Gwen Flip Flops and Redner Lets You See Some Skin

The political news getting more fun to read every day.

Gwen Miller flipflops and stumbles all over her position on tax cuts.

"Councilwoman District 1 candidate Gwen Miller said Wednesday she would consider cutting the city's property tax rate as long as city services don't suffer.

That sentiment contradicts her stance in a debate Tuesday, when she said she would oppose a property tax cut. And it contradicts previous opinions she has had on the issue.

Her latest comment came during a forum held by the League of Women Voters. She faced candidate Joe Redner in the debate, which will be broadcast on the city's cable television station. Redner and Miller are the runoff candidates for the citywide District 1 council seat. Election day is March 27.

During the weeks leading up to the March 6 election, Miller provided at least three opinions on the property tax issue to the Tribune, the St. Petersburg Times and the public at candidate forums. She first said she would support a tax cut, then said she would not, then said she would wait for the state Legislature to develop a plan.

On Wednesday, however, she said she would "look forward" to looking into a property tax cut this year "but there will not be cuts in city services.""

Joe Redner makes a deal. Vote and you can see the inside of world famous Mons Venus for free.

"Joe Redner has a deal for Tampa's registered voters: Cast a ballot in the upcoming runoff election and gain free admission to his Mons Venus strip club.

That's a free afternoon or evening of nude dancers. Hand over your "I voted" sticker at the door, and the $20 cover charge will be waived.

Yes, he's serious. And yes, it's legal."

Daniel Ruth dances with glee around the newsroom pole over this whole contest which gives him much fodder for his columns. Here is his recent comment about Joe Redner

"This is a community that elected to council and the Hillsborough County Commission all manner of nutballs, brigands, demagogues, thieves, lotion boys, yes men, hucksters, liars and dolts.

Gracious, compared with the likes of Ronda Storms, Brian Blair, Ronnie Mason, Joe Kotvas, Fred Anderson, Jerry Bowmer, et al, Redner comes off as a walking Age of Enlightenment."

and Gwen Miller

"There is no question that Gwen Miller is a lovely, decent person.

However, in the debates, it has been Redner who is emerging as the candidate with a keener understanding of issues such as transportation, housing, water and economic development.

It's been painful to watch at times. You almost want to put a shawl around Miller's shoulders and give her a warm glass of milk."

Gwen Flip Flops and Redner Lets You See Some Skin

The political news getting more fun to read every day.

Gwen Miller flipflops and stumbles all over her position on tax cuts.

"Councilwoman District 1 candidate Gwen Miller said Wednesday she would consider cutting the city's property tax rate as long as city services don't suffer.

That sentiment contradicts her stance in a debate Tuesday, when she said she would oppose a property tax cut. And it contradicts previous opinions she has had on the issue.

Her latest comment came during a forum held by the League of Women Voters. She faced candidate Joe Redner in the debate, which will be broadcast on the city's cable television station. Redner and Miller are the runoff candidates for the citywide District 1 council seat. Election day is March 27.

During the weeks leading up to the March 6 election, Miller provided at least three opinions on the property tax issue to the Tribune, the St. Petersburg Times and the public at candidate forums. She first said she would support a tax cut, then said she would not, then said she would wait for the state Legislature to develop a plan.

On Wednesday, however, she said she would "look forward" to looking into a property tax cut this year "but there will not be cuts in city services.""

Joe Redner makes a deal. Vote and you can see the inside of world famous Mons Venus for free.

"Joe Redner has a deal for Tampa's registered voters: Cast a ballot in the upcoming runoff election and gain free admission to his Mons Venus strip club.

That's a free afternoon or evening of nude dancers. Hand over your "I voted" sticker at the door, and the $20 cover charge will be waived.

Yes, he's serious. And yes, it's legal."

Daniel Ruth dances with glee around the newsroom pole over this whole contest which gives him much fodder for his columns. Here is his recent comment about Joe Redner

"This is a community that elected to council and the Hillsborough County Commission all manner of nutballs, brigands, demagogues, thieves, lotion boys, yes men, hucksters, liars and dolts.

