Mitch Perry
In recent years Tampa City Council members like Mary Mulhern, Yolie Capin, Harry Cohen and Charlie Miranda have made trips to the communist island, as more and more of the political and business establishment say they want the city to be in the best position if and when the now 53-year-old economic embargo ends.
Since the Obama administration announced a diplomatic breakthrough with Cuban officials in December, there has been increasing talk about building a Cuban consulate in Tampa. Miami would seem to be a competitor for such a facility, but that city’s mayor, Tomas Regalado, says he wants no part of one.
At a forum Tuesday night in Forest Hills, moderator Daniel Ruth asked the candidates running for office next month their thoughts on the issue.
“It is finally time to negotiate and talk and find out if we can make relations and help the people of Cuba,” replied current Council Chair Charlie Miranda, now running for the District 2 seat. I’ve been to Cuba in the past 10 years about 20 times. It’s time to have a consulate. I hope it’s in Tampa.”
“It’s very important for business. For leisure,” said Julie Jenkins, also running in District 2. “I think it’s wonderful to have the consulate here over Miami. It’s economic development for us (and) for them. But mainly for us.”
“I look at this on an economic level,” added Joe Citro, the third candidate in the citywide District 2 race. “West Central Florida. One million people will be directly affected by trade with Cuba. 11 million people in Cuba will have better, cheaper food on their table. Talk about economy. Talk about human rights. If we have a consulate here, so be it. I would rather not deal with the Castros, I want to do deal with the Cuban people.”
One member of the current City Council who has been less than enthusiastic about promoting the benefits of traveling to Cuba has been Mike Suarez. While he said he would welcome a consulate in Tampa, he maintained that there really wasn’t much doing on a business level.
“Congress is going to have to lift the embargo, so our role on City Council is very small,” he said. “Right now we don’t trade with Cuba is one simple reason. They don’t have any money. The cost to do business is zero. They have nothing to trade with. Their economy is in shambles. So when we talk about trade, there’s a lot of other countries we’d rather deal with first. Second, we need to have Congress change their mind about the embargo. Until that happens, we’re not going to be doing any trade with Cuba, whether it’s Tampa, Miami, or anywhere else in the U.S. Our Congresswoman has been pushing for that. You need to call your Congressman or Congresswoman and tell them that you support that, so they can change that policy.”
Susan Long, who is running against Suarez, said that the fact that has not having traveled to Cuba made her feel somewhat ill-equipped to comment. But she said her housekeeper is from Cuba, and she would like to see a consulate built in Tampa. “I figure she’s got more expertise than I do, so I’ll say sure.”
Jose Vazquez, who is running as a write-in candidate for mayor, said he wanted a Cuban embassy in Tampa. “We need more embassies to promote the city of Tampa.”
District 3 candidate Paul Ermi called the issue “an 800 pound gorilla in the room.”
“Until Raul and Fidel are gone, the Cuban people will be under the thumb of communism. This is not a City Council question, but my position is. Look at it this way.They have over 140 countries that they are trading with now. What is trading with us going to make it any better for the Cuban people,” before adding that “Tampa is just as good as any other city. But that’s a federal issue.”
Mayor Bob Buckhorn says he’s neutral on the issue, but hardly enthusiastic about. If that’s the choice…we will be respectful of the law, respectful of the consulate officials,” he said last month.
Congresswoman Kathy Castor is advocating for a consulate being built in Tampa.
