Tampa city attorneys eye construction law changes after City Center at Hanna Avenue debacle

Following months of controversy, city attorneys are looking to change local laws to increase transparency and accountability.

by Justin Garcia May 19, 2022May 31, 2025

News & Views

Florida ACLU calls on Tampa City Council to give police review board independent attorney and subpoena power

The changes could potentially give the board more tools to examine Tampa Police Department behavior.

by Justin Garcia May 18, 2022November 12, 2023

News & Views

Tampa police body camera footage adds new details of innocent Black woman’s violent arrest

The woman was detained when police pulled her fiance over in July 2021.

by Justin Garcia May 17, 2022June 30, 2025

Arts & Entertainment

Asian American Pacific Islander festival comes to Tampa’s Water Works this weekend

The festival will feature cultural performances, information-resource tables, food trucks and more to celebrate AAPI culture and heritage.

by Sofía García Vargas May 13, 2022July 13, 2025

News & Views

As she called for transparency, Tampa Mayor kept public in the dark about DOJ investigation, city center project

“At the end of the day, it’s all taxpayers’ money, and the people deserve to know the issues that Mayor Castor has withheld from the public.”

by Justin Garcia May 11, 2022July 12, 2025

News & Views

Nikki Fried tours damaged apartments at Tampa’s Silver Oaks, pledges to address security guard issues and more

Lawsuits are not out of the question.

by Justin Garcia May 10, 2022July 3, 2025

News & Views

‘The mayor has left a trail of dishonesty’: Jane Castor’s latest claims about Tampa’s ‘crime free’ housing program under scrutiny

Under federal investigation for the second time, Castor says media is wrong about ‘crime free’ but the facts say otherwise

by Justin Garcia May 3, 2022July 28, 2025

News & Views

Tampa’s ‘crime-free’ housing program is under federal investigation, but the city is still defending it

DOJ is looking into crime-free, which has been reworked and rebranded under a new moniker, ‘SAFE’

by Justin Garcia April 29, 2022March 27, 2025

News & Views

Tampa police officer who violently arrested innocent Black woman has a history of violations

Brigitte Curbelo has past violations and is named in a lawsuit about a separate arrest.

by Justin Garcia April 28, 2022June 13, 2025

News & Views

Tampa police add controversial mute function to body worn cameras

St. Petersburg police have opted not to make the functions available.

by Justin Garcia April 27, 2022July 30, 2025

News & Views

Tampa City Council takes first step towards ordinance requiring 60 days notice before rent increase

The ordinance would also make it so that renters on month-to-month leases would receive 30 days notice.

by Justin Garcia April 21, 2022April 27, 2025

News & Views

Tampa councilwoman pledges action to address problems at Silver Oaks Apartments

Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak pledged to work with every available regulatory agency to address the problems.

by Justin Garcia April 20, 2022July 25, 2024

News & Views

For Earth Day, the City of Tampa is giving away trees

Should’ve done it on 4/20.

by Brandalynn Nuñez Cepeda April 19, 2022April 23, 2025

News & Views

Tampa’s Silver Oak Apartments threatens tenants with eviction after they exposed infrastructure problems

The surprise inspection and threat of eviction come just days after tenants highlighted glaring infrastructure problems at the complex.

by Justin Garcia April 18, 2022May 18, 2025

News & Views

Tampa’s Silver Oaks Apartments is deterring media and relief volunteers from entering the troubled complex

Tenants at the complex should be allowed to have guests under federal and state laws, but management is deciding who can come in and out.

by Justin Garcia April 15, 2022July 31, 2024

News & Views

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor waited over 5 months to admit she approved controversial Hanna Ave project

Castor’s revelation comes as she discusses more transparency and accountability for city staff and council.

by Justin Garcia April 14, 2022July 26, 2025

News & Views

Before she was Tampa’s police chief, Mary O’Connor oversaw two racially-biased programs, files show

Records show that O’Connor had direct involvement with ‘Biking While Black’ and ‘Renting While Black.’

by Justin Garcia April 13, 2022August 5, 2025

News & Views

Tampa City Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak, a progressive from a working class family, says she’ll listen to the community

The councilwoman, sworn in to council today, represents all of Tampa in the District 3 at-large seat.

by Justin Garcia April 7, 2022June 13, 2025

News & Views

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a councilman, and the media clash over transparency at press conference

The conference occurred as tensions rise between the administration and city council.

by Justin Garcia April 6, 2022June 5, 2025

News & Views

Here are the 23 people who are vying for Tampa’s vacant City Council seat

The candidates are set to be interviewed by council on Tuesday, April 5.

by Justin Garcia April 1, 2022June 13, 2025