Gracious, compared with the likes of Ronda Storms, Brian Blair, Ronnie Mason, Joe Kotvas, Fred Anderson, Jerry Bowmer, et al, Redner comes off as a walking Age of Enlightenment."

and Gwen Miller

"There is no question that Gwen Miller is a lovely, decent person.

However, in the debates, it has been Redner who is emerging as the candidate with a keener understanding of issues such as transportation, housing, water and economic development.

It's been painful to watch at times. You almost want to put a shawl around Miller's shoulders and give her a warm glass of milk."

Dirty Businesses

I was driving down South Tampa yesterday on Bay to Bay and wondered what the difference was between their streets and Nebraska Ave. I realized that the businesses kept their area looking better. There was little to no trash and there were no weeds growing out of the cracks of the sidewalks and curbs. Maybe the BGOSH and the Civic Associations could get a campaign going with the businesses to get them to Give a Hoot and clean up. come up with a slogan and log and get them all on board. A clean Nebraska is good for business. Also what if both SESH and OSHNA included at least one businesses on their home tours to show off the ones that look good. WMNF was a good choice for the SESH tour 2 years ago. First Home Realty would make a good one for OSHNA Home Tour. Their restored office rivals some of the best restored homes.

FDOT Update

Had a couple of people ask me about Nebraska and what is going on. I had posted an update on Hot Topics, but apparently did not sent the link in the SESH email....so the 10 people who read Hot Topics on a regular basis, found it, but the other thousand or so of you who are concerned with Nebraska, but do not visit Hot Topics have no idea what the latest is! So for you,
http://seminoleheights.typepad.com/hot_topics/files/fdot2.pdf

Hillsborough Ave. Improvements?

According to a St. Pete Times article:

No left turns allowed here
In a bid to cut crashes, officials plan a raised median instead of a left-turn lane on Hillsborough Avenue.

TAMPA - Traffic crashes are becoming more and more common on the bustling stretch of E Hillsborough Avenue east of Interstate 275.

The annual total has risen steadily from 269 in 1999 to 351 in 2005 - a crash nearly every day along 3 miles of the thoroughfare from Nebraska Avenue to 50th Street, the state says.
The problem is the two-way left-turn lane that runs down the center of the seven-lane road, officials say. They say it has led to a left-turn free-for-all that causes too many accidents and leaves pedestrians no safe way to cross.

State officials, who are usually under pressure to add lanes to roads, announced Monday that they'll do away with that left-turn lane this fall.

They'll replace it with a raised concrete median, said Don Skelton, regional director of the state Department of Transportation.

The state will add left-turn arrows to traffic signals and keep the road's turn lanes blocks apart, restricting drivers to turn only at openings in the median.

About a third of accidents on that stretch of road are left-turn crashes, the DOT said.
"Often it's simply carelessness on the part of the turning driver," said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Larry Coggins. "Typically somebody tries to beat the oncoming traffic."

Wrecks are also increasing because that's a busy east-west corridor, Coggins said.

At a public meeting last year, some neighbors worried that eliminating the left-turn lane would back up traffic.

But DOT engineers decided a median would prevent accidents and wouldn't make traffic worse.

Yet another reason to vote for Joe

Any man who takes such a strong stance against the scourges of junk food and obesity is a friend of mine.

Also, take a look at the teaser for a new documentary entitled "The Joe Redner Story"

American Bungalow Notices Seminole Heights

Getting noticed and getting positive press as a neighborhood requires work. Work by someone. According to a story in today's Tribune Suzanne Prieur did some work that is getting Seminole Heights noticed:

"Since then, she has lobbied American Bungalow to showcase what Tampa has to offer. This week, award-winning photographer Alexander Vertikoff photographed bungalows in Hyde Park, Ybor City and Seminole Heights, including the Prieurs' home.

The photographs and an article might not be published in American Bungalow for a year. But at least some of the photographs will be shown during an April 19 presentation by magazine publisher John Brinkmann. The event, at Seminole Heights United Methodist Church, is sponsored by the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association and the Southeast and South Seminole Heights civic associations.

Suzanne Prieur did some of the early legwork, scouting prospects and contacting homeowners."

"Eric Holsinger, 49, and Mary DeJesus, 42, moved from New Tampa into what neighbors call "the stone house" on Suwanee Avenue in January. Vertikoff photographed the 1913 bungalow's exterior Monday. . . ."

