Janelle Irwin Taylor, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 2, 2019

The first St. Petersburg City Council meeting of 2019 Thursday will include several updates to construction contracts for the new pier. City Council members will vote on a series of budget changes to accommodate continued construction activity and increases to initial cost projections. That includes $47,000 to the city’s contract with Florida Associated Space Design in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 2, 2019

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is meeting with Michael Bloomberg to make an announcement concerning his administration’s efforts to combat climate change. Kriseman is meeting with the former New York City Mayor for coffee Thursday morning and then the two will deliver a news conference at Albert Whitted Park at 10 a.m. The two will also meet […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 2, 2019

The case of a man suspected of burglary in Hillsborough County is the latest in a string of cell phone-related cases that could further define privacy rights in a digital world. Taphone Prince is refusing to give investigators the passcode to his Alcatel 7 cell phone even after a judge issued a warrant for its […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 29, 2018

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U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor will lead Congress’ Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi announced Friday. Pelosi is reviving the committee after it was defunct for about eight years. In her role, Castor will oversee research into mitigation strategies to combat climate change. Conservatives in Congress killed the committee after regaining control of the House in […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 28, 2018

The town of North Redington Beach is joining the list of Pinellas County municipalities that won’t be holding a 2019 local election. The town’s mayor and two town commissioners were re-elected without opposition. The town’s qualifying period for candidates closed earlier this month with no challengers filing to run against incumbents. That means Mayor Bill […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 27, 2018

The city of Belleair Bluffs has canceled its March municipal elections. The city’s mayor and two of its city commissioners were re-elected without opposition. Chris Arbutine, Sr. has served as mayor of the coastal north Pinellas community since 2001. He was first elected as a city commissioner in 2000. Arbutine owns The Silver Queen and Belleair […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

State Sen. Jeff Brandes has again filed a bill that would protect individuals’ privacy contained on cell phones and other electronic devices as well as GPS location data. The bill would require a warrant to access electronic information from a person suspected of a crime. A warrant is not currently required to search such electronic data. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

Pinellas County Congressman Charlie Crist was recognized Thursday night on the House floor for his efforts to bring more civility to the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Claudia Tenney, a Republican from New York, thanked Crist during a speech before the freshman class of Congress for bracelets he gifted members. “It says, ‘practice the Golden […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

UPDATE: Following news of David Straz’s refusal to participate in a debate closed off to some candidates, Bay News 9 has decided to allow all Tampa mayoral candidates to participate in the televised debate next month regardless of how much money they’ve raised. “We have decided to open the Spectrum Bay News 9 Tampa Mayoral […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorDecember 21, 2018

Virgin Trains U.S.A., formerly Brightline, could serve Tampa sooner than expected. Bob O’Malley, Vice President of Government Affairs, told the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation Thursday the company now thinks it could combine work on two legs of its project, speeding up the timeline to “far less than a decade.” The company had planned to expand […]

Janelle Irwin Taylor
Kathleen King and Joe Gruters. Image via Max Goodman.

2019 brings latest St. Pete pier updates

Michael Bloomberg coming to St. Pete to talk climate change

Hillsborough robbery case raises cell phone privacy questions

Nancy Pelosi names Kathy Castor to head revived climate crisis committee

North Redington Beach incumbents re-elected unopposed

No need for Belleair Bluffs vote — three elected without opposition

Jeff Brandes files cell phone privacy bill

Charlie Crist recognized for civility in politics

David Straz won’t participate in Bay News 9 debate—unless all candidates are included

Private high-speed rail could serve Tampa sooner than expected