Opinions to go Online

Now that the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test determines whether a high school student can graduate, we have the issue of seniors-to-be who have yet to pass it. A lot of them. For example, a quarter of the class of 2003 at Wharton High School is yet to pass.

Moreover, some of them are Bright Futures scholars.

There’s a lot not to like about the FCATs and no lack of understandable backlash. But when Bright Futures “scholars” can’t pass the 10th grade reading-and-math FCAT, the fault may not be the FCAT’s.

Not only does Hyde Park United Methodist Church on West Platt Street have a sense of parishioner priority and community commitment, it also has a sense of irony — and humor. The church recently purchased the nearby Magnolia Tavern and Sports Bar. When renovated, it’s likely to be used for Sunday School classes, Boy Scout meetings and — Alcoholics Anonymous gatherings.

A large banner on the side of the erstwhile gin mill says it all: “Now Under New Ownership.”

The Diocese of St. Petersburg seems mad as, well, hell — and it’s not going to take it any more. Bad publicity that is.

That’s what accusations of sexual abuse, financial improprieties and victim payoffs have wrought these past tumultuous months. It’s beyond the point of frustrated parishioners and church leaders writing letters to the editor and turning off their TV sets. It’s apparently beyond pulpit power, letters to the laity, a church newspaper and “Spirit FM” Catholic radio.

It’s time to bring in a crisis management expert — someone with a spin doctorate.

Enter Bob Carter, a St. Petersburg public relations expert. His credentials include helping advise the Devil Rays on image-building. Carter has been retained by diocesan general counsel Joseph DiVito, who treats the subject of Carter’s fee as if it had been negotiated in confession. He won’t discuss it or even if the money comes from, say, Catholics. DiVito said it wasn’t a “dollar-for-dollar wash-through.”

Oh.

Presumably Carter didn’t advise DiVito on that response. Perhaps he will have more success suggesting the Rays unload Wilson Alvarez, Greg Vaughn, Vince Naimoli, Chuck LaMar and Tropicana Field.

Anyhow, here’s a suggestion. For free.

Return to basics. Don’t be cute, evasive, arrogant and loopholier than thou. Tell the truth. Directly. About who did what to whom and what, if anything, happened as a result. About the exact dollar value and nature of no-bid construction contracts. About why the diocese would pay $100,000 to a former spokesman who looked good in a Speedo bathing suit and said he had been sexually harassed by Bishop Robert Lynch.

Remember the 8th Commandment? Not bearing false witness; telling the truth. It still applies.

E mbrace and Apply: Florida is neither muddle nor model when it comes to landing “new economy” jobs, says a Washington, D.C. think-tank economist.

The Progressive Policy Institute’s Robert Atkinson, who was in town recently to address a gathering of business and civic leaders, authored a study that ranked Florida 18th in ability to compete for those high-paying, “new economy” jobs. Two years ago, it was 16th. Florida’s worst showing was in percentage of civilian scientists and engineers in the work force (49th) and the percentage of manufacturers with Internet access (40th). The state also ranked 37th in the percentage of adults with Internet access at home or at work. AT WORK.

Atkinson emphasized that “new economy” transcended the recruitment of, say, software and other high-tech enterprises. It has more to do with application. He said successful old economy businesses — such as manufacturers across a broad spectrum of products — can succeed or fail on the basis of “embracing” technology. Apply it, underscored Atkinson, don’t just recruit it.

Ethically challenged: Almost assuredly, the St. Petersburg Times has published another potential award-winner: “Alone Together” — “A Year in the Life of an Alzheimer’s Support Group.” It was nearly two years in the making.

It’s moving and undoubtedly helpful to those unfamiliar with such groups — but in likely need of one. It’s well chronicled, well written and, well, pictorially graphic. As in invasive. As in poor taste. As in ethically challenged.

Perhaps the most depressing aspect of Alzheimer’s is the undermining of a patient’s dignity. Where once was an individual, there is now a tragically sad shell. Ultimately unable to relate. Unable to do for themselves. Unable to give permission to have their picture taken being diapered. Being dead.

Not to worry. Ask enough caregivers, and you’ll find some who will give permission. For anything. It’s akin to signing off for a minor.

But human dignity is no minor matter.

Out on a limb of illogic: Ybor City’s Barrio Latino is palm treed out.

Tampa’s historic Latin Quarter arguably has too many bars and under-age drinkers and more than enough places to get a tattoo and a body part pierced. There’s nothing the Barrio can do about that.

And there are plans for a big building that looks incongruously like a boat. The Barrio did too little about that.

But palm trees on the west side of 15th Street where a new sidewalk is going in? The Barrio is on the case and has drawn a line in the pavement. They turned down the request of the Ybor City Development Corp. to spruce up the street with palms. Not traditional enough, sniffed the Barrio. Try elms.

Explained Barrio Chairman Ken Ferlita: “If we approve (palms) on this block

Bob Buckhorn. Love him or loathe him. But you can’t ignore him.

