Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 12, 2016

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is scheduled to give his State of the City this morning. Here are some things to look for in his speech. Transportation – In his 2014 speech, Buckhorn called for a funding referendum to support expanded bus service and light rail in Tampa, saying that the goal should be a referendum in the […]

Jim RosicaNovember 4, 2015

A House panel on Wednesday approved a bill that would require local law enforcement wearing body cameras to develop guidelines for their use. The Criminal Justice subcommittee unanimously cleared the bill (HB 93), sponsored by state Rep. Shevrin Jones, a West Park Democrat. The bill would allow the decision to wear body-cams to remain with local police and sheriffs. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 4, 2015

A Broward County lawmaker wants his colleagues to reconsider the contentious issue of police body-worn cameras after similar legislation failed last session. State Rep. Shevrin Jones, a West Park Democrat, filed his bill (HB 93) on Friday. His version that was proposed last session died. “Problems don’t disappear just because legislation doesn’t pass,” Jones said in a […]

Guest AuthorAugust 26, 2015

I found myself facing some epic declarations and accusations recently: “How do you even have the job that you have?” “And you have a Ph.D. in English! How? How did that happen?” “Should you even be a librarian?” I laughed in the face of everyone’s reactions to my seeming disgrace. I like to laugh. I […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 6, 2015

A tough question facing Florida – and particularly South Florida – is: How can we combat flakka? But first, a more basic question: Why should Florida bother to combat flakka? It’s mind-boggling that people continue to take the dangerous drug. And its use apparently is increasing. Anyone with half a brain should know that the […]

Jac VerSteegJuly 5, 2015

A tough question facing Florida – and particularly South Florida – is: How can we combat flakka? But first, a more basic question: Why should Florida bother to combat flakka? It’s mind-boggling that people continue to take the dangerous drug. And its use apparently is increasing. Anyone with half a brain should know that the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorJune 16, 2015

Welcome to another installation of “my bad luck is your source for information!” About six months ago, I reported my identity had been used by someone somewhere to file an unemployment claim. I was lucky. All it took were a handful of phone calls, a few hours and some mildly aggravating music-on-hold in order to […]

Jac VerSteegJune 15, 2015

“He did nothing wrong. He was afraid for his life. I commend him for his actions.” Those words were, in effect, Alberto Iber’s resignation letter. The Miami high school principal – excuse me, the former Miami high school principal – posted those fateful words online on a Miami Herald comment page. Iber was defending the […]

Bob SparksJune 11, 2015

There is no way to sugar coat it. The relationship and level of trust between urban African-American communities and police is at its lowest point in decades. Bringing people together will take an honest assessment of where we are followed by good-faith suggestions for solutions. Everyone must understand it is tough being a cop and […]

Melissa RossJune 9, 2015

An on-air discussion of the McKinney, Texas, viral video making the rounds this week quickly turned into an impassioned debate on criminal justice, with one participant’s calls to confront institutional racism set against another’s plea to evaluate police use-of-force incidents case by case. “We have to look at the institutionalization of racism in America,” activist Wells […]

Tag: police

5 things to look for in Bob Buckhorn’s State of Tampa address

Police body-camera bill OK’d by House panel

Police body-camera bill introduced for next session

Yolanda Hood: I don’t control a lot of things – but I can control what I read

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Fight flakka with a tax on tobacco

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Fight flakka with a tax on tobacco

Janelle Irwin: Not even kids cop a break from credit thieves

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Miami principal inept but didn’t deserve ouster

Bob Sparks: Police body cameras can exonerate as well as implicate

The McKinney video: a Rashomon