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Title: No need to rush land sale to TECO

This article discussed the implications of selling a large plot of land to TECO, the tampa electric company, who hoped to use it to create a solar farm. This would be beneficial to the city and shift dependence on fossil fuels to a more renewable energy source. Tampa is currently experiencing a housing crisis so the city was first considering if the land had any potential to be turned into an apartment complex, however, the space falls outside Hillsborough County’s urban service area, making it unfit for housing. The city is currently looking for other potential uses for the land, but I think that having a renewable energy plant would be a great move for the city. 

Problem: The problem in this article is the uncertainty of what the most efficient use of land is.

Who has it: The tampa city council, and probably local governments all over the country who are facing similar issues.

 Title: Make our streets safe This article discusses the issue of pedestrian safety in the Tampa Area. Between 2008 and 2017 over 200 pedestrians have been hit and killed in Florida’s 15th congressional district. Congress is currently considering its next major transportation bill so advocates in the Tampa Bay area are trying to be loud and clear in expressing that all transportation funds should be put towards road safety.

Problem: The problem is a lack of pedestrian safety precautions in the tampa bay area. 

Who has it: All members of the tampa bay area, drivers and pedestrians alike. 

Title: Red Tide pinches stone crab supply This article discussed the lack of stone crabs in the past year as a result of the Red Tide having an exceedingly long season this year. The red tide is a phenomenon where, as a result of a large quantity of algae grow in a body of water, a surplus of red toxins are released which can be harmful to humans and sea creatures. Stone crabs are such an important and valuable asset in the fishing community of Florida because their claws grow back, and can be used for food without killing the animal. Because of the Red Tide this year, Crab fishers have had a very bad season and some restaurants that rely on this commodity have even resorted to removing it from their menus.

Problem: There is a lack of stone crab fish in Florida waters as a result of a longer that usual red tide season. 

Who has it: Fishers, seafood restaurants, customers, the environment.

 

Title: Restaurateur sought to help those less fortunate Guido Tiozzo was a restaurateur who grew up in Italy and, after moving to Tampa, began an italian restaurant called Donatello. Although he didn’t grow up in the U.S. and didn’t celebrate thanksgiving as a child, he embraced the spirit of the season and wanted to do something to help. Because of the large homeless and low income population in Tampa, and being proposed the idea of serving food to the less fortunate for the holidays by the mayor of tampa at the time, he saw it fit to make this an annual tradition, Tiozzo died on May 15th, however, his family hopes to continue his legacy and do all they can to serve the large population of low income families in the city. 

Problem: There is a large population of homeless and impoverished people in the tampa area, especially around the holiday season. 

Who has it: Homeless and low income people 

Title: $10M vow for housing This article looks at one case of difficulty finding housing to examine the current housing crisis in Tampa. Martha Louise Haeusler is an elderly woman in Tampa who recently fell and dislocated her shoulder. As a result of the various medical costs that came along with dealing with such an injury at an old age, Haeusler had to move to an apartment that was cheaper, yet still in the area that she was previously housed in. While searching, she discovered that the median price per month for a two bed apartment in Tampa was around $1500 a month, while her ideal price range would have been around $800-$900. This seems to be a fairly common issue in the tampa area. Until recent action by the members of the Hillsborough county commision, there was not enough money to create, preserve, and rehab affordable housing. 

Problem: There isn’t enough affordable housing in the Tampa area. 

Who has it: Elderly, impoverished and student renters in the Tampa Bay area.