1. It turns out that developer welfare in Tampa Bay goes way beyond just local politicians giving away services, this article shows us how local developers got over a billion dollars in federal government subsidies.
2. Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Ken Hagan toyed with the idea of the Rays coming to Hillsborough. I wonder who he thinks will fund that stadium? Maybe those rich developers getting the big tax breaks! uh-huh.
3. County Commissioner Kevin White (yes, the same White that a jury recently found had sexually harassed his young aide) had over 200 supporters at a fundraiser this week. Are his supporters loyal to a fault or maybe they just don't read the paper or WTF? One look at the guest list might help you decide. According to this article the attendees included Vin Marchetti, one of our favorite paid sprawl pushing attorneys as well as Vic Dimaio campaign consultant who just happens to also be the lobbyist for the PTC (recall White is the Chair of the PTC) uh-huh. I hope they held a fundraiser to help White pay back the nearly $500,000 his suit (the sexual harassing one not the Italian ones) cost the taxpayers! Meanwhile his opponents have done nothing to capitalize on his obvious shortcomings. Maybe he is the best candidate?
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2010.