Tampa City Council
Tuesday, January 10, 2023
9:00 a.m.
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.
09:04:53AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: CALL TO SESSION.
09:04:55AM COUNCILMEMBER MANISCALCO, YOU HAVE INVOCATION?
09:04:55AM >> YES, SIR, THANK YOU.
09:05:02AM IT'S MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME PASTOR EARL B. MASON SR.
09:05:06AM IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME TO THE LECTERN.
09:05:10AM THE GENTLEMAN IS A NATIVE OF TAMPA AND A PRODUCT OF THE
09:05:10AM HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY SCHOOLS.
09:05:13AM GRADUATED FROM MIDDLETON, ATTENDED USF AND ALUMNI OF
09:05:16AM FAMU.
09:05:18AM HOLDS A MASTER'S DEGREE.
09:05:18AM ATTENDED DALLAS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
09:05:20AM RECEIVED HIS DOCTORATE IN THEOLOGY FROM CORNERSTONE
09:05:23AM THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.
09:05:25AM HAS A REAL ESTATE CERTIFICATE, MORTGAGE BANKERS LICENSE.
09:05:29AM IF YOU SAW THIS LIST, THIS MAN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SO
09:05:32AM MUCH AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HIS SERVICE IN THIS
09:05:35AM COMMUNITY AND ALL THE BOARDS HE SERVED ON AND EVERYTHING
09:05:37AM THAT HE HAS DONE, SO IF WE COULD PLEASE STAND, PASTOR,
09:05:42AM PLEASE LEAD US IN PRAYER, THANK YOU.
09:05:44AM >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEN, COUNCILWOMAN.
09:05:50AM THE MOST RECENT TIME I WAS IN THESE CHAMBERS I WAS
09:05:54AM PLEADING FOR MERCY AND ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY A FINE.
09:06:00AM SO I'M GLAD TO BE BACK ON THIS OCCASION FOR THIS REASON.
09:06:02AM THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THIS DAY.
09:06:04AM THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME OF CELEBRATION.
09:06:08AM THANK YOU FOR THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE THIS
09:06:13AM COMMUNITY AND WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP.
09:06:17AM WE ASK THY BLESSINGS BE UPON THIS TIME.
09:06:23AM WE ASK THAT YOU'D GRAND THEM GUIDANCE, DIRECTION,
09:06:28AM WISDOM, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE CELEBRANTS TODAY.
09:06:34AM WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR SERVICE.
09:06:36AM WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR SACRIFICE.
09:06:38AM WE THANK YOU FOR THEIR SUBMISSION.
09:06:40AM WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS THIS GATHERING TODAY, MAY
09:06:45AM YOUR NAME BE HALLOWED, YOUR KINGDOM REALIZED, YOUR WILL
09:06:50AM DONE, IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
09:06:55AM >> [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
09:07:15AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: ROLL CALL.
09:07:20AM >>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
09:07:22AM >>LUIS VIERA: HERE.
09:07:23AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
09:07:26AM >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE.
09:07:28AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: HERE.
09:07:30AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE.
09:07:31AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: HERE.
09:07:31AM >>CLERK: YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
09:07:33AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: GOOD MORNING.
09:07:33AM THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE ON THIS SPECIAL DAY AND A
09:07:37AM PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE.
09:07:39AM COUNCILMAN VIERA, YOU'LL START THE COMMENDATIONS OFF
09:07:42AM TODAY.
09:07:45AM >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
09:07:45AM I HAVE A NUMBER AND ALL FOR POLICE AND FIRE HERE TODAY,
09:07:49AM AND IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY, SIR, AND
09:07:51AM WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH WHICH
09:07:53AM WILL GO TO DETECTIVE AMY JONES WITH TAMPA POLICE
09:07:56AM DEPARTMENT.
09:07:58AM [APPLAUSE]
09:07:59AM APPARENTLY A VERY POPULAR INDIVIDUAL IN TAMPA POLICE
09:08:06AM DEPARTMENT AND THAT'S WONDERFUL.
