If my house is on fire, my only concern is that the fire gets put out quickly. I don’t care which rescue department shows up, as long as they get there fast. In Pinellas County, when you call 911, dispatchers notify the closest fire station. In Hillsborough County, it depends on where you live. For instance, consider [...]
“I didn’t even know we had a bus. But I should be driving it.” According to Rose Ferlita’s (former campaign) website, she currently sits on the boards of both Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) and the Public Transportation Commission. She is also currently the Vice Chair for the Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Chair of the [...]
Update 1130am: Replaced last paragraph. In preparation for upcoming mandated property tax cuts, Hillsborough County Commissioners Rose Ferlita and Al Higginbotham want to talk with the city of Tampa about merging both parks and recreation departments to save money. Higginbotham says it makes no sense for both him and his neighbor to each buy a lawn mower, [...]
Although he appeared calm, sitting still in the audience of the public hearing, the Executive Director of the Planning Commission, Bob Hunter, had to have been aghast as he watched the County Administrator blithely break the county’s promise to protect his agency from state-sponsored meddling. I know I was flabbergasted. Was this the blatant act [...]
Another Tuesday with nothing to watch on the tube. I’m not a typical television watcher. On any given week, I watch about two hours of TV. I watch Heroes on Mondays at nine and Chris and Todd Present on Tuesdays at 11. Soon, I might have to go around saying “I used to watch Chris and [...]
If you have comments about local news items, send them to us at tommyduncn [at] yahoo [dot] com or use our contact form. From City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern: My response to today’s Tampa Tribune editorial against my EPC bill is below. Mary Mulhern, Tampa City Council & Concerned Citizen Regarding “Power Shift on Boards Will Bring Less Unity and [...]
Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio has written your state legislators to say the City of Tampa does not want to do what the Tampa City Council says the City does want to do. Although the Tampa City Council voted unanimously to write this letter (on City of Tampa letterhead) asking state legislators to change the composition of [...]
Our County Commission also serves as our Environmental Protection Commission (EPC)—a system that has come into question recently since most of our commissioners are not inclined toward Environmental Protection. City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern is proposing we reform the EPC, giving seats to all three cities as well as the county. Let’s don’t forget: not only did [...]
The other question you will find on the ballot in Hillsborough County is a ridiculous one asking if cities should regulate and enforce existing laws on “se xually oriented businesses.” It is a straw ballot, and has no effect at all. Both the Times and Tribune say to vote no. Not unlike many of the items passed by this [...]
