City of Tampa Action & Information

•    City of Tampa offices will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, August 19, 2008.  This includes Parks & Recreation facilities and programs as well as the after school program.

•    Solid waste collection services including yard waste and recycling will be postponed for Tuesday, August 19.  Residents with regular Tuesday collection will be serviced on their next regularly scheduled collection day, Friday, August 22.  Tuesday recycling and yard waste collection services will be postponed until the next regularly scheduled collection on Tuesday, August 26.  All scheduled commercial collections will be delayed one day.

•    Sandbags: Residents may continue to pick up sandbags until 8 p.m. this evening.  Residents may pick up sandbags at the Himes Sports Complex, 4500 South Himes Avenue; Jackson Heights Playground, 3310 East Lake Avenue; and the solid waste facility at 4010 West Spruce Street.  Tampa residents interested in receiving sandbags must show identification verifying residence within the city limits. Valid driver’s license, utility bill or electric bill will serve as appropriate identification.

•    The Parks and Recreation Department has cancelled the Davis Islands Park Improvement Fund meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19. At this time a new meeting date has not been scheduled.

City emergency management officials are continuing to monitor the path of Tropical Storm Fay.  Residents are encouraged to stay tuned to local media organizations for storm updates.

Residents with questions regarding Tropical Storm Fay are encouraged to call the Hillsborough County Emergency Operations Center at (813) 272-6900.

Earlier today, Crist appeared on CNN’s Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer and probably did little to boost his chances in McCain’s veep-stakes. Right out of the gate, when Blitzer asked Crist if he’d been through the vetting process for vice president, the governor said he was unable to comment. Blitzer then said, “I’ll take that as a ‘yes.’”

After a brief, awkward pause, Crist responded, “You can take that anyway you want to.”

The balance of the interview consisted of Crist giving his support to McCain, calling him a “maverick” (where have we heard that before?) who opposed President Bush’s 2005 energy policy while Barack Obama voted for it. As he spoke, Crist looked and sounded like he was on autopilot.

When the topic of nuclear energy and Crist’s support for it came up, the guv smarmily pointed out that Blitzer’s mother is a Florida resident. It was a meaningless, patronizing reference (and one that Blitzer quickly moved past) in an otherwise Stepford Wives-like performance. Crist didn’t embarrass himself, but he also didn’t do anything to steal the limelight from Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

From the video, which CL’s PoHo posted here):

“I think it is wrong to allow adoptions of children by gay and lesbian couples. It sends a wrong message early to a child during formative years that’s hard to overcome just by sitting down and talking to them. …”

“I think lesbianism and homosexuality is morally wrong. The law is supposed to discriminate sometimes, in some respects, it is supposed to discriminate against social order and anarchy.”

In a response to the video, Rouson told the Times he’s “evolved” since that 2006 taping of Florida This Week.

In an interview with me last month, I asked Rouson if any of his values had changed since he changed from a Republican to Democrat to run for the Florida State House seat 55. Here’s an excert:

Did you switch parties for political expediency or a change in your values?

My values have remained constant and consistent for the last 20 years. The ones who are most harping about the political party change are those who feel the most threatened by it. And that is my opponent. No one in the Democratic Party is angry or criticizing the 50,000 change in registrations that’s been occurring over the last several years. In fact, the Democrats are celebrating that, for the first time in 50 years, because of the influx of new registrations of Democrats, we now lead in party affiliation in this county. So, to me it’s a little disingenuous to try and attack me only on that.

In contrast to Rouson’s past comments, his primary opponent, the Rev. Charles McKenzie, has long advocated for gay and lesbian rights. In my interview with him in May, McKenzie did mention his position on human rights. He’s a longtime fixture in progressive circles and also sits on the board has been involved with the Florida ACLU, which supports same-sex adoptions.

So back to the main question: Do you think Rouson’s newfound tolerance is heartfelt, or just a political ploy?

If you think you are registered, but not sure, call your county’s election office to check (Pinellas County residents can check online here). If you just moved within your county, you can call and change your address. Otherwise, go online or head to the library to fill out a new application.

Here’s the links to the election offices:

Pinellas County

Hillsborough County 

Darden asks Rene, “Where’d ya get that yard sign?”

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Yard signs are among the most visible parts of a campaign – and so are their hiccups. The Darden Rice campaign posted a picture today of her opponent’s misspelled yard sign …

“There are just some details you have to get right,” said Darden Rice. “Especially the name of the job you’re asking voters to hire you for.”

Here’s that photo:

Now, do you think former St. Petersburg City Councilmember Rene Flowers has to pay for those signs?

But the real question I have is this: Is a misspelled yard sign really that big of deal to voters? As a Pinellas County resident — with all the issues facing us like taxes, crunched budgets, crime — would a yard sign really make or break your support for Flowers? Or does it make Rice look petty?

The City Council has approved a proposal of Saint Pete Preservation Inc. to preserve some of the Crislip Arcade, one of three arcades left in the city.

