Mayor Kriseman and Police use non-action and play on resident's fear

St. Petersburg Fl

Opinion
By author: Robert Neff

A Tampa Bay Times story dated August 14, 2010 a Pasco man told the jury he killed his neighbor (over noise). While it is unfortunate and all the facts of the case are not known, this should concern City Mayors, Managers, Council Members and police. But more so, for cities that support noisy bars over residents, like St. Petersburg, Florida and Mayor Kriseman, City Council Member Kornell.  Mayor Kriseman and Police use non-action and play on resident's fear to get them to stop calling. Plus, the noise ordinance's "plainly audible" is way to deter residents. 

New Port Richey Noise Ordinance (66-Article IV) is a decibel-based system, unlike St. Petersburg, Florida, which is based on "plainly audible." 

The problem St Pete residents face is, if you live too close to a noise source such as a bar's outdoor amplified music, the police cannot enforce the ordinance, even if the your walls are shaking. 

Ask the residents near No Vacancy, located at 937 Central Avenue. The bar opened this spring. There is a pattern of repeat calls and the police and City are not monitoring the noise repeat calls. Since January 1, the 900 Block of Central has had 25 noise calls. 

Overall, the Central Avenue corridor has 78 noise calls and Beach Drive Corridor has 34 noise calls.

Residents near the now closed Flamingo Resort in the Skyway Marina District experienced a repeat call pattern with no citations, where the owner was also President of the Board for the Skyway Marina District.

No wonder residents are worried when they call, as stated by several callers. Fear from retribution or being called a trouble maker is a contributing factor why residents do not leave their name. Or the resident must live in fear of being sued by the bar. There have three residents sued. The Flamingo Resort filed a civil lawsuit against me for defamation. Judge dismissed this case. Then Edge Partners d/b/a as Flamingo Resort amended for noise nuisance and a Declaratory Act for LGBT discrimination.

The City and City Council Members have not educated residents. That is why the noise ordinance is the best-kept secret! Police Dispatch does not always tell you the noise ordinance can only be enforced if you leave you name and the officer confirms it from your apartment. 

This is contrary to a car boom box citation. Police are the witness and the distances are different for each outdoor amplified music, cars, and even resident on resident calls. 

However, the City does not understand that sound does not discriminate. Does not matter if the minimum distance is 100', 500', 1000' or more. Sound doesn't care! Nor does Mayor Kriseman and City Council Member Kornell— the noise is not in their home!

Residents are calling before 11 p.m. weekdays and midnight on Friday and Saturdays. On Central Ave, I have listened to audio of the calls and one resident said (paraphrased) the bar should not be allowed to play it that loud! But, according to the noise ordinance, the dispatch operator told the young person, that the code can’t be enforced at this time.

In May 2019, the City revised the noise ordinance, but kept the old ordinance with a few modifications to include boats, cafes, and penalties. 
The City did not change to the decibel standard. 

The City ignored the acoustic studies, which showed how bad the noise was! Worse, the City refused to have a medical expert on audible noise and low frequency (bass) noise review the acoustic studies and noise ordinance. Even though I had asked and quoted the medical reports and the World Health Organization reports that found low frequency noise had a negative impact on adult and kids health. 

The noise ordinance included a clause to reward the bars. “WHEREAS, the City intends to treat the commercial establishments who have helped the City prosper fairly and recognizes the right to free speech enjoyed by those establishments and their need to utilize amplified sound as a means of continuing their successful commercial endeavors; and” several clauses supporting noise medical impact. The City leadership has demonstrated a lack of concern for the medical impact to resident's health.  

From January 1 to August 27, 2019, there have been 2,286 calls for noise. In 2018, there were only 2,517 calls. 

Since the new noise ordinance was signed on May 23, 2019, there have been 728 calls in 97 days. Under the old noise ordinance from January 1 to May 22, there were 1,558 calls made in 142 days. 

