News & Views

By blocking a public vote on police transparency, Tampa officials have shunned democracy

Councilmen Maniscalco, Viera, Citro and Miranda were against letting people vote on increased police oversight.

by Justin Garcia November 2, 2022July 13, 2025

News & Views

Tampa City Council blocks public vote on subpoena power for police review board, after pressure from chief

Council blocked the vote on subpoena power, but does think voters should decide on an independent attorney for the CRB.

by Justin Garcia November 1, 2022May 25, 2024

News & Views

Tampa police chief is lobbying city council to block a public vote on police oversight

This is the latest development in the ongoing saga of the mayor’s resistance to more police transparency.

by Justin Garcia October 31, 2022September 15, 2023

News & Views

Tampa voters could get a chance to decide on changes to police citizens review board

City council will workshop giving the CRB subpoena power an independent attorney next week.

by Justin Garcia October 25, 2022June 28, 2024

News & Views

After public outcry, Tampa leaders call for ‘radical restart’ with ‘PURE’ wastewater plans

City council members all expressed either doubt or complete disapproval of PURE as a whole.

by Ray Roa September 16, 2022May 21, 2025

News & Views

After resigning, former Tampa City Attorney Gina Grimes may return in new role

Grimes’ resignation came after turmoil with city council and problems with her public record keeping.

by Justin Garcia September 7, 2022July 2, 2025

News & Views

Tampa considers moving up to $5.5 million from solid waste to housing in 2023 budget

The idea to move the money was supported by Chief of Staff John Bennett and city council.

by Justin Garcia September 7, 2022May 25, 2024

News & Views

Tampa Bay activists demand Mayor Castor prioritize affordable housing in upcoming budget

The demonstration will happen at 8:45 a.m. on August 4, right before the mayor before presents the proposed FY2023 budget.

by Justin Garcia August 2, 2022August 17, 2023

News & Views

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor refuses to apologize for TPD’s harm to the Black community

Castor won’t apologize to a family whose father died in the hands of TPD, marking a trend of refusing to apologize for TPD’s actions.

by Justin Garcia July 13, 2022April 3, 2025

News & Views

Tampa officials stereotyped homeless people as mentally ill addicts during forum, and were corrected by experts

One expert said that the face of homelessness could look like her and anyone else affected by the housing crisis.

by Justin Garcia May 25, 2022July 1, 2025

News & Views

Tampa housing advocates call for tenant legal representation and non-secular homeless shelter

The demands come in the wake of the city denying rent stabilization during the housing crisis.

by Justin Garcia May 23, 2022December 15, 2023

News & Views

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

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

‘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 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

Tampa leaders, former mayor, decry ‘unprecedented’ friction between Castor and city council

‘I have been covering Tampa politics for 40 years and have never seen anything like what is going on at City Hall these days.’

by Justin Garcia April 8, 2022July 8, 2025

News & Views

Orlando Gudes removes himself as council chair following hostile workplace allegations

Gudes stepped down as chair today, after several councilmen have called on him to resign.

by Justin Garcia March 31, 2022April 10, 2024

News & Views

Tampa City attorney used personal phone to discuss Dingfelder case and other legal issues, records show

As of today, there are documents from Grimes’ communications still missing from the city’s public records.

by Justin Garcia March 29, 2022June 6, 2025

News & Views

Tampa City Council confirms Mary O’Connor as police chief, after outcry about the selection process

Mary O’Connor has served as TPD police chief since Feb. 8, and was confirmed by council today.

by Justin Garcia March 17, 2022May 29, 2025

News & Views

Tampa Mayor claims rent control would disrupt development, an industry that funded over half of her PAC

About 52% of Mayor Castor’s ‘Tampa Strong’ PAC was contributed by development interests.

by Justin Garcia March 14, 2022January 12, 2025