Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 8, 2015

After calling for federal review of police practices in vehicle and bicycle code enforcement, both Tampa police and Mayor Bob Buckhorn insist there is no need to further expand an upcoming Justice Department investigation. That’s despite a WTSP-TV report showing the Tampa Police Department arrested more black people than any other law enforcement agency on […]

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

A half-hour after Eric Ward was named the new Tampa police chief on Thursday, two city council members joined a coalition of activist groups who again called on the Tampa Police Department to temporarily stop their current bike citation policy. Council Chairman Frank Reddick and District 7 Councilwoman Lisa Montelione joined members of the ACLU, […]

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

Newly tapped Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward said Thursday during his introduction to the city that black bicyclists have “absolutely not” been unfairly targeted by the department that he’ll take over next week. Activists have said they want a time-out on the bike citations, but when asked by a reporter about the issue Ward didn’t […]

Mitch PerryApril 30, 2015

Two nights after Baltimore burned in anger at the death of Freddie Gray, the young black man who died in police custody there, mass demonstrations were held in cities like Washington, D.C.; Philadelphia; Denver; New York City; and Minneapolis on Wednesday night. No such protests occurred in the Tampa Bay area, but Baltimore was very […]

Mitch PerryApril 27, 2015

A really unusual thing happened this weekend — ABC’s much-hyped interview with Bruce Jenner wasn’t terrible. If fact, it was riveting, as the former Olympic hero acknowledged what has hardly been a secret during the past year or so – he’s transitioning to becoming a woman. “My whole life has prepared me for this moment,” Jenner […]

Mitch PerryApril 26, 2015

By any measure, Tampa has flourished since its citizens elected Bob Buckhorn as mayor in 2011. Saddled with budget deficits in his first couple of years in office, he put the city’s economy back on solid footing post-recession. There’s been a plethora of new parks and swimming pools built throughout the city, and an expanded Riverwalk has […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

Tampa police Chief Jane Castor spoke to Tampa City Council Thursday morning for nearly an hour, discussing the issues concerning the disproportionate number of citations written against black city residents. An investigation by the Tampa Bay Times brought the situation to light in a story published this past weekend. The charges have prompted Castor and […]

Mitch PerryApril 22, 2015

Three days after the Tampa Bay Times explosive story that blacks in Tampa are being racially profiled and over-policed by law enforcement, Mayor Bob Buckhorn has finally issued a response. The upshot is that he says the Tampa Police Department will implement a new tracking system to monitor “every traffic stop, ticket, and warning issued, […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

The uproar over a Tampa Bay Times report over the weekend that the Tampa Police Department has been targeting low-income black bicyclists over the past decade continues to reverberate, with Chief Jane Castor facing the strongest criticism in her nearly five year tenure, just weeks before she steps down after a distinguished 30-year career with the department. […]

Mitch PerryApril 20, 2015

Happy 420 Day. There have been some interesting stories being produced by our friends over at the Tampa Bay Times over the past week. The paper returned to their coverage of Doug Hughes yesterday. Hughes is the Ruskin postal worker who hoped to raise awareness about the influence of big money in politics by violating […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn

WTSP: TPD, Bob Buckhorn say no need for further review on race arrest rates

2 Tampa City Council members say bike policy will guide votes on new police chief

New Tampa police chief says he’ll keep bike citation policy

Tampa town hall meeting on race reveals raw emotions

Mitch Perry Report for 4.27.15 — Bruce Jenner’s journey

Bob Buckhorn faces first major test as Tampa mayor

Jane Castor strongly disputes biking-while-black story at Tampa City Council meeting

Bob Buckhorn responds to Tampa Bay Times story on TPD targeting black bicyclists

“Biking while black” in Tampa story not going away

Mitch Perry Report for 4.20.15 – Tampa’s Bicycle Blitzkrieg