Today, Judy interviews Florida Trail throughhiker Alan Roddy, who recounts the joys of hiking through standing water in the Big Cypress National Preserve. Stacey Matrazzo talks about the importance of wild flowers to the Florida ecosystem. And this will be the final dispatch from the Bay Area Navigator.

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TOP NEWS

Florida ready to follow Ohio and secure abortions rights. Politico

Report: FDA approves Florida’s drug importation plan. The Capitolist

Florida's surgeon general calls for 'halt' in COVID-19 vaccines against federal health guidance. WUSF

A Florida bill would lower the gun-buying age from 21 to 18, reversing part of a law passed after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre. WMNF

A Senate Republican files a bill to restrict Florida agencies in the use of personal pronouns. WMNF

Florida GOP readies for meeting to oust embattled chairman Christian Ziegler. ABC Action News

Neighbors worried after sewage spills from apartment complex on Hillsborough River. ABC Action News

Florida homes with roofs built after 2015 could be more likely to survive major hurricanes: FEMA report. Fox 13 News

Will Republicans take on Hillsborough County constitutional officers? Tampa Bay Times $

Moffitt Cancer Center agrees to $19.6M settlement with the feds over False Claims Act. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

DeSantis lobs most forceful attacks yet against trump, days before Iowa caucuses. The New York Times $

Kellyanne Conway accuses Ron DeSantis of ‘living in Iowa’, neglecting gubernatorial duties. Florida Politics

John Morgan for Governor? Orlando attorney teases a run ‘for the people’. Florida Politics

Almost 1 million Florida voters declared inactive after law purging voter lists. WMNF

Florida's next top invasive species: crab-eating monkeys and more. Axios

Tampa man's ashes to be launched into deep space with DNA from three U.S. presidents. Fox 13 News

Tampa Bay's best live music happening January 4-11. Creative Loafing

Despite sore ribs, Mayfield determined to be ready to help Bucs pursue NFC South title. Spectrum Bay News 9

9 QUESTIONS FOR ALAN RODDY

Alan Roddy can claim something most people can’t: He has hiked the entire Florida National Scenic Trail, or the Florida Trail, in one season. There are only 11 such designated trails in the United States, including the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail — where Roddy also has hiked. Roddy retired from a Sarasota law career in 2019 and moved to Hunter’s Green in New Tampa, which put him closer to the Florida Trail. He tackled the Florida Trail not long after “the trip of a lifetime,” a five-month truck-tent camping expedition with his longtime girlfriend. They drove up to the Arctic Ocean through Canada and down through the Rockies. They do a bit of RVing, now in a hard-sided trailer. Roddy fits in hikes along the way. Next up for him: the Arizona Trail. For anyone interested in hiking the Florida Trail or hiking in general, Roddy recommends checking out the Florida Trail Association and groups and events on Meetup.

‘I Had a Blister Across the Whole Pad of My Foot’

By Judith M. Gallman

Why did you through-hike the Florida Trail in one season?

I had first hiked on the Florida Trail around 1980 with a friend along the Suwannee. I've always liked walking and camping. Being a Floridian native, a native Tampan or Tampeño, I guess they're liking to call it, I wanted to see Florida. That's what I love. One thing I like about backpacking is not necessarily carrying all that weight; it's seeing things I would not get to see. I started on Jan. 2, 2020, and finished 10 weeks later, about March 15 or 16. I had to take nine days off total for what I call ‘my blister vacation.’ Two months is a nice round number for the Florida Trail. People tend to hike it in January and February, because that's climatically the best time, working around hunting seasons and hot weather. I thought to see Florida would be a big thing. The Florida Trails is 1,140 miles the way I went, south to north. It is a great self-guided tour of Florida. Walking and camping in my native state was something I wanted to do.

Were you alone?

I was solo, but I met up with and got to know people. There is a page of the Florida Trail Association listing people who complete it. In 2020, there were only nine of us. In the last two years, there have been around 50. So it goes up and down. Part of it was coming out of the pandemic, and part of it was a YouTube video series from a woman from Alabama whose trail name is Dixie. She made a series of six very complimentary videos in early 2021 about hiking the Florida Trail, and she has a very big following. The book and the movie Wild, about the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, pumped up the number of hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail. I think Dixie's video had that effect here. She loved the trail. A lot of people are turned off by the thought of bugs, snakes, and water. She embraced those things. I did meet other hikers along the way at a few junctures. The people you get to know sometimes collect into a ‘tramily,’ or a trail family. Those are the people who wind up in the same place at night. You may not walk the same speed; you may not see 'em all day; maybe you walk with 'em. But because somebody starts earlier and somebody walks longer and somebody walks faster, they're all in the same place in the end.

What were the conditions like – did you ever think about quitting?

It certainly got warm sometimes, and I think the lowest it got was maybe around 30 or 31 up along Suwannee. That was about the extent of it. I carried a 20-degree sleeping bag and I don't remember really being cold. I don't think I thought I’d quit. I called my girlfriend and had her pick me up because of the blisters. I had a blister across the whole pad of my foot. The doctor finally said, ‘All right, you can go back this day, but for another so many days, stay out of that Florida water.’ She was convinced it was full of malevolent stuff. That's probably true. I lost a lot of weight, 35 pounds — the same amount of weight in 1,100 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. It's heat and perspiration. It's a lot of exposed time in the sun. For Florida, you would think that water is everywhere a drop to drink. It is not. Water has issues, from being down in the sugar fields, where you don't want to drink the surface water to up here, in the sandy areas, where water goes underground or you have to climb into a pond through a bunch of weeds. That may not be so appealing. Sometimes the water's brown even after you filter it.  

What caused your blister? 

In the first segment of the Big Cypress, it's sandy and watery and you're pouring sand out of your shoes. It’s like sandpaper — rubbing, a lot of irritation. My feet were pretty beat up, pretty raw. So I would say it was the sand getting in my shoes. 

What were your favorite parts?

I would call highlight No. 1 the Big Cypress. It is probably the most unloved section of the trail depending on the water level there. The difference between 6 inches and 10 inches is a lot of effort when moving your feet. Some people don't like that they can't see their feet all the time. You get the kind of the boot-sucking or shoe-sucking mud that pulls at your feet every time you are stepping. But it is an environment you'll never see anywhere else. It is unique to us, and I think it's a must-do. Sometimes, there aren't many areas up above the water, and you have ‘an island,’ they call it, a little place to camp on. Surprisingly, there are black bears. Another is Everglades National Park. You start at Oasis Visitor Center, which is on Tamiami Trail, and that's where you'll see the most and the biggest gators anywhere, right along the Tamiami Trail in the moat or the canal. It's a unique habitat, and it's dark sky, and it is about as alone as you can get down there. After that, the next highlight would be the Ocala National Forest. The big, beautiful springs at Alexander Springs and Juniper Springs. A beautiful forest. It's very popular but also a lot of black bears there. Then farther north is the Suwannee River area, and to be able to hike  along the Suwannee was a real highlight. 

Did you fear the gators, bears, or other animals?

Not really. They want to get away, and they're big, and they're pretty easy to see most times. The little ones aren't as much of an issue. Pythons you wouldn't see. If I had any concerns, it would be pythons you couldn't see. Now, I've never heard of anybody getting wrapped up or hikers being wrapped up by a python, but you don't know when you're stepping on one when they're really good at hiding. So I actually carry a little knife in case. The bears, they're not the biggest black bears, like you might find out West. Most of 'em are pretty small, but they have a lot of run-ins with humans because humans are in their territory. 

Who is the typical through-hiker anyway ?  

Generally people in some form of transition — out of college, out of a job, out of the military, retired. What I observed this last year on Pacific Crest Trail, because of the job market, was a kind of person I hadn't seen before, the one that tells their boss they're going to disappear for a few months, and the boss says, ‘When can you come back?’ Which never happened in my working life. On the Pacific Crest Trail, it's people in their 20s and 30s. And probably 30 percent or so from overseas, primarily Europe. We get a smattering of people from other countries. I was surprised the year I went, all but one were from Florida, because that's kind of unusual and probably much less than half most years. 

How does the Florida Trail compare to the PCT or the AT?

Fewer people. A lot more time to yourself. You don't have the complex of businesses, helpers — trail angels, as we call 'em — hostels that you do on the others, or trail towns. We go through a town or so, but I walk through areas and people say, ‘What are you doing?’ Those other places, those towns live on hikes. That's a big part of their season. On the Appalachian Trail, you can always get somebody to pick you up and take you somewhere, to their hospitals, to their whatnot. So that is a big difference. Obviously, we don't have mountains. We have swamps, which they don't have so much. I  have people get in my face about how they would never hike the Florida Trail. They just are adamant they don't want to do that. It does freak out a lot of people — walking through water. That depends on the year and the amount of rainfall, but it just doesn't seem natural, now that you should be able to climb mountains and all that.

What’s the story of your trail name, Silver Meteor?

My dad was a railroad man, and Silver Meteor is the name of the train from New York to Miami. It had something to do with my hair color and my tendency to walk fast. Sometimes you take on a ‘defensive trail’ name, i.e., one you thought up and isn’t too bad to avoid one which usually relates to your most embarrassing moment or an early embarrassing moment on the trail when you get named something like Poo Shoes. On the Pacific Crest Trail last May, I came up on a pair of Great Danes in the middle of nowhere. I'm 6-4. I'm pretty tall, but these dogs were pretty tall, too. They were not giving ground and they were growling. I tried all my tricks of good dog, bad dog; stick, no stick. Maybe I have some food in my pack, all that. They were not fazed. Finally some guys who were hiking along came up from behind, and the dogs dispersed. They laughed and thought that was funny. Now I have the name Big Dog. I used Silver Meteor until that particular incident. I've used Big Dog since then.  

This article has been edited for length and clarity.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by runFIT at 18841 State Road 54 in Lutz. We are a retail fitness shop founded in 2020 by a local runner.  

Run, Gather, Shop. runFIT is a business that was born out of a need in the community. Locals needed a central place for people to run, gather, and shop for all their fitness needs! We sell apparel, gear, shoes, fuel, recovery, and many more products. Our fit process is handled by our amazingly talented team. The runFIT crew takes the time to get to know the customer, combined with our foot scan technology, to make the best recommendations for each individual. Customers come into the shop for our service and continue to come back based on how we make them feel. We have a runCLUB that meets twice a week and welcomes runners and walkers of all paces. You can find us on Facebook or Instagram or at runFITgear.com

12 QUESTIONS FOR STACEY MATRAZZO

Stacey Matrazzo is a Florida native who grew up spending a lot of her time outdoors. After finishing her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and knocking around freelancing at other nonprofits, she started working at the Florida Wildflower Foundation as a contractor in 2008. She went full time in 2013, and took on the executive director position two years ago, when the executive director retired. She never tires of preserving Florida’s natural resources.

Wildflowers Support Pollinators, Which We Rely Upon

By Judith M. Gallman

What got you interested in wildflowers in the first place?

Just having grown up here in Florida and a lot of exposure to our natural ecosystems. It wasn't flowers specifically, but, obviously, they're the kind of the bright spots in our landscapes, another thing that really draws your attention, and certainly drew mine when I was studying botany and other environmental classes. I was interested in conservation in general and working with organizations that were dedicated to preserving Florida's environment.

What is a wildflower, and are they delicate or hardy?

‘Wildflower,’ botanically speaking, a wildflower is any herbaceous flowering plant that is naturally occurring or wild. But generally speaking, it tends to refer to native herbaceous flowering plants. You'll hear people talking about putting a wildflower garden in or adding wildflowers to their landscape. They're really talking about native species as opposed to the non-native flowering plants. In our home landscapes, they're not technically a ‘wild flower,’ since it was intentionally planted. But for the purpose of our work and the scientific community, we use ‘wildflower’ to refer to those native species. Some are delicate; some are a little bit hardier than others. It depends, but having that herbaceous quality does make them a little bit less persistent in the landscape as opposed to our shrubs or our woodier species.

What are the advantages of planting wildflowers?

Wildflowers support pollinators, and pollinators support us. We rely on pollination services for about every third bite of food that we eat. Our agricultural crops are not necessarily sufficient to support the pollinators that rely on them, so we need native wildflowers and other flowering plants. These are the plants that have evolved here with our native pollinators for millennia, but they're best suited to provide the nutrition that our pollinators need. The native wildflowers also provide seeds and attract insects that then feed our birds and other small wildlife. They're really foundational to our ecosystems, to our food web, and to us as well.

What does the Florida Wildflower Foundation do?

Our mission is to protect, connect, and expand native wildflower habitat, and we do that through research, education, and planting programs. We do monthly webinars, we give public talks, we do outreach events. We have a lot of publications. We have over 350 plant profiles on our website, as well as many publications that are designed to help people choose plants for their landscapes. We've funded a number of research studies over the years. We are looking at site prep to manage for weeds. This will be helpful for homeowners as well as municipalities, public works departments, anyone interested in establishing a native plant garden. We're also exploring the creation of a seed strategy to help increase the availability of native wildflower seed. This will help with native plant growers and nurseries, as well as get more seed available for restoration and other planting projects. We also have planting grants. Our planting program the Viva Florida Demonstration Garden Grant Program is for municipalities and public places to put in a native garden. The Seedlings for Schools Wildflower Garden Grant Program provides actual wildflower seedlings to schools throughout Florida. We're about to launch a library grant program, too, which will allow libraries to establish demonstration gardens and educational components on their campuses.

Do you want the same types of wildflowers in yards and public spaces?

In public settings, it's a struggle with the aesthetic. People are very used to manicured landscapes, and so in a public space, we might try to do something a little more formal and choose some foundational plants, flowering shrubs, evergreen plants — things that are a little more permanent in the landscape that'll give it structure when the wildflowers aren't blooming. A lot of our wildflowers go dormant or they're annuals, and so they're not present or visibly present all the time. What we do like to suggest is that you have some other foundational plants and a landscape that'll always be there and be visible and provide that structure. For people’s own landscapes, we have tons of resources on our website, including a publication called 20 Easy to Grow Wild Flowers. They are also readily available at native nurseries. We also have a book I co-wrote  with Nancy Bessette, a botanist and a nursery owner. It’s Native Plants for Florida Gardens and covers 100 different grasses, trees, shrubs, and vines, all pretty easy to grow and readily available.

Do you have a favorite wildflower?

I have a lot of favorites.

Are there good places for seeing blooming wildflowers, and are they interesting when they're not blooming?

Sure. A lot of them have very interesting foliage or will have other qualities that are worth seeing, but it depends on where you go. Spring and fall are really our best wildflower seasons, but we do have a lot of summer blooming plants. We have many that will bloom throughout the year, too. Our website lists hotspots as well as roadsides where wildflowers are seasonally thriving. In the Panhandle, I would say the Apalachicola National Forest is really amazing for roadside wildflowers. Here, where I am, in Central Florida, we have Tosohatchee Wildlife Management Area and Hal Scott Preserve. Those are both really spectacular places for wildflowers. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve as you're heading a little bit further south. Most of our natural areas, especially the ones that are more open, like our pine flatwoods, our sandhills, even our scrub and our prairies, they're all home to many wildflower species.

Is picking wildflowers a no-no?

It is a no-no. The state has a statute that makes it illegal to pick anything that's endangered or threatened. Most of our natural or managed lands as well as our state parks have prohibitions or codes against the removal of plants. So within those spaces, it's prohibited, but we generally advise against picking wildflowers. Our focus is to create habitat. So we're trying to preserve the plants that provide vital food and habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. If you pick them, you're removing that resource. A lot of these also reproduce by seeds, so if you remove them, you might be taking away the opportunity for that plant to regenerate. We just tell people, ‘Take pictures; they last longer anyway.’

Is there a most “Florida” of wildflowers?

Our state wildflower is Coreopsis, so that's probably what I would associate. There's not one that makes me think, ‘Oh, that's Florida for sure.’ There's a lot of endemic species here that aren't found anywhere else. We have an incredible diversity here.

Is there one that people consider to be the prettiest?

Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, right? There's so many unique flowers and flowering plants here. We have a lot of orchids, so they have a really unique flower structure. We have a lot of insectivorous flowers as well. They have really interesting parts, not just the flowers, but they're pretty amazing to see.

I like sunflowers, and I noticed there are so many varieties here.

There are 15 species of sunflower. Most are typical to what you'd expect of a sunflower. Ours don't grow as big and boisterous as the Mexican sunflower, the one most people are familiar with. Some of them are more low-growing, like our Dune sunflower, a sprawling, low-growing ground cover in coastal environments. We have a Rayless sunflower, which doesn’t have those yellow ray florets that people generally think of as petals. Very different than your typical sunflower. But most of the 15 are pretty standard — that big yellow flower with a nice, dark center.

How can someone get involved with your organization? 

Become a member. We do offer some member-only benefits. We do monthly field trips that are free to members. We've had webinars and other events. You could also get the state wildflower license plate, a specialty plate. It's only $15 more a month. That money directly supports our programs. If you have the tag, you are automatically a member, as long as you let us know. The best thing anyone can do is just start learning. We like to encourage people to get out into our natural areas, whether it is on one of our field trips or getting out there on your own, seeing what wildlife are interacting with the other plants. That can inspire people to come back and plant them in their own landscapes.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Sadly, this is the final issue of the Bay Area Navigator. Although the Tampa area sorely needs more local journalism, several months of publishing taught us that we lack the resources necessary to grow the Navigator into the news outlet we hoped it might become. Thank you to our readers and supporters. Support local journalism.

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Happy New Year from the Bay Area Navigator. Today’s newsletter features interviews with Amy Weintraub of the campaign to put an abortion-rights measure on the November ballot and Caitlin Robison of the Florida Master Naturalist Program.

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TOP NEWS

New ‘move over law’ takes effect for Florida drivers. WMNF

Authorities expanding investigation into Florida GOP chair accused of rape. Politico

Ten big issues the Florida Legislature will consider during its 2024 session. WMNF

State urges the Florida Supreme Court to not take up a redistricting challenge. WUSF

Tampa's new water filtration system is expected to help remove forever chemicals. WUSF

Masonite’s $3B buyout for PGT faces competing bid. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Brightline reports $192 million net loss in first nine months of 2023. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Homeownership increasingly out of reach for younger Floridians. Axios

Will Wander Franco remain in jail? Judge in Dominican Republic to decide fate of Ray’s shortstop. Fox 13 News

Tampa Bay's Michael Penix Jr. has Washington on the verge of a national championship. WUSF

11 QUESTIONS FOR AMY WEINTRAUB

Amy Weintraub of St. Pete is the reproductive rights program director at Progress Florida, a nonprofit organization promoting progressive values. Foremost on its agenda is the Floridians Protecting Freedom campaign, an effort to amend Florida’s constitution to protect abortion rights. Here’s Weintraub’s take on the state of the campaign.

Circumventing the Florida Legislature to Put Abortion on the Ballot

By Judith M. Gallman

First of all, please explain the amendment

It's called Floridians Protecting Freedom, and it is a statewide campaign to amend our state constitution to protect Floridians’ ability to make personal medical decisions without government interference, particularly a person's ability to end a pregnancy if necessary. We know that because of gerrymandering and the influence of anti-abortion extremists, our legislature is so out of sync with the will of the people. Our only tool in the tool chest — aside from changing the makeup of the legislature, which we will constantly be trying to do — is a constitutional amendment. We are so lucky in Florida to have this tool. Not all states allow the people to petition to put things on the ballot. If the campaign is a success, we get on the ballot, and the electorate agrees with us as we predict they will, this will be a permanent answer to the problem that we have.

Why does Florida need such an amendment? 

In 2022, the Florida legislature passed its first abortion ban, the 15-week abortion ban, and that was followed last spring, in 2023, by the most restrictive six-week abortion ban in the country. This is out of sync with the will of Floridians. Poll after poll has showed that close to 70 percent of Floridians believe that people should have access to abortion care. And so we have to have this to circumvent the extreme restrictions that the legislature is year-after-year imposing.

What would life in Florida be like for a pregnant person if the six-week ban takes effect? 

It's going to be very difficult for people with problematic diagnosis during pregnancy. They are going to have to travel out of state for care at great expense and at taking time away from their regular life. We already see this happening with the 15-week ban. There are people who get bad news after 15 weeks. There are cases where people have to continue the pregnancy to deliver and have a baby that dies within an hour. And they could have received care by their own OB/GYN, and not had to go through that whole experience. But the law denies them that right. Other people have traveled out of state. And those kinds of stories are going to be happening all the more often when a six-week ban is imposed. Most people don't even know they're pregnant at six weeks, much less have all of the tests that come with pregnancy to make sure that the pregnancy is healthy.

Any thoughts about the state AG’s attempt to throw out the amendment?  

Our coalition legal team is full of constitutional law experts and ballot initiative experts. They are so ready to defend our language. It was put together by experts from across the state and nation. We believe that it is 100 percent constitutional. None of the arguments that Ashley Moody has come up with were unexpected, and we are so ready for oral arguments — just waiting for them to be scheduled by the Supreme Court. 

The primary objections are related to viability and healthcare definitions?

Yeah. This whole idea of viability being too general or not understandable is poppycock. Viability has long been understood in medicine and in law, even in our Florida constitution, it is defined. So she's just pulling at straws.

What are the political implications of the amendment on the ballot in a presidential election? 

We know that this will, as it has in other states, drive voter turnout. And this is not a partisan issue. People don't approach abortion care as Republicans or Democrats or no party affiliates. They approach a healthcare provider, needing abortion care, as a patient who needs help. When I'm personally collecting petitions, the number of people from the right, Republicans who are eager to help get this on the ballot and fill out the forms, has been very, very delightful. It will drive voter turnout. That's a great thing, because that is participation in democracy, and that's the way that we, as Americans, need to be headed.

What convinces you that people are in sync with your movement?

Poll after poll supports our position. We did extensive research before we even began the campaign, which didn't begin until last May, because we wanted to be sure. We did our own focus groups, we did our own polling, all of that sort of stuff. There are lots of other independent polls. One that came out of Florida Atlantic University in 2022 that showed 67 percent of Floridians support access to abortion. But also I'll mention the outpouring of support we have received — the fact that we've been able to successfully collect these petitions when so many people from other movements said we were crazy to get started so late. But we are going to succeed because Floridians support this. And the number of volunteers that have come forward is unprecedented. There's never been a ballot initiative that has seen this growth in a movement. 

Isn’t a constitutional amendment a tough way to go, even if you viewed it as the only alternative?

It was, and it is very, very difficult. It's difficult because it costs millions of dollars and requires so much people-power. The legislature does not like the people being allowed to put things on the ballot. And they have put up barrier after barrier to us being able to successfully petition. For example, one thing is that it's not just a simple majority, like every other election in Florida to elect them. We have to get 60 percent of the electorate to agree. There was a movement in the last session within the legislature to try to get it to 67 percent. That's what zealots they are when it comes to reproductive freedom. But before we get to the ballot, we have to petition, and the petition process is onerous. We have to get almost 900,000 Floridians to fill out a petition form and sign it. Then those forms have to be validated by the voters’ county supervisors of elections, or SOEs. That costs money, money to collect, because so many petitions are required. It cannot be a volunteer-only campaign. We have to raise millions of dollars to pay people full time, thousands of petition-gatherers, full-time, to be out throughout the state, trying to connect with voters to get them to complete these forms. There has to be a huge volunteer effort, because we can't afford to just have it be a paid effort. Just to keep up, we've raised $14 million. 

Where are you at on signatures, and what’s the likely prognosis?

The state came out Friday, Dec. 8, with new numbers, and right now, we're at 77 percent collected. So we've collected 687,696 — so almost 700,000. Feb. 1, 2024, is the deadline for the county SOEs to turn their numbers into the state, but they have to go through a huge validation process. Our deadline is the end of December. We're 77 percent of the way there regarding validated petitions, but there are hundreds of thousands of petitions that have been collected and that are in the process of being validated. So we are extremely hopeful and optimistic that if we can keep up the momentum that we currently have, we will make our goal. We will know when the Florida Division of Election shows that we have a hundred percent of the ballots we need to collect. We're feeling very positive about things. We are very optimistic that we are going to have the number of validated signatures required.

Would you like to talk about anything else? 

What I find when I'm out interacting with voters about this is the idea that every pregnancy and every circumstances is unique. Floridians know that, and that this constitutional amendment will ensure that politicians cannot get between a patient and their healthcare provider any longer on this issue. We want doctors involved with this, not politicians. We don't turn to politicians for answers when we have cancer or when we need birth control or when we need an appendectomy. So we don't need to turn to them for reproductive healthcare either. 

Do you think this is an issue that many men don't understand because they're not the child bearers? 

There is this old feminist adage, ‘If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.’ I say that in jest, of course. I do see that our government bodies are made up with huge majorities of males, and that's part of our problem. It's not representative. The real needs and issues that Floridians face are often pushed aside for political reindeer games. However, I will say that the number of men who've been willing and eager to sign these petitions has been astounding and affirming. We have men who are out collecting petitions with us as volunteers. Of course, we can't win this without men, because we need 60 percent of the vote. Men are affected by unintended pregnancy too, and they have a stake in this.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

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8 QUESTIONS FOR CAITLIN ROBISON

Caitlin Robison is the coordinator of the Florida Master Naturalist Program, a statewide adult education program about Florida’s natural environment. She’s also a yoga instructor who studied anthropology, philosophy, Spanish, and sustainable development at Rollins College and landed at the University of Florida for a Ph.D. program. “Research on a university scale was not for me, candidly. I started working with the program while I was in grad school as a temporary job to be able to help out with the bills … and I've been working as the program coordinator for the Florida Master Naturalist Program since.” It’s a good fit for Robison, whose undergraduate research was on decolonizing climate discourse and how to include indigenous perspectives in the fight against climate change. The outdoors is her genuine happy place, and she said her position has helped her more deeply connect with the trees, dirt, and water. 

Getting Connected With the Natural World

By Judith M. Gallman

What is the Florida Master Naturalist Program?

The Florida Master Naturalist Program is an adult environmental education program devoted to creating a conservation ethic and a general awareness and excitement about our natural world here in Florida. Our niche is really young professionals, working professionals, and retirees. We have a large audience. Our first classes debuted in 2001. We have classes all over the state in every region devoted to in-class learning and field trips to grab more people and bring them into this common goal of safe and healthy environments in Florida.

How does the program work? Are there programs like this in other states? 

We've served as a model for some other master naturalist programs around the country. They're all run a little bit differently. Some of them are more community-based and build connections and networks. Dr. Martin Main, our founder and program leader, has designed a very detailed and expansive curriculum. There's three core courses based on different ecosystems in the state: freshwater, coastal, and upland. Those are all 40 contact hours. They require three field studies as well as 10 to 12 in-class presentations. Those three courses are a crash course basically in all of the species and conservation issues in each of those different ecosystems. The other courses are our special topics courses and cover land stewardship and restoration. Those are all 24 contact hours, but they're structured in the same way. So as opposed to 12 presentations, you'll have four or five, and then the similar two, three field studies. It's a pretty big time commitment. The courses need a final project and some interpretation elements. Now we've branched out to have some skill-based classes, like wildlife monitoring or habitat evaluation. You're going to learn those skills and tools to do that kind of conservation work as opposed to just learning about the different ecosystems.

Do you receive a credential?  

It is within its own realm. We have our own designation based on how many classes you take, and you can become an advanced master naturalist if you take all the classes. There's different designations. Teachers and environmental educators sometimes use our classes. Some can use them as continuing education units. They've been broadly recognized as a training facility, a resource camp.  

Who is the program for?  

It's geared towards any citizen over 18. We even have people who are not from Florida. We've had folks from across the country and even across the world take some of our classes and be able to look at their own environments and say, ‘OK, this doesn't look like Florida necessarily, but how can we draw similarities between the oak that we find here?’ Those kinds of questions we have in South Florida are different from North Florida, which are different from Alabama, et cetera. Because of the nature of a 40-hour contact class, there are limitations to who can take the classes, but we try to mitigate that with scholarships we offer to help incentivize groups that may not have all that time. We have environmental educators, teachers, young professionals, college students, and an older group of folks who have flexibility in their schedule. 

What's the secret to the program’s longevity?

First would be the people that are engaged. Our graduates and our instructors are some of the most like-minded and goal-oriented and committed people. There's this air of community and connection and excitement. No one has to take this class, right? You don't need it to graduate; you don't need it for continuing education. People in the program really want to learn and want to either continue to get connected or start to get connected with the natural world. My ethics in life is guided by trees, and we have graduated over 20,000 people who are also inspired and empowered by the trees or the water and are building a group of engaged citizens that continues to grow. The other part would be our founder and our leader, Dr. Martin Main. He has a unique ability to galvanize groups and to put inspiration into people to work toward a goal while having a family feeling. As a professor and in his professional career, he's done everything you could imagine, field studies and positions-wise, but this is his purpose, and people want to rally around that.

Who are the teachers?

We've got almost 200 instructors — about 170 instructors and about 60 instructor teams. Each instructor team is established by a lead instructor, and they can bring on as many assistants and associates as they need. The lead instructor delivers the majority of the material and crafts the schedule. Some of our lead instructors are county extension directors and agents. County extension offices are fertile breeding grounds for FMNP instructors. They'll bring on other members, agents, or program assistants who are in college or grad school. They'll help facilitate the logistics. We've got folks who own their own eco tourism businesses or nature centers. We have all different kinds of partnerships. One of the biggest elements that differentiates the program is the amount of connections that are formed. We have instructors in most counties.

What does the Florida Master Naturalist Program do for someone?

We held a class for law enforcement officers, and we had someone from wildlife conservation and different groups come in and talk. Later, one law enforcement agent shared he was at the beach and saw folks trying to take home some animals and some plants. They thought, ‘Oh, a little shell. There's nothing in there.’ Instead of going up and saying, ‘Hey, you're not allowed to do that! Give me that,’ this agent turned it into a whole conversation about what the species was and the history behind it, which he had learned from class. It turned into a big conversation. The people weren't from Florida, but they got to learn a little bit about the environment, and they immediately put everything back. That shows the impact these classes can make on one person's approach. That affected an entire family who took that story to another state and who knows what happened. The agent said that the program helped him feel better about his job every time that he went to work. He was able to see different organisms, different ecosystems working together, and he also had an opportunity to educate more people.  

Anything else?

It's a really unique environment to work in and to learn in. It’s the excitement and the energy that people have, which is just not common in a university setting where there is all this doom and gloom around the environment. That's tough not to have, but our mission is to change that narrative and to get people excited about change and transformation — just learning, getting outside, and feeling good about it. But to check us out, our website is the best place, MasterNaturalist.org. You can check out all of our current classes there. Scholarship opportunities also. We’re making our scholarships easier starting in 2024. It's an inclusive scholarship, so any person that has financial need can give us their name, and we help take some of the burden off them 

This article has been edited for length and clarity.

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Tampa RV company secures $35M in financing for expansion. Business Observer $

TGH welcomes twin babies as first delivery of 2024. Axios

Lawmakers want increased St. Pete visibility with Rays. Spectrum Bay News 9

Tampa billionaire sues Bank of America over sale of NFL team. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Powerball in Florida: Tampa Publix sells ticket worth $2M. 10 Tampa Bay

FLORIDA

Florida lawmakers consider bill that would ban businesses from going cashless. Fox 13 News

Jeff Brandes of Florida Policy Project warns about Florida’s evolving property insurance crisis. The Capitolist

Florida insurance commissioner says reforms easing crisis, bringing stability. Business Observer $

From sports betting to car insurance, here are the big stories that will dominate headlines in 2024 . The Capitolist

A lack of affordable child care puts the burden on working Florida parents. WUSF

The legal battle over access to Ron DeSantis’ travel records heats up. WMNF

Ten big legal issues in Florida to watch in 2024. WMNF

POLITICS

DeSantis, Haley to square off in CNN debate after Trump snubs invitation. The Capitolist

DeSantis’ struggles in presidential race may dim his clout with Florida Legislature. Florida Phoenix

Ron DeSantis defends ‘interventions’ at ‘professionally-run’ Guantanamo Bay. Florida Politics

Poll: Florida voters trust election officials, mail-in ballots. Florida Politics

LEISURE

You can now see Jawlene, the gator with a missing top jaw, at Orlando’s Gatorland. Tampa Bay Times $

Bucs have one game left to prove offense really has turned a corner. Tampa Bay Times $

COMMENTARY

Here are some suggested New Year’s resolutions for Florida folks. Florida Phoenix

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

But there is one thing we haven’t done yet, and it’s very important. We haven’t yet heard from our readers. 

