Let's talk about something that ain't very sexy, but is relevant.
Ever since the city of Tampa went with their cool, new solar-powered parking meters in the downtown business district a few years ago, I've been slightly befuddled about the actual rules of the road, so to speak.
For instance, on more than one occasion I've been popped for parking without feeding a meter on a Saturday, even a Saturday night. Okay, now I understand the law, and am now hip to the fact that I need to do it - on a certain side of Kennedy Boulevard. But why couldn't it be more explicitly stated in the streets of downtown? It's an issue I've discussed with some friends, and now poor Rolfe Arnhym is feeling the pain as well.
[jump]Arnhym wrote a letter to the editor in today's edition of the Tampa Tribune, complaining about getting a ticket at 7:28 p.m. on a recent evening. He writes that he thought parking downtown was free after 6 p.m.,but says he was told by a Tampa Parking Division official that it "depends." He then writes that when he asked if there would be any signage anytime in the future spelling that out a little more clearly, he was told that also "depends."
Mayor Buckhorn and the City Council might dismiss this as one confused motorist, but how many others have been ticketed in recent years because of the confusion? Would it really be that hard to post information about where and when it's legal to park your car without having to feed the meter? I don't think so. Maybe city leaders might contemplate such a change now?
Okay, on to the news. We were camped out for much of the day over at USF's Marshall Center on Monday, where the Hillsborough County legislative delegation met for an all-day session in front of the public. The big news was how Tampa Representative Jamie Grant's proposal to put a stake through the heart of the county's troubled Public Transportation Commission died on the vine. Grant was put on the spot to defend his legislation from his fellow GOP colleagues yesterday, and his arguments didn't appear that persuasive, though it was the Democrats on the panel that led the opposition to the proposal.
A similar proposal to significantly reduce the power and influence of the county's Civil Service Board fared much better however.
And how's you like to be Ian Hallett this morning? Yes, you were humbled somewhat by the fact that your termination as Animal Services Director for Hillsborough County is a bit demeaning, as the story leads the coverage in the local dailies today. However, life ain't all bad. Now you're with the much less controversial Parks & Rec. Dept., and you still get to keep your $104,000 annual salary.