Vertikoff photographed the kitchen and a bedroom at Nikki and Stephen Couture's 1928 bungalow on Thomas Street. . . ."

"Newlyweds Melissa Dean and Kevin Kelly, both 38, did an "undo" on their 1922 bungalow, which Vertikoff also photographed. . . ."

So lets keeping getting Seminole Heights noticed. What magazines and TV/cable shows can you get to feature Seminole Heights?

Rose Drugs To Close?

From an email:

"I just found out that Rose Drugs on Nebraska is closing it's doors as of 3/16/07. Rose is going to focus more on her County Commission possition. I just started using her now I have go to back to Walgreens unless we have another family run pharmacy in the area."

Some Quotes

Jim of State of Sunshine has some thoughts about yesterday's election.

6. Randy Baron - the most intelligent and capable candidate in his race - received the endorsements of both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times. He finished dead last. (Sidebar: Don’t worry Randy, I finished dead last in my primary, too. It’s not so bad). I hope he runs for office again, regardless of party affiliation. Smart people need to run for office — usually a smart “strategery.”

I agree with Jim. For the betterment of Tampa, Randy needs to run again. However, this time we need to build a powerful machine to help get him elected.

7. The City of Tampa needs to move the election to November. I never understand why cities in Florida have elections at such odd times - heck, look at the slate of dates for the Pinellas County cities! It’s not like the people care that much… so if you moved it to a more traditional date (even if it’s not held at the same time as other elections) you would increase turnout. Heck, I would even propose that the Legislature should dictate all elections should be held on the same dates state-wide… the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even years.

Why do we have the City election out of sync? This costs the taxpayers money money to have a separate election.

Also read Hot Topics posting of actual quotes by people in SH when asked if they voted.

Tampa's Elected Art Critic

So an Art Critic will be on City Council. What will this mean for the arts in Tampa? Will we get a official City Council condemnation (or expression of support) for the Exploding Chicken?

Seriously, will this have any positive impact on the arts scene?

Mary Takes It...

What is the significance of Mary Mulhern's victory?

Runoff

The election returns show we will have a runoff between Redner and Miller. I predict Redner will win the runoff. City Council will get more interesting. (Side Note: Joe Redner is a member of BGOSH)

Rick Barcena		11.13%	2,989
Randy ''Red'' Baron		9.76%	2,622
Denise Chavez		13.53%	3,633
Julie Jenkins		14.79%	3,971
Gwendolyn ''Gwen'' Miller		27.31%	7,333
Joe Redner		23.48%	6,304
			26,852

Mary Mulhern beat Shawn Harrison. This is good I think for Seminole Heights. This also gets the Creative Loafing folks an in.

Shawn Harrison		48.86%	12,592
Mary Mulhern		51.14%	13,180
			25,772

Dingfelder holds his seat by a good margin.

Julie Brown		41.52%	4,614
Joseph V. Citro		5.15%	572
John Dingfelder		53.33%	5,926
			11,112

No surprise. Homophobic Scott wins.

Lynette ''Tracee'' Judge		13.32%	612
Frank A. Reddick		35.93%	1,651
Thomas Scott		50.75%	2,332
			4,595

Charlie Miranda wins. He is a good guy and will be good to Seminole Heights.

Charlie Miranda		71.02%	5,249
Lisa Tamargo		28.98%	2,142
			7,391

The New Tampa folks are in a runoff also. I guess White Chocolate was not tasty enough.

Joseph P. Caetano		36.55%	1,445
Frank J. Margarella		32.85%	1,299
Charles ''Charlie'' Perkins		30.60%	1,210
			3,954

Oh and by the way. Iorio won. Almost 80%. - No surprise. Marion was not a serious candidate.

Aria Ray Green		8.29%	2,274
Pam Iorio		79.49%	21,808
Marion Serious Lewis		12.22%	3,354
			27,436

Some things change and some things stay the same.

So, we move to Lutz into a quiet neighborhood (Windemere Subdivision). It has been 5 days and so far we have met only one set of our neighbors. When we moved to Seminole Heights 7 years ago from Pasco Lutz, we met more people in the first 3 days than in 3 years in Pasco Lutz. I miss the people.