09:08:08AM TAMPA CITY COUNCIL ALWAYS GIVES THESE COMMENDATIONS TO
09:08:10AM OUR FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE THEY REFLECT THE VALUES OF
09:08:14AM OUR COMMUNITY AND THE VALUES OF US, ET CETERA, IN
09:08:17AM LOTTING THE HARD WORK OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS AND POLICE
09:08:21AM OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS.
09:08:22AM NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS OUTSIDE OF THIS BUILDING, THESE
09:08:25AM MEN AND WOMEN ARE ALWAYS THERE FOR US, SO I WILL YIELD
09:08:27AM THE FLOOR TO -- TO CHIEF BERCAW.
09:08:33AM GO AHEAD, SIR.
09:08:36AM >>POLICE CHIEF LEE BERCAW: MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:08:37AM IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE AND PRESENT DETECTIVE AMY JONES
09:08:41AM AS OUR OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
09:08:43AM AMY AND I GO WAY BACK SO THIS IS VERY DESERVING FOR HER
09:08:47AM AND FOR ME, I'M ACTUALLY VERY PROUD OF YOU FOR THIS
09:08:50AM MOMENT.
09:08:51AM I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A QUICK TIDBIT OF ALL SHE DOES IN
09:08:55AM DISTRICT 2.
09:08:56AM DETECTIVE AMY JONES IS AN INCREDIBLY PRODUCTIVE MEMBER
09:09:00AM OF THE D2 OR THE DLIS SQUAD.
09:09:03AM AS THE CASE AGENT TO OVER 246 CASES LAST YEAR, SHE HAS
09:09:09AM ONE OF THE HIGHEST CLEARANCE RATES IN THE UNIT.
09:09:12AM AND THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES NOT ONLY FOR AMY BUT FOR OUR
09:09:15AM DEPARTMENT IN GENERAL WHEN YOU COMPARE US TO OTHER
09:09:18AM CITIES OUR SIZE, THE MOST RECENT REPORT SHOWS THAT WE
09:09:21AM HAVE OVER TWICE THE CLEARANCE RATE OF SOME OF THE OTHER
09:09:25AM AGENCIES AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF DETECTIVES LIKE AMY
09:09:28AM JONES.
09:09:29AM SO HER WORK NOT ONLY HELPS SOLVE CRIMES BUT ALSO
09:09:35AM IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS.
09:09:36AM I'LL GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES.
09:09:38AM IN NOVEMBER 2022 DETECTIVE JONES AND A COLLEAGUE WERE
09:09:42AM WORKING A CASE WHERE A SUSPECT USED A BRICK TO SMASH THE
09:09:45AM FRONT WINDOW OF A LOCAL BOUTIQUE AND REMOVED OVER 100
09:09:48AM FAKE GOLD AND SILVER NECKLACES BEFORE FLEEING
09:09:54AM UNDETECTED.
09:09:54AM DETECTIVE JONES WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN VIDEO SURROUNDING THE
09:09:57AM AREA WHICH HELPED IDENTIFY THE SUSPECT.
09:10:00AM ON NOVEMBER 3, A TIP CAME IN FROM A CALLER WHO BELIEVED
09:10:05AM HE HAD SPOTTED THE SUSPECT IN THE AREA.
09:10:07AM DETECTIVE JONES IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT TO THE LOCATION
09:10:10AM PROVIDED AND LOCATED THE SUSPECT WEARING THE SAME OUTFIT
09:10:14AM AS SEEN IN THE VIDEO.
09:10:16AM AND THIS DOESN'T SAY THIS HERE, BUT AMY JONES IS ONE OF
09:10:19AM THE DETECTIVES THAT IS OUT IN THE FIELD AND IF THERE IS
09:10:22AM ANYBODY THAT'S GOING TO CATCH SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
09:10:24AM THAT'S AMY.
09:10:25AM SHE WORKS FROM THE FIELD AND NOT SITTING AT HER DESK.
09:10:30AM SO EVENTUALLY SHE SEES THAT PERSON, AND IT DOESN'T GO
09:10:35AM FROM THERE.
