Philanthropist Sykes considering mayoral run against Saint Pam
According to the Tampa Tribune, local businessman and philanthropist John Sykes is considering a mayoral run against Pam Iorio. He and other wealthy Tampa residents are upset with Mayor Iorio because the proposed godawful "Bus Terminal" art musuem was axed. Mr. Sykes apparently is a good buddy with former Mayor Dick Greco, who originally approved the monstrosity.
My initial reaction to the news: " Is he nuts?" He wants to run against Pam Iorio, who is the patron saint of neighborhoods. The neighborhoods have seen a lot of good changes since Dick Greco, the patron saint of the good old boys, left office. People in the neighborhoods like Saint Pam and consider Greco to be a bad word and those associated with him similarly tainted.
Over the years the neighborhoods have grown in organization and power and can easily mobilize many people, as witnessed the 400-500 people who came to the Seminole Heights town hall meeting 2 years ago, or the mulitudes who supported Starbucks. Through newsletters, email lists, websites and blogs the neighborhoods can quickly spread the word to its residents.
Sykes and his wealthy friends may have the money but Saint Pam has the people.
(Cue John Lennon- singing softly in the background with orchestral violins and guitars........Power to the people.......)
Sykes does not stand a chance.
1 comment:
Well said!
The article is interesting in that it says Sykes and Friends are asserting themselves because Pammy had the temerity to assert herself into a losing scenario and try to get *something* good out of it (the old design SCAM, and u-g-l-y proposal, that eventually was never funded). Now, everyone has a negative to add about the old courthouse being used.
Why don't I believe these "monied interests" that it is about art? Why are they blaming Pam?
Seems like the art museum director, and some other folks should be accountable to their monied investors/"patrons"
This is another example of the "good old boy" small town mentality of Tampa. They don't want to really do anything of importance, just line their own pockets. When the "people" organize and speak their minds about how they want their community to be, the old guard gets huffy puffy.
blah.
Tampa- like most of Florida- grows and grows. All those folks coming from some place else, might actually want to have some say in how things will be in their community.
that's why Seminole Heights is so great. Lots of people willing to work for something. Not just roll over and expect others to do it for them.
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