And so today, we are replacing our daily email with a short survey to find out what you the experts think.

What do you like? What do you ignore? What would you like to see more of? What could you live without?

One participant in our survey will receive a $100 gift card to The C House restaurant at 6005 N. Florida Ave. There aren’t yet too many of you subscribers, so your odds of winning are decent.

We’ll be suspending publication of the Navigator for a few weeks while we make some improvements and go on vacation. (Billing will be suspended for our paid subscribers, and annual subscribers will receive an extension.)

We hope that a big part of those improvements will involve the feedback that you provide us today.

So please do us the favor of responding to our brief survey, so that we can come back with a better, more relevant Bay Area Navigator. There are just eight questions.

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Take Our Survey

December already? In today's Navigator, Virginia Overstreet goes native. As president of the local chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, her Seminole Heights yard embodies the native plant spirit, though it's not 100 percent native. "I do have a couple of other things. I love my cacti and succulents and orchids, but nothing in my garden is invasive. It's not high maintenance." You can learn form her mistakes, she promises. Plus, new restaurant openings, Mel the kitty needs a home, and the Tampa Bay Area's best news roundup.

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

U.S. Senate committee probes Citizens Property Insurance’s solvency, viability. Florida Politics

Tampa banning plastic bags from yard waste collection. ABC Action News

Tampa Police Department launches new technology for real-time updates for victims of crime. Fox 13 News

Viniks give $1.5M to Florida Aquarium in Tampa for major expansion. Tampa Bay Times $

Tampa Water Department to evaluate lead pipes in city after EPA proposal to replace them nationwide. Fox 13 News

'Cut down at an alarming rate': Tampa's urban tree canopy decreases by more than 12%. ABC Action News

Does Tampa Bay have a shot at being a hub for tech business? Business Observer $

For Republican governors, civics is the latest education battleground. The New York Times $

DeSantis calls for resignation of embattled Florida GOP chairman. The Washington Post $

Florida Supreme Court calls for adding two county court judges in Hillsborough. WMNF

TODAY’S SPONSOR

Free childcare AND a paycheck: Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa is a nationally accredited preschool seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified. 

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

BRIEFS

NEWS

Native Plant Input: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking public input on a draft addendum to the State Wildlife Action Plan. The addendum would incorporate 596 native plant species into the state’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need list. Such species are declining or are at risk of becoming imperiled in the future. Key information in the addendum will be presented at a public webinar on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 11 a.m.-noon EST. Information on joining the webinar and a copy of the presentation will be posted on the FWC’s State Wildlife Action Plan web page at MyFWC.com/SWAP. Written comments are being accepted via survey until Dec. 15.

Greenways Update: Hillsborough County residents have been learning about Hillsborough’s Greenways Master Plan and providing feedback on the future of paved and unpaved trails and recreational waterways. The feedback has informed the design of a new draft master plan to replace the original Greenways Master Plan. Residents are invited to visit the virtual engagement hub through Monday, Dec. 4, review the plan, and provide comments. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the Hillsborough Greenways Committee will discuss, make changes, and put its stamp of approval on the Greenways Master Plan. Once approved, the Greenways Master Plan will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for approval in early 2024. 

Building Re-dedication: Hillsborough County Tax Collector Nancy
C. Millan hosted on Monday a grand re-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate a 5,000-square-foot expansion project at the Tax Collector's North Tampa branch. The building was re-dedicated to the late Mary Alice Dorsett, a Tampa citizen and passionate advocate for the African-American community. Members of her family attended the re-dedication ceremony. The newly expanded North Tampa facility offers more lobby seating, customer service stations, and written driving test stations.

Adoption Fees Waived: SPCA Tampa Bay is waiving adoption fees on pocket pets — small birds, rabbits and guinea pigs — today through Dec. 31. More than 60 furry, fluffy, or bouncy animals in all shapes and sizes are awaiting homes. Meet them at the For-All shelter in Largo. Check SPCATampaBay.org/locations for adoption hours.

Another Panther Fatality: The remains of a 5-year-old male Florida panther (UCFP449) were collected on Sunday on U.S. Hwy 27, south of SR 17, in Glades County. The suspected cause of death was vehicle collision, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Report injured or dead panthers to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). 

Got news? Send it here.

11 QUESTIONS FOR VIRGINIA OVERSTREET

By Judith M. Gallman

Going Native

Virginia Overstreet of Tampa is a retired naval officer and the president of the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, even though she lacks a background in horticulture or botany. She lives in a Seminole Heights bungalow with a small yard bursting with Florida native plants. Early on, Overstreet made many gardening mistakes. An interest in drought-tolerant plants and planting for wildlife led her to take classes through her local county extension service, and she ultimately joined the society. Here’s what she had to say about going native in Tampa. 

What’s the mission of the Florida Native Plant Society? 

We are absolutely not a garden club. … Our mission is to preserve and conserve Florida's native plants and native plant communities. We educate the public by encouraging them to use native plants in their landscapes and to help them identify native plants when they go hiking, camping, and cycling, or whatever, through our parks and preserves.

How does it fulfill that mission?

We go out on hikes, and sometimes at least one or two people in the group will know what a plant is that’s blooming, but if not, we'll stay there until we identify it. We've got a lot of good photographers, and if you follow us on Facebook or Instagram, you'll see a lot of the photography. I recently wrote a letter to the Plant City Florida Commissioners because there's a developer who wants to put in a large warehouse next to a wetland here in Hillsborough County. The construction of a large development like that could damage the wetland, which in turn, will cause the plants, animals, and birds that live there to either die or move away. It's things like that, and sometimes we'll hear about what we call a ‘plant rescue.’

What’s a ‘plant rescue’?

An approved development, but the developer will say, ‘Hey, there's all these plants out here, and I know they're native. Y'all have two months to come dig them up.’ Things like that happen, all which is good. Unfortunately, there's a lot of that that doesn't happen. They literally just pull those. 

Can you give me any advice for somebody who likes the look of broad-leafed tropical plants?

You can't really say that one particular plant will do well throughout Florida, because if you think about the zones and the climates within — you can really divide Florida into three areas: the north, central, and the south. Some things that will do great in the Miami area are going to get killed during a Tallahassee winter. Not everything is salt tolerant. People who are fortunate enough to live on the coast have to be aware of that, whereas the people in Orlando really don't.

What about the Tampa Bay Area?

When you're buying a new plant, you have to think about a few things. What kind of light that plant wants, does it require water, because some native plants do require supplemental irrigation. But the most important thing is its mature size, because you don't want to get a native plant that's going to get 8 feet tall and put it underneath a window where you really want to maintain it at 4 feet. If you're constantly pruning it, it's not going to set buds and have flowers and fruit, which is what you want to attract the wildlife. There's one that I really like: ornamental coffee [Psychotria nervosa]. The berries look like coffee, but it is ornamental, and the birds like it. There's another one called Teabush [Melochia tomentosa]. It's really more of a south Florida plant. I've had it for about five years, and it is covered with bees from sunup to sundown. If you want to prune it, you have to go out there at sunset.

Can you talk a little bit about natives that particularly like shade or grow well in shade?

The ornamental coffee. There's another one, Marlberry [Ardisia escalloniodes], and it gets really big, up to 10 feet tall. It's nice to put along a fence line on your property line, but they will need some sun, too. They produce a black berry that birds love. It's always nice to have plants in the landscape, especially if they have berries on them during the winter, to provide a food source for our native birds and also migratory birds coming through.

What are some common misconceptions people have about native plant gardens?

They think that a native garden is low maintenance, or rather, unfortunately, no maintenance. Now, there is maintenance involved, and that's in weed control, because if you've got a native garden, and you're gardening to support wildlife, it makes no sense to go out there and constantly spray herbicides on weeds. You need to get out there and either you hand-pull them, or you hire someone to do it, and then mulch with pine straw or leaves, a native mulch. Don't buy chipped bag cypress from Home Depot or Lowe's, because that takes away our cypress trees. For the most part, it is less maintenance than a garden that has a lot of tropical plants that constantly need to be pruned. 

When it comes to native plants and what's good for bees, butterflies and birds, is what's good for one good for the others?

If you want to track the butterflies, you've got to have plants that flower and produce a lot of pollen. And if you want to attract the birds, you've got to have plants that produce berries. But also if you've got plants that are the ‘host plant’ for the butterflies — where they lay their eggs that then hatch into caterpillars — you'll have a lot of butterflies, but that's good to attract birds. Birds come down, and they will eat. They will get the caterpillars and take them back to their nests. If you've got a lot of native plants, especially native trees, you're going to have more birds in your landscape. The birds like to eat bugs, and we have a saying out there: ‘good bugs eat bad bugs.’ The less you use pesticides, the less you need them, because the good bugs will be interested in eating plants. The lizards will eat them. Yes, sometimes I still jump when I see a snake, a black racer or our Florida ring-necked snake, but they love roaches, so why would you want to kill something that eats roaches for you?

What's a good way for people to get involved with native plants?

Join the Native Plant Society chapter in their county. Also, follow us on social media. We have a lot of good articles and links to other articles, and people will post photos of what's blooming in their gardens. We also do field trips, go on hikes, and those are open to the public. We have meetings once a month, on the third Wednesday of the month, and some are in person and some are on  Zoom. At a meeting, and just ask questions. You're not going to offend anybody. Also, here in Hillsborough County, we have a fabulous library system, and if you just go on their website and do a search on ‘Florida native plants,’ you'll get all sorts of books.

Is there anything that's sort of the most Florida of all the native plants? 

No, not really, but that is a very good question. Some people love trees because of the birds, and they will say, ‘oh, oak trees, or saw palmetto,’ which is our native tree, or ‘the hollys, those are the best native plants out there.’ Whereas someone who really likes having butterflies, they will say, ‘oh, no, Firebush [Hamelia paten] is the best.’ Or somebody who likes birds will say, ‘oh, no, coffee and Beautyberries [Callicarpa americana] are the best native plants’. So it depends on what your interest is. The answer is it depends.

Any other advice?

We really encourage you to just reach out and ask questions. If you're thinking about incorporating more natives into your landscape, take your time. People jump into it, and they just buy so many plants because at the nurseries, they'll look beautiful, and then they'll get home and then do the research. Then they'll realize, ‘oh, my goodness, this plant gets 12 feet tall and has thorns. I can't plan it right next to the front door.’ So take your time and do your research. I encourage people to visit a Florida native nursery, one attached to the Florida Association of Native Nurseries. Go there the first time with no intentions. Take pictures and ask questions. The signage is outstanding at those native nurseries. There will be a sign at each plant that will say how big it gets, what kind of light it requires, what kind of wildlife it supports, that type of thing. Take photos of those. That's really a good idea. Know the plants’ mature size. You might think it's funny if you buy three plants and you plant them 6 feet apart. The first year they might look kind of funny and lonely out there, but after a few years, if they're all going to be 4 feet wide and 6 feet tall, you're going to have a beautiful mass planting, and they'll all do better because the root systems of all three plants are not down there competing for water and nutrients in the soil.  

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

BITES

New Restaurant Openings

There is no shortage of new restaurants coming to the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s a list of places. Some are now open; others are coming. Call ahead before visiting.

Ash, 420 S. Nebraska Ave., Tampa: new from Chef Ferrell Alvarez newly anticipated restaurant on the ground floor of Asher Tampa, a residential high-rise (early spring 2024).

HCK Hot Chicken, 3343 S. Westshore Blvd., Tampa: spicy chicken fast-casual restaurant chain (HCK stands for Hot Chickn Kitchn) (grand opening Dec. 9). Creative Loafing

Happy Lemon, 11642 Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa: bubble tea, juices, slushies, smoothies, and waffles.

Jekyll, 1500 W. Swann Ave. (behind Sesame): a chic, reservation-only speakeasy.

Late Start Brewing, 1018 E. Cass St., Downtown Tampa: long-awaited brick-and-mortar brewery with elevated pub eats, a wide variety of beers, and eats from associated Late Start Coffee (opening in early 2024). What Now Tampa

Lunar Coffee, 10929 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace: Craft coffee with an Asian orientation. Carlos Eats

Talkin’ Tacos, 1819 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa: tacos, tacos, and more tacos from a former food truck that’s now a chain (opening spring 2024). What Now Tampa

Ten Rooms Ybor, Centro Espanol building, 1536 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, Tampa: a new “creative food and retail hub” offering a art, dining experiences, shopping, small bites, and private event space. (opening before the end of December)

Trellis at Buchman, 1910 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, Tampa: beer and wine bar and lounge with lots o’ brews on tap, 10 wines on tap, and a wine and bottled craft beer selection.

Know of a new place to eat or drink? Send us a menu.

YOU NEED A PET

This little girl is Mel, a domestic medium-hair cat. Weighing in at 3.76 pounds, she’s about 3 months old and can be found at Humane Society Tampa Bay. Here’s what she has to say: “Not gonna lie: I am a pretty amazing cat and I am willing to give you some of my time. Bring tuna or chicken to our date. I came in as a stray, but I'm waiting for my new home!” 3607 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, 813-876-7138. HumaneSocetyTampa.org, Adopt@HumaneSocietyTampa.org

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Water restrictions take effect across Tampa area. Spectrum Bay News 9

Retired Hillsborough County transportation leader Beth Alden ponders what went wrong. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

HCA nurses rally to denounce understaffing, unsafe conditions at hospitals. Florida Phoenix

Used car prices fall, but still exceed pre-pandemic levels. WUSF

Robbery suspect arrested in deadly stabbing at Tampa construction site, found with victim’s belongings: HCSO. Fox 13 News

V.M. Ybor residents get little help with sex offender problem. News Channel 8

Tampa police investigating case of woman accused of posing as student for sexual explotation. ABC Action News

Riverview’s population growth seventh-highest in country. Stacker

Tampa rent prices keep rising. How are USF students managing? The Oracle

FLORIDA

Police investigating Florida Republican Party chair, husband of Moms For Liberty cofounder, over alleged sexual assault. Politico

Florida cops who use deadly force can no longer hide identities through Marsy's Law, says Supreme Court. Creative Loafing

Industry groups urge the Supreme Court to reject a Florida tech law. WUSF

Florida has yet to release results from its new teen health survey. ABC Action News

POLITICS

It was Hannity and DeSantis v. Newsom in messy Fox debate. Politico

Fact-checking Newsom-DeSantis debate: Immigration, abortion, book bans and a poop map. Politifact

The Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom economies, in 8 charts. Politifact

Kathy Castor slams Mike Johnson, Vern Buchanan for cheering airport expansion after voting against funding. Florida Politics

New survey of Florida Latino voters say 79% want Medicaid expansion. Florida Phoenix

To combat climate change, builders create greener—and tougher—homes. The Wall Street Journal $

LEISURE

St. Petersburg First Friday event is suspended indefinitely. WUSF

Christmas, Hanukkah events In Tampa: Parades, tree lightings, more. Patch

No. 4 FSU faces off against No. 15 Louisville for the ACC crown. Tomahawk Nation

Mike Norvell named ACC Coach of the Year. Tomahawk Nation

Jordan Travis voted as ACC Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year. Tomahawk Nation

USF Women’s Basketball just broke the program’s all-time attendance record. That’s So Tampa

Bucs defensive lineman Calijah Kancey named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month. ABC Action News

Penguins beat the Lightning 4-2 in Vasilevskiy's season home debut. Spectrum Bay News 9

COMMENTARY

What a petty pair DeSantis and Newsom made. The New York Times $

After DeSantis vs. Newsom, will debates get even more pointless? Tampa Bay Times $

Don’t fix what’s not broken. Keep sociology as a requirement at Florida universities. The Oracle

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

The Tampa Bay Times often writes disapprovingly about efforts to remove books from the shelves of public libraries and schools. Sometimes, the paper is right to be offended. At other times, the case is far less clearcut.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

Merger of Tampa Bay's transportation planning agencies is feasible but needs financial support, report says. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Sinkhole opens up beneath wastewater treatment pond at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Creative Loafing

'Alarming' threats to Hillsborough tax collector lead to man's arrest. Patch

Teachers say they can't live and work in Florida anymore. WUSF

Court sides with homeowner on law restricting ability to sue insurance companies. WMNF

Federal agencies to offer free COVID tests to schools; will Florida go for it?. Florida Phoenix

More Tampa Bay homes sell at a loss. Axios

Catalytic converter thefts exhaust Tampa Bay. Axios

Video shows wanted felon striking sheriff's truck in Brandon: Sheriff. Patch

EPA plan would eliminate lead pipes within 10 years. ABC Action News

BRIEFS

CRIME

Double Homicide Arrest: A U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in Maryland has a suspect, Jean Pierre Ojeda Salazar, 25, in custody for a double homicide in Tampa on Sunday. The suspect has been charged with murder in the first degree with a weapon, murder in the second degree with a weapon, and aggravate assault with a deadly weapon. The charges stem from two stabbings in 4000 block of Riveredge Drive involving a 14-year-old Hispanic female and a 35-year-old Hispanic female. According to detectives, Salazar fatally injured both victims following a verbal altercation with the adult victim. Police said Salazar immediately left the residence in a white sedan that he later abandoned. Detectives determined that Salazar fled to a residence in Maryland where he was later taken into custody. Salazar was being held at Maryland's Montgomery County Correctional Facility
and awaiting transport.

Rap Fan Punched: A fan of rapper Nardo Wick was punched apparently by someone affiliated with the performer about 1:17 a.m. on Monday at Club Skye, 1509 E. Eighth Ave., after a concert. Police said the victim, identified by his family as George Obregon Jr., attempted to approach the performer for a photo and was attacked. Obregon was transported to a hospital where he is in critical but stable condition. Detectives are aware of videos circulating on social media and are interested in speaking to anyone who witnessed the incident or may have information to assist in identifying the suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Tampa police at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411.

Package Thieves: Police are looking for two suspects who allegedly stole several packages from the 2500 block of Watrous Avenue near Historic Hyde Park North about 11:42 p.m. on Nov. 2. To minimize the risk of porch pirates, residents can use a porch lock box, track packages and have someone pick up delivered package(s), require a signature upon delivery, have packages delivered to secure locations, and give recipients a heads-up and ask if they have a delivery preference. Detectives are seeking assistance in identifying the suspects involved. To view the surveillance video:

Anyone with information that could assist detectives with their investigation
is asked to call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by
contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411.

NEWS

Cold Weather Shelters: Hillsborough County’s cold weather shelters program was activated Tuesday night for the homeless and those who live in homes without adequate heat who are unable to find other accommodations. The National Weather Service expected local temperatures to dip to or below 40 degrees with wind chill in Hillsborough County on Tuesday night. Organizations interested in hosting a cold weather shelter this season can contact Julie Watkinson, Community Relations Coordinator, at WatkinsonJ@HCFLGov.net for more information

Airport Record: Tampa International Airport experienced record numbers over the busy Thanksgiving period, seeing a 6 percent increase in passengers over the same period last year and handling 840,000 passengers. From Thursday, Nov. 16, through Sunday, Nov. 26, the Airport handled 5,844 flights — an 18 percent increase over last year’s Thanksgiving period — and served 840,000 passengers. The Airport had its second-busiest day in history on Sunday, Nov. 26, as 89,018 passengers traveled through TPA. The busiest was on March 19, 2023, the peak of spring break, when 90,320 passengers traveled through the Airport.

Lane Closure: The westbound lanes of E. Polk Street from N. Franklin Street to N. Marion Street will be closed Friday and Saturday for CSX maintenance.

LEISURE

Filmmaker Honored: Lynn Marvin Dingfielder, a local film documentarian who recently released La Gaceta: 100 Years and Three Generations Behind America’s Only Trilingual Newspaper, received a commendation on Nov. 1 from the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. A Chicago native, Dingfelder worked as a reporter, writer, anchor, and producer at numerous television news stations across the country before moving to Tampa to become a documentarian and business owner of Creative on Main Street. Since its inception, Creative on Main Street has produced a dozen documentaries that focus on Hillsborough County's multifaceted history.

GIFF Submissions Sought: The Gasparilla International Film Festival, or GIFF, Tampa Bay's largest celebration of independent film held annually in Tampa, is seeking filmmaker submissions. The regional film festival is part of Gasparilla Arts Month (Music, Art, Film) in March. The festival runs March 21-24, will show films of all types/genres, including features, documentaries, shorts, music videos, family-friendly films, international films and more. The regular deadline is Dec. 15.

Got news? Send it here.

REPORTER

Anatomy of a Book Ban

By Judith M. Gallman

We live in the epicenter of contemporary booking banning. In September, PEN America reported that more than 40 percent of all the books pulled from American library and public school shelves were removed in the Sunshine State. 

PEN America’s report came on the heels of Pinellas County schools pulling five books from library shelves. Meanwhile, in Hillsborough County, a single book — This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson — was removed from a middle school library shelf.

In the Tampa Bay Times, columnist Stephanie Hayes asked how this could happen: “Ultra-conservative activists with a penchant for THEE-A-TRAY are putting on Razzie-worthy performances at school boards around Florida, reading graphic passages. These speakers have literally been instructed to stand up and say “potty” words. It’s worth noting the groups do excavate plenty of explicit texts, but these passages are almost always delivered without framing for context, intent, literary merit or faith in educators to screen for age and ability. When the words stand alone, they have outsized power to unfairly shock, disgust and paint schools as hotbeds of moral corruption.” 

Hayes is right about the process. But most media depictions of the decision to remove a book from school shelves also lack context — including those in the Times. 

What's the one thing most often missing from coverage of book banning? The book itself. 

A look at the decision to remove This Book Is Gay from the shelves of Pierce Middle School in West Tampa reveals the lack of maturity in much discussion of what is typically called “book banning.”

Sexuality, sexual violence, or gender identity lie at the heart of many contemporary battles over the books in our schools. Works that frankly acknowledge LGBT identity seem to attract special scrutiny. 

Schools should fight hard for the right to present reasonable material regarding gender and sexual identity to their students. Yet there’s little agreement about what constitutes reasonable.

Julie Gebhards, the Lithia mom who first complained about This Book is Gay, considers it to be pedophilia-promoting pornography wholly inappropriate for all school libraries. She has subsequently challenged its allowance at Armwood High School in Sefner. She also has complained about other books, including The Bluest Eye by Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning novelist Toni Morrison and Blankets, a graphic novel by Craig Thompson.

Gebhards argued that This Book Is Gay encourages kids to engage in sexual behavior, contains unfounded attacks on religion, inappropriately instructs readers in how to use the gay hook-up app Grindr, and includes one account of an adult coming on to an under-aged teen. She believes children’s brains aren’t developed enough to make mature decisions regarding sex and gender.

She objects to calling the book’s removal a “ban,” which she says implies that the book has been removed from society. Gebhards just believes such works should not be in schools because that type of content should be left up to parents to disseminate. 

“When a school puts this in a library, that’s a restriction of my ability to protect my child,” she said in an interview. “I think it’s a parent’s job to determine how they want to talk to their kids about it. It’s not how I would discuss it with them. It is a far more serious subject than it is presented as. That is the parent’s job how and when. … It’s just not the school’s job to put that in front of minors.”

On the other hand, Dr. Dani Rosenkrantz of the Tampa-based practice Brave Space Psychology, cautions that kids often don’t turn to their parents for answers. 

Rosenkrantz said LGBT youth need to feel seen and supported. Children are very sensitive to shame at a young age, she noted, and how we talk about things — as well as what we don’t talk about — can have serious impacts. Rosenkrantz, who said she has not read This Book is Gay, believes children deserve accurate information about sexuality and gender, while adding that there’s no one-size-fits-all prescription for kids of any age. 

Dawson, author of the book that Rolling Stone has described as the ninth most-banned book in America, appears to believe that most anything goes.

This Book Is Gay is a best-selling young adult how-to manual for kids who may be curious and questioning about their sexuality and gender. Dawson, a British transgender woman, adopts a candid, nudge-nudge tone that seeks to demystify sexuality and gender while assuring questioning kids it’s all right to embrace their authentic self, whomever that might turn out to be. It’s deemed by the publisher to be appropriate for kids in grades 8-12. 

There are many positives about the book, which its author touts as an “instruction book for once you’ve come out.” Dawson offers good advice about bullying and hammers home the message that just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you're not normal. She lays blame on society’s transphobic and homophobic proclivities and urges her readers to “be out and proud” and “always be true to yourself.

Citing her own informal survey of “hundreds of LGBTQ+ people,” Dawson says that 57 percent of them say they questioned their sexuality between the ages of 11 to 15. “We have to talk about sexuality in an nonhysterical way,” she wrote. The author makes the point that kids typically learn nothing in sex-ed classes about non-heterosexual sex.

But Dawson’s book also is quite racy and scatalogical at times, in a provocative manner that might shock even some parents who are completely accepting of their LGBT children. Dawson unapologetically barrels headfirst into a wide range of topics, including a glossary of terms at the end of the book. Consider the following passages:

• “Oral sex is popping another dude’s peen in your mouth, or, indeed, popping yours in his. There is only one hard and fast rule when it comes to blow jobs — watch the teeth. Lips and tongue, yes; teeth, no.”

• “A good handie is all about the wrist action. Rub the head of his cock back and forth with your hand. Try different speeds and pressures until he responds positively.”

• “As with hand jobs and breakfast eggs, all men like their blow jobs served in different ways. The term ‘blow job’ is massively misleading, as you won’t actually be blowing on his penis — it’s more about sucking (although I stress you’re not trying to suck his kidneys out through his urethra). It’s more about sliding your mouth up and down the shaft of his cock. Letting a guy come in your mouth is a safe sex no-no. Get away from the volcano before it erupts.”

• “How do you know if you’re a top or bottom? It’s easy. If the thought of having a big hard thing poked up your tush is arousing, you are probably a bottom. See? Easy.”

Dawson’s choice of language warrants  consideration. “SEXYTHOUGHTS” and “SEXYFUNTIME” are suitable euphemisms for sexual thoughts and sexual behavior, and Dawson’s graphic of funny things that don’t make you gay — ranging from dolls, musical theater, and toilet seats to sharing mugs, gay characters in books and films, and an airborne monkey virus — are pretty lighthearted. But the language also includes “cocks,” “butt sex,” “arse,” “ghost weiners,” “weenies and va-jay-jay,” not to mention sexual terms including “rimming,” “scat,” and “water sports/golden showers.”

This Book Is Gay also makes a variety of loosely or unsourced assertions — for instance, claiming that gay men have longer, thicker penises. If research truly has shown this, that would be yet more evidence that being gay has a biological basis and is not the liberal “lifestyle choice” that some religious conservatives would have us believe. 

Handled in an adult fashion, such information could be helpful for minors considering their own sexuality. Yet in This Book Is Gay, such matters are often played for laughs.

When a parent challenges a book in Hillsborough County schools, the first step is sharing the concern with the school’s library specialist. If further review is requested, the media specialist asks the complainant to submit a form attesting that they have read or viewed the material in its entirety and articulating their concerns, citing specific passages or pages.

At that point, the school's Educational Media Materials Committee convenes to review the submitted form, read the work in question, consult professional reviews, weigh merits vs. alleged faults, align with selection criteria, and reach a decision. The decision of that committee applies only to a single school. 

Gebhards cited the passages quoted above among her 14 specific objections to This Book is Gay. She viewed the purpose of book as to instruct and normalize all types of sexual behavior including pedophilia, and to promote and pressure kids into adopting an LGBT lifestyle. 

Her challenge got nowhere until a second mom, Stephanie Ascroft of Tampa, asked for reconsideration of the decision to allow the Pierce Middle School library book to stay.

Ascroft’s beef was with Chapter 9 of the book, and its how-to instructions on how to use the hook-up app Grindr. She recommended “other ‘guidebooks’ for the LGBT community that don’t contain ‘how to’ have sex, as seen in Chapter 9, or reference how you can find someone with whom to have sex.” She said the book is not age-appropriate outside a setting such as a sex-ed class.

The county school board eventually sided with the mothers.

“The book titled This Book Is Gay went through our process and was removed from Pierce Middle School and is not allowed in any middle school,” wrote Tanya Arja, chief of communications for Hillsborough County Public Schools. “As part of the process, the individual that challenged the book appealed the decision by the committee at the school and then appealed the decision made by the district committee. So, it was then brought to a school board meeting. The superintendent recommended removing the book from middle schools and then the board voted to remove the book from all middle schools in the district.”

Requests to interview the school board president and school board members were not acknowledged.

In cases in which books are removed from schools or libraries, the media often turns the authors into victims. Here’s what Publishers Weekly wrote about Dawson and This Book Is Gay: 

“Dawson wrote the book to give hope to those who found their journey rife with confusion instead of wonder and hope, and This Book Is Gay found its audience, positively affected readers’ lives, and became a bestseller along the way. But Dawson’s book has become the target, like so many books as of late, of book banning and other censorship efforts.”

What’s typically absent from such accounts — even in publishing journals such as Publishers Weekly — are actual excerpts from the work in question. This Book Is Gay and The Bluest Eye are very different works, but media coverage seldom explains the differences. 

Such failures render discussions about these matters hollow and binary, typically turning even open-minded parents into close-minded censors. The truth is always more nuanced.

Consider, for instance, Tampa Bay Times coverage of Hillsborough County’s decision. The reporter provided scant description of This Book Is Gay aside from that found in its opening paragraph:

“This Book Is Gay, a nonfiction book that offers guidance to LGBTQ+ youth, will no longer be available at any Hillsborough County middle school,” the Times reported. “With a 4-3 vote … the school board decided to ban the title as inappropriate for children as young as 11. The vote aligned with the recommendation of [then-]Superintendent Addison Davis.”

Perhaps the Times itself was too squeamish to mention any of the book’s offending terms, issues, or passages.

Editor’s note: The article has been updated to reflect the proper spelling of Julie Gebhard’s name. The author of Blankets is Craig Thompson.

WHAT HE SAID

GET INVOLVED

Civic meetings of note during the coming week.

Monday: The Technical Advisory Committee of the Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization will meet in special session to hear a presentation from Ian Lockwood, a nationally recognized leader in sustainable transportation policy and urban design, on “Roles & Designs of Arterial Streets in Hillsborough County.” Dec. 4, 1:30 p.m. Plan Hillsborough Committee Room, 18th Floor, County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa.

Wednesday: The Tampa Bay Habitat Restoration Consortium gathers to discuss restoration progress results, habitat restoration report card, a living shoreline site suitability decision support tool, and funding opportunities. The HRC is open to everyone working in the restoration field, from on-the-ground practitioners to project managers and research scientists. The agenda and other materials as they become available can be found on the Tampa Bay Estuary Program website. Dec. 6, 12:30-2:30 p.m., St. Petersburg College STEM Center.

Thursday and Friday: The Acquisition and Restoration Council of the Department of Environment Protection meets Thursday and Friday to review land management plans, develop the 2024 Florida Forever priority list, and consider Florida Forever project proposals and other proposed uses of state-owned conservation lands. The public are invited to participate in-person or online and will have the opportunity to provide public comment on the agenda items. If joining virtually, register for the GoToWebinars on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar. In-person attendees do not need to register. Find the agenda and other meeting materials here. Dec. 7, 1 p.m.; Dec. 8, 9 a.m. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, Room 137, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee.

OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

Tampa ranked among the top five college cities in America. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa senior living firm sues its bank, alleging it improperly seeks to dump loan. Business Observer $

A Pasco County distillery is making the Rolling Stones' new rum. WUSF

A USF rowing team will race across the Atlantic in the 'World's Toughest Row' challenge. WUSF

Steinbrenner swimmer brings home medals. The Laker/Lutz News

FLORIDA

Judge backs increased license fees for Florida medical marijuana operators. Creative Loafing

Florida lawmakers could give $40 million to survivors of infamous Dozier school for boys. Creative Loafing

Non-binary Florida teacher falls victim to “Don’t Say Gay” expansion law, fired for using ‘Mx.’ title. WMNF

Florida settles with a hotel over ‘Drag Queen Christmas’. WMNF

Bill in Florida would allow people to kill bears on their property without permits. WMNF

A proposal in the Florida Legislature would prevent reparations to descendants of slaves. WMNF

Abortion-rights advocates narrow focus of petition drive for Florida constitutional amendment. Florida Phoenix

More states are banning plastic bags. Florida is not among them. Florida Phoenix

Florida’s semiconductor industry gets $28 million funding boost The Capitolist

‘Florida man’ becomes ‘Georgia man’ | US Census shows surge in migration north. Fox 13 News

Bill proposes state recognition for three Native American tribes. WUSF

Florida grand jury calls for new tax to curb illegal immigration. Politico

Florida bill would ban high school athletes convicted of felonies. The Center Square

More policies shift from Citizens to private insurers. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

POLITICS

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis takes on California Gov. Gavin Newsom in 90-minute televised debate. Spectrum Bay News 9

Nikki Fried, Florida Dems helped Gavin Newsom prep for Ron DeSantis debate. Florida Politics

Divisions leave Florida’s House Republicans powerless. Politico

Poll finds Rick Scott, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell both underwater. Florida Politics

Weed the people: Two-thirds of Florida voters back recreational marijuana amendment, poll shows. Florida Politics

LEISURE

St. Pete mural legend Bask gets a wild gallery show at University of Tampa. ABC Action News

Single-game tickets for Rays home games to go on sale next week: What you need to know. 10 Tampa Bay

New Taylor Swift course to debut at University of Florida in 2024. Fox 13 News

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

Commuter rail may be headed to Tampa, one decade and 50 miles per hour slower than it might have arrived if not for the budgetary performance art of a former governor. Plus, a cold snap arrives, and the week on Wall Street. First, Tampa Bay’s best news roundup.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

CDC report: Across states, 626,000 abortions reported in 2021; Florida shows highest number. Florida Phoenix

When will the Gateway Expressway (finally) open? 2024, FDOT says. Tampa Bay Times $

Part of I-275 in Tampa reopens 7 hours after crash with serious injuries. News Channel 8

Ybor City business owner organizes training program to prevent violence. ABC Action News

Tampa father, daughter killed in Virginia crash known for their big hearts, family says. 10 Tampa Bay

New portal launches for principals of foreign countries of concern to register property. The Center Square

State of Florida seeks go-ahead for drag show law. Tampa Free Press

Colts overpower Buccaneers run defense, win 27-20. 10 Tampa Bay

What went right, what went wrong on defense for FSU in heart-stopping win over Florida. Tomahawk Nation

USF qualifies for a bowl game for the first time since 2018. WUSF

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

BRIEFS

CRIME

Tampa Palms Stabbings: The Tampa Police Department is investigating two homicides in the 14000 block or Riveredge Drive. Police responded to a call at 8:55 a.m. Sunday regarding a female teenager who had been stabbed multiple times. Police also found a second stabbing victim, a woman in her 30s, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The juvenile victim was taken to a local hospital where she died. Based on the preliminary investigation, the victims are related to each other and are known to the suspect. Detectives are working to determine what led to the incident. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is asked to call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411.

NEWS

Road Closures: N. Florida Avenue from E. Zack Street to E. Cass Street and E. Polk Street from N. Franklin Street to N. Marion Street will be closed Dec. 3-10 for CSX maintenance.

Water Main Repairs: South Himes Avenue between Jean Circle and West Watrous Avenue will be closed through 4 p.m. Thursday, contingent on weather conditions, for repairs to a water main break. See all road closures at Tampa.gov/RoadClosures.   

LEISURE

Florida Strawberry Festival Addition: Country music performer Cody Johnson has been added to the 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. Johnson will perform on Sunday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m. on the Wish Farms Soundstage and completes the festival's headline entertainment lineup for the 2024 season. Advance tickets for admission and for headline entertainment shows go on sale Dec. 7 and can be purchased online at FLStrawberryFestival.com, at the Amscot Main Ticket Office, 2209 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, and by phone, 813-754-1996.

Got news? Send it here.

WEATHER

A Short Taste of Winter But Warming Later

Lows fall into the 40s tonight through Wednesday with temperature rising for the rest of the week with possible showers Saturday, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel.

MONDAY ⛅️ Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late.
🌡️70° / 49° 💦 67% / 76% 🌅 7:00 a.m. / 5:33 p.m.

TUESDAY ☁️ Cloudy skies become partly cloudy at night.
🌡️60° /43° 💦 49% / 62% 🌅 7:01 a.m. / 5:33 p.m.

WEDNESDAY ☀️ Mainly sunny.
🌡️67° / 44° 💦 43% / 64% 🌅 7:02 a.m. / 5:33 p.m.

THURSDAY ⛅️ Clouds and sun in the morning with more clouds later.
🌡️75° / 61° 💦 61% / 78% 🌅 7:02 a.m. / 5:33 p.m.

FRIDAY ⛈️ Cloudy early with later scattered thunderstorms.
🌡️80° / 67° 💦 76% / 92% 🌅 7:03 a.m. / 5:33 p.m.

SATURDAY ☁️ Overcast with a slight chance of a rain shower.
🌡️83° / 69° 💦 80% / 93% 🌅 7:04 a.m. / 5:33 p.m.

SUNDAY 🌥️ Considerable cloudiness.
🌡️83° / 70° 💦 81% / 94% 🌅 7:05 a.m. / 5:33p.m.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

When is High-Speed Rail Not Really High-Speed Rail?

By Stephen Buel

Jane Castor recently led a delegation to Miami to inspect the Brightline commuter railroad service. Tampa’s mayor and her posse met area officials and toured a station. Then they boarded the train and did it again in West Palm Beach and at the line’s Orlando terminus. News coverage of the tour crowed about the possibility that Orlando might soon be just another stop on the way to Tampa — thus fulfilling the long-discussed dream of bringing high-speed rail to Cigar City.

There’s only one problem. Brightline is not really high-speed rail.

Florida’s best chance for genuine high-speed rail was killed by Sen. Rick Scott back in 2011. Shortly after he became governor, Scott famously refused $2.4 billion in federal funding for such a system. 

That wasn’t the first disappointment for Florida rail aficionados. Back in 2000, voters approved a constitutional amendment designed to set in motion construction of a high-speed rail system connecting the state’s major cities. Then Gov. Jeb Bush waged a campaign against it, and voters changed their minds four years later. 

In 2011, the Obama Administration made Florida one of the centerpieces of its plan to build a U.S. high-speed rail network. That’s when Scott, the state’s new governor, declined to accept the money, infamously angering concerned Floridians of both parties. 

The federal funding was designed to cover 90 percent of the costs of bringing high-speed rail to Florida. The idea was that Florida would kick in another $280 million in state aid and the feds would pay the rest. 

Scott wasn’t buying it. He warned that Florida taxpayers could get stuck with a $3 billion tab if the system cost more to build than expected — which he called a realistic fear based on the experience of other states trying to build their own rail networks. 

The governor’s decision produced a wave of genuinely bipartisan head scratching, since critics pointed out that several corporations had already agreed to assume all the additional costs and liabilities in exchange for the right to operate such a system. 

The Republican chairman of Florida's Senate Transportation Committee, Sen. Jack Latvala, said Scott’s decision "cut off our nose to spite our face." Latvala’s GOP counterpart on the House Transportation Committee, Rep. John Mica, said the decision "defied logic." Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, a Democrat, said, "This is one of the worst decisions that I have ever seen in my 26 years of public life. This is a decision that is clearly based on ideology and not on the facts.”

Here in the third phase of Florida’s long dalliance with high-speed rail, the verdict is in. Brightline’s willingness to cover most of the costs of bringing a commuter rail system to Florida reveals that Scott’s critics were right about the short-sightedness of his 2011 decision. 

Scott had indeed emphasized ideology over facts. His decision was a pioneering act of budgetary performance art, a tired genre born out of Newt Gingrich’s 1995 government shutdowns and stretching all the way to the very real threat of another such shutdown early next year.

Ten years ago, a Republican-dominated panel in Florida’s senate rejected $51 million in federal funding to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. More recently, under the DeSantis Administration, Florida was one of just two states to decline a federal waiver that would have kept Floridians from being terminated from Medicaid following the pandemic. Due to those actions, hundreds of thousands of Floridians now lack health insurance.

But Florida’s junior senator is in a class of his own when it comes to budgetary performance art. Scott originally opposed Medicaid expansion, only to change his position and tepidly support it in the run-up to his 2014 reelection campaign. After he was re-elected, it was back to his old ways, denouncing efforts to expand medical coverage to more Floridians.

Just this March, Scott voted against a bill containing $13.6 in funding for Ukraine, only to demand that the president send Ukraine more support just a week later. 

Back in 2018, as Gov. Scott was seeking to move on to the U.S. Senate, he actually had the nerve to tweet that "Florida hasn't received its fair share of federal transportation funding for decades. That's wrong, and as your senator I'll fight to secure real results for our state."

Had the man actually governed by his words, Florida would probably now have a commuter rail network extending from Miami through Orlando to Tampa, and quite possibly up the East Coast to Jacksonville. And it would be genuine high-speed rail, with speeds of up to 170 miles per hour, rather than the 125 MPH maximum that we can hope for if Brightline expands its service to Tampa. The average speed of Brightline’s Miami to Orlando line is 69 miles per hour — not quite the speed that I could make in my trusty 2006 Pontiac Vibe.

The rail system we never got would probably also be a lot safer than the one we seem likely to acquire. Brightline is the nation’s deadliest rail line by a factor of almost three to one over Caltrain, the second-deadliest. To be clear, the vast majority of those deaths have been suicides or people who took a stupid risk at a railroad crossing. But the for-profit railroad initially resisted efforts by federal officials to make it invest more in safety features designed to prevent such fatalities. The company has since committed to do so in the future.

Just to be clear, despite these issues, I am an enthusiastic supporter of Brightline’s expansion, and look forward to the day when I can take the train to visit friends and family in Broward County.

And Brightline is doing some things very well. Not only is it the country’s first new private intercity passenger rail service in decades, but its brand-new Orlando rail station is the only intercity rail station located at a U.S. airport.

Brightline is considering Ybor City for the terminus of its Tampa line, and has been in discussions with developer Darryl Shaw about a suitable location for the station — which seems likely to be within walking distance of the TECO streetcar and the Amtrak terminal at Union Station.

And the company’s business model wisely includes real estate development. Castor noted with approval that Brightline stations in other markets are now flanked by condos, malls, restaurants, and senior-living facilities. Transit encourages density, and thus helps minimize future traffic congestion even for the people who don’t ride it.

Scott has defended his decision to reject that federal funding, having said in 2018 that “private intercity passenger rail service has been constructed and is currently being operated in Florida at no cost to taxpayers.” But that’s a lie. 

All Aboard Florida has received a wide range of government assistance for its Brightline rail line, from state permission to issue $1.75 billion in tax-exempt bonds, to a $15.9 million federal grant for work on its expansion to Tampa. It also benefits from a state policy allowing rail lines to use right of way alongside highways. Republican Rep. Karen Gonzalez Pittman of Tampa recently introduced a new state appropriation request for $50 million to be dedicated to Brightline’s expansion into Tampa. 

And good for her. Rail service is a public good that deserves government support — just like roads and highways. After all, according to the Urban Institute, gas taxes and toll fees only accounted for 27 percent of the $205 billion spent in the United States on roads and highways. 

Gov. Rick Scott himself ended up approving state funding for Brightline’s rail system — albeit after he and his wife invested at least $3 million in a credit fund run by the parent company of All Aboard Florida’s, companies the Miami Herald revealed had also donated more than $200,000 to his 2010 campaign and inauguration. The paper reported: 

“By 2014, Scott signed a budget that included $214 million for the train station to be located at the Orlando airport, and another $10 million for crossing improvements. Scott declared it ‘the right thing for the state,’ and announced that his 2015 budget would have another $75 million. For the next four years, as All Aboard Florida worked to obtain the taxpayer-backed financing from state and federal coffers, the Scott administration provided regulatory and financial support for the project.”

Think what you will of our state’s hypocritical junior senator, but let’s admit that he is nothing if not a smart businessman. After all, Scott built the world’s largest health care company from scratch in less than a decade, before he was ultimately pushed out by the company’s board amid a vast federal investigation into the company’s rampant Medicare and Medicaid fraud. But I guess Scott was less concerned with the taxpayers back when he worked in the private sector.

Based on its early performance, Brightline looks like it may also be a good investment. Last year’s total ridership was up by 113 percent over the line’s 2018 debut, and that’s with almost two years lost to the pandemic. 

So probably around the beginning of the next decade, we may all be able to finally realize a vision that Florida voters first endorsed back in 2000. Whenever you do finally set foot on your first “higher-speed rail” line, be sure to take a moment to stop and consider what might have been.

TAKING STOCK

A weekly look at the performance of 25 locally important stocks

OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

Nation's largest private company to destroy Tampa grain facility. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Court weighs if Tampa rapper’s jury should be unanimous on death penalty. Tampa Bay Times $

44 arrested during Hillsborough County Sheriff’s ‘Operation Get Stuffed’. Tampa Free Press

Tampa-St. Pete ranks low in charitable giving among large metros. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Animals at Florida Aquarium now dining on restaurant-quality veggies. Patch

2 convicted felons arrested for gun, drug possession in Tampa: Police. Patch

This Pinellas town banned shark fishing on its beaches. What’s next? Tampa Bay Times $

Pro Palestine supporters hold rally, march outside Tampa Premium Outlets. Spectrum Bay News 9

FLORIDA

Florida bankers want Supreme Court to backtrack on big funding boost for legal aid to needy. Florida Bulldog

Florida's storm season ends, but recovery to take time. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida ranks No. 1 in U.S. for population migration, where most New Yorkers moved. Orlando Business Journal $

DeSantis faces critical decision on cruise ships in Key West. The New York Times $

Hurricane Idalia washed sea turtle nests in Pinellas away, but the season was a success. WMNF

Some Florida residents puzzled by string of lights in sky. News Channel 8

When Peter Antonacci was stricken in governor’s office he lay in hallway 24 minutes before anyone noticed. Florida Bulldog

POLITICS

8 Republicans — including a surprise candidate — make Florida primary ballot. Politico

‘This guy is a charlatan’: University of Florida turns against Joe Ladapo. Politico

What would a DeSantis presidency look like for health care? WUSF

Hannity wants a red vs. blue state debate. Newsom and DeSantis have other plans. Politico

Donald Trump claims he’s not ‘cognitively impaired’ in response to Team DeSantis trolling. Florida Politics

Off-road: Bill would ban UTVs from high-speed highways, require licenses and insurance. Florida Politics

Can DeSantis’s presidential campaign even survive until Super Tuesday? The Capitolist

LEISURE

Where to get a live Christmas tree in Tampa. Patch

Gaither stuns Jesuit in overtime rematch, advances to Class 3M state semifinals. Tampa Beacon

COMMENTARY

Florida’s voter suppression crucial to GOP edge in 2024. Florida Phoenix

Be thankful for Florida whistleblowers like Ron Magill. Florida Phoenix

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

News is slow as we head into the long holiday weekend. The Bay Area Navigator staff is going to eat too much food tomorrow and go into a four-day food coma. We’ll be back on Monday. Happy Thanksgiving.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

Hillsborough County Schools, University of Tampa under investigation by US Department of Education. News Channel 8

TLR Group clears construction hurdle for 43-story tower in downtown Tampa. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida legislative request would develop rail corridor on I-4, paving way for Brightline's expansion. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

High inflation in Tampa thwarts national trends. WUSF

Tampa Bay superintendents defend public education, criticize voucher program. WMNF

Personal pronouns targeted in workplaces. WMNF

State Attorney’s Office confirms 1984 killing was 'murder for hire'. ABC Action News

Seven carriers approved to assume as many as 202,000 policies from Citizens this week. Creative Loafing

‘Drinksgiving’ prompts Bay Area law enforcement agency to pump up patrols on day known for binge drinking. Fox 13 News

FSU drops out of Top 4 in latest College Football Playoff Rankings. ABC Action News

Forecast now predicts rainfall for much of the state tomorrow. WUSF

BRIEFS

TRAFFIC

Full Road Closure: West Bay to Bay Boulevard will be closed between South West Shore Boulevard and South Schiller Street while the Tampa Water Department repairs a water main break. Barricades and signs will be located in the area to assist with traffic flow. The completion of the work with a return to normal traffic patterns is expected by 3 p.m. Thursday. The Tampa Water Department may need to return at a later date to complete additional work. See all road closures at tampa.gov/RoadClosures.

Avoid This Intersection: The intersection of South Georgia Avenue and West Mississippi Avenue is closed while the Tampa Water Department repairs a water main break. The completion of the work with a return to normal traffic patterns is expected by 5 p.m., Tuesday, dependent on weather conditions. See all road closures at tampa.gov/RoadClosures.  

CRIME

Cops at the Shops: There will be a stronger showing of Tampa Police Department personnel in town throughout this holiday season to ensure shopping and roadway safety. Police officers on foot, horseback, motorcycles, and inside unmarked patrol cars will be patrolling parking lots and shopping areas throughout Tampa. For greater shopping security, police offered these tips: Stay alert; shop before dark; lock car doors and windows; keep packages and valuables out of public view; park near streetlights; check the interior of your car before getting in. If you see something, say something. Report any suspicious activity to store personnel or police immediately.

NEWS

5 New Flights: Tampa International Airport celebrated five inaugural flights — four domestic routes and one international city — with airline partners last week. Spirit Airlines now offers nonstop flights to Richmond, Va., four days a week and nonstop flights to Charleston, S.C., four days a week and added four-times-per week Service to Norfolk, Va. Frontier Airlines added daily nonstop flights to Baltimore-Washington International Airport. And Lynx Air introduced nonstop flights to Montreal.

Community Cornerstone Honored: The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved naming the synthetic turf field at Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa, after the late Jeffery Owen Key. The Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Advisory Board approved honoring Key for his role in co-founding the Progress Village Panthers, which provides an opportunity for local youth to engage in organized sports and helps instill teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. Key was a coach, role model, and mentor.

Honor a Downtown Business: If you opened a new business, expanded one, hosted an event or festival in downtown, or took part in bettering the community, you could be eligible for an Urban Excellence Award from the Tampa Downtown Partnership. Just complete and submit a nomination form for your downtown-related service, which can be an individual, business, nonprofit organization, for-for profit organization, event, or project that was completed in the last 12 months, made a significant contribution to downtown in the last 12 months, or displayed an entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and/or community leadership that positively contributed to downtown during the last 12 months. Direct questions to Julie Sabolic, at jsabolic@tampasdowntown.com.

Where to Recycle Cooking Oil: Don’t pour cooking oil, fat, or grease down the drain in Hillsborough County. This can cause a serious problem for home plumbing and Hillsborough County's wastewater collection system. The matter gels and solidifies inside pipes, sewage lines, and sewage lift stations, constricting water flow. It can back up home plumbing and cause equipment malfunction, sewage spills, overflows, and foul odors. Used oil can be collected and brought to 24 collection stations to be recycled. Used cooking oil, fat, and grease are collected all year long at these locations. Cooled cooking oil should be poured into a large, sturdy plastic or glass food-grade container with a lid. Once the container is full, bring it to a Hillsborough County Cooking Oil Recycling Effort station or to a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. Don’t flush cooking oil or grease down the toilet, don’t put greasy foods down the garbage disposal, and don’t place used cooking oil in the recycling cart. To learn more, visit HCFLGov.net/CORE, email GotGrease@HCFLGov.net, or call 813-272-5977. ext. 43515.  

Got news? Send it here.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

THE LIST

Each week, we’ll bring you a new one. Got any ideas? Reach out.

You’ll Be Thankful for the Love of a Pet

By Judith M. Gallman

There’s nothing like the love of a pet. When you want to add a new furry friend to your family, consider adopting from one of these Hillsborough County and Tampa rescue and adoption organizations.

Animal Luv’rs Dream Rescue: Do you have a soft spot for animals with health issues? The mission at this nonprofit is helping animals with medical needs find permanent homes. P.O. Box 1384, Lutz, AnimalLuvrs.org, ALDR@AnimalLuvrs.org

Happy Tailz Cat Rescue: If you have a way with sick kitties, look to Happy Tailz, where the goal is aiding sick, Injured and special needs cats around the Tampa Bay area. 813-424-7493 (text only), HappyTailzCatRescue.org, HappyTailzCatResuce@Gmail.com

Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Foundation Inc.: This nonprofit organization supports Hillsborough County shelter animals, never turning away strays with regard to age, breed or health. 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, 813-586-1988, HCPRFoundation.org

Humane Society Tampa Bay: This nonprofit animal welfare organization provides shelter for homeless and at-risk animals as well as adoptions, veterinary services and trap-neuter-vaccinate-return services for the public. 3607 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, 813-876-7138, HumaneSocetyTampa.org, Adopt@HumaneSocietyTampa.org

Maxx and Me Pet Rescue: Founded in 2014 by Lea Haverstock in memory of her rescue golden retriever, Maxx, this rescue organization is a volunteer, foster-based, canine and feline rescue and adoption organization for the greater Tampa Bay area. It’s dedicated to the well-being and deserving care of animals–large and small, young and old, healthy and in need. 12191 W. Linebaugh Ave., #554, Tampa (mailing address only), MaxxAndMe.org, MaxxAndMeRescue@gmail.com

Mercy Full Project: This nonprofit is devoted to rescuing animals and helping the helpless ones, including dogs and cats, by finding them homes via fostering. 901 N. Fremont Ave., Tampa, 813-836-0711, MercyFullProjects.org, Info@MercyFullProjects.org

Raining Cats and Dogs Shelter: Raining Cats and Dogs offers temporary and forever homes for unwanted cats and dogs in the Polk/Hillsborough County area by partnering with municipal shelters to provide a rescue resource for at-risk dogs and cats. 2708 East State Road 60, Plant City, 813-704-4915, RainingCatsAndDogsShelter.com, RainingCatsAndDogsShelter@gmail.com

SPCA Tampa Bay: This Tampa Bay nonprofit animal welfare agency has been around for 80-plus years and operates an open-admission animal shelter and veterinary center in Pinellas County. 9099 130th Ave. North, Largo, 727-586-3591, SPCATampaBay.org, Information@SPCATampaBay.org

St. Francis Society Animal Rescue: This is an all-volunteer nonprofit animal rescue organization that saves the lives of sick, injured and stray cats and dogs. 813-744-5660, StFrancisRescue.Org

Sunshine Big Dog Rescue: If a big dog is in your future, check in with Sunshine Big Dog Rescue, which helps rehome displaced large breed dogs throughout the Southeast with foster-based homes throughout the Tampa Bay Area. SunshineBigDogRescue.com, SunshineBigDogResuce@Gmail.com

Tampa Cat Crusaders: These cat lovers operate out of the New Tampa PetSmart located at 6248 Commerce Palms Drive in Tampa. P.O. Box 46292, Tampa, TampaCatCrusaders.org, Information@TampaCatCrusaders.org

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OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

As Tampa Bay real estate slows, luxury housing dominates. Tampa Bay Times $

Trans students fear violence due to new USF bathroom rule. The Oracle

Publix names new CEO in leadership reshuffle. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Veterinarians warn of mysterious, highly contagious dog illness. 10 Tampa Bay

Congresswoman Castor worries about cuts in a nutrition program for low-income women and kids. Florida Phoenix

Tampa Area citrus farm showcasing importance of sanitizing crops as listeria outbreak linked to California farm. Spectrum Bay News 9

Tampa telecom pioneer David Ruberg dies at 77. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Benefit show aims to raise money for, and spirits of, Tampa Bay comedian Steve Miller. Creative Loafing

Tampa father, daughter killed in head-on crash involving box truck in Virginia. News Channel 8

VIDEO: Hillsborough County deputies rammed in ‘intentional’ attack given $20K each. News Channel 8

New covered field, all-purpose courts create more opportunities in New Tampa. Tampa Beacon

Land O’ Lakes Boulevard to be repaved starting at county line. The Laker/Lutz News

Wiregrass Ranch Marching Band captures another state title. Tampa Beacon

FLORIDA

Legislator proposes putting state in charge of investigating complaints against law enforcement. Tampa Free Press

Florida teachers unions scramble to collect dues or risk decertification. WUSF

Florida jobless rate stays at 2.8 percent. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida companies fighting against sports betting seek more time to make their case. WUSF

Plaintiffs again seek lawmaker documents in ‘Stop WOKE Act’ appeal. Creative Loafing

Florida wildlife officials consider ‘greater flexibility’ in the state's alligator hunts. WUSF

Sasse dismisses Florida Republican’s claim that UF professor compared Israel to Nazi Germany. Politico

Florida insurance commissioner bullish on new domestic property insurer. Florida Politics

Washington Post lawsuit reaches beyond specific requests, challenges constitutionality of records exemption. Florida Politics

Florida cities dominate list of regions with vacant housing. Stacker

Florida Commerce’s $910 million Hurricane Ian recovery plan approved by HUD. The Capitolist

Deadline approaching for Floridians to apply for FEMA assistance. Spectrum Bay News 9

Hundreds of family farms chosen for land protection program. Florida Politics

Florida man throws Oreos at woman over empty coffee maker, report says. News Channel 8

POLITICS

‘Don’t say gay’ for nonprofits: GOP lawmaker files bill that would restrict LGBTQ nonprofits receiving state funding. Florida Politics

New polling shows Floridians want law protecting confederate monuments. Florida Politics

GOP states are embracing vouchers. Wealthy parents are benefitting. Politico

Poll: Rick Scott less popular than other statewide Republican leaders. Florida Politics

DeSantis picks up key endorsement from Iowa religious leader. The New York Times $

A new group linked to DeSantis allies pops up in Iowa. The New York Times $

Problems mount for DeSantis as Haley rises and Trump dominates. The Wall Street Journal $

Ron DeSantis vents about Donald Trump picks moving Supreme Court to ‘the left’. Florida Politics

LEISURE

9th annual Turkey Gobble set to take over Downtown Tampa. Patch

ZooTampa's Christmas in the Wild comes to life this week. Patch

Biggest costumed bike ride in the world returns to Tampa for the holidays. That’s So Tampa

Despite slip in rankings, FSU’s path to playoff is clear. Tomahawk Nation

Tom Brady: NFL has 'a lot of mediocrity' in the game nowadays. 10 Tampa Bay

USF wide receiver — and nephew of singer John Legend — says family has inspired his football career. Spectrum Bay News 9

USF women’s volleyball on verge of championship title. The Oracle

Bulls hope to defy expectations on Saturday with postseason bid on the line. The Oracle

Tampa Bay Fishin’ Report: It’s pompano time in Tampa Bay. Tampa Beacon

COMMENTARY

With Florida abortion rights in peril, I’m glad I live abroad during my difficult pregnancy. Tampa Bay Times $

NFIB: Florida businesses will see rent tax cut on Dec. 1, but it should be even lower. The Capitolist

Is it the party of Reagan or the party of Trump? A time for choosing as the clock ticks. Tampa Bay Times $

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

Today’s column assesses the performance of new Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw in the wake of the tragic shooting in Ybor City just before Halloween. Plus, the Bay Area Navigator 25, and weather for the week suggests a dry Thanksgiving. But first, the Bay Area’s best local news roundup.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

Draft report recommends against consolidating Florida’s judicial circuits. WUSF

Tampa Bay home owners will have to wait over a decade to make a profit on the purchase. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida Supreme Court rejects request to block Seminoles’ mobile sports betting operations. Florida Phoenix

A migrant killed a deputy. A DeSantis agency’s probe was 2 pages. Tampa Bay Times $

Republicans expand their registration edge in Florida to more than 680,000. WUSF

Palihouse boutique hotel opens in Hyde Park Village. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Report: At least 7M square feet of office leases in Tampa near expiration. Business Observer $

Tampa again renews contract with Economic Development Council. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Buccaneers lament missed red zone chances that thwarted comeback bid vs. 49ers. ABC Action News

Jordan Travis’s gruesome leg injury deals a blow to Florida State. The Washington Post $

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

WEATHER

Cooler With Chances of Rain, But Not on Thanksgiving

By Wednesday, expect highs in the 70s and lows mostly in the 60s with possible rain Wednesday and Friday, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel. Thanksgiving is expected to be cloudy but not rainy.

MONDAY ☀️ Mostly sunny.
🌡️84° / 67° 💦 65% /86% 🌅 6:55 a.m. / 5:35 p.m.

TUESDAY ⛅️ Partly cloudy skies in the morning and cloudy skies later.
🌡️85° / 69° 💦 66% / 79% 🌅 6:55 a.m. / 5:35 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 🌨️ Rain showers early with overcast skies later.
🌡️77° / 60° 💦 82% / 77% 🌅 6:56 a.m. / 5:34 p.m.

THURSDAY ☁️ Cloudy.
🌡️74° / 61° 💦 59% / 65% 🌅 6:57 a.m. / 5:34 p.m.

FRIDAY 🌨️ Cloudy with occasional rain showers.
🌡️73° / 62° 💦 70% / 88% 🌅 6:58 a.m. / 5:34 p.m.

SATURDAY 🌥️ Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of a rain shower.
🌡️75° / 58° 💦 81% / 90% 🌅 6:59 a.m. / 5:34 p.m.

SUNDAY ⛅️ Intervals of clouds and sunshine.
🌡️76° / 58° 💦 61% / 79% 🌅 6:59 a.m. / 5:34 p.m.

BRIEFS

CRIME

Shooting Investigation: Tampa police are investigating a Saturday shooting in the 3300 block of West Hillsborough Avenue near the intersection of Hillsborough Avenue and Dale Mabry. Officers were called there at 8 p.m. for a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, they found an adult male with non-life threatening injuries. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the shooting. Anyone with information related to this shooting incident is asked to contact TPD by calling 813-231-6130 or to share a tip via Tip411, which is accessible through the TampaPD app. Those who wish to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward can contact Crimestoppers of Tampa Bay by calling 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), visiting www.CrimeStoppersTB.com, or using the free Crime Stoppers mobile app and select "Tampa."

Human Trafficking Arrest: Tampa police arrested Jimmie Gardner, 57, on Nov. 17 as a suspect in a human trafficking case involving a 16-year-old female. Gardner allegedly invited the minor to his hotel room for sex, which the female agreed to. Gardner purportedly offered the victim money in exchange for sexual acts. The female, however, then declined to be sexually active, which angered the suspect, police said. A verbal altercation escalated into a physical dispute, with the suspect nearly strangling the victim, who later called 911 after the suspect left. Upon arrival, officers were unable to make contact with Gardner at the hotel, but contact was made with the victim. While officers were at the hotel, Gardner reported to the Tampa Police District 1 Office, where he was later taken into custody and charged with human trafficking for commercial sexual activity (victim less than 18), lewd or lascivious touching of minor 16 or 17 years of age by a person 24 years of age or older, and battery. He was being held at at Orient Road Jail. The victim was connected to the Tampa Police Victim Advocate and other community resources.

NEWS

Nominating Commission Appointments: Hunter Chamberlain and Chad Mizelle both of Tampa and Eliot Peace of Dunedin have been appointed to Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal Nominating Commission by the governor. Chamberlin owns Chamberlin Crowe, P.A. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and his juris doctor from the University of Miami. Chamberlin is reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027. Mizelle is the chief legal officer for Affinity Partners. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his juris doctor from Cornell University. Mizelle is appointed for a term ending July 1, 2024. Peace is the associate general counsel for General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and his juris doctor from the University of South Carolina. Peace is reappointed for a term ending July 1, 2027.

