Tampa — the next Vegas?

I like Las Vegas. The casinos, free drinks, bright flashy lights rivaling Times Square — it's like a playground for adults. Even if you visit on a reporter's budget, there's a wealth of fun and free things to do. On nice nights, just walking down the Strip, sipping on a flask of whiskey and watching the mini-movies on huge digital billboards is enough for me.

But I don't think I'd want to live there. Or drive there. One reason is the aforementioned digital billboards. They're distracting, contribute enormously to light pollution and look, well, like Vegas. And I'd hate like hell to live near one.

That's why the city of Tampa's near approval of such digital billboards is a bit disconcerting.

This article appears in Nov 26 – Dec 2, 2008.