Ray Chiaramonte is the assistant executive director of the Hillsborough Planning Commission, and Judy Lisi is the president/CEO of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. However disparate, their duties entail being attuned to the demands and wishes of residents and constituents. They also have something else in common that mainly insiders only know. They both [...]
By all accounts, the pitching-challenged Tampa Bay Devil Rays helped themselves in the recent Major League Baseball draft by choosing Vanderbilt pitcher David Price as the number one, overall pick. The Rays still are hoping to sign him soon. In fact, they already have a working relationship with his agent, Nashville-based Bo McKinnis. Only problem [...]
Would that these were the last words on this subject: Paris Hilton.
New York Times columnist David Brooks on the phenomenon of sperm-banking and those who DNA-shop the web sites: “Shoppers can use these sites and select much better genetic material than would be possessed by someone they could realistically lure into bed.”
Wherever there are taxes, there are inequities. It is the nature of targets and exemptions and a consensus of necessary societal services. It’s what we call “tax policy.” Not all oxen are gored, and not all gored oxen are gored equally. And at some point the law of unintended consequences will inevitably kick in. The [...]
Remember the speculation at play at the prospect of Joe Redner defeating Gwen Miller in their City Council run-off? They ranged from “what-the-hell, shake-up-the-establishment” scenarios to ultimate distraction to progressively green, smart growth advocacy. But could anyone have imagined an assertive Gwen Miller? Talk about worst-case scenario. It transcends a major-market hub city merely having [...]
In case you missed it, the I-4 corridor cities of Tampa and Orlando fared very well among the 379 U.S. metro areas rated by Moody’s Economy.com for their overall economic vitality. Tampa was 15th and Orlando 7th. The bottom line seems obvious. Tampa’s growth in jobs and business in the professional services sector and a [...]
First the good news. By all accounts, the sale and ultimate reincarnation of the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in West Tampa is proceeding, although hardly apace. It’s the nature of government property and attendant bureaucratic hoops. But it looks like the Heritage Square at the Armory group is on target to develop a project that [...]
Wasn’t there a time when an invitation to visit the White House was, well, a pretty big deal? Even if you’ve been invited before? Last week was the national champion University of Florida basketball team’s turn to be so honored. None of the Gators’ starters, however, were there. Seems there was a conflict involving preparations [...]
As with most writers, I’m an expert on nothing, an amateur on everything. That includes architecture. I know what I like – classic – and what I don’t – contemporary. Enough of the Frank Lloyd Wrong knockoffs and monuments to marketing and ego. But, yes, I will certainly concede, the matter of taste really matters. [...]
