Saturday, July 31, 2021

July 31 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 31 Proverbs 17:1
Pray: Lord hear Your words: Better is a dry morsel with quietness, then a house full of feasting with strife.


Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM   

Friday, July 30, 2021

July 30 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 30 Proverbs 28:13
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM    

Saint Petersburg Does Not Need a Career Politician as Its Next Mayor


FLORIDA  
WEST COAST        
Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD 

Below, is a list of those people who have formally announced their endorsement for former county Commissioner Ken Welch for the office of Mayor of St. Petersburg Florida.

  • Charlie Crist, U.S. Congressman
  • Jim Davis, Former U.S. Congressman
  • Arthenia Joyner, Former State Senator
  • Rene Flowers, Pinellas County Commissioner
  • Pat Gerard, Pinellas County Commissioner
  • Charlie Justice, Pinellas County Commissioner
  • Janet Long, Pinellas County Commissioner
  • Karen Seel, Pinellas County Commissioner
  • Les Miller, Former Hillsborough Commission Chair and State Senator
  • Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County Sheriff
  • Jim Coats, Former Pinellas County Sheriff
  • Bob Stewart, Former Pinellas County Commissioner and former City Councilmember
  • Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk
  • Deborah Clark, Former Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections
  • Pam Dubov, Former Pinellas County Property Appraiser
  • Sandra Bradbury, Mayor of Pinellas Park
  • Julie Bujalski, Mayor of Dunedin
  • Sam Henderson, Mayor of Gulfport
  • Frank Hibbard, Mayor of Clearwater
  • Bob Buckhorn, Former Mayor of Tampa
  • Deborah Figgs-Sanders, St. Petersburg City Council
  • Lisa Wheeler-Bowman, St. Petersburg City Council
  • Amy Foster, St. Petersburg City Council
  • Charlie Gerdes, Former St. Petersburg City Council
  • Connie Kone, Former St. Petersburg City Council
  • Richard Butler, Pinellas Park City Council
  • Michael Fridovich, City of Gulfport City Council
  • James Oliver, City of Seminole City Council
  • Ward Frizolowski, St. Petersburg Beach City Council
  • Irene Sullivan, Judge (Ret.) and Juvenile Justice Advocate
  • Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County State Attorney
  • Ben Crump, Civil Rights Attorney
  • Sean Shaw, Attorney and Founder of People Over Profits
  • Bob Dillinger, Pinellas County/Pasco County Public Defender (Ret.)
  • Leon Jackson, Civil Rights Pioneer, Member of “The Courageous 12” and St. Petersburg Police Officer (Ret.)
  • Iman Abdul Ali, Tampa Bay Area Muslim Association
  • Pastor Louis Murphy, Mt. Zion Progressive MBC
  • Pastor J.C. Pritchett, IMA Chair, St Petersburg
  • Pastor Robert Ward, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church
  • Pastor Clarence Williams, Greater Mt. Zion AME
  • Pastor Andy Oliver, Allendale United Methodist Church
  • Rev. Dr. Manual Sykes, Manuel L. Sykes Ministries, Inc.
  • Gwendolyn Reese, CEO, African American Heritage Association
  • LJ Murphy, Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Head Football Coach at Gibbs High School
  • Bob Devin Jones, Studio@620 Founder and Artistic Director
  • Elihu & Carolyn Brayboy, Owners, Chief Creole Café and Community Developers
  • Susan Churuti, Attorney and St. Petersburg Business Owner
  • Scott Wagman, St. Petersburg Business Leader, Philanthropist and Community Activist
  • Carla Bristol, Youth Advocate and Community Activist, Urban Youth Farms
  • Eric Lynn, Former National Security Advisor 
  • Martha Lenderman, Mental Health Services Advocate
  • Vince and Robin Cocks, Community Leaders, St. Petersburg
  • Ricardo Davis, Chair, Education Advocate
  • Stephanie Owens, Vice Chair, St. Petersburg Housing Authority

There is no doubt, that Ken Welch is a dedicated politician and public servant. He spent 20 years or so serving as a member of the Pinellas County Board of County commissioners and has been active in Pinellas County politics for every one of those 20-years.

