Category: Tampa Bay

For anyone who went to USF back in the day, the erstwhile “Sandspur U” is hardly recognizable. From national sponsored-research player to I-4 high-tech corridor anchor to appealing, non-industrial-park ambiance to a Big East football program to serious, on-campus housing.

 

As a USF student – and later as the media relations manager – I was constantly made aware that USF was a “commuter school.” As in “merely” a “commuter school.” As if fulfilling its charge as an urban university with an older, non-traditional student demographic was some sort of pejorative. As if the education offered were of the “drive-thru” variety.

 

Of course our students commuted. We fought the good fight while USF built its way into prominence – and became one of the 20 largest universities in the country.

 

But nothing, including football, helps dispel the “commuter school” label like on-campus housing. USF plans call for on-campus accommodations for approximately 10,000 students. Right now it is more than half way there. With the recent opening of the seven-story, $65-million Juniper-Poplar Hall, which will house more than 1,000 students, USF now totals about 5,400 beds. Incoming freshman, for the first time, will be required to live on campus.

 

Maybe this is the year that USF’s football team goes to a BCS Bowl and gets the campus jacked up like never before. Regardless, nothing energizes a campus like a critical mass of students actually living on it. That means interaction and networking and involvement – from lectures to film series to live theater to sports to – parties. And research has shown that those who live on campus are more successful academically and graduate at higher rates.

 

No, this is not your parents’ USF anymore.

There’s a new sheriff’s directive in town.

 

Starting Oct. 1, smoking will no longer be permitted on Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office property. And that, finally, means those less-than-thoughtful, unnaturally cloudy, cardio/pulmonary-compromising zones — also known as designated smoking areas – will be history.

 

No longer will the Sheriff’s Office be enablers for those who won’t kick the habit. No longer will the Sheriff’s Office, which doesn’t (knowingly) hire employees who use tobacco, be undoing its part in helping to target the largest preventable cause of death in the U.S. And no longer will non-smokers be imprisoned, however briefly, with smokers as they navigate designated smoking areas.

 

Well done, Sheriff’s Office. Timing is everything. Your tobacco-free strategy addresses the ultimate bottom line: further incentivizing wellness while helping to rein in the costs of health insurance premiums.

 

And the new rule will end the de facto policy of sending a counterproductive, mixed message. In short, as long as there are employers offering designated smoking areas, there will be designated rationales to maintain the status quo. Ultimately, that’s neither a sound – nor healthy – approach.

Apparently we will have another Brian Blair political race to endure. It’s been reported that the former Hillsborough County Commissioner – and developer-community main squeeze – is looking to resume his political career with a run at a state House seat next year. It would be for the District 47 spot being vacated by the term-limited Kevin Ambler.

 

Recall that the conservative Republican — and erstwhile “Killer B” pro wrestler — lost his commission re-election race earlier this year to Kevin Beckner, who made gay-precedent history in the upset. Since then, the bungling Blair has managed to keep himself in the news by acting whiney and suing Beckner and then getting arrested. The latter came after a highly-publicized, wee-hours, child-abuse scrum with his teenaged sons. Charges against the staunch, family-values proponent were later dropped.

 

Now, it appears, he plans to turn that embarrassing family feud episode into a net positive. He’s hoping, he says, it can help him “revive” his political career. Indeed, a “platform that launches him back into public service.” A softball interview on WFLA, Channel 8 was obviously part of the game plan.  

 

Blair says he’ll be focusing on parents’ rights and government’s responsibility to enact teen curfews. Let’s see if we have this straight. In effect, we have a former pro wrestler and smaller-government advocate who would like some outside help in disciplining his kids.

 

Who’s advising this guy? Elijah Dukes?

When is a tax cut not a tax cut? As good an answer as any would be when it’s worth less than a quarter per annum. That’s the saving this year for the typical county homeowner on their property taxes. Actually, it’s 24 cents. If you’re scoring at home, that’s a decrease of .0016 mills.

 

If you’re underwhelmed or concerned that the aggregate of saved dollars – about $100,000 – might come out of another publicly-funded program, it’s probably because you just don’t get it. For what it’s worth, neither does Commissioner Kevin White.

 

As taxpayers, you’re not supposed to notice the asterisk denoting tax “cut” as purely symbolic. Just the big picture – and then properly applaud. “It’s a little bit now, but it’s keeping the momentum going for future boards,” gushed Commissioner Jim Norman. “It shows confidence, it shows leadership, it shows something our citizens can hang on to,” chirped Commissioner Rose Ferlita.

 

It shows chutzpah — and misplaced priorities.

 

Commissioner White said it best: “A quarter vs. $100,000 is a no brainer.” He was the only one who didn’t vote for the tax “cut.”

When Tampa City Council member Mary Mulhern returned from her visit to Cuba with a delegation of business execs, she was preparing herself for the obvious question: Now what? Most Americans can’t go to Cuba, and the few who do typically don’t include elected Florida officials. And given the change in Administrations, the short shelf life of the Castro brothers and potential Cuban-American trade and travel scenarios during a recession, did Mulhern, an outspoken critic of the economic embargo and travel restrictions, formulate follow-up plans?

