Metro I-4 News

You are browsing the archives of 2008 April.

The subhed in this morning’s headline in the St. Pete Times provides a perfect example of the stuff that bugs me about the boneheads in Tallahassee working hard to destroy what’s left of this wonderful state.
The hed:
“Budget gets final slicing“
Subhed:
“The deal cuts money to classrooms and nursing homes. Only state troopers get [...]

I’ve been a Sticks lurker for quite a while but just started commenting recently, and now I get to join the party. So I guess I should be polite and introduce myself.
First, I should confess that Lara Diamond’s not my real name. It’s my pen name for a novel (Man Overboard) I wrote that [...]

Opinion from Orlando, Lakeland, and Tampa:

Reserve money can’t be used recklessly to allow a bureaucracy to live beyond its means… But even lean budgets should have room for common sense.
This Legislature is literally weighing dollars against lives and coming down on the side of thrift over humanity. Lawmakers should be ashamed of themselves.
A deal [...]

Back in 2004, the Towers of Channelside took reservations on all 257 condo units. In August 2007, they had sold 4 of 5 retail spaces in the towers, and began closing on the condos.
Alas, by January of this year, they had only closed on 89 units, and filed for bankruptcy protection.
Tampa I [...]

On Friday, I gave you four true facts about me and one false one. Today, I give you the answer:

The lie was #3- I never learned the ol’ soft shoe.

Thanks for playing!

Yes, here are the links to yet another Lakeland Crime Map. You can always find the small maps at Lakeland Crime, and this week’s full page map at LakelandLocal.com Crime Map 04/14 to 04/19 2008

43 This week’s stats:

05 Business Burglary
00 Business Robbery
03 Gang Grafitti
02 Personal Robbery
18 Residential Burglary
01 Residential Robbery
00 Attempted Stolen Vehicle
02 Recovered Stolen Vehicle
04 Stolen Vehicle
08 Vehicle Burglary

Yes, friends. It’s not a late April Fools’ joke…The Tampa Bay Rays are now tied for first place in the American League Eastern Division with the Baltimore Orioles. And they did so by winning a three game sweep of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox…extending their current winning streak to six games!

This scenario is just what can make the attitudes and confidences of players and fans alike become more positive, after all the fustration of spending all those seasons at the bottom of the heap which is normal for most young sports franchises. Just read what veteran LF Carl Crawford said to the St. Petersburg Times after yesterday’s game:

“It’s a lotta fun…It’s been good. It’s been like one of the best weeks in franchise history. We’re just going to try to keep it going right now…We’ve got that feeling of winning, and we kind of like it.”

So do we, Carl. Congratulations, and keep it up. And another plus from the win streak (Yeah, I’m being sexist here)…WFLA-TV 8 early morning traffic reporter Alicia Roberts on camera this AM in a snug Rays shirt…a very nice way to get one’s attention before heading out. BTW: Would’ve been nice to have morning meterologist Jennifer Hill sporting one as well!

Spurlock’s search finds that people are people. Everywhere.
Remember Morgan Spurlock? He’s the plucky, plainspoken guy who earned comic-documentary cred with “Super Size Me,” in which he stuffed himself with McDonald’s junk for a whole month while his health and love life slid down the tubes.
After an unimpressive stint as a TV documentarian, Spurlock returns to [...]

It seems the last couple of years have proved one fact to this new resident of Lakeland.

Tampa and Orlando media are afraid of Polk County.

To the Orlando Sentinel we’re often “rural Polk County” or “Orlando-area.”

To the Tampa Tribune we’re evidently a drain on their campus.

In today’s Tribune is an unsigned editorial, USF Lakeland Campus Driven By Political, Development Ambitions

I’ll sum up the editorial for you, “Dear Lakeland, We got ours. Stay small. Wait for us to annex you.” It’s the same thing we hear from Orlando. Both cities look to Polk County as land for their growth.

The editorial starts with the statement: “One of the smartest things Gov. Charlie Crist did last year was veto funding for a regional campus of the University of South Florida in Lakeland.”

Now we well know that Crist was new to the job, and pulling the funding was a matter of misinformation. The campus money…unlike the commuter rail funds…was a matter of long public debate.

The Money:

As you read the editorial, notice how the writer wants you to believe USF Lakeland is taking money out of the hands of USF Tampa.

“and weighed against the cost to USF’s aging campus in Tampa” “A new university in Lakeland shouldn’t be built at USF’s expense.”

