Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Here's what you need to know about trash pickup, school, mail delivery and other government services around Hillsborough County for the Memorial Day holiday.
Monday, May 27 is Memorial Day, a federal holiday. Here's a look at what's open and what's closed in Bloomingdale, Riverview, Valrico and around Hillsborough County in observance of the holiday: The majority of Hillsborough County offices and facilities will be closed on Monday. Closed facilities include the administrative offices of county government, neighborhood service centers, all libraries, all county-operated Head Start/Early Head Start Centers, recreation centers, senior centers and nutrition sites. There will be no school for Hillsborough County public school students Monday. For residents who live in the unincorporated Hillsborough County Service Area, there will be no solid waste collection (including garbage, recyclables and …
Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham said he plans to meet with — "and listen to" — Bloomingdale residents opposed to big-box retail and apartment development on Bloomingdale Avenue. The meeting is set for June.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham said in an interview May 21 that he plans to meet with Bloomingdale residents concerned and opposed to big-box retail and apartment development on Bloomingdale Avenue because "they need somebody to come and listen." If concerned residents attend the June 10 meeting hoping to learn "how to kill the deal," they won't be in luck, he added. "Nothing has changed as far as comments we can make, there's no change in the legal position of the county attorney," Higginbotham said. "Because of the situation we have to be very careful of what we say and we don't say so we don't end up in court." With those parameters in mind, Higginbotham said he will be at the June 10 meeting, at the Brandon Recreation…
Saturday, May 18, 2013
In his first Patch blog, Rep. Dennis Ross tackles the immigration issue, advocating a multiple approach to reforming the system.
Immigration is an emotionally charged issue, noted U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross in his blog, Immigration: The Compassionate and Justice-Oriented Way Forward. "There are countless heart-wrenching personal stories involving immigration. Many of us have read about families who have been torn apart or we know people who are affected, " said Ross. "Our immigration system has failed these people. But the answer isn't blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants. "People have made a choice," said Ross. "We can't just wipe the slate clean, especially when there are many people in other countries who have been following our laws and requirements and have been waiting as long as 20 years in some cases to enter the United States legally." Instead, Ross advocates …
Friday, May 17, 2013
As news about possible abuses of power on the federal level continues to break, we’d like to get your take about what’s been going on Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay residents who keep up with the headlines coming out of Washington, D.C., have likely found themselves scratching their heads more than a few times this past week. Allegations of wrongdoing seem to be coming at the speed of light as the Obama Administration fends off bad press about inappropriate targeting of Tea Party organizations by the Internal Revenue Service and possible wrongdoing in the handling of a national security leak. The IRS’ targeting of Tea Party groups centers around hassles these groups report experiencing while trying to apply for tax-exempt status prior to the 2012 election. The controversy even hit home as Bay area groups are now reporting that they were targeted, according to The Tampa Tribune. The kerfuffle…
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Working to ensure necessary transportation improvements fell far short of what "Say No to Bloomingdale Big Box" supporters said they expected from their elected officials. The residents spoke on video at the Fred B. Karl County Center on May 15.
Not good enough, said "Say No to Bloomingdale Big Box" supporters at the Fred B. Karl County Center on May 15, minutes after the Hillsborough County Commissioners voted unanimously to ensure that money is earmarked for traffic improvements made necessary by the proposed mega-development on Bloomingdale Avenue. Commissioners approved 7-0 a motion put forth by their chairman, Ken Hagan, that developer transportation mitigation funds from the project be dedicated to improvements in the area, and that the commissioners work to address any budget shortfalls, should they arise. "I want to thank all the citizens for being steadfast in opposing this development and stating your concerns," Hagan said. "As I stated before, we empathize with you. …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Although commissioners can't legally stop the development of the property, they agreed to make sure that the developer fulfills obligations to make necessary transportation improvements.
County commissioners say their hands are legally tied when it comes to the zoning of a proposed big-box development on Bloomingdale Avenue east of the Bloomingdale Regional Library. However, County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan told Bloomingdale area residents attending the Wednesday, May 15 county commission meeting that the commission still has control over how developers spend funds for traffic improvements. At Hagan's request, the commission voted unanimously to make sure the property owner, Redstone Properties LLC, uses the funds its required to contribute for transportation improvements in the same area where the development will be constructed. "Constitutionally, the transportation funds don't have to be vested in the project area…
A standing-room-only crowd met at The Palms Community Church in Valrico on May 14, in protest of big-box retail and apartment development just east on Bloomingdale Avenue. Hillsborough County Commissioners are set to discuss the issue today, May 15.
"Not in their neighborhood," came the word at The Palms Community Church on Bloomingdale Avenue in Valrico, where residents gathered Tuesday night, May 14, to protest big-box retail and apartment development just up the road to the east. Having outgrown the much-smaller meeting space at the Bloomingdale Regional Library — where the group loosely defined as "No Bloomingdale Big Box" and "Say No to the Big Box" had been meeting — the group Tuesday nightly aptly filled the church at 1310 E. Bloomingdale Ave. "Easily, we had 100, 150 people here," said Bloomingdale resident Eric Brosch, who has taken on the role of promoting community awareness events. "We've overflowed the library and now we've overflowed a larger meeting space. We're …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The city of Sarasota just enacted a law aimed at getting motorists to turn down the volume. Now, other local governments are following suit. Should they?
Most of us have been in the car when a great tune comes on the radio. The urge to turn up that volume just a little bit is often too strong to resist. But, how loud is too loud? When is cranking it up going too far? When should authorities be able to step in and say enough is enough? Those are questions some local governments in the Tampa Bay area are now wrestling with. Since the Florida Legislature shot down a measure that would have regulated just how loud car stereos can be, some local authorities have decided to take matters into their own hands. The City of Sarasota just put its new ordinance into effect that makes it against the law for car stereos and portable electronic devices to emit sounds at a level that are considered “…
Monday, May 13, 2013
Rubio will be the keynote speaker at the dinner May 18 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.
Conservative Florida senator Marco Rubio will be the keynote speaker at the Hillsborough County Republican Party's 2013 Lincoln Day Dinner. The dinner will be held Saturday, May 18 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Rd., Tampa. Elected two years ago, the 42-year-old Cuban American shot into the national spotlight in June 2012 when it was reported he was being vetted as Mitt Romney's running mate. Romney ultimately chose Paul Ryan. However, Rubio's reputation as a fiscal conservative continued to spread. In January, the senator from West Miami was chosen to deliver the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address. It was the first time the response was delivered in both English and Spanish. The theme …
Friday, May 10, 2013
The Florida House and Senate recently approved a measure that would make driving slow in the fast lane punishable by a fine. Do you think this is a good idea?
Can’t handle traveling at the Interstate’s 70 mph pace or a local four-lane road’s legal top speed? You might want to get in the practice of moving over. The Florida House and Senate recently approved a measure that makes it illegal to drive more than 10 mph under the speed limit if your vehicle is riding in the fast lane. The proposal will become the law of the land in Florida if Gov. Rick Scott signs on the dotted line. Dubbed the “road rage” bill, according to ABC News, the measure would give law enforcement the right to fine drivers $60 for moving at a snail’s pace in the far left lane of any road that has two or more lanes. That means slow drivers who refuse to move over – often causing other motorists to lose their cool – would be …
Tammy
6:40 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Linda, thank you for this story. I find it hard to believe that it took 2 weeks to find a meeting place... The person who reserved the Brandon Rec Center probably thinks its in our community because they've probably never been in our commUNITY! With traffic, it's probably 25 minutes away! If you've watched the video from the May 5th BOCC meeting, they believe a big box store, apartments, and out … more ›