Crist’s CYA Strategy

           Gov. Charlie Crist was rightly praised for extending the hours for early voting. It certainly wasn’t at the behest of GOP strategists.

However, sheer numbers, logistics and meaningful democracy demanded no less.

Maybe it’s a sign of poisonously partisan times when simply doing the right thing warrants such tribute. To political insiders, it’s certainly no surprise. The centrist governor, who is the favorite Republican of many Democrats, has always known how to Cover His Assets.

Re-election is in 2010 – and the opportunistic Crist will once again need more than traditional Republican votes and residual good will for helping John McCain re-energize his presidential campaign in Florida.

Halloween Take

             For what it’s worth, the Halloween census seemed down in our South Tampa neighborhood this year. No vans dropping off kids and no teens in civvies looking for free stuff. Maybe word was out that Snickers had downsized yet again.

            And for the first time in recent memory, there were no girls costumed as popular-culture strumpets. Nice to see that good parenting and Halloween envelope-pushing can co-exist without any more Britney Spears knock-offs. There were more Harry Potters and Jokers – and at least one cell-phone chatting princess, who didn’t even warrant a down-sized Snickers.

Lynchpin

            John Lynch retired. Mostly as a Buc (11 seasons) but also as a Denver Bronco (four seasons).

He’ll not be forgotten – and not just because he’s Hall of Fame material. Tough, humble, classy, friendly to everyone. Would that Lynch were the rule and Warren Sapp the exception.

                       

Excuse Syndrome

We’ve known for years that conditions such as alcoholism, compulsive gambling and obesity are not to be dismissed as nothing more than the character flaws of weak people. We’re more medically and psychologically enlightened than that.

On the other hand, we now have, quite arguably, more than enough syndromes and labels to explain away everything from poor time management to romantic failings.

The line between reason and excuse has never been so thin.

But until recently, we hadn’t heard about “non-filer syndrome.”

That’s what ostensibly explains the failure of Charles O’Byrne, who failed to pay $300,000 in taxes on time. The top aide to New York Gov. David Paterson was forced to resign amid criticism that he hadn’t paid his taxes between 2001 and 2005.

One of O’Byrne’s attorneys said such taxpaying inertia was a common mental health problem among professionals. But mental health – as well as IRS – officials said they had never heard of “non-filer syndrome.”

A spokesman for the IRS, however, did say the Service was more than familiar with the “do-whatever-it-takes-to-get-a client-off-the-tax-liability-hook” syndrome.

Or he should have.

Clichégate

The relationship between Lowry Park Zoo, its president Lex Salisbury, and Salisbury’s private Safari Wild obviously has been getting the scrutiny it deserves. And has deserved for some time. The transfer of those three zoo rhinos to Safari Wild symbolized and illustrated the intermingling-of-assets and conflict-of-interest issues.

On balance, Salisbury has done a good job, and the Lowry Park Zoo is a credit to this community — but this is serious enough to have warranted Salisbury’s leave-of-absence pending audits.

But “Rhinogate?”

The “gate” affix (“Troopergate” most recently) is a trite media staple that over- dramatizes, over-hypes and over-states whatever it references. It was a surprise that communications savvy Mayor Pam Iorio, who dubbed the Zoo-Safari controversy “Rhinogate,” would traffic in it.

Prague Upshot

 There had been talk that the Lightning-Rangers games in Prague – as well as the Pittsburgh-Ottawa games in Stockholm – might be some sort of precursor to NHL international expansion plans. Especially after Los Angeles and Anaheim did it last year – and since more such regular-season games in Europe are in the offing.

Not.

Sources say the NHL, which will target Germany for its next games, only wants to increase league exposure – in order to boost product sales and viewership on cable and the internet.

The problem with European franchises is several-fold. Major European capitals such as Paris and London could care less about hockey, and cities that do have a passion for it, such as Prague, have limited financial resources. Unwieldy logistics and taxing travel schedules are a significant issue. 

And while Russia loves hockey – and some of its cities have expressed an interest in hosting NHL games – working out player-contract details would be problematic. At best. It’s still Russia.

Lightning Jolt

Timing, of course, is everything. But could the much anticipated, high-profile rollout of the largely overhauled Tampa Bay Lightning have gone worse? Worst to cursed?

Of the four teams that began the season in Europe, the Lightning, which lost twice to the New York Rangers in the Czech Republic, is the only one that came back winless and pointless. The offense was a no-show.

Presumably the team did do some bonding, but even that was overshadowed by reports from Canadian media — vigorously denied by the Bolts — that Lightning co-owner (and former NHL player) Len Barrie was in the Tampa Bay locker room in Prague diagramming plays. Even if not true, it’s the sort of distraction no team trying to find its identity with new ownership, coaches and key personnel can afford. Plus, to a lot of people, it seemed like the sort of thing – however unfair – that Barrie just might do.

