Best Of 2022

Tampa Bay Waterkeeper’s steadfast monitoring of local water quality remains crucial where we live. You know, with all the un-naturally occurring red tide courtesy of fertilizer-obsessed lawn culture and the incredibly toxic big sugar? But the organization’s work became vital after last year’s Piney Point disaster. Remember when 200 million gallons of polluted water were dumped into Tampa Bay? Whether natural, manufactured, or a combination, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper gives essential information on what’s happening in our water by using data to let locals know when the water is safe. tampabaywaterkeeper.org

People, Places and Politics

People, Places and Politics
As Governor DeSantis cracked down on the ever-elusive CRT boogeyman in public schools, James Michael Shaw Jr. had a different idea: educate the public. But the local lawyer had to do it in a creative way. He made a promo video for a “forbidden” Critical Race Theory event, which would let people know what the words actually meant, rather than just stoking fear in the public, as DeSantis is known to do. @jamesshawjr on Twitter
Tampa Police headquarters is chock full of controversy. Last year, the department was caught in close to two scandals a month. This year, the controversies are adding up. Through a public records request, CL caught the department using geofencing, a spying tactic that has caused uproar around the country, because average citizens can often get caught in an unconstitutional digital dragnet. TPD didn’t offer comment for the story.
Winner: Gabby Bakes
2. Booze & Bubbles
3. Pop Goes the Waffle
The Times editorial board knew that Judge Jared Smith had denied a 17-year-old abortion and that he was found to have abused his judicial discretion in making that decision. But the board still endorsed—or “recommended” in the paper’s eyes—the right-wing evangelist judge. As CL uncovered more disturbing behavior from Smith, the Times continued to stand by its man. But the endorsement didn’t work, and in a rare upset, Smith, an incumbent judge, lost to Nancy Jacobs. You gotta give it to the Times for sticking it out until the end. @tbtimes_opinion on Twitter
Winner: Angie Soul
2. Outdoorsy Diva
3. What’s Cooking With Julie
Winner: Thomas Mantz - Feeding Tampa Bay
2. Steve Weintraub
3. Laurie Stogniew
The Ybor Misfits started as an apartment living room project, but has grown into a local institution. So much so that the group has teamed up with the cigar-famous J.C. Newman Family to create a micro-sanctuary in Ybor, which can house several chickens in need. The Misfits also fought the city’s attempt to eradicate the chickens a few years back, which would have destroyed an important aspect of Tampa history. @theybormisfits on Instagram
Winner: St. Petersburg
2. Dunedin
3. Tampa