Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 6, 2018

Conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Florida has long criticized taxpayer-funded sports stadiums, and the Tampa Bay Rays’ new ballpark is no exception. A recent report found that the preferred site for the new stadium is in a tract of land that was recently designated as an “economic opportunity zone,” making it eligible for federal tax breaks. […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

The last time anyone asked, Tampanians overwhelmingly said they approve of the job Bob Buckhorn has done as Mayor of Tampa. Back in November, some three-quarters of 350 Tampa residents surveyed said they approve of his performance, and most said the city is headed in the right direction — that was before Raybor was a thing. In […]

Scott PowersApril 18, 2018

In a Democratic gubernatorial debate Wednesday that illuminated only a handful of policy differences while all four candidates sought to define their brand themes, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham found herself often playing defense, repeatedly disputing remarks from Winter Park businessman Chris King and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. At one point Graham, the presumed co-front […]

Phil AmmannMarch 21, 2018

Americans for Prosperity-Florida will be running a new digital ad in the Tampa Bay region warning against using public money to build a new Rays baseball stadium — either in St. Petersburg or Ybor City. Unveiled Wednesday, the 30-second animated ad, produced by the activist group founded by the billionaire conservative brothers Charles and David […]

Guest AuthorMarch 7, 2018

The Tampa Bay Rays want a new stadium to replace 28-year-old Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. But like many professional sports teams these days, they aren’t going to a group of investors or running to the bank to finance the multimillion-dollar project. Instead, they are going to the government to see how much money they can […]

Joe HendersonFebruary 12, 2018

The long-awaited announcement last Friday that the Tampa Bay Rays have chosen Tampa’s historic Ybor City as the place they’d prefer for a new stadium brought the inevitable question of how much the public should pay for the massive project. I have an idea: How about nothing? I am not against professional sports. I love […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 9, 2018

After a decade searching for a new home, the Tampa Bay Rays officially committed Friday to build a new ballpark in Tampa’s historic Ybor City entertainment district. That wasn’t much of a surprise, considering Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan had revealed that information last October. And Friday afternoon’s press conference didn’t provide many more specifics other […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 7, 2018

Jaime Faith Edmondson, the wife of former Tampa Bay Rays star Evan Longoria, is suing a Tampa strip club for misappropriating her image on its Facebook page and promotional material, suggesting she is a part of the “strip club lifestyle.” St. Petersburg resident Edmondson, 39, is a former Playboy model and one-time Playmate of the […]

Joe HendersonNovember 16, 2017

I assume Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg was trying to make a joke Wednesday when he said his organization might come up with $150 million to help pay for a new ballpark in Tampa’s Ybor City that will cost a lot more than that. I say that because I literally started laughing as I […]

Mitch PerryNovember 15, 2017

Ken Hagan is offering no guarantees for a possible Tampa Bay Rays stadium move to Ybor City. For the first time since the Hillsborough County Commissioner divulged to the media last month that a site in Ybor City was identified where the Tampa Bay Rays could (maybe) relocate, Hagan addressed the issue with colleagues Wednesday. During […]

Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

Americans for Prosperity blasts Bob Buckhorn over Tampa Bay Rays deal

#2 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Bob Buckhorn

Democratic debate puts Gwen Graham on defense

Americans for Prosperity warns ‘taxpayers lose’ with Tampa Bay stadium

Demetrius Minor: Sports teams are holding communities hostage over our tax dollars

Joe Henderson: Public’s bill for Tampa Bay Rays stadium? How about zero?

More questions than answers after Rays commit to play in Ybor City

Evan Longoria’s wife sues Tampa strip club for misappropriating images

Joe Henderson: Let’s hope Stu Sternberg was joking

Stee-rike! ‘No guarantee’ of money for Rays stadium in Tampa