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Mitch PerryAugust 12, 2015

Despite a court ruling that rejected their request that could have prevented Uber from operating in Hillsborough County, the Public Transportation Committee agreed today that they could continue to issue citations against Uber (and Lyft) drivers. “It is our opinion that there is nothing in Judge Huey’s order that prevents the PTC from continuing its enforcement […]

Mitch PerryJune 12, 2015

Thirty-eights years after Anita Bryant, Florida no longer officially bans gays from adopting children. Although it’s been legal for such couples to adopt since 2010, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill into law Thursday night that now makes that official. The issue roiled social conservatives in and outside of the Legislature this spring. The inclusion of […]

Mitch PerryMay 21, 2015

She didn’t even make the initial list of finalists, but now Janet Dougherty will soon become only the third executive director of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission (EPC). The 53-year-old Hillsborough County native comes with 25 years of experience in local and state environmental policy and business management, and she wasn’t even on the short […]

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2015

Although every member of the Hillsborough County Commission weighed in this morning regarding their concern about the issue of wage theft in the county, the Republican members prescription of how to alleviate the problem drew the wrath of the measure’s proponent, Democrat Kevin Beckner. Beckner said that his colleagues worries about growing the size of government outweighed […]

Mitch PerryMay 13, 2015

The Hillsborough County Public Transportation held a two-and-a-half hour public hearing on Wednesday on proposed regulations that would put ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft into compliance with the agency’s rules. But at the end of the morning, they opted to punt on the issue once again, mandating that a subcommittee come back with recommendations next month. Ever since […]

Mitch PerryMay 8, 2015

Hillsborough County Commissioners (and Administrator Mike Merrill) are gung-ho on having the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) explore an opportunity to move its facility into downtown Tampa. There it could be a part of Jeff Vinik‘s grand plans to redevelop the Channelside area, even though there are serious questions about how productive such a move […]

Mitch PerryMay 6, 2015

The Hillsborough County Commission voted 6-1 on Wednesday to ask the the Florida Commission on Ethics to pursue legal frees from a Plant City winery owner whose ethics complaint against Commissioner Al Higginbotham was deemed to be without merit by that same commission. Joe Keel, owner of Keel and Curley Winery, filed an ethics complaint against […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2015

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who is termed out of office next year, has filed to run for the Clerk of the Circuit Courts in Hillsborough County. Records filed with the Supervisor of Elections office shows that Beckner filed Thursday afternoon. He lists Gil Sainz, his longtime companion and now husband, as his campaign treasurer. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 26, 2015

St. Petersburg GOP state Sen. Jeff Brandes has filed legislation that would allow share-riding companies Uber and Lyft to operate legally in Florida, and would also change the current composition of the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission — an agency that Brandes tried to kill in proposed legislation a year ago. The Brandes bill on the […]

Mitch PerryDecember 10, 2014

Although Uber was recently valued at $40 billion, it’s been a rough week for the ride-sharing behemoth. A judge in Spain yesterday ordered the company to stop operating there. That ruling came a day after Uber was blacklisted in the Indian capital of Delhi after a driver raped a passenger. And on Sunday, a court […]

Tag: Victor Crist

Despite court ruling, Hillsborough PTC agents will continue to cite Uber drivers

Mitch Perry Report for 6.12.15 — On this LGBT issue, Florida and Rick Scott resist social conservative pressures

Hillsborough County Commission picks Janet Dougherty as next EPC chief

Hillsborough County Commission meeting gets hot discussing wage ordinance issue

Hillsborough PTC discusses Uber & Lyft regulations, but again fails to come to a resolution

Mitch Perry Report for 5.8.15 — The MOSI-USF Football stadium dilemma

Hillsborough Commissioners want winery owner to pay Al Higginbotham’s legal fees

Kevin Beckner files to run for Hillsborough Clerk of the Courts

Jeff Brandes bill would reduce local choice of representation on Hillsborough County PTC

Frustration about Uber & Lyft intensifies at Hillsborough PTC meeting