Interbay Closure: Due to road construction, the westbound lane of Interbay Boulevard (South Himes Avenue-Interbay Avenue) will be closed intermittently daily through March 1 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Channelside Closure: From Nov. 27-Dec. 1 Channelside Drive from E. Kennedy Boulevard to S. 12th Street will be closed nightly from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. due to road construction.

LEISURE

Holiday Harbour Tree Lighting: Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk and Mayor Jane Castor host a the annual lighting of the Holiday Harbour Tree at 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at the Tampa Convention Center Docks. Sponsored by Tampa General hospital, the event offers holiday entertainment, free cookies and milk for kids, and pictures with Santa. ICYMI: The organization’s Holiday Lighted Boat Parade (Dec. 23) is in the running for Best Holiday Lights Display from USA Today among the 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best Holiday Parade.

Cracker Country Christmas: Tampa's rural Florida living history museum, Cracker County, celebrates the holiday season by showcasing holiday traditions of the 19th century through hands-on historical interpretations, traditional decorations, and more at the Florida State Fairgrounds. The Florida Christmas in the Country is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 9. Participants can create holiday keepsakes like salt dough ornaments and beeswax candles and participate in everyday pioneer chores like churning butter and cleaning laundry with an old-fashioned washboard. Tickets for adults (12 and up) are $14; seniors, $12; students (6-11) $12; kids (0-5), free. Advanced ticket purchase is required.

Got news? Send it here.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

A Case Study in Community Policing

By Stephen Buel

If the marriage between a community and its police chief deserves a honeymoon, then the celebration of Lee Bercaw’s promotion in Tampa ended without ceremony a few days before Halloween.

It’s been barely five months since the city council unanimously ratified Major Jane Castor’s selection of Bercaw as Tampa police chief. That makes the Oct. 29 Ybor City gun battle that killed two people and injured 16 others easily the most consequential and high-profile crime of his short tenure.

Events of such visibility and magnitude become associated with top cops. Police chiefs are the outward face of their departments during those infrequent occasions when the public starts paying attention to their work. 

Like most people in Hillsborough County, I wasn’t paying attention until recently. But in the weeks since this tragedy, it has looked to me like Bercaw is up to the challenge. 

Naturally, his and other agencies responded to the shootings with a show of force. A neighborhood in which police were already rather visible has since received additional officers on foot, bike, horse, and squad car. Code enforcement officials also visited area businesses on successive weekends, to inspect how they were handling alcohol, parking, security, and other matters. Bercaw himself strolled Seventh Avenue, meeting with business owners and seeking to reassure area residents.

But last week Bercaw stepped into the crucible, scheduling a high-profile town hall meeting to meet with neighbors, advocates, business owners, crime victims, and the media. Bercaw’s department first launched these Town Hall Tuesdays a couple months after he took over, but the gathering at Centro Asturiano de Tampa was the highest-profile meeting by far. 

There, too, Bercaw was accompanied by an impressive show of force. He took the dais flanked by three of his fellow officers, Deputy Chiefs Michael Hutner and Calvin Johnson, and Major Eric DeFelice, the commander in charge of Ybor City. Out in the audience, there were at least two police spokeswomen, plus a new neighborhood watch coordinator, and the department’s liaison to Ybor City businesses.

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Following an invocation and a brief statement by Bercaw, the chief opened up his forum to questions and comments. And questions and comments there were.

Several speakers criticized Bercaw for calling the shooting an isolated incident. “About every five years, there’s blood in the street and there’s a homicide,” said Gaspar’s Grotto owner Eric Schiller. “I feel like a broken record.”

Two area women spoke movingly about losing loved ones in the vicinity of Ybor City — a son and a husband, respectively. One of them wondered aloud why the response to this shooting has captivated the city in a way that her son’s death did not. Coming from a bereaved parent, it was a completely rational question, even though the latest Ybor shootings were of a clearly different magnitude. 

Bercaw’s department was criticized for slow response times, not enforcing the noise ordinance, not enforcing the cruising ordinance, letting officers congregate in Ybor City parking lots, and closing down Seventh Avenue when the bars shut down.

Other speakers decried Florida’s attitudes toward firearms at a time that lawmakers pine to again allow 18-year-olds to purchase “long guns” and support the idiocy — my word, not theirs — of “concealed carry” and “stand your ground.” Ybor resident Christian Leon urged the chief to use his bully pulpit to talk sense to such people. Activist Betsy Braden offered people trigger locks for their firearms.

In response to this fusillade of well-intentioned suggestions from people telling him how to run his department, Bercaw was unfailingly polite and responsive. He said his department does enforce the noise ordinance. He explained that officers fan out in Ybor City because the crowds do, too. 

He said he strives to keep Seventh Avenue open to cars as late as possible, but that once the bars shut down, vehicle traffic is simply not safe. “When you’re talking about 20,000-30,000 people piling out of these bars all at the same time, there’s just nowhere for them to go,” he  said.

In the end, Bercaw answered most people’s questions. He acknowledged pretty much everyone — “Thank you for sharing your frustration” was one of his more diplomatic answers — and was impressively contrite on occasion, as when he apologized for slow response times during some unrelated incident.

Of course, speakers also talked to the chief about curfews, though he has nothing to do with whether Ybor bars juveniles, which seems likely, or shuts down at 1 a.m., which seems unlikely. Creative Loafing reported that City Attorney Andrea Zelman has drafted a possible juvenile curfew ordinance but informed the council it isn’t legally advisable to order businesses to change their closing time.

In recent weeks, Bercaw has expressed optimism for an approach favored by Orlando, in which that city responded to a spike in violent crime by declaring a moratorium on new downtown clubs and by introducing new restrictions on drink sales after midnight. With several speakers at the town hall asking why Ybor City needs to be so completely dominated by bars and clubs, such an approach seems likely to gain momentum.

But by and large, Bercaw’s appearance was largely about listening and not talking. "Community policing is effective when you listen to the community and apply what the community wants," Bercaw told 10 Tampa Bay after the session.

Talk of “community policing” is often hollow jargon, but in this case it seemed genuine. Bercaw went out of his way to ask speakers at the town hall to stick around and connect with various staff members, or to leave their contact information so that someone could follow up with them.

And the chief pointedly noted that his department quickly made an arrest in this case due to the assistance it received from members of the community, who shared videos and tips with officers. A second alleged shooter has since been apprehended, and TPD is actively seeking the public’s help in identifying several other persons of interest.

Can the new police chief boost Tampa’s murder clearance rate back to the higher level of success his department occupied under former Chief Castor? Can he manage a budget? Will he respond decisively when one or more members of his staff inevitably betray the trust that society places in them? 

Those are tests for another day, which Lee Bercaw will eventually have to pass. 

But at least for now, based on early and admittedly insufficient evidence, Tampa’s police department looks to be in good hands.

TAKING STOCK

A weekly look at the performance of 25 locally important stocks

OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

Tampa Cubans fear deportation after recent court ruling. Tampa Bay Times $

BayFirst leads local banks in SBA lending. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Gas below $3 a gallon? Florida prices reach a new low for 2023. WUSF

New nonstop Allegiant flight to depart from Tampa Bay area airport. News Channel 8

Tampa Bay researcher works to save endangered smalltooth sawfish. Spectrum Bay News 9

26,000 Americans reported catalytic converter theft in 2023. Here's what makes your car an easier target. Stacker

Aging cruise ships to call on Tampa in 2025. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Boy pulled from burning home competes for baseball championship. ABC Action News

FLORIDA

The flu is soaring in Florida and other states, health officials say. Tampa Bay Times $

Proposed education bill would reduce testing, lower graduation requirements. Florida Phoenix

How Florida law fails to protect mobile home owners facing eviction. WUSF

SpaceX launches its giant new rocket but a pair of explosions ends the second test flight. Politico

Washington Post lawsuit challenges Florida law shielding DeSantis travel records. Politico

Ron DeSantis reveals miscarriage preceded children in marriage to Casey. Florida Politics

Obamacare signups spike in Florida as GOP-led Legislature resists Medicaid expansion. Axios

The first Thanksgiving? That actually took place in Florida. WUSF

POLITICS

Florida & national GOP going all in on early voting, despite Trump’s comments to the contrary. Florida Phoenix

Police Benevolent Association backs Suzy Lopez for Hillsborough State Attorney. Florida Politics

NBC News poll shows Ron DeSantis’ national popularity at a historic low. Florida Politics

Newsom TV ad hits DeSantis on abortion as Fox debate looms. Politico

Casey DeSantis says ‘Bidenomics’ forces her to shop at Walmart. Florida Politics

Biden, Trump and ... whales? The GOP obsesses on blubbery sea mammals. Politico

LEISURE

USF football has one more chance at bowl eligibility after UTSA loss. The Oracle

Bucs’ linebacker Lavonte David reaches franchise milestone minutes into 49ers matchup. News Channel 8

South Florida women struggle with consistency in 56-55 win against UNF. The Oracle

Gaither’s defense stifles Largo to score upset in region semifinal. Tampa Beacon

COMMENTARY

Let Florida communities take commonsense action to combat climate change. Tampa Bay Times $

In today's newsletter, you'll find advice on what to say to someone who's grieving, thanks to Catherine Hodge, a South Tampa licensed mental health counselor who specializes in trauma. Plus, an arrest in the Ybor City shooting, You Need a Pet, and the Bay Area's most comprehensive news round-up.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

What would school “deregulation” mean in Florida? Bills point to eliminating some testing, diploma requirements and recess. WMNF

Florida bill would require property owners to disclose flood history when selling a home. Creative Loafing

Starboard franchise group shutters Tampa Wendy’s locations, files Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Former SEAL accused of war crimes is instructor with company to train Florida’s civilian military force. Tampa Bay Times $

Supreme Court denies request to reinstate Florida drag show law. Politico

Ron DeSantis ready to ‘defund the UN’. Florida Politics

1 dead in Hillsborough shooting, 2 others injured, deputies say. Tampa Bay Times $

Budget vote divides Florida Republicans in U.S. House. Florida Politics

Pendry Residences Tampa celebrates $230 million in sales during groundbreaking. That’s So Tampa

The steaks are high: Florida Republican wants to ban lab-grown meat. Politico

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

BRIEFS

CRIME

Ybor Shooting Arrest: Kadyn Michael Abney, 14, has been arrested by police and charged in connection with the fatal Ybor City shooting that occurred Oct. 29. He faces one felony count of a minor in possession of a firearm while wearing a mask and one felony count of carrying a concealed firearm. At the time of the incident, according to police, two officers were alerted to a disturbance at the intersection of 16th Street and Seventh Avenue where they observed a subject, later identified as Abney, displaying a firearm before fleeing the scene. After determining Abney's location, detectives worked with the Palm Beach Fugitive Apprehension Unit to make the arrest. Abney was held by the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office until transported back to Tampa. Detectives continue to seek help identify the remaining persons of interest in this video. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to submit their tip via the FBI portal at fbi.gov/tampashooting. Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or online and be eligible for a reward up to $5,000.

Shrooms, Chocolate, and $11K Seized: Tampa police on Tuesday arrested Martin Sequeira, 37, and Mary Vargas, 28, on wide-ranging drug, theft, public nuisance, and other felony charges. An investigation into outstanding felony warrants led police to 2208 E. 15th Ave. where the two resided where the found a large amount of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, including including 11 pounds in vegetative state or infused into chocolate candy bars; packaging and packaging paraphernalia; stickers advertising psilocybin sales that revealed an Instagram account offering the sales of the narcotic linked to the couple’s address. Sequeira was quickly detained by police after a brief struggle after answering the front door; Vargas was also detained. Police recovered a 9mm semi-automatic handgun that was within Sequeira’s immediate reach. In addition, $11,000.00 in U.S. currency was seized for forfeiture, along with the defendant's vehicle, which was used in multiple offenses. On Thursday, they were both being held at Orient Road Jail.

NEWS

Traffic Fatality: A male pedestrian appears to have been killed by a vehicle, and Tampa police are investigating. Authorities were summed to the intersection of N. 40th Street and E. Ellicott Street in the East Tampa/Ybor/The Heights neighborhood at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to respond to a crash involving a pedestrian.

Vision Zero: The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization hosts a Vision Zero event today 5:30-6:30 p.m. to honor the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. During this event, the community remembers those who have lost their lives to or been impacted by roadway crashes. The program includes a 0.6-mile walk from Emanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center to Progress Boulevard and back. The names of 2023 victims will be read aloud at the intersection of 78th Street and Progress Boulevard. This event also highlights well-known safety solutions, including redesigning hazardous roads, reducing speeds, enhancing vehicle design, and investing in safety rather than speed. Plan Hillsborough, the city of Tampa, Hillsborough County, FDOT, USF, and HART will participate. The public can show support by carrying a Vision Zero banner, holding a Vision Zero sign, or simply walking the route.

Florida Visitation Record: Visitation to Florida continues to rise, setting a record for the number of visitors to Florida in the third quarter of a year, with an estimated total of 35.1 million visitors between July and September 2023, according to a press release from the governor’s office. Visitation included 32.2 million domestic visitors, 2.2 million overseas visitors and 666,000 Canadian visitors. Additionally, Florida continues to beat overall annual visitation records with 105.2 million visitors so far in 2023, 724,000 more visitors than the first nine months of 2022.

E. Cumberland Avenue Construction: E. Cumberland Avenue, from S. Meridian Avenue to Channelside Drive, will be closed Sunday from 4 p.m.-6 a.m. for road construction.

E. Whiting Street Closed:  E. Whiting Street between S. Meridian Avenue to N. 12th St. will be closed from 8 p.m.–2 a.m. Monday.

Other BOC News: The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners to establish the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium to administer and operate regional workforce development programs. Additionally, commissioners approved a Community Development Block Grant funding agreement for $603,870 to preserve and improve the New Life Village residential campus at 4926 Venice Lake Ave., Tampa, a residential foster home community for 136 foster children within 39 households who have survived abuse, neglect, and trauma, and their caregivers.

LEISURE

Sanding Ovations: Head to Treasure Island Beach Sanding Ovations’ "It's About Time," a free event featuring sand sculptures, music, beach vendors, fireworks, and much more. The sand sculpting is the thing, attracting sculptors from around the world who create larger-than-life sand sculptures. The event started Thursday and runs through Sunday, with an encore weekend Nov. 25-26

Ybor Home Tour: Take a self-guided tour of nine unique Ybor City homes, the J.C. Newman Cigar Co., and the new Cigar Workers Park at the V.M. Ybor Neighborhood Association’s 11th Annual Home Tour. The neighborhood was named for Vicente Martinez Ybor, the Spanish founder of Ybor City's cigar industry, and just north of Ybor City. The tour is noon-4 p.m. Sunday and starts at Cigar Workers Park (1530 E. Columbus Drive), where guests will receive neighborhood maps and information on each of the featured properties. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 day of tour.

Got news? Send it here.

7 QUESTIONS FOR CATHERINE HODGE

Why Is It So Hard to Talk About Grief?

By Judith M. Gallman

Catherine Hodge is a licensed mental health counselor in South Tampa whose primary work is helping clients deal with grief and trauma. Her new book, What do I Say: How to Support Others in Grief, was published in September. It’s a slim pocket guide with lots of white space and whimsical illustrations by Jill Greenbaum, also a grief counselor. Hodge styled her undersized guidebook after the format of Thich Nhat Hanh’s inspirational how-to manuals on Buddhism. “I was hearing a lot of the same things in session from clients about their support system failing them in some way, and it just suddenly clicked. … I started almost making a mental note of the multiple things that I would hear, and then I was thinking, well, maybe I should write these down. I thought of it more as a guide or almost like a pamphlet. I mean, you can call it a book, but I wanted it to be a super easy read … Because if you're not the one grieving, you might not be willing to put in the time and effort to read a full-length book.” The book defines grief, lists associated myths, offers dos and don’ts, and includes a cheat sheet and resources. Find What Do I Say? on Amazon, and learn more about Hodge on her website, CatherineHodge.com. If you’re struggling with how to help someone cope with grief, or even your own grief, read on for Hodge’s insights.

Why is it so hard for us to talk about grief or process it?
I think it's always hard to be uncomfortable, and grief is very uncomfortable, and people are really scared of that pain and discomfort. There's a lot of myths around that the pain's going to last forever. Or, ‘If I go down that deep, dark hole, I'll never be able to get back out.’ And so there's a lot of avoidance of that pain. And I think the support system is similar. They want to avoid it and hope it just goes away, because we don't like the discomfort of it for the person grieving and the person trying to support the grieving. 

How do you characterize or define grief?
I think it's just the loss of something meaningful. People assume that it has to be death-related, and that is a concrete loss for sure. But any ending of a relationship; it doesn't have to be from death. Even a period of life — we could be grieving a period of life. Empty nesting is another example of a grief process. No one's died, but their children have left home.

What are among the best things you can do for someone who's grieving?
Being available and seeing them; acknowledging it. I think that seems to be really difficult for people, because they think if they bring it up, they're going to make the person start crying or they're going to bring up the pain in that moment, and they're already in pain. You are not going to tell them or remind them of anything that they don't already know that they aren’t very intimately aware of. So acknowledging the loss and the pain and being available for listening. That's the biggest piece.

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What are the worst ways to try to help someone, or what about advice for somebody to get started?
Well, first of all, I think all of those things, even the don'ts, are coming from a place of trying to be helpful for sure. And so I just want to validate that I know it's coming with good intent, which is great. I think that's a good start, to recognize your intent and kind of direct your efforts in a more effective way is the goal. Probably the biggest thing that you don't want to do is take the attention off of their pain onto yours. And that can be what happens when you start comparing or talking about your own. And I think that comes from a place of, ‘Oh, I can identify with your pain; let me tell you about mine.’ But then you kind of take off the attention from them onto yourself. And giving advice, and again, I know that comes from a place of trying to help, but that's very confusing for the grieving person already struggling with decisions typically and maybe some internal judgment. They can also take that advice as judgment that they're doing the wrong thing. So I think all of the don'ts I recognize come from a good intention.

I liked your recommendation to be genuine, and if you are, then it seems like almost anything you do that's wrong could be forgiven.
That is true. I think that is the key to all of them, and I think that's one of the reasons why I put that one first. Even if you don't know what you're doing, and you're worried you're going to say the wrong thing, just kind of being open about it helps. And I think that gives more space to having a conversation about what they need. It may still be difficult for them to ask for what they need, but sometimes it's hard to verbalize, because they don't even know what they need.

Can the book help people who are grieving know what might be appropriate to ask for from a supportive party?
Yeah, I've gotten some of that feedback on that. I think in our culture, it's not okay to ask for help. We're supposed to be very independent. We can do things on our own. And so I think that's partially a cultural phenomenon as well. Honestly, kind of thinking about it again, I almost put the dos and dont’s in order in the book. And so the first one for the don't is don't avoid. That is the biggest thing, because then they just feel isolated. It's better to be the person maybe saying the ‘wrong’ thing, but at least the grieving parties don't feel isolated and that people are ignoring their pain or feel like people don't care. A common assumption that I hear from people is, ‘I don't hear from X, Y, Z friend anymore. I guess they don't care about me.’ That's a big loss. That just adds to the grief, because now not only are they suffering from the initial grief, but they're also suffering from even more grief from the loss of a friend.

What else should readers know about your book, or about how you hope it helps people? Because it's such a scary topic, having a book with concrete coping suggestions seems so helpful.
I think you asked everything that I would've thought of, but, yeah, just validating that it is scary for people. I think that's why I wanted to demystify it a bit.

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

YOU NEED A PET

Meet Choko, a 3-year-old American Staffordshire terrier who was surrendered by his family due to poor living conditions. Choko lived with another dog named Creature who also was surrendered. He is house-broken and loves meeting new people, from adults to children. Choko at first may seem a bit timid, but he is a sweet boy who welcomes attention and loves to run and play ball. You can find him and lots of other deserving pups at the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Foundation Inc., 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, 813-586-1988, HCPRFoundation.org.

WHAT THEY SAID

BITES

Al’s Finger Licking Good Soul Food: In observation of Black Restaurant Week Nov. 10-19 and to support Ybor City after the Oct. 29 shooting tragedy, we set out for some soul food. And what we found at Al’s was great. While Al’s Finger Licking Good BBQ is a longtime standout among barbecue aficionados, Al’s neighboring soul food joint ought to have the same following where home-style dishes are concerned.

The menu suggests this food might remind you of your grandmother’s cooking, and it does: spicy collards dotted with pork bits, creamy-thick mac ’n’ cheese, okra fried to perfection, a stack of giant onion rings, and steaming crisp-fried chicken with a moist interior. You can get meatloaf, sandwiches, smothered pork chops or chicken, even pigs feet and ox tails. The cornbread muffins were the perfect meal topper, while the chopped salad and black-eyed peas were middling.

The interior might remind you of your grandmother’s too: there’s a low-slung couch, neat matching tables and chairs, pretty table flowers, and chandeliers. Stylized over-sized portraits of musical greats from B.B. King, Ray Charles, and James Brown, to Prince, Mary J. Blige, and Rod Stewart (???) add a classic musical edge to the place. Open 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Fri.-Sat. And 12-5 p.m. Sun., 2302 E. Seventh Ave., Ybor City, Tampa, 813-515-5036 (813-SOUL FOOD).

New Restaurant Openings

There is no shortage of new restaurants coming to the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s a list of places. Some are now open; others are coming. Call ahead before visiting.

Bang-Bang! Bowls, 19651 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Suite C-2, Wesley Chapel: New York-inspired Indian rice bowls

Boba Tea Company, 2223 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa: bubble tea, smoothies, milkshakes, and more come to International Plaza and Bay Street. What Now Tampa

Da' Shrine, 5137 N Florida Ave., Seminole Heights, Tampa: Caribbean and African food, including whole red snapper with jollof rice and stewed oxtails to pounded yam and chicken stew. Creative Loafing

Gorditos, 615 Channelside Drive, Sparkman Wharf, Tampa: many flavorful varieties of meaty and veggie empanadas and unique shaved iced concoctions, all handheld delights.

Sorbo, 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Wesley Chapel: matcha teas, espresso beverages, and refreshers plus baked goods and wine

Tori Bar, 442 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa: a Japanese-inspired pub strong on Japanese whisky, craft cocktails, highballs, grilled yakitori skewers, handrolls, sashimi, and assorted tapas; from the folks behind Izakaya Tori. Carlos Eats

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Deadly shooting in Hillsborough County briefly put 2 nearby schools on 'lock-in' status. 10 Tampa Bay

The number of judges could shrink from 15 to 12 in the Tampa-based 2nd District Court of Appeal. WMNF

Man pleads guilty in 1984 Hillsborough murder, gets 50 years in prison. Tampa Bay Times $

Eight Florida cities get perfect scores in LGBTQ+ equality report. Florida Phoenix

St. Pete selects architect for Rays' $1.3 billion ballpark. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Volunteers needed this holiday season, United Way Suncoast helps to connect volunteers with organizations. ABC Action News

Hillsborough 16-year-old arrested for making school threats on Instagram. ABC Action News

A huge 32-foot tall floating Christmas tree returns to Tampa. That’s So Tampa

FLORIDA

Lawmakers hear report that says path of Florida’s prison system is ‘unsustainable’. Florida Phoenix

Advocates say now is the time to implement air-conditioning in Florida prisons. Florida Phoenix

Lawmakers refile bill to test body cameras at women’s prison ‘notorious’ for abuse. Florida Politics

Florida lawmakers file proposals on mental health drugs. WUSF

Medicaid enrollment in Florida continues to drop. WUSF

Florida has third-highest pedestrian traffic fatality rate in US, study shows. WMNF

Thousands without power after flooding rains lash South Florida. Axios

Here’s why heavy rain in Florida has little to do with hurricane season. Florida Politics

In new brief, Moody claims abortion amendment would let providers self-regulate. Florida Phoenix

Cleanup, insurance woes continue months after Hurricane Idalia hits Florida. 10 Tampa Bay

DeSantis signs trade agreement with Great Britain. The Center Square

Florida senators want statewide standard for opioid settlement spending. Florida Phoenix

Pro-Palestinian student group in Florida sues DeSantis. Politico

Jimmy Patronis to NCAA: Fire Charlie Baker. Florida Politics

Sarasota County native crowned Miss USA to compete for Miss Universe on Saturday. 10 Tampa Bay

POLITICS

Poll: Ron DeSantis drops to fifth place in New Hampshire. Florida Politics

Ron DeSantis redoubles effort to goad Nikki Haley into confrontation. Florida Politics

New FAU survey shows majority of Floridians disapprove of Matt Gaetz’s performance in Congress. Florida Phoenix

LIESURE

Can you travel with cannabis? Here's why you need to check the laws before the holidays. Fox 13 Tampa Bay

How Tristan Wirfs overcame self-doubt to become the left tackle the Buccaneers needed. The Athletic $

Dave Andreychuk, Brad Richards selected for Lightning Hall of Fame. Tampa Bay Times $

Tampa Bay's best live music happening Nov. 16-23. Creative Loafing

Tarpon Springs Seafood Festival celebrates 35th anniversary this weekend. Creative Loafing

USF football player goes from former walk-on to record holder. Fox 13 Tampa Bay

Expert Predictions: Florida football faces tough test at Missouri Tigers. Gators Wire

Hedman taps in late goal, Lightning edges Blackhawks 3-2 to end 3-game slide. ABC Action News

Why Mayfield and Bosa won’t be planting the flag when the Buccaneers face 49ers. The Athletic $

COMMENTARY

When it comes to disdain for democracy, Trump has company. The New York Times $

Florida lawmakers put us at risk of being killed by hurricanes. Florida Phoenix

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

In today’s newsletter we’ll introduce you to a new app created for our county’s parks. Learn fun facts as you wander around local conservation parks and nature preserves while listening to the Hillsborough County FL Nature Tours app. Plus, continuity on the county commission, change on the school board, and Hillsborough County’s best local news summary.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

Weekly lawn watering restriction starts on Dec. 1 for Bay Area residents. WUSF

Tampa the "capital of American homeschooling," per new report. Axios

Ball python spotted in South Tampa neighborhood. News Channel 8

In push to remove homeowners from Citizens, the state-run insurer uses unlicensed inspectors. WUSF

Speed detection cameras in Hillsborough County school zones approved by commissioners. Fox 13 News

Power outage closes Tampa waste facilities until further notice. Patch

Florida lawmakers hear alarming tales regarding hemp-derived THC products. Florida Phoenix

Florida agencies ‘toothless’ in handling condo complaints, enforcers tell lawmakers. Florida Politics

Seffner man arrested after aiming rifle at trooper who knocked on his door. News Channel 8

Tampa creates Small Business ‘Navigator’ to help entrepreneurs. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

BRIEFS

Hagan Keeps Chair: The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners selected Commissioner Ken Hagan to remain as chair and Commissioner Michael Owen as vice chair during its annual organizational meeting on Nov. 14. Commissioner Donna Cameron Cepeda remains as chaplain. Hagan, District 2, has served as a commissioner since 2002, and this makes his seventh term as board chair. Hagan has served as the board’s representative on key economic development boards, including Visit Tampa Bay, Tampa/Hillsborough Expressway Authority, and the Tampa Sports Authority, as well as the Florida Association of Counties and the Hospital Authority. The board also selected positions on the various boards, committees, and councils on which they serve. A complete list is posted at HCFLGov.net/BOCC. 

Panther Stats: Two more Florida panther deaths have been reported by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The remains of a 3-year-old, male Florida panther (UCFP447) were collected on Nov. 12, on CR 833, south of SR 80 in Hendry County. Additionally, the remains of a 4-year-old, male Florida panther (UCFP448) were collected on Nov. 12 on Immokalee Road in Collier County. The suspected cause of both deaths was vehicle collision. The FWC has updated the Panther Pulse web page with mortality information through Nov. 13. Report injured or dead panthers to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). 

Got news? Send it here.

REPORTER

App Adds Depth to Hillsborough County Parks Experience

By Judith M. Gallman

Imagine walking on a meandering boardwalk among ancient cypress knees and blooming water hyacinths at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park. Around a bend, you hear some splashing, and a bright pink roseate spoonbill rises up from the water. And then in some nearby brush, you see another feathered beauty: an elegant great blue heron.

As you approach an informational sign, your phone starts playing some audio — thanks to the handy Hillsborough FL Nature Tours app you just downloaded.

The audio features soothing music and a little bird chatter, and then a pleasant female voice informs you that bird lovers come from all over the world to see this park’s inhabitants: wood storks, night herons, and great egrets among them. “In fact, an amazing 187 species of birds have been spotted in the park,” the app says at stop number seven on the tour.

At the foot of the observation tower (stop number three), the audio resumes with soft music. Listeners learn that Lettuce Lake is a curved offshoot of the Hillsborough River that assists in preventing area flooding. The app reveals that alligators like to relax in this swampy area, and practically on cue, a baby gator appears in the water, prompting a toddler accompanied by his parents and infant sibling to squeal happily. And around the corner, you spy a bigger juvenile gator.

Keep your ears tuned for the remaining six stops to learn about cypress trees, resurrection ferns, cypress domes, decomposition, and why there aren’t hippopotamuses chomping on the invasive but pretty water hyacinths.

Hillsborough County launched the free app during the pandemic, when parks and preserves were open but no in-person programs were offered.

Ross Dickerson, section manager of Conservation and Environmental Lands Management, said via email that the county Outreach Team came up with the idea after seeing a presentation at the Florida Recreation and Park Association annual meeting.

“Although we started looking at options prior to the pandemic, the pandemic set the project into overdrive so we could still provide guided tours,” Dickerson wrote. “Also, it provides equitable access to people who may not be able to hike the trail.”

Developed by storytelling platform STQRY for about $5,000, the app and its content features the voices of county staff, primarily from the Communications Department, Dickerson said. Currently, tours are available at 14 sites, chosen based on their popularity and natural features.

“We wanted to reach as many people as possible to get the word out,” Dickerson said.

The parks and preserves with audio tours include Alafia River Corridor South Nature Preserve, Alderman's Ford Conservation Park, Apollo Beach Nature Preserve, Bahia Beach Nature Preserve, Bell Creek Nature Preserve, Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve, Edward Medard Conservation Park, Golden Aster Scrub Nature Preserve, Lake Frances Nature Preserve, Lake Park Conservation Park, Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, Lower Green Swamp Nature Preserve, Triple Creek Nature Preserve, and Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park.

The app includes maps of the parks and preserves and uses GPS to show visitors where they are. As a person approaches a specific area, the app brings up photos and an audio tour explaining what the parkgoer is seeing. Sometimes, the significance isn’t 100 percent clear — just where is that decomposing tree felled by lightning at stop number six at Lettuce Lake?
But more often than not, the voiceovers present interesting facts: a buttressed bald cypress tree visible at stop number two is 500 years old, one of the oldest in the park. Such trees flourished throughout Florida but were decimated by logging in the 1800s — first by hand saws, then chainsaws, and the audio includes sound effects of both.

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Be A Navigator

Visitors can use the audio tours in three ways: listen to each stop, use the QR code on the signs at each site, or go to the drop-down menu in the app for photos and text. The last way is useful for those who are deaf or hearing-impaired.

“It’s very simple to use, especially if you download the app,” Dickerson said. “Once you arrive at the site, you pull up the site, turn on the tracking, and the app does the rest. As you approach an area of significance, the app starts telling you what you’re looking at. The best tip is to actually download the app. It makes it a lot easier to follow along.  And, if you don’t want to be tied to your screen (most of us don’t, out in the woods), you can just put it in your pocket and it will still provide the audible educational information at each stop.”

Users should be mindful of other parkgoers, perhaps keeping the volume low or, even better, sporting earbuds or headphones so the music and sound effects, from gentle rain and rumbling thunderstorms to croaking frogs and pond splashes, don’t intrude on others’ nature experience.

Although Lettuce Lake is one of Hillsborough County’s most visited parks, for much of a recent stroll to view the natural attractions in tandem with the app, this reporter felt like a solitary visitor. There was a nice breeze, gentle sun, and plenty of flora and fauna to study. The twists and turns of the boardwalk kept what’s ahead a secret.

