Chicken Adobo and Open-Air Laundry
Plus, a fatal shooting in North Hyde Park, more cops for Tampa, and Papa is a happy dude.
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
$ = subscription may be required
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
$ = subscription may be required
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
ABOUT US
Editors: Judith M. Gallman and Stephen Buel
Be a Navigator: The Navigator is seeking contributors