St. Petersburg, the data and emails show Police and the City are not enforcing the noise ordinance. The Mayor and City Council Member Kornell are the City’s most ardent protector of the bar noise.

Mayor Kriseman won’t tell us why he asked the Police Chief to enforce the noise ordinance for two weeks because there is a revised noise issue and this would make the public feel like the City was engaged. See April 11, 2017 email below.

Kornell was Committee Chair for the PS&I responsible for the noise ordinance joked about the noise at a PS&I meeting when he whispered to to poke fun at the noise ordinance. Here is Kornell supporting the bars, https://youtu.be/xtf8fzU3O4M

Council Member Kornell worked with Flamingo Owner and Skyway Marina Board President Jack Dougherty, and Community Service Officer Kelly to develop a strategy to deal with a resident who complained about the noise. I am that constituent and resident, see the email below.

In the City's defense (sort of), there has been at least one citation for a bar in the 1100 Central Ave area. One caller, said Tyrst had an infringement. A Public Request has been submitted to the City to confirm the noise warnings and citations to residents and bars.

Why is the Media silent?

The media is not investigating the noise issue! They are only publishing sensational articles to support the downtown bars. The noise issue outside downtown has been ignored. The Tampa Bay Times and news media are notably absent. The media feeds the City's myth that the noise issue is a downtown issue, when it is a city-wide issue.

The opinions here are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bay Post Internet or the Blog Publishers where it appears.

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A Tale of Two Cities and Sea-Level Rise - St. Petersburg

First - St. Petersburg, Florida

Tampa Bay, Fl   
Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD                                  Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.

Now  a look at two bay area cities and their view and approach to sea-level rise. First St. Petersburg...

St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman has made a big issue out of Climate change.

Unfortunately, most of his concerns are more political than practical.

What is important is the fact that Kriseman’s efforts have been more politically grandiose than effective and in reality, his actions would indicate a complete lack of understanding of the primary impact of climate change on Florida: sea-level rise and storm surge due to tropical storms.

Here is a quote from a Kriseman Campaign Flyer: “Because of the dangers climate change poses to our city, I pledged to transition St. Pete to a 100% clean energy city. We are preparing for rising seas, volatile weather, and increases in the number of powerful storms.”

If Kriseman and his administration were actually capable of reaching that goal, which they are not, it is unlikely that it would stop the water rising in Tampa Bay.

High tide flooding is already prevalent along the downtown coast line of St. Petersburg and will continue to get worse.

Clean energy and “carbon footprint” are two of the key buzz words in the climate-change  argument. These two terms are invoked by politicians because they are the mechanisms' whereby massive amounts of money can be made by prospective large campaign contributors.

Let’s look at two of the most glaring examples of Kriseman's real sea-level rise position.

If you really believe in climate change, then you must accept the fact that the sea level is going to rise.

When you are the Mayor of a low-lying coastal City, your climate-change concerns should be how do I protect my City practically and financially. And how do I make development decisions that are not compromised by the impending results of climate change over the next two decades.

Downtown development – Pier Park

Kriseman has pushed the $20+ million development of Pier Park, which essentially sets at sea level. Was that a wise utilization of public funds?

Thinking in the climate change/sea rise level rise community says that Beach Drive will likely be somewhere between 2nd and 3rd Avenue if the sea-level rise predictions are even close to being accurate.

Maybe a better expenditure of those funds would have been to begin to set aside funds to buy back coastal lands to eliminate the impending disaster.

Renewable energy, green buildings and all the rest of the climate-change hoopla make great political fodder, but a Mayor, who believes that the climate is actually changing will not waste his taxpayer’s money on things the results of climate change and sea-level rise may swallow well before the end of their useful life.

Wastewater treatment – The South West Wastewater Plant

News Channel 8 Jeff Paterson September 15, 2016: St. Pete mayor blames climate change for release of wastewater into Tampa Bay

Kriseman must not bother to read his own press clippings.

