Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJune 28, 2018

The developer behind Water Street Tampa unveiled its plan for the project’s public spaces Thursday, saying that once complete the historic area “will be reborn as the heart and spine of the community.” Strategic Property Partners has in the past touted the nearly 9 million square feet of indoor space in the $3 billion development, […]

Drew WilsonMay 24, 2018

Hopping Green & Sams reeled in up to $300,000 in lobbying pay during the first quarter of 2018, keeping pace with its earnings during the same three-month stretch in 2017. The full-service law firm reported earning up to $250,000 for its legislative efforts and up to $50,000 for executive branch work. Median compensation estimates peg […]

Drew WilsonApril 24, 2018

The development company behind Water Street Tampa said Tuesday that construction is underway on the first of 10 buildings planned for the 55-acre district in Downtown Tampa. The first project in the pipeline for Strategic Property Partners is a 26-story, 519-room JW Marriott Hotel that’s set to open in 2020. The JW Marriott brand is […]

Mitch PerryNovember 6, 2017

A local bill that would make the Jeff Vinik-led Water Street Tampa development a “stewardship district” was passed by the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation at its meeting Friday in Plant City. But first, state Sen. Tom Lee said the bill needed additional vetting before becoming law. Such special districts aren’t out of the ordinary; the Legislature […]

Drew WilsonApril 3, 2017

An immigration reform group founded by tech billionaires is launching in Florida to push for common sense economic reform and a pathway to citizenship for people in the United States illegally. FWD.us, founded by Mark Zuckerburg and Bill Gates among others, is gathering a coalition of business, community and faith leaders to push for immigration […]

Associated PressMarch 29, 2017

Jared Kushner has been a power player able to avoid much of the harsh scrutiny that comes with working in the White House. But this week he’s found that even the president’s son-in-law takes his turn in the spotlight. In a matter of days, Kushner, a senior Trump adviser, drew headlines for leaving Washington for […]

Scott PowersMarch 23, 2017

After a hearing on a humanitarian crisis with millions of lives at stake in northeast Africa, U.S. Rep. Marco Rubio joined a bipartisan group of senators Thursday asking Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to intervene by leading an “urgent and comprehensive” diplomatic effort. Rubio and eight other senators signed a letter Thursday to President Donald Trump‘s secretary of […]

Staff ReportsDecember 31, 2016

President Barack Obama is the man most admired by Americans 2016. In a new Gallup Poll, 22 percent of respondents mentioned Obama in response to the open-ended question. Coming in second was President-elect Donald Trump at 15 percent. This marks Obama’s ninth consecutive time at the top of the most-admired list, but with a margin […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 21, 2016

The New Yorker magazine has a story this week on what a President Donald J. Trump would do if elected in November. Writer Evan Osnos reports that Trump’s advisers are weighing several options for the “First Day Project” – where he would spend hours on inauguration day next January signing papers that “erases the Obama Presidency,” […]

Joe HendersonAugust 4, 2016

Things really got nasty around the Hillsborough County School Board in early 2015. That’s when four of the seven members voted to fire Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. They didn’t like her brusque and dismissive style. They felt Elia believed the board worked for her, not vice versa. The move was, to understate matters, highly controversial. Oh, […]

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Image via AP.

Development firm sheds light on Water Street Tampa’s public spaces

First quarter brings Hopping Green & Sams up to $300K

SPP breaks ground on Water Street Tampa development

Tom Lee wants to know more about local bill for Water Street Tampa

Immigration reform group launches Florida chapter

Jared Kushner, taking new White House role, faces rare scrutiny

Marco Rubio, bipartisan Senate group call for U.S. help for starving North Africa

Americans say Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton most admired in 2016

Mitch Perry Report for 9.21.16 – Can Ban Ki-Moon get enough buy-in to deny a President Trump the opportunity to renounce the Paris agreement?

Joe Henderson: Supporters of MaryEllen Elia now get chance for revenge at ballot box