 

“The next step is for all Americans to be free to travel to Cuba,” says Mulhern. “I will lobby (U.S. Rep.) Kathy Castor to sign the (Mass. Congressman William) Delahunt bill (“Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act”). Actually, I will continue to lobby her. I will also lobby (Fla. Congressman) Kendrick Meek, Sen. Bill Nelson and Sen. Mel Martinez.

 

“And I will be asking for a meeting with the mayor,” adds Mulhern. “I’ll be putting together a report for the city council.” Mulhern is also hopeful about a city council workshop on renewed Cuban-American relations and expects to solicit a letter from city council encouraging more normalized relations with Cuba. She is also intrigued by the prospect of a Sister City relationship between Tampa – or Ybor City – and a Cuban counterpart.

 

“It’s critical that the city of Tampa re-establish good relations for trade – involving both the port and the airport,” underscores Mulhern. “It should be obvious, but you can’t build good relations without talking. Business is about relationships. Especially in Latin America. We need a strong relationship (in place) before this policy finally changes.

 

“I learned that there is a lot more opportunity for this area and the state than I thought,” acknowledges Mulhern. “I would encourage the port to pay a visit. We can encourage more trade right now legally – and not just beans and dairy products.

 

“(Trade Minister Alberto) Betancourt made it plain that the U.S. was their preferred trade partner, and Florida is obviously an especially preferred partner because of proximity,” says Mulhern. “But right now we’re losing business.”  

In 1991 Hillsborough County Commissioners created the “Moral Courage Award.” It recognized those that stood up to government for the community good. It was well intentioned, but inevitably left wiggle room. Some recipients seemed morally courageous; others appeared to be more like gadflies. Still, it was about people trying to make a difference – against the odds – who were recognized. We all get that. 

 

What was never a good idea was to attach somebody’s name to it. Unless it was Nathan Hale, it would have disappointed — or infuriated — someone. When it was named for the polarizing, political activist Ralph Hughes last September, it dumbfounded anyone not a member of the libertarian-development community. It also blindsided everyone when the IRS filed a claim this year saying that Hughes and his business owed $69.3 million in unpaid taxes and interest when he died last year.  

 

It further fueled the furor. Already, some previous MCA recipients had returned their Hughes-tainted awards.   

 

Then into the fray stepped the Hughes family, who requested that his name be removed from the award. The Hughes name on the Moral Courage Award was not only inappropriate, but it had become hurtful to the family. Another unfortunate consequence of the political name game played last year.

 

The County Commission then voted — unanimously — to remove Hughes’ name from the Moral Courage Award. Commissioner Rose Ferlita struck the appropriate tone and rationale when she noted that it was about more than the name of Ralph Hughes. In fact, it was about no individual’s name being attached to the award at all. It was too limiting.

 

“Moral courage comes in many fashions, many degrees, many arenas,” stated Ferlita.

 

Amen.

Once proud Middleton High muddles on.

 

MaryEllen Elia, the superintendent of Hillsborough County Public Schools, has been weighing in lately, pointing out that negative media are missing what’s good about the school. And that Middleton will be getting a new principal and, according to some involved alumni, a “fresh start.” Again.

 

But there’s still that embarrassing track record of six consecutive “D” grades from the state of Florida. There’s also the high-profile, high-pressure matter of trying to return Middleton to its former glory as a black community jewel during the racist crucible that was the Jim Crow era. And obviously throwing money at the new Middleton hasn’t helped.

 

In a recent op-ed piece in both local dailies, Elia said that “the school’s (2002) rebirth is a point of pride for our school district and community.”  That statement needs parsing and revising.

 

Frankly, enough of the nostalgia. THIS Middleton is not THAT Middleton. What Elia and the alums of the old Middleton, the one that closed under a federal desegregation order in 1971, should do is make the case in no uncertain terms that this incarnation has to earn the right to be called Middleton — and not Muddleton. Enough of those 75^th anniversary references. That’s a farce. An academic imposter is not entitled to that lineage and continuity. This year was the 38^th anniversary of those memorable first 37 years.

 

The point is to make “point of pride” relevant by going back to what made THAT Middleton successful. It’s no secret. It was the collective efforts of an entire community. Of neighbors, of merchants, of preachers, of teachers, of parents, of students. It was a time when teachers and parents were on the same side. When accountability was a “given” – not a directive. When doing well in school was a way out — not a way of “acting white.” When students didn’t think academic achievement was uncool, but droopy drawers the height of hip.

 

“Point of pride?” Look no further than the first African-American president, whose recent words to the NAACP should be mounted in every Middleton classroom. “…No one has written your destiny for you. Your destiny is in your hands, you cannot forget that…No excuses. No excuses…”

 

And that includes parents, who used to come in married pairs at one time. “We can’t tell our kids to do well in school and fail to support them when they get home,” said Obama. “You can’t just contract out parenting.”

