An Open Letter To All St. Petersburg City Employees

My name is Gene Webb, I have been writing in this Blog Post for the last couple of years since I retired.

For a total of 29 years I was a City employee, Assistant Director of the ICS Department for 24 years, and for the last five years Manager of the IT Division at the Police Department.

Many of you know or remember me, there are probably a lot who do not. You'll hear a lot of stories about me. Some funny, some sad, some serious and some not so serious, but the one thing I believe you will always hear is I was honest with those who worked with me and for me.

There are a lot of people trying to convince you that if Kathleen Ford becomes Mayor all hell will break loose. People will be fired right and left, departments will be eliminated, union agreements will be broken, negotiations with unions will be damaged the list goes on and on.

None of that could be further from the truth. And I want to tell you why.

First, I had a great career with the City. I was treated with respect and most of all with honesty. It does not matter if you are a field worker, team leader, union member, fire fighter, police officer, sergeant, lieutenant, major, captain, supervisor, manger, assistant director, director, or administrator; St. Petersburg is a good place to work and you have a great career.

No matter who gets elected there will be some changes. It has happened with every new Mayor since the strong Mayor came into being.

I have known Kathleen Ford for a long time. When she was on City Council I worked on a very serious and difficult series of problems and had a weekly two on one reporting meeting with her for months. Often I would appear at City Council meetings. I discovered the secret to working with Kathleen.

 It is just this simple. Tell her the truth. Good news or bad news tell her the truth. That's it.

Kathleen Ford is not going to show up at City Hall on the day after she is sworn in with a list of people to fire. How do I know? She told me so. And she goes by that tell the truth rule.

Here is what she said in paraphrase. I have a set of goals and objectives. We will put together a staff and a team that can support those goals and objectives over a reasonable period of time and then start working together to accomplish those goals and objectives for St. Petersburg.

My take is if,  like me, you enjoy public service, like working for the City and want to get back to serving the citizens of St. Petersburg for the first time in a long time, you are going to able to get back to it, know where you are going and how to get there.

You will have a Mayor and a leader focused totally on making St. Petersburg a better place that truly appreciates you and your contributions.

There will be no running through City Hall and MSC with a machete lopping of staff members, as some have suggested. There cannot be and there will not be. There is too much at stake, to many problems and way too many really good people to approach the problems that way.

Kathleen knows that.

I have been told by staff members if Ford is elected they will simply quit. That is certainly your choice, but I would suggest you think a bit before making that decision. Don't be influenced by the rumors. Don't throw way a good career based on political scare tactics and don't waste your vote.

The City needs a Mayor focused on St. Petersburg, not wrapped up and beholden to party politics; a Mayor that can provide a direction and leadership.

Kathleen Ford is right for right now.

When you mark your mail in Ballot, go to vote, don't vote against someone, vote for something. Don't vote  rumors or the self serving fears of others. Vote for what will work for St. Pete.

If you have a question call me at 727-510-4266. I'll be happy to answer your questions.

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.

Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Kathleen Ford Campaign, Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg

The FUD Affect

FUD - Fear Uncertainty and Doubt.

It is the key tactic used in political campaigns when the opposition is in a panic about losing.

The FUD Affect is in full bloom in the St. Pete mayoral election.

The level of concern among those who have run St. Petersburg for a long time and those who feed off of them  is at epic levels.

You don't need PolitiFact or a poll, just look in your mail box.

The real question is, why? What are they really afraid of?

Part of the answer is the people that want to build the LENS, protect Beach Drive, fawn over the Rays, focus on downtown and generally have someone in the mayor's office they can manipulate are genuinely scared to death of Kathleen Ford.

Just the thought of the neighborhoods getting back into a power position drives the politically connected crazy.

Oh they mouth all the words about wanting the neighborhoods in the political process and then do all they can to stop the people from having a real say.

Notice that the people behind the Ford smear efforts are careful to hide their identity behind a Political Action Committee as I predicted in Where is Rick Baker.

You have to sort through all of this stuff and come to your own conclusion.   

If you read through the Ford Files, the slick print smear mail, and the editorial trash talk carefully, what you will see is Kathleen Ford is a  person of conviction who does not sway in the wind blown by the politically connected and the powerful. That's the problem.

You may question the zeal but it's hard to question Kathleen Ford's dedication.

