When it comes to Cuba, Miami and Tampa are generally poles–or embargo perspectives–apart. Miami has next-generation exiles, Tampa has descendents of tobacco workers. Miami has a vendetta agenda, Tampa envisions unfettered trade and travel scenarios. Miami has Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Tampa has Kathy Castor.
But as sure as the Castro brothers’ days are numbered, change is inevitable. It’s more than negotiations about resuming direct mail service and an agreement to resume bilateral talks on migration issues. And at some point the Alan Gross/”Cuban Four” intelligence-agents standoff will be seen as the low-hanging, geopolitical fruit that it is.
But for now, the two markets eye each other warily. That was reflected recently in a lengthy Miami Herald piece (by Eric Barton of the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting). It took a close look at the 5-day, 37-person delegation of Tampa business leaders and political officials that traveled to Cuba last month and noted “there was no mistaking that the trip was about promoting Tampa as Cuba’s future trading partner.” Tampa politicians, added Barton, “talk of expanding direct flights to Havana. They want to be home to cruise ships that call to Cuban cities. And they imagine the port of Tampa becoming the main hub of goods heading to the island once the embargo is lifted.”
There was no mistaking the theme: Tampa business and political leaders want to exploit Miami’s ideologically counterproductive approach to Cuba. Little Havana has noticed–but is unmoved.
Among those quoted: City Council member Mary Mulhern, who publicly opposes the economic embargo and has been to Cuba three times, and Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Bob Rohrlack. His unequivocal response to a query about whether Tampa is positioning itself for advantageous, post-embargo opportunities in Cuba: “Hands down. Absolutely.”
Rohrlack also could have added–but why rub it in–“Thanks again, Miami. Stay the course.”