Wednesday. Feb. 20, 2008

Hello and happy Wednesday. Happy lunar eclipse day, with totality just after 10 p.m. I noticed that the newspaper story added the helpful fact that you can look at it without it burning your retinas. Whew! :)

A couple of things:

* Thank goodness the Board of Education made a decision on this evolution business. The board agreed to keep it in the curriculum although labeled as a "theory." That's OK by me, since gravity and light are just theories too. Next up, I understand the board will be voting item by item on the periodic table of the elements.

* I am with those folks who say Fidel Castro's resignation is not especially significant since the regime has not changed. Now, if they let everybody ought of prison, apologized for murdering and torturing folks and gave everybody their stuff back, it might be different. (There are some folks who might say the same thing about Guantanamo.)

* This story about the Tampa Bay Rays says the team is willing to put up its $150-million share of a new stadium up front, instead of borrowing that sum against future team rent payments. This actually is not that big a difference from before -- the team would still borrow the $150-million against its own credit, instead of creating a new entity to borrow against the future rent. But at first blush I like this better, since it creates a total separation from the team's share and the public's share. Now, as for guaranteeing that we get the other $300-million out of redeveloping Tropicana Field...

* And notice this story about the president of our state Senate, Ken Pruitt, who wants to go back to having an elected state education commissioner, and wants a constitutional amendment making it clear the Legislature -- and not the Board of Governors -- is in charge of setting tuition in this state. Now, since it has been less than a decade since the voters said they did NOT want an elected education commissioner, and less time than that since they said the wanted a Board of Governors to run the universities, both ideas seem a little rash to me...

* Jim Johnson, I saw your note about "skedaddled." You caught me -- I did not post on Tuesday because I was still in shock from actually having to pretend to work. I was not happy with Tuesday's column, sort of discombobulated from not having a chat, and still answering a bunch of e-mails. Also, if it didn't involved a footnote with a Latin citation, I didn't remember how to write it.

What's on everybody's mind today? What should I write about for tomorrow's print column?

Comments

[Chris Jenkins]

Maybe you should call the FWRI library down in St. Pete and get some "horse's mouth" data on the environmental impact the proposed Rays waterfront park would have. They are tasked with creating environmental impact reports for all new development in Florida, not that anyone ever reads them...

[th]

Why not talk about the other uses for Al Lang? Ask your readers!

But why not look at Al Lang as an opportunity to have an outdoor concert location, or maybe a great site for baseball playoffs with college teams and youth leagues? Imagine, the city uses this space to actually make money? What a concept!

Once they get through Al Lang maybe they will look to figure out a way to be profitable at the Port besides running around trying to dredge the inlet and bring in a cruise ship departure location. Cruise ships (as a destination port) need to be at the Pier when they (the city) figures out what to do with that project. Interesting that this topic has fallen off the radar.

BTW, did you know that the city posted for the Downtown Enterprise Facilities Department Director position (last November) and still hasn't hired anyone. Maybe they are cutting this position because of the loss of revenues. How they can still have a Midtown Deputy Mayor and not even have a director in charge of three major venues (Pier, Port & Al Lang) for the city is beyond me.

[ALC]

Just thought it was worth noting that the Rays' offer to take out a loan for the stadium is a bigger deal than normal given the current credit crunch.

[Jim Johnson]

What to write?

Howsabout discussing the merits of prioritizing what gets included in the state budget. That is, make a list of what we want to accomplish, estimate how much money we'll have, allocate the money to the highest ranking items, and let the rest of it go.

If we want colleges 2nd to none, and the job requires 70 billion dollars (the entire budget), spend the 70 billion on perfessers.

My guess is lap dances, pirate beads, and free barbecues are what citizens really want; and if this is so make it happen. The perfessers and egg-heads can move to Arkansas.

[Bland]

Howard,

I mentioned to my wife this morning that Fidel is living proof that evil never dies. Her response, "Fidel is the Bobby Bowden of dictators." Not sure how that will sit with the FSU crowd?

Regarding, Rays paying $150 M up front for the new Al Lang Stadium. Just more lipstick on a big ugly pig.

Board of Governors for the Florida Universities are about to be reinvented by Ken Pruit and Charlie Crist. Just keep asking for more money in this economy and see what happens next.

Bring in the lions, let the games begin.

[Ron]

The Rays offer to pay the $150M upfront really means very little. The article doesn't address this, but I assume this means the team will expect to pay no rent, since it was their rent payments that they originally pledged. The net effect of this latest offer only means the team will pay interest on the loan, not the taxpayers. It is only a small concession.

[Don Mott]

Evolution, shmevolution it is founded in religion and should not be taught in public schools. I'm not anti-religion but it has no place in our schools. Bland said it best about the Rays offer, sounds like they're grabbing at straws to me. How about Gov. Crist telling the college presidents to get over it? Maybe we should have one or two football universities with majors like pot making, and take football out of mainstream academics so the free scholarships could be given to those who truly want an education. How nice was it of Sheriff Gee to let the wheelchair tipper retire so she can get her pension? And don't forget about all those delegates Hillary now wants from Florida even though she went along with the snubbing of our votes to begin with. Jeez Howard you could write two columns a day there's so much to write about. Can't wait to see the eclipse tonight!

[Larry]

Howard, Governor Coppertone says that the state universities are flush with cash and the leaders should quit griping about needing more money. You ought to have fun with that one.

[Bland]

Howard,

Getting to your last question. How about writting about what will happen to Cuba when all the old guard dies out (i.e. Castro Brothers and the rest of the hard line commies).