I think Kathleen Ford will make a great Mayor because she will do the right thing. Not the Chamber of Commerce thing, not the Beach Drive thing, not the Arts Council thing, not the downtown thing, but the right thing. Kathleen Ford knows there is a St. Petersburg south of central and West of 16th Street.

When you vote don't be swayed by the FUD factor.

They are just trying to steal your opportunity to finally be heard in City Hall once again.

They want a marshmallow mayor who can't lead and they can manipulate, or someone so beholden to the party he can't really concentrate on the City so the power brokers can go about business as usual.

Kathleen Ford knew all of this would happen, she knew she would be attacked, and she knew the attacks would be personal, yet she had the courage to run for Mayor.

Now, you need to have the courage to vote for her.

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Kathleen Ford Campaign, Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg.

Have your say.  VOTE YES TO Stop The Lens.

Be sure to mark your mail in ballot, sign the back of the envelope and mail it right away

SUNDAY August 4, 2013

St. Pete Elections
If you work for the City of St. Petersburg and missed my Open Letter to City of St. Petersburg Employees, take a look. You might also want to check out the latest adventures of Elroy and Cletus in The Legend of the Big Bed Pan - It's Time to Vote.

Things have been relatively quiet in the City Council, Races  with the exception of Steve Gavin candidate in District 8. His campaign was totally unraveled by the Tampa Bay Times Anna M. Phillips. Here are links to most of the stories St. Petersburg City Council candidate lies about lawsuit and paternity, City Council candidate Steve Galvin's campaign manager quits and Galvin's wife stands by her husband's candidacy in email to Pinellas commissioner.

Bill Edwards finally jumped into the political arena last week he and his wife each donated $500 to Bill Foster.  Still no word from former Mayor Rick Baker.

Here is the Mayoral debate Schedule for next week:
August 5, 6:30 pm
Harris Park NA and LWV Candidates’ Forum
Roberts Recreation Center
1246 50th Avenue North

August 6, 7:00 pm
Times/Bay New 9 Mayoral Debate                            
The Palladium - All Tickets Taken -
Watch Live On Bay News9
253 5th Avenue North

August 12, 7:00 pm
Northeast Park NA/ LWV Mayoral Forum              
The Masonic Home
3201 First Street NE 

August 15, 6:00 pm
Mayoral Forum At City Hall             
Council Chambers - City Hall
175 - 5th Street North

August 20, 7:00 pm
Azalea NA, Crossroads NA/LWV Mayoral Debate
Azalea Baptist Church
7900 22nd Avenue North

I have stayed out of the Martin/Zimmerman debate, I'll let the more informed wrestle with this one, but I will say Jessie Jackson's remarks about Florida were over the top and Governor Scott was right to call him out on it. I don't give much credit or validity to anything Sharpton or Jackson say. They tend to follow the TV cameras rather than frame the issues.

Education
In true Bill Foster fashion "I'll do anything to get media attention" The Mayor announced his new education initiative. If Foster  is so hot on education why did he dump Lori Matway in the first place? Don't give me the old budget excuse. Education is either important or it isn't. Another Foster flip flop.

The Florida State Education Commissioner. Tony Bennett, was forced to resign do to a growing grades scandal in his previous position a as Indiana Education Superintendent. We just can't seem to get the education system on the right track in Florida.

Back to school is underway, this is back to school tax free weekend, today is the last day.

Musings
If you missed my conversation with the PIER About The LENS check it out.

If your mail in ballot showed up and you have not yet voted it, rummage around on the table where you throw all that stuff, find the ballot and vote.  To STOP THE LENS vote YES on the Ballot question, and be sure to sign the back of the mail-in envelope.

Red light cameras were back in the news this week as more and more studies question their effectiveness. Here is how the mayoral candidates stand: Ford is against them, Foster is for them, and in true political "I can't get anything done form" Kriseman is for them and against them.

If that logo on the Duke Power trucks kind of looks like someone giving you the finger---they are. Even though they are cancelling Levy County the nuke plant, currently they plan to keep the money you paid to build it. As long as the Public Service commission remains the property of the utility industry not much will change.  

Next Week
Check out my Post The FUD Effect.

Have a great Sunday --Doc 

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.

Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Kathleen Ford Campaign, Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg

Have your say.  VOTE YES TO Stop The Lens.

