Another day, another forum, another opportunity for His Ebullience. For Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, last Friday’s drive-by at the Tiger Bay Club of Tampa was another exercise in candor and good humor–and a reminder that he is Tampa’s Cheerleader-in-Chief as well as its wonkish CEO. With familiar tropes (“economic DNA” et al) in tow, he always seems to bring his A-Enthusiasm Game, even when acknowledging municipal challenges. Pam Iorio was a tough podium act to follow. The new leader is following nicely, thank you.
This day Tampa’s Most Voluble Player mainly mixed high-energy boilerplate with managed expectations of the GOP Convention and Tampa Bay Rays’ scenarios. To wit:
* “Even the hard days are good days for me. It’s pure, unadulterated fun.”
* “The days of fighting among ourselves are over.”
* “Ten years from now you won’t recognize this place. It will be an 18-hour-a-day city. We will realize our God-given potential. Let’s not lose this opportunity.”
* “Permitting is up. Downtown is alive and kicking like never before.”
* “This is a real river. That’s (San Antonio) a ditch. … Look for Riverwalk to add more commercial development, museums, marinas.”
* “I’m all about winning. I hate losing. … We’re not a second-tier city. We don’t have to settle. Our goal is nothing less than a sustainable economy.”
* “Intellectual capital is mobile. The skill set (of the ‘best and brightest’) moves with them. We vie for that demographic–those who work all night and skateboard all morning.”
* “Diversity makes us compete. It’s something we celebrate. We are a mosaic. That’s us.”
* “Our goal is no lay-offs. That’s a death sentence in this economy. Probably one more bad (economy) year.”
* “This (GOP Convention) is a LIFT unlike anything we have ever attempted before. It’s an opportunity to showcase all that is good about Tampa to the rest of the world. I almost sent money to the Rick Santorum campaign just to keep this crazy primary going.”
* “Hoping for an exemption.” Mayor Buckhorn on plans to contact the governor with a direct appeal to use Florida emergency management law powers to suspend the state law that prevents the city from regulating handguns during the Convention.
* “Business will be open. Just not business as usual. I’m bringing my girls downtown. I want them to see it.”
* “Doing some things (beautification upgrades to Bayshore Boulevard and all ‘gateways’ coming into downtown) that I was going to do anyway.”
* “Best of all, it’s paid for by TECO.” Those soon-to-be aesthetically illuminated downtown bridges.
* “The Rays are a regional asset. We have to find a way to keep them in the Tampa Bay area. But the city of St. Petersburg and the Rays have to resolve that contract. Words matter. (Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken) Hagan wants to be the boyfriend. I’ll just be the pool guy. You know who gave me that line? Mayor Foster.”
* “It would be transformative.” The impact of a baseball stadium in downtown Tampa.