In the 12 years I've lived here, there's always been a bit of a cultural clash evident between the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County. Though it's becoming clear that elected officials in both local governments get along and are working together productively much better than in the recent past, the divide on certain issues, such as gay rights, continues to be pronounced.
While Hillsborough County remains the largest county in this state that does not include gays in its human rights ordinance, members of the Tampa City Council voted yesterday to bring back before them in a few weeks an ordinance that would establish a domestic partner registry for city residents.
The issue of homelessness is something that the city and county are battling with, as virtually all large municipalities in this country are. On Thursday friends and supporters of the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County gathered in Tampa for the group's annual fundraising lunch.
This weekend brings us two major award shows for those who love the movies. For those of us who appreciate independent film (and wish there was more of it shown in Tampa Bay), there are the Independent Spirit Awards tomorrow night from Santa Monica, and of course the Oscars from Hollywood on Sunday evening.
And if you can, check out the special Games issue of CL currently in our red boxes throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas County. This reporter focuses the spotlight on an unheralded local Temple Terrace resident and schoolteacher who is gunning to participate in his fifth Olympics this summer.
This article appears in Feb 23-29, 2012.