However, when I happened upon a birder aiming a giant lens at something, the high-speed shutter on the camera clicking and whirring nonstop for an uncountable number of photos, she shushed me when I asked what birds she was seeing. No doubt a blaring app soundtrack would have detracted from her experience.

“This has not presented itself as an issue,” said Alison Hughes, senior program coordinator for Conservation and Environmental Lands Management. “We hope users are courteous to each other, but if not, narratives are short. Programs like these are important because they can increase accessibility and interest in the trails. Some people cannot attend guided hikes, or perhaps do not want to, so having a self-guided option helps them connect with the trail in a new and easier way.”

Dickerson hasn’t received much public feedback about the app, though he said the three ratings on the app store are all five stars. The IOS app has been downloaded more than 5,000 times, and the Android app has been downloaded more than 100 times.

“So far, the number of downloads exceeded our expectations,” he said. “But the highlighted trails need to be expanded to keep people interested. Our goal is to add one trail per site and have a separate icon to feature just the Hiking Spree sites for next year.”

Hillsborough County’s 2023-24 Hiking Spree, a countywide effort to get people hiking, runs Nov. 1-March 31, 2024. Participants must complete a minimum of eight designed trails to win prizes and rewards. (Here’s the Hiking Spree trail list). Hikers can go on their own, hike with a group, or join a guided tour from park staff. But they must register (which is free) and keep track of the trails they hike. When they’re done, they complete a form and receive a confirmation email to pick up a Hiking Spree medallion, patch, or dog bandana.

As far as the novelty of Hillsborough County’s nature app, Dickerson said, “I won’t say it’s unusual, but it is still rare. Many federal parks use apps like this, and it is very common for self-guided tours in museums and other large venues.”

As you take in the squirrel chatter, woodpecker knocks, and the rustling of the wind around you on the Lettuce Lake nature tour, you may notice a meditative quality to the gentle, strumming music and calming nature sounds on the app. It makes for an informative and pleasant experience and adds another dimension to Hillsborough County parks.

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OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

Hillsborough school board elects new chairperson, approves 4 principals. Tampa Bay Times $

Blake Casper donates $5 million to Tampa General Hospital Foundation. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Ybor City shooting: TPD hosts town hall as search continues for additional persons of interest. Fox 13 News

These Tampa Bay hospitals saw their safety ratings decline in 2023, watchdog says. 10 Tampa Bay

USDA awards $3 million to USF for research of disease transmission. WMNF

Tampa Port CEO gets raise, bumping him to $597K a year. Tampa Bay Times $

Tampa RV firm Lazydays, in first-of-its-kind-deal, partners with luxury brand. Business Observer $

Lazydays cancels $100M capital raise after stock price sinks. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Former Tampa Bay Storm owner sues Clearwater firm over deal that ended with team's bankruptcy. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Former employee in Tampa's mobility department alleges unlawful termination in lawsuit. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa's Westshore Interchange could see changes to the design of its local street connections. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Suspect accused in gruesome murder of Tampa man he met on dating app asks for bond. Fox 13 News

Woman killed while attempting to cross West Hillsborough Avenue. Patch

Lawyers seek mental exam for man jailed in attack on Hillsborough deputies. Tampa Bay Times $

$2.6M federal grant to focus on making Tampa road safer. Patch

A Brandon Chick-fil-A location is now offering free drone delivery. Creative Loafing

Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull are playing Tampa together in 2024. Creative Loafing

Blues shut out Lightning 5-0. ABC Action News

USF women’s hoops team extends winning streak to three against Grambling State. The Oracle

FLORIDA

Up to 10 inches of rain expected in Southeastern Florida. The New York Times $

2 late-season tropical disturbances pop up in Atlantic, including 1 off Florida’s coast. News Channel 8

DeSantis seeks more money for Florida’s emergency fund after using funds out-of-state. WMNF

Office of Insurance Regulation approves workers’ compensation rate decrease. The Capitolist

Florida lawmakers consider changes to recess requirements in schools. Tampa Bay Times $

Over 'Marxist infiltration' fears, Sarasota to stop paying library group dues. WUSF

Pop singer Pink to give out banned books at Florida concerts. WMNF

UF appeals decision that it must pay attorney fees for violating professors’ First Amendment rights. WMNF

AG Moody seeks oral arguments in Florida Supreme Court test of abortion-rights initiative. Florida Phoenix

State’s top economist says wages are up for Florida workers — but so is inflation. Florida Phoenix

Florida lawmakers consider allowing spouses of veterans to live in long-term care facilities. WUSF

Federal officials support ruling on kids in Florida nursing homes. WUSF

Biden requests emergency funding for Florida child care and fentanyl addiction treatment. WUSF

The Biden administration is slow to act as millions are booted off Medicaid, advocates say. WUSF

DeSantis signs four bills passed during special session. The Capitolist

Her livelihood? Hunting pythons in the dead of night. The New York Times $

Video: Florida man with ‘all gas, no brakes’ neck tattoo crashes after fleeing Polk County crime scene. Fox 13 News

Video: Florida paddleboarder captures magical moment as manatee creates rainbow greeting. Fox 13 News

POLITICS

State senator bolsters county commissioner term limit proposal. The Capitolist

Voting rights groups press on with challenge to restrictive Florida registration rules. WMNF

Ron DeSantis coy on bill that would let him remove local officials who take down Confederate memorials. Florida Politics

Ron DeSantis slides to fourth place in latest New Hampshire poll. Florida Politics

DeSantis dispatches three top aides to Iowa. Politico

Iowa Republicans passing on DeSantis suggestion to hold satellite caucus in Florida. Florida Phoenix

Before running for senate, Stanley Campbell’s pregnant ex-wife accused him of battery. Florida Politics

Is Argentina the First A.I. Election?. The New York Times $

Poll: AI worries Americans in 2024 elections. Florida Politics

COMMENTARY

Here’s why a ‘St. Petersburg’ Rays would be better for the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Times $

Israel-Hamas war is dividing progressive political parties in both the U.S. and U.K.. Florida Phoenix

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

Today you’ll learn why we suspect that many of our neighbors are among the 56 percent of Americans who recently told the Gallup poll they don’t have much or any confidence in the news media. Those findings motivate some of our goals for the Bay Area Navigator. But first, Tampa Bay’s best local news roundup, plus the week’s weather, a mixed week on Wall Street, and meet Blossom.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

Tampa Bay Water considers restrictions due to drought. News Channel 8

17-year-old dies in drive-by shooting in Tampa. ABC Action News

Deputies intentionally hit by car face long roads to recovery. Fox 13 News

How Florida’s ‘unscrupulous’ auto glass shops fuel an insurance crisis. The Washington Post $

Florida CFO suggests new law to fund legal fees for presidential candidates amid Trump’s legal challenges. WMNF

26-year-old charged with first-degree murder after man found dead near Busch Gardens. 10 Tampa Bay

Schiller International University in Tampa acquired by UK company. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa man visited 36 Pinellas banks, used 20 IDs and stole $450K, cops say. Tampa Bay Times $

Citing legal fears, Florida universities push back on DeSantis order to shut down pro-Palestinian campus groups. Creative Loafing

USF on the verge of bowl berth after close win over Temple. The Oracle

WEATHER

Warm With Rain Early in the Week

Much-needed rain arrives on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel:

MONDAY ☁️ Cloudy.
🌡️83° / 68° 💦 71% / 85% 🌅 6:49 a.m. / 5:38p.m.

TUESDAY 🌨️ Cloudy with afternoon showers.
🌡️81° / 70° 💦 74% / 81% 🌅 6:50 a.m. / 5:37 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 🌨️ Considerable cloudiness with occasional afternoon rain showers.
🌡️79° / 68° 💦 69% / 88% 🌅 6:51 a.m. / 5:37 p.m.

THURSDAY ⛈️ Scattered thunderstorms in the morning and evening.
🌡️79° / 66° 💦 81% / 92% 🌅 6:52 a.m. / 5:36 p.m.

FRIDAY ⛅️ Sunshine and clouds mixed.
🌡️82° / 65° 💦 75% / 89% 🌅 6:52 a.m. / 5:36 p.m.

SATURDAY ⛅️ Intervals of clouds and sunshine.
🌡️80° / 59° 💦 72% / 83% 🌅 6:53 a.m. / 5:35 p.m.

SUNDAY 🌤️ Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds.
🌡️79° / 60° 💦 61% / 79% 🌅 6:44 a.m. / 5:35 p.m.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

How Today’s Media Landscape Shapes Our Goals for the Navigator

By Stephen Buel

During a recent Wednesday morning dog walk to the end of the Lutz cul-de-sac where I live, I saw something I’d never before noticed.

It was a daily newspaper, lying in a driveway other than my own.

After reaching the end of the road and turning around, I inspected 25 neighboring homes, but I didn’t see another Tampa Bay Times except in my driveway. Not at the home of the teachers, despite the Times’ thorough round-up of education news. Not in the retired police officer’s driveway, despite its many articles about crime. Nor in the yard of the former professional baseball player, during the very height of the MLB playoffs. Not even in the retired insurance agent’s green St. Pete Times delivery tube, despite Lawrence Mower’s excellent coverage of the industry from Tallahassee.

I’m not passing judgment here. Reading the newspaper is not a sign of virtue. Many of my good neighbors no doubt subscribe to publications online or in the mail, just as I do with Consumer Reports, Florida Sportsman, Florida Trend, Magzter, New York magazine, The New York Times, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Tampa Magazine, The Washington Post, and email newsletters of various ideologies. (Perhaps I should get a life.)

My informal survey suggests that many of my neighbors are among the 56 percent of Americans who, according to a recent Gallup Poll, don’t have much or any confidence in the news media. After all, I’ve worked as a journalist for more than 40 years, and my confidence has certainly waned.

My very first job was selling subscriptions to The Tampa Tribune and The Tampa Times at the age of 13, until federal labor officials nailed the company for violating child labor laws. I chose journalism as a career near the peak of trust in the media, not so long after I heard Bob Woodward of Watergate fame speak at USF in 1979. 

It was the golden age of “mainstream media,” where a household’s biggest news choices were whether to subscribe to Life or Look, or watch Cronkite on CBS, Chancellor on NBC, or Reasoner and Smith on ABC. Here in the Bay Area, we were still lucky enough to be able to choose between morning or evening papers from two separate publishers. 

“Objectivity” was journalism’s creed, the notion that a news outlet should remain neutral or impartial and seek to present all sides of an issue. It was not just a news philosophy; it was good business. If you’re hoping to serve as large an audience as possible, why not try to make your coverage appeal to everyone?

Today, the news media is in bad shape for a variety of reasons, mostly related to the internet. Online advertising cannibalized its revenues. YouTube, Facebook, Tik-Tok, and mobile phones turned videos, family updates, and cat memes into competitors for our time. Blogs and X and newsletters like this one have turned everyday Americans into publishers. 

As of last June, according to the job-placement agency Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the number of year-to-date media job cuts was the highest it had ever recorded — even higher than during the very height of the pandemic. And all that lost income, attention, and staffing only bred more lost income, attention, and staffing. It’s a vicious circle.

But the media is not just a blameless victim of these larger forces. 

As social media turned everyone into an editorial writer, news pages have bizarrely become more opinionated rather than less. As the founder of an early alternative newsweekly way back in 1985, I was a cheerleader for the end of objectivity. Reporters are not machines, I argued; we all bring biases and opinions to our work, and it’s not really honest to pretend otherwise. But even as I injected a viewpoint into my writing, I still clung to the notion that I should present all the facts — even those that conflicted with my viewpoint.

It’s no coincidence that the two periods characterized by lowest faith in the news media — 2016 and today — share in common the emergence and re-emergence of a certain orange-skinned individual. Donald Trump’s appearance on the national political scene has changed the media in a largely detrimental way.

The very real challenges of covering the enthusiastically dishonest Trump led the media to abandon long-held standards. Trump lowered the media to his level. Name-calling became more common. Assertions were too-often accepted as truths. And facts that didn’t fit the narrative were omitted.

As Trump used intentionally provocative language to call attention to his views on matters such as immigration — “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” — the media began vilifying even centrist concerns about those issues. As reporters focused on cataloging Trump’s many transgressions, they ceased paying as much attention to the transgressions of the left. And as Trump inspired copycats like our governor, media coverage became increasingly dominated by an effort to negate their outrageous stunts. 

What’s this got to do with the Bay Area, you ask? These transformations have left us with a weakened media environment. As more conservative readers cease to see their viewpoints expressed in newspapers, why shouldn’t they stop reading?

Nearly three quarters of Americans blame the media for increasing polarization in our country, and they are absolutely right. The media’s unwillingness to acknowledge good points regardless of ideology is one of the major drivers of hyperpartisanship. And the retreat of the news media from people’s lives has coincided with the rise of extremism.

These changes are most obvious at the national level. America’s toxic and hyper-partisan politics. The end of our agreement about even basic facts. Our historically low level of faith in so many institutions, from government and schools, to police and the justice system, businesses and banks.

But these changes also have local ripples, in our inability to find basic information about local government, and our lessening engagement on civic affairs.

Writing about Trump and DeSantis is addictive; I do too much of it myself. But the rise of Trumpian performance art has pushed other types of news coverage aside. And it has left us with a media ecosystem where reporters increasingly act as if there is only one way to think.

There is not.

Hence the impetus behind this column, where I will not hide my opinions, but go out of my way to acknowledge valid points from any ideology. Whatever your politics, you’ll find something to disagree with on a regular basis. But whatever your politics, you’ll also find things you agree with. 

If I get you thinking, I’ve accomplished my goal.

Even with all the job loss, today we have more access to journalism than ever before. Alas, the exception is local. I now scan more than 30 sources a week for news of Hillsborough County, yet I still don’t feel like I really know what’s going on.  

Hence the need for new local news outlets like the Bay Area Navigator. Three months in, we haven’t yet realized many of our goals. But we are slowly making strides, with the goal of providing news, and the odd opinion, that you can’t find elsewhere.

TAKING STOCK

A weekly look at the performance of 25 locally important stocks

YOU NEED A PET

Say hello to Blossom. She’s a sweet, retired mama cat whose babies have all found homes. She is a baby herself — only about 1-2 years old. She is petite (only 5.5 pounds) and super sweet. She is dog, cat, and kid friendly! Could you ask for a more purrfect companion? She is available at Animal Luv’rs Dream Rescue. Find the adoption application at www.AnimalLuvrs.org. She, like the other ALDR adoptable rescues, has clean bill of health (unless otherwise stated), is spayed, vaccinated (age-appropriately), tested (FeLV/FIV), currently on flea and heartworm prevention, and microchipped. To hear more, contact ALDR at ALDR@animalluvrs.org. Animal Luv’rs Dream Rescue, P.O. Box 1384, Lutz.

OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

Man arrested in ‘heinous’ murder near Brandon Advance Auto Parts store: sheriff. News Channel 8

Tampa to invest $21M in wastewater upgrades. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

15-year-old boy accused of shooting into front door of home, street, police say. News Channel 8

Tampa Bay banks feel the squeeze on profits as lending cools, funding costs rise. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Sheriff’s deputy speaks after hospital release. Fox 13 News

Crews installing new sidewalks in Hillsborough County's University Area. ABC Action News

New food-saving restaurant app comes to Tampa Bay. ABC Action News

Caught on camera: Unruly passenger behavior at Tampa International Airport. 10 Tampa Bay

New Tampa retirement home residents at odds with developer over clubhouse rules. Neighborhood News

Florida Strawberry Festival releases concert lineup. News Channel 8

Where to see free outdoor films this holiday season around Tampa. That’s So Tampa

Mayfield throws for 2 TDs, Buccaneers stop 4-game skid with 20-6 win over Titans. ABC Action News

Gaither football team starts playoffs with a bang, upsetting St. Petersburg. Tampa Beacon

The Tampa Bay fishin’ report: Trout, sheepshead are biting as water cools. Tampa Beacon

Rays’ Tyler Glasnow could be on the move; a trades-heavy MLB offseason. The Athletic $

FLORIDA

Where did all the lovebugs go? And will they come back? Tampa Bay Times $

Florida defends higher fees for medical marijuana license renewals. WMNF

Florida lawmakers suggest ways to remove some regulations on school. WMNF

System in Atlantic has 60 percent chance of development, Hurricane Center says. News Channel 8

To arm or not to arm? Brevard considers arming teachers, staff. WUSF

No Labels on ballot in Florida, but would their candidate campaign here in 2024?. Florida Phoenix

ACLU says DeSantis is violating students' First Amendment rights. WUSF

FSU fights, outlasts Miami for third straight win over Hurricanes. Tomahawk Nation

POLITICS

Haley, DeSantis try to capitalize on Tim Scott exit from GOP primary race. The Wall Street Journal $

Florida Democrats who voted to censure Rashida Tlaib received nearly $300K from pro-Israel lobbying group. Creative Loafing

Ron DeSantis says $25B school choice plan could be ‘revolutionary’ for American students. Florida Politics

COMMENTARY

Yes, a Florida lawmaker really said kill ‘all of them’ in reference to Palestinians. Tampa Bay Times $

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

Happy Friday. Today we bring you the story behind the Tampa chapter of the women’s running group Trail Sisters. And lots of news today, including a wrap-up of what the legislature did during the just-concluded special session, plus restaurants, a list, and more.

CURRENTS

$ = subscription may be required

TOP NEWS

Deputies ‘intentionally’ hit by car recovering from surgery, sheriff says. News Channel 8

Little banned library: Hillsborough County removed a rainbow book box. Tampa Bay Times $

Forecast: Near record highs this weekend. ABC Action News

Abortion rights are winning in red states. Florida may be the exception. Politico

Riverview man sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing 13-year-old daughter. Tampa Bay Times $

Florida justices seem skeptical of the state’s arguments against a recreational cannabis amendment. WMNF

New legislation would let Gov. DeSantis remove local officials who take down Confederate monuments. Florida Politics

Florida Education officials are now going after college sociology courses. Creative Loafing

DeSantis says Florida has barred a Palestinian student group, but Rodrigues says that's not the case. WUSF

Rowdies introduce new head coach. ABC Action News

BRIEFS

Idalia Assistance: The Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management, the Florida Department of Emergency Management, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open two temporary town hall sites and one Mobile Disaster Recovery Center next week to offer assistance to individuals, families, and businesses impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The three new locations are: 

• Mobile Disaster Recovery Center, Desoto Park Trail Roundabout, 2617 Corinne St., Tampa, open 1-5 p.m. Nov. 13 and 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Nov. 14-20  

• Town Hall Site, Town 'N Country Regional Public Library, Community, Rooms A & B, 7606 Paula Dr., Suite 120, Tampa, open 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 14 

• Town Hall Site,  Firehouse Cultural Center, 101 1st Ave. NE., Ruskin, open from 4-7 p.m. Nov. 17 

Hillsborough County residential property owners and renters whose homes sustained damage and losses from Hurricane Idalia can apply for FEMA assistance online until Nov. 29. To apply for FEMA disaster assistance, visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA app for smartphones, or call 800- 621-3362.

Bathtub Alligators: Officers Ames and Osborn responded to an anonymous report of an individual housing juvenile alligators in their home in Osceola County in late October, according to a FWC Law Enforcement Weekly Report. After arriving at the residence, five juvenile alligators were found in the individual’s bathtub. The violations were addressed accordingly, and the juvenile alligators were relocated to a nearby lake.

Aviation Appointment: Governor Ron DeSantis has reappointed Robert Watkins of Tampa to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. Watkins is the president of Robert Watkins and Company, P.A. He is a member of the Merrymakers Club of Tampa, Inc. and the American and Florida Institutes of Certified Public Accountants. Watkins earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of South Florida. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Got news? Send it here.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

REPORTER

‘I Didn’t Know Any Trails or Trail Runners’

By Judith M. Gallman

Renata Martini Poetzl moved to Tampa in June from Menomonee Falls, Wisc., where she had spent a lot of time running trails for very long distances. One such run was the Tuscobia Winter Ultra, an 80-mile run, bike, or ski event in the middle of winter. She did the run and finished ninth among women runners.

While training for the race, the married mother of two enjoyed great support from her Badger State running buddies, many of whom she met through the running group Trail Sisters. 

But when Poetzl got to Tampa she discovered there was no such group. The full-time bookkeeper and Brazilian native wanted to find like-minded women who enjoy the challenge of sometimes getting lost together on unpaved paths — even in the Florida heat.

“I didn’t know any trails or any trail runners, but I wanted to run trails,” Poetzl said, adding she knew how deeply she was going to miss the great Trail Sisters community she left behind in Wisconsin. 

So she posted a message on She RUNS This Town, a free online running club and community with local chapters but for women road runners. She asked for tips on where to run. And she asked whether anyone would be interested in establishing a Trail Sister group to build a local female trail running group.

Trail Sisters is a free, online female trail-running community and empowerment program for women. It builds bonds and community with regularly scheduled no-drop runs, suited for all abilities. 

Geena Silvia of Land O’ Lakes saw Poetzl’s inquiry and responded, suggesting the Upper Tampa Bay Trail in Lutz and a few other locations for Poetzl, her new-found trail running friend, to check out. 

“So few people I know are into trail running,” Silvia “It’s hard to do all these exploratory runs by yourself.” 

Some women are not comfortable running alone on neighborhood streets and sidewalks no matter the time of day or night. Going into unknown trail territory, where there may be no cell phone service and navigational skills are required, taps into a skill and confidence some haven’t developed. A buddy system makes sense for such women, because there’s safety in numbers.

Silvia is senior manager of global digital platforms for IRONMAN, the triathlon racing series organization. She also is a triathlete, an avid trail runner, a certified running coach, founder of A Runner’s Mindset, a wife, and a dedicated cat mom. All that translates into very active involvement in the local athletic scene. 

Surprised at the area’s lack of a well-established trail running-community (other than the Trail and Ultra Society of Hernando County, or TUSH, and more recently RunFluent/Fulwise), Silvia had previously considered initiating a Trail Sister chapter herself. That was especially true after a coworker, Casey Taker, started a Northeast Florida chapter near St. Augustine. Silvia shelved the idea following her father’s death, but Poetzl’s enthusiasm renewed her interest. 

Training for her first 50K, Sivlia invited Poetzl and this reporter on an August trail run through tall, dewy-wet grass at the Starkey Big Loop, where a wild boar thrillingly crossed the threesome’s path. Within a few short weeks, the duo had the blessing and support of Trail Sister founder Gina Lucrezi of Buena Vista, Colo., as co-leaders of a new chapter.

“It just worked out,” Silvia said.

The first official Tampa chapter run was Oct. 22 at the Upper Tampa Bay Trail Lutz Lake Fern Trailhead, a loop through the Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve with 15 participants. The big turnout thrilled Poetzl and Silvia.

“I was very surprised, especially because I don’t know anybody here,” Poetzl. “The fact that we were able to get that many women out was amazing.”
But less than three weeks later, the Tampa chapter had 90 members, which speaks to the need that it obviously fills. 

Trail Sisters is easy to join: Find your chapter, send a request to join, sign a waiver, and then you’re welcome to use the forum to establish trail-running meetups and friendships or see upcoming scheduled runs. Tampa members are already getting together for unofficial morning and evening runs, spreading the Trail Sister notion of girl power and female empowerment. Official runs are increasing on the Trail Sisters calendar.

“They’re crushing it, by the way,” Lucrezi said of Poetzl and Silvia. “They’re doing a great job. What they’ve done is phenomenal. It’s a great case study to share when people ask me about what they should do when they start a chapter.”

Lucrezi grew up in Bangor, Pa., and was a shorter-distance runner, a standout miler in high school and at college at DeSales University, where she completed her collegiate career as a 10-time NCAA Division 3 All American.

“Running has always been near and dear to me since I was a little kid,” Lucrezi said, admitting she also had a deep passion for field hockey but “happened to be a better runner.”

She majored in television and film and freelanced for a while, then went back to school and earned a master’s degree in sports management with a focus on marketing. She had a successful career, often picking up contract work for outdoor brands such as New Balance, Salomon, and Vasque. 

All the while, though, she said she noticed a severe lack of female representation in the trailing running and hiking communities, including the apparel industry. She advocated for greater equity all around and thought the outdoors industry was missing out on a very lucrative market. Lucrezi gave up all that to be a professional trail runner about a decade ago, but soon grew disheartened.

“There was really not a lot of money I could get from that,” she said. She also lamented a lack of intention and encouragement to engage women in outdoors sports, something she said she experienced firsthand, on and off the trail.

“As a woman, athlete, and outdoor industry professional, I couldn’t stand by and allow the current culture to continue down a path that does not include adequate female representation,” Lucrezi wrote in her Trail Sisters founder’s message.

So she took a chance and bet on herself. She started Trail Sisters in 2016 as “a passion project” from her kitchen table. It was an online journal, specifically a forum where those who identify as female could have a place to share their voices and perspectives while promoting trail running and hiking among women. Its mission was to increase women’s participation and opportunity in trail running, hiking, and the outdoors through inspiration, education, and empowerment. 

In the beginning, seven of Lucrezi’s friends contributed articles, and they all shared their work via social media. Things snowballed from there. 

Today, Trail Sisters has 130 to 135 chapters from the East Coast to the West Coast and Canada, with Tampa among its newest and fastest-growing chapters. Trail Sisters, meanwhile, has morphed into an entity that employs Lucrezi and her husband, Justin Keller, as well as one contract employee. 

Lucrezi said women turn to their trail sisters for advice on running uphill and best bets for gear. Some join to enhance camaraderie and kinship in their outdoor adventures.

Trail Sisters offers women a paid Team Membership program with some additional perks. Those membership fees go toward other Trail Sisters endeavors, including races, coaching, grants, a speakers series, retreats, programs, and other events. Whatever they are, such offerings, Lucrezi said, are geared to work for both first-timers or veteran trail enthusiasts. Trail Sisters also has a home-based apparel printing business, allowing its members to rep the brand at reasonable prices. 

In 2019, Trail Sisters adopted a set of women-centric race standards that it asks race directors across the country to adopt to promote women’s equity on the trail-running circuit. In a nutshell, the standards request equal podiums and awards for all participants, women’s-specific apparel and swag, menstrual products at aid stations, more women at the starting line, and a pregnancy and postpartum policy.

Lucrezi was quick to say that Trail Sisters — and the relationships she has forged through it — has enabled her to succeed in other areas. For example, Lucrezi is the mayor pro tem for her little mountain town, despite, she pointed out, having no background or experience in law or politics. 

Silvia and Poetzl also appreciate the empowering sisterhood aspect of Trail Sister as well.

“For sure,” Silvia said. “That this is just something for women in sports, that is a huge thing. When we have community, we feel more empowered to do things.”

Poetzl agrees. “Absolutely. We all support each other, and when you can see other women doing amazing things, you think, ‘Why not me? I can do that!’ If we motivate and support each other, we can all do great things.”

Lucrezi couldn’t be happier with the way it has all turned out.

“The power of what women can do when they work together is amazing,” Lucrezi agreed. “The strength of women is pretty incredible. We do move mountains.” 

This article has been updated due to an error. Poetzl finished the Tuscobia Winter Ultra as the ninth woman runner, not third as reported, which is still awesome.

BITES

Vela Italian Mediterranean Tavern: Cru Cellars, the onetime Westshore Marina District wine bar, gets a little makeover to become Vela Italian Mediterranean Tavern. And this next chapter is terrific, from its lively and exciting cocktail program and well-curated wines (representing California and the Mediterranean) down to the shareables, salads, entrees, sides, and pizzas.

There’s a vague sailing vibe throughout, with knotted ropes draped from the industrial ceiling, and sails stenciled on the glass of the wine cellar. The overall decor is white and tan with a splash of aquamarine as an accent. A mix of booths, tiny tables, a few hightops, blue and white plates, and a cool stenciled floor exude an elevated, yet casual vibe.

Cocktail-wise, we tried the Monte Carlo, a tall tumbler of jalapeño-infused Corazon Tequila, mint, lime, and cucumber that had just enough kick and balance. We also “built” our own gin and tonic, choosing the gin (from Citadelle, Larios, Malfy, Xoriguer, Engine, or Faire), Fever Tree Tonic (Mediterranean, Elderflower, or Lemon), and up to three garnishes (juniper berries, mint leaves, lemon or lime wheel, rosemary, and thyme). The result was a refreshingly crisp, cool drink — and a fun experience. Both paired nicely with our baked olive medley of succulent pitted ripe and green olives.

Dinner-wise, we ordered a chicken kabob (accompanied by grilled pita, hummus, a Greek salad, spicy tzatzki, and feta) and spaghetti, which featured shrimp in a white wine-citrus sauce with Fresno chile. Both chicken and shrimp were charred to perfection. We saw lots of lasagna (available on weekends) pass by, and a neighboring party sang its praises. Another thing that really stood out is the perfection of the portion sizes. We ate every bite and left with a desire to come back for more. Closed Sun., open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Tue.-Thu., and 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 5232 Bridge St., Westshore Marina District, Tampa, 813-515-5817.

New Restaurant Openings

There is no shortage of new restaurants coming to the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s a list of places. Some are now open; others are coming. Call ahead before visiting.

Blind Tiger, 1823 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City, Tampa: new digs for the coffee roastery in the old dive bar Boneyard space

Kinjo, 226 S. Boulevard, Tampa: high-end Japanese-Italian fare (aka Wafu-Italian or “Itameshi-style” cuisine) from the owners of Noble Rice and Koya. Creative Loafing

Wu Restaurant, 4410 N Florida Ave., Seminole Heights: outdoor-only Asian/Latin fusion with boba teas, bao buns, sandwiches, and more. Creative Loafing

THE LIST

Each week, we’ll bring you a new one. Got any ideas? Reach out.

You Need an Owl, or Maybe a Yellow-Footed Wallaby

By Judith M. Gallman

Philanthropic-minded, animal-loving Tampa residents have probably seen the TV ads about “adopting” or “sponsoring” an African elephant from the World Wildlife Fund or received a mailer on the National Wildlife Federation’s Adopt a Wildlife Acre Program to protect American bison, gray wolf, grizzly bear, and bighorn sheep. Some charitable types have perhaps even selected a heifer, pig, duck, chicken, cattle, goat, sheep, water buffalo, honey bee hive, or a mating pair of cattle from Heifer International to assist a family’s sustainability. But you can be a benefactor for many interesting animals right here in the Tampa Bay Area — or maybe a bit beyond.

Alligator Discovery Center Share the Care adoption program — Two adoption packages allow parties to select from 100 residents, including African spurred thigh tortoises Yoshi, Littlefoot, and Rudolph. 

Florida Aquarium Symbolic Animal Adoption — Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum  supporters can have a connection with one of 12 animals, including a seahorse, giant Pacific octopus, green sea turtle, South African black-footed penguin, and North American river otter.

Golden Spirit Alpacas — Bitsie, Blueberry, Casmie, Cloud, Faith, Katniss, Maudie Waters, Smokey, and Whisper are waiting for you.

Owl’s Nest Sanctuary, Otterly’s Adorable River Otter Adoption Program, Otterly's Adorable Bobcat and Kitten Adoption Service — “Adopt” a plush otter or bobcat to help otter pups and bobcat kittens respectively or contribute to another sanctuary animal’s cause. 

Save the Manatee Adopt-a-Manatee — There are 30 living manatees (and a handful to remember) that an Associate, Friend, Sponsor, Guardian, Steward, or Educator can adopt.

Seaside Seabird Sanctuary Adopt-A-Bird Program — Adopt Bacardi the Nanday conure, Cypress the barn owl, Pallas the red-tailed hawk, or another member of their sanctuary flock for one month, six months, or a year.

Zoo Tampa Share the Care — A Friend, Protector, or Guardian can choose from any of the 1,000 zoo residents, from the African painted dog to yellow-footed wallaby, and many in between.

Did we leave some cuddly, crawly, or feathery creatures from other animal-aiding organizations? Send any updates to Editor@BANavigator.com.

