Category: Tampa Bay

A lot of politicians — George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter come readily to mind — are much more impressive one-on-one and in small gatherings than they are in more formal presentations. It’s a personality and a persona thing. It shouldn’t matter as much as it does — but it does.

It’s not an issue for Pam Iorio, the mayoral frontrunner and a media maven.

She’s as good on camera as off. As good with a small group of true believers as with a pack of chad-chary journalists. As good in front of a big audience as a more intimate candidate forum. Everything about her presence says she cares and she’s credible. She’s also positive — and often positively visionary and vague.

It is, however, an issue for Frank Sanchez. Especially after Iorio jumped in and skewed everything.

Not that Sanchez isn’t well spoken. Not that he can’t connect. But there are times when it appeared he hadn’t run for office since his student council days. As when he was the only candidate not looking at the camera at a recent televised debate. As in those flat television ads meant to introduce him to the voters. As in showing up at the Mayor’s roast sans jokes.

For all the money his campaign raised, one wonders why it wasn’t better allocated to making sure the messenger was as well prepared as the “growing the economy” message. Why, frankly, he didn’t get more video work. He’s telegenic, well informed and a quick study. He didn’t need an overhaul, just help.

And when the inevitable gaffes occurred, such as the Ye Mystic Krewe flip-flop flap, why wasn’t he counseled to do the obvious? To wit: Reiterate that on principle you believe discrimination is always wrong and that won’t change, and you’re not ducking the question like the other candidates, including the lone female. Hear out the YMK callers, let them vent and remind them that as mayor you can’t do anything about it anyhow. Wink over the phone, if you have to. Trust that they — as business pillars not ersatz pirates — have nowhere else to go.

I was reminded of all this at a recent Sanchez rally at Stump’s Supper Club in Channelside. Thurgood Marshall Jr., a Sanchez colleague from the Clinton days, was in town to endorse his friend. The crowd was animated and the (wine) bar open.

And Sanchez hit his marks — and stride. From “West Wing” tales that were genuinely funny to a blueprint for Tampa’s economy and community investment that was impressively impassioned and forceful. A killer resume working the house.

Here’s some campaign advice. If this happens again, bottle it.

Better yet, videotape it.

Here is what we know about Sami Al-Arian, Judy Genshaft’s least favorite computer science instructor.

The Kuwait-born Palestinian Muslim was a respected, even award-winning, professor with unpopular but constitutionally protected views. Not everyone, for example, agreed that “Death To Israel” was mere rhetorical flourish, but that’s the First Amendment for you.

By all accounts, Al-Arian never brought his polarizing politics into the classroom. Even Jewish students would agree.

He is not a member of al-Qaida.

He founded the World and Islam Studies Enterprises, an Islamic think tank, at USF. In 1991 he recruited Ramadan Abdullah Shallah to run it. Shallah would later surface in Damascus as the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a by-the-numbers terrorist organization.

Although controversy has been swirling around him for the better part of a decade, he has been convicted of nothing. Sami may be Al-Arrogant and a WISE guy, but that’s not a crime.

But now he’s been charged. Big time.

After an 8-year investigation that was accelerated after the 9/11 atrocities and the Bill O’Reilly ambush, Al-Arian has been indicted. Not for killing anybody, but for a lot of stuff that amounts to helping those who do.

Charges in the 121-page federal indictment include being the North American leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al-Arian is also charged with overseeing PIJ’s property and finances, which included funneling funds used to underwrite, among other things, suicide bombings in Israel. Among the more than 100 victims were two Americans.

In the context of this 50-count indictment, we now know that USF President Genshaft was not exactly running roughshod over academic freedom when she initially wanted to fire Al-Arian. She just made the mistake of citing the wrong reasons. She charged that Al-Arian didn’t make clear whether he was speaking — in inimitably inflammatory fashion — for himself or the university. Moreover, he was a one-man, campus safety hazard.

Such policy-and-procedure rationales made it easier for the faculty union to claim discrimination, and for the American Association of University Professors to try and extort a retraction. They also provoked the union to target neo-McCarthyism as the real enemy. The elbow-patch crowd is always ready to go to the mattresses to defend the right to live in the abstract. But they posted their flag in a cloud. Tenure over national security? Not even close.

