Thanksgiving Week Reflections: Our City, Our Mayor

As the years march on, Thanksgiving becomes increasingly special.

It’s a holiday that’s not about obligation. No need for cards or gifts or even those nominal email greetings. It’s not religiously specific. It’s inclusive.

It’s about reflecting on what’s right with your world, a concept too often lost in the ubiquitous media drumbeat of all that’s wrong. And it’s about being around nice people–whether family, old friends or new neighbors.

Here’s hoping yours was a truly happy Thanksgiving.

Timing Is Critical

And while we’re reflecting, imagine how Mayor Bob Buckhorn must feel when Thanksgiving rolls around.

He has, of course, that central casting family that he’s beyond proud of.  But how about sheer City Hall timing?

* The economy was turning the corner as Mayor Bob stepped up in 2011.

* The Republican National Convention came here in 2012 and underscored, without incident, that Tampa was a big-stage player beyond even Super Bowls.

* Jeff Vinik began asserting himself as the developmental godfather of Tampa.

* Bill Gates said he wanted in.

* Judy Genshaft still got it.

* TIA CEO Joe Lopano proved to be the perfect person to help make Tampa a much more international city.

* Port Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson showed proactive chops in preparing for a widened Panama Canal and the opportunities for non-bulk cargo.

* Richard Gonzmart proved he had the historical perspective, wherewithal and community commitment to make a difference.

* Downtown and Channelside began looking like millennial magnets.

* Major repurposing finally took hold with Le Meridien Hotel, Ulele Restaurant and plans for the Kress Building block.

*The Riverwalk was primed for major-makeover acceleration.

* The University of Tampa kept growing and prospering.

* Plans were announced for several Ybor City projects including a 4-star, 180-room hotel, apartments incarnated out of the Oliva Cigar Factory and a resurrection of Las Novedades restaurant.

* Bollywood came calling and further highlighted Tampa globally.

Mayoral Thanks

But, to be fair, it works both ways. Thanksgiving, that is.

This is not all harmonic convergence here.

Major, progressive cities require catalytic, CEO mayors. If you don’t have one, opportunities can go unrealized. Prospects can go unpitched. Markets can go unpursued.

Tampa can give thanks that its CEO is perfectly cast as chief salesman, recruiter and cheerleader. He looks and acts like somebody who loves his job–whether he’s pedaling for Coast Bike Share, lobbying for DOT grants or leading a trade mission. He also presides over budgets that earn bond rating upgrades.

It also helps that Tampa’s Democratic mayor doesn’t overplay the partisan political card. Gov. Rick Scott is hardly Tampa’s patron saint, but Buckhorn plays him pragmatically. The state did come through with a $194 million grant to help expedite the expansion of TIA.

While this city still has serious issues–notably household incomes and transit–one of them isn’t regret over whom we elected in 2011. In fact, it’s cause for special thanks this week.

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