From my earlier story on the nine most endangered buildings in St. Pete:

Over the decades, St. Pete has lost many of its early commercial arcades, or open-air shopping corridors. The Crislip Arcade — one of only three left in the city — may be next. The 82-year-old arcade was built during St. Pete’s ’20s boom, and like other arcades, is regarded as a precursor to pedestrian malls and modern shopping malls.

In 2006, 601 Central LLC bought the entire north side of the block and moved out several small retailers in order to build condos. Soon after, the housing market tanked and the block has sat empty since. But on May 1, the developer requested a demolition permit from the city, which is pending.

But due to the efforts of SPP, the developer now must follow some strict rules on how they go about demolishing the building, including:

• No demolition permit will be issued until the developer has financing and has submitted their full development plans.
• The final development will include a ground level arcade that replicates the original.
• Preservation groups must be noticed before demolition so they can grab any historic tiles, blocks, etc.
• A historical marker will be posted on the site.
• An American Historic Building Survey must be completed that documents the history of the building, archives blueprints and photos.
• The Crislip Arcade logo will be remain on the new building.

In an e-mail to supporters, SPP president Will Michaels points out that the application they filed helped halt the demolition process of the Crislip Arcade. He writes:

Saint Petersburg Preservation originally filed an application to landmark the Crislip.  We were advised by City staff that this was the only way to stop the imminent demolition of the building. Although demolition procedures had been initiated, the owners and buyers did not have the permitting or financing in place to actually begin
construction.  Too often in the past historic buildings have been demolished, only to leave a vacant lot in place for years to come.  While SPP has agreed to withdraw the landmark application, were it not for filing it the demolition would have proceeded and none of the ten points in the agreement would have happened.

And though SPP wishes the whole building could be saved, they’re happy that some concessions were made. Plus, since a new demolition permit could take years to procure, perhaps there is hope that another investor will come in, buy the building and find a profitable re-use for it.

This good news comes after the owners of the First Baptist Church announced they would retain that downtown historical building’s facade instead of demolishing the whole structure.

Maybe we’re finally getting somewhere with preservation after all …

Now that the Rays have abandoned plans for a waterfront stadium at the Al Lang Field site (for now), preservationists and community leaders are once again petitioning the city to preserve the site as a park.

At tomorrow’s 8:30 a.m. St. Petersburg City Council meeting, councilmember Jeff Danner plans to introduce a resolution to designate the Al Lang Field site as “Downtown Center Park.” The resolution is supported by the city’s Council Of Neighborhood Associations and St. Pete Preservation Inc.

Will Michaels, a CONA board member and president of St. Pete Preservation Inc. sent out an e-mail to members today:

Designation of Al Lang as part of the park zoning will prevent condos and other large buildings from being built on the Al Lang site. It would still allow a Ray’s major league regular season stadium to be built on the site, although that would require a referendum to be approved. The current small spring-training Al Lang stadium may remain on the site. This could be used for high school, college, or Little Leagure baseball, or for cultural activities (plays and concerts), or a new permanent location for the popular Saturday Morning Market, etc. The small Al Land Stadium fits the site and still provides green space and views of the bay for the public. One of our most precious assets is our Downtown Waterfront Park. Placing Al Lang under the downtown park zoning will further help to preserve the Waterfront Park for future generations.

Last year, I reported on residents’ push for this waterfront protection. But the day after I filed my story, the Rays came out with their own plan for the site, completely changing the narrative.

CONA president Barbara Heck already wrote the City Council supporting the resolution, but Michaels says all concerned residents need to contact the City Council to show their support.

(Photo courtesy of Tim Baker)

Don Kobasky is losing sleep over recycling.

The St. Petersburg resident lives across the street from one of the city’s 22 drop-off recycling centers, and from sunrise to well after sunset, he hears the crash of glass.

“There’s nothing worse than working 10 to 12 hours a day and waking up at 3 a.m. to glass exploding,” says Kobasky, a large, tattooed artist who inhabits an apartment across from Crescent Lake Park’s recycling center. “It’s enough to make your brain snap.”

Kobasky doesn’t know what the answer is. He’s called the city’s solid waste department to complain; they responded by putting up a bigger sign informing residents the center closes at 9 p.m.

“But it won’t do much good,” he says.

Though he’s worried about the possible costs, he’s open to a county proposal to fund curbside recycling in St. Pete and the rest of the county.

“It seems like a win-win for everyone,” he says.

But if St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker has his way, Kobasky may be hearing glass break for the foreseeable future. As the county picks apart Baker’s arguments against curbside recycling, the mayor is digging his heels in.

When asked if the city is open to the county’s plan, Mike Conners, the city’s internal services administrator and the Baker cabinet member who has taken on the county over their proposed program, replies flatly: “At this point, no.”
The curbside recycling issue has dogged Mayor Baker ever since he took office in 2001. Environmental activists have filed petition after petition. Opposition campaigns have been waged over the controversy. But St. Petersburg, the state’s first “Green City” and the leading contributor of trash to the county landfill, continues to dodge the issue. City councilmembers won’t broach the subject.

“There would be a fight with Mayor Baker on this one,” says City Council chairman Jamie Bennett. “We could put it in the budget and he could not staff it. There are ways he can control it.”

Mayor Baker has always opposed curbside recycling for two reasons: it’s not fiscally sound and it’s detrimental to the environment.

“Our position is a citywide curbside recycling program would do very little to extend the life of our landfill, but it would cost our taxpayers more than is reasonably necessary,” Conners says.

Then the county offered to pay for it.

In January, county officials announced they had $100 million in their solid waste reserves, and the Board of County Commissioners proposed spending it on funding curbside recycling for the entire county. Under the draft plan, the county would initiate curbside recycling for unincorporated areas, then give money to each of the cities to fund their current recycling programs, or in St. Pete’s case, create one.

“We are not telling any city what they have to do or not have to do,” says Pinellas County solid waste director Robert Hauser. “Each city can run their kind of recycling program and we’ll fund it. We’re holding a huge carrot out here.”

Still, Mayor Baker won’t back down. Even if the county pays for it, he will not support a curbside recycling program. Under the mayor’s direction, Conners sent a 24-page letter to the Pinellas County officials and the Technical Management Committee charged with developing the county’s curbside plan. He reiterated the mayor’s environmental concerns.

But the county called bullshit.

In a memo to Conners and the TMC, Pinellas County’s Hauser called into question several of the city’s statistics and environmental claims. (curbsiderecycresponse_to_tmc_62508.pdf)

For example, Hauser notes, if the city is concerned about the fuel and emissions from vehicles collecting curbside recyclables, why doesn’t it take into account the fuel and emissions of St. Pete residents driving to recycling facilities?

And as far as costs, Hauser points out residents already pay for drop-off recycling centers in their solid waste fee, which is already higher than any other city in the county. Why not use that money to help fund a curbside program?

Other county officials are dumbfounded by St. Pete’s lack of support.

“I’m yet to fully understand the city’s position,” says Ken Welch, the Pinellas County commissioner who represents most of South Pinellas County including St. Petersburg. “Twenty-two other cities are doing it. Either they got it wrong or perhaps St. Pete needs to reassess.”

But Mayor Baker doesn’t want to simply opt out of the countywide curbside recycling proposal — he wants to squash the whole plan, preferring to use the $100 million in reserve to lower tipping fees for the city’s waste trucks: in essence, lowering the cost of bringing in trash to the landfill.

“Our [taxpayers] have contributed to most of that fund balance,” says Conners, “but now we’re going to be penalized because we have a different belief? That’s absurd.”

But lowering tipping fees would invite other counties to dispose of their trash in our landfill, county officials say, shortening its life even faster.

And so the standoff continues: Baker opposing curbside recycling and the county moving forward with their plan, which they hope to present to the BOCC in July or August.

“I haven’t given up trying to sell the mayor on this,” says Welch, the county commissioner.

Meanwhile, Kobasky continues to rail against the recycling center near his home.

“It’s a thorn in my side,” he says. “I’ve told the solid waste department, ‘How about we park this thing in front of your home?’”

A few minutes later, a Scion pulls into the recycling center across the street. Whitney Johnson, who lives about a mile away, steps out and throws a few six-packs into a large bin. The glass shatters, echoing around the block. It’s the sound of St. Pete’s indifference to curbside recycling.

For more on St. Pete’s curbside recycling controversy:

Curb with Enthusiasm: Mayor Rick Baker refuses to tackle the issue of curbside recycling. One resident finds an innovative solution: capitalism.

Clean Water Action recently began a campaign to shame the mayor into accepting the county’s plan.

Here’s the hilarious sales pitch:

Don’t just tell people that America’s leaders are wiping their butts with the Constitution, hand them a roll of US Constitution Toilet Paper! This custom designed TP looks like the US Constitution, but the words have been updated to reflect the actual modus operandi of our modern government. Highlights include a revised Presidential Oath of Office, tricameral Congress, and Bill of Privileges.

For many people, seeing the Constitution on a roll of TP is sobering. Wiping with the Constitution can be a very emotional experience. US Constitution Toilet Paper causes many people to ponder what our Founders wanted, what America has become, and whether we have lived up to our ideals.

The toilet paper itself is fairly plush. It is printed using soy ink which is organic and biodegradable. This is fully-functional, usable TP! Each roll is individually shrink wrapped for protection during transit.

…Federal Budget Toilet Paper coming soon!

On Saturday, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office let area residents turn in their rusty, broken and unwanted guns for a brand-new $25 giftcard to Publix or Wal-Mart.

True, it was a little badly-timed considering the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that unequivocally gives us, the common folk, the right to bear arms. (Bear arms, not bare arms, mind you.) But something else struck me: If the deputies were trying to rid the streets of guns, why did they hand out Wal-Mart giftcards? Doesn’t Wal-Mart sell guns and amunition?