Upon returning to Tampa, the Lightning haven’t played appreciably better. Including, most ignobly, the effort-challenged loss to San Jose – Dan Boyle’s new team. And that chorus of boos at game’s end had nothing to do with Halloween.

 In addition, the Lightning didn’t sell out the home opener and attendance – officially — is off about 3,000 a game. 

Moreover, the Bolts, who always battle football for media priority at this time of the year, dropped further under that radar by virtue of the Tampa Bay Rays’ amazing run to the World Series.

Gov. Richardson As Pied Piper Of Early Voting

            He came; they listened; they voted. It’s not usually that easy.

            New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had dropped in at West Tampa’s Salcines Park to exhort a couple hundred Obama faithful to vote early. When he had finished his boilerplate pep talk, the rally attendees were encouraged to simply walk across the street to vote early at the West Tampa Library, one of Hillsborough County’s 13 early voting locations. Most did – and queued along Union Street.

            “Well, you can’t beat the logistics,” acknowledged Richardson. “We’re trying to get out the early-voting message.”

 Looking and sounding more animated and affable than when he was a presidential candidate, Richardson plugged for early voting after emphasizing Obama positions on job stimulus, energy independence and a foreign policy “that won’t be based exclusively on force.”

Aside from a sprinkling of some “cambios” (change), a “si se puede” (yes, we can), a “basta ya” (enough is enough) and an “Obamanos” (Let’s go – for Obama),          the Richardson pitch didn’t seem overly tailored to an Hispanic crowd. It wasn’t intended to be.

Richardson, of course, is keenly aware of Florida’s politically eclectic Hispanic composition – from Republican Cubans in South Florida to Democratic Puerto Ricans in Orlando to a generally moderate mix of those in the Tampa Bay area whose heritage is Spanish, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Mexican and Central American.

“I don’t give them an ‘Hispanic’ message,” explained Richardson. “I give them an American message. It’s positive and it’s broad, and it’s about concerns that are everybody’s. It’s not just about immigration.”

And speaking of – Richardson said to expect immigration action sooner rather than later from a President Obama.

“Senator Obama is committed to comprehensive, bi-partisan immigration reform,” he emphasized. “And he’s committed to that reform in the first three months of an Obama Administration.”

PS: Richardson’s wife is from Massachusetts, so the governor admitted to an allegiance to the dethroned Boston Red Sox. But he obviously enjoyed rolling out the Latino surnames of Tampa Bay Rays players Fernando Perez, Dioner Navarro and Matt Garza.

Teachable Moment

            Now we really know that the economy is really in serious trouble. That’s because the financial fallout has rippled far beyond investment bankers, home owners and anyone who requires credit lines.

            It is now impacting Homecoming, that high school rite of passage that has morphed over the years into a pricey entitlement program with stretch limos, outlandishly expensive dresses, and ever-exotic, ritzy venues. 

            We’re now seeing local high schools cutting back and even going retro – as in returning the Big Dance to a decorated gym.

            Good for them. But this shouldn’t be considered as merely ad hoc cost-cutting to accommodate lean times.

This, frankly, is a teachable moment for the next generation. This shouldn’t be asterisked as the year the prom went cheap. This should be heralded as the year the next generation saw what they can still do if they don’t live beyond their means. And, upon reflection, how they were also a part of the problem.

Hopefully, the next president will rally Americans to live within their means and instill some sense that sacrifice and the good, free life aren’t mutually exclusive.

Hyde Park Village Irony

           While it’s premature to celebrate, the most recent word out of South Tampa’s Hyde Park Village is the most encouraging in years. It looks like the controversial, mid-rise condos, which were to be the centerpiece of redevelopment, are out. And a Canadian furniture store, a six-screen theater, new restaurants and more – could be in.

            Some history:

            Buffeted by mall competition, the Village, which is nestled within the historic Old Hyde Park neighborhood, had been seeing anchor businesses depart and a disquieting game of musical storefronts commence. Developer David Wasserman determined last year that “the numbers wouldn’t work” in a major ($100-million) redevelopment without those condos in the mix. Sorry, but it was the nature of the market.

            The neighbors, understandably, weren’t happy. But nobody wanted a failed retail eyesore either. Some compromise ensued on condo heights, and the city pragmatically approved the project last December.

            Now, ironically, the market has spoken again. Where once condo towers seemed inappropriate but necessary for revitalization, they now seem inappropriate and unnecessary. Let’s hear it for the market; sometimes it takes a Village to remind us.