I was disappointed that committee meetings held me in Tallahassee last week for the announcement at Cypress Gardens. As we knew, the news coming from the sale to Merlin confirms: this is a big deal. Initial reports in The Ledger boast 1,000 new jobs, although reports from folks who attended the news conference indicate as [...]
"There is an old saying that Americans will always do the right thing, but only after they have tried everything else first." Guest columnist Thomas Downs explains where Robert Samuelson failed in his column "A Rail Boondoggle, Moving at High Speed"
The economy is again a main topic in the regional newspapers. Today's articles discuss saving money by using the bus and over-the-air TV. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority received some funding, and companies are moving retail locations to save money also top the news. Finally, an Orlando columnist was happy to see the Central Florida Partnership's "Regional Rally for Rail". Travelers cut costs by boarding the bus Free TV: How to live without cable, Direct dishes and the bills that go with them Transit Authority Receives Funding Rising Gas Prices Resulting In Changes in Retail Locations Partnership may be a main engine for commuter rail
Yes – that headline says April 15. Your tax forms must be in the mail by midnight tonight. Apopka Cops say that the house being used for a reality show was once used to broadcast live sex acts for an adult entertainment Web site. Can’t you imagine the idiots behind this? “Hey, [...]
The big subject lately is transportation. In addition to your votes that transportation is the first issue to tackle, recent and upcoming TBARTA public meetings and debating red light cameras, Rich Shopes tells us that the Florida Department of Transportation says morning commute times will increase significantly by 2025. The story includes a map of [...]
I attended the TBARTA Open House on Monday, and today I’m bringing it to you, just in case you didn’t slog through rush-hour traffic to voice your concerns about transportation around here. (Sticks commenter Scott Gunsaullus spent 2 hours on public transportation to get to the meeting!) But you get to skip that transportation hassle, [...]
Hillsborough County Commissioners unanimously agreed to red light cameras on Thursday. The Tribune notes: … 10 Hillsborough County intersections will get red light cameras that supporters say save lives and detractors claim cause more - not fewer - accidents. Red light cameras cause about as many crashes as red lights. Neither are the reason for [...]
Press Release from TBARTA: Where Do Your Daily Travels Take You? TBARTA Wants to Know The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority seeks public participation in its master plan. As the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) begins the task of developing a transportation “master plan” for the region, it is asking the public to share their [...]
Here you go, TJ: Last week we discussed Tampa Bay’s top ten problems, according to Wayne Garcia: 1. Suburban sprawl 2. Urban density (lacking) 3. Transportation 4. Environment (weak protections) 5. Living green 6. Diversity (racial, ethnic, class) 7. Professional sports (over-subsidized [...]
After he got the signal that it was ok to proceed, Macelin Azor crossed West Main Street on Sunday afternoon in his motorized wheelchair. Seemingly out of nowhere, a pickup slammed into him from his left, sending his wheelchair rolling and killing him. Jermaine DeWhite Anderson drove a pickup down West Main Street, and ran [...]
Bio: I’m a Christian, a husband, a father, a son, a real estate consultant, and now, an amateur writer. As well, I am a Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing District 63, or parts of Polk and Hillsborough Counties. My goal in this space is to provide my insight and comment on events shaping our larger region. I hope to consistently remind my community that we live in a connected world and that our commitment to being a player in the Metro I-4 super-region will make all the difference in the world. Selfishly, I also hope to further develop my skills as an amateur writer - a muse with which I’ve always tinkered but, until now, never published. I hope you find depth in my insights and sincerity in their offering. And I hope you’ll let me know how I’m doing… email: mckeel@metroi4news.com