The Tampa City Council yesterday joined up with Mayor Bob Buckhorn in saying they will reach out to Governor Rick Scott about allowing Tampa to be exempted from the state law that prohibits local governments from making any changes regarding gun regulations.
The Mayor and Council are united in their concerns about the potential volatility that will already exist in Tampa during the Republican National Convention, when thousands of Republicans will be town along with thousands of protesters- perhaps even a few of those "anarchists" that Mayor Buckhorn used to always invoke. Buckhorn has created an ordinance making it easier for police to monitor the protesters by banning a number of items (like squirt guns). But he can't ban guns in his "event zone." Will Scott dare defy the NRA? I guess we'll find out soon enough.
Speaking of guns and the governor, coming to his defense about criticism of how stacked the deck is in his task force studying the Stand Your Ground law is Tampa Bay House Republican Will Weatherford today.
Meanwhile, another day, another judge slapping down Governor Scott – this time for his attempt to have state workers submit to random drug tests.
St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster held the first of a series of public meetings on Wednesday night regarding the city's FY2013 budget. The sentiment, at least for one night in one room, was for raising property taxes and absolutely not cutting services.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2012.