Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2016

It came down to, as we all knew it would, to the enigmatic Victor Crist. After more than four hours of discussion and debate, the decision about whether to place the Go Hillsborough half-cent sales tax on the November ballot was deadlocked between the Board of County Commissioners 3-3, which is what we had known […]

Mitch PerryApril 27, 2016

Hillsborough County Commissioners unanimously approved increasing what used to be call impact fees but are now dubbed mobility fees. It’s actually a pretty big deal by itself, considering that they hadn’t done so since Ronald Reagan was still president. The fees are designed to have developers pay for the increase in construction to roads needed […]

Mitch PerryApril 13, 2016

Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission executive director Kyle Cockream says his final day on the job will be July 11. Cockream announced he was stepping down on Monday after serving two years on the job, but said at Wednesday’s PTC meeting that he began “having communications” with agency chair Victor Crist about leaving the post back on […]

Staff ReportsApril 11, 2016

Miami-based attorney Ivette Arango O’Doski, who also lives in Tallahassee (she’s married to Advantage Consulting Team’s co-founder Rhett O’Doski), became part of the Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney team April 1. She will staff the Miami office. Her hire opens the door for the firm’s entry into the lucrative South Florida governmental relations market. In 2014, Gov. Rick Scott appointed her as a “consumer […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 22, 2016

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A concept of “deal” implies that each side gets “something.” Not so with Uber and the taxi industry. So far, in all negotiations, Uber has stuck to everything they want, yet offering little (or nothing) in return. From the onset, Uber’s arrival in Florida quickly became a matter of ignoring the existing rules, beginning with […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 14, 2016

(UPDATE) Shortly after 8:30 a.m., the Oscar nominations will be announced from Hollywood, and yes, I actually give a fig. As an inveterate moviegoer, I still get excited about what the Establishment thinks about the product it puts out every year. Interestingly, while the Oscars are still among the most viewed television broadcasts globally every year, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 13, 2016

Will the Florida Legislature address the issue of Transportation Network Companies such as Uber and Lyft in the 2016 Session? That remains an open question this week as the Legislature returns to Tallahassee for the Regular Session. On Wednesday afternoon, the House Economic Affairs Committee will discuss legislation sponsored by Fort Walton Beach Republican Matt […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 13, 2016

It’s a new year, but the issue remains at Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission: What to do about Transportation Network Companies (TNC) Uber and Lyft that continue to operate outside of the agency’s rules. That prompted Commission Chairman Victor Crist to threaten on Wednesday a radical solution if the Legislature doesn’t act this Legislative Session. “If […]

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 PerryDecember 7, 2015

There’s a lot of angst in the country and political world about how we are dealing with domestic terrorism, five days after San Bernardino. Well, that’s what the media tells us. I’m not so sure. There were a lot of big football games over the weekend with sellout crowds. Restaurants and bars seemed to pretty […]

Tag: Victor Crist

Mitch Perry Report for 4.28.16 – Go Hillsborough goes down. Now what?

Mitch Perry Report for 4.27.16 – Time for Hillsborough BOCC to make a decision

Kyle Cockream’s last day as Hillsborough PTC head is July 11

Personnel notes: Ivette Arango O’doski, Karen Skyers and Jennifer Wilson making moves

The case for the taxis not making a legislative deal with Uber & Lyft

Mitch Perry Report for 1.14.16 — And the nominees are?

AFP backs Matt Gaetz legislation on ride-sharing

Victor Crist hints at “radical” move in Hillsborough if Legislature doesn’t act on Uber, Lyft

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

Mitch Perry Report for 12.7.15 – Obama speaks on threat of Islamic State, GOP reacts