GET INVOLVED

Civic meetings of note during the coming week.

Tuesday: Join the Tampa Police Department in determining how to make Tampa safer at a Town Hall Tuesdays meeting at Centuro Asturiano. Chief Lee Bercaw will be there to consider how to avoid a recurrence of the Oct. 29 Ybor City shooting tragedy. Town Hall Tuesdays are an expansion of the department's current community-oriented policing efforts that was launched in August. Town Halls serve as an open forum and opportunity for the public and TPD to come together and work towards collaborative efforts in preventing and reducing crime. 6:30-7:30 p.m., 1913 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa.

Friday: The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization meets in special session to consider approval of a completed study on merging Hillsborough TPO, Pasco MPO, and Forward Pinellas into a single, regional MPO. The report was requested by the Florida Legislature and must be fowarded before 2023 ends. 10 a.m., Plan Hillsborough, County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 18th Floor, Plan Hillsborough Room.

OTHER NEWS

$ = subscription may be required

BAY AREA

Riverview call center workers stage picket, demanding $25/hour, better healthcare, and more. WMNF

185,000 tons of sand placed on Pinellas County beaches since Hurricane Idalia. Fox 13 News

Breeze Airways to add four flights at Tampa International Airport. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Lynx Air launches first of two new nonstop routes from TIA. News Channel 8

Tampa door giant sees future beyond inside. Business Observer $

Australian pines along beaches lend shade, beauty — at a cost. Axios

What's Open, Closed In Tampa On Veterans Day. Patch

How to expand your palate in the Tampa Bay area during Florida Black Restaurant Week. 10 Tampa Bay

Winter Village returns to downtown Tampa: What you need to know. 10 Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay's best live music happening November 9-16. Creative Loafing

Tampa Bay weekend events: Heroes and Headliners, Craft Beer Festival. Axios

Yandy Díaz wins AL Silver Slugger Award; Rays first recipient since 2010. Spectrum Bay News 9

USF men rides 23-3 run to rout of South Carolina State in new basketball coach's debut. Spectrum Bay News 9

As Lightning try to find their identity, lack of pushback is concerning. Tampa Bay Times $

FLORIDA

Lawmakers OK $175 Million For My Safe Florida Home Grants. Patch

More homeowners in Florida filed more complaints against their property insurer than any other state. ABC Action News

Bait and Switch: more than 25,000 Citizens buyout offers rescinded in October. News Channel 8

Florida dominates lists of states where homes take longest to sell and sell for most below asking. Stacker

Florida Supreme Court: Duke Energy customers must pay $7.2 million after a power plant outage. WMNF

Officials say Florida faces health care provider shortage. The Center Square

Former Kissimmee lawmaker to chair the Florida Public Service Commission. The Capitolist

Judge declines to push back Trump's classified documents trial but postpones other deadlines. Spectrum Bay News 9

COVID-19 fraudster used stolen relief aid to purchase a private island in Florida. News Channel 8

New study says climate change is pushing vampire bats north into Florida. The Daytona Beach News-Journal

Florida Department of Elder Affairs seeks $10 million to keep elderly in their homes. Florida Phoenix

Board of Governors confirms Corcoran at New College; re-elects chair. Florida Phoenix

Florida’s clean energy moo-vement. Florida Politics

Florida man held on charges he tried to blow up Chinese embassy wall. The Washington Post $

FSU faces Miami with perfection on the line. Tomahawk Nation

Gators land commitment from 7-foot-7-inch center out of IMG Academy. Gators Wire

POLITICS

After Ohio vote, advocates in Florida and other states want abortion on ballot in 2024. Florida Politics

Florida Gov. DeSantis, Nikki Haley Bring In Big Money After Third GOP Primary Debate. Tampa Free Press

DeSantis cements grip on State University System at Board of Governors meeting. The Capitolist

Legislator files bill to prohibit teaching that enslaved people benefited from slavery. WMNF

Florida farmers want legislature to help with labor costs by passing laws on artificial intelligence and mechanization. WMNF

Florida lawmakers lift the cap on private school vouchers for students with disabilities. WMNF

The 2024 legislative session may include more toll breaks for Floridians. WUSF

DeSantis campaign sees debate with California Gov. Gavin Newsom as ‘biggest one yet’. Florida Politics

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ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

In today’s newsletter, we feature part two of our series of columns about the Florida property insurance market. Part one is available here.

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

Florida House unanimously approves more funding for storm resilience grants. Florida Phoenix

Tampa third most overvalued housing market in the nation, FAU study shows. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Search underway for multiple persons of interest seen on video from fatal Ybor shooting. Fox 13 News

223 citations issued in Gandy Bridge speeding crackdown, police say. News Channel 8

Florida prisons lock people in dirty showers for hours, report finds. Tampa Bay Times $

Plans to bring Brightline train to Tampa speeding up. News Channel 8

Online sports betting returns on limited basis in Florida. News Channel 8

Poll: Casey DeSantis front-runner for 2026 Florida GOP gubernatorial nomination. Florida Politics

Florida students' ACT scores among nation's worst. Axios

Federal judge rejects a challenge to Florida’s law on transgender athletes. WMNF

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

BRIEFS

Migratory Bird Baiting: Captive Wildlife Investigator Fernandez investigated illegal migratory bird trapping in a rural area of Miami-Dade County, according to the FWC Division of Law Enforcement’s Weekly Report for Oct. 20-26. The investigator observed a small bird trap with a bait bird hanging in the trees. Upon closer inspection, he noticed more traps and set up surveillance. After a few hours, a subject appeared collecting the traps. The investigator contacted the subject to address the violations. The subject admitted to having more birds at the residence. The subject allowed the investigator to inspect the property and more birds and traps were located. A total of 20 birds and five traps were seized. The subject was issued a notice to appear.

Panther Death Update: The remains of a 2- to 3-year-old, male Florida panther (UCFP445) were collected on Nov. 6 on Keri Road in Hendry County, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The suspected cause of death was vehicle collision. The FWC updated the Panther Pulse web page with mortality information through Nov. 7. p.m. Biologists gain valuable information by examining panther remains. Report injured or dead panthers to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922). Vehicle collisions are the primary cause of death for Florida panthers. The FWC encourages motorists to slow down and observe all posted speed limits, especially in panther zones, which are in place in several counties across South Florida and coincide with areas where panthers are known to cross. These panther speed zones help ensure the survival of the endangered Florida panther and protect motorists from personal injury.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

The Rules of the Property Insurance Game Are Rigged Against You

By Stephen Buel

In 2002, our legislature created the nonprofit Citizens Property Insurance Corporation.

Legislators and regulators have been trying to put it out of business ever since.

Today, Florida’s property insurance market is a giant mess. Prices are surging. Companies are failing. Policyholders are being forcibly transferred from Citizens to more expensive carriers they’ve never even heard of. And homeowners with unresolved claims are filing lawsuits — or at least they were, before the Free State of Florida made it harder for Floridians to exercise that freedom.

There is nothing legislators or regulators can do to change this reality: Property insurance in Florida will just keep getting more expensive. We have the second-longest coastline of any state, and that coastline is low, densely populated, and in harm’s way. The growing threat of climate change just accelerates this certainty.

But there are things the state can do to mitigate our risks:

• Tighten our building codes to harden our properties against wind, rain, and floods.

• Prevent further development of coastal and low-lying terrain at high risk of storm damage.

• Prevent the owners of damaged properties from rebuilding in the same location without reinforcing their properties against future threats.

• Help all Floridians upgrade their properties to comply with the latest building codes.

• And strengthen our nonprofit insurer of last resort.

Florida has done a decent job in some of these areas. Building codes were updated following Hurricanes Andrew and Charley, and Punta Gorda’s success at withstanding a direct hit from Hurricane Ian is a testament to the success of those efforts.

The My Safe Florida Home program, which provides homeowners with grants to bring their homes up to the latest building standards, has been overwhelmingly popular, and will probably be expanded during the current legislative session.

But other than making it harder for Floridians to sue their insurance company, our legislature’s most significant response to the insurance crisis has been to weaken Citizens Property Insurance at every turn.

Since even before Citizens was created through the merger of its two nonprofit predecessors, state officials have subscribed to the myth that Floridians would be better served by a multitude of small private insurers.

The state has continually sought to accomplish this goal by forcing Citizens policyholders to switch their insurance over to private insurers. The aptly ghoulish name for this process is “depopulation.” You can be forgiven for thinking that it sounds like a plan to kill you, or at least make you leave the state.

By now you have surely seen stories about policyholders who recently received letters that Citizens was dropping them because a private company had bid for their business. Many of you may have received such letters. Policyholders are automatically dropped by Citizens as long as these private carriers agree to only raise their rates by 20 percent or less in year one.

But some of these letters warn Citizens customers about vastly larger rate increases. ABC Action News recently interviewed a Seminole Heights resident who was offered replacement coverage for just $11,281 more a year — 432 percent more than he was paying at the time. If David Bryant had not gone online and declined the not-so-generous offer he received from by Slide Insurance Holdings of Tampa, he would have been tied to that coverage by default.

Bryant understands the way this game is played: “I think that the business model is that maybe you won’t check your mail, and then by default end up with Slide and paying a lot more money,” he told Action News.

But Bryant is not the only one who understands how this game is played — or should I say paid? The Tampa Bay Times recently published an alarming story about Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota, who pitched his fellow lawmakers on a side hustle to invest in a homeowners insurance company that projects a 165 percent return on investment over five years.

And how does that company, Village Protection Insurance, expect to bankroll such rich returns? By helping to depopulate Citizens. The company expects to poach 20,000 customers from Citizens just next year alone, the Times reported. It was great reporting, though the Times did not note that Gruters voted for the 2022 senate bill that gave us the 20 percent depopulation rate hike that Village Protection is relying on.

Of course, Village Protection’s financial prospects are also much brighter now that Gruters and his peers also made it much harder for you to sue your insurance agency in the event that it doesn’t pay off on your claim.

Florida actually pays companies like Village Protection a bounty for every Citizens customer they can pick off. Depopulation was explicitly designed to direct customers away from the state-operated carrier to help pump up the finances of Florida’s armada of for-profit startups.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky calls depopulation the sign of a stronger insurance marketplace. Citizens’ own website gushes about how healthy it is for consumers to be automatically enrolled in a private insurance policy.

Given the state of Florida’s private insurance market, that is crap.

State officials say we should be happy with the growing Florida property insurance market, but the manner in which it is growing is only cause for alarm. If success means incentivizing the creation of insurance companies that kick back so much money to their investors that there are insufficient reserves to pay off policyholders, then the legislature is the very cause of our insurance crisis.

And Florida’s plethora of insurance lawsuits are not the root of our problems but rather a rational response to the anti-consumer regime created by our own state government.

Florida has been pushing this nonsense for more than two decades now. Nothing has improved, rates keep climbing, and every few years, a new wave of Potemkin insurance companies comes crashing back to Earth. Guess who picks up the tab when that happens? Yeah, it’s you.

But legislators are more concerned about the health of these often-flimsy insurance companies than they are for the well-being of the people who elected them.

So what should Florida do? Rather than tearing down Citizens Property Insurance, the state should build it up. Every time the state forces policyholders to obtain their insurance from a private carrier, it makes Citizens financially weaker by concentrating its coverage among those policyholders that no company wants — people who live in the riskiest locations and oldest homes.

Florida needs to encourage Citizens Property Insurance to enroll as many policyholders as it can. Since every Floridian with property insurance is ultimately on the hook if the carrier needs to be bailed out, it’s in everyone’s best interest for Citizens to balance the risk of insuring Dade, Broward, and Charlotte counties with the comparable safety of insuring Highlands, Sumter, and Alachua counties.

And Citizens should be allowed to raise its rates, so that its coverage is no longer cheaper than that of the private sector. Yes, such rate increases would be tough on many policyholders. But it’s going to happen anyway. And if Citizens doesn’t raise your rates, some predatory startup will do so instead.

Consider the viewpoint of that great legislative leader Sen. Gruters. “In a pitch to investors sent by Gruters,” the Times wrote, “company leaders wrote that ‘there lies a unique and lucrative opportunity for investors’ as Florida’s insurance market ‘undergoes a transformative disruption.’”

You can almost hear them salivating.

If Citizens were allowed to raise its rates and grow as large and healthy as possible, we could dispense with this anti-consumer depopulation scam. Then, private sector insurers could compete with it fairly, based on their financial reserves and record of customer service.

Given a choice between a nonprofit carrier and one that promises its investors a 165 percent return on investment, I know which coverage I would choose.

‘It’s just not affordable’: Some Florida homeowners ditch insurance due to cost. News Channel 8

WHAT THEY SAID

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Tampa police chief says the ‘Orlando model’ for nightlife looks ‘promising’. Creative Loafing

Teenage girl found dead near Bayshore Boulevard may have taken her own life, police say. 10 Tampa Bay

Tampa teen has been missing for a week. Her family has a simple message: 'We need you back'. 10 Tampa Bay

Hillsborough County plans fixes for dangerous intersections in Brandon. 10 Tampa Bay

A Tampa Bay Republican and a conservative think tank are working together to roll back child labor laws. Creative Loafing

Florida Attorney General’s office takes legal action against solar company. News Channel 8

Idalia wiped out more than 80 percent of existing sea turtle nests in Northern Pinellas County. 10 Tampa Bay

Mort Elementary receives help in focusing on mental health of students in University Area community. Fox 13 News

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts to mark move to Ybor City. Spectrum Bay News 9

Railroad work closing Tampa Street at Polk Street this week. ABC Action News

Interim Hillsborough transit chief scores $245,000 permanent contract. Tampa Bay Times $

Rowdies’ and Sun’s soccer league inks four-year TV deal with CBS. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

For Lightning rookie Matt Tomkins, earning his first NHL win at age 29 in Montreal is ‘special’. The Athletic $

FLORIDA

State Supreme Court to hear arguments today over proposed marijuana ballot language. Spectrum Bay News 9

Anti-Iran sanctions linked to Hamas attack are speeding through the Legislature. Florida Phoenix

Industry opposes nursing home staffing changes in Florida. WMNF

House OKs more funding for Jewish school security; more special needs vouchers. Florida Phoenix

Moms for Liberty members call police on Florida librarians over young adult novel. WMNF

What does Florida's new rule on the American Library Association mean for public libraries? WUSF

New bill proposed in Florida to add annual fee for electric car, hybrid owners in lieu of gas tax. Fox 13 News

Payment delays in Florida school voucher program need to be addressed, lawmakers say. Tampa Bay Times $

Sticker shock: New College business plan calls for $600k per student to implement conservative vision. The Capitolist

‘Really lucky’: Florida woman says snorkel mask saved her from serious injury in gator attack. 10 Tampa Bay

Tiger Woods to own and play for Florida team in TGL, his tech-infused golf league. The Washington Post $

POLITICS

Florida Republicans propose a bill allowing hand counting of ballots at election precincts. WMNF

Vote over Israel exposes rift within Florida Democrats. Politico

As DeSantis presidential bid lags, unease hangs over the Florida capitol. The Washington Post $

Trump will try to upstage the GOP debate with a rally targeting South Florida's Cuban community. The Washington Post $

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

It has been called “the Florida Ponzi scheme.” It is property insurance in Florida, a market characterized by scarcity, high prices, carrier insolvency, and unhappy customers. How did things get this bad? Read all about it in today’s column. But first, let’s catch up on the news.

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

Controversial Florida judicial circuit merger faces committee resistance. WMNF

DeSantis outflanked by Trump on his home turf. Politico

Marlins finalizing deal with Rays GM Peter Bendix to lead front office, AP source says. 10 Tampa Bay

Jesuit dismisses assistant football coach who struck player on helmet. Tampa Bay Times $

Wesley Chapel’s fourth hospital may be All Children’s. Tampa Beacon

The future of 'Students for Justice in Palestine' at USF is still uncertain. WUSF

Panic in the plaza: New videos show chaos of stampede at UF peace vigil, reveal police secretly investigating suicide-bomb threat. Florida Politics

Tampa Bay among the top destinations for people looking to relocate. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

USF Women's Basketball expecting another big season. Spectrum Bay News 9

Stroud's late TD leads Texans past Bucs 39-37. Spectrum Bay News 9

WEATHER

Temperatures Still Warm With Partly Cloudy Skies

Warmer temperatures this week with some showers possibly on Thursday and Saturday, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel:

MONDAY ⛅️ A mix of clouds and sun.
🌡️84° / 58° 💦 36% / 70% 🌅 6:44 a.m. / 5:41 p.m.

TUESDAY ⛅️ Partly cloudy skies.
🌡️85° / 61° 💦 55% / 70% 🌅 6:45 a.m. / 5:41 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 🌤️ Mostly sunny skies.
🌡️86° / 62° 💦 59% / 80% 🌅 6:46 a.m. / 5:40 p.m.

THURSDAY 🌤️ Generally sunny with afternoon clouds.
🌡️86° / 64° 💦 58% / 76% 🌅 6:46 a.m. / 5:40 p.m.

FRIDAY 🌤️Sunshine and some clouds.
🌡️87° / 66° 💦 60% / 84% 🌅 6:47 a.m. / 5:39 p.m.

SATURDAY ⛅️ Partly cloudy skies.
🌡️88° / 68° 💦 61% / 82% 🌅 6:48 a.m. / 5:39 p.m.

SUNDAY 🌥️ Partly cloudy skies with cloudy afternoon skies.
🌡️86° / 67° 💦 67% / 87% 🌅 6:49 a.m. / 5:38 p.m.

BRIEFS

Ybor Patrol Stats: The Tampa Police Department’s increased patrol and arrest presence in Historic Ybor City District over the weekend. Approximately 100 officers patrolled in vehicles and on foot, bike, and horseback with assistance from neighboring law enforcement agencies. Their efforts led to several arrests, including the felony arrest of two 16-year-old males, police said. Other stats reported from the stepped-up presence included 210 traffic stops, 1 recovered gun, 11 felony arrests, and 17 misdemeanor arrests.

Lowry Park North Shooting: Tampa police are investigating the Nov. 4 shooting of a male victim in his late 20s in the 8400 block of North Dexter Avenue. When police arrived at 1:47 a.m., they found the victim unresponsive. Based on a preliminary investigation, three male suspects entered the residence without permission and demanded money from the victim. After firing several rounds, the suspects fled. Detectives are working to identify the suspects and what led to the incident. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation can call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411.

Tax Rolls Open: Hillsborough County has mailed 575,000 tax notices to property owners in Hillsborough County for their 2023 property taxes, totaling an estimated $3.3 billion in property taxes. (Tax notices and payment information are available online at HillsTax.org.) The money collected pays for Hillsborough County services, including fire rescue, law enforcement, and infrastructure needs such as schools, roads, parks, and utilities. Pay early and get a discount: 4 percent discount if you pay by Nov. 30; 3 percent by Dec. 31; 2 percent by Jan. 31; and 1 percent discount by February 29. Taxpayers also have the option to plan ahead and apply for the installment plan for the 2024 tax season, which allows taxes to be paid in quarterly increments throughout the year and still take advantage of discounts.

Know Your Watering Days: Hillsborough County Water Resources wants residents and property owners to know their lawn watering days and hours and be mindful of water usage, especially outdoors, because there is a county rainfall deficit of more than 8.3 inches. Properties in the unincorporated county follow year-round watering days and hours, and it’s important to know lawn watering days and hours to avoid fines from $100 and up to $500 for repeated violations. Restrictions apply to most water sources, including private wells, ponds, or lakes used as alternate irrigation supplies. Street addresses ending in 0, 1, 2, or 3 can water Mondays and/or Thursdays. Street addresses ending in 4, 5, or 6 can water Tuesdays and/or Fridays. Street addresses ending in 7, 8, or 9 can water Wednesdays and/or Saturdays. Common areas with or without street addresses, locations with no address, and locations with mixed addresses (such as office complexes and shopping centers) can water Wednesdays and/or Saturdays. All watering must be done between midnight and 8 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and midnight, and only once on the designated days. Go to HCFLGov.net/WaterRestrictions for additional information. Suspected violations can be reported online or by calling Hillsborough County's water violations reporting hotline at (813) 224-8993. If you live in Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace, it's important to research your municipality's watering restrictions. 

Migratory Bird Baiting: Captive Wildlife Investigator Fernandez investigated illegal migratory bird trapping in a rural area of Miami-Dade County, according to the FWC Division of Law Enforcement’s Weekly Report for Oct. 20-26. The investigator observed a small bird trap with a bait bird hanging in the trees. Upon closer inspection, he noticed more traps and set up surveillance. After a few hours, a subject appeared collecting the traps. The investigator contacted the subject to address the violations. The subject admitted to having more birds at the residence. The subject allowed the investigator to inspect the property and more birds and traps were located. A total of 20 birds and five traps were seized. The subject was issued a notice to appear.

Got news? Send it here.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Can You Really Trust Your Florida-Based Property Insurance Company?

By Stephen Buel

As word spread last year that a rogue financial analysis firm was about to downgrade the ratings of 17 Florida property insurance companies, state officials went berserk. It was as if the company was about to take away one of the Free State of Florida’s most-cherished freedoms — the right to pay lots of money to a financially risky property insurance company.

Gov. Ron DeSantis swiftly denounced the agency. Top insurance regulator David Altmaier called its actions an example of coercive “monopolistic power.” Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis urged federal officials to stop relying on the firm’s ratings — essentially an effort to destroy the company’s business.

Had that rating agency, Demotech, gone ahead with its threatened downgrades, thousands if not millions of Floridians’ home insurance policies would no longer have been accepted by the lenders that held their mortgages. Citizens Property Insurance, Florida’s state-owned, nonprofit insurer of last resort, would then have had to extend coverage to all those policy holders suddenly at risk of defaulting on their mortgage.

But hear me out, my fellow freedom-loving Floridians, because something like that should happen — albeit in a calmer, more-deliberate fashion.

Only three carriers were ultimately downgraded. Two immediately pulled out of Florida, and the third one declared itself insolvent. If I’d insured my home with one of those companies, I’d have sent Demotech a handwritten thank-you note.

The CEO of Demotech later told the Florida Sun-Sentinel that there actually were 27 insurance carriers on its infamous list. But thanks to our state’s efforts to kill the messenger, the other 24 firms were never named. So in a state with an alarming history of insurance company failures, you may now be mailing premiums to an undercapitalized carrier.

Sure, they’ll stick around to cash your checks until the next major hurricane. But once you need them, more than a few are certain to raise the white flag and leave you and other policyholders in the lurch.

When an insurance carrier fails, policyholders must recover their losses directly from the state. That restarts the claims process, which automatically doubles the time it can take to get your claim resolved. It also sticks the rest of us with the cost of those claims.

If all this sounds like hyperbole, consider how distressingly common it is for Florida insurance companies to fail. As of today, the website of the same Florida CFO who berated Demotech for its list features a list of its own — naming the 14 Florida insurance carriers currently in liquidation.

After 1992’s Hurricane Andrew destroyed or damaged more than 125,000 homes in Southeast Florida, major national insurance firms began their slow, steady flight from the Florida market. That left the state reliant upon a raft of smaller, Florida-based carriers. Several times since then — including the last 12 months — Florida has endured a wave of insurance company failures, often in the immediate aftermath of a significant hurricane.

State inquiries into why these companies fail typically implicate Florida’s uniquely toothless oversight. Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation is supposed to ensure that insurance rates are “not inadequate, excessive, or unfairly discriminatory.” But unlike most other states, Florida law makes a mockery of this mission by allowing carriers to set up unregulated sister companies that can charge the parent company any amount for basic operational functions.

This exemption not only lets carriers sidestep rate regulation and charge whatever they want, but it also encourages them to divert your premiums away from the financial reserves they’ll need whenever they are called upon to pay off your next claim.

As I set out to write a column based on my belief that Florida’s proliferation of small insurance companies is not a strength but a weakness, I discovered that another reporter had already connected all these dots. In 2010, Paige St. John of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune won a Pulitzer Prize for a landmark series of articles about Florida’s insurance industry. Thirteen years later, it remains a gripping and alarming read. It will make you angry.

Her series showed that overhead costs in Florida were 50 percent higher than the national average because companies pocket obscene profits for basic administrative tasks when they should be setting money aside for rainy or windy days.

An official with the Independent Insurance Agents of South Florida described this system to St. John as “the Florida Ponzi scheme.” Read her stories and you’ll learn how apt that description was.

Today in Tallahassee, state legislators will join the governor for the beginning of a four-day legislative session expected to sanction Iran, increase access to private school vouchers, and set aside additional aid to people stricken by Hurricane Idalia. But despite self-serving chatter to the contrary, I think it’s unlikely they will attempt to reform the state’s insurance market.

After all, they set it up that way on purpose.

Next column: What was the legislature thinking? And what should it do to clean up the dumpster fire that is the Florida insurance marketplace?

State representative says Florida needs to create regulatory environment to attract more property insurance companies. WUSF

Heritage Insurance exec says commercial rates to climb even higher in Florida. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We should talk.

TAKING STOCK

A weekly look at the performance of 25 locally important stocks

GET INVOLVED

Civic meetings of note during the coming week.

Wednesday: The Hillsborough Transportation Planning Organization board will discuss its 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan and and look at the transportation equity needs in its plan. Hillsborough County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 26th Floor, Conference Room A&B, Tampa, 10 a.m.

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Some Ybor City businesses notice slower return of visitors in wake of shooting. ABC Action News

Series of Tampa town halls aim to prevent the deaths of Black women and babies at birth. Spectrum Bay News 9

Porter Airlines launches nonstop flights to Toronto at Tampa Airport. Patch

Two 12-year-olds arrested for shooting BB gun at Hillsborough County deputy. News Channel 8

Hillsborough neighborhood grant program marks 25th anniversary. Spectrum Bay News 9

Tampa Bay’s first women’s pro soccer team reveals its name, logo and colors. WUSF

Bucs’ star Mike Evans makes franchise history in homecoming game against Texans. News Channel 8

USF’s comeback attempt falls short in offensive showdown against Memphis. The Oracle

In Tampa, notorious white paint on old cigar factory was bad for bricks. Tampa Bay Times $

FLORIDA

Police officers from other states flock to Florida due to bonus program. The Center Square

Florida teacher fired for using gender-neutral title Mx. in class materials. Orlando Sentinel $

Florida gas prices fall to their lowest levels of 2023. WUSF

A medical marijuana operator challenges Florida’s medical marijuana fee hike. WMNF

Hamburger Mary’s to Supreme Court: the block on Florida’s drag show law should continue. WMNF

Judge rejects request to block Florida's new university anti-DEI law. Florida Today

The 500 most influential executives throughout the state. Florida Trend

Publix picks up two suburban Tampa shopping centers. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Seventy Florida hospitals earn 'A' grades, 12 get 'D' in latest Leapfrog ratings. Patch

Florida State continues to strive for perfection as championship race heats up. Tomahawk Nation

No. 1 FSU soccer wins the ACC Championship over No. 7 Clemson. Tomahawk Nation

Five takeaways from Florida's overtime loss to Arkansas Razorbacks. Gators Wire

POLITICS

Florida legislator seeks to make it more difficult to amend the state constitution. WMNF

Kim Reynolds, Iowa’s influential governor, expected to endorse DeSantis. The New York Times $

How Ron DeSantis lost Florida to Donald Trump. The Wall Street Journal $

Can a Floridian win the presidency? It hasn’t happened yet as Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis vie to be first. Florida Politics

At Florida GOP event, Asa Hutchinson gets booed after saying Trump will be found guilty next year. Florida Phoenix

Gaetz, Donalds stoke speculation on runs for Florida governor. Axios

COMMENTARY

Put manatees back on endangered list, but don’t stop there. Tampa Bay Times $

Why Trump’s Florida trial on classified documents could be trouble for him. Tampa Bay Times $

Cancel culture won’t defeat Hamas as DeSantis and Haley target campus speech in an attempt to seem tough on terror. The Wall Street Journal $

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

Kamusta! (That’s hello in Tagalog.) People who used to nosh at the Manila Eats food truck in Riverview now trek to Palm River to visit the jam-packed new restaurant. But get there early, because they often run out of food. And while you’re in the neighborhood, admire the open-air laundromat just to the north. OK, now on to Tampa Bay’s most comprehensive news summary.

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

City council declines to make hasty decisions after Ybor City shooting. Patch

Hillsborough names Van Ayers permanent school superintendent. WUSF

Tampa man gets offer to switch from Citizens Property Insurance for $11K premium hike. 10 Tampa Bay

Seminole Tribe of Florida plans to roll out sports betting in December. WUSF

Post-Surfside condo assessment fees pricing owners out. News Channel 8

Can Tampa’s Uptown district become a walkable urban paradise?. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida special session includes bills for home improvements and hurricane aid. WMNF Lawmakers also will discuss increased access to school vouchers during the special session. WUSF Session also will consider bills to bolster security amid a rise in anti-Semitism. WMNF

Florida's first air taxi test flight takes off from Tampa International Airport. Fox 13 News

Hurricane Ian unleashed flesh-eating bacteria into Florida waters. WUSF

Appellate judges appear receptive to Gov. DeSantis’ redistricting argument. Florida Politics

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.

BRIEFS

Gunshot Fatality: Tampa police are investigating a fatal gunshot wound to a man found in the 1100 block of Lemon Street in North Hyde Park. Police were called there at 5:46 a.m. today in reference to an unresponsive subject and found an adult male with a fatal gunshot wound. Anyone with information that could assist detectives with their investigation should call Tampa Police at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411.

More Tampa Cops Possible: The Tampa Police Department has been awarded two grants from the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Policing Services program, totaling almost $4 million, according to a news release. Along with funding expanded training, these grants will also enable the department to hire 30 additional officers.

RFPs for New MOSI Development: Hillsborough County commissioners approved a request for proposals to redevelop the 67-acre site surrounding the Museum of Science and Industry, according to a news release. The county is seeking proposals from qualified master developers experienced with mixed urban projects. The plan envisions a mix of uses, including hospitality, entertainment, retail, and public spaces that embrace transit and sustainable mobility. The county also hopes developers will consider biosciences, life sciences, cybersecurity, and other advanced industries as part of the project. MOSI will remain in its current 7-acre lease site. MOSI has plans for a future planetarium and learning labs, so the commissioners see an opportunity for developers to add to the creative digital space with a commercial A/V or film studio, black box theater, or other performing arts platforms. The board of commissioners plans to select the top-ranked master developer in summer 2024. For additional information on the RFP, visit HCFLgov.net/vendors.

Boys & Girls Clubs Merger: Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast are uniting under one president and chief executive officer, Freddy Williams, the St. Pete Catalyst reported. They will remain legally separate but share one leader and enter into a shared services agreement. Boys & Girls Clubs is a national nonprofit that provides programs and services to help positively shape children through after-school and in-school programming focused on health, safety, mentorship and empowerment. Sharing services will allow Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay, which serves Hillsborough and Pasco counties, and Boys & Girls Club of the Suncoast, which operates in Pinellas County, to increase programming efficiency and effectiveness. 

Sign Off Day: Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City join forces today, Nov. 3, to rid streets of illegal signs. Dubbed Sign Off Day Tampa Bay, the annual program targets unauthorized “snipe” signs — temporary signs attached to something — and advertising on utility poles, medians, parkways, and other rights of way. Code enforcement officers will be removing the signs, which will be recycled as much as possible or destroyed. Local ordinances prohibit the signs on public property without a valid permit. Sign Off Day Tampa Bay will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by noon. Collected signs will be dropped off beginning at 11 a.m. at the Hillsborough Heights Solid Waste Facility and Community Collection Center, 6209 County Road 579, Seffner. 

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

Soap, Bleach, Softeners — and Sunscreen

By Judith M. Gallman

There it sits on South 22nd Street: gleaming chrome, polished glass, shiny concrete floors, crisp instruction signs, a bold grand-reopening sign, and no walls surrounding it. Two men in shorts — one wearing mismatched socks and the other sporting significant shin tattoos — are perched on a spiffy, new, waist-high table, legs dangling lazily below them. Are they enjoying a taco at the latest new food truck? Sipping cafe con leche at a trendy Cuban coffee bar? Finishing an ice cream bought from a hipster street vendor? Nope, they’re doing laundry. At an open-air laundromat.