The South West Wastewater treatment plant literally sets at sea level. However, he is pouring millions into this sea level endangered facility and making plans for it to become the major wastewater treatment facility for the entire City.

What happened to his climate-change argument in this scenario?

More importantly what will St. Pete do when the water level starts to rise at the South West plant, or a major storm surge makes it inoperable?

That’s a climate change/sea rise level rise question that deserves an answer.

These are just two of the sea level rise issues Rick Kriseman has created while he “worries” about climate change.

Climate change with Rick Kriseman is the same as it is with all Democrat politicians. It is a great stump speech issue, but when it comes down to applying the climate-change problem to real-life decisions, Rick Kriseman simply does not have the will.

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:

Please comment below.

Feds Eyeing Public Corruption Throughout Florida

Tampa, Fl
Tampa Bay Beat
By: Jim Bleyer

August 13, 2019 - 6:24 am

 Seventh Avenue, Ybor City

 By Jim Bleyer

The guilty pleas entered last week by former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox and a confidante is not the end of public corruption investigations in Florida.

That’s the word from Lawrence Keefe, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, and sources at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Maddox and Paige Carter-Smith have agreed to cooperate with law enforcement authorities about other possible misdeeds in Tallahassee and Leon County.

A sentencing date for the pair has been set for Nov. 19.  They could receive up to 25 years in prison on fraud and income tax charges for their role in helping ride share giant Uber get a favorable ordinance in exchange for cash and accepting payments from a developer that turned out to be an FBI front company.

But Keefe declared the Maddox investigation should put all Florida public officials on notice.

“A public office is a sacred trust,” Keefe told the Tallahassee Democrat in the wake of the Maddox and Carter-Smith plea deals.

The FBI never discusses its ongoing investigations but the agency should look at Hillsborough County if it isn’t already.   

In his 2018 re-election campaign, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan solicited and accepted donations from real estate interests that stand to benefit from construction of a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays in Ybor City.

St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field, considered antiquated by 2019 standards, has been the home of the Rays since they first took the field in 1998.  Despite recent success,  attendance has perennially stood at or near the bottom of the 30 major league baseball teams.

 Hagan persists in promoting Rays stadium in Ybor City.

Owner Stuart Sternberg has maintained that a new stadium will solve the team’s attendance woes and found a ready and more-then-willing ally in Hagan.  Talks between the Rays, Hillsborough County, and the City of Tampa  struck out last year when it was determined no public funding existed to finance a $850 million stadium in Ybor, even with Sternberg willing to chip in $200 million.

Ybor City as the site for a new Rays home has always been puzzling. Low and middle income families would be displaced.  One of the country’s iconic historic districts would be destroyed. And the rationale for any projected attendance increase never has been documented.

But Darryl Shaw, who acquired thousands of acres around Ybor, and Jeff Vinik, whose Water Street Tampa project is in nearby Channelside, would reap benefits from the increased traffic generated by a new ballpark.

Sternberg’s latest canard—sharing the franchise with the city of Montreal—has not being taken seriously by most observers.  St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman did not disguise his disdain for the scheme.  His initial response:

“The Rays cannot explore playing any Major League Baseball games in Montreal or anywhere else for that matter prior to 2028, without reaching a formal memorandum of understanding with the City of St. Petersburg,” Kriseman said. “Ultimately, such a decision is up to me. And I have no intention of bringing this latest idea to our city council to consider. In fact, I believe this is getting a bit silly.”

The City of St. Petersburg continues to investigate whether or not Sternberg violated the terms of his lease agreement which decrees he must get permission to discuss relocation with representatives of other geographical entities.

As for Hagan, he continues to promote Ybor City for a Rays Stadium, despite  the fanciful prospect of sharing a split season with Montreal.  Hagan and Sternberg, at least publicly, are a minority of two in that respect.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the Maddox plea deal, federal law enforcement authorities have put Florida politicians on notice that violations of that “sacred trust” will be prosecuted.

