Sunday July 7, 2013

The LENS
We got some new renderings of the LENS this week. You can see them here: LENS Renderings. Best comment so far:"Still looks like a toilet seat to me". No word yet on what Maltzan is billing, if anything , for the work.

Jabil Circuit
Jabil Circuit the global tech conglomerate is once again romancing the City of St. Pete with a possible world headquarters facility. This time downtown just east of Tropicana Field.

In 2008 Jabil got about $8 million in state, county and city  tax breaks for a promise to build the headquarters in the Gateway area. They punted on that deal, and no money or tax breaks never changed hands as far as we know..

I suspect the pitch this time will be if the City pays for it, builds it, forgives all taxes for the next 100 years they might actually move in, if the City pays the relocation costs. Jabil is 17 Billion dollar business with interests all over the world. Dave Goodwin the City's Planning and economic Development Director is in way over his head on this one.

City Elections
I have been asking the Candidates for Mayor and City Council seven basic questions, if you missed the Posts here are the Links:
Seven Questions for the St. Petersburg Mayor's Race Candidates
District 8 City Council RACE Seven Questions
District 6 City Council RACE Seven Questions
District 4 City Council RACE Seven Questions
District 2 City Council RACE Seven Questions

District 4 Candidate Forum is scheduled for Monday July 8th, at 7:00PM  location is Masonic Home of Florida3201 Fist Street NE. Candidates  Richard Eldridge, Carolyn Fries, David McKalip and Darden Rice are scheduled to appear.

Bill Edwards Problems
The Tampa Tribune reported St. Pete mortgage company pays record settlement, faces more complaints.  Bill Edwards problems seem to be mounting. His mortgage company is in trouble and The Shops at Bay walk seem to be in slow motion.

Mail in Voting
Interested in how the mail in voting process works. here is a link to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections where you will find Voting by Mail (The Complete Mail Ballot Process) along with a lot of other useful and interesting election related videos. Ballots will begin mailing around July23, 2013. Need more information? Go to www.votepinellas.com . When you get your ballot, vote your choices and send it in right away. Don't forget to sign the back of the envelope. Without that signature your ballot will not be counted.

Citizens for the St. Pete Pier
Citizens for the New St. Pete Pier filed paperwork to become a political action committee. The name is a bit misleading. The group is planning a campaign to educate voters about the benefits of the LENS. Filing will allow them to collect donations, and run political ads. Timing is such that financial reports will not be required until after the August primary so those voting will likely not know who is really supporting the effort. This effort is probably throwing good money after bad.

828 The Latest Foster "Plan"
Controversy continues to swirl around this the latest Foster bad idea. Getting anything of value out of this group will be a miracle.

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

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