What’s up with that?

“Open-air laundromats are sort of unique, to my knowledge, to Florida — especially Coastal Florida,” said Brian Wallace, president and CEO of the Coin Laundry Association, a national trade organization for laundromat operators. 

Wallace has been with the association for 31 years and is somewhat of a historian.

“Most of them — there aren’t a large number of them — were constructed about 20 years ago or thereabouts,” Wallace said, singling out Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, and Miami as outposts. “There are not many new ones coming online.”

The particular appeal of open-air laundromats in Florida, Wallace suggested, is directly related to the Sunshine State’s nice weather. And he sees laundromats in general as a nice neighborhood addition. 

“In a neighborhood, a laundromat is like a mirror held up to a town,” he said. “It reflects the neighborhood.”

Jay Hayes opened the outdoor South 22nd Coin Laundry exactly one year ago.  

Hayes said open-air laundries “are common in Florida, but not anywhere else.” He believes that he even has an outdoor laundry competitor, but he doesn’t know its name.

Still, though outdoor laundromats are not unheard of in Europe and Asia, South 22nd Coin Laundry just feels novel.

“It’s one of the oldest, if not the oldest, open-air laundromats in Tampa,” Hayes said. 

The business had been shut down for years, he said, but when he realized it still had plumbing and electrical connections, he decided to modernize with all-new equipment. Now there are 12 washers, nine dryers, and free internet. The price to wash and dry varies depending on load size.

Hayes is a high school social studies teacher in Manatee County and lives in Ellenton. He and his wife, Lee, who also works with kids, were looking for a way to earn some extra income for their family — which includes grown kids, teens, and a new infant — without having to be physically present. 

“Car washes and laundromats came up,” Hayes said. “We decided to take a chance on laundromats.” The couple also owns a traditional coin-operated facility, Clothesline Laundry, in St. Petersburg.

“No complaints,” Hayes said when asked how the businesses are doing. As for his South 22nd clientele? “They love it.”

BITES

Manila Eats: Manila Eats moved from a Riverview food truck to a brick-and-mortar Tampa restaurant with wild success, selling out on most days thanks to the cooking talents of Veronica Meneses. It was a crazy, jammin’ scene on a Saturday afternoon at this sprawling diner where you stand in long line for awhile to order something special or select a prepared dish from the steam table. This is Filipino food at its finest. We tried pork sisisg, adobo chicken, and pansit with pork and smoked fish — fragrant, colorful, and delicious dishes all, and huge portions to boot. A regular patron touted the pork belly, so we’ll be back for that. The brightly colored drinks and desserts, including the halo-halo and ube cakes, were moving fast. Tagalog speakers and a giant TV tuned to a cooking show added to a healthy din of sounds. Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, 1601 S 22nd St., Tampa, 813-443-5014, visit the Manila Eats Facebook page for menu and hours updates. — Judith M. Gallman

New Restaurant Openings

There is no shortage of new restaurants coming to the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s a list of places. Some are now open; others are coming. Call ahead before visiting.

BellaBrava Bexley, 6722 Focus Loop, Land O’ Lakes: Antipasti, salads, pasta, wood-fired pizza, sandwiches and more from locally sourced ingredients (opening in December)

Yard House at Water Street, 450 Channelside Drive, Tampa: American cuisine in a modern-industrial setting (opening Dec. 3)

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, 28963 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel: Napa-inspired upscale casual cuisine with full bar and tasting room (opening Nov. 20)

Lepley’s Kitchen and Lounge, 6310 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights: Actor Tyler Lepley and Tampa local Jovi York feature Caribbean cuisine and Southern comfort classics. That’s So Tampa

Las Palmas Latin Grill, 6431 E County Line Road, Tampa: Cuban-inspired fair from Ramses and Ana Garcia is a revamped space.

YOU NEED A PET

Meet Papa. He’s about 1 year and 9 months old and weighs about 59.4 pounds. He has been neutered and microchipped and arrived at Hillsborough County Pet Resources Foundation Inc. in mid-August. He was found on North Hines Avenue in West Hillsborough County. This happy dude is a volunteer favorite, with one attesting that anytime Papa was called, he’d come running with the happiest grin on his face. Papa is a very sweet boy and loves all petting. Find him at Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center Foundation Inc., 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa, 813-586-1988, HCPRFoundation.org.

Monday: Plan Hillsborough considers an update on the Future Land Use Section of the Unincorporated Hillsborough County Comprehensive plan, which could mean a neighborhood makeover for some Hillborough County areas. This session is devoted to draft language in the land use section and seeks to balance economic desires with community needs. Mitigation solutions for hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses, and environmental degradation are on the table. This virtual meeting runs 6-8 p.m.

Monday: The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority Board of Directors convenes in regular session hear reports from HART board committees (finance and auditing, operations and safety, revenue alternatives) and board representatives (Transportation Planning Organization, Tampa Historic Streetcar Board of Directors, and monthly information reports). HART Administrative Office, 1201 E. 7th Ave., 3rd Floor Florida Conference Room, Tampa, 9 a.m.

Monday: The executive committee of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council will hear the executive director’s updates on finance, staffing, and operations as well as receive budget reports from TBRPC Secretary/Treasurer Moe Freaney and Acting Chair Mayor Woody Brown. Executive Conference Room, 4000 Gateway Blvd. Suite 100, Pinellas Park, 9:30 a.m.

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Shutting down Ybor businesses early not a solution, owners say. Patch

Ybor shooting suspect to remain behind bars for now. Spectrum Bay News 9

Why won’t Tampa Italian Club say if 1,200 graves are in its parking lot?. Tampa Bay Times $

Tampa man indicted in fentanyl overdose death. Patch

HART's new CEO would make less than predecessor under proposed contract. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa water company sells parts of its global business for $575 million. Business Observer $

DASH brings a new era of riding to downtown Tampa. Axios

Tampa-based Project Dynamo asks donors for help rescuing more Americans. ABC Action News

Heritage Insurance reports Q3 loss. The Washington Post $

Tampa General and USF hope to recruit anesthesiologists and keep them in the Bay Area. Fox 13 News

Tampa Greek Festival is one of the best food and cultural events in the city. That’s So Tampa

Tampa Bay's best live music happening November 2-9. Creative Loafing

Tampa Bay weekend events: Brat Blast, Dox-A-Palooza. Axios

Tampa Bay Burger Week starts Thursday and includes specials at dozens of local bars and restaurants. Creative Loafing

Blue Jackets rally to beat Lightning 4-2. News Channel 8

Sun City Center hosts lawn bowling national championship. Spectrum Bay News 9

USF women’s soccer fails to make a comeback in season-ending FAU match. The Oracle

Pre-snap penalties are killing the Bucs. Who is to blame? Tampa Bay Times $

FLORIDA

Florida's wage growth continues to climb above U.S. average. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida law making gun carry permits optional leads to dramatic drop in safety classes. Creative Loafing

Florida Supreme Court may hear oral arguments on UF lockdown case. Florida Phoenix

Miami-Dade could be first in heat-related protections for outdoor workers. Florida Phoenix

Audit finds Florida agency didn't properly monitor elevator safety programs. The Center Square

'Absolutely shocking': The wide pay gap among workers in Florida's court system. Fox 13 News

A surprising statistic sparks concern for the endangered Florida panther. WMNF

New bill would require community donations from Florida homeowners' associations. The Center Square

University of Florida inaugurates former U.S. senator Ben Sasse as 13th president. WUSF

State ag inspectors block 8,700 hemp-extract packages ‘marketed to children’ from hitting Florida shelves. Florida Politics

Floridians need to change clocks this weekend despite state law. 10 Tampa Bay

Which Florida Man best embodies the state’s spirit? A new contest will decide. The Washington Post $

Seminoles look to clinch spot in ACC Championship, move to 9-0. Tomahawk Nation

Florida tries to become bowl eligible against Arkansas, which is seeking its first SEC victory. The Washington Post $

POLITICS

DeSantis leans into vaccine skepticism to energize struggling campaign. The New York Times $

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott endorses Trump over DeSantis for president. Florida Phoenix

Ron DeSantis rips Joe Biden’s ‘disgraceful’ call for ‘humanitarian pause’ in Israel-Hamas war. Florida Politics

Nikki Fried says Florida is still a swing state, and Joe Biden knows it. Florida Politics

Prosecutors say Trump is trying to delay criminal trials 'at any cost'. The Center Square

ACLU calls out FL over efforts to ‘chill’ free speech of pro-Palestine students. Florida Phoenix

COMMENTARY

Was the failure on purpose? Or did some clown in Tallahassee drop the ball?. Florida Phoenix

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ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor calls for stricter gun regulations following Ybor City shooting. Creative Loafing

Ybor mass shooting: Court documents detail what led up to 14-year-old’s death. News Channel 8

Florida approves four private companies to take 125,000 policies from Citizens Property Insurance. WMNF

As climate shocks grow, lawmakers investigate insurers fleeing risky areas. The New York Times $

New NFL stadium is not top of mind for Hillsborough commissioners as sales tax renewal looms. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida joins conservative states severing ties with national library group. Politico

State appeals judges throw a wrench into North Florida black district litigation. Florida Phoenix

Court shields lawmakers in a legal battle about the 'Stop WOKE Act'. WUSF

Hillsborough leaders consider installing speed cameras in school zones. ABC Action News

NOAA Fisheries denies petition for endangered whale protection near ports, sparking concern. WMNF

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.

BRIEFS

Tips Sought: The Tampa Police Department has partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to launch a new web-based portal to submit tips related to the fatal Oct. 29 shooting on 7th Avenue in Ybor City. The portal allows members of the public to submit text, photos, or videos that will be routed to investigators. The site is available at fbi.gov/tampashooting. Tyrell Stephen Phillips was taken into custody on Oct. 29, 2023. Based on the current evidence collected, detectives believe there are two additional suspects who appear to have fired several gunshots. This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives continue to gather evidence and develop leads to determine what led to the shooting and identify and apprehend all parties involved. Detectives urge anyone who was in the area near the time of the shooting to review the video or photos they may have taken that morning and submit them so investigators can find justice for the victims.

Suspicious Death: On Oct. 31 about 2:15 p.m., Tampa police officers responded to the 900 block of W. Cypress Street in reference to a deceased subject. The victim, an adult black female, was found with upper body trauma and pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives are working to determine what led to the incident. Anyone with information that could assist detectives with their investigation is asked to call Tampa PD at 813-231-6130 or submit an anonymous tip by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-873-TIPS (8477) or via TIP411. Additional information will be made available pending the investigation.

Got news? Send it here.

REPORTER

‘We Want Feedback. What Did We Miss?’

By Judith M. Gallman

Hillsborough County’s proposed African American Arts and Cultural Center seems to have a lot going for it. Expansive glass windows will dominate its modern design. Its surroundings will include an outdoor amphitheater and sculpture garden on manicured grounds. The airy facility is expected to be extremely adaptable for anticipated and widely varied uses.

The vision is to create a lively, attractive gathering place to celebrate the rich history of the local African American community by honoring West Tampa as one of the city’s eight original black neighborhoods, one that lacks a significant anchor facility.

County employees, County Commission Vice Chair Gwen Meyers, and a representative of FleischmanGarciaMaslowski (FG+M) Architecture, the firm working on the center, shared plans for the facility at a public engagement forum Oct. 30 at the Emmanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center. They are wrapping up an effort to find out what people would like the new facility to be and what it should include. 

The third and final meeting is 6:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the facility the new center will replace, the West Tampa Community Resource Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave. The public can comment online about the project through Nov. 8. 

John Muller of the county’s facilities management and real estate services division led much of the Monday night meeting about the cultural center, which he said was held for “finishing up on the conceptual design.” 

“We want feedback,” Muller said. “We want to know, ‘What did we miss?’ We want this to be a living building for the community.”

Nothing at this point is “baked in stone,” he said. The county’s goal is to create a “stand-out building,” not just another lackluster, lifeless county building.

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The current plan is to replace the existing facility with a new 50,000-square-foot African American Arts and Cultural Center with an expected price tag of $30 million. About half of that, roughly $15.5 million, said lead fundraiser Meyers, has materialized from public and private donations. The center was approved by commissioners in 2021, and the tentative timeline includes a 2026 completion date. That’s when Meyers is up for reelection, and she said she wants the center completed before her term in office ends. 

The cultural center will front North Rome Avenue and include the land between West Cherry and West Walnut streets. It is adjacent to the MLK Community Center. The roughly 100 residents who attended Monday night’s session were mostly pleased with what they saw in renderings scattered about the room on white boards and in an accompanying slideshow presentation. 

Organizers emphasized the plans for the elegant two-story building are “flexible” but likely will contain some iteration of galleries; labs; retail; studios; a cafe; and event, experience, and meeting spaces. Outdoors, the 6-acre site will feature an amphitheater, lawn space, sculpture garden, a ribbon trail, and multi-use gathering spots. 

The interior will include fixed seats as well as areas for adding seating, intimate and large gathering spots, and folding glass walls for greater adaptability. A second-story balcony will offer a view of the Tampa skyline, and the center will be near other developments in the works, including Rome Yard, West River, and the West Riverwalk. 

Meyers anticipates screens throughout the building, so visitors can remain connected to any of the big events going on there. The building is designed to have a strong indoors-outdoors connection with its setting and will have a unique ability to morph into different spaces as needed. 

A handout distributed at the meeting described the arts and culture center thusly: “The AAACC will be a unique space in Hillsborough County where the history and stories of African-American communities and Africa diaspora are honored and come to life through the events, arts, and educational experience. The AAACC is intended to be an active facility open seven days a week for visitors, events, and educational groups. The building design includes open spaces or large openings which connect the interior of the facility to the exterior. Regardless of the visit type, the AAACC will inform and emphasize the unique contributions the African-American communities have made both to the Tampa Bay region and beyond.”

The handout also asked attendees what activities they would participate in, what outdoor experiences they would favor, how often they would visit, and their thoughts on how the center can support West Tampa and the African-American community. It concluded with an open-ended comment form.

Attendees took turns speaking into a microphone, offering their opinions and asking questions that Meyers for the most part responded to or said should be directed to her peers on the county commission or the facility’s future executive director.

Suggestions included: not making the center too African and incorporating some history of Florida’s citrus industry; including contributions from the local Caribbean community; offering something for elders and the elderly; adding a storytelling component; addressing students’ needs, especially youth artists; offering a student arts campus via community colleges; having adequate security to ensure the safety of visitors and the facility; and recognizing founding businesses, sponsors, or individuals for their contributions.

They also asked questions about cost overruns (too early to say), fundraising shortages (Meyers said she is confident the goal will be reached), admission fees, rental and/or usage fees, jobs creation (16 to 20 full-time positions plus opportunities for vendors), minority business and contractor commitments, and whether the county had looked at comparable sites elsewhere (yes, including the Smithsonian and facilities in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and California).

So far, Meyers credits the state, Hillsborough County, and Florida Blue with having ponied up. And she said she is stepping up her own fundraising efforts, reaching out to businesses for financial commitments. She plans to tap into the church community, too. Her message to them, she said, is succinct: “I need your financial support to get this building built.”

Muller said Meyers is just the one to get the project done. “You can bet on Gwen. She’s going to win.”

OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Vigil planned for victims of Ybor City shooting. News Channel 8

Ybor City backyard may hold clues to 30-year-old cold case. News Channel 8

Man sends FHP trooper on high-speed chase in Tampa with woman, child in car. 10 Tampa Bay

Electric bills could soon go down for TECO and Duke customers. 10 Tampa Bay

Dozens of former clients claim Tampa attorney stole thousands after shutting down law firm. Fox 13 News

Another law firm to leave central business district for Water Street. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Biden to nominate Tampa-based federal judge to Florida District Court position. Tampa Bay Times $

Tampa Bay credit union expands again, buying a 900-client insurance firm. Business Observer $

Bradenton car dealer buys Tampa's Stadium Toyota. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa Bay bakery named one of the best gluten-free bakeries in America. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Seminole Heights’ Flocale food hall is closed. Creative Loafing

Tampa International Airport to hold first-ever ‘air taxi’ test flight in Florida. News Channel 8

Tampa's Pirate Water Taxi expands route, eliminates Rick's on the River stop. Creative Loafing

Parts of Indian Rocks Beach will close for beach renourishment. WUSF

'The Retreat is here to stay': Revered Tampa dive bar celebrates 85th anniversary this weekend. Creative Loafing

Theater groups nationwide perform same plays on same night for same cause. ABC Action News

Fox squirrels meet match at Plant City fall farm festival. Spectrum Bay News 9

How to celebrate Day of the Dead around Tampa Bay. Tampa Beacon

FLORIDA

Florida AG Ashley Moody urges justices to reject abortion measure. Tampa Free Press

Florida Democrat to introduce amendment to stop lawmaker’s insurance venture. News Channel 8

Citizens Insurance customer says depopulation notice contained 430% rate increase. ABC Action News

Lawyers for Florida urge a court to uphold a ruling that “executive privilege” shields Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration from releasing records. WMNF

Open enrollment for marketplace insurance begins. Here's how you can get help. WUSF

Florida health plan rates are among the lowest in the U.S. Axios

After pandemic rush, South Florida office market sees steady demand. The New York Times $

This Florida school district banned cellphones. Here’s what happened. The New York Times $

Black bear spotted at Disney World's Magic Kingdom captured. Fox 13 News

USF researchers prepared to reintroduce thousands of corals. Axios

How sea levels in 40 cities will change by 2050. Stacker

Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, and Florida State top first College Football Playoff rankings. The Washington Post $

POLITICS

Florida House sets its special session to start Monday. WMNF

How Nikki Haley is overtaking Ron DeSantis as the alternative to Trump for GOP voters. Florida Phoenix

Disney warns that if DeSantis wins lawsuit, others will be punished for 'disfavored' views. The Washington Post $

Florida surgeon general to campaign with Gov. Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire. Florida Phoenix

Poll: Ron DeSantis among least popular Governors in America. Florida Politics

Florida buys more Israel bonds during Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip. WMNF

Voting rights group tells White House of major legal and policy issues facing Black Floridians. WUSF

Marco Rubio warns of sleeper cell terrorists crossing Mexican border. Florida Politics

Inside the book-ban machine: The rise of 'parental rights' groups and their efforts to ban books. Stacker

COMMENTARY

On this issue, Matt Gaetz actually has a good point. The New York Times $

At Miami GOP debate, let’s talk about sea rise, energy independence and climate. Tampa Bay Times $

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Contributing editors: The Navigator is seeking contributors

Costume-clad celebrants ran for their lives Sunday after gunfire broke out in Ybor City Sunday morning, just as the bars were closing. Two people died in the shooting with another 18 injured. A suspect has been arrested and charged with murder.

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

Suspect in early morning Ybor City shooting charged with second-degree murder. ABC Action News

Ybor City business owners question police presence after deadly shooting. WUSF

An entrepreneur and a developer are rebuilding an Ybor City corner. Business Observer $

Florida leads nation in number of cost-burdened renters. WMNF

Tampa Bay ZIP codes among America's top 50 for new apartment completions. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

X Tampa, 29-story coliving tower in downtown Tampa, halts construction. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Here’s why Floridians, more than other Americans, believe climate change is real. WUSF

Tampa collects another multimillion-dollar federal Safe Streets grant. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Florida is booming and burning more trash. Residents say it’s making them sick. NBC News

1 driver dead, another injured after incident at Daytona International Speedway, officials say. Fox 13 News

BRIEFS

Hit-and-run solved: Tampa Police Detectives arrested 28-year-old Dameisha
Tyana Ceasar on Friday for her role in the fatal hit-and-run crash involving 57-year-old bicyclist Darrell Lee Dawson. He was struck Oct. 24 in the 1900 block of E. 21st Ave. Ceasar had told family members she hit something, and they contacted detectives with information about her involvement in the crash. Ceasar turned herself in to Tampa Police Detectives. She was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death, and driving without a valid driver's license (death or bodily injury). She was subsequently transported to Orient Road Jail.

Got news? Send it here.

WEATHER

Temperatures Remain Cool With Mostly Sunny Skies

Cooler temperatures arrive Wednesday, though temperatures will climb up slightly for the weekend, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel:

MONDAY 🌥️ Partly to mostly cloudy.
🌡️87° / 67° 💦 59% / 79% 🌅 7:39 a.m. / 6:46 p.m.

TUESDAY ☀️ Sunny skies.
🌡️87° / 62° 💦 66% / 74% 🌅 7:40 a.m. / 6:46 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 🌤️ Generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds.
🌡️73° / 53° 💦 53% / 63% 🌅 7:41 a.m. / 6:45 p.m.

THURSDAY 🌤️ Partly cloudy skies.
🌡️80° / 59° 💦 53% / 74% 🌅 7:41 a.m. / 6:44 p.m.

FRIDAY 🌤️ Generally sunny with afternoon clouds.
🌡️82° / 65° 💦 64% / 80% 🌅 7:42 a.m. / 6:43 p.m.

SATURDAY ⛅️ Partly to mostly cloudy.
🌡️85° / 69° 💦 70% / 84% 🌅 7:43 a.m. / 6:43 p.m.

SUNDAY 🌥️ Considerably cloudy. Change your clocks.
🌡️84° / 67° 💦 72% / 90% 🌅 6:44 a.m. / 5:42 p.m.

GET INVOLVED

Civic meetings of note during the coming week.

Monday: Hillsborough County is inviting residents to provide feedback on new plans for the new African American Arts and Cultural Center at 2103 N. Rome Ave., Tampa, the current site of the West Tampa Community Resource Center. Emanuel P. Johnson Recreation Center, 5725 S. 78th St., Tampa. 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday: The finance committee of the Tampa Sports Authority will be recommending that Tech Tower properties be awarded a contract to erect a new cell tower at Rocky Point Golf Course, contingent upon final approval from the city of Tampa. 4201 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday: Hillsborough County Commissioners will consider an agreement with Visit Tampa Bay for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 as the Designated Marketing Organization for Hillsborough County to include out-of-area marketing and promotions to attract tourists and conventions. The term of the agreement is from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2025, in the amounts of Tourist Development Tax funding up to $25,775,427 in FY 24 and up to $26,824,964 in FY 25. 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., 2nd Floor Boardroom, 9 a.m.

Wednesday: Hillsborough County offers another opportunity for feedback from Hillsborough County residents on the new African American Arts and Cultural Center. West Tampa Community Resource Center, 2103 N. Rome Ave., Tampa. 6:30 p.m. 

Thursday: The Tampa City Council will hear a report on whether the city can impose a public safety impact fee and how the city can go about enacting such a fee. The council also will consider an ordinance that would preclude council members from raising their salaries beyond the inflation adjustment. Tampa City Council Chambers, City Hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd., 3rd floor, 9 a.m.

Thursday: The Hillsborough County School meets in special meeting to consider the negotiated Economic Salary Proposal and Contract Language with Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association for Instructional Employees for the 2023-2024 school year. School Board of Hillsborough County, 901 E. Kennedy Blvd., 1:30 p.m.

9 QUESTIONS WITH KIMBERLEIGH DINKINS

‘They Should Have Remained Listed as Endangered’

By Stephen Buel

Kimberleigh Dinkins is a senior conservation associate with the Save the Manatee Club, which advocates for measures to protect the state’s remaining population of Florida and Antillian Manatees. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that it's going to consider adding manatees to the Endangered Species List. Are manatees endangered?

Yes. They've actually been listed as an endangered or threatened species since the Endangered Species Act was passed in the 1960s. In 2017, manatees were downlisted from endangered to threatened. They should have remained listed as endangered because the threats that manatees experience have always been there and they're actually increasing rather than decreasing.

What are those threats?

The primary man-made threat is boat strikes. Over 90 percent of manatees have markings that indicate they've been struck by a boat. Many manatees have been struck more than 10 times. Other things are water quality, another major issue in Florida. From our coasts to our springs to our inland systems, we are experiencing water-quality issues throughout the state. Those came to a head in 2020 and 2021 when there was a massive loss of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon, and that led to the death by starvation of over a thousand manatees. So, boat strikes, water-quality issues on both the east and west coast, entanglement in fishing line and fishing lures, old crab traps. Those are all risks.

How many manatees are there in Florida and elsewhere in the United States, and how many have we lost in recent years?

The recent synaptic surveys, which is what is conducted every year during the coldest time in the winter, indicates that there's about 6,000 manatees. In 2015 and 2016, there was an abundance survey that showed there were about 8,000 manatees. Manatees are typically found just in the southeastern coastal regions and waterways in the United States, but we know that we lost at least a thousand to that starvation event. We are seeing decreases in the number of calves that are being born. So the expectation is that we've lost over 2,000 manatees. We've had unusual mortality events due to cold weather. We've had it due to seagrass loss and starvation. There's also red tide on the West Coast; a number of deaths have been cataloged from that.

What additional protections would endangered status confer upon manatees?

Endangered status would lead to more attention and resources being paid to manatee research and manatee protection efforts. One good thing about the manatee having been listed originally with the Endangered Species Act is that under those protections that were initially in place, the downgrading to threatened really didn't mean anything different in terms of protections for them, but the amount of resources that were provided did decrease. So we're hopeful that with an uplisting, those resources would be allocated.

What steps could government agencies take to protect manatees?

Our biggest challenge is enforcement of regulations already in place. Florida did a great job throughout the early 2000s — a good job maybe — of establishing manatee protection zones that require slow speeds and areas where boats might not be able to get into. Also properly enforcing the Clean Water Act and our total maximum daily load requirements on the water-quality side would also help manatees. Another big threat is lack of natural warm-water habitats. So as our energy sources change and we move away from coal-fired power plants, those warm water discharges will be discontinued. We have dammed up a lot of natural areas that manatees could potentially go that have springs. We've changed our coastlines and hardened those areas, changing the landscape of where manatees might have previously been able to access. Over half of manatees rely on those warm-water outfalls from power plant discharges. So making sure that there's natural habitat for them during wintertime is important.

I understand that Inglis Dam up on the Withlacoochee River basically keeps manatees from making it to Rainbow Springs. Has anyone ever proposed removing that?

The area that we are mainly focused on, that we know could provide some immediate relief for manatees, is the removal of the Rodman Dam on the Ocklawaha River. More manatees are using the St. John's River after that unprecedented seagrass loss on the East Coast. That's been the main focus as a dam removal project in the state, not so much Inglis.

In June, Governor DeSantis chose not to veto Florida legislation that will prevent cities or counties from enacting new fertilizer bans until July 1 of next year. Was that a mistake?

Anything that limits local government's ability to protect their waterways or improve water quality within their jurisdiction is a mistake. With the shortened timeline that the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension was granted to look at this situation, we know there's not new research coming out of it. If there is to be a ban, it needs to be scientifically based. And we are hearing more communities that are reporting positive results from these fertilizer bans than the opposite. It raises awareness and lets people know there are alternatives to those higher fertilizer use plants and landscaping methods that might encourage them to put in more native landscaping and use less water and use less fertilizer.

What else should people know about the efforts to save manatees?

They should know that Save the Manatee Club has been around for over 40 years, and we are actively pursuing those protections for manatees related to water quality improvements and voting safety that not only protects manatees, but protects Floridians as well, and our lifestyle here. There is an inextricable link between what we are doing in Florida and what is protective of manatees that helps everybody have a better quality of life here.

And Save the Manatee Club, of course, has been around since Jimmy Buffet helped to found it. What was his environmental legacy?

I think raising awareness for manatees and he really promoted the Florida lifestyle, which manatees also represent. So kind of making that link between what is important to Floridians and again, what's important for manatees, and his continued involvement for the entire existence of Save the Manatee Club up until his death.

TAKING STOCK

A weekly look at the performance of 25 locally important stocks

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.

CURRENTS

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BAY AREA

Ybor City businesses impacted by shooting investigation. Spectrum Bay News 9

FHP: 2 men pulled over, arrested for driving 130 mph over Gandy Bridge. 10 Tampa Bay

The Tampa Bay fishin’ report: Sheepshead showing up in greater numbers. Tampa Beacon

New Kids On the Block making stop in Tampa next summer. News Channel 8

FLORIDA

Hurricanes are getting stronger faster, research shows. Axios

New disturbances pop up near Bahamas, over Caribbean Sea. News Channel 8

Amid Florida insurance crisis, investors and a senator see opportunity. Tampa Bay Times $

South Florida’s rise as a global business hub. South Florida Business Journal $

Report: Florida's small business survival record spotty. Business Observer $

A Seminole swarming: Florida State plays best 60 minutes of season in walloping of Wake Forest. Tomahawk Nation

Good, bad and ugly: Gators Wire reacts to Georgia's beatdown of Florida. Gators Wire

POLITICS

Ron DeSantis seeks to nationalize ‘universal school choice’. Florida Politics

Israel-Palestinian conflict hangs over gathering of Florida Democrats. Florida Politics

‘This is not cancel culture’: DeSantis defends call to ban pro-Palestinian groups at Florida colleges. Politico

DeSantis' efforts to shut down pro-Palestinian groups on Florida campuses is likely illegal, says experts. Creative Loafing

Spurned by moderates and MAGA: How DeSantis’s coalition has deflated. The Washington Post $

Vocal on Israel, DeSantis Is challenged on his silence on neo-Nazis in Florida. The New York Times $

COMMENTARY

In Florida, apocalyptic politics are clouding the U.S. response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Florida Phoenix

These days, it’s Florida developers who are sneaking in and swiping natural resources from the public. Florida Phoenix

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Contributing editors: The Navigator is seeking contributors

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

DeSantis administration claims it helped send weapons to Israel — but provides few details. Politico

Pro-Palestinian movement conference planned at USF amid backlash from head of the state's university system. Spectrum Bay News 9

Tampa's $108 million City Center opens its doors. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Swim advisory issued due to fecal pollution at Ben T. Davis Beach. Patch

Hurricane center monitoring 2 disturbances in the Atlantic, including 1 with 70 percent formation chance. News Channel 8

Democrats propose Medicaid expansion in Florida for young adults. WMNF

Florida fights a ruling that halts its lobbying restriction. WMNF

Publix hit with federal lawsuit over claims it failed to pay workers overtime. News Channel 8

St. Petersburg has plenty of questions about the Rays stadium deal. WUSF

Pasco couple recognized suspect in shooting that devastated their hometown in Maine. News Channel 8

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.

BRIEFS

Free Pet Vaccinations, Microchips: Hillsborough County is offering free rabies vaccinations and microchips for dogs and cats on Sunday, Oct. 29, at a drive-through clinic at Larry Sanders Sports Complex, 5855 S. 78th St., Tampa. Hillsborough County dogs and cats are required by ordinance to be vaccinated and registered. Residents also can receive tags and registration for dogs and cats that received their rabies vaccination. Dogs and cats must be 3 months or older. The event will be from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday, or until supplies run out.

Arrests Made: Tampa Police detectives identified 29-year-old Bellina R. Rossie of Riverview as the suspect in the Oct. 16 fatal hit-and-run crash in the 2600 block of Causeway Boulevard that left a 43-year-old Hispanic male dead. She was arrested on Oct. 25 and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with death and was being held at Falkenburg Road Jail. Additionally, police arrested and charged Antelo Shavonne Simpson with first-degree murder in connection to an Oct. 25 homicide in the 300 block of East Wellington Court. The victim was a female in her early 70s who was found to have suffered from multiple sharp force upper body injuries. Simpson was transported to Orient Road Jail.

Caged Cardinals, Mockingbird Released: While on land patrol in Hillsborough County, Officer Sutton and Officer Specialist Rorer responded to a call from an Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation investigator about two cardinals in separate cages on a porch at a residence. The officers drove to the residence where they located the two cardinals and a mockingbird. An individual admitted to catching the birds when they were young and had been keeping them as pets. Officer Sutton issued the individual a misdemeanor citation for the migratory bird violation and the birds were released back to the wild.