Then here are a couple of laughs. One of our Seminole Heights friends does not like a lot of noise and was a bit jeaolous that we were moving to pastoral bucolic Lutz. Something I do not miss, one of my rants, is boom box cars. However the reason I am not missing it because one of my neighbors has boom box car. Boom box cars are not just a city thing.

Then today I am talking to my next door neighbor who tells me that the newly renovated house across the street used to be a crack house and had fallen into disrepair. After it was foreclosed upon a neighbor down the street bought it and cleaned it up, and he found all sorts of drug paraphernalia. Hmmm. Something like that occurred at our Seminole Heights house, where we had a drug dealers house one block to the east and another house one block to the south. The drug activity only stopped after the houses were bought and renovated.

Go figure. Maybe I ought to look closer at those people walking the streets. Maybe instead of walking the streets they are street walkers in country drag.

Tampa Election Results

I used to watch the TV stations or go to their websites to get the results for elections. However the quickest is to stay logged on to the Supervisor of Elections Tampa election site as they are the source for everyone else.

The earliest results with early voters and 2 of the 112 precinct returns.

Rick Barcena		11.37%	974
Randy ''Red'' Baron		10.10%	865
Denise Chavez		15.06%	1,290
Julie Jenkins		15.09%	1,293
Gwendolyn ''Gwen'' Miller		27.05%	2,317
Joe Redner		21.33%	1,827
			8,566

2 comments from Wayne Garcia about the Shawn Harrison/ary Mulhern race applies to to this one: "Grassroots. This is the real test of how this election will be won. Whoever has the best grassroots effort and can get their voters to the polls today — especially in vote-rich South Tampa (where early voting totals show more than half of the vote citywide is coming from) — will win." and "South Tampa. I hate to keep coming back to this, but an inordinate number of votes will come out of this neighborhood today and determine the outcome."

South Tampa gets what they want. South Tampa has economic and political power. We can't compete on economics, but we could always compete on grassroots political power.

Regardless of what occurs in this election, we need to start getting ready for the next County Commission and City Council races. Candidates need to be found. Networks need to be created. Start seeding and fertilizing the grassroots. Perhaps even create a political action committee.

We also should scheduled now the political forums for those races and other races. We should also see if we can invite candidates for larger races such as Florida Governor, US Senate, and US President to come and speak to Seminole Heights. if we keep asking someone will say okay. Think of the political notice we would get if one of those candidates came to Seminole Heights.

ARE YOU ONE OF THE 105????

It is not quite 5:30 and a whopping 150 people have voted today in an election that is extremely important to SH! I voted first thing this morning, it took under five minutes and I know I had my chance to help SH have a political voice in the next four years.

If you don't vote, then please say nothing in the next four years about how anything is run in the City of Tampa! You don't have the right!

The candidates that will help our area of town, need your support. You have an hour plus to get out there and have a voice!

GET OFF THE COUCH, OUTTA THE BAR, OUT FROM IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER, OR YOUR STOVE AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin White Finds his Fine Clothing Fines him

According to the Times, Kevin White faces up to $38,000 in fines for election campaign expense violations relating to his claiming his clothing as campaign expenditures:.

"The FEC found probable cause that White committed:

- Eight election law violations by certifying that campaign reports were correct when they were false, incomplete or inaccurate.

- Four violations by using campaign money improperly to defray normal living expenses with the wardrobe purchases and the purchase of a $1,915 Dell computer.

- Two violations by authorizing expenditures prohibited by election law: the $6,100 paid for the clothes and the $1,915 paid for the computer.

The Times got some great quotes from the person who filed the complaint:

""It's very clear that this guy doesn't want to be upfront with people," said Schuler, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant formerly with a nonprofit housing agency. "If you gave him a $500 campaign contribution, he didn't use it to buy yard signs. He was wearing it."

and

"Schuler, who filed the complaint, said he had no clue what option White might take. "Whatever he does," said Schuler, "I'm sure he'll look like a million bucks.""