 

In Middleton’s case, education notably moves on multiple levels. It’s about living up to a proud tradition forged under the duress and iniquity of segregation. It’s about taking advantage of opportunities, including an impressive East Tampa campus rich in resources, inherent in the post-Brown vs. Board era. And it’s about finally earning those points of pride.

Good for City Councilwoman Mary Mulhern, as well as Tampa Port Authority Commissioner Carl Lindell, for joining a fact-finding delegation of businesspeople that visited Cuba.  

 

Some pols still won’t touch this because it seems like foreign policy freelancing. Others, confoundingly, are still intimidated by a half-century of Cold War politics and the last vendetta vestiges of leverage still exercised by the usual South Florida suspects. This is a third-rail issue in 2009?

 

But more to the point, good – potentially – for Tampa. As Mulhern noted, “It involves economic development possibilities, trade and jobs.”

 

Cuba won’t be a windfall, but it can be a well-timed source of increased trade and port traffic. It defies business – and common – sense not to avail our area, with its Cuban roots and favorable geography, of such an opportunity, especially during such turbulent economic times.

 

But here’s hoping that these Tampa public officials, especially Mulhern, go beyond glad handing and business-card collecting. And, frankly, go beyond other — potentially influential — groups who went for the Cuban cachet and photo ops with Fidel Castro. The Cubans have long been visited by other American delegations from other port cities – from Corpus Christi to Mobile to Jacksonville – and Tampa is, regrettably, behind its competition.

 

The onus is on an elected official to do more than position Tampa for post-Castro, post-embargo Cuba. That smacks, candidly, more of opportunism than opportunity. The seeming nuance is not lost on the Cubans. Such a blatantly self-serving approach says, in effect, “Please, don’t forget about us when the time is right.”

 

With so many other American port cities better established, the Tampa message should be: “When we get back home, we’re going to lend our (appointed and, especially, elected) Florida-official voices to those calling for an end to the counterproductive economic embargo against Cuba. We’re going to use our forums and contacts to try and make the inevitable happen as soon as possible. We’re not content to say: ‘We’re now going to bide our time, but we’ll be more than ready to skim some economic cream off the top when Cuba finally opens.’”

 

Lest anyone think differently, Cuban officials are more than aware of who wants in and who wants to work to help make it happen.

 

In business, it’s called “following-up” – hardly a novel concept. When it comes to Cuba, it’s called not being intimidated by the usual exponents of the status quo.

 

You go, Mary.

Understandably, a lot of Middleton High School alumni are upset with what they’ve been seeing in the reincarnation of their old high school, the one with the proud heritage. It came more clearly into focus recently when Middleton, which dates to 1934, held its 75^th anniversary.

 

Today’s Middleton, a $50-million East Tampa facility that opened in 2002, is an academic imposter, unworthy of the Middleton mantle. For the last six years it has received a “D” grade from the state, which means it’s still on the “intervention” list. Which means from its ’02 restart-up it’s been embarrassingly underperforming. Now it’s subject to any number of mandates, including a restructuring of its staff by the school board.

 

Two points.

 

First, Middleton should not have held a 75^th anniversary gathering – but rather the 38^th anniversary of its first 37 years. As in hearkening back to when Middleton stood for achievement and neighborhood pride. When it was converting America’s segregation crucible into a community challenge. THAT Middleton closed under a federal desegregation order in 1971.

 

So, why not make modern Middleton earn its way back into the fold, one forged against the odds by proud predecessors? Nostalgia only applies to those who have lived it.

 

Second, we know what works. Call it old school thinking, but you could have found it in a Catholic school with one nun teaching all subjects to classes twice what Florida’s Class Size Amendment would allow. Or in a black school in a black community during the infamy that was Jim Crow. It’s not merely a matter of “accountability systems” or pressure tactics directed at the school board or its superintendent.

 

The key is teacher-student-parent alliances, where teachers and parents reinforce each other. Where students don’t equate good grades with “acting white” and don’t need a drum line for motivation. We know that a $50-million campus can be rich in resources and poor in parental participation. And we know an iconic name is irrelevant to those who think academic accomplishment is uncool.

 

Good schools start in good homes. Not necessarily affluent homes, but good homes. No, life isn’t fair, but nobody’s precluded from decent values. We already know — absent a culture of parental support and student pride and work ethic — what millions of dollars can yield. In Middleton’s muddled case: failure and “intervention.”

Latest from Tampa native – and former mayoral candidate – Frank Sanchez is that he is “expectant” that his nomination as Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade will be confirmed this month. His position, unlike many, requires hearings in front of two Senate Committees: Banking and Finance.

 

He’s already cleared Banking, but Finance, which can get tedious because it does line-by-line tax audits, has dealt with nothing but health care for the last six weeks. “Yeah, I hit the lottery – two committees,” joked Sanchez. “I’m just hoping they can squeeze in a half day sometime this month. I am hopeful.”