My thought is that a new government will come into power and try to make restitution with various parties to ignite the potential huge development of Cuba. There is over a thousand miles of undeveloped waterfront waiting for big bucs just North in Miami and the rest of the US.

Just a thought.

[Howard Troxler]

Thanks for the comments so far! Ron, on the rent question -- I think the deal was gonna be, that they artificially inflated their current payment ($1m) to a new level of $10m, and then use that "revenue stream" to pledge against the $150m. This would require creating some entity to hold the debt, and I was a little jittery on the idea it could still end up coming back on the public.

If the team borrows the $150m privately and coughs it up, fine by me. Interesting point about the cost of that in the current market, but these days are blue-chip and I 'magine they can swing it.

I am leanin' toward the university issue...

[Howard Troxler]

"These guys" sub for "these days" in previous.

Timmy: Mr. Wizard?

Mr. Wizard: Yes Timmy.

Timmy: My science teacher says I evolved from monkeys.

Mr. Wizard: That’s right, Timmy.

Timmy: Then what happened to the monkeys I saw at the zoo last week, why haven’t they evolved?

Mr. Wizard: Well, Timmy… a while back we started electing politicians instead of educators to our School Boards, then came a thing called FCAT.

Timmy: I see, Mr. Wizard. Can I go play in the tree now?

Mr. Wizard: Sure, Timmy… be careful not to trip on your tail!

Timmy: Mr. Wizard?

Mr. Wizard: Yes Timmy.

Timmy: My teacher said I evolved from a fish, is that true?

Mr. Wizard: Why, yes Timmy, it is.

Timmy: But we ate fish for dinner last night, does that make me a cannibal?

Mr. Wizard: Yes it does Timmy. And if the nutjobs have their way… soon you’ll be charged with murder, along with Mrs. Paul and Long John Silver.

Timmy: Wow, these people are kind of strange, huh Mr. Wizard?

Mr. Wizard: Yes they are Timmy… Kool Aid made with saltwater will do that to a person; I mean… fish.

[guy]

Howard ~ How about writing a story about those of us, who many years ago,came to Florida and settled the land, and made it a tourist site and a winter wonderland.
That is why we get a homestead exemption, and a SOH's that is now portable.
And. We did it in a spot that is easily accessable and very easy to leave in any direction for those who own a part time home here and came after we settled the land and made it safe from all the preditors.
And are now complaining.
We also made the poor Seminole Indian tribes rich.
Yes we lost a few to Gators and Sharks but we are getting a few dollars off of our taxes.
Good subject?????????

[ENough]

Why does the Times never investigate the coruption inside Mayor Baker's city hall. The level of incompetence among the Parks Department managers alone should fill volumes. Is it that the Times is the paid mouthpiece for his political machine or is it that his old law firm does legal work for the Times? Employees are caught stealing, selling drugs, vandalizing park property and it is never reported to my knowledge. Is there a conspiracy to cover-up illegal activities perpetrated by city staffers? Or I am way off base to expect accountability by our public employees and investigative reporting by our 5th-estate? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Howard Troxler]

Well, just speaking for myself, I have been too busy being part of the conspiracy to promote the baseball stadium to be part of the conspiracy to cover up wrongdoings by city employees to protect Rick Baker.

If you would like to clue in our reporters about specific things, e-mail me at troxblog@tampabay.com and I will make sure they see whatever you've got. I also will point out the existence of your comment.

Howard - as a moderately involved citizen of the City of St. Petersburg, and a neighbor to a few city employees, here's a few tidbits for your investigative journalists.

- City Leadership's relationship with the company who provided the city with a multi-million dollar accouting software program which, for the most part, didn't work and took many more taxpayer dollars to get fixed. Certainly there wasn't another company, with a better product and a lower bid that was recommmended by staff . . .

- The city's pennies-on-the dollar sale of city land to a former NAACP personality who was headed for bankruptcy. Luckily this person was able to resell the land to a developer just a few days later for millions. A short time after that mid-town had a SweetBay. . .

- Have a reporter file a public records requests for the log books at the SPPD. Yes we know, they're perfectly well staffed (as long as you count every person who works in the building, or is in training, as an "officer" - which they do). If you look at the logs, where every LEO signs in at roll call before their shift, and then count the actual "sworn force" . . . well, you'll see.

- And while we're talking about the Police. . .all the officers sitting at BayWalk are paid for by Muvico and/or Sembler, right? Riiiiiight. And the officer sitting all day at the aforementioned SweetBay isn't being paid for by the taxpayers either. . .

Just a few ideas. Course the Times can always run another "whoda thunk" expose on the dangers of over-medicating or mixing painkillers with alcohol.

[Aquaserpent]

What a hoot, a cruise ship at the Pier. My friend your grand children would be cashing their social security check before the dredging operations would be complete. The Bay is to shallow and a designated estuary making substantial construction activities almost impossible. You would have to remove most of the bottom of the bay, to insure that it would not silt back in. Funny thing about sand once you dig to deep it fills the void right back in. Most of Pinellas County is an estuary a designation bestowed on it by the EPA. The sea grass, mangroves, and coral are all protected, not to mention the other species that depend on the bay’s ecosystem that are also endangered.

Howard,

I read your article the other day, which talked about the condemnation legislation that is making its way through the legislature. You forgot to mention that Progress Energy wrote the bill, kind of reminds me of the Hillsborough County Jailers, you can take your beating before or after booking it’s your choice. As far as complaining about Charlie not being around to do his job, don’t look at me I voted for an independent.