SE Seminole Heights City Development Block Grant requests

An email from Frank Roder:

"On Thursday, March 9 at 5:30 I will be appearing before Tampa City Council to present our neighborhood' s CDBG (City Development Block Grant) requests. This year we are requesting that an additional building be built to replace the existing building (the Kathryn Malone Center) to serve the needs of the neighborhood and civic association. When the overhaul of Giddens Park was being designed by the Greenprinting Initiative, the Mayor's Beautification Committee and the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association, space was reserved for the construction of a new community center. We are requesting that the new center be constructed.

Last year we requested speed tables for 12th St. and Chelsea due to the speeding problems on those streets. That request was denied. Since neighbors are still complaining about the volume of the traffic and speeding, this year we are requesting that traffic calming devices be installed to help control the speeding. Neighbors are encouraged to attend and to speak before council to help promote our requests. If you would like to speak with me please e-mail me for details.
Frank Roder, VP for Public Relations, SESHCA"

Email Frank via the SESHCA main email.
Email info@seshca.com

Disrespect for the Flag

I am a Republican (moderate to liberal). I tend to be a hawk when it comes to war. (Afghan war - good, godly and righteous. Iraq war, wrong, sinful and bungled)) I like an all powerful United States. My dad was in the US Army as was one of my brothers. My other brother was in the Air Force. I was in the Boy Scouts twice. I have strong feelings about the American flag.

Spray painted in the gutter of my new house in Lutz are our house numbers and an American flag. My mailbox flag is a completely faded plastic American flag emblem. I suspect these are all the results of patriotic fervor that followed 9-11.

These two displays of the US flag are shameful and disrespectful. I am especially offended by the US flag in the gutter! What were they thinking? In the gutter!

When I worked at Tampa General one of the trash cans in the lobby area was painted with a stylized US flag. I complained about it but nothing changed. That was an offensive use of the flag in my mind. Decorating a trash container!

On the other hand I'm not offended by the burning of the US flag to make a political statement. That is someone making an affirmative political statement. Demonstrating our freedom of speech we fought for. That is not disrespectful. It is an affirmation of our ideals. (By the way I oppose any flag burning amendment.) However these displays at my house demonstrate neglect and indifference. Lack of thought. Just a fad. I appreciate patriotic fervor. However critical thinking patriotic fervor, not blind lemming fervor. Anyone critically thinking would say "hmmm.. the flag in a gutter is not a good idea."

Top Issues and Seminole Heights residents

There is a front page article in today's Tribune, featuring 4 Seminole Heights couples and their thoughtful opinions on top local issues. The lead writer was our Kathy Steele.

"After 60 years in the same town, Louis Klar is giving up on Tampa, moving with his wife, Karen, to Johnson City, Tenn.

Mamie Owens, a senior citizen, is more afraid of the effect of legislative solutions than the problems they aim to help.

Pat and Cristi Purpura aren't worried so much about taxes and insurance on their home as on their restaurant and a lot they own.

Michelle and Ken Hacek want to have children and fear they won't be able to afford a big enough home."

Topics covered in the article are: "Although property taxes and homeowners insurance top these residents' list of priorities, they also have strong opinions about light rail, where sexual predators should live and whether preteens should be vaccinated against human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease that can cause cervical cancer."

Upcoming Sale in S.H. - Got Stuff to Sell? Join in!!

Just in time for spring cleaning!! The bi-annual parking lot sale @ Sherry's YesterDaze is coming up on Saturday, March 17. We do this in the shop parking lot twice a year in March & November. the sale is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 5207 N. Florida Ave.

Always lots of fun and some really interesting stuff and bargains!

If you'd like to be a part of the sale, you can sell whatever.....garage sale stuff, crafts, antiques & collectibles, art....whatever! it costs $10 and you get, at least, a 10 x 10 space to put up tables, racks, or whatever to display.

I charge to $10 to cover the cost of the ads run for the sale in several publications such as the Tampa Trib., Creative Loafing, etc.

Also, if any Seminole Heights non-profit organization would like to sell refreshments or have a bake sale to raise money, I think you'd do well at the sale. I will let one group have a free space for such a venture.

We always have a great time and sell (and buy, from each other!) lots of interesting stuff!!
Space is limited, so call soon to reserve a space.

Call 231-2020 for more info or email me at yesterdaze (at) verizon.net.