Day 7 - Biking Iowa - Reaching the Mississippi

Today required a little more time to pack. You knew this was the last time to use your tent and sleeping gear, so putting it up for a long storage took a little longer. I had taken a small folding chair and it decided to break this morning. Perfect timing, at least it waited til the end of the trip. The heat was already in evidence as I started riding at about 620 AM.

Coralville is a pretty place and pretty soon we started an uphill towards the University of Iowa campus. The sprawling campus is quite pretty with old and modern buildings. Lots of residents were sitting on their porches and yards to cheer us on on the last day. People applauded as we rode by - and not yet 7 AM.

With a ride of around 50 miles, I was hoping on some flat lands for the day and we got a lot less hills. But it was hot. Heat index of over 100. About 20 miles into the ride I started to get really hungry. You could feel a melancholiness in the riders attitudes knowing RAGBRAI 2006 was about to end.

Lots of signs are on the roadway telling you of the next town's offerings. I see a french toast breakfast announced at a Methodist church in West Branch and decide to refuel. The town has lots of trees and a small downtown that clearly is from the late 1800's. As we enter town we are greeted with free coffee and water.

As I pull my bike to the side I am told by a resident to walk a few blocks down a beautiful tree shaded boulevard to see the Herbert Hoover Museum and Library and his birth place. It is quiet, beautiful, and shaded. A real treat to visit.

The line for french toast takes me almost an hour to get through. Meeting riders from Arizona, California, and Kansas in the line and everyone is still rehashing the hills of Day 2.

The ride to the end in Muscatine at the Mississippi River is flat and very hot. My goal is to arrive by 1 PM so that I can get my bike boxed and shipped back and then find our group for the 3 hour bus ride back to Des Moines. The town is pretty large and the riverfront has a giant celebration taking place with lots of carnival rides, food booths, and of course, another beer tent.

Pausing to enjoy the river and to reflect on the 7 days just past, I think of how genuine Iowa is. And I wonder why these riders do this year after year ? Yes, some are serious bike riders, but most are not.

Floridians think of cruise ships and lazy vacations. Iowans sleep on a hard ground, get up every day as the sun is rising, and spend all day riding a bike - for 7 days. The amount of riders that have participated in RAGBRAI for 20 and 30 years is amazing.

There is something about the ride that can get into your blood. Having participated three times now, I am still not quite sure just what it is. You just have to experience it yourself to really know.

Day 6 - Biking Iowa - Big City Change

Riding into Coralville was a difference experience than all of the rest of 2006 RAGBRAI. Yes it was hilly and the heat persisted,
But it was the atmostphere that changed. It was a relatively short ride, only about 50 miles. The last stretch of about 2 miles was
on a soon to be completed interstate approach that gave us plenty of room for travel with no vehicle traffic. No landscaping and one side of
the road still had a long way to go, but it was mostly downhill. Downhills are most enjoyable after the tough hills earlier in the week.

Earlier in the day we had encountered the steepest hill of the trip. The Hill from Hell. 120 feet climb - equivalent to about a 12 floor building - in less than a
half mile. Admittedly, I couldn't ride it and walked probably half the hill along with many other riders. Of course, the hill came up just past another beer garden
stop where I had seen Tammy and New John. That stop was in a very mushy field. While the tent had been quite large (providing plenty of shade) it was the 2 Jello Shot girls
that had gotten my attention. And it seemed that New John and Tammy and I should have one. And a few beers too.

About a mile later when I hit the Hill from Hell, I was wondering if the jello shot and the beers had been a good idea.
Once the hill was done we evened out to a more rolling hill pattern again. Longer coasting and not as strenuous ups. The town of Cosgrove seemed to actually be
the highest point of the days ride.
Cosgrove is one of the smallest towns you can visit. A very beautiful old church with an active youth program. I have several pictures of the inside and
out of the church. Plus I met the Mayor of Cosgrove. The town has a total of about a dozen houses. Temperatures were near 100 by this time so I hung out in the
shade and had another Gatorade and relaxed to some pretty good music from a live band at another beer garden. It also gave me some time to catch up on some phone calls back home.

You could see a large panorama of the ride yet to come and while rolling, it didn't look too steep.

Coralville is on the edge of Iowa City. This is a very progressive city. Lots of chain restaurants which we had not seen for days.
This is also the home of the University of Iowa (we rode through the campus on leaving the next day.) While all of our other stops had been large or small towns, this was a City. The campground area was huge and had a large stage
and tent area and well as a very large pool with waterslide.

Once I found our gear drop and camp area I set things up and headed for the pool. The water felt great, but some rider decided to overcome his odors in the
shower with about 5 gallons of spray Right Guard. Sort of like a mustard gas attack.

I left the pool and headed for the Methodist Church Lasagna dinner, only to find it sold out already.

Hunger had overtaken me and I almost thought I would black out. The energy exertion required for RAGBRAI is tremendous so keeping fueled is pretty important.

Catching a shuttle bus, I headed to get away from the crowds and found myself in front of an Outback Steak house. The secret at Outback is to always eat in the bar
area so that you don't have a long wait. Sure enough- a table - all to myself. A cute University Student - Sandy - was my server and asked what I wanted to drink, to which
I replied - "A pitcher of water". she explained she couldn't bring me a pitcher, but brought me 3 glasses of water, I drank them quickly. 7 large glasses of water in total.
She kept checking on me - I think to see if I was going to explode or something.

When I returned to the RAGBRAI village, it was starting to happen. Lots of food booths, 4 bands, firedancers, and of course, another beer tent.

The locals were out in force. Riders are pretty well exhausted. Today it was more heat than the ride itself.

Day 5 - Biking Iowa - The Scenery & People

The ride today was near 80 miles and fortunately not so hilly. As I take pictures when I stop, that is usually in towns. So today I decided to take a few more to show you some of Iowa's countryside. Starting riding abou 6 AM so a few will have some nice mist still rising from fields.

While it was a long day, it stayed overcast most of the day, keeping temperatures in the high 80's, maybe low 90's later in the day. Not so bad in comparison.

Met Josie and Natalie from Marengo where we are staying the night. They are sophomores at two different colleges. They have known each other a long time and have grown up in this town of less than 5,000. I asked them if they ever wanted to live anywhere else ? They said they were happy here. Small town or not.

I saw a building in a small town for sale. It had two commercial spaces on the bottom floor and one loft space on the top. They all needed to be built out with walls, electrical, and more. However, the total cost was less than $45,000. Total square footage of over 10,000. And a basement.



Not quite Tampa prices, huh ?

Day 5 - Biking Across Iowa - Unique Words/Terms

Several phrases/words are uniqe to Iowa:

RUMBLES - those are the cuts in the road that cause rumbles to your cars as you approach an intersection.

KYBOS - from the name of a company that supplied portable toilets. Looking for a toilet ? Where are the kybos ?

MAID RITE - or MAID RIGHT - or TAVERNS - these sandwiches are usually called sloppy joes in Florida.

More bike team names: Team Bastards, Barking Spyders, Spam, Huff n Puff, - more coming

Day 4 - Biking Iowa - Lance Speaks

In Newton Iowa, Lance Armstrong with the wife of Iowa Governor Vilsack at his side called for the end of cancer by declaring war on the disease that kills thousands. Speaking to almost 20,000 RAGBRAI bike riders and Newton residents, he received cheers from enthusiastic fans, but it was his serious tone about his personal war with cancer and as he said "we have 9/11's every three days" with the amount of people killed by cancer.

He acknowledged his public hearing with Senator Harkin on Friday as the start of a significant effort by him to put pressure on the 2008 Presidential Candidates as a result of Iowa's prominence in the Presidential Selection process.

TV crews were eagerly catching his every word, and TAMPAGOLD.com will have his entire speech available for our readers by early next week.



It was clearly a love fest from his bike riding fans but it was mostly his personal challenge to make increasing funding for research for cancer solutions through the Iowa caucuses a significant issue in the elections that was the message of the day.

It was not missed by the many riders that had seen Lance ride with this part of the day, that he would ride again on Day 5 - and he did. Additionally, he promised to be at next year's RAGBRAI as a rider too.

Lance Armstrong for President ? While that does not seem to be the plan, the speech and tone of his priority to increased funding to eliminate cancer almost sounded like it.

Day 4 - Biking Iowa - Lance Arrives

Just as I had entered Mitchellville, I heard a commotion behind me. Lance Armstrong and Matthew McConaghey were riding in with a large contingent of other riders. The streets were lined with well wishers from town and of course, from RAGBRAI. It happened so fast I was unprepared for a picture. Will have to do better later tonight. The excitement has been building for the day in anticipation of his arrival.

It has been a long day, fortunattely with less hills, but lots of heat. Clearly in the low-mid 90's. The Town of Bondurant turned out a young girls dance team to put on a show of modern dance. Lots of fun.

So far today I have had: half an ear of corn, a small bowl of pasta salad, one beef jerky, one breakfast burrio, two cups of coffee, one beer, one lemonade and lots of water. Still about 20 miles to go for the day. But with the land being more flat my speed is picking up. That is a good thing.

Supposed to be a foam party here. Lots of fun, will try to have a beer there before I hit the road again.

Day 3 - Biking Iowa - late at night

It started as a few rain drops when I arrived in Waukekee. About 15,000 were at a large outdoor beer and music venue when the rain started to pick up. The best band was just setting up - the Nadas - when it started to rain a little harder. Since I had a half mile walk back to the tent, i decided to head back. Good Thing !

If you have ever heard Tampa/Zephyrhills called the Lightning capital of the US, that is bunk . The lightning and intensity of rain that started about 10 and went almost all night was incredible. Loud speakers announced approaching storm fronts and suggested evacuating to the high school buildings where we were camping. I hung in with the tent.

Rain probably totalled about 5 inches. Wind gusts of over 40 mph. My tent leaked at rapid rates. It is a dome tent, but it leaned about 30 degrees. It seemed to never quit. I finally just fell asleep in my wet sleeping bag. The thunder and lightning seemed just feet away. Incredible.

As intense as it all was, the Iowan riders actually got up and were on the road earlier than normal. About 6 AM.

Am in Granger now at the Assumption Church. 30 computers and all internet connected. Getting closer to heaven.

I hope to post again tonight, but if not, it will be due to drying out gear and to the planned speech by Lance later today.

See you soon.

Day 3 - Biking Iowa

Yesterday was such a bear of a day that it spilled over to today. The hills continued today until about noon and a head wind kicked in too. But as the day wore on the hills became more tame and gentle.

A hundred or more riders gave up today due to yesterdays efforts. I moaned and groaned and thought I might too. But as the day wore on I got better. Of course, taking two naps on soft grass in the shade helped me make it through the day.

Guthrie Center welcomed us with a park loaded with music, beer garden, and lots of food vendors. PLUS a large swimming pool that had a big slide that helped to cool me off. Event met a guy with the same last name as mine from North Carolina, we might be relatives.

Many of the riders particpate as teams. They have taken old school buses and rigged them with showers, platforms, beer kegs, bunks and more. RAGBRAI is serious in Iowa.

Some of the team names are most enjoyable. The Black Sheep, The Whiners, Team Gourmet (Eating Our Way Across Iowa), and lots more I will give as I go. The buses and team shirts add a lot of comradrerie.

I thought I was pretty slow today until I notice that 3 from the Army Team were going at the same pace as me. Not sure how many they have participating, but the Air Force has just over 100.

Seemed to be watermelon everywhere today. Great ! Food and drink at the same time.
Met a husband and wife yesterday that had a daughter that raised the Number One Sheep at the Iowa State Fair, they got the use of a new livestock trailer from Featherlite for a year. Today, I stopped at a farm for breakfast with a lot of sheep. Stopping for any meal is a task. Getting on and off the road, plus lines of at least 100.

We arrived in Redfield where the streets were filled with partiers. Redfield is a nice place on the Raccoon River and has a nice paved bike trail. Quite a few of us took a diversionary route to Waukekee on the trail. It saved some hills and was pretty shady. Shade has been scarce on the trip, what a pleasant find.

Waukekee had at least 20 people to greet us with a banner and matching shirts. Considering they had to stand there for over 6 hours as all the riders came in, that is asking a lot. This booming town has construction happening everywhere. I asked someone why that was happening and they didn't know. I am guessing it is their convenience to DesMoines.

A recent national survey I read said that most Americans have only two people they can actually talk to. Down from 3 a few years ago. Iowans have porches and lawn chairs on their shaded, soft grassed yards. Friends stop in and they talk for awhile. What a great premise, huh ?

Started gently raining as soon as I got to town, hopefully it will not be a harbinger of tomorrow. Will post more when possible.

Biking Iowa Day 2 continued

It has been a dy of struggle and of meeting people. Met a girl from Eastern Iowa. She had two words on the back of her legs: Blue Bush. I figured it must be a political commentary - wrong. She is with Team Whiner and it seems that on the first night she drank a few too many beers and then decided to paint her toenails blue. She spilled the entire bottle in her lap. You can figure out the rest.

John got into camp about 11:30, havent seen him yet. I am at a special Iowa Telecom Trailer for communications. Bunches of us trying to get emails etc. I think due to all of these connections it is not letting me upload to the website pictures, so will have to add when I return.

The Arcadia Hospital had made over 100 pies for sale to riders just outside of town. Choices included rhubarb, pecan, apple, cherry, and blueberry. I had a slice of blue berry and pedaled on down the road.

There were two good beer gardens today, one in Arcadia and one in Manning. Shade has been scarce as temperatures are in the low 90's, so the beer gardens with shade are doing the most business. I would guess Arcadia has about 500 residents. Our 10,000 plus riders helped the to buy a new fire truck as we did in Manning also.

I had a Gatorade to support the American Cancer Society, a rootbeer float to help a High School football team, and lots more over the day. Two farmers were talking a lot about the new ethanol plants that are in the area and more being built. As a major corn area, the building is on.

Yesterday stayed very hot all day, I spent a lot of that time at the Ice Skating rink, tryig to get cool.



Most of the people that live here were born here. One of many differences between Iowa and Florida. While the state is growing, it is a very slow growth. You do not see much new construction. In Audobon now, a good sized town. We are outside aways and I still need to finish setting up my tent, take a shower, eat and go to town for the festivities.

More coming tomorrow, I hope.

Day 2 Biking Iowa

It is about 4 here in Manning Iowa. I am running late on the day. The hills have been treacherous for us flat Florida riders plus we have had a significant headwine.. Think I pulled a groin muscle, but still have about 15 miles to go today, so will be bolting pretty quickly. Will try to upload pictures later tonight. but even Cell phones are spotty here. The ride has been highlighted today with extremely friendly towns. Welcoming committees and these towns go all out.

Top speed yesterday for me was 33 mph, never could beat it today, but will keep trying.
Beer and rock and roll seems to help the groin muscles.

John made it in yesterday at 9:30 AM, I got there at about 1:30. We are on different rides - he missed the girls and the bloody marys at the Fireside Steak House and today he has missed the big beer garden in Manning, I am sure he is already at the end stop.

We ate Ida Grove out of food. Only a few places still had food remaing around 730 PM last night. More to come soon. Anyone want to ride next year ? We now have pictures on TAMPAGOLD with more coming when I can upload.

Biking Iowa - First Day of Riding

After a serious street party, I headed back to camp to sleep for the ride. Good thing. About 4 I woke up to cold weathe.
It was about 60 degrees and my light blanket was not enough. What a great thing. About 6 the sky started to lighten and
some other riders started to stir - of course John was one. I heard him say something to Gwen and Paul about how I was out beer drinking last night, but not to worry about me, I was used to this routine.
When I got moving a short time later, his tent and gear and John were gone. I was packed and on the road about 6:15. The sun started to appear over a hill a few minutes later. It is about five and I haven't seen him all day.

The ride today was pretty tough due to the hills. (Can't practice those in Tampa very well) We did 54 miles, our shortest
day of the 7 day trip. Along the way I met Jake and his sister Payton. They weren't getting along today. Arriving in Ashton was a big deal. It was first real time all the riders came together- all ten plus thousand of us.Along the way were some great people. The kids were pretty unsure of what to think. I met Jason and Payton selling Gatorade. They were a selling team but

The town was ready for us. I found the Fireside Steak House and their "friendly" staff. Picture links at Tampagold.com. Nothing like a bloody mary at 9:30. I also met Courtney and Benson. Benson was pretty excited about all the bikes, but
was pretty shy about having his picture taken. Courtney is a nurse in Sioux City and her husband a contractor. She lives about 15 minutes outside of Ashton and works in Sioux City. I asked if she would ever move from Iowa. She talked about Washington state. But she
wanted to stay in a small town with a few acres of land. I asked if she would trade for my place in SOHO, she said she probably couldn't afford it but preferred her two acres and the country.

Along the next stretches of the road hills came hard and fast. Lots of folks walking their bikes up them. Not me (so far anyway). I ran in to Mr. Pork Chop, a RAGBRAI institution. For the 7 days of the ride his big pink bus moves grills and more and starts cooking huge pork
chops for $6. At some point on RAGBRAI you will have one, you can't avoid it. He has been doing this for 25 years now.



Other than some muscle pains, I have been doing well on the ride, until arrivng in Battle Creek. I stopped for a moment to check gear just as I was entering town. All was fine. Then I realized a block later that I had a flat. Fortunately it was in town.
Bike crews were everywhere to help and I found one that replaced the tube for me in 45 minutes for $10. Not bad. Gave me just enough time to visit the firestation where they were selling beer to raise funds for a new firetruck. While it had been cool last night, the temperatures were now in the low 90's and the town had set up a sprinkler for every one to
ride through as they were leaving town. Just as I was leaving I ran into New John, Tom, and Tammy. They had just gotten to town and were searching for a beer. I went to check on my bike repair, it was ready early, so off I went -riding through the sprinkler on my way out of Battle Creek.
The last 7 miles were and easy trip. Along the way I met Doug from Cincinnatti. He had been in Tampa recently to help his daughter start school at USF and I met the Chases from Fanning Springs. They have done the ride several times and now had their niece with them from California. They also had an RV so we talked rving for awhile as we rode towards Ida Grove.

It has been realy hot for the last few miles. The Des Moines Cycling Club did their usual great work and had bright yellow signs along the way to direct you to the campsites. Getting their about 1, I thought a nap would be great, but it was too hot to do that. So I rode around the town for awhile and found the coolest place in town The Ice Skate Palace. Cold beer, drinks, and food. And Cheap.
With limited WIFI access I decided to write this while in the coolness and then will upload a little later from a travelling communications trailer.

The evening festivities will start soon, but I have no idea when I will be able to send again. Lots of corn in Iowa, not many computers and internet. When I ask about WIFI I get blank stares. Not any Starbucks around here, however, there is the Gramaco Trolley Company. They built the electric trolley cars serving Channelside and Ybor.
Til next time.

Biking Iowa- Sergeant Bluf

SATURDAY NIGHT. After a four hour bus trip we arrived in Sergeant Bluff, just east of the Nebraska line. It looks like a town of about 5,000. All of the schools are now loaded with tents and bikes and riders. We met a nice couple, Gwen and Paul from Stuart, Iowa. He is a CAD engineer and she is a teacher.
I probably forgot the exact years, but he has been on 26 Ragbrais and she 17. Not much happens in Stuart. They used to have a beautiful Catholic church, but an arsonist burnt it down and apparently it has been decided not to rebuild. Our bus was full of riders from California, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, and of couse, mostly Iowa. We had a self appointed cheerleader - Chantal from Missouri. She is bubbly and cheerful. Good for aching muscles and dragging bikers.
The entire town of Sergeant Bluff is embracing the riders: spaghetti dinners and more supporting churches, Boy Scouts, Prom night, football teams, and lots more. All of them are packed. We are sitting at a bar/restaurant called Aggies that has a big sign up - FREE WIFI. But it seems it is not working. The owner Cathy Bishop has helped us get it going and I am finally able to post. you will see her picture in a nice yellow shirt.
It is a definitely a slower paced lifestyle here than Tampa and one that could grown on you. Guess that is part of why I am back for the third time and John for his seventh. Plus the organization that has grown after 34 years makes everything pretty easy for
the riders. Most Iowa towns have a large square and Sargeant Bluff is no exception. The center of town today is loaded with tv and radio crews to get the news coverage for the start of the ride and the downtown core blocks has been temporarily equipped with a large stage and music going on from 3 in the afternoon until about midnight


It is about 6:30 now and the airconditioning feels good. Probably hit over 80 today. The town is filing up with buses and people. The excitement is building for tomorrow morning's start. There appears to be only one other bar in town Eddies Lounge. It is quite old and we have some pictures from there. Bottle beers were only two bucks. More coming soon. I hope.

Biking Iowa - Des Moines - Nice People

It is Saturday morning about 9 AM and there are now about 30 of us getting bikes and gear loaded for the week. More are due to arrive soon.
My hotel is supposed to have WIFI, but I think they forgot to plug it in and no one seems to know much about it.
Had hoped to have this online this morning, but Iowa is not exactly the tech capital of the US. Corn, hogs, insurance, nice people.
The best thing about Iowa is the genuiness of the people. As a rule, people don't get much friendlier than this.
However, when I arrived at the Des Moines airport and tagged up with John from Charlotte, we attempted to get a cab
ride for our bikes and gear and us to our hotel. 15 minutes away. Des Moines airport is not a very busy place.
The cab drivers wanted nothing to do with us and our bikes and gear. No van shuttles here. About the time we are thinking
of renting a car, a local comes over and asks us where are going ? With the bikes and the magnitude of RAGBRAI, he knows
we are here for the ride. We tell him and he says he has a truck and when he picks up a friend that is due to arrive he
will be happy to drop us off, gear and all. The travel day has not gone as planned. Apparently bad weather in the MidWest on Thursday
screwed up all the air traffic in the country, so all planes are arriving late.
While waiting for his friends to arrive another local offers us a ride as well. Turns out "New" John (not be confused with John from Charlotte)
who is dressed in t-shirt and shorts with an older long bed pickup - is a city attorney and will be riding the entire trip too and is meeting
a riding partner from Mississippi - Tom- getting off another delayed flight.

We load our stuff in his truck and off we go. The termperature is a perfect 76 degrees or so. I quicly volunteer to ride in the back of the
pickup truck as a tribute to my old days as a kid. We find ourselves in downtown Des Moines where we are introduced to
New Johns wife Tammy. Tom is left there and New John takes us to the hotel a few miles out of town. Des Moines has around 300,000 residents and
has more big insurance companies than you can imagine. It is also the site of the state
It is a beautiful building that I wish I had time to visit. Pictures are post

I select to keep riding in the badk of the truck. (I think I need a big eared dog to hang his head over the rail an suck in the clean air).
Once at the hotel. New John suggests we go back to town to check out the "night life" and the baseball game. He volunteers to drive us back and even accomodates me
with a quick stop at Compusa for some gear I forgot. New John is downright proud of being computer unaware. he says he doesn't
need it and that is part of what his secrretary does.

Dropping us off at an Italian restaurant, we say goodbye to a new found friend and hope we see him on the ride. It is about 530 Iowas time by now. The restaurant is pretty good and they
I have to ask a stupid question: Do you know where is WIFI in town ? No one seems to have any idea of what I am talking about.
We walk a couple of blocks to Principal Park (as in Principal Insurance) and are trying to decide whether to get the general admission seats for the ball game at $6 or should we be crazy and spring for
$10 for reserved seats when a nice guy and his about 12 year old son offer us free tickets that he just happens to have - general admission, but that leaves money for
beer. Thc Iowa Cubs and the Memphis Redbirds are just finishing the first game of a double header. The stadium is very nice and clean and pretty full. About 6:30 by now.



Iowa has beautiful, soft grass. Not anything like tough and rough Florida grass. The ball field is really pretty. The crowd is there for the socialness of it. They really
do not seem to be into the game and when the call for cheering on the team happens, it is met with a lot of silence. However, about every three rounds a Chevy pickup truck drives around the field with
a cannon that shoots t-shirts into the crowd and everyone goes wild. About 5 innings was enough, so we decide to walk the 4 blocks or so to downtown. Quite a few clubs, restaurants, and bars are looking to get busy. But not yet. Now about 9 pm.

All of a sudden I see the look. A guy who looks like he might be a geek. I politely ask him if he knows where there is a WIFI hot spot and he does.
I get directed to the Java House. A really cool and large coffee house that seems to cater to college students. Some young lady from California is playing an accoustic guitar. Sure enought WIFI, now I can catch the emails from the past 10 hours.
We hang there til after 10 and then wander to a Renaissance hotel that has a lobby bar that has about 25 young professionals. There is really a genuineness to Iowans that you pick up on right away.

Taking a cab back to our hotel, our driver was born in Iowa. He moved to Texas for 7 years, but had to come back. I stayed at the same hotel as this year several years ago, but he informs me that it used to have
a Playboy club in it. He would sneak in when he was 14. But it closed. (There used to be one in St. Petersburg, but it closed too.

I apologize in advance for any typos etc during these posts, but trying to read screens, get connected in tight spaces and more are going to make getting this to you tough. But it will happen as available.



We are guests of the Des Moines cycling Club. Two large Uhaul trucks are being loaded with bikes and gear. And a bus or two or due to arrive soon for the 4 hour ride to Iowa's western border. Hopefully by about 4 today my tent will be up, my bike assembled, and
I will take my first bike ride in Iowa for 2006's RAGBRAI. It is starting to become fun now.

Biking Across Iowa- At the Airport

Well things never go quite as planned. After a frantic day getting ready to go that included new advertisers, new sponsors for a super new promotion in September, an appearance on Media Talk, a great discussion with my good friend Tommy Duncan with Sticks of Fire, a great chat with Wayne Garcia of the Weekly Planet, and some high powered vodka at Whiskey Park and 717 South, it all comes down to the airport where my flight to Chicago is about an hour late forcing me to take a later flight to Des Moines.

Checking a bicycle along with camping gear, three cell phones, lots of camera and computer gear and other stuff has to make the day of all the security guys. Fortunately their was a super efficient curbside checkin for American Airlines that made the task a pleasure.

But now while on the run, I have alerted others I am meeting that are flying in from most everywhere that I will run late. Seems like they are all running late too. Must not be such a great day for flying.

As we all took our shoes off for the security screening I had to ask one of the attendants "see many holy socks ?" She just replied with "you wouldn't believe what we see." Probably says it all.

Of course, at the last minute all kinds of clients need stuff.
Tampa Marketing Company is now doing so many web projects, direct mail projects, print projects and more that it is really getting exciting to see where we are going - AND YOU AIN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.

The refeshing feeling of a 7 day, almost 500 mile bike ride is going to be great. BUT look out when I get back. I will be wired for action. Lots of events happening in late July and August. But I have to admit, my thoughts keep going back to the Armory project because it is going to have such an impact on SOHO and West Tampa. The recomendation from the committee to the City Council could come on Wednesday, July 26, but I think it could get delayed for another meeting.

I know I have been harping on this for awhile, but I hope when you saw the super article from the cover of the Weekly Planet that you will know I am not crying "wolf".

By late Sunday or Monday, probably when I hit the 100 mile mark on this trip and star up some hill that looks like Everest, I will really be into RAGBRAI. But for now I am still thinking of you all and the work that remains that I am leaving behind.

RAGBRAI - Biking Across Iowa - First in a Series

For 34 years, the Des Moines Register (Iowa's largest daily newspaper) has sponsored RAGBRAI (Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Starting on the west side of the state and ending seven days later one the east side of Iowa, this almost 500 mile ride is not for the weak. Averaging about 70 miles a day is a good ride - but doing it seven days in a row is the real challenge.

Over 10 years ago, a reporter with the St. Pete Times, Milo Geylin, told me about the ride as he was offloading his gear after the week's adventure. The details of over 10,000 riders (not racers) pedaling through the cornfields sounded like fun. Milo later went to the Wall Street Journal but has since left them for parts unknown.

Iowa is known for corn, hogs, and political caucuses. So almost every day we will have corn on the cob, bbq pork, and some presidential contender riding for an hour or two. Iowa should be known for the watermelons too. In the middle of the heat, the ice cold flavor is a treat.

This will be my third RAGBRAI ride. In middle America, people seem to lead much more simple lives than in Tampa. Rural living is a back to basics approach to life. The ride this year will have about 15,000 participants. They start and stop at the same location each day. Riders come from around the world and include riders of every age, size, and shape. A couple of riders will die along the way. The heat, the physical stress, and just the odds of 15,000 spending a week together.

The logistics of such a ride are part of what I enjoy watching the most. One of the towns we will be staying in has only 2,500 residents. For almost 24 hours, they town will grow almost 10 fold. That means feeding, showering, bathrooms, beer, and sleeping for a lot of people.

As in a past year, I will be riding with the Des Moines Cycling Club. They help make things easy. Flying into the center of the state, they provide us with a bus ride and trucks for gear to the starting point and will carry our tents and gear everyday for a week. They will also provide the base of comradrie for the week.

On my first ride in 2003, I was fortunate to meet another rider just as I was getting off the plane. I knew no one on the ride and no one in Iowa. John Huston was arriving from Charlotte, NC and saw my fumbling with bike and gear and helped me out. My $300 bike is transported in a cardboard box, his $1000+ bike is disassembled and transported in a series of crates that probably cost $300. We have become good friends, but god knows why. John is a VERY serious bike rider. He rides 100 miles in a day without any hesitation. By the time I reach the end spot for the day, he will have wandered the town, seen a movie (if available) or who knows what. John is there for the ride. I am there for the experience - farm stories, beer gardens, hog farms, wet t-shirt contests, and more.

My last ride was in 2004 at which time I met former Tour de France winner Greg Lemond. He has not had a lot of kind words for subsequent winner Lance Armstrong. This year, Lance has said he will be riding a few days on the trip. He also plans to meet with Iowans to encourage them to quiz presidential contenders about their commitment to cancer research funding. Maybe I will get a chance to meet him. John and his girlfriend from Canada were on that ride too.

RAGBRAI goes through various small towns that are eager to welcome us. For a brief few hours, a town of 100 people will have the chance to reap the benefits of our thousands of riders by selling gatorade, sandwiches, pies or more. In one town I bought $5 in drawing tickets to have a chance to win a beautiful homemade quilt. High School majorettes put on shows. A Goats and Floats display gave riders a chance to pet a goat and have a rootbeer float in the middle of a hot day. Bands play. One very small town was trying to raise funds for playground equipment and for firefighting equipment by selling egg and sausage biscuits, coffee, juice, and more. They raised almost $100,000 in less than 5 hours.

Each night will feature beer gardens, live music, church cookouts or pasta dinners, and in many cases - fireworks. A very big deal for towns with less than 10,000 residents.

RAGBRAI begins in Sergeant Bluff on July 23 and ends July 29 in Muscatine. Along the way, there are overnight stops in Ida Grove, Audubon, Waukee, Newton, Marengo and Coralville. I will be keeping you in touch with the ride and try to give you a little taste of middle America along the way.

I have been riding as often as possible to get ready for the ride. Knowing that for a week you are physically pushing yourself to the max is pretty challenging. The towns are small and the jamming of people makes for some tough arrangements, but we will be trying to give you a look at this event as best we can. Maybe next year you will come with us.

Watch for pictures to be posted and a continued report from the road here at this blog.

Get more info about RAGBRAI here. http://www.ragbrai.org

Tampa at the Crossroads

With the largest convention in Tampa's history coming to town from July 1 - July 7th, The International Shriners Convention, it provides us with a chance to ask some key questions about our city.

Can we handle thousands of convention guests ? (That broad question has to be asked of roads, parking, hotels, restaurants, and more)

Hillsborough County has the 9th largest school district in the country. Over 5,000 new students each year. Over 1,500 teachers need to be hired in the coming year. Are we ready to make the financial commitment to our citizens, parents, kids, teachers, and facilities ?

There is tremendous development affecting our city, but can we keep home prices where they can be afforded by those that work here ?

The Weekly Planet under the direction of Wayne Garcia held a public forum to discuss the differences between Tampa and St. Petersburg with a positive eye towards the future. The growth of Florida's West Coast assures that the future is bright but are we controlling the growth or is it controlling us ? Keep your eye on the upcoming Weekly Planet as they explore these issues through some excellent reporting and thorough interviews.



Mayor Iorio is placing much of her downtown plans on the Riverwalk Park and the impact it will have on the entire downtown area. With a recent veto of some funds by Governor Bush and an estimated cost of over 40 million, Riverwalk requires careful scrutiny by every Tampa resident.

Hanging in the balance is the life of Kiley Gardens, The Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Childrens Museum, Riverwalk, and more of our downtown may be at stake at the public input meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 14th at 6 PM at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Mayor Iorio describes "downtown as everybody's neighborhood." Please take the time and let the City know what you want that neighborhood to be.

We Cannot Afford This Convention

Conventions are great things. They bring new people to new locations which means new money being spent. Conventioneers are here to have fun. They have saved up funds to be able to spend at the convention. They are tolerant because they know it is a convention and lines and waits are the norm.

Tampa will be the site of one of the largest conventions possible - the International Shriners Convention this Summer that will be highlighted with a huge parade down Bayshore on July 4th. This parade will last for hours and will be a lot of fun. With the International Shriners Headquarters located in Tampa, this convention will be well run and the amount of dollars generated in over a 30 mile radius will be noticeable. How can you have a problem with Shriners - parades and Childrens Hospitals - good things !

But, Tampa has launched a serious bid for the Republican Convention in 2008. I have been to one Republican National Convention and 5 Democratic National Conventions. These are great events that draw the world's media and America's top political decision makers. They are here for the politics. They will spend little time at the usual tourist attractions. Don't look for them at the beach or at Busch Gardens.

At first I supported this bid.

Having followed the discussions, I think Tampa needs to remove itself from consideration for this event.

Why ? This is not a partisan decision, but rather a financial decision and a decision from concern.

Financial because while the City seems unable to find a spare $100,000 to complete a forgotten part of the Tampa Heights Greenway Trail, it is capable at looking at a possible over $100 million cost for the convention.

However, my main opposition is due to our concern about the potential public relations and physical disaster this can cause our City.

While you may have not been born yet when the last Democratic Conveniton was held in Chicago, the riots and images still resonate in the minds of those of us who watched and with planners, so much so that Chicago has not been a serious contender for a political convention for years.

As this President attempts to re-energize his base of supporters and with the highly volatile issues of immigration, the war, same sex marriage, the energy crisis, and more, can Tampa afford the risk of having an emerging downtown in the news headlines filled with rioters and tear gas ? And maybe even worse. It is a gamble that offers all the risks with little rewards.

We need to reconsider this convention.

Express your views on our blog here. Contact the Mayor's office here.

Is the Tampa Museum of Art Finished ?

In case you have missed the continual dance of the Tampa Arts community, you have missed quite a show.

It started with Mayor Greco's vision of a building that was to be an art statement in itself - known as the Vinoly design. (After the designer that has a reputation for designing beautiful buildings, that tend to go way over budget) Unfortunately several things went wrong. The proposed cost to build was beyond the pocketbooks of the musuem supporters to build and to operate. And then, we elected a new mayor.

Mayor Iorio had a vision of a large riverfront park that could be open to all the people with festivals and large outdoor events. And in that vision, the idea of the riverfront Museum of Art did not really have a place. When she held the museum supporter's feet to the fire about the funds to build the Greco/Vinoly plan, the plan could not hold up to "fiscal responsibility."

She suggested a location in the beautiful old federal courthouse, but museum supporters did not like the idea (and frankly, it did not seem very doable)

Then with great fanfare a deal was made to put the museum in the popularly called beer can building (or Rivergate Tower) at the corner of Ashley and Kennedy. All seemed happy. UNTIL...


It seems that independent appraisers are not supporting the value of the deal made by the city. While the city can spend more than an appraisal if they select to, the issue of "fiscal responsibility" has to be raised to each elected official that would have to vote on such a motion.

So far the museum and the City has been silent on this new dilemma. We can't blame them.

The recent Art After Dark event shows that the museum can attract a diverse part of the Tampa community. But how much of their money should be spent on the Tampa Museum of Art ? Will the City Council be willing to spend more money for the museum that an appraisal supports ? What do you think ?

Parking Permits In SOHO ?

Several neighborhood associations have been raising the issue of jammed parking, mostly on Westland, where the narrow street raises the potential for an emergency service vehicle not being able to get through. These neighborhood groups have been getting louder and louder as the problems continue to worsen. The underlying problems come with a virtual non-existent transit system, the continued removal of single family homes being replaced with multi-family dwellings, businesses being allowed to form and expand without accountability as to parking requirements.

SOHO is fortunate to have such a postive business climate, but, are RESIDENTS Parking permits the answer ?

Ybor City has implemented this same approach recently. As you walk down Ybor's 7th Avenue with the many closed up businesses, you have to wonder what the solution is. Admittedly, the permits are not the main cause for Ybor's problems.

Council Member John Dingfelder seems to think that SOHO visitors will be willing to park on lots on Kennedy Avenue and walk down S. Howard Avenue to visit their favorite locations. Additionally he seems to think that all the Kennedy businesses with parking lots will make them available for SOHO customers in the off hours (seems he hasn't noticed the NO PARKING signs and the tow trucks circling like sharks waiting for their next meal).

Their is NO single solution. But there are several.

First: re-evaluate the allowance of any permit for a multi family dwelling without adequate parking. At $400,000 plus per unit, it is astounding that the city does not even require them to have 2 parking spaces.

Second: don't allow new businesses or current businesses to expand without a plan for parking. One SOHO restaurant just added an outdoor seating area that resulted in the removal of a couple of parking spaces - no new parking was added. Who allowed that to happen ?

Third: with SOHO a clear and definable concentration of businesses, provide a workable trolley system so that people in the immediate neighborhood can leave their cars at home.

Fourth: take the current trolley from downtown and Hyde Park and expand the hours and route to be viable for use. With nighttime hours ending at 9 PM on most week nights and 11 PM on weekends, the current schedule is a very bad joke. The idea of bringing back the firing squad to punish whoever came up with this route and schedule is very justifiable .

Recently the number of Police officers to write parking tickets in SOHO was increased and other actions have been taken. We have told you about that in the On the Street section of SOHOTAMPA.COM
We are eager to hear your ideas and opinions and you can post them here. But most important is to send your council members your opinions. To stay silent is going to cost you ! Cost you money and convenience. Here is the address to Send them your email tampacitycouncil@tampagov.net

Ok, I want to Go Home Now !

In a recent Associated Article I learned something I definitely did not know: Iraqi soldiers can leave their units virtually at will. The article further cited Iraqi officials as saying that if they did not have this policy they might get no volunteers.
(unfortunately I cannot provide you with a link to the article, but if you go to www.associatedpress.com and enter the subject search of Iraq - you will find the article by Antonio Casenada from April 13)

So just imagine it, it has been a quiet day on patrol and then all of a sudden things get tense - so you just go home.

That is the policy in the Iraq army while our soldiers departure dates are extended and while National Guard members are pulled off their jobs and away from their families and sent to Iraq.

The Jim Lehrer Hour acknowledges US forces killed in combat as their names and pictures become available. One night this week 13 names were listed. The youngest was 19, the oldest was 52.

Calling for Rumsefeld's resignation are six retired Generals:
Major Batiste - former division commander in Iraq
Army Major General Eaton - Head of training Iraqi forces in 2003
MArine Lt. Gen. Newbold - Former Joint Chiefs of Staff operations director
Army Major Riggs - Decorated for action in Viet Name, forced to retire
Major General Swannack - former airborned division commander in Iraq
Marine General Zinni - former head of US Central Command

The Immigration Issue Hits Home

Some in Tampa seem to think the Tampa immigration issue is really those SOK'ers that won't go North of Kennedy. The several thousand area residents - legal and illegal - that protested the proposed immigration laws made it clear that it is a lot more than a neighborhood issue - it is a citywide issue - a state wide issue - and a national issue.

Admittedly the SOK'ers (South of Kennedy, for those that don't know the reference) try to act insulated to this "poor" type of "nuisance". But they need to look around in their own neighborhood a little closer.

There are many illegal aliens SOK, just like in most of Tampa. They are living there and working there. You probably know a few without even realizing it.

They provide labor, pay rent, pay taxes, and generate revenue that helps provide additional tax revenues. They are not here for the free ride.

Unfortunately, many have no health insurance (just like many Americans these days too). Many have kids in public schools.



Our country is based on welcoming people to our shores. The idea of a fence or wall blocking access at our borders is a little offensive, but the threats we face today make those ideas something to consider.

However, with millions of illegal immigrants already here; enforcing our borders at this point seems a little late.


When we visit or see pictures of New York, the Statue of Liberty always comes in to view. A gift from the French people. The inscription reads:
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

These words have formed the basis of our Nation's thoughts about welcoming immigrants for over 100 years. Are we now at a point where the basics of American idealogy are to be discarded ? And if so, what does that mean for other basic ideas and freedoms that we have built our country on ? What do you think ?

The Murder of Kiley

Most of the Tampa city employees and elected officials are hardworking and dedicated at what they do. Recently the city was given a rough rap by the St. Pete Times concerning the high pay levels that many of the administration are receiving.

At first glance it raises your attention, but Tampa has become a "high cost to live in" city. And if we paid our City administrators the national average salary for similar positons, would that mean we have average administrators ?

But that is not the subject of this blog posting. It is the blatant killing of Kiley.
Kiley Gardens Park on Ashley, between the former NCNB (or better known as the beer can) building and the Current Tampa Museum of Art, has been a neglected treasure for Tampa. Designed by an internationally recognized landscape architect, Dan Kiley, this park has been a subject in textbooks around the world.

This picture shows you what it looked like a few weeks ago.



And this one below shows it to you now.




Originally designed as an escape from the urban environment, this unique location provided Tampa with more than a park - a camouflage for the parking garage that is underneath the park serving the beer can building that has been so vacant for so long. As first built, the park had fountains and flowing water through various channels. But due to neglect by the City, the water part of the design was written off long ago. And speaking of water, it seems that rain water and moisture has lead to damage to the interior roof of the parking garage. And therein lies one of the reasons for the Kiley killing.

One of the other reasons was the placing of the wrong species of Crepe Myrtles that resulted in too large of trees, which combined with the neglect, might have also added to the garage roof problem.

The National Trust is a non-profit conscience for our national landmarks and treasures. They recently designated 11 projects throughout the United States that they deemed most important for saving from potential destruction. Two are in our area: the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Clearwater and Kiley Gardens in Tampa. Imagine a relatively recently designed park deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

With City committees recommending Historic Designation of Kiley, Mayor Iorio refused to sign the designation that had been on her desk for months.

The Mayor met with a volunteer committee made up of young architects (YARDOPS)that had truly worked hard to clean the park on a regular basis. I have spent two work days there and have twice arranged for a lunch to be contributed by two restaurants: The Deck Pizza and Pub in SOHO and the Fourth of July Cafe in Old West Tampa, to feed the volunteers. The Weekly Planet did an extensive article on the park as has several national publications.

Twice I asked the Mayor if she would sign the Historic Designation, she indicated that she did not think she could because it would be too restrictive. In front of WUSF Radio's Bobby O'Brien, I asked her if Kiley was in danger and she clearly indicated that the park would be saved.

The Friends of Kiley Gardens were not notified of the planned killing so that the Crepe Myrtles could be saved, relocated or even sold to help raise funds for a potential new planting when the garage repairs are completed. Instead the killing
was done with saws and blades with little notice and as our pictures indicate above, the killing was massive for the Kiley Landscape.

The previous ambitious Museum of Art plans would have seen Kiley eliminated and replaced with the Vinoly designs, but that idea was thrown out due to cost. However, most Museum of Art supporters have not been supporters of Kiley Gardens. And with the beer can building looking more and more like the site of the new Museum of Art, they do seem to have a motive in this murder.

We like this current administration, they seem to have vision and purpose. The Parks Department and the Mayor have looked to neighborhood groups to help in the stewardship of parks and other projects,frequently relying on them for funds and direction. The killing of Kiley without any communication with this volunteer group that Mayor Iorio has met with before, must shake any confidence from neighborhood groups as to whether this commitment is real or not. With the Kiley fronting the Hillsborough River, the plans for the Mayor's Riverwalk project give her a motive for this killing as well.

Will Kiley be rebuilt ? We are not so sure anymore.

Thank You to ALL the Media in the Tampa Bay Area !

The amount of community and non-profit events happening in Tampa on a weekly basis is staggering.

Our websites: TAMPAGOLD.COM and SOHOTAMPA.COM try to provide as much information as we can about these. But sometimes it is just not possible.

Recently we received an email from someone taking us to task for not promoting their event. While we had the event listed for several weeks on our very interactive calendar, that was apparently not enough.

We are not the St. Pete Times or the The Tampa Tribune. We are not owned by Media General or Clear Channel or any other deep pocketed organization. We do our best to promote events as best we can.

We appreciate our advertisers and those who support our advertisers and our events. This is what provides the dollars to do what we do. We even launched a new website FLORIDAMILLION.COM to support non-profits AND to provide groups with a FREE ad to promote their events and their websites. Only a few have bothered to take advantage of it so far.

Frequently we do not receive any thank you for promoting events and that is ok, but we do get a little pissed off when we catch hell for not promoting an event that someone thinks we should. And of course, they expect us to buy tickets to their event when we do so. On some evenings I may attend 4 events.

We just want to say THANK YOU to all the media that is doing their best, just as we are , to inform you about these worthwhile efforts. We know you hear the same type of gripes and complaints about not covering this or that event. But we think you do a great job. THANK YOU !

The Riverwalk and Tampa's Future

With great fanfare the City of Tampa launched the Tampa Riverwalk project for downtown. Lots of area residents have griped about what they call a misplaced emphasis on the downtown area. We think they are just not quite getting what this is all about. It is about YOUR neighborhood.

When you live in Carrollwood or SOG (South of Gandy) or Brandon that seems like a lot of b.s. doesn't it ? Well it is not.

Look around. The demand for housing is continuing to soar. The past few years appreciation proves that. More and more people are moving to the Tampa area. They are jamming our roads and schools and our water/sewage lines.

Why downtown ? Because the infrastructure is already in place. The roads are there, the property is there. The same for Old West Tampa and East Tampa. The appreciation in these areas has been outrageous as well. You can see renovations and tear downs already happening in these areas that have stood idle for so long.

As Mayor Iorio says "downtown is everybody's neighborhood." When we have a nationally televised event in Tampa what is shown ? The downtown skyline.

We do not always agree with the Mayor. The sound ordinance in Ybor is too restrictive, (we wish she would stand on 7th Avenue and hear where the db levels are currently set), the failure to effectively monitor some of the development is concerning (like allowing 4 townhouses to be built on what was a single family lot and allowing the townhouses to have entrances on an alley, her failure to designate Kiley Park as a historic landmark (even though National Historic groups have requested it), and the sometimes slip ups in the administration in dealing with the elected city council. However, on Riverwalk, she has shown a vision for Tampa that will last a lot longer than you and I. An elected official with vision - what a great idea.

The idea of The Riverwalk is not very complex. It is a waterfront, open to the public park designed to provide thought about Tampa's past, our environment, and our community. But most importantly it is designed to connect all of downtown together.

With the majority of the infrastructure already in place, the residential renaissance in downtown will generate buckets of cash through tax dollars for City and County coffers. And it will create an attractive and welcoming environment for all of Tampa's residents and visitors. Our only complaint is: we wish it was complete now.

Tampa's Turf Wars Continue

As the availability of information keeps exploding, it is always a delight to find a copy of the Weekly Planet and TBT waiting for me at one of my usual beer stops. Ok, you might not always agree with them and the ads and subjects are sometimes a little more over the edge than you might like, but, isn't that what an "alternative" paper is supposed to be all about ?

The financially affluent (as in rich) St. Petersburg Times has decided to launch their TBT (Tampa Bay Times) on a Monday through Friday basis. While the Weekly Planet is their main target, Media General's Tampa Tribune is in their sights as well.

Information is everywhere: thousands of radio stations are now within your reach courtesy of satellites and webcasts; bloggers are cropping up everywhere, and of course, websites that can specifically target your interests, and even newspapers that are publishing online editions. All of these have been contributing to the continued decline in newspaper circulation and job layoffs in the industry.

When you are at your next beer stop and the alternative paper racks are brimming with new issues, pick up TBT and the Weekly Planet and compare the LOCAL content and reporting. There are very noticeable differences. As your read this blog and other news online, it seeems that maybe they are just fighting over deck chairs on the Titanic. What do you think ? We would like to know.

President Bush - Credibility Shot to Hell

"No need to worry about security" about US ports is what President Bush had to say about the potential deal to change the mangement of some of our largest ports.

"Brownie, your doing a heck of a job" is what the President said about the former FEMA director while touring Hurricane Katrina damaged areas.

We are making progress in Iraq, we will get Osama Bin Laden, Iraq has weapons of mass destruction, we are not involved in torture, we are not violating the constitution in eavesdropping on Americans, leaking the name of a covert agent will not be tolerated. These have been the meaningless rhetoric coming from the Bush Administration.

Tax cuts for the higher income brackets are being extended, while the budget deficit continues to reach record levels.

The picture on this post was taken just a few days ago. It shows the rows and rows of still occupied trailers in what is called FEMA City - near Punta Gorda, Florida. ALMOST TWO YEARS after Hurricane Charley swept through they are still occupied. While the damage was severe, it is pale in comparison to Hurricane Katrina last year.

Today it was reported that 25 million Americans relied on food kitchens last year. And the number has been rising. I think there are many things we need to be worrying about Mr. President, and yes, Port security is one among many. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear you are worrying about any of these any more. It is time for a change.

"Necessity is the mother of invention".

That seems to sum up the newly touted deal on the Tampa Museum of Art. Mayor Iorio had come under a lot of heat from Museum supporters after the skirmish over funding and location. Talk of active recruitment of a mayor candidate kept vibrating through the community. She needs the museum to be a significant part of her downtown re-development plans.

The Museum has been on a course of elimination. With the planned demolition of the current location and the elimination of the grand new building as a viable alternative, time was of the essence. They needed to do something.

The Beer Can Building and Adjacent Cubes have set significantly empty for years. This property needs activity and I am sure the rent to keep everyone happy. They needed a significant tenant.

The Mayor, the Museum, and even the Tampa Tribune have expressed their enthusiasm for this new plan. But the reality is that the size of the museum will be cut by about one third with this move until an additonal building can be built. That will not occur until the Museum has raised a significant amount of funds to do so.

Who won in this new location ?

First of course, is the landlord. He is going to have a significant tenant for a previously vacant location.

Second, the museum wins. They now have a place to move to instead of being out on the street. While their current space will decrease significantly, at least they will have a space.

Third, Mayor Iorio wins. She is going to be able to remove the current building to further her plans for Riverwalk Park. Under the proposed deal, the museum will be held more accountable for their funding.

Fourth, the Public Wins ! An enhanced waterfront park, more accountability of the spending of public funds, and a continuing art museum with a long term plan in place.

And maybe, just maybe, Kiley Park won too.

In a recent press release, the Friends of Kiley supported the new museum location and said they anticipate "The Honorable Pam Iorio’s signature to the application for inclusion of Kiley Gardens into the National Trust, a program that will ensure the preservation of the Gardens through the allowance of solicitation of public and private grant monies to be used towards the renovation of the Gardens without undue cost to the citizens of City of Tampa while preserving the pleasure of its beauty." The New York Times featured the Park in an article last year.

We have asked the Mayor about this designation on two occasions, she has not indicated her intent to sign the application. We think it is time for her to do so.

The World Can't Wait

1. A Republican lead congressional committee has called the handling of the impact of Hurricane Katrina "a national failure."

2. The National Forest Service has announced the proposed selling of a significant amount of national property in an effort to raise funds.

3. Our Budget Deficits continue to explode while tax cuts for the highest of income individuals are cut.

4. Funding of education is continuing to be cut dramatically. College tuitions are rising dramatically.

5. Americans are now being eavesdropped on by our government without supervision by the Courts that were created in order to stop the potential for abuse.

6. A close confidant of the Vice President has been indicted on charges of leaking the name of a CIA operative in what could be a breach of national security and in what might have been done so for political retaliation.

7. A high ranking Republican leader has been indicted for misuse of funds in what maybe an effort to effect local elections in an effort to control the drawing of Congressional district lines.

8. A new medicare system has been implemented that is leaving seniors without access to required prescription drugs.

9. One of Washington's top Republican lobbyists is indicted on corruption charges.

10. We are engaged in a war that was not sanctioned by the United Nations and as we have learned, was justified to the American public based on false information resulting in the death of over 2,000 Americans and thousands of others.

11. The master mind of the largest terrorist attack in our Country's history is still at large.

A group called The World Can't Wait has been formed calling for the immediate resignation of "President Bush and his regime." Not very suprising is it.

I Don't Want the Money !

The State of Florida's Governor Jeb Bush has found himself in the unique position of a significant budget surplus. It sure doesn't happen often and let's hope his brother doesn't hear about it. Brother George took the Federal budget surplus and turned it into record deficits so fast it was spooky, but we will save that for another post.

The cost of collecting tax money is not cheap. Bureaucrats with benefits and state cars have every method available from fees like license plates to just plain tax bills that were processed and mailed. The cost to collect taxes is significant.

Governor Bush now wants to refund $100 to each resident homeowner for a total of about $500 million. Of course that will require bureaucrats with benefits and state cars and all the is required to process and mail the checks. The cost to refund taxes is significant.

I could use the $100, but so can Florida's roads and schools. Why not split the money between the two projects ? You have already got it, and the schools and roads are in need due to Florida's rapid growth. Or put some of the money aside in preparation for tha major hurricane that will hit Florida some day. We just ask you to plan better for next time so that you are not collecting too much to begin with. That is our suggestion, what do you think ?

When Will Tampa's Arts Community Get REAL ?

Let's start this out with the clear statement that I and TAMPAGOLD.COM are supporters of the Arts. Especially anything that allows for the public at large to have exposure to the arts. We are stating this up front because we know the overzealous arts junkies are going to give us grief for the rest of this posting. Lights on Tampa is a good start in reaching to the Tampa community. See our coverage of the event here.

The old expression of the "squeaking wheel gets the grease" is clearly applicable in Tampa's so called "arts community." There are many really talented local artists that work their rear ends off creating some really unique works and then working at almost the same intensity trying to find locations to show their works that aren't squeezing them for every dollar along the way. But it is frequenly the "squeaking" monied crowd that gets heard. Tampa is fortunate to have the likes of Kama Gallery in North Ybor, Covivant Gallery in Seminole Heights, and many others that work tirelessly to provide exposure to this ever growing group of local artists. They have little to show for it and receive virtually no city recognition.

It is the big guys that are the problem. We have heard so many complaints about the recently concluded Georgia O'Keefe exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art that is has really gotten our attention.

What is wrong with Georgia O'Keefe ? Nothing. Her works are great. WE LIKE GEORGIA O'KEEFE. BUT from October 2 to January 8th, this highly promoted show stayed pretty scarce of Georgia O'Keefe works. If you went to the museum expecting to really enjoy O'Keefe's works, guess again. You could have counted them all using fingers, no need for any toes in this arithmetic.

The Museum touted their record attendance during that three month show at 24,685. If you figure they could maintain that pace for a year, (which they can't) that would put their annual attendance at about 100,000. Gasparilla will attract many times that many in one day. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers has had a sell out crowd at every game since 1998, with 65,657 seats. Maybe we should scrap the arts and stick with Pirates, Booze, and Football. Will Tampa support the arts and at what cost ? And should they ?

The City currently plans to provide annual funding to the Tampa Museum of Art of $1,000,000 per year to fund a new museum, that means a supplement of at least $10 for every attendee plus an up to $8 admission fee. And do not forget all the corporate and individual sponsors and fundraising events, etc.

The Museum supporters have not been getting along with Mayor Iorio since she tried to be a fiscally responsible elected official and hold them accountable for the financing on the now defunct museum design last year.

Mayor Iorio says "the arts bring people together". As discussion continues on a possible new Tampa Museum of Art, more support for local artists needs to be part of the City's arts agenda. And we don't mean some lame effort that Arts Ybor has become.

We call on the City of Tampa to aggressively provide support to local artists by taking the following steps:
1. allocate the proposed funding for the Tampa Museum of Art to our next five steps until the new museum is completed, then maintain local artists support at $500,000 per year, even if it means reducing support to the Museum by that amount;
2. provide a complete directory of area galleries and artists that is used as a key marketing tool for the City of Tampa. While the Hillsborough County Arts Council does this to some degree, many artists feel excluded by the process. You can visit their site here.
3. provide specific assistance encouraging outdoor arts events at virtually all of Tampa's over 100 city parks, bringing art to the neighborhoods and helping to emphasize the beautiful assets we have in our neighborhood parks. (How about some live outdoor theatre ? St. Pete sure made this work.)
4. assist in the funding and promotion of shows at the various private galleries and theatres throughout the City that emphasizes local artists.
5. whether it be through the Museum or otherwise, encourage more local participation with sponsored juried shows for local artists and with more hands on involvement with beginning artists, including the performing arts.
6. create an artists exhibit at the Tampa Airport to highlight our local artistic community and offerings to visitors and to travelling Tampa residents.

You never know, we might have someone in our midst that could become as famous as Georgia O'Keefe. What value would that have to the City of Tampa ? Let's invest in our local artistic talent with neighborhood based outdoor shows and gallery events. It is money well spent. What do you think ?

A County Mayor ?

In the recent League of Women Voters debate between County Commissioner Rhonda Storms and Attorney Mary Ann Stiles, the issue of an elected County Mayor was clearly defined. It is really a battle of power - the issue of who will actually run the county. Currently 7 elected commissioners (3 elected at large , 4 from individual districts) work as a committee with a paid administrator. The proposed ballot initiative would allow for the elimination of the administrator and the creation of an elected County wide Mayor that would administrate with the direction of the Commission.

Professional - appointed administration OR an elected administration.

There are clear arguments both ways, and of course, remember that either of these decisions can be confused by a really "outstanding" administrator or by a "horribly inept" administrator - either elected or appointed

Over the next few months this issue will be discussed over and over again, what do you think ?