In fact, the hardest problem in dealing with Ken Welch has been to get him to honor Pinellas County's term limits, which went into effect years ago, and he has continued to ignore like a number of his Commission contemporaries.

So, it's tough to argue that Ken Welch is not the consummate politician.

The question is, can Ken Welch shed the professional politician role and turn into the leader/manager of a nearly 2500 employee public business.

Just because you can get votes, or endorsements from political cronies does not mean that you have the consummate skills to lead an organization that is as large, diverse, and complex as the city of Saint Petersburg.

In addition, St. Pete has had a mayor for the last eight years that struggles to look past 34th Street to the West and North across 18th Avenue to see the rest of the City and its needs.

If you really look at Ken Welch’s political rhetoric in this mayoral campaign, what you see is a careful pandering to the needs of select and oftentimes very loud groups in Saint Petersburg, but with no clear eye to serving those who sit quietly by year after year in northeast, northwest and southwest Saint Petersburg paying their property taxes and waiting for the city to recognize that they exist.

Saint Petersburg needs a Mayor, who can see all the way across town, from Tampa Bay to the gulf beaches. I think Robert Blackman is the right man for the job.

From the Blackmon Campaign Web site:” I’m Robert Blackmon, and I think St. Petersburg needs a fresh start and a new face leading our city as mayor. I’m a small business owner, and I’ve served as a City Council member. With experience both in the private sector and as an elected official, I know we can make local government work to better serve our community. I’m not a career politician, and I want to make St. Pete a shining city on a hill.”

Oh, about all those political endorsements. Generally speaking, elected politicians endorse formally elected politicians who are currently running for their old office or a new office in a quid pro quo to ensure that when they run for office or reelection, they get the endorsement they need.

Before you start putting too much stock in these political endorsements check some of these people out and see just how well they're doing.

E-Mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures:

Thursday, July 29, 2021

July 29 Prayer Pod

 
We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 29 Acts 24: 16
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
This being so, I myself always strive to have a good conscience without offence toward God and men.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

July 28 Prayer Pod

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 28 2 Timothy 1:7
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

 

RED TIDE RALLEY 2021

 


Tuesday, July 27, 2021

July 27 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 27 Psalm 34:4
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
I Sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

Monday, July 26, 2021

July 26 Prayer Pod

 
We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 26Isaiah 41:10  
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
Fear not for I am with you: be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

 

Sunday, July 25, 2021

July 25 Prayer Pod

 We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 25 2 Peter 1:3
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
As his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and goodness, through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

The Hillsborough County School Board Gets a Spanking


FLORIDA  
WEST COAST        

Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD 

After pawing around in its budget looking for money, the Hillsborough County School Board decided to blame a group of charter schools for their inability to produce a working budget for the 2022 school year.

Solution, not renewing charter school contracts for four Hillsborough County charter schools. The schools included Pivot, South Shore, Woodmont and Kids Community College Preparatory High serving in total about 2000 Hillsborough County students.

You can get some additional information at these links:

From The Tampa Bay Times By Jeffrey S. Solochek: A charter school about-face in Florida’s third largest district.

And,

From The Tampa Bay Times By Marlene Sokol: Hillsborough School Board reverses prior vote. Four charters to remain open.

It didn't take Florida Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran, and the State Board of education very long to react to Hillsborough’s funding treasure hunt. Corcoran indicated that if Hillsborough did not renew the four charter school contracts, he would invoke the State’s emergency authority that could hold up almost $950 million in Hillsborough County educational funding.

Just so you'll have a shorthand view of how this all works, in a nutshell, all County School Board funding that comes from the State is based on a per student funding model. In other words, the local school district gets a certain number of dollars per student, in attendance, on each day.

When a charter school is authorized by a school district in Florida, each student who enrolls in the charter school has their funding follow them to the charter school. Those funds are subtracted from the money previously paid to the local school district. So, as charter school attendance grows and their revenue reflects their growth, the local school district, in this case Hillsborough County school district, sees their revenues decline proportionately.

So, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that all this wrangling around between the State Board of Education, the Florida Commissioner of Education and Hillsborough County School District is all about money, and it has almost nothing to do with the quality of education that Hillsborough County students get.