09:10:35AM IT'S NOT JUST A QUICK APPREHENSION.
09:10:37AM AFTER A FOOT PURSUIT THE SUSPECT WAS ABLE TO ELUDE
09:10:41AM ARREST BUT DETECTIVE JONES DID NOT STOP THERE.
09:10:45AM EVERY DAY AFTER SHE SEARCHED HER AREA IN HER ZONE AND
09:10:48AM HER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE SUSPECT.
09:10:49AM AND ABOUT SIX DAYS LATER, SHE LOCATED THAT SUSPECT.
09:10:54AM KNOWING THAT HE'D TRY TO FLEE AGAIN, SHE USED GOOD
09:10:58AM DECISION MAKING BY COORDINATING WITH ADDITIONAL UNITS TO
09:11:02AM RESPOND TO THE AREA.
09:11:03AM AS OFFICERS ARRIVED, THE SUSPECT IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO
09:11:07AM RUN, BUT THIS TIME RAN RIGHT INTO DETECTIVE JONES.
09:11:12AM ON NOVEMBER 21, DETECTIVE JONES RESPONDED TO ANOTHER
09:11:15AM BURGLARY IN HER ZONE.
09:11:16AM THE SUSPECT FORCED HIS WAY INSIDE THE MOTEL ROOM AND
09:11:19AM STOLE MORE THAN $1600 WORTH OF ITEMS INCLUDING A PHONE,
09:11:23AM PURSE, CLOTHING AND ELECTRIC BICYCLE.
09:11:26AM DETECTIVE JONES OBTAINED SURVEILLANCE VIDEO IN THAT
09:11:30AM CASE, SHOWED THE SUSPECT TAKING THE BIKE TO A SEPARATE
09:11:32AM ROOM, LEADING HER BELIEVE HE WAS LIKELY A MOTEL REGULAR.
09:11:38AM TWO DAYS LATER SHE DEVELOPED INFORMATION THAT THE
09:11:40AM SUSPECT WAS WALKING AROUND AT A NEARBY GAS STATION.
09:11:44AM SHE ADVISED THE PATROL OFFICERS OF THIS INFORMATION AND
09:11:46AM AS A RESULT OF THIS QUICK THINKING, THE OFFICERS WERE
09:11:49AM ABLE TO TAKE THE SUSPECT INTO CUSTODY AND LOCATE THE
09:11:53AM VICTIM'S CELL PHONE ON HIM.
09:11:55AM SO AS I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, DETECTIVE JONES HAS A
09:11:59AM HANDS-ON APPROACH.
09:12:00AM SHE IS IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTIGATING CRIMES.
09:12:02AM AND SHE IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN SOLVING CASES.
09:12:06AM SHE PATROLS HER ZONE DAILY AND THIS ACTUALLY IS PART OF
09:12:11AM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING EFFORT.
09:12:13AM IT'S OUR ENHANCEMENT THAT WE'RE DOING NEXT YEAR,
09:12:16AM BASICALLY EVERYBODY THAT WORKS THEIR ZONE OR
09:12:18AM NEIGHBORHOOD SOLVES PROBLEMS AND GAUGES WITH THE
09:12:20AM COMMUNITY, AND DETECTIVE JONES IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF
09:12:23AM THAT AND FOR THESE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS THAT WE'D BE
09:12:26AM HERE ALL DAY TALKING ABOUT, SHE IS OUR OFFICER OF THE
09:12:29AM MONTH FOR JANUARY 2023.
09:12:31AM [APPLAUSE]
09:12:35AM >> DETECTIVE, I'LL PRESENT THIS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF
09:12:38AM TAMPA CITY COUNCIL AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS
09:12:42AM FROM THE COMMUNITY COME AND SHARE THEIR APPRECIATION FOR
09:12:45AM YOU, THEN YOU MAY SPEAK IF YOU'D LIKE AND THEN WE'LL
09:12:48AM HEAR FROM TAMPA CITY COUNCIL.
09:12:50AM ON BEHALF OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, WE ARE HONORED TO GIVE
09:12:52AM YOU THIS TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION FOR BEING
09:12:54AM OFFICER OF THE MONTH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
09:12:56AM WE APPRECIATE YOU 100%.
09:12:58AM THERE YOU GO, MA'AM.
09:12:59AM THANK YOU, MA'AM.
09:13:00AM NOW WE'LL HAVE --
09:13:05AM >> GOOD MORNING.
09:13:06AM DONNA McBRIDE WITH THE STRAZ CENTER.
09:13:08AM IT'S MY PLEASURE TO MEET YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
09:13:11AM SERVICE, TO NOT JUST YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BUT THIS CITY AND
09:13:15AM KEEPING US SAFE AND THANK YOU FOR SUCH AN OUTSTANDING
09:13:19AM JOB.
09:13:20AM THE STRAZ CENTER WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO ENJOY A SHOW.
09:13:22AM >> THANK YOU.
09:13:23AM [APPLAUSE]
09:13:28AM >> BRANDON BARCLAY, TAMPA PBA CITY COUNCIL.
09:13:29AM DETECTIVE JONES, GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS.
09:13:31AM WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.
09:13:33AM PBA IS PRESENTING YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE.
09:13:43AM >> ON BEHALF OF THE BUCCANEERS, I WANT TO -- I WANT TO
09:13:47AM GO AHEAD AND GIVE THIS YOUNG LADY A BALL SIGNIFYING HOW
09:13:52AM HARD SHE WORKS, SO CONGRATULATIONS.
09:13:59AM >> LEO GEARY WITH BILL CURRIE FORD AND THIS IS GRACE
09:14:04AM THOMAS.
09:14:04AM ON BEHALF OF BILL CURRIE FORD, WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU
09:14:08AM FOR THE WEEKEND, WE'LL GIVE YOU A 2023 VEHICLE FOR THE
09:14:11AM WEEKEND OF YOUR CHOICE.
09:14:13AM YOU LET US KNOW WHAT -- WHAT DAY.
09:14:15AM WE ALSO PUT TOGETHER A FREE OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION
09:14:20AM FOR YOUR PERSONAL VEHICLE AND ALSO $500 OFF A NEW
09:14:23AM VEHICLE.
09:14:26AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:14:28AM [APPLAUSE]
09:14:40AM >> GOOD MORNING.
09:14:41AM MY NAME IS MARY LOU BAILEY, AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
09:14:44AM ZOO TAMPA.
09:14:45AM I VOLUNTEER ON THE BOARD THERE AND CONGRATULATIONS,
09:14:49AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
09:14:49AM APPRECIATE ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE AND KEEP US
09:14:52AM SAFE.
09:14:52AM WE'RE PRESENTING YOU WITH AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE
09:14:56AM ZOO SO YOU CAN GO ALL YEAR LONG AND BRING FAMILY AND
09:14:59AM FRIENDS, GO TO SPECIAL EVENTS AS WELL, AND WE HOPE YOU
09:15:02AM LOVE TO PROTECT ANIMALS AS MUCH AS YOU LIKE TO PROTECT
09:15:04AM OUR CITIZENS.
09:15:08AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:15:08AM >> THANK YOU.
09:15:12AM >> MORNING, OFFICER.
09:15:12AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:15:13AM MY NAME IS GRACE GONZALEZ.
09:15:15AM I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GONZMART FAMILY AND THE 1905
09:15:19AM FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS.
09:15:20AM WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT YOU A GIFT CARD FOR ANY
09:15:24AM RESTAURANTS INCLUDING ALL THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT
09:15:25AM LOCATIONS AROUND FLORIDA.
09:15:25AM ULELE, CASA SANTO STEFANO, GOODY GOODY.
09:15:27AM PLEASE ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY BETWEEN FOOT PURSUITS.
09:15:30AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
09:15:33AM WE APPRECIATE YOU.
09:15:35AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:15:38AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:15:40AM MIKE MCARTHUR, STEPP'S TOWING SERVICE, AND DETECTIVE,
09:15:43AM CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.
09:15:45AM ON BEHALF OF STEPP'S TOWING WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH
09:15:48AM A NIGHT OUT IN THE COMPANY LIMOUSINE AND A $50 GIFT CARD
09:15:54AM FOR YOUR SERVICE.
09:15:55AM THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
09:15:56AM YOU DESERVE IT.
09:15:58AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:16:01AM I'M WITH TAMPA THEATRE.
09:16:02AM DETECTIVE, ON BEHALF OF TAMPA THEATRE, I WANT TO
09:16:05AM CONGRATULATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SERVICE IN
09:16:07AM THE COMMUNITY, AND I'M HONORED TO GIVE YOU A GIFT OF A
09:16:13AM MEMBERSHIP TO TAMPA THEATRE.
09:16:16AM IT INCLUDES A FREE ADMISSION TO THE MOVIES, FREE POPCORN
09:16:18AM AND A FREE TOUR OF THE THEATER.
09:16:21AM THANK YOU.
09:16:23AM >> MORNING.
09:16:24AM HOW ARE YOU?
09:16:24AM >> GOOD.
09:16:26AM THANK YOU.
09:16:26AM >> YOU GOT A BIG BAG OVER THERE?
09:16:28AM CHIEF GOING TO HELP YOU OUT?
09:16:30AM >> YES, SIR.
09:16:31AM >> STEVE MICHELINI ON BEHALF OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
09:16:34AM ENTERPRISES WHO WOULD LIKE TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE YOUR
09:16:37AM CONTRIBUTION OF THE CITY.
09:16:39AM ONE IS THE TAMPA METROPOLITAN YMCA AND A GIFT
09:16:44AM CERTIFICATE TO GO ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE.
09:16:46AM ON BEHALF OF BELLABRAVA IN THE MIDTOWN SECTION, A GIFT
09:16:51AM CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY YOURSELF FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.
09:16:55AM ON BEHALF OF YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO, ENJOY YOURSELF
09:16:59AM OVER THERE.
09:17:00AM ON BEHALF OF THE CICCIO RESTAURANT GROUP, A GIFT
09:17:04AM CERTIFICATE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER AND MEAT MARKET IN OLD
09:17:10AM HYDE PARK, WE'RE PROVIDING YOU WITH ANOTHER GIFT
09:17:13AM CERTIFICATE SO YOU'LL HAVE A LOT TO EAT, AND THAT'S WHY
09:17:16AM YOU'LL HAVE TO GO TO THE Y.
09:17:17AM [APPLAUSE]
09:17:21AM >> OKAY.
09:17:22AM THAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE IT, SO DETECTIVE, IF YOU'D LIKE
09:17:25AM TO COME AND SPEAK AND ADDRESS COUNCIL AND YOUR FRIENDS.
09:17:29AM >> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
09:17:31AM I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CITY COUNCIL AND THE BUSINESSES
09:17:34AM HERE TODAY FOR THIS HONOR OF OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
09:17:37AM I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY DISTRICT 2 COMMAND STAFF AND
09:17:41AM THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
09:17:44AM AND TO SQUAD 200 AND ALL PATROL UNITS OF OUR DISTRICT,
09:17:48AM EVEN THOUGH I'M STANDING HERE TODAY, THIS AWARD WOULD
09:17:52AM DEFINITELY NOT BE HAPPENING WITHOUT YOU GUYS AND ALL THE
09:17:55AM ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE OF YOU GUYS, SO THANK YOU.
09:17:59AM THANK YOU.
09:18:01AM >> THANK YOU.
09:18:08AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK, INGENUITY
09:18:12AM AND PERSEVERANCE AND SOLVING THESE CRIMES.
09:18:14AM WE NEED 200 MORE OF YOU.
09:18:18AM FORTUNATELY, UNFORTUNATELY, SO IF WE CAN CLONE YOU THAT
09:18:19AM WOULD BE GREAT OR PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT TO DO TO
09:18:22AM SUPPORT YOU TO MAKE SURE WE RETAIN GREAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU
09:18:25AM AND ALSO LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO ATTRACT MORE IF
09:18:29AM YOU NEED ANYTHING OR HAVE ANY IDEAS, LET US KNOW BUT
09:18:33AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND HARD WORK.
09:18:36AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR
09:18:38AM ALL YOU DO AND KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFER.
09:18:40AM I THINK THE CHIEF MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN
09:18:43AM VERY, VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING US SAFE, FIGHTING
09:18:46AM CRIME, GETTING THE BAD GUYS SO WE APPRECIATE THE
09:18:49AM SACRIFICE THAT YOU MAKE EVERY TIME YOU PUT THE UNIFORM
09:18:52AM ON AND THE SACRIFICE YOUR FAMILY MAKES.
09:18:54AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:18:56AM >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO ECHO THE THANKS.
09:18:58AM THAT'S A REALLY AMAZING CLEARANCE RATE AND YOU SHOULD BE
09:19:01AM INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THAT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
09:19:04AM AND I LOVE HEARING ABOUT THE GETTING OUT IN THE
09:19:07AM COMMUNITY EVERY DAY AND KNOWING WHERE EVERYONE IS AND
09:19:10AM HOW TO FIND THE PEOPLE SO THAT YOU CAN KEEP THE
09:19:14AM CLEARANCE RATE GROWING.
09:19:15AM THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND
09:19:17AM EFFORT.
09:19:17AM WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
09:19:21AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: YOU TOOK EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY.
09:19:24AM THE CLEARANCE RATE?
09:19:26AM I KNOW ABOUT A CLEARANCE RATE.
09:19:27AM LIKE THE CHIEF SAID, THAT'S A BIG ONE.
09:19:29AM YOU CAN CLEAR CASES BECAUSE NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES
09:19:32AM YOU FEEL YOU DID WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO BUT THE
09:19:36AM VICTIM WHO WAS VICTIMIZED, THEY'RE GRATEFUL FOR GETTING
09:19:38AM THEIR PROPERTIES BACK, SOLVING A CASE AND WEREN'T HURT
09:19:43AM OR INJURED.
09:19:43AM SO THANK YOU FOR THE JOB YOU HAVE DONE.
09:19:45AM KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
09:19:47AM ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS.
09:19:51AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HOW DO YOU LIKE TO BE THE LAST ONE ON
09:19:53AM THE LADDER?
09:19:54AM HUH?
09:19:56AM ANYWAY, OFFICER, YOUR DAY TO DAY AND YOUR DAY HAS BEEN
09:19:59AM EVERY DAY BECAUSE THE WORK YOU DO IS PARAMOUNT TO KEEP
09:20:01AM THE CITIZENS OF TAMPA SAFE.
09:20:04AM AND WHEN YOU WERE GOING THROUGH YOUR PRESENTATION, THE
09:20:08AM CHIEF WAS TALKING ABOUT ALL THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS YOU'VE
09:20:14AM HAD IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
09:20:14AM REMIND ME ON TV -- CSI.
09:20:19AM I GUESS YOU ARE CSI BECAUSE I SEE HOW THEY FIND
09:20:22AM SOMETHING THAT'S THE SIZE OF A HAIR AND TAKE IT IN AND
09:20:25AM LOOK AT IT AND THEY'VE GOT A LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN YELLOW
09:20:27AM AND MATCH IT AND TWO MONTHS LATER SOMEONE CATCHES THE
09:20:30AM CRIMINAL SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
09:20:32AM THANK YOU FOR ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS, MEN AND WOMEN OF
09:20:34AM THE GREAT FORCE WE HAVE AND ALL THOSE IN THE TECHNOLOGY
09:20:38AM AREA THAT NOW THEY CAN CATCH THINGS THAT ARE 20 YEARS
09:20:42AM OLD AND STILL PROSECUTE YOU FOR IT.
09:20:44AM CALLED DNA.
09:20:46AM THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS.
09:20:49AM YOUR PRESENCE IS NOT ONLY SEEN BUT IT'S HEARD WITHOUT
09:20:52AM SPEAKING.
09:20:52AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
09:20:54AM >> THANK YOU, SIR.
09:20:56AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF ANYBODY WANTS
09:20:58AM TO FIND OUT WHAT THESE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN IN UNIFORM GO
09:21:02AM THROUGH, PLEASE GO TO THE TAMPA CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
09:21:08AM YOU'RE GOING TO SCRATCH THE SURFACE BUT YOU'LL SEE WHAT
09:21:11AM THEY GO THROUGH EACH AND EVERY DAY.
09:21:13AM DETECTIVE JONES, THIS IS YOUR DAY.
09:21:16AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO.
09:21:19AM THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE FAMILY OF THE CITIZENS
09:21:24AM OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:21:26AM THANK YOU AGAIN.
09:21:28AM >> THANK YOU.
09:21:29AM [APPLAUSE]
09:21:39AM >>LUIS VIERA: NEXT, MR. CHAIRMAN, IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE
09:21:43AM TO DO THE TAMPA FIREFIGHTER OF THE QUARTER WHICH WILL GO
09:21:45AM TO PARAMEDIC JOHN FONTE.
09:21:49AM WE'RE HONORED TO DO THIS BECAUSE THE CITY OF TAMPA
09:21:52AM PRESENTS THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND DO WE HAVE CHIEF
09:21:56AM TRIPP?
09:21:56AM THERE WE GO.
09:21:57AM SHE'LL COME UP AND TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FIREFIGHTERS.
09:22:02AM >>FIRE CHIEF TRIPP: GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, BARBARA
09:22:05AM TRIPP, TAMPA FIRE RESCUE.
09:22:07AM YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TO RECOGNIZE
09:22:10AM THIS INDIVIDUAL FOR THE EFFORTS THAT HE HAS DONE ON A
09:22:14AM PARTICULAR DAY BUT DAY TO DAY THINGS HE DO THROUGHOUT
09:22:17AM THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS WELL
09:22:19AM PROTECTED AND MAKE SURE THEY RECEIVE THE BEST CARE THERE
09:22:22AM IS TO RECEIVE.
09:22:24AM SO TODAY WE NOMINATED JOHN FONTE WHO HAS BEEN EMPLOYED
09:22:31AM WITH THE TAMPA FIRE RESCUE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW.
09:22:34AM IN THAT TIME HE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF
09:22:36AM PARAMEDIC AND HAS MADE QUICK WORK IN GETTING THROUGH
09:22:40AM HIS -- ALL THE PROCESS TO BECOME WHAT WE CALL AN ACTIVE
09:22:42AM LIEUTENANT.
09:22:44AM PARAMEDIC FONTE IS CURRENTLY AN ACTIVE LIEUTENANT AND A
09:22:47AM VERY VALUABLE ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY AND CURRENTLY
09:22:50AM ASSIGNED TO STATION 5.
09:22:52AM ALONG WITH TAMPA FIRE RESCUE, PARAMEDIC FONTE HAS SHOWN
09:22:56AM SEVERAL OCCASION THAT HE'S NOT ONLY BECOME A WEALTH OF
09:23:01AM KNOWLEDGE INTO THE RESCUE PROTOCOL BUT MASTERED HIS
09:23:03AM CRAFT, YOU KNOW, TO ALSO SPREAD THAT KNOWLEDGE TO OTHER
09:23:07AM FIREFIGHTERS AS WELL.
09:23:09AM TO FULLY ILLUSTRATE THIS POINT, LET'S REFER TO AN EVENT
09:23:12AM THAT TOOK PLACE ON DECEMBER 18.
09:23:15AM DURING THE INCIDENT, PARAMEDIC FONTE WAS ON ANOTHER
09:23:19AM CALL.
09:23:19AM HE HEARD A CALL COME IN, HIM AND HIS PARTNER, HE WAS
09:23:23AM ASSIGNED TO THE UNIT STATION IN WEST TAMPA WHICH WAS
09:23:25AM RESCUE 9.
09:23:26AM THE CALL CAME IN AND SAYS AUTO VERSUS PEDESTRIAN.
09:23:32AM WITHOUT THINKING HE DISPATCHED ON THE RADIO AND SAID I'M
09:23:35AM CLOSER.
09:23:36AM HE RESPONDED TO SOMETHING THAT HE NEVER THOUGHT
09:23:39AM HE'D -- BASICALLY DIDN'T PREPARE HIMSELF FOR THIS
09:23:41AM INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE.
09:23:42AM SO WITH THAT, HE QUICKLY RESPONDED TO A CALL THAT WAS
09:23:46AM LOCATED ON NORTH DALE MABRY.
09:23:51AM THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREPARE FOR THE
09:23:55AM INCIDENT BUT WITH QUICK THINKING HE MADE QUICK HEROIC
09:24:00AM ACTION.
09:24:01AM THEY FOUND A GRANDMOTHER AND GRAND CHILD WHO WERE BIKED
09:24:04AM OVER BY A CAR AND PINNED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.
09:24:07AM WITH HIS QUICK THINKING AND HIS KNOWLEDGE AND HIS
09:24:09AM SKILLS, HE AUTOMATICALLY CALLED FOR ADDITIONAL RESPONSE
09:24:12AM WHICH INCLUDED A HEAVY RESCUE UNIT.
09:24:14AM WITH THAT HEAVY RESCUE UNIT IS ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT TO
09:24:20AM GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE PATIENT.
09:24:22AM THANKS TO A BYSTANDER, THEY QUICKLY USED A JACK TO HELP
09:24:26AM LIFT THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
09:24:30AM WITH THAT BEING SAID, PARAMEDIC FONTE WITHOUT EVEN
09:24:36AM THINKING WAS ABLE TO RELIEVE THE CHILD, THE 3-YEAR-OLD,
09:24:39AM BRING THE CHILD FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY
09:24:44AM TRANSPORT TO THE HOSPITAL.
09:24:45AM WITH THAT, HIM AND HIS PARTNER DID ALL THE VITALS,
09:24:49AM CONTINUED TO ASSIST THE CHILD WITH BREATHING MEANING
09:24:52AM THEY HAD TO INTUBATE THE PATIENT.
09:24:53AM SO WITH SUCCESS HE INTUBATED THE PATIENT, TOOK THE
09:24:58AM VITALS, GAVE THE ALS TREATMENT THE PATIENT NEEDED AND TO
09:25:01AM THIS DAY, WE CAN THANK PARAMEDIC FONTE FOR THAT CHILD
09:25:05AM BEING ALIVE.
09:25:08AM [APPLAUSE]
09:25:12AM YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY THE GRANDMOTHER SUCCUMBED TO HER
09:25:16AM INJURIES BUT THE 3-YEAR-OLD CHILD IS LIVING TODAY
09:25:18AM BECAUSE OF PARAMEDIC FONTE AND WITH THAT, WITHOUT
09:25:23AM FURTHER ADO, WE NOMINATED HIM FOR FIREFIGHTER OF THE
09:25:27AM QUARTER FOR TAMPA RESCUE.
09:25:29AM [APPLAUSE]
09:25:34AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:25:35AM ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA FIRE RESCUE REVIEW BOARD, I'M
09:25:38AM CHIEF HANSON AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE PARAMEDIC FONTE
09:25:43AM FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
09:25:44AM THIS IS STUFF WE TRAIN FOR AND HE DID THAT AND DID
09:25:48AM EXCELLENTLY THAT DAY.
09:25:49AM LIKE CHIEF SAID BECAUSE OF HIS ACTIONS, THE CHILD IS
09:25:51AM STILL LIVING TODAY SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT JOB WELL
09:25:55AM DONE.
09:25:56AM A PLAQUE FOR YOU FROM THE REVIEW BOARD.
09:25:59AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:26:00AM [APPLAUSE]
09:26:03AM >> SO I WILL PRESENT THIS TO YOU ON BEHALF OF TAMPA CITY
09:26:06AM COUNCIL.