* When it comes to Florida and Cuba, frustration and irony are an unholy alliance. The head-scratching, Rick Scott-provoked political flap over proposed seaport memoranda of understanding “with a Cuban dictatorship” is just the most recent reminder. It defies political pragmatism, let alone Sunshine State self-interest. It’s a symbolic reminder that he’s clueless on Cuban policy beyond exile pandering. And it hardly helps that the Tampa Port Authority is no paragon of proactivity when it comes to Cuba.
Imagine, no state profits from rapprochement with Cuba more than Florida. And no city benefits the way Tampa would if there were totally normal Cuban-American relations. And yet this state’s governor and this city’s mayor remain unhelpful at best when it comes to fostering U.S.-Cuba cooperation. We know the reasons and rationales–from blatant pandering to mis-prioritized allegiance–none of which justifies not doing what’s best for Florida and Tampa.
* A Mexico-Florida trade summit, scheduled for Orlando later this month, has been abruptly postponed. It’s hardly happenstance in the context of turbulent U.S.-Mexico relations right now.
*It’s official. Miami’s Little Havana is now on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of “national treasures.” The bottom line: Such a notable designation helps in preserving a significant, Cuban-heritage community from developers. Hopefully, that won’t also include preserving its agenda politics.