Author: opinionstogo

For too long there’s been a lot not to like about the building that is Tampa’s art museum. Too small, too inaccessible, too unattractive.

By the end of 2004, however, that will change with the scheduled completion of the $52-million, Rafael Vinoly-designed Tampa Museum of Art.

You’ve already heard about the makeover it means for downtown. I don’t doubt its impact and synergistic potential. Nor its egalitarian appeal as an urban-space retreat for visitors, art patrons and lunch-hour amblers and local passers-by.

I’m just wondering about the most recognized feature, the one that would share skyline billing with the University of Tampa minarets. That would be the “urban canopy” or elevated loggia of interlocking girding 100 feet above the museum — and extending north and south as well as out over half of Ashley Drive.

At night it will reflect light and should be spectacular as the gateway to downtown. It will probably merit the “wow” label mandated by Mayor Dick Greco.

By the light of day, however, I’m still envisioning the mother of all municipal carports.

By the shadows of day, however, temperatures should be lowered by 10-15 degrees. The one-word, daylight label may not be “wow.” But it may be even better. It will be “thanks.”

In the post-9/11 world, America’s flight schools will never be the same. They’re obviously much more mindful of who’s taking lessons — and why. As is the F.B.I., which swears it’s no longer memo-challenged.

Now the Bureau is looking at dive shops, including several in the Tampa Bay area. Presumably memos noting Middle Eastern students showing no interest in surfacing will not go unaddressed.

This much seems certain by now. There’s nothing worth watching on public access TV. If it’s not vacuous, it’s vulgar. But no one, of course, has to watch. What you can’t escape, however, is the public controversy over the “White Chocolate” pubic access show. Besides cultural flotsam, it also promotes political opportunism and constitutional con artists.

But amid the dissonant dialogue there emerged a voice of reason and candor. It belonged to Louise Thompson, president of the board of directors of Speak Up Tampa Bay, the non-profit group that manages the Tampa Bay Community Network.

“Public access is only a reflection of this community,” she opined. Ouch.

Now that the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test determines whether a high school student can graduate, we have the issue of seniors-to-be who have yet to pass it. A lot of them. For example, a quarter of the class of 2003 at Wharton High School is yet to pass.

Moreover, some of them are Bright Futures scholars.

There’s a lot not to like about the FCATs and no lack of understandable backlash. But when Bright Futures “scholars” can’t pass the 10th grade reading-and-math FCAT, the fault may not be the FCAT’s.

Not only does Hyde Park United Methodist Church on West Platt Street have a sense of parishioner priority and community commitment, it also has a sense of irony — and humor. The church recently purchased the nearby Magnolia Tavern and Sports Bar. When renovated, it’s likely to be used for Sunday School classes, Boy Scout meetings and — Alcoholics Anonymous gatherings.

A large banner on the side of the erstwhile gin mill says it all: “Now Under New Ownership.”

The Diocese of St. Petersburg seems mad as, well, hell — and it’s not going to take it any more. Bad publicity that is.

That’s what accusations of sexual abuse, financial improprieties and victim payoffs have wrought these past tumultuous months. It’s beyond the point of frustrated parishioners and church leaders writing letters to the editor and turning off their TV sets. It’s apparently beyond pulpit power, letters to the laity, a church newspaper and “Spirit FM” Catholic radio.

It’s time to bring in a crisis management expert — someone with a spin doctorate.

Enter Bob Carter, a St. Petersburg public relations expert. His credentials include helping advise the Devil Rays on image-building. Carter has been retained by diocesan general counsel Joseph DiVito, who treats the subject of Carter’s fee as if it had been negotiated in confession. He won’t discuss it or even if the money comes from, say, Catholics. DiVito said it wasn’t a “dollar-for-dollar wash-through.”

Oh.

Presumably Carter didn’t advise DiVito on that response. Perhaps he will have more success suggesting the Rays unload Wilson Alvarez, Greg Vaughn, Vince Naimoli, Chuck LaMar and Tropicana Field.

Anyhow, here’s a suggestion. For free.

Return to basics. Don’t be cute, evasive, arrogant and loopholier than thou. Tell the truth. Directly. About who did what to whom and what, if anything, happened as a result. About the exact dollar value and nature of no-bid construction contracts. About why the diocese would pay $100,000 to a former spokesman who looked good in a Speedo bathing suit and said he had been sexually harassed by Bishop Robert Lynch.

Remember the 8th Commandment? Not bearing false witness; telling the truth. It still applies.

E mbrace and Apply: Florida is neither muddle nor model when it comes to landing “new economy” jobs, says a Washington, D.C. think-tank economist.

The Progressive Policy Institute’s Robert Atkinson, who was in town recently to address a gathering of business and civic leaders, authored a study that ranked Florida 18th in ability to compete for those high-paying, “new economy” jobs. Two years ago, it was 16th. Florida’s worst showing was in percentage of civilian scientists and engineers in the work force (49th) and the percentage of manufacturers with Internet access (40th). The state also ranked 37th in the percentage of adults with Internet access at home or at work. AT WORK.

Atkinson emphasized that “new economy” transcended the recruitment of, say, software and other high-tech enterprises. It has more to do with application. He said successful old economy businesses — such as manufacturers across a broad spectrum of products — can succeed or fail on the basis of “embracing” technology. Apply it, underscored Atkinson, don’t just recruit it.

Ethically challenged: Almost assuredly, the St. Petersburg Times has published another potential award-winner: “Alone Together” — “A Year in the Life of an Alzheimer’s Support Group.” It was nearly two years in the making.

It’s moving and undoubtedly helpful to those unfamiliar with such groups — but in likely need of one. It’s well chronicled, well written and, well, pictorially graphic. As in invasive. As in poor taste. As in ethically challenged.

Perhaps the most depressing aspect of Alzheimer’s is the undermining of a patient’s dignity. Where once was an individual, there is now a tragically sad shell. Ultimately unable to relate. Unable to do for themselves. Unable to give permission to have their picture taken being diapered. Being dead.

Not to worry. Ask enough caregivers, and you’ll find some who will give permission. For anything. It’s akin to signing off for a minor.

But human dignity is no minor matter.

Out on a limb of illogic: Ybor City’s Barrio Latino is palm treed out.

Tampa’s historic Latin Quarter arguably has too many bars and under-age drinkers and more than enough places to get a tattoo and a body part pierced. There’s nothing the Barrio can do about that.

And there are plans for a big building that looks incongruously like a boat. The Barrio did too little about that.

But palm trees on the west side of 15th Street where a new sidewalk is going in? The Barrio is on the case and has drawn a line in the pavement. They turned down the request of the Ybor City Development Corp. to spruce up the street with palms. Not traditional enough, sniffed the Barrio. Try elms.

Explained Barrio Chairman Ken Ferlita: “If we approve (palms) on this block