Genshaft’s approach was like going after Ted Bundy for jaywalking or suing Joseph Mengele for malpractice. It demeaned the issue. The ultimate American civil liberty is the right to remain alive. Now what, within the law — including the Patriot Act — and parameters of fairness, are we willing to do to ensure it?

In retrospect, Genshaft would have been well within her presidential purview to have simply laid down these criteria for firing a tenured professor with unpopular views: “Anyone who sponsors or hires terrorists or fundraises for them is fired.”

Now that the feds have indicted Al-Arian, it finally happened. Now it’s officially what it’s always been — much more than a fire-able offense.

Recently the mayoral candidates had a chance to roast outgoing mayor Dick Greco. While the roasting didn’t unearth any Improv talent, it did provide an opportunity to respond in kind to Greco’s remark at last month’s Mayors Beautification Program breakfast.

Greco used the occasion to offer some unsolicited advice to the candidates. “Don’t promise a lot of stuff to the people,” cautioned Greco. “Believe me, I spent all the money.”

*Most mayor’s forums aren’t conducive to candidates directly criticizing each other. That happens between forums and sometimes through surrogates. Ironically, the lone direct exchange at the mayoral forum at Tampa Theater was between Ardell and Cosentino, the long-shot and no-shot candidates, respectively. It was about the USS Forrestal , the aircraft carrier that was once promoted as a tourist-attraction museum for the Port of Tampa. It has seemingly run aground over fund-raising, port logistics and maintenance costs.

Ardell summarized his objections by referring to the Forrestal as a “bloody war symbol.” Cosentino, taking immediate umbrage, shouted across to Ardell that he was proud to have “served on one.”

Among the myriad problems associated with public housing is image.

As in stereotypes.

As if those living in heavily subsidized — or free — housing, where curb appeal is non-existent and drug-related crime pervasive, somehow deserve to be there. As in being part of the problem.

Which brings us to recent happenings in East Tampa, where “distressed” — a bureaucratic euphemism for decrepit — public housing units have been razed and replaced by attractive, mixed-income housing. The architecture of the new “Belmont Heights Estates” is not neo-barrack. These 860 rental units — subsidized as well as market-rate — and 36 owner-occupied homes are not the “projects.”

It’s all part of the city’s $32.5-million federal HOPE VI grant to help revitalize a blighted area.

Arguably enough, the folks most in need of such housing upgrades are those who used to live there, back when it was the “distressed” College Hill and Ponce de Leon complexes. Notably enough, however, most of those former residents will not be moving back in.

That’s because standards for readmission are higher now than they used to be when the Tampa Housing Authority was running things. And there’s a pretty good, non-bureaucratic, non-entitlement reason. Tanya Street, property manager for Interstate Realty, the company that will oversee Belmont Heights Estates, explained. Bluntly.

“If we let everybody back in, then we’re just going to have what we had before,” she told a reporter. For good measure, Street added: “They don’t have to be brain surgeons, they just have to have a little bit of desire to make their lives better and stick to it.”

As in some things you can’t subsidize.

The other night a vacant storefront that used to be an Old Hyde Park Village shoe store housed a City Council forum. Afterward, District 4 candidates Gene Wells and John Dingfelder (Clay Phillips did not attend) addressed an issue of obvious interest to immediate neighbors. What, if anything, can — or should — the city do to help the Village?

Once part of the “New Urbanism” vanguard, the Village has been buffeted by economic downturns and marketplace winds gusting out of the new International Plaza and the retrofitted WestShore Plaza. The Village is a key community linchpin and a valuable visitor amenity.

“It’s got to be tough in here,” assessed Wells, “with some major tenants leaving. But you have to recognize that the dynamics have changed, and this is not a mall. Having said that, however, you don’t have to lose the war.”

Wells, the owner-founder of Computer Parts of America Inc., noted that he has to compete with Office Depot and Staples. “It’s not easy, but it can be done,” he stated. “Service is certainly one factor.”

Fostering a business-friendly climate is another.

“I think we have to help create an environment for businesses to grow,” added Wells. “That includes help with zoning and land-use. We might have to provide tax credits or incentives.

“This was the grand experiment, and we can’t give up on it,” said Wells. “The property owners and the city made the investment here. The city has to keep an eye on that ball.”

Dingfelder sees a “mediative” role for the city to “facilitate better communication” with the neighbors. To see what they want — to “survey the neighborhood.”

