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…
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
The interactive U.S. voting map shows who the Florida voters were in the 2012 presidential election. You may be surprised by the results.
Friday, May 10, 2013
The interactive U.S. voting map shows who the Florida voters were in the 2012 presidential election. You may be surprised by the results.
There was a slightly greater percerntage of eligible Hispanic voters – 62.2 percent – whho cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election in Florida than white, non-Hispanic voters. And more eligible female voters went to the polls than men. The results are among several demographic mesaurements released by the U.S. Census showing the make-up of voters in Florida and across the United States. Just click on Florida on the map above to see the results. Darker green states had a higher percentage of turnout. If you click on an individual state, you will see percentages of eligible U.S. citizens who voted in that state broken down by gender, race and ethnic group. This information was released from from the US Census Bureau on Wednesday, May 8…
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 …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Drivers who want to appeal a ticket might have to pay up to $250 in additional fees if Gov. Rick Scott signs a new bill into law. Do you think that’s right?
Hate red light cameras? If so, you might hate them even more if Gov. Rick Scott signs a bill recently passed by the Florida Legislature into law. The bill sets a new process for appeals that enables local government bodies – cities and counties – to tack on an additional $250 in court fees for those who try to appeal tickets generated by red light cameras and fail. It also puts the new appeals process into the hands of those very same local governments that would benefit from the additional fees. That means motorists who appeal and lose will no longer be subject to just a $158 penalty – they might have to fork over $408. The new law, according to The Tampa Tribune, was designed to streamline the appeals process and put more control in the …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The board, acting as the Countywide Planning Authority, unanimously voted against approving the Richman Group's proposal by a vote of 7-0.
After eight long months filled with hearings and proposals, protests and pleas, the fate of the Richman Group's plan for the Firmenich property came down to one final meeting. Less three hours after that meeting began, the issue was put to rest, apparently for good. The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously against the Richman Group's proposal to build an apartment and office complex on the Firmenich property by a vote of 7-0 on Tuesday. Citing the need to preserve industrial sites in the county, the commission, acting as the Countywide Planning Authority, went against previous recommendations made by the Pinellas Planning Council and the Safety Harbor City Commission in rejecting the proposal. "I don't see a …
The BCC is set to vote on the Richman Group's proposal at the Pinellas County Courthouse this morning.
After many months full of meetings, debates, proposals and counter proposals, a major decision on the fate of the Firmenich property will come today. The Board of County Commissioners, acting as the Countywide Planning Authority, will meet this morning and vote on the Richman Group’s proposal to build a 246-unit apartment complex with office space on the 34-acre property on State Road 590 in Safety Harbor. The proposal has already received approval from both the Safety Harbor City Commission and the Pinellas Planning Council, which ruled 8-5 in favor of recommending the project last month. While the CPA does take those votes into account, the board is able to make its own decision on the issue, which may or may not coincide with the …
While Monday's event didn't attract as big a crowd as a previous one did, participants are as steadfast as ever in their fight against the proposed Richman Group development.
The crowd wasn't as big as the last time a group gathered in front of the Firmenich property in January. There was no police presence, no large throng of sign wavers and the whole thing was over in about an hour. But according to participants, the protest on the eve of the Board of County Commissioners meeting on the matter served its purpose, if anything strengthening the tight group's resolve. "I wish the turnout had been better," organizer Barbara Hugg said. "But we're out here because we are still passionate about this project not going through." Hugg, who has been deeply committed to making sure the Richman Group's proposed 246-unit apartment and office complex does not get built on the property, said the fight has felt like a classic…
Monday, May 6, 2013
Opponents of the Richman Group’s proposal will gather at the citrus center property Monday evening prior to the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday.
After many months full of meetings, debates, proposals and counter proposals, a major decision on the fate of the Firmenich property will come Tuesday. The Board of County Commissioners, acting as the Countywide Planning Authority, will meet on Tuesday morning and vote on the Richman Group’s proposal to build a 246-unit apartment complex on the 34-acre property on State Road 590 in Safety Harbor. The proposal has already received approval from both the Safety Harbor City Commission and the Pinellas Planning Council, which ruled 8-5 in favor of the project last month. While the CPA does take those votes into account, the board is able to make its own decision on the issue, which may or may not coincide with the previous recommendations…
27.982579
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Firmenich
1585 10th St S, Safety Harbor, FL
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steve nellis
5:35 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
Bush is out of office.. Romney like others even democrats paid what they were suppose to the IRS. This is about the Obama administration. Fast and furious Bengazi the IRS and the tapping record of the AP and 140 reporters the US House Republicans. You people on the left can't keep blaming Bush He didn't do 911 ot blow up the levees during Katrina. You all blame fox news also. Show us where they … more ›