundamental human rights. here
Thursday, March 21, 2019
Florida GOP Mike Hill just knows the schools are full of porn
A pair of bills introduced in the Florida state legislature are aimed at cleaning all the dirty books from Florida schools, and at jailing any librarians or teachers who might allow a student to read filth like A Clockwork Orange or Toni Morrison's Beloved or The Bluest Eye.
he bills, were pushed by the rightwing Florida Citizens Alliance.
"The purpose of the bill is to remove pornography out of our public schools, which is existing there today. I've seen it firsthand [...] It is simply trying to protect our children."
Mike Hill
Mike Hill
Shameless Florida GOP
Florida GOP Readies Poll Tax to Nullify Ex-Felons’ Voting Rights
Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature is moving to roll back parts of a historic November constitutional amendment that reinstated voting rights for convicted felons. HERE
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
What Stogie Had For Lunch
Beef Brisket
With Potatoes and Beans
At Holly Hogs BBQ - Downtown Tampa
EAT LOCAL!
Support for Rob Lorei
Wow! What a turnout for last night’s WMNF Board meeting! Thank you! More than 150 people packed the boardroom and hallway outside to show the board what they thought of the decision to fire me. Later- during a closed session of the board I was given ten minutes to make my case that the firing should be overturned. The board members were polite and listened closely. An issue that board members kept raising was “Doesn’t Craig have the absolute right to fire any staffer- even if his reasons aren’t valid?” Clearly some board members lean to the conservative/corporate side when it comes to treatment of employees! Economist Richard Wolff would have some choice words for these board members.
What this means is that letters to the board still count. If you believe in enlightened employee relations please let them know. The board is likely to make a final decision this week. Like I said last night- it will take the rest of my life to thank you for supporting me by speaking last night, emailing, petitioning, calling and otherwise challenging this miscarriage of justice. However this turns out- when you see me- remind me of your support and I’ll buy you an adult beverage. Long May You Run!
Florida Jim Crow Republicans
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
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