The fact of the matter is that Polk County and Lakeland officials have pledged much of the money to the campus. Money matched by other funds. And none of the funds would or could go to USF Tampa. The Tribune’s lone reporter based in Polk County, Billy Townsend, recently wrote:

Only $15 million in state money is currently budgeted to begin construction of a single building at the proposed I-4 site. Polk County and the city of Lakeland have both pledged $5 million, which makes the campus eligible for an additional $10 million in state economic development funds.

The Land:

The Tribune editorial writer can’t determine if holding the campus off a year would keep or lose the donated land. That’s an important point to remember. The campus would be built on donated land.

“As much as anything, this campus is about helping a large landholder build a new community.” The implication is that the company thinks having a university close by would be a good thing. Guess what? It is. I am sure if I went t the Tribunes archives I could find all kinds of editorials arguing against USF Tampa getting donated land and grants.

What’s worse is the writer is confused about the land grant. On one hand they warn if the university doesn’t attract a certain number of students the land grant is revoked. The Tribune claims “USF Lakeland says it expects just 1,522 students by 2014-15,” but the USF Lakeland Educational Plant Survey states: “Projected student headcount enrollment for the 2009-10 academic year will be 3,472 with 1,736 FTE and in 2014-15 headcount is projected to be 8,688 with 4,344 FTE.” (FTE = the number of Full Time students plus a percentage of the part-time students)

Then the editorial writer counters with “However, it’s hard to believe the company will walk away if the deadline is not met, given the money it stands to make on the development.”

The corner of I-4 and the Polk Parkway is a perfect central for an university in as growth blooms along the freeway in Polk County. A company wants to give USF Lakeland the land. And Tampa thinks USF Lakeland should walk away. The Tribune opines that some other landowner would donate land. Does that make sense to you?

You’d get the impression that the editorial writer has an argument with the Williams Company. The Tribune editorial writer says, “Problem is, USF has said the Lakeland campus will not focus on research, but on extending the university’s reach to people who can’t make the drive to Tampa. So why build a research park?”

First, USF Lakeland faculty do perform research. Second, companies like to have research parks next to campuses.

Isn’t that a novel idea! A place for USF Lakeland students to intern and get good jobs. Right here in Polk County.

Of course, the Tribune has argued against USF Tampa having a research center located near the campus. Wait, no, they haven’t. In a recent editorial they argued that USF Tampa should run next door neighbor Byrd Alzheimer Center “The Byrd center should become part of USF, where scientists are doing great work on Alzheimer’s research. It’s a natural fit.”

We’ve got ours. You get yours on your own.

The Buildings:

The Tribune editorial writer was also under the belief that money for USF Lakeland could be spent on improving infrastructure at USF Tampa, “money that will not be spent for upgrades at the Tampa campus’ less-than-new facilities.” USF Tampa started in 1956. I went to a university much older than that. They had buildings a lot older than 50 years. I can’t seem to remember that classes held in older buildings were inferior.

The Tribune counters with crowding, again in Tampa, “where professors face overcrowded classes and students sometimes have to sit on the floor.”

We have overcrowded classes because the Florida voter is more concerned with saving pennies in taxes than funding salaries for more teachers.

Admission Standards:

The writer claims that USF Lakeland admissions standards will be lower. The fact is USF Lakeland would be able to set their own standards. But what if they do allow more students to attend?

“Especially since the admissions standard for the campus will be lower than in Tampa, which means a USF Lakeland degree will hold less standing.” the writer claims.

Under that logic an USF Tampa degree holds less standing than those from hundreds of universities in the US. How elitist. When you decide which Media General editorial writers to keep, do you decide based on their alma mater?

Finally:

In true editorial fashion the writer ends with a bevy of unanswered questions. I thought I’d help out with a few answers.

• The manner in which USF Lakeland is being built isn’t good public policy.

– You mean it isn’t good for Tampa Tribune public policy.

• It is, however, good for The Williams Co. and the ambitions of a handful of Polk legislators.

– And quite a few people I call my neighbors.

• When balancing funding choices in this difficult year, Gov. Crist should call a time-out on USF’s ambitions for a campus in Polk. Instead, the governor should ask the state board to come back within a year with a plan that makes sense for the state, including the possibility of a 12th university.

– Why not move all of USF Tampa here to where the population growth is projected. I am sure Tampa could use the land for another freeway.

I attended the service this morning at Ignited Church in Lakeland looking to see for myself what all the talk regarding this evangalist Todd Bentley is about. Unfortunately, he wasn’t there…at least during the three-plus hours I was there. This morning’s service was led by a female evangalist from Monroe, Louisiana, and while she spoke for over an hour and was entertaining, it was no different from hundreds of religious meetings held every day throughout the country.

Therefore, I’ll not offer any thoughts on what didn’t happen, and will try to receive the online video.