Dune Update: Sunset Beach on Treasure Island is expected to open on Saturday, Oct. 28, but visitors should still stay off the dunes. After a month of restoring the dunes and planting vegetation, the restoration project is complete. To allow the new vegetation to grow and to protect the dunes, visitors are reminded to stay off the dunes. There will be designated pathways through the dunes to allow people to cross over safely and keep the dunes from being trampled on.

Got news? Send it here.

CONNECTING THE DOTS

No Amount of Transportation Funding Can Fix This

By Stephen Buel

Aside from the humidity, the worst thing about life in Hillsborough County is the traffic. It was already bad when I left southeast Lutz for grad school in 1980, and of course it was worse when I moved back to northwest Lutz two years ago last week.

In July, the City of Tampa released a landmark citywide mobility plan called Tampa MOVES. The plan compared Tampa with five other cities — Austin, Charlotte, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Richmond — and Tampa came out last or next to last in several key criteria.

MOVES compared how much income residents of all six cities had left after paying for housing and transportation. Tampa not only had the most expensive housing bite at 32 percent of income, but our transportation bite was tied with Orlando for most expensive at 21 percent.

So Tampeños only have 47 percent of their income left after paying for housing and transportation. Pittsburghers have 61 percent of their income. Gridlock doesn’t just waste our time, it threatens our very ability to live here.

Other regions have done far more to tame their traffic than we have. But even in places that have invested heavily in transit, congestion is a problem that defies simple solutions.

The MOVES report was a thoughtful and eye-opening piece of work. Sure, some of it was utopian wishful thinking — reducing household transportation costs to just 5 percent by the year 2050, or eliminating all 333 of Tampa’s annual roadway deaths or life-altering injuries. But most of the report was commonsense.

The report identified a reasonable series of projects to complete by the year 2050, and estimated their cost. It is $2 billion, with a B.

And how much do you suppose the City of Tampa spends each year on transportation projects? It’s just $11 million, with an M.

In the absence of Hillsborough County’s sorely needed 1 percent sales tax for transportation — presumably on hold until the county can find the right time to resubmit a version that will pass legal muster — Tampa just announced the creation of an office to help locate transportation funding.

It’s unjust that Tampa should shoulder this burden alone. Because 79 percent of the 351,000 people who work in Tampa actually live outside the city. Tampa’s traffic woes are mostly created by residents of Carrollwood and Brandon, Town ’N’ Country and Riverview, Oldsmar and Wesley Chapel, St. Pete and Clearwater.

But transportation funding is not the real cure for transportation problems. Smart development is the solution.

Seventy-two percent of Tampeños drive to work alone while only 52 percent of Pittsburghers do so because the latter city was first settled by Europeans in 1717. It became a dense city back when rapid transit meant you owned a horse.

Cuban fishermen are believed to have lived in the Tampa Bay area some time in the mid 1700s, but real growth did not begin until Willis Haviland Carrier gifted humanity with the air conditioner. By the time that Frigidaire introduced a household cooling system, cars had replaced horses and Tampa was doomed to sprawl.

The underlying reality of Tampa’s sprawl is that no amount of funding is going to make it any easier for Lutz residents like me to get downtown. Density is destiny. Which is why we need dense cities.

There is a fascinating fact in the Tampa MOVES report. An estimated 21 percent of all those Tampa jobs are accessible by a 15-minutes walk. So the city’s highest transportation priority should be to get those employees out of their cars and onto their feet, or bikes, or scooters.

Even if Hillsborough County does eventually get its hands on a dedicated source of transportation funding, the 79 percent of Tampa workers who live outside the city need to allow the bulk of county funding to be directed at changing the habits of the other 21 percent.

Because the best way to help out suburban and rural residents like me is to invest in making it easier and more attractive for urban residents to get out of their cars.

Thus, development policy is the real transportation battleground. Dense housing keeps people off the roads. Far from requiring developers to provide parking when they build housing, the county should do everything in its power to keep developers from building any more parking than necessary.

Streets like the one I live on, with widely spaced homes featuring two-, three-, or even four-car garages, create congestion that no amount of funding can remedy.

The political dynamic that typically frames discussions about transportation policy is tension between two tribes I’ll call “build more roads” and “walk/bike/ride.”

Like so many of our current political divisions, these divisions are counterproductive. We all have far more in common than we realize.

BITES

Doodle Noodle Bar: This Westchase addition has a little something for everybody, from dumplings, fried tofu, and classic “summer” rolls to pho, noodle, stir fry and rice, and vermicelli bowls. And it stays open late. The interior walls and floors are stark black-and-white 2D drawings, so visiting it is like entering another dimension populated by a giant panda and puns on pho (“Thanks pho coming,” and “Twenty pho hour kitchen”). The star of our meal was the Red Light Special, a generous, fragrant portion of noodles, chicken, red curry broth, cucumber, carrot, beansprouts, onion, cilantro, lime, and fried onions — mmmmm. The vermicelli noodles in The Original were slightly under-cooked, but the accompanying veggies and fried pork egg roll mostly compensated for the oversight. Sweet-spicy chili sauce enhanced the crispy hunks of fried tofu, and peanut-topped peanut sauce added dimension to the summer spring roll. Fun for kids and the young at heart. Open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sun., 9620 W. Linebaugh Ave., Tampa, 813-575-1946.

New Restaurant Openings

There is no shortage of new restaurants coming to the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s a list of places. Some are now open; others are coming. Call ahead before visiting.

Cinnaholic, 927 S. Howard Ave., Tampa: vegan cinnamon roll shop where you can design your own or choose from creative menu favorites. Opens Oct. 27.

Zukku, Ling's Dumplings, and Han Hand Rolls, Heights Public Market, the food hall inside Armature Works, 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa: three new concepts from the Zukku Sushi founder Ferdian Jap, managing partner of Majestic Restaurant Group, featuring sushi, dumplings, and hand rolls respectively. Tampa Bay Business Journal

Lepley’s Kitchen and Lounge, 6310 N. Florida Ave., Seminole Heights, Tampa: Southern comfort food with a Caribbean flair (soft opening 4-11 p.m. Sat., Oct. 28, and Sun., Oct. 29). Tampa Bay Times

Kichi Taiyaki, 2020 W. Brandon Blvd., Suite 150, Brandon: Japanese dessert cafe

Got restaurant news? Send it here.

THE LIST

Each week, we’ll bring you a new one. Got any ideas? Reach out.

The Library is More Than Books

Your Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative card enables you to do a lot more than check out books and put holds on bestsellers. Library cards are free for anyone who lives or pays property tax in Hillsborough County. The library has reciprocal arrangements with other area libraries, including many Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties. Patrons do need a home library card, a photo ID, and verification of current address to use reciprocating libraries. Nonresidents can get cards by paying a fee. Many libraries offer special events, such as storytime, lectures, and informational meetings. Here, perhaps, are a few of the lesser-known things that a powerful little library card may enable you to do:

• Download or stream digital movies, music, eBooks, audiobooks, and more for many screens, including phone, car, or TV.

• Reserve meeting spaces.

• Access equipment from The Hive, which offers innovative tools, classes, and resources for new and experienced makers, creators, artists, and innovators (for recording songs or podcasts; photo editing for social media; building a robot, pilot, or drone; drawing, painting and photography; designing and 3-D printing a prototype; learning to sewing, soldering, or coding).

• Have Internet access.

• Wood working at The Foundry, a makerspace with power tools and free open build hours..

• Search databases

• Discovery Pass access to some area museums.

• Reserve study rooms.

CURRENTS

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BAY AREA

United flight attendants protest at Tampa International Airport. Axios Tampa Bay

USF’s response to letter disbanding pro-Palestinian student groups still unclear. The Oracle

Tampa mulls a new fire station across from Sparkman Wharf. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Plant City man dead, 2 others in the hospital after 3-vehicle crash near Lakeland. 10 Tampa Bay

Tampa woman shares her story of surviving a stroke at only 34 years old to raise awareness. ABC Action News

Suspicious death investigation underway in Thonotosassa: Deputies. Fox 13 Tampa Bay

Women in Tampa seize the venture capital world. Axios Tampa Bay

A Largo lake where gator attacked man was drained. Where did the gators go? Tampa Bay Times $

Yes, that’s right—the Florida Orchestra is performing songs by Drake next month. Creative Loafing

Punk legends Descendents and Circle Jerks are coming to St. Pete next year. Creative Loafing

Mahaffey Theater will open new fine dining restaurant led by seasoned St. Pete chef. Creative Loafing

Banned from your phones but not the stage: TikTok star Chris Olsen to speak at USF. The Oracle

Basketball hosts social before new season tips off. The Oracle

‘Relationships above winning’: Schilte-Brown clinches division title in final regular season game at USF. The Oracle

Josh Allen gets Bills off to fast start in 24-18 win over Buccaneers. 10 Tampa Bay

FLORIDA

Proposed rollback of child labor law in Florida gets pushback; critics say kids would be exploited. Florida Phoenix

Advocacy group launches probe of PragerU Kids videos in Florida, Oklahoma schools. WUSF

Florida boosts its citrus budget. WMNF

A new RSV treatment is in short supply. Here's how to keep your baby safe. WUSF

Blue-green algae is lessening in the Caloosahatchee River. WUSF

Florida researchers find small stowaway while tagging stone crabs. News Channel 8

POLITICS

Ron DeSantis blames mass shootings on ‘liberal, soft on crime policies’. Florida Politics

Ron DeSantis vows to ‘reorient’ U.S. foreign policy to counter China. Florida Politics

Trump rakes in millions at MAGA-studded Mar-a-Lago fundraiser. Politico

Most GOP voters want to pull the plug on future debates. Tampa Free Press

Ron DeSantis claims U.S. troops in Syria are ‘sitting ducks’. Florida Politics

Jason Pizzo isn’t hopeful about flipping Senate seats, but sees a path to Governor in 2026. Florida Politics

COMMENTARY

These days, it’s Florida developers who are sneaking in and swiping natural resources from the public. Florida Phoenix

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ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Contributing editors: The Navigator is seeking contributors

CURRENTS

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TOP NEWS

Florida orders pro-Palestinian USF group to disband. The Oracle

Search underway for drivers after 2 hit-and-runs in Ybor City in 2 weeks. ABC Action News

Vintage charm of Las Novedades restored in new event space at Hotel Haya in Ybor City. Fox 13 News

Parents like private school vouchers so much that demand is exceeding budgets. WUSF

New details on Moffitt Cancer Center's giant Pasco campus revealed. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

U.S. Supreme Court lifts stay on Florida sports betting case. Politico

Florida places Morningstar on its blacklist of companies alleged to be involved in boycotts of Israel. WMNF Morningstar disputes Florida’s determination that it supports efforts to boycott or sanction Israel. WMNF

Florida officials ask the US Supreme Court to block rulings limiting an anti-drag show law. WUSF

Seagrass die-off could impact how you enjoy Old Tampa Bay. 10 Tampa Bay

First ever 'Florida Man Games' will feature beer belly wrestling and 'evading arrest' obstacle course. ABC Action News

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

Davis Islands or Davis Island?

By Judith M. Gallman

What’s the true name of the island home of Tampa General Hospital, Davis Island or Davis Islands? Google Maps calls it Davis Islands, but both spellings appear on its maps, and in addresses and civic organization names. There’s Davis Islands Beach but the Davis Island Dog Beach; the Davis Island Yacht Club but the Davis Islands Civic Association.

What’s up with that?

“I believe the whole island/islands thing is like the granted v. granite idea and it’s just people’s syntax,” said Selena Martinez, a friendly librarian with the Hillsborough County Public Library Association.

Martinez said the land mass is named after the man who helped develop it, D.P. Davis, “who was part of a prominent local Tampa family and made a fortune in real estate after World War I in Miami and tried to replicate that in Tampa with these islands. He purchased what was originally known as Little Grassy Island and Depot Key Island and sold the lots for subdivisions.

“As a local myself, when they say island they are simply referring to the main island where Tampa General Hospital is,” she said.

Martinez ventured an answer to our question but recommended author Rodney Kite-Powell as the definitive source. But the author was on sabbatical from the Tampa Bay History Center and could not be reached.

Malerie Dorman, curator of exhibitions for the Tampa Bay History Center, also referred a reporter to Kite-Powell. “Where is Rodney when you need him?!” she emailed. LOL.”

Dorman also went on to answer the question, pointing to one source of confusion.

“It doesn't help that Davis Islands is (or at least was) commonly referred to by its nickname — The Island — for a long time,” she said. “Many people don't realize that there are two islands, and fewer know that there were originally three.”

History buffs at the Tampa Historical Society offered an answer as well, suggesting that people ponder the question while studying a map. “If you look at a map, there are bridges that connect over the canals,” a society spokesperson wrote via Facebook. “Originally, it was two spoil islands, then dredged and filled by D.P. Davis in the 1920s, who started the development. There is one separate island on the northwest side.”

As for the developer himself, the society recommended www.tampapix.com/dpdavis.htm as an excellent source with photos. “When the building boom in Florida dried up, he lost almost everything and later disappeared while on a cruise with his family in 1926.”

Then Kite-Powell himself graciously endorsed the answer offered by Martinez, Dorman, and the society in an email exchange that interrupted his summer sabbatical.

“The question of Davis Islands vs. Davis Island has been around for a long time, but the answer is very easy,” wrote the author of the 2013 book, History of Davis Islands: David P. Davis and the Story of a Landmark Tampa Neighborhood.

“It is Davis Islands — plural. There were originally three islands that made up Davis Islands, and there are still two (Riviera Island is separate). The other island was attached to the main island when the airport expanded.”

Of course, had the Navigator merely turned to Wikipedia to answer the not-so-pressing question, our answer might have come more quickly:

“Davis Islands is a Tampa neighborhood and archipelago on two (formerly three) islands in Hillsborough County, Florida. Its proximity to Downtown Tampa and its views of the Port of Tampa have made it a popular area to live. The area's population was 5,474 at the 2010 census.

“With a canal fully separating a portion of the island from the rest of it, Davis Islands is technically an archipelago, hence the plural form ‘Islands’ in its name. Originally, Davis Islands consisted of three islands. With the construction of the airport, however, the end of one canal was filled in to make enough land area for a runway, connecting the two largest islands at their southern ends and reducing the archipelago's island count to two.”

Perplexed by something? What’s up with that investigates.

4 QUESTIONS WITH JUSTIN TRAMBLE

Water Quality Transcends Politics

Justin Tramble is the executive director Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a grassroots nonprofit that advocates for clean water in the Tampa Bay watershed. It’s part of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global network of 350 grassroots water leaders from around the world, including 15 affiliates in Florida, which started in the 1970s. Tampa Bay Waterkeeper was established in 2017, and its jurisdiction includes Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. “We represent Tampa Bay, the state’s largest open water estuary,” Tramble said. The organization is run by what he described as a diverse board with members representing extremely varied water-oriented interests. “The one thing we all have in common is that we recreate here in the water. We all love the water, and that’s why they volunteer their time. We hope to grow to better protect, improve and preserve Tampa Bay.” Find out more at TampaBayWaterkeeper.org. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is unique about Tampa Bay Waterkeeper?

Statewide, it’s our job to drill down to Tampa Bay water. Water quality is essential to the sustainability of our lifestyle in Florida and in the economy in Florida. A Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council study found that one out of every 10 jobs in the Tampa Bay region are tied to the health of the Tampa Bay estuary. There certainly is a need to prioritize water quality beyond just the well; we need clean water for swimming, fishing, and recreating. The vitality of tourism in the region depends on our water being protected long term, and our focus on building a grassroots movement does that. That’s why as we grow, the stronger our fight will be, and the better we’ll advocate for water. We really focus on people and people’s love for the water and the estuary. If you fall in love with something, you protect it. Our job as an advocacy organization is to connect our folks with the issues. We do what we can to really connect those folks that love this estuary to how they can better play a role in protecting it.

What is the most important thing people can do to preserve the Tampa Bay watershed?

The single biggest issue is our nutrients that we’re putting into our bay — the nitrogen load going into the bay. The single largest source is from stormwater runoff, about 60 percent. There are a lot of common sense ways we can significantly limit our stormwater pollution, but the simplest thing people can do to limit impact is by paying attention to fertilizer ordinances, picking up dog waste, and making sure you have stormwater-friendly property. Beyond that, significant environmental issues like the Piney Point debacle and wastewater spills need a different solution. We need as a community to do a better job of investing in our water and wastewater systems to prevent these things from happening in the first place. We need to be more engaged and participate in local government. There can be significant meaning when someone is advocating for clean water and people show up in support during the public comment period and clap or applaud infrastructure investments or even type a quick email about legislation. In this past legislative session, we contributed hundreds of letters to the governor’s office to veto the rainy-season fertilizer intervention legislation. Counting other groups, there were probably 1,000 or so requesting a veto. The governor didn’t sign it. So we did not win that inning, but involvement shows we could potentially win that game. People need to engage and connect and be part of this decision-making process and part of the advocacy. 

Who are your constituencies?

Our organization is made up of recreators here in Tampa Bay that are politically diverse. They support the use of the water, no matter what political affiliation or industry they come from. This transcends politics; it’s common sense stuff, and our member and supporter base eclipses politics. They fish, paddleboard, kayak. They enjoy being on the water. We have close to 10,000 social media users following or supporting us. We’re trying to grow our network, taking our argument beyond marinas and boat ramps and kayak stores to tourism bureaus and the economic force that is the Tampa Bay region. If we can tap into that — historically environmental groups and business and growth haven’t been on on the same page, so it’s been a versus situation — and push this idea that if we develop here in Florida, we need to do it smarter and with water quality in mind, then we can lift up the whole Tampa Bay region. We need to be able to engage the communities we haven’t been able to engage in the past and have a more collaborative approach. 

How can people get involved?

Our latest project is the Patrol Program. It’s an easy way for folks to get active and to get engaged. It’s a community-led pollution detection and reporting initiative that has consolidated all agency resources onto one page. The whole idea of this project is to make reporting easy. When I was with a government agency, folks would call the office and tell me somebody was dumping sediment into a canal or there were dead fish on a beach or an abandoned vessel. It would take me a good bit of time to figure out who to connect those residents to. We’ve introduced QR stickers that we’re giving away that people can put on their kayaks, paddleboard, or boats, and if they see something, they can scan it and make an immediate report by choosing the appropriate section. We’ve hand-delivered this awesome resource to make reporting easy. We rely on individual support. We’re not funded by any government organization. We’re funded by individuals and small, local businesses that turn to us to fight for clean water. We also do some high-profile litigation to mitigate for clean water, like the plant on Piney Point.

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OTHER NEWS

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BAY AREA

Tampa man receives 2 life sentences for killing girlfriend's 17-month-old child in 2019. Fox 13 News

Large crowd marches to front gates of USF for 'Emergency Rally for Gaza'. 10 Tampa Bay

Rays stadium, Gas Plant District redevelopment plan to be presented to St. Pete city council. Fox 13 News

Tampa's planned BRT line projected to achieve higher ridership than the SunRunner. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa General Hospital, USF partner to expand medical training and strengthen health care workforce. Florida Politics

Boxing out of trouble: How Tampa police officers inspire kids to stay out of trouble. ABC Action News

Tampa-based software company acquires Colorado learning platform. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Nonprofit breaks ground on Westchase housing complex for those with disabilities. Tampa Beacon

Hillsborough property appraiser appeals Tampa airport case. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Tampa International Airport to Gulfport-Biloxi starting at $29. News Channel 8

Tampa Bay loses out on millions in potential funding from federal tech hub initiative. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

Meet Olds: The carmaker behind the city of Oldsmar. 10 Tampa Bay

50 organizations to hand out treats at 7th Riverwalk halloween event. Patch

USF needs only two more football wins to become bowl-eligible. Tampa Bay Times $

Florida College men’s basketball hoping to remain on national stage. Tampa Beacon

Bucs' Winfield Jr. rallies defense ahead of tonight’s showdown against Bills. 10 Tampa Bay

FLORIDA

Record-breaking numbers of Cuban migrants entered the U.S. in 2022-23. Politico

‘Modern day mafia’: $20M Florida retail theft ring busted; 14 arrested. News Channel 8

Hurricane Otis’ explosive intensification is a symptom of the climate crisis, scientists say. ABC Action News

Feeling the pinch of high home insurance rates? It's not getting better anytime soon. WUSF

Mosaic investigating another potential liner tear at Mulberry phosphate plant. Spectrum Bay News 9

Elderly population in Florida prisons on the rise, report finds. Axios

Florida CFO threatens to sue NCAA over FSU football player’s eligibility. Tampa Bay Times $

Health report: More dengue infections in South Florida; another case of West Nile virus in Panhandle. Florida Phoenix

Florida is adopting Safe System Approach to improve safety, reduce traffic deaths, and severe injuries. WUSF

2 men arrested after stealing over $15k in items from multiple Florida Home Depot stores using trash cans. Fox 13 News

Gov. DeSantis reappoints embattled police chief to criminal justice standards panel. Florida Politics

POLITICS

Chad Chronister backs Suzy Lopez for Hillsborough State Attorney. Florida Politics

DeSantis adds conservative mini-stars, former staffer to Florida Polytechnic board of trustees. Florida Phoenix

Florida Dems blast GOP selection of Louisiana’s Mike Johnson as next U.S. House Speaker. Florida Phoenix

Florida Chamber poll: Floridians say U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction,’ Biden to blame. Florida Politics

Republican supermajorities in Florida Legislature are probably here to stay. Florida Politics

ABOUT US

Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel

Contributing editors: The Navigator is seeking contributors

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TOP NEWS

Tampa rebounded from pandemic faster than any city in the country, industry report says. Fox 13 News

Tampa Bay area, Southwest Florida saw driest rainy season in 26 years. Tampa Bay Times $

Nadia Combs, one of Ron DeSantis’ 2024 school board targets, faces well-funded Senator’s wife. Florida Politics

County seeks feedback on African-American cultural center coming to West Tampa. Spectrum Bay News 9

Police arrest man accused in fatal shooting at Tampa apartment complex. Fox 13 News

Crews work through backlog of sidewalk projects in Hillsborough County. Spectrum Bay News 9

Florida unemployment rate is lowest among nation's most populated states. The Center Square

Florida rule would limit talk of ‘social issues’ at public universities. Tampa Bay Times $

Fish and Wildlife Service proposes a sprawling conservation area in the Everglades watershed. WUSF

Popular Korean grocery chain Lotte Plaza Market opens location in New Tampa next week. Creative Loafing

WEATHER

Temperatures Remain Cool With Mostly Sunny Skies

It will be a mostly sunny or partly cloudy this week with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s, according to this week’s forecast from The Weather Channel:

TUESDAY 🌤️ Mainly sunny with some afternoon clouds.
🌡️87° / 56° 💦 71% / 62% 🌅 7:35 a.m. / 6:52 p.m.

WEDNESDAY 🌤️ Sunshine and clouds mixed.
🌡️86° / 69° 💦 62% / 74% 🌅 7:36 a.m. / 6:51 p.m.

THURSDAY 🌤️ Generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds.
🌡️87° / 68° 💦 62% / 78% 🌅 7:37 a.m. / 6:50 p.m.

FRIDAY ⛅️ Partly cloudy skies.
🌡️88° / 66° 💦 64% / 79% 🌅 7:37 a.m. / 6:49 p.m.

SATURDAY 🌤️ Generally sunny with afternoon clouds.
🌡️88° / 66° 💦 67% / 80% 🌅 7:38 a.m. / 6:48 p.m.

SUNDAY ☀️ Generally sunny.
🌡️89° / 67° 💦 65% / 79% 🌅 7:39 a.m. / 6:47 p.m.

MONDAY ⛅️ Partly cloudy with a few clouds at night.
🌡️88° / 68° 💦 67% / 80% 🌅 7:39 a.m. / 6:47 p.m.

TODAY’S SPONSOR

The Navigator is sponsored by Mary’s Little Lamb Preschool at 7311 N. Armenia Ave. in Tampa. We are a nationally accredited preschool established in 1959. 

Free Childcare and a paycheck. We are currently seeking a qualified toddler teacher or teaching assistant. The ideal candidate must be creative, energetic, dependable, nurturing, patient, have a passion about the growth and development of the children, and be a team player. Requirements: pass a level 2 background screening, high school diploma or higher, completed or willing to start and complete the DCF 45 training hours, get CPR/First aid certified.

Interested in sponsoring the Navigator? We need to talk.

BRIEFS

Tower Spruce Up: The iconic Sulphur Springs Water Tower is getting washed and is receiving a fresh coat of paint, according to an announcement from the City of Tampa Community Engagement & Partnerships Team. The city has contracted with Kimszal Contracting Incorporated to spruce up the 214-foot structure within River Tower Park. Work on the tower is expected to begin the week of Oct. 23 and last for approximately 10 weeks, weather permitting.

Mini-Grants Available: Neighborhood, condominium, and homeowner associations in Hillsborough County can apply for grants from the county’s 2024 Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program. A news release announcing the opportunity said the program provides up to $5,000 to eligible organizations to help foster healthy, safe, and engaged neighborhoods through innovative and creative projects. This year’s categories include healthy neighborhood, safe neighborhood, and engaged neighborhood. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Wed., Nov. 15. Visit HCFLGov.net/MiniGrant to learn more about the grant application process, view the requirements, and complete the application. 

Additional Grants: Grants also are available to downtown Tampa neighborhoods via the Downtown Tampa Neighborhood Enhancement Grant program. It’s an initiative aimed at fostering vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods within downtown and offers annual grants of up to $5,000 to each of the seven neighborhoods: Central Park, Channel District, Downtown Core, River Arts District, Tampa Heights, Water Street Tampa, and West Riverfront. Examples of eligible projects include but are not limited to, public art installations, outdoor recreational spaces, community gardens, establishing cultural events, educational workshops, and interactive public spaces. The application period closes on Jan. 15, 2024.

Got news? Send it here.

REPORTER

Everybody’s Going Black and White

By Judith M. Gallman

There’s a prominent color scheme that dominates South Tampa real estate, including newly constructed homes and those going back on the market: bright white with black or dark gray trim.

“That’s the hottest trend right now,” said Kelly Brelje, a real estate agent with Keller Williams.

Brelje and her husband, who live in Lutz, are currently repainting their own house, which is brown. She did a lot of driving around South Tampa over the course of three weeks to find just the right shade of white.

That’s harder than it sounds, she said, because there are so many different whites. But Brelje selected one out of about 15 she identified, and she is very excited about the eye-popping look she believes it will bring to her lakeside home.

“There was a time when all the browns were popular, and we went through the grays,” Brelje said. “You are always going to get people who don’t want it, but that’s the trend right now. It doesn’t mean they will like it forever.”

Adam Fernandez, a Keller Williams Tampa Center real estate agent, agreed with Brelje.

“Black and white is what’s trending right now,” Fernandez said. “It seems really attractive to buyers. It’s trendy, but it’s also safe. It’s not like you are going to offend anybody with white and black.”

Fernandez, a Harbor Island resident, said the popularity of a color scheme varies largely depending on the neighborhood. In one instance, he said, he was the listing agent on a “not new house” in the Fish Hawk area — a “nice Tampa suburb” in south Hillsborough County east of Gibsonton. It was painted with the trending colors, unlike the surrounding houses. 

“That and some other things we did enabled the house to sell for $60K above asking price,” Fernandez said. “The color scheme definitely added curb appeal. It was different from everything else out there.”

Nancy O’Hare Wood is a real estate agent for Smith and Associates Real Estate who has noticed that sellers with buttery yellow houses and more tropical or Mediterranean hued exteriors are being “snubbed” in favor of lighter colors.

“Color trends are a normal cycle, and I don’t think the lighter colors are going away anytime soon,” she said.

Nick Wimperis has noticed the black and white mix all over the Tampa area, not just in South Tampa. A real estate agent with the Victory Home Team FL powered by Realty Group Frontier, he said the average consumer is looking for a turnkey, modern experience when they buy — just what the white-black combo seems to convey.

“I think it’s just the design right now,” Wimperis said. “It’s the hot mix.”

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Jacque Reina is a real estate agent with Smith & Associates. She first started noticing the white-black trend about seven or eight years ago, definitely before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic but not as long as 10 years ago.

Although she can’t pinpoint exactly which builder was the first to do it, Reina thinks she has a pretty good idea.

“If you’ve ever been up in the Panhandle to Rosemary Beach, you’ve seen them,” Reina said. “There are a lot of well-to-do South Tampans who vacation there or own vacation homes there.”

Reina characterized the style of those homes, which is so well-suited for the current white-with-black color scheme, as “British West Indies and Key West without the colors.” These homes, often new, are stucco on the first floor with Hardie board on the second floor and Bermuda shutters as accents, she said.

“A builder kind of started building in that genre at Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach, and a couple of others started building in the same genre,” Reina said. “As best I can tell, that’s where I first started seeing it.”

She credited Taralon Homes, TB Homes, and Devonshire Custom Homes — inspired by the Panhandle builders — as spreading the black-white phenomenon in Tampa on custom ‘infill’ new builds in South Tampa around 2015 and beyond.

Reina said the stark white-and-black scheme has also caught on with the modern farmhouse style of stucco homes featuring helmet-like tile roofs like homes popularized by Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame

“It’s just become this kind of black and white world,” Reina said, noting that white creates a nice backdrop for outdoor landscaping as well as a subtle background inside for art. “Houses with reddish or orange paint, they’re not selling. As soon as they paint it white and black, it sells.”

That’s just what happened to a home that Compass real estate agent Keri O’Donnell Clare was familiar with. The Tampa Palms house was painted an appealing yellow and was on the market for a few months without selling. The homeowner took the home off the market, repainted it white with black trim, and put it back on the market. It sold in one day, O’Donnell said.

As far as Reina’s personal home color choices go, you might call her a trendsetter.

“Guilty as charged. I was the first one to do it,” the Pelican Island resident said about her choice of Sherwin Williams Pure White for the exterior and Peppercorn Gray for the trim. Her house was green when she bought it.

There are 88 homes in her development, she said, and now owners of eight of them have asked for permission for white exteriors and black roofs. Reina is planning to find a new color scheme.

TAKING STOCK

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CURRENTS

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BAY AREA

Tampa door manufacturer buys company for nearly $300M. Business Observer

Tampa City Council member Guido Maniscalco addresses mayor’s failed property tax increase proposal. WMNF

Brady and Jeter’s former Davis Islands home is just another teardown. Tampa Bay Business Journal $

These mistakes cost the Bucs a game Sunday, and potentially much more. Tampa Bay Times $

FLORIDA

Florida will have a special legislative session in November to strengthen sanctions against Iran. WMNF

Cuban Americans in Florida call for Sunshine State ‘veto’ of Tom Emmer’s speaker bid. Florida Politics

New College students and faculty challenge a new state law that restricts some teaching. WUSF

Florida and other Medicaid holdout states scramble to improve health coverage. Florida Phoenix

Genetic test offers hope for undiagnosed kids, but few insurers offer to pay. Florida Medicaid will. WUSF

Florida scientists are mapping red tide fish kills to help regulate fishing afterward. WUSF

Biden administration says a Florida gambling ruling should move forward. WUSF

Roe v. Wade is gone, but abortions are on the rise. The Wall Street Journal $

A Sanibel skyline? The island's homes and businesses will certainly be much taller. WUSF

When will Florida see its first freeze of the season? News Channel 8

Bible quotes in Dave Ramsey's textbook don't break the law, says hearing officer. WUSF

Several Tampa Bay area counties see increase in overdose deaths despite decrease across Florida: Study. Fox 13 News

Floridians are flocking to this hurricane ‘safe haven’. The Wall Street Journal $

See you later, not-an-alligator. The New York Times $

Tortoise lost for 3 years in Florida returns home after only 5-mile journey. Fox 13 News

Florida State football is off to its best start in nine years. Tomahawk Nation

Florida football turning around for the better, per Sports Illustrated. Gators Wire

POLITICS

Florida bill could put term limits on county commissioners. The Center Square