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Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2016

They did it last night. After nearly four hours of discussion, the Tampa City Council voted 4-2 to support the biggest infusion of taxpayer dollars ever to attempt to improve the city’s stormwater infrastructure, which for decades has been a major problem in the city. Mike Suarez, Lisa Montelione, Harry Cohen and swing vote Guido Maniscalco opted to support Mayor Bob Buckhorn‘s proposal, […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2016

Outgoing state legislator Arthenia Joyner has been a pioneer throughout her professional career in law and politics, and with just months to go before she ends her legislative career in Tallahassee, she was given a commemoration Thursday by the Tampa City Council honoring her work. The 73-year-old lifelong Democrat currently represents Tampa’s Senate District 19, where she […]

Mitch PerryMarch 17, 2016

The Tampa City Council on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution calling on elected officials in Congress to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the controversial free trade agreement between the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations. It’s intended to reduce trade barriers between the 12 countries by lowering tariffs on goods, coordinating regulations and much more. The proposal […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 21, 2016

Bemoaning that a major Hollywood production set in Ybor City was recently filmed in Brunswick, Georgia, instead, the Tampa City Council is urging the Legislature to approve a film incentives proposal. For the fourth straight Legislative Session in Tallahassee, a measure that would provide tax incentives to lure film and television productions to Florida is being debated. Funding […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryNovember 20, 2015

The Tampa City Council rejected a proposal from Mayor Bob Buckhorn‘s administration that would have made a serious dent in alleviating the city’s epic problems with stormwater runoff yesterday. The plan wasn’t cheap — $251 million, and it certainly left open a lot of questions about how fair it was for everyone to pay the […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 14, 2015

Earlier this year, a national organization rated the Tampa Bay area as 11th in the nation for traffic congestion. Obviously, the region has problems with traffic, which is perhaps why St. Petersburg state Senator Jeff Brandes called it a “game-changer” today in describing what could be a $17 million contract that the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) was awarded by […]

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 16, 2015

They’ve already declared their support for a Cuban consulate to be housed in Tampa, and now they want any major agreement between the Cuban and U.S. governments to be signed here as well. By a 5-0 vote, the Tampa City Council on Thursday passed “The Tampa Accord,” a resolution proposed by Councilwoman Yolie Capin that […]

Mitch PerryApril 2, 2015

e’s lot of stories in the news this week about the Republican Party and social issues. Both Mike Pence in Indiana (considered a 2016 presidential possibility) and Asa Hutchison in Arkansas have asked for tweaks in their Religious Freedom Restoration Act bills, after the firestorm it’s created nationally, particularly amongst business groups. Another issue that […]

Tag: Charlie Miranda

Mitch Perry Report for 9.2.16 — Tampa City Council approves $251 million to improve stormwater system

Tampa City Council honors Arthenia Joyner as her legislative career winds down

Tampa City Council passes resolution opposing Trans Pacific Partnership

Tampa City Council wants Legislature to OK film incentives proposal

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

Mitch Perry Report for 11.20.15 – Buckhorn stormwater tax plan gets killed. Now what?

Tampa Expressway Authority awarded first phase of funding for connected vehicle pilot program

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

Tampa City Council votes for any major agreement between U.S. & Cuba to be signed in Tampa

Mitch Perry Report for 4.2.15 — Florida Republicans and immigration