Cross Posted with permission from: Tampa Bay Beat

This post is contributed by Tampa Bay Beat. The views and opinions expressed in this post are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of Bay Post Internet or the publisher.

Sea Level Rise – Where the real battle will be waged? Part 3

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE SEA-LEVEL RISE.

Tampa Bay, Fl 

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.

It all starts very simply. You live or have your business on the coast. At super-high tide you notice, there is some water in the street. In a year or so the same tide is now up in your yard or over the sidewalk in front of your business.

 Next year, there is some water in your garage, or you show up to open for business, there is about an inch of water on the floor. No real problem you call your insurance company to file a small claim, they pay the claim and 30 days later cancel your insurance. Try as hard as you can you cannot find an insurance carrier will now write you a policy.

 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Note the year of the referenced report: 1992

Source: Sea Level Rise Issues And Potential Management Options For Local Governments 1992

Established in 1968 the program is administered by the Federal Insurance Administration which is component of FEMA.

Real Dangers of Sea Level  Rise - E. Eugene Webb PhD

“The program was intended to prevent or discourage unwise development but in fact, development has actually been encouraged by the availability of subsidized insurance. Rising sea level and the continuation of the NFIP will result in increased government spending of federal tax dollars to provide insurance for unwise development to a very small percentage of the population.”

Probably sooner rather than later, the Federal Flood Insurance Program will be modified to limit, if not, exempt property located in the predicted sea-level rise areas.

The simple reason is the cost will be prohibitive.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE SEA-LEVEL RISE.

Sea Level Rise Strategies for local Government
E.Eugene Webb PhD

As much as we might like to think the Federal Government, and perhaps the State Government will bail out all of us who live near the coast, the fact is they cannot and will not. While the politicians use climate change and sea-level rise to scare people and denigrate their political competition to get votes they have no big scale solution because there simply isn’t one.

Sea-level rise is ultimately a local issue affecting thousands of communities and millions of people. When the streets begin to flood at high tide, and what once was a marsh is now a bay with gradually rising water, when wastewater treatment plants conveniently located next to water ways are inundated the battle will be lost.

There is a no more formidable enemy than the ocean history has shown us that fact.

The questions are:

• Will cities and counties change the building and development codes to stop building in sea level endangered areas?
• Will cities and counties commit resources to buy back lands endangered by the sea-level rise?
• Is there enough political courage to take on big developers?
• When will the property insurers stop insuring property in predicted sea level flood zones?
• Will the Federal Government insure these properties and protect the owners?
• Who will actually pay the final tab for the sea-level rise – the property owners or all of us?
• In the final analysis, as the sea level rises and people begin to find themselves with property, homes and business that they cannot get insured, occupy or sell what will they do?
• Turn to the politicians? Their solution is hiring another consultant.
• Turn to the insurance companies? They will have long ago lobbied in laws to protect themselves.
• Turn to the scientist for a fix? They will simply say, “We warned for over a decade.”
• So, what can you do?

For now, becoming aware of where your property is located in the sea-level flooding data is a good start. If you are already noticing what look like menacing high tides, it may be time to think about relocating.

Sea-level rise is not about “if” is about “when." You need to take the steps to protect your investment in your business and home now.

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:

Please comment below.

Raise Gas Tax to Spend Less on Transportation

Tampa, Fl
From: Eye On Tampa Bay
Posted by: Sharon Calvert

Historically, ad valorem property tax revenues always funded transportation and road projects in Hillsborough County. However, when the recession hit in 2008, all property taxes that was funding transportation was diverted to other items and areas to balance the budget.

As the local economy recovered, those revenues were not re-diverted back to fund transportation and roads.

That finally changed in September 2016 when that Hillsborough County Commission approved a 10 year transportation funding policy.

