Tampa Tribune's Central Tampa Edition - Next Round

The Central Tampa (or as the Tampa Tribune calls it - South Tampa) neighborhood associations have sent a letter to the Tribune regarding the loss of the central Tampa sectin of the Tribune. Some conversations have already occurred and a meeting is planned.

Here is an excerpt from an email:

"The issue is one of dollars. The central Tampa section does not generate enough ads to support the section. I pointed out that A) the Trib has never really tried to put much effort into the area and B) many of the businesses in the area, being in a central metro area, want to appeal to all of Tampa C) Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights are growing each day and the Trib does not want to miss out of that. "

". . . we can present more than just a stream of complaints. I think it would be important to point out what businesses do advertise in the Trib, perhaps not just in the local section."

Here is the letter:

To:
Gil Thelen, Publisher and President
Janet Weaver, Executive Editor and Vice President
Tampa Tribune
200 S. Parker St.
Tampa, FL 33606

CC:
Pam Iorio, Mayor
Gwen Miller
Rose V. Ferlita
Linda Saul-Sena
John Dingfelder
Kevin White
Mary C. Alvarez
Shawn Harrison

From: Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association, Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association, South Seminole Heights Civic Association, V.M. Ybor Neighborhood & Crimewatch Association, Northview Hills Civic Association, Historic Ybor Neighborhood Civic Association, Business Guild of Seminole Heights, Wellswood Civic Association, River Grove Civic Association, East Ybor Historic and Civic Association

On November 19th, 2005, the Tampa Tribune discontinued the Central Tampa section and transferred its coverage to the South Tampa section. Many communities and neighbors represented by this section, including Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Ybor City, West Tampa, and Sulphur Springs, are concerned by this move. While this consolidation may produce cost savings, we feel that long term this action will hurt the community and the Tribune itself.

When the Tribune began its local coverage of Tampa neighborhoods, the general boundaries of Central Tampa were already well known among the residents of Tampa. That identity was and is very distinct from what is commonly known as South Tampa. The Tribune has attempted to redefine these boundaries contrary to tradition. We feel strongly that the name of the consolidated section must be changed to reflect the true character of the area of coverage, or the Central Tampa Section should be returned.

Many Civic and Neighborhood associations within the Central Tampa area have worked diligently with the Mayor, City Council and the City’s departmental offices in creating policy beneficial to all neighborhoods in Tampa. Over the past decade, our particular communities have made great strides in creating a recognizable identity that is attractive to new residents and business investment. Your move undermines years of effort and threatens our future development.

The Tampa Tribune is the paper for the entire city of Tampa and must be respectful of local identities. We feel that if the Tribune marginalizes Central Tampa, then it risks marginalizing itself and the city of Tampa loses a newspaper of record for all of its citizens.