When it comes to taking a stand against something harmful to the Tampa Bay area, the state of Florida, the United States and planet Earth, all leverage should be exercised. Politics be damned.
So, it’s totally appropriate for America’s mayors–from Pittsburgh to Plant City–to join the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda that prioritizes upholding “the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement.” Both Tampa’s Bob Buckhorn and St. Petersburg’s Rick Kriseman have joined more than 200 other mayors in formally pledging to support the Paris Agreement– regardless of what the U.S. is officially doing in the wake of President Donald Trump’s announced withdrawal from the global agreement. The other major Tampa Bay mayor, Clearwater’s George Cretekos, has declined. “I want to lead by example, not by criticism,” he explained.
Well, two out of three is not good enough in underscoring Tampa Bay’s concern and commitment.
Even though Clearwater has some green bona fides, Cretekos misses the point. All tools, including symbolic ones that are inevitably political, are to be utilized when the cause warrants. This one does. It’s that existentially important, even for a Republican.