In politics, it’s often said, the name of the game is name recognition. For mayoral candidate Buckhorn, the name game is one he plays well. He’s been a fixture at City Hall for 15 years, starting in 1987 when he came on board as a 20-something special assistant to Mayor Sandy Freedman. Since 1995 he has been a media-magnet member of city council.

Last summer he was first to formally announce for a mayor’s race that was nearly two years out. He hit the ground running for office — with a pollster and consultant already on board and financial supporters identified. The idea was to be so daunting from the get-go as to intimidate or maybe co-opt some competition. The former Penn State lacrosse player was playing the other contact sport he loves.

These days he’s rolling out a slick, detailed “Blueprint” for the city showcasing his community commitments and plans for “transitioning Tampa to the new economy” via technology application. He would, among other things, appoint the city’s first Chief Technology Officer.

The 42-year-old Buckhorn doesn’t miss much. He remembers names, returns calls, follows up, works crowds, walks neighborhoods. When he is at his desk, it may be plunked down on someone’s lawn. Sure, it’s hokey, but it’s also a populist metaphor for neighborhood priorities.

He’s been notably outspoken on some high profile, galvanizing issues such as supporting the controversial city ordinance banning lap dances and trying to shut down Voyeur Dorm. As a result, some see him as a moralizing crusader. Others look to a quality-of-life champion. Still others view him as the consummate political opportunist. Many, of course, see what they want to see, but no one is blinded to the reality that few can top him for sheer visibility.

But knowing the Buckhorn name and recognizing the Buckhorn visage is not nearly the same thing as knowing Buckhorn. So says Buckhorn.

For example, there’s the perception that Buckhorn has been lusting for the mayor’s job since first setting foot in City Hall. That kind of calculated ambition is considered poor form by a lot of folks.

Buckhorn doesn’t deny that he’s been gearing up for this race since Sandy Freedman was a rookie mayor. He just disagrees that such a long-running aspiration is some sort of character flaw.

“What I’m preparing for is what amounts to being the CEO of a half-billion-dollar company with 4,500 employees,” explains Buckhorn. “Only in politics is it considered unseemly to hone your craft. This is a job you don’t just parachute into.

“For 15 years I have been working on making this city a better place,” he insists. “The biggest impact I can have is as mayor.”

While he has been an impact player for most of those 15 years, Buckhorn concedes another possible edge on the sword of name recognition.

“A lot of people only know me through TV,” he acknowledges. “It’s easy to characterize me based on one or two issues. Lap dancing obviously is one. In fact, it’s not even on the radar screen of my agenda. It’s simply one component, pure quality of life. But based on that, a lot of people probably thing I’m some right-wing Republican. I’m a Democrat.”

Actually a Democrat who sounds a lot like Rudy Giuliani cleaning up Times Square. Buckhorn also signs on to the “broken windows” approach to urban governance, saying he’d target “quality-of-life” issues such as code violations, dumping, vandalism and prostitution.

“You take care of the fundamentals first,” he states. “Sidewalks and potholes will take precedence over cutting ribbons,” he has said more than once.

He has pledged to appoint a Go Davis-like deputy mayor for neighborhoods and community empowerment.

He wants to “give everyone a seat at the table,” he’s fond of saying. “If we’re not relating to that single mother in College Hill, it doesn’t matter what happens in Culbreath Isles. We’re all in this together. Right now we’re more of a crowd than a community.”

While Buckhorn obviously hopes that populist message resonates in enough neighborhoods, he’s sensitive to charges that he’s not downtown friendly enough.

“The focal point of downtown must be the waterfront,” underscores Buckhorn. “It’s for tourists, conventioneers and us. It must be an 18-hour-a-day environment. Every weekend there has to be something. Be it jazz or blues or Irish music.

“I was a critic of using CIT (Community Investment Tax) money for the arts and the trolley,” recalls Buckhorn. “But that’s behind us. I will be committed to making them work. And Tampa can’t succeed without more housing downtown.”

Neither can Tampa succeed without asserting itself internationally and regionally — especially within the I-4 corridor, emphasizes Buckhorn.

“We are the Gateway to the Americas,” he says. “The mayor is the key political figure in it. He’s gonna have to go on the road like (Orlando Mayor) Glenda Hood gets out. That really helps. From a business standpoint, we ought to be cleaning their (Orlando) clock.

“The mayor of Tampa is the dominant political figure in the corridor,” says Buckhorn. “As I-4 goes, so goes Florida’s economy. It’s all part of competing globally.

“This city is on the verge of bustin’ loose,” assesses Buckhorn. “We have the tools and the potential. There’s no excuse not to be the dominant economic entity in the Southeast.”

One other thing, reminds Buckhorn. “I don’t mumble. You may not agree with me, but you always know where I stand.”Even when seated at a desk — on your neighbor’s lawn.