Saturday, October 07, 2006

Cigar City and saving the old factories

An effort has been under way for months now to protect the remaining 15 unprotected cigar factory buildings in Tampa. Tampa City Council has not been particularly championing the protection of these reflections of the city's roots. Petition to protect the Cigar Factories

There is a council hearing on Thursday...October 12, 2006, at 9:30 A.M. The effort to spearhead preservation of the Cigar Factories has been Fran Costantino, President
East Ybor Historic and Civic Association, Inc. She and her supporters are pleading with all preservationists to come and bring everyone you know to show their support for the "historic landmark designation" of our 15 unprotected cigar factories.

Personally, I believe Tampa should be preserving her history. It is what makes this city unique. I'm not talking about saving the facades like was done on stretches of 7th Ave in Ybor.
If that is what is passing for preservation, I would say what is the point. Disney is so much better at building fake history and fantasy communities.

As Joni Mitchell sang (and others repeated) about "paving paradise and not knowing what you got 'til it's gone." The same applies to the bulldozing of history.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

RICK: "I am the ultimate champion of saving the cigar factories. I am the leader of the fight and I will gather the troups. All of Tampa is depending on me."

GREG: (Thinking to himself): "Do I dare challenge Rick to a Cigar-Factory-Saving duo? My powers have been drained from my recent battle with him and the Hookers. Is it worth it and will I survive if I try to put Rick in his place?"


Rick: (Thinking to himself) "This Cigar-Factor-Saving issue is gonna help me take down Iorio. She will be forced to kiss my feet in defeat, after I save Ybor from the Walt Disney Revitilization Brigade. I will fire Curtis Lane and hire Scott in his place. I can't wait to have the former king of Seminole Heights working for me. I will be all powerful!"

Greg: (Thinking to himself) "Rick could really have something here with the Cigar-Factory-Saving issue. Damn . . . his powers may even double if he is successful. I bet he's gonna try to take down Iorio. I can't let this happen. This should be me! But I just don't know if I can take him on my own. I feel so weak after our last war."

Rick: (Thinking to himself) "If that pesky Greg gets in my way again, I will crush him. I'll send him crawling in defeat to a third-world city not too far from Tampa."

Greg: (To his hooker patrol buddies) "My troups, I know you are tired for you have been up in the early-morning hours, shining spotlights on the BTV hookers and dodging flying rocks. Hear me out. This is important! Rick was almost successful in his recent singlehanded attempt to steal our hooker-hating powers. He has a new weapon now and you are not going to believe what it is--cigar-factory-saving."

Greg's Hooker Patrol Buddies: (Gasping) "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Greg: (To his hooker patrol buddies) "That's right. With his new strategies, he may gather enough powers to defeat the hookers. Then we will have no choice but to move to Lutz in shame."

Greg's Hooker Patrol Buddies: (with tears starting to stream down their eyes) "No! Not Lutz! We'll end up living next to home crystal meth labs! No! Crack and hookers we can handle, but not Ice."

Greg" (to his hooker patrol buddies) "Do not fear, my reverse-Robbin Hood followers. Together, under my leadership, we will stomp on Rick and use him as carpet to walk on up the steps to Iorio's office. We'll take over the whole city. You know what that means . . ."

Greg's Hooker Patrol Buddies: "We'll finally be able to live in Hyde Park and South Tampa, and leave the Heights behind?"

Greg: (to his hooker patrol buddies, with his pinky finger against the right side of his lips) "That's right, my hooker-crushing followers . . . teleporting instant gentrification."

Greg's Hooker Patrol: (in loud, low tones) "Greg!, Greg!, Greg!, Greg!

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT EPISODE OF SEMINOLE HEIGHTS CHRONICALS

Anonymous said...

I'm pulling for Rick. Gregs an A$$hole

CouldBeSherry said...

Wow! SOMEONE definitely has way too much time on their hands!

Or perhaps it is some kind of ailment?

If so,I hope they find a cure soon. This is getting to be a bore!

Anonymous said...

I thoroughly enjoy the SH Chronicles. Please continue. I am pulling for Greg. Rick's an ass-hole!!

Anonymous said...

WOW I got to this page from a website regarding saving old historic places.
Danver's Hosp.Mass.

Why would someone go thru all this nonsense ?

Shame on the person who thought all this is amusing. Tearing down someone else is ANYTHING but amusing.Your in serious need of psychological help.

Grow the hell up!

Anonymous said...

Greg is a grade A A$$.
Greg probably never gets laid and spends all his time trying to make himself look good so some man will want him.
Since that will never work, he spends all of his time on hooker patrol..
Not really to catch them, but to scope out the latest hooking trannies in case he wants to switch vehicles later and he has an extra $5.00
Meanwhile, Ricks attempts to have the city listen to his concerns will be heard and he will be elected as city council member as a way of saying thanks for caring.
Everyone in SESH like him.
Whats wrong with OSH?
Does everyone have a bug up their a$$es?

Anonymous said...

What the @ucx does this have to do with saving cigar factories. Anon's you are duoches.

Anonymous said...

Cartman..
Mad bc your trannie got taken by Greg?

Anonymous said...

come on now. lets get with the chonicles. go rick. beat that putz greg.

Anonymous said...

BRING BACK THE CHONICLES!!!!

Anonymous said...

Saving these Cigar factories would be a great venture if the primary focus were to use them for something useful.

Fran strongarms people who do not agree with her and threatens to sue them (You know I have proof so this is not a lie, Fran) if she does not get her way. Therefore, I am against any organization she is in that is fighting for this unless they specify exactly what these buildings will be used for. Having historic buildings is fine...having historic buildings that make the city look run-down and having no plan to fix them up does more harm than good to Tampa.

Travis - East Ybor resident and Tampa native