Be sure to mark your mail in ballot, sign the back of the envelope and mail it right away.

Vote on The Pier Press Conferenc

Vote on The Pier held a press conference at City Hall Friday August 2 at 3:00PM. The event has gone largely unreported.  Several leaders from Vote on The Pier and Concerned Citizens spoke regarding current events related to the LENS question on the Ballot.

Also present and speaking were City Council member Wengay Newton and Mayoral candidate Kathleen Ford.

Click here to see the Press Conference.

If you are concerned or confused about the information showing up in your mail box or in the local newspaper, the video is worth a watch.

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.

Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Kathleen Ford Campaign, Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg

Have your say.  VOTE YES TO Stop The Lens.

Be sure to mark your mail in ballot, sign the back of the envelope and mail it right away.

A Conversation about the LENS with ---The Pier

This is a Re-post with edits from a while back.

Everyone has weighed in on the Pier replacement except for the Pier itself. So I powered up the boat and headed over to the Pier for a chat.

The sky was vivid blue and the colors of the old inverted pyramid were truly beautiful. It was early and only a few tourists and fishermen had arrived for the day; some runners trotted down the approach.

I motored up slowly, dropped anchor and put out a fishing pole so I would not look insane sitting there talking to a large inverted, inanimate object.

After a few minutes of contemplation I looked at the Pier and said "Hi I'm Doc." Nothing...

Again, "High I'm Doc, I would like to talk to you."

There was some rumbling, sounded a bit like someone clearing their throat.

I ventured on: "I want to talk to you about your replacement - the LENS."

The Pier replied, "I was wondering if anyone would get around to checking with me."

"You know I'm fine. Feeling great. I could use a little sprucing up, but really I'm fine. The problem is with that approach over there. You should probably go talk to him. If he could hold up his end of the deal we wouldn't be in this predicament."

I said, "You know the LENS selection Committee thinks you’re past your prime, old hat, out of date."

The Pier responded, "You know they had some of those meetings out here with me. What was interesting is that was the first time I had seen some of those folks in a long time."

The Pier continued, "It would have been nice if some of my regulars like the guy who shows up several times a week to fish for a few hours, the nice lady who comes regularly to feed the Pelicans, some of my regular diners, the couple who got married out here a while back had been on that committee."

I asked, "What about a new purpose, a new vision, a new image for St. Pete? Something different?"

The Pier, sounding a bit agitated, "So how many other inverted Pyramids are there in the US? "

"I have been here for over 25 years, been through storms and hurricanes, good times and bad times. I don't bother the fish much, In fact they actually like to hang out down there. Do you really think that LENS thing will make it through the first big storm?”

"How do you feel about the public having a vote?" I pressed on.

"Well", the Pier responded, "There are millions and millions of pictures of me all over the world. I been good ambassador for my City and everybody seems to really love me. I trust the folks in my City and I think they know what's best. The boys at City Hall, I'm not so sure about. Whatever the people decide would be fine with me."

"Any final thoughts?", I asked.

The Pier sighed and said, "If they really decide to replace me, I hope they don't blow me up for some movie, or haul me away on a barge to make an artificial reef somewhere, or cut me up for scrap.

"I would like some parts of me made available for those who would like a remembrance of the good times, great fishing, the wonderful memories I have been a part of. "

The Pier went on, "It's been really great to stand here all of these years and watch over my City. Years and years of sunrises and sunsets. It's a pretty good gig ya know. I get to see older couples stroll hand in hand, to be a part of weddings, only to see them returning in a few years with their children."

“I get to help boaters find their way to the marina and pilots to the airport. I get to watch my City grow and prosper. I love this place...and I know it loves me." "I'll really miss the people."

There was a long pause...I really did not know what to say....

Then the Pier said, "Doc?" "Yeah", I replied.

The Pier kind of chuckled, "I think you got a bite."

"After you clean that fish, why don't come on up for a drink and a sunset. The drinks' on you... but the sunset is on me."

"And by the way, if you Post this, can you use a real pretty picture? I need all the help I can get"

e-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net, or send me a Facebook Friend request.

Campaign Disclosures: Contributor to Kathleen Ford Campaign, Darden Rice Campaign, Concern Citizens of St. Petersburg

Have your say.  VOTE YES TO Stop The Lens.

Be sure to mark your mail in ballot, sign the back of the envelope and mail it right away