Hillsborough County School Board members were notably upset by the Education Commissioner's actions and quoting from the article above: “We’re not criminals,” said Board Chair Lynn Gray, who is asking for written affirmation to protect the board members’ reputations.

I suspect none will be forthcoming.

In typical Hillsborough County school Board fashion, many of the board members were looking around for someone else to point the finger at, given the fact that they had just received a significant paddling from the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education.

Blaming the charter schools for the Hillsborough County educational system budget issues, just really doesn't make any sense. And attempting to close these charter schools as a means of raising their own revenue was just an unconscionable action.

For years there have been calls for the Hillsborough County School Board to reduce the administrative staff significantly and to institute cost reduction programs like closing underused facilities. They have always blamed the union for their inability to do that. Now, they blame the charter schools for not having enough money to fund their poorly organized and poorly administered educational system.

The one thing the Hillsborough County School Board did manage to avoid in this whole debacle was keeping the issue out of the court system. Their quick action in renewing the Charter contracts and trying to shove the whole charter school thing under the rug put an end to what was beginning to look like a serious legal challenge to the function and operation of the Hillsborough County school system.

All of this begs the question as to why these people get reelected repeatedly?  

The people of Hillsborough County need to think long and hard in the next few election cycles about who they're putting on the School Board and who those people are really trying to serve.

The only way things are going to change as if the voting public changes in.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures:

Saturday, July 24, 2021

July 24 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 24 Philippians 1:6
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

Friday, July 23, 2021

July 23 Prayer Pod


We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 23 Psalm 25:3
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
Indeed, let no one who waits on you be ashamed; let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM  

Governor Ron DeSantis, St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, Smelly Fish, Bad Politics

 

FLORIDA  
WEST COAST        
Opinion by:  
E. Eugene Webb PhD 

Recently, Saint Pete mayor Rick Kriseman, suffering from a bad case of total frustration with the effects of the red tide on Tampa Bay and especially the north and west quadrant of Tampa Bay, called on Governor Ron DeSantis for more help in dealing with the tons of smelly fish floating up in the North Shore and Shore Acres area and along the coast of Saint Petersburg.

DeSantis, almost immediately replied in a snarky social media post that if the good mayor simply took advantage of the programs available from the state, certain resources were available to assist in the problem.

All of this was a sort of immediate media frenzy in the local media, but quickly subsided in the face of other issues.

However, it does raise some interesting questions.

Was Saint Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman trying to deflect the smell of the dead fish onto Ron DeSantis, and give himself some breathing room while Saint Pete crews cleaned up the fish, or was he just playing some really bad Democrat/Republican politics?

The other interesting question was, did anybody bother to inform Governor DeSantis, that a lot of those dead smelly fish floating under docks and piling up along the shore in northeast Saint Petersburg, were under the docks of the city's bastion of Republican voting?

Somehow, all of this just seemed sort of disingenuous to those people who were smelling the fish and those same people who were trying to figure out who to vote for in the upcoming Saint Pete mayoral election, and perhaps in the not too distant gubernatorial election.

Mayor Kriseman rarely misses an opportunity to take a potshot at the governor, and the governor always proves to be a good target, since his responses are often off the cuff, usually snarky and not necessarily reflective of the position of the office of the governor of the state of Florida.

For now, the hubbub has died down and both the governor, and the mayor are on to new issues. However, memories are long in politics, and you can look for more of this unpleasant series of exchanges, which has been going on now for some time between the Saint Pete mayor and the Florida governor.

I don't think any of this is particularly productive for either the city of Saint Petersburg or the state of Florida.

It just makes both of them look like babbling political idiots.

E-mail Doc at mail to: dr.gwebb@yahoo.com or send me a Facebook (E. Eugene Webb) Friend request. Like or share on Facebook and follow me on TWITTER  @DOC ON THE BAY.

See Doc's Photo Gallery at Bay Post Photos.  

Disclosures:

 

Thursday, July 22, 2021

July 22 Prayer Pod



We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 22 Philippians 4:13
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM 

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

July 21 Prayer Pod

 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life

July 21 2 Corinthians 5:7
Pray: Lord hear Your words:
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen      
PLEASE SHARE TO YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM