Help & information    View the list of Transcripts



TAMPA CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019

DISCLAIMER:
THIS FILE REPRESENTS AN UNEDITED VERSION OF REALTIME
CAPTIONING WHICH SHOULD NEITHER BE RELIED UPON FOR COMPLETE
ACCURACY NOR USED AS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT.
ANY PERSON WHO NEEDS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF THE
PROCEEDINGS MAY NEED TO HIRE A COURT REPORTER.

9:40:28AM >>MIKE SUAREZ: HERE.
9:42:07AM >>HARRY COHEN: HERE.
9:42:09AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
9:42:10AM >>YVONNE CAPIN: PRESENT.
9:42:11AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE.
9:42:13AM >>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
9:42:14AM >>FRANK REDDICK: HERE.
9:42:17AM >> THE ACTING CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILMAN REDDICK.
9:42:26AM >>FRANK REDDICK: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
9:42:29AM THIS IS A SPECIAL DAY FOR US.
9:42:36AM FOR SEVEN AND THREE-QUARTER YEARS, I'VE HAD THIS YOUNG MAN
9:42:44AM WORKING WITH ME, AND HE DONE SOMETHING BEFORE I CAN DO IT,
9:42:48AM AND THAT IS TO FIND A NEW JOB.
9:42:49AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:42:49AM I HAVEN'T STARTED LOOKING YET, AND HE ALREADY -- YOU KNOW, I
9:43:01AM KNOW I GOT HIM FROM DAY ONE, BUT I GOT THE WORD FROM HIM
9:43:08AM THAT HE GOT A GREAT OFFER THAT WAS MADE TO HIM AND HE
9:43:12AM DECIDED TO ACCEPT IT.

9:43:13AM I DON'T KNOW WHY HE WOULD WANT TO GO IN THE COLD WEATHER IN
9:43:17AM BALTIMORE, BUT I WISH HIM WELL.
9:43:21AM WE WANT TO JUST TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND
9:43:28AM RECOGNIZE HIM FOR ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE BEING
9:43:35AM EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA AND THEN EMPLOYED IN MY
9:43:38AM OFFICE.
9:43:38AM AS I LOOK AT THIS COMMENDATION, IT'S WONDERFUL HOW IT'S PUT
9:43:50AM TOGETHER BECAUSE IT SAY LEGISLATIVE AIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE,
9:43:54AM SUPER DAD, BEST FRIEND, CONFIDANT, LEADER, MENTOR, KIND
9:44:06AM HUMAN, MONDAY MORNING SPORTS ANALYST THAT I DIDN'T KNOW.
9:44:09AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:44:09AM AND WORK BROTHER.
9:44:11AM NOW, I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS A SPORTS ANALYST.
9:44:14AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:44:14AM NORMALLY I ATTEMPT NOT TO READ THE BODY OF WORDS, BUT I
9:44:28AM THINK ON THIS OCCASION IT MIGHT BE APPROPRIATE TO READ IT
9:44:33AM BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY KIND.
9:44:34AM THE SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, ALONG WITH
9:44:39AM THEIR LEGISLATIVE AIDES, HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE TO
9:44:45AM HAVE HAD CEDRIC McCRAY AS A MEMBER OF THEIR TEAM.
9:44:50AM CEDRIC IS A LEADER, A PERSON WITH ALL RESPECT, ADMIRE, BUT
9:44:57AM MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE'S A FRIEND.
9:45:00AM WE REFLECT ON WHAT HAS ALMOST BEEN EIGHT YEARS TOGETHER, AND
9:45:05AM WE ARE PROUD OF HIS MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
9:45:09AM THE COMMUNITY OF EAST TAMPA HAS HAD A CHAMPION IN CEDRIC.

9:45:16AM HIS WARMTH, ATTENTION TO DETAILS, AND HIS DETERMINATION TO
9:45:20AM FIX PROBLEMS HAVE MADE HIM A HOUSEHOLD NAME.
9:45:23AM HE TREATS EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND WOULD TURN OVER EVERY
9:45:28AM STONE UNTIL HE FINDS A SOLUTION OR ALTERNATIVE PATH TO
9:45:34AM MANAGE WHAT CAN SOMETIMES BE A DELICATE SITUATION.
9:45:40AM AS MUCH AS WE ARE ELATED FOR HIS NEW JOURNEY, WE ARE FORCED
9:45:43AM TO SIT HERE AND REFLECT ON ALL THE MOMENTS WE HAVE SHARED
9:45:50AM TOGETHER, THE LAUGHS, THE PRAISE, THE COUNCIL MEETING, THE
9:45:55AM MEALS, THE SHARED STORIES, AND WITH A SIGHT WE SAY FROM THE
9:46:02AM BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS WE WILL MISS YOU.
9:46:05AM TAMPA CITY COUNCIL AND THEIR STAFF HAVE BEEN HONORED TO HAVE
9:46:11AM YOU SERVE ALONGSIDE US.
9:46:13AM WE WISH YOU WELL AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR
9:46:16AM EXTRAORDINARY FUTURE ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
9:46:20AM WE PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION TO YOU ON THE 17th DAY OF
9:46:23AM JANUARY, 2019.
9:46:26AM CONGRATULATIONS, MY BROTHER.
9:46:28AM [ APPLAUSE ]
9:46:28AM TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
9:46:41AM >> THANK YOU.
9:46:42AM I DON'T THINK IT WAS NECESSARILY NECESSARY, BUT I'M NOT
9:46:48AM SURPRISED.
9:46:49AM I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
9:46:52AM IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH YOU OVER THE SEVEN AND
9:46:56AM THREE-QUARTER YEARS.

9:46:58AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING MY SKILL SET TO THE MUNICIPALITY
9:47:02AM UP NORTH THAT IS IN SOME DIRE NEED FOLLOWING CONVERSATIONS
9:47:07AM WITH FOLKS UP THERE.
9:47:08AM BUT I WILL ALWAYS HOLD MY EXPERIENCES HERE AT THE CITY OF
9:47:13AM TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY VERY FONDLY AND LOOK FORWARD
9:47:16AM TO COMING BACK AT SOME POINT.
9:47:18AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
9:47:20AM COUNCILMAN REDDICK, I APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING ME IN OUT
9:47:23AM OF THE COLD IN 2011, AND HOPEFULLY I'VE DONE RIGHT BY YOU
9:47:30AM AND THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 5.
9:47:31AM I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, SIR.
9:47:32AM IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE.
9:47:34AM THANK YOU.
9:47:35AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
9:47:38AM [ APPLAUSE ]
9:47:44AM >>FRANK REDDICK: ANYONE WISH TO SAY ANYTHING?
9:47:47AM ANYONE FROM COUNCIL, STAFF, ANYBODY?
9:47:53AM >> IN OUR WORK FAMILY, CEDRIC IS LIKE THE FAVORITE BROTHER.
9:47:57AM YOU'RE SMART, YOU'RE FUNNY, YOU KEEP US IN LINE AND THERE'S
9:48:01AM NO ONE ELSE I'D LIKE TO TALK FOOTBALL WITH ON MONDAY
9:48:04AM MORNING.
9:48:07AM >> YOU WROTE THAT, DIDN'T YOU?
9:48:09AM >> ANYWAYS, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WE LOVE YOU.
9:48:12AM WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU.
9:48:14AM CONGRATULATIONS.

9:48:18AM [ APPLAUSE ]
9:48:21AM >> THIS IS MY FRANK REDDICK EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.
9:48:24AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:48:24AM WHEN I WOULD HAVE SOMETHING OF IMPORT TO TALK TO WITH FRANK,
9:48:30AM AND FRANK HAD ALREADY HAD A TOUGH MORNING OR SOMETHING,
9:48:33AM CEDRIC COULD GO, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY DON'T YOU COME BACK
9:48:37AM LATER?
9:48:38AM AND WAS ALWAYS VERY PROFESSIONAL IN HELPING ME KNOW WHEN
9:48:43AM THERE WAS SOMETHING OUT -- [NO ENCODER]
9:48:56AM [NO ENCODER]
9:49:34AM [NO ENCODER]
9:49:39AM >> -- MY PLEASURE.
9:49:55AM >>LUIS VIERA: ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY?
9:49:57AM COUNCILMAN COHEN.
9:50:00AM OH, I'M SORRY.
9:50:03AM >> CEDRIC IS LIKE A LITTLE BROTHER.
9:50:07AM HE'S A NUISANCE AND HE TALKS BAD ABOUT ME.
9:50:10AM HE TOLD ME -- I ACTUALLY SAID, WHERE ARE YOU GOING.
9:50:14AM "DEBBIE, TOUCH YOUR NOSE.
9:50:17AM TOUCH YOUR NOSE, DEBBIE."
9:50:18AM AND STAY IN YOUR LANE.
9:50:20AM I WAS LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, AS A WOMAN WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE
9:50:26AM YOU'RE GOING SO WHEN PEOPLE ASK WE CAN TELL THEM.
9:50:29AM I'LL ALSO MISS HIM BECAUSE HIS BROTHER LIVE KIND OF BY MY
9:50:33AM HOMETOWN.

9:50:34AM HE CALL ME UNION SPRINGS.
9:50:36AM SOMEBODY MISSED MY UPDATE FROM UNION SPRINGS.
9:50:38AM BUT AS A FRIEND, AS A COWORKER, AS A BROTHER, I HAVE ENJOYED
9:50:44AM WORKING WITH YOU, NOT JUST AT THE CITY COUNCIL BUT ALSO ON
9:50:48AM THE CITY OF TAMPA BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE.
9:50:50AM SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND US A NEW SCHOLARSHIP CHAIR,
9:50:53AM BUT I TOLD HIM TO PLEASE KEEP HIS PHONE ON AND WHEN WE CALL,
9:50:59AM PLEASE ANSWER.
9:50:59AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:50:59AM THANK YOU, CEDRIC.
9:51:05AM >> MR. CHAIRMAN, I RISE JUST TO SAY WE ARE, WHILE WE ARE
9:51:09AM INDEED GLAD TO SEE CEDRIC MAKE THIS NEXT STEP IN HIS LIFE,
9:51:16AM THIS IS A GREAT LOSS FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA AND HILLSBOROUGH
9:51:18AM COUNTY.
9:51:18AM TREMENDOUS MAN.
9:51:20AM HE HAS ADDED SO MUCH TO DISTRICT 5, TO COUNCILMAN REDDICK,
9:51:30AM EVEN BEFORE THAT, HE WAS A SCHOOLTEACHER FOR MY DAUGHTER,
9:51:34AM AND THEN HE WENT ON TO THE COUNTY COMMISSION THERE AS AN
9:51:37AM AIDE AND THEN HERE.
9:51:38AM SO HE HAS REALLY BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET TO THIS COMMUNITY,
9:51:44AM TO THIS COUNTY.
9:51:46AM AND I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING A
9:51:50AM GREAT LOSS TODAY, WHILE WE ARE INDEED CELEBRATING AND HAPPY
9:51:53AM FOR THE STEP-UP AND TRANSITION THAT HE'S MAKING.
9:51:58AM I RISE UP TODAY TO SAY IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE REALLY

9:52:01AM BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT THIS MORNING.
9:52:03AM WE ARE HAPPY FOR HIM, FOR HIS FAMILY.
9:52:05AM WE WISH HIM WELL AND OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH HIM.
9:52:08AM WE RECOGNIZE TODAY THAT THIS IS A HUGE LOSS FOR THIS WHOLE
9:52:15AM COMMUNITY.
9:52:15AM WE WISH YOU WELL.
9:52:19AM >> APPRECIATE YOU.
9:52:20AM THANK YOU.
9:52:22AM >>LUIS VIERA: ANYONE ELSE?
9:52:24AM >>FRANK REDDICK: ONE LAST THING.
9:52:26AM LET ME SAY I WANT TO THANK LORENA FOR HELPING COORDINATE
9:52:32AM THIS FOR ME.
9:52:33AM I WAS AT THE OTHER OFFICE AND COULDN'T GET AWAY TO DO NONE
9:52:38AM OF THIS, AND SHE HELPED ME OUT.
9:52:40AM SO, THANK YOU.
9:52:45AM >>LUIS VIERA: MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IF WE WANT TO GO DOWN.
9:52:52AM >>MIKE SUAREZ: CEDRIC, YOU HAVE A VERY UNIQUE BACKGROUND AND
9:52:55AM A VERY UNIQUE SENSE OF EVERYTHING.
9:52:57AM WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPORTS.
9:52:58AM I WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU'RE MOVING TO A PLACE THAT TAKES
9:53:01AM THEIR SPORTS SERIOUSLY.
9:53:02AM YOU BETTER NOT WEAR THAT MIAMI HEAT PARAPHERNALIA UP THERE.
9:53:09AM BY THE WAY, YOU ALMOST SAID ALMOST EXACTLY WHAT WILL LEBRON
9:53:12AM JAMES SAID WHEN HE LEFT CLEVELAND, YOU'RE BRINGING YOUR
9:53:17AM STILLS TO BALTIMORE.

9:53:18AM I WANT TO POINT OUT, BEING SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN FLORIDA
9:53:21AM AND GOING UP TO THE VERY, VERY COLD PART OF THE NORTH, I'M
9:53:25AM NOT SURE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY THAT PART OF IT.
9:53:27AM I THINK YOU'LL ENJOY THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.
9:53:29AM IT'S A UNIQUE PLACE.
9:53:31AM I'VE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE AND SOME TIME SPENDING WITH THE
9:53:35AM PRESIDENT OF THEIR CITY COUNCIL, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU
9:53:39AM THEY ARE TOUGH FOLKS.
9:53:40AM HE WENT TO A BASEBALL GAME WITH ME AT YANKEE STADIUM AND HAD
9:53:44AM HIS BALTIMORE ORIOLES CAP ON AND WAS CHASTISING THE CROWD
9:53:48AM AND TELLING THEM HOW THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE SO MUCH
9:53:52AM BETTER THAN THE YANKEES.
9:53:53AM GET PREPARED.
9:53:54AM I WILL SAY ALL THAT MIAMI DOLPHINS JERSEYS, ALL THE OTHER
9:53:58AM STUFF THAT YOU HAVE, YOU'LL HAVE TO GET RID OF IT OR AT
9:54:01AM LEAST PUT IT IN A CLOSET SO NO ONE ELSE SEES IT.
9:54:04AM I'LL MISS OUR TALKS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH
9:54:07AM OUR GOVERNMENT, OUR CITY, ALL THE FUNNY STORIES THAT WE
9:54:10AM SHARE WITH EACH OTHER, TEACHING OUR INTERNS WHICH DENZEL
9:54:14AM WASHINGTON MOVIE IS THE BEST OR EVEN TO DESCRIBE WHO DENZEL
9:54:19AM WASHINGTON IS, YOU KNOW, AS WE GET OLDER WE KNOW WE HAVE TO
9:54:25AM LEAVE SOMETHING BEHIND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING WITH
9:54:27AM US AND WE'RE TRYING TO TRAIN AND MENTOR.
9:54:29AM AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY WITH
9:54:33AM EVERY ONE OF OUR INTERNS, EVERY ONE OF OUR STAFF.

9:54:35AM YOU HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE CLASSIEST PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET IN
9:54:40AM MY LIFE AND THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD.
9:54:42AM ANY PART OF MY WORK EXPERIENCE, ANY PART OF MY LIFE, I HAVE
9:54:45AM NEVER SEEN SOMEONE AS CLASSY AS YOU.
9:54:49AM YOU HANDLE EVERYTHING WITH THE KIND OF SAME APPROACH THAT
9:54:52AM YOU SHOULD.
9:54:53AM YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF GRACE UNDER PRESSURE, BECAUSE THERE
9:54:58AM IS NO -- I KNOW I'LL HAVE ARGUMENTS FROM SOME OF THE OTHER
9:55:01AM COUNCIL AIDES, BUT THERE IS NO OFFICE THAT HAS AS MUCH
9:55:07AM ACTIVITY AND ISSUES AS DISTRICT FIVE AND YOU HANDLE IT SO
9:55:10AM WELL.
9:55:10AM WHOEVER REPLACES BOTH FRANK REDDICK AND YOU AS A LEGISLATIVE
9:55:14AM AIDE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
9:55:17AM I DON'T THINK ANY CANDIDATES OUT THERE REALIZE --
9:55:19AM >> RIGHT.
9:55:20AM >>MIKE SUAREZ: -- WHAT THEY ARE IN FOR.
9:55:24AM YOU WON'T BE HERE TO MENTOR THEM OR TRAIN THEM.
9:55:27AM I HOPE YOU AND YOUR WONDERFUL WIFE AND TWO BEAUTIFUL
9:55:29AM DAUGHTERS, WHO WE'LL MISS MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE'RE GOING TO
9:55:32AM MISS SEEING THEM AT COUNCIL AND THEIR WONDERFUL FACES AND
9:55:35AM SMILES AND HOW INCREDIBLE THEY ARE, AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS
9:55:38AM SEEING THEM GROW UP.
9:55:40AM WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY BALTIMORE, BUT DON'T FORGET
9:55:44AM ABOUT YOUR FAMILY DOWN HERE.
9:55:45AM WE ARE YOUR FAMILY AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE.

9:55:47AM GOOD LUCK IN YOUR NEW JOB.
9:55:51AM >> THANK YOU.
9:55:53AM >>HARRY COHEN: THANK YOU FOR THAT.
9:55:54AM YOU KNOW, EVERYONE HAS MADE REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT WE
9:55:59AM REALLY ARE A FAMILY AROUND HERE.
9:56:01AM ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, WE EAT TOGETHER ON A FAIRLY REGULAR
9:56:05AM BASIS.
9:56:06AM THOSE TIMES IN THE KITCHEN AND IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM IS
9:56:09AM WHEN WE REALLY TALK TO EACH OTHER AS PEOPLE.
9:56:13AM AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WASN'T MENTIONED TODAY ABOUT
9:56:16AM CEDRIC, HE MAY BE A GREAT SPORTS ANALYST, HE'S ALSO A GREAT
9:56:20AM POLITICAL ANALYST AND TREMENDOUSLY ASTUTE I THINK BOTH
9:56:24AM STUDENT AND COMMENTATOR ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON BOTH
9:56:28AM HERE AND IN PINELLAS COUNTY.
9:56:30AM AND I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED, I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED YOUR
9:56:33AM OBSERVATIONS AS WE LIVE THROUGH DIFFERENT POLITICAL EVENTS
9:56:36AM THAT TAKE PLACE.
9:56:38AM CEDRIC'S OFFICE IS RIGHT NEXT TO MINE.
9:56:41AM OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES
9:56:44AM I'VE WALKED BY AND HEARD HIM ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEBODY.
9:56:48AM WHAT ALWAYS IMPRESSED ME IS THAT CEDRIC ALWAYS TAKES THE
9:56:53AM TIME TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON, TO TRY TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
9:56:58AM OF THINGS.
9:56:59AM HE'S EXTREMELY METHODICAL AND PATIENT WITH PEOPLE.
9:57:03AM I HAVE TO TELL YOU, COUNCILMAN REDDICK, SO MANY TIMES I

9:57:06AM WALKED BY AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WOW, COUNCILMAN REDDICK
9:57:10AM WOULD BE SO PLEASED TO HEAR THIS CONVERSATION THAT'S GOING
9:57:12AM ON BETWEEN CEDRIC AND THIS CONSTITUENT BECAUSE YOU TREAT THE
9:57:17AM PEOPLE THAT CALL HERE AND THAT HAVE ISSUES HERE WITH EXACTLY
9:57:21AM THE KIND OF RESPECT AND DEFERENCE THAT CITIZENS DESERVE AND
9:57:24AM EXPECT.
9:57:25AM AND, HONESTLY, THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE ARE VERY, VERY LUCKY
9:57:28AM BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO GET WHAT IS NO DOUBT GOING TO BE A
9:57:32AM HUGE IMPROVEMENT OVER WHATEVER THEY HAVE NOW.
9:57:35AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:57:35AM THANK YOU.
9:57:37AM YOU KNOW I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
9:57:39AM >> APPRECIATE IT.
9:57:43AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WELL, CEDRIC, YOU ARE A GENTLEMAN IN
9:57:45AM EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
9:57:47AM I'VE KNOWN YOU NOW FOR ABOUT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
9:57:50AM I'M PROUD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND.
9:57:53AM YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROFESSIONAL AND STRAIGHTFORWARD AND
9:57:56AM HONEST.
9:57:56AM AND WE REALLY ARE GOING TO MISS YOU.
9:57:58AM I OFTEN REFERENCE BEING ON CITY COUNCIL, BEING IN CITY HALL
9:58:02AM AS BEING A MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY.
9:58:04AM BECAUSE AS COUNCILMAN COHEN AND COUNCILMAN SUAREZ ALREADY
9:58:07AM SAID, WE EAT TOGETHER.
9:58:08AM WE SEE EACH OTHER ON A REGULAR BASIS.

9:58:10AM IT'S MORE THAN JUST WORK.
9:58:12AM FRIENDSHIPS -- TRUE FRIENDSHIPS ARE BUILT.
9:58:14AM AND WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT YOU RELOCATING, I ASKED -- I
9:58:21AM GO, IS THIS THE RIGHT CEDRIC?
9:58:23AM HOW MANY CEDRICS DO YOU KNOW?
9:58:25AM JUST YOU.
9:58:27AM BUT IT IS A TREMENDOUS LOSS TO THE CITY OF TAMPA.
9:58:31AM WHERE YOU ARE GOING, THEY ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THIS
9:58:37AM OPPORTUNITY WITH YOU.
9:58:38AM BUT WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU.
9:58:40AM AND WE WILL KEEP IN TOUCH.
9:58:41AM AND WE WISH YOU THE BEST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A VERY BRIGHT
9:58:46AM FUTURE.
9:58:46AM YOUR TOMORROWS ARE ALWAYS BRIGHT.
9:58:48AM BUT I KNOW GOOD THINGS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE FOR YOU AND
9:58:52AM YOUR FAMILY AND JUST KNOW WE WON'T FORGET YOU AND WE
9:58:56AM APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
9:58:57AM >> THANK YOU, SIR.
9:58:59AM >>YVONNE CAPIN: CEDRIC, CEDRIC, CEDRIC ...
9:59:01AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:59:02AM YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A STUNNINGLY ORIGINAL MIND IN THAT YOU
9:59:10AM NEVER, EVER WAIVER FROM THAT CALMNESS AND THAT RESPECT THAT
9:59:16AM YOU SHOW TO EVERYONE.
9:59:19AM TO ME IT'S AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE ALL
9:59:23AM THE TIME.

9:59:25AM AS I TOLD YOU WHEN I TALKED TO YOU ON THE PHONE, I'M HAPPY
9:59:28AM FOR YOU AND I'M SAD FOR US, BUT, BY THE WAY, I WAS BORN IN
9:59:31AM BALTIMORE, BUT WE ONLY STAYED THERE TWO YEARS.
9:59:35AM THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT THAT I WAS BORN THERE.
9:59:37AM [ LAUGHTER ]
9:59:37AM ANYWAY, I WISH YOU THE VERY, VERY BEST FOR YOU, YOUR WIFE
9:59:44AM AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL TWO DAUGHTERS.
9:59:46AM I KNOW IT'S A MOVE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND WE
9:59:51AM CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU BACK IN FLORIDA, PARTICULARLY IN
9:59:55AM TAMPA.
9:59:55AM THANK YOU.
9:59:59AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: CEDRIC, YOU KNOW, 147 PEOPLE MOVE IN
10:00:06AM DAILY TO THE TAMPA BAY AREA, BY BLOOMBERG REPORT, NOT MY
10:00:12AM REPORT.
10:00:12AM NOW WE'RE DOWN TO 146 BECAUSE YOU'RE LEAVING.
10:00:18AM I HAVE TO CALL BLOOMBERG AND REPORT IT.
10:00:20AM WHAT I'M SAYING, EIGHT YEARS, OR JUST ABOUT EIGHT YEARS,
10:00:23AM REALLY SEEMS LIKE EIGHT DAYS BECAUSE WHEN EVERYTHING IS
10:00:27AM RUNNING SMOOTH, WHEN THE ENGINE HAS ENOUGH FUEL AND YOU TAKE
10:00:34AM CARE OF THE UPKEEP AND CHANGING THINGS, IT'S PART OF WHAT
10:00:37AM YOU DO.
10:00:38AM ALL THE AIDES ARE THE TRUE REPRESENTATIVES BECAUSE YOU GET
10:00:42AM THE FIRST CALL FROM ALL THE CONSTITUENTS.
10:00:45AM WE GET THE SECOND CALL.
10:00:47AM BUT THE FIRST CALL COMES TO THE AIDES.

10:00:50AM AND WHAT I'VE SEEN AND WHAT I CALL THE NORTH WING AND THE
10:00:55AM EAST WING, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE BECAUSE OTHER COUNCIL
10:00:56AM MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED WHY THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE.
10:00:59AM YOU SEE THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IN
10:01:03AM FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER.
10:01:05AM THEY DON'T EAT TOGETHER.
10:01:06AM THE KIDS DON'T GO TO THE SAME SCHOOL TOGETHER.
10:01:09AM THEY DON'T SIT AT PTAs.
10:01:11AM THEY DON'T GO TO CHURCH TOGETHER.
10:01:13AM BUT HERE IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE EAT TOGETHER, WE
10:01:16AM SEE EACH OTHER SOCIALLY.
10:01:20AM THAT'S WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE THAT YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING
10:01:23AM OF WHAT EVERYBODY IS ABOUT.
10:01:24AM THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IN WASHINGTON.
10:01:27AM BUT YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE TO WASHINGTON.
10:01:29AM BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON, JUST A VERY, VERY SHORT MANY MILES
10:01:33AM AWAY.
10:01:33AM LIKE WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, I HEARD A RUMOR THAT REALLY WAS
10:01:38AM NOT GOING TO WORK FOR GOVERNMENT.
10:01:41AM I HEARD THAT THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES ARE SO BAD IN BASEBALL
10:01:45AM THAT YOU WERE STARTING SECOND BASEMAN, AND THAT YOU GOT A
10:01:48AM NICE FAT CONTRACT TO PLAY ONE YEAR WITH NO CUT.
10:01:51AM IS THAT TRUE?
10:01:52AM >> I WISH.
10:01:53AM I WISH.

10:01:54AM [ LAUGHTER ]
10:01:56AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL, THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.
10:01:58AM THEY TOLD ME YOU WERE A VERY GOOD BASEBALL PLAYER WHEN YOU
10:02:01AM WERE A LITTLE YOUNGER, BUT THEY WERE LOOKING FOR STABILITY
10:02:04AM AT SECOND BASE TO TURN THE DOUBLE PLAY.
10:02:06AM I WORKED WITH YOU.
10:02:07AM MARY HAS WORKED WITH YOU.
10:02:08AM ALL OF US HAVE WORKED WITH YOU.
10:02:11AM AND WHAT WAS SAID IS ALL FACTUAL.
10:02:14AM YOU DON'T FLUTTER.
10:02:15AM DON'T GET SHOOK UP.
10:02:16AM YOU HANDLE THOSE SCREAMING, THOSE NOT SCREAMING.
10:02:19AM BELIEVE ME, YOU DO GET THEM BECAUSE I'VE HEARD THEM FROM MY
10:02:23AM OFFICE.
10:02:25AM IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE THE PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU AND
10:02:28AM MR. REDDICK.
10:02:29AM I'VE ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH.
10:02:30AM THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE A FUTURE.
10:02:33AM YOUR GIRLS ARE BEAUTIFUL.
10:02:35AM YOU'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.
10:02:37AM GOD BLESS YOU.
10:02:38AM I KNOW YOU'RE DOING THIS FOR THE FUTURE OF YOUR FAMILY.
10:02:42AM AND THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT.
10:02:44AM THAT'S WHAT MY FATHER AND MOTHER DID FOR US, WHAT THE
10:02:48AM PARENTS DID FOR ALL THOSE SITTING HERE.

10:02:50AM WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, YOU CAN'T FAIL BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN
10:02:52AM UPLIFT AND A GOAL TO GO FOR.
10:02:55AM GOD BLESS YOU, WE LOVE YOU.
10:02:56AM THE WORK YOU'VE DONE HERE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC.
10:02:59AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
10:03:00AM >> THANK YOU, SIR.
10:03:03AM >>LUIS VIERA: CEDRIC, OBVIOUSLY I ECHO A LOT OF WHAT WAS
10:03:05AM SAID.
10:03:06AM I WANT TO MAKE TWO BASIC POINTS.
10:03:07AM NUMBER ONE, SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED BY YOU,
10:03:10AM WHICH IS YOUR TEMPERAMENT AND YOUR RESTRAINT AND DIPLOMACY
10:03:15AM WITH PEOPLE.
10:03:16AM WHETHER A CONSTITUENT BEING NICE, A CONSTITUENT BEING NOT
10:03:19AM TOO KIND TO YOU, WHETHER IT'S SOMEBODY WHOSE POLITICAL
10:03:23AM OPINIONS YOU WOULD DISAGREE WITH OR POTENTIALLY FIND
10:03:25AM OFFENSIVE, YOU'RE ALWAYS VERY DIPLOMATIC WITH THEM AND
10:03:28AM ALWAYS VERY CIVIL WITH THEM.
10:03:29AM ALWAYS VERY RESTRAINED WITH THEM.
10:03:31AM I CAN JUST TELL AND I ALWAYS ADMIRE YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE WE
10:03:35AM NEED MORE OF THAT IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
10:03:38AM THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU HAVE.
10:03:39AM TEMPERAMENT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T BUY.
10:03:42AM TEMPERAMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING YOU GROW.
10:03:44AM THE SITUATIONS MAY AFFECT OUR TEMPERAMENT ONE WAY OR THE
10:03:47AM OTHER.

10:03:48AM I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING YOU WERE BORN WITH AND THAT YOU
10:03:51AM CHAMPIONED AND IS OBVIOUSLY A WONDERFUL THING.
10:03:54AM SECOND IS THE CONCEPT OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
10:03:59AM I THINK ALL OF US HERE REALLY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO
10:04:04AM SERVE THE PUBLIC.
10:04:05AM AND FOR MANY OF US, MAYBE POTENTIALLY WE COULD MAKE MORE IN
10:04:08AM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, BUT WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE A
10:04:12AM DIFFERENCE.
10:04:13AM I HOPE THAT YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTERS KNOW YOU REALLY ARE THAT
10:04:17AM PUBLIC SERVANT.
10:04:18AM THAT INDIVIDUAL WHO GOES BECAUSE YOU WANT TO THROUGH AN ARM
10:04:21AM OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR THAT HAS SUCH A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
10:04:23AM PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING FROM SANITATION TO PARKS, TO
10:04:26AM TRANSPORTATION, THAT YOU WANT TO BE THAT REPRESENTATIVE AND
10:04:29AM THAT VOICE ON A ONE-TO-ONE LEVEL IN DEALING WITH THE PEOPLE.
10:04:33AM I MEAN, HOW MUCH MORE OF A HUMANITARIAN OR PATRIOTIC OR
10:04:37AM CIVIC-MINDED NOTION OF PUBLIC SERVICE.
10:04:39AM SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SCOFF AT THESE DAYS BECAUSE A
10:04:43AM LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT PEOPLE GOING INTO PUBLIC SECTOR
10:04:45AM AND THEY MAKE THE WORST ASSUMPTIONS JUST BECAUSE OF PEOPLE'S
10:04:49AM EXPERIENCES AND THE WAY PEOPLE SPIN THEM.
10:04:51AM BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU REALLY GIVE PUBLIC SERVICE THE BEST FACE
10:04:55AM POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU DO IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
10:04:58AM AND JUST KNOWING YOU AND BEING A PERSON WHO BEFORE I GOT
10:05:02AM ELECTED TWO YEARS AGO I WAS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR ALL OF

10:05:06AM MY WORKING LIFE, A PERSON LIKE YOU CAN REALLY CLEAN UP IN
10:05:10AM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
10:05:10AM I MEAN IT.
10:05:11AM WE COULD USE A LOT OF RESTRAINT AND DIPLOMACY, ET CETERA.
10:05:14AM BUT AGAIN, YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SERVE.
10:05:17AM I SALUTE THAT 100%.
10:05:19AM GOD BLESS YOU.
10:05:20AM THANK YOU.
10:05:21AM >> THANK YOU.
10:05:23AM >> ANYONE ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER, INCLUDING IN THE
10:05:25AM PUBLIC?
10:05:25AM COUNCILMAN REDDICK.
10:05:34AM >> WE'RE TAKING A PICTURE.
10:05:37AM >> ARE WE ADJOURNED?
10:05:42AM >>LUIS VIERA: WE'RE ADJOURNED.
10:05:47AM [ APPLAUSE ]
10:05:47AM
DISCLAIMER:
THIS FILE REPRESENTS AN UNEDITED VERSION OF REALTIME
CAPTIONING WHICH SHOULD NEITHER BE RELIED UPON FOR COMPLETE
ACCURACY NOR USED AS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT.
ANY PERSON WHO NEEDS A VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT OF THE
PROCEEDINGS MAY NEED TO HIRE A COURT REPORTER.