“I think it’s an unbelievably unique asset,” emphasized Dingfelder. “Twenty years before Celebration and Westchase. The Village is ripe for a bunch of smaller shops like in Europe.”

He’d also like to look at ways to encourage traffic into the Village.

Along Rome, for example, he envisions bike lanes. “I’d like to encourage Bayshore bike traffic to come up into the Village,” said Dingfelder. “Maybe a sign down by Bayshore as well. These are relatively inexpensive propositions that the city could certainly look at.”

There are more pricey propositions that Dingfelder would also look at. Along Swann.

“The trolley is something I’ve mentioned,” noted Dingfelder. “If and when it takes off, Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights and circling into Hyde Park is logical. Coming up Swann.

“I’m open to ways the city can help — within economic balance.”

Joe Redner’s campaign brochure reminds voters that he is “MORE than an adult club owner.” That he is.

The City Council District 6 candidate can speak credibly about rehabbing real estate and creating green spaces. He cares about the environment outside the Mons Venus. He’s an astute, successful and understandably controversial businessman. He has name recognition most candidates can only fantasize about. He doesn’t exactly owe a ton of political favors.

Frankly, if he could ever lose the arrogance — but not the sense of humor — and dress for forums as if he weren’t going bowling or getting a lap dance, he might have a shot. Don’t forget, the opposition isn’t exactly invincible.

*At the most recent Tiger Bay Club of Tampa luncheon, Redner had the best line regarding Ye Mystic Krewe’s men-only policy. “Personally,” deadpanned Redner, “I wouldn’t involve myself in any activity where women aren’t included.”

*Some Tiger Bay takes on the Gasparilla drunkenness that filters through Hyde Park neighborhoods:

John Dingfelder: “Limit drinking to folks’ homes and Bayshore itself.”

Clay Phillips: Consider “opening up both sides” of Bayshore Boulevard for all.

Gene Wells: “Public drunkenness gets down to an enforcement issue.”

Joe Redner: “Take it or leave it. It’s Gasparilla.”

There are mayoral endorsements and there are mayoral endorsements. From the Builders Association to the Sierra Club. It’s all fair game. The lone anomaly, however, is Bob Buckhorn’s formal support from the hard line, anti-Castro Cubans.

It’s certainly his prerogative to fundraise in Miami and to honor those who lost so much in the revolution. No one could doubt where he stands. He has even flown with Brothers To The Rescue.

But the atavistic, Cold War Cuban position has no place in this 2003 mayor’s race.

By stridently and effectively exercising its political leverage over the years, the anti-Castro, pro-embargo crowd has, in effect, worked at cross purposes with the best interests of U.S. foreign policy. Moreover, American business interests and luckless Cuban citizens would have benefited by a common sense, humanitarian approach to Cuban-American relations.

Until recently, the Port of Tampa has been deterred from looking into even legal opportunities in Cuba — let alone properly preparing for post-Castro Cuba. That obviously has not been in Tampa’s best interest.

Perhaps Ralph Fernandez can deliver some votes. Perhaps the rest of the voters will not notice. Or care.

Perhaps.

Al Austin was named Civitan’s Citizen of the Year. It could have been for any number of years. His impact has been as far-reaching as it’s been unremitting.

Austin was a visionary in developing the West Shore office district and a champion in standing tall for MacDill Air Force Base. He’s always been the proverbial busy guy who could get important things done — whether for the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the University of Tampa or the Tampa Bay Partnership.

He’s long been a major GOP player statewide and nationally. He has been at his partisan best, however, whenever it came to Tampa.

Al Austin is also the consummate gentleman.

Congratulations.

And thank you.

Imagine this.

After early reports were confirmed that there had, indeed, been a shuttle disaster, word went out to halt the Gasparilla parade. Whether it was canceled or just postponed, it was over. Please understand and go home.

Yes, there was a flotilla in the water, and hundreds of vendors and several hundred thousand spectators, a number from out of town, were already positioned. And many more visitors were flowing in — with still more on the way. Traffic, not yet clued in, was inexorably inching its way forward, as others were now looking for escape routes. The police were doing what they could. Still, it was an ad hoc mess, one that not all drivers handled with proper Columbia reverence.