It’s a slow Saturday in the local media…
Tallahassee Watch:
Ethics and space program issues as Dems try to unseat Feeney (O); Can you believe this is what’s going on in Tallahassee? (O); Einstein, Fla. Legislators, Seat Belts (L); House Toughens Up Evolution Challenge (L); Does Tallahassee Get It? (L); School Vouchers Added To Ballot (T); Plastic [...]

Some schools like to set up satellite campuses in nearby cities, such as Tampa, Orlando and Ocala. Southeastern University has gone big-time and waaaaay out with their satellite campus. It’s in Jerusalem, baby!

Here’s an abbreviated version of their press release on the announcement:

Southeastern has acquired a new facility in West Jerusalem. This dormitory/study center will house the university’s new International Studies Program in Jerusalem with classes beginning fall 2008.

The International Studies Program in Jerusalem will build upon Southeastern’s solid tradition of Christian education and will emphasize the important role of servant leadership for global influence.

“Our objective is to provide a life-altering experience that will enrich the educational, cultural and spiritual development of our students,” said Southeastern President Mark Rutland. “Exposing our students and faculty to such a marvelous opportunity takes them beyond the Lakeland classroom, and into the history of the world and the world conflicts of today. Having our facility, especially such a new, upscale facility, is a dream come true.”

Concluding a two-year search to provide the most stimulating opportunity for students to explore and experience the historical background of Christianity, Southeastern will host students at the inaugural semester beginning fall 2008.

The program will be led by Robert W. Houlihan, dean of Southeastern’s College of Christian Ministries and Religion. The intrinsic value for the students will be the addition of new courses and components of current courses devoted to ministerial studies, history, archeology, and current events as well as expanded travel opportunities for Southeastern students and faculty to visit the Holy Land for on-site course work, research, and scholarly collaboration with peers.

You may have read that Florida state senators have been hard at work on an issue that affects us all. Of course, I’m talking about trucksticles. The dangly-bits of male trucks.

You didn’t know trucks had genders? Well, many a state senator has spent the past few weeks lifting tail gates to determine the sex of their trucks. They determined that Florida was the center of an epidemic of aggressive male trucks. Faced with the growing population of such trucks in the state the senators decided to fine the owners of male trucks $60.

To help rid the state of these trucks the state senate also hired a recently retired celebrity known for his work on population control. A source at a local public relations firm emailed me the following print ad:

ABC NEWS / This Week with George Stephanopoulos: With the North Carolina and Indiana primaries now less than two weeks away, Clinton supporters U.S. Senator Even Bayh (D - IN) and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D - TX) will debate Obama supporters Former U.S. Senator Tom Daschle (D - SD) and Congressman Artur Davis (D - AL). Afterward, the political roundtable featuring Maureen Dowd of the New York Times, Former Democratic strategist Matthew Dowd, Democratic strategist and ABC News political consultant Donna Brazile, and conservative columnist George Will of the Washington Post Writers Group.

BAY NEWS 9 / Political Connections: Bay News 9 does not provide advance notice of who the guests or topics will be for Political Connections.

CBS NEWS / Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer: Chief Obama Campaign Strategist David Axelrod and Clinton Communications Director Howard Wolfson will appear to talk about the state of their candidates’ campaigns heading toward North Carolina and Indiana. And former CBS and NBC News Correspondent Roger Mudd will be on to plug his new book, The Place To Be.

FOX NEWS / Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace: U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D - IL) will be the primary guest this week. Afterward, the weekly roundtable discussion featuring Fox News Washington Managing Editor Brit Hume, Bill Kristol of The Weekly Standard, and Juan Williams and Mara Liasson of National Public Radio.

NBC NEWS / Meet the Press with Tim Russert: Democratic National Committee Chairman Dr. Howard Dean will appear to discuss the Clinton-Obama race and how he expects it will affect party unity heading toward the national convention in Denver and the General Election. Then, a discussion of politics with Washington Post columnist David Broder, Slate magazine Chief Political Correspondent John Dickerson, PBS‘ Gwen Ifill of Washington Week and The News Hour with Jim Lerher, Andrea Mitchell of NBC News, and Richard Wolffe of Newsweek.

SYNDICATED / The Chris Matthews Show: The topics and panelists for this week’s programme had not been announced as of late Friday evening.

WEDU-TV 3 / Florida This Week with Rob Lorei: WEDU does not provide advance notice of the panelists and topics to be presented.

WFTS-TV 28 / Flashpoint with Brendan McLaughlin: Brendan and WFTS do not provide advance notice of the guests and topics to be presented.