After a spirited debate amongst themselves, the Tampa City Council today passed on second hearing today an ordinance regulating the rules for behavior during the week of the Republican National Convention in the section declared the "Event Zone," extending the boundaries slightly from its passage of the original ordinance passed two weeks ago.
The final vote was 4-2, with Council members Yolie Capin and Mary Mulhern dissenting (Charlie Miranda was absent from the final vote).
But there is still widespread distaste among the board that such a zone will ban ropes and chains longer than 6 feet long, locks, gas masks, water guns, and glass bottles – but not concealed weapons.
After they voted for the Event Zone, the Council then discussed authorize crafting separate letters to be sent to various federal agencies and lawmakers – including again Governor Rick Scott – asking that the Secret Service be allowed to expand the part of the convention area that they will control to include the Event Zone. As the convention has been declared a National Special Security Event, which allows the Secret Service to become the lead agency for the event. That discussion will resume next at next week's Council meeting.
This article appears in May 17-23, 2012.