BOCC Board Policy 03.05.09.00 purpose was "to establish a fiscal policy of the Board of County Commissioners (“BOCC”) that transportation is one of Hillsborough County’s top priorities and that the proposed annual tentative budget for each fiscal year through FY 26 will reflect increases in funding for transportation uses".

The intent of the policy was to use the growth of existing revenues, including the growth of ad valorem property and sales tax revenues, to fund transportation and much needed new road capacity projects in Hillsborough County. The policy specifically excluded mobility fees and any new gas tax fee if implemented after the policy was in place. Those additional transportation revenue sources were intended to SUPPLEMENT the revenues included in the 10 year transportation funding policy.

BOCC 10 year transportation funding policy - mobility fees & any new gas taxes were to SUPPLEMENT transportation funding

The $812 million transportation funding plan is still in place but we posted here about the attempt to get rid of that funding plan - even as all the legal issues with the All for Transportation $16 Billion transit tax are not yet resolved.

The attempt to officially begin tearing apart the $812 million funding plan starts at tomorrow's BOCC meeting. On the BOCC meeting agenda is item B-2 Revision to BOCC Transportation Funding Policy

 to:

Approve by supermajority vote the proposed revision to BOCC Policy Section Number 03.05.09.00 regarding transportation funding to provide that the Five Cents Local Option Fuel Tax, if levied by the BOCC, is an eligible funding source under the policy.

What this change does is raise the gas tax on Hillsborough County residents without providing any additionaltransportation funding - that the BOCC stated was a top priority of the county.

It takes a super majority to implement any change to the 10 year transportation funding policy. It will take at least 5 commissioners to vote for the change.

And any commissioner who votes for this change is voting to raise taxes and spend less on transportation.

Posted by Sharon Calvert at 3:05 PM 

This post is contributed by EYE ON TAMPA BAY. The views expressed in this post are the blog publisher's and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of Bay Post Internet.

Cross Posted with permission from: Eye On Tampa Bay

Put Down The Vape PEN – The Results Could Be Devastating

Vaping now has an even greater danger in the Hillsborough County School System.

Tampa Bay, Fl

Opinion by: E. Eugene Webb PhD 
Author: In Search of Robin, So You Want to Blog.

The Hills borough County School Board is cracking down on vaping with a “Put Down The Pen campaign announced this past week. The program is getting support from Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.

You can see the announcement at WFLA News Channel 8, Rod Carter: Put down the pen’ campaign warning students about vaping in Hillsborough schools.

This all seems well-intention but came with a serious warning from Sheriff Chronister: “That’s the unfortunate part. You make a poor decision when it comes to being in possession of a felony substance, you’re going to jail for a felony, and we all know how life-altering that is,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.

The consequences are serious, and the implementation of this policy requires great care on the part of the school system.

If they search your child’s backpack and find THC or any drug, for that matter, a quick over reaction by the school staff and or the Sheriff’s Department may seriously affect your child’s future for the rest of his or her life. Serious investigation needs to occur before any charges are filed.

It should not be lost on anyone that an individual slipping some THC, any drugs, or a vaping pen into another’s backpack and then reporting it is not the least bit far fetched in today’s world and proving that happened may be difficult.

It seems a bit odd to me that given the efforts over the last few years or so at developing diversion programs and other efforts to reduce felony arrests of children we seem to be threatening to take a step backwards.

There also needs to be a serious effort to ensure this policy is enforced fairly and uniformly and not create a situation where the wealthy can buy their way out while the poor suffer the consequences.

If you have a child in the Hillsborough County School system, you should watch this effort very closely and make sure your children know and understand how devastating something like this can be.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of Sheriff Chronister and have been since the beginning of his tenure as Sheriff. This just may be the Sheriff’s out-front effort at supporting the school board as they deal with what is a serious problem.

I don’t think anything hurts Sheriff Chronister any more than seeing a child get tangled up in the juvenile justice system. 

Everyone from the school staff to the Sheriff’s Deputies needs to take a measured approach to this problem every time it occurs.

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:

Please comment below.