In fact, some drivers, amid the near-chaotic dispersal, were as confused as they were imprudent behind the wheel. U-Turns and alley exits turned South Tampa into a labyrinthian nightmare. Barricaded exits on the Interstate resulted in several chain-reaction accidents.

Gridlock behavior was obviously incongruous with memorial deportment. And that, in itself, was sad — but all too human. And predictable. Some pedestrians and motorists were unluckier than most. A couple of accidents were beyond fender benders. One, alas, was fatal. A teenager was backed over by someone in a hurry to go nowhere.

Mayor Greco, we know you give more than a rat’s patootie about doing the right thing, but what were you thinking? Doesn’t point-of-no-return have any meaning to you? Had it been, say, the smaller, bawdy Night Parade, it might have been manageable. But doing a 180 on Gasparilla when so many and so much were already in place?

You were, we’ll acknowledge, faced with a no-win situation, but you didn’t have to add to the loss. We’ll concede that your heart was in the right place, but you issued an order that resulted in an eighth victim. Not an astronaut, mind you, and not a hero, just an otherwise anonymous kid who was merely very important to a lot of other anonymous people. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time because there were no right places in that fire-drill-gone-wrong of an exit.

It’s fitting, however, that there will be an inquiry into the resultant chaos. Next time there is an unexpected exodus of nearly a half million people, things should go better. There is at least one family, though, that will find that scant consolation.

Of course, there’s no denying that there’s precious little in a Gasparilla Parade that lends itself to proper respect for the Columbia 7. What would you have done? Periodically pause for a moment of silence? But, still, people — especially the ones with young children — would have understood — and agreed — had the parade gone on.

Admittedly, it’s easy to scare up a scenario like this. Maybe it’s a cheap shot.

And Mayor Greco certainly made it easier for armchair critics by saying that drive-by moments of silence “will honor them even more.” Hardly. That ill-phrased comment, however, was a function of wishful thinking and deliberation-challenged timing. It wasn’t “seedy,” as one pundit cynically characterized it.

Given the logistical fait accompli , proceeding with the parade was not “insanity.” It was the less worse option. However quick on his rhetorical feet, Greco isn’t a reincarnation of Ronald Reagan.

But, then, neither is anyone else, including cheap shot-delivering Sunday-morning quarterbacks.

Every Monday night since the beginning of the year, a dozen or so women gather at Sanchez headquarters on Kennedy Boulevard to brainstorm ways to help their candidate. They look for means, from mixers to backyard proselytizing, to network the Sanchez message. The genesis goes back to the fall, when target niches were evolving into entities such as “Artists for Sanchez.” The re-emergence of candidate Pam Iorio — formidable and female — accelerated the evolution of what is now “Women for Sanchez.”

“Yes, Pam entering the race made it more critical,” acknowledges Joli Cooper, who’s responsible for the Sanchez campaign’s outreach to women. “Women otherwise uninformed about the candidates might possibly vote for Pam. Being the only female candidate can still be very much of an advantage. The ‘We’ve-come-a-long-way-baby’ stuff still applies. Women like to see other women succeed and support each other.

“Our message is economic development first and personal and neighborhood safety,” says Cooper, who’s also president and chief operating officer of Cooper Nelson & Associates, a Tampa-based business and marketing consultant firm. “And as a woman and an African American, I want a candidate who stands behind inclusion.”

The mix on a recent Monday night ranged from 20-something to 50-something and was dotted with professional women.

“Frank wants Tampa to be more than just the hospitality and customer service capital,” explained Susan Jacobs, a single mom and businesswoman. “Women care about this, especially a lot of single moms.”

To Anneliese Meier, a businesswoman and the lone Republican in the group, Sanchez’s sense of ethics was determinative. “I don’t want to see Tampa become another Miami-Dade,” she said. “Very corrupt. They get away with it. But don’t forget. We also want what everybody wants: a healthy, safe place to live.”

But what of the flip-flop-flip flap over Sanchez’s stand on Ye Mystic Krewe’s all-male membership?

“This group is not a reaction to the Ye Mystic Krewe issue,” pointed out Maryann Ferenc Blitz, the Sanchez campaign manager. “If you want to call it a matter of ‘political inexperience’, we can live with that. We know what Frank Sanchez stands for. Diversity is a real piece of Frank’s life. This outreach is real. We’re not conceding any constituency. Diversity is important to building our economy.”