karma
tommyImagine this fictitious conversation between Local Government (City of Tampa or Hillsborough County), and well-to-do Influential Residents of Beach Park (or Culbreath Isles, Bayshore Beautiful, Davis Islands, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Heritage Isles, etc.):
Local Government: Hey there! More residents are moving into town every day. We need to build a public school in your neighborhood.
Influential Residents: Yeah. Uh… You REALLY should put the school over there in that OTHER non-posh neighborhood. Property values and all. I’m sure you understand.
LG: Good point! And thanks for those wonderful campaign contributions!
IR: Ta-ta! And have a fan-Tampa-Tastic day!
(some significant time later…)
LG: Hi there! You guys sure are having lots of babies! An enterprising, hard-working entrepreneur wants to open a day-care facility here. We sure would like your blessing for the zoning changes.
IR: Uh, yeah… You REALLY should consider placing the day care over there in that OTHER non-posh neighborhood. The girls have no jobs, and VERY comfortable SUV’s, so they don’t mind driving. I’m sure you understand.
LG: Good point! And thanks for those much-needed campaign contributions!
IR: Very well, then! And have a fan-Tampa-Tastic day!
(some significant time later…)
LG: Ho there! People just keep moving in, and the parks are getting crowded! We noticed that your area has ample space, and that clearing over there would make a beautiful public park. Whadda ya think?
IR: Hmmm. Parks are very nice. But when you say “public,” do you mean that just ANYONE could get in the park? Like poor people and stuff?
LG: Well, yes. Public parks are for all the public.
IR: Oh, I See. You know what I just thought of? The neighbor owns a piece of property out in one of those more-heavily-traveled neighborhoods. I bet we could convince him to offer it to the city for a, um, decent price. You guys can turn it into a park!
LG: Why didn’t I think of that! And thanks for those very helpful campaign contributions!
IR: Glad I could help! And have a fan-Tampa-Tastic day!
(some significant time later…)
LG: Predators should not be allowed near schools, daycares and parks.
IR: Certainly not! I couldn’t agree more! What a fan-Tampa-tastic recommendation! Get them away from our kids!
Tampa Tribune: Yeah, uh… Not to throw a wet blanket on the party, but that means those predators will have to live next door to you.
IR: Ummm. Perhaps “that recommendation is not a good one.”
… or something like that.
Tags: city, county, crime, paying rent, politics, tampa
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November 9th, 2006 at 8:25 pm
I must say, I’m appreciating your food guy more and more. It’s all politics (discussed from the local papers online) all the time nowadays. If this is gonna continue as a media blog, couldja let us know?
November 9th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Oh don’t let Sandra get you down Tommy, even with all the whining she is our most loyal commenter! Just next time Tommy don’t try to post on a topic which highlights the shortsighted local official, the elitist attitude of one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in town or the legal quandary over where to put all our perverts. I mean really Tommy, can’t you find a subject that has at least something to do with Tampa?
November 10th, 2006 at 6:18 am
I LOL’d
November 10th, 2006 at 10:23 am
We political junkies can’t just quit cold turkey, it would be too much of a shock to our system. Be patient for a couple more days Sandy and all will be back to normal - unless the politicians give us good reasons.
With the ballot machine issue in the congressional race south of us, the Expressway authority, and all the other stuff, it is hard to avoid this stuff. Some of this is more incredible than fiction.
November 10th, 2006 at 11:52 am
What strikes me is the fact that sexual predators already live in these areas. Sure, they’re residents who abuse their own family members instead of strangers, but that’s okay somehow? You’re gonna fuss about “no sexual predators” like they aren’t there already?
November 10th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
Sandy this is an all-purpose blog. It’s not “all” anything and it’s fine just like it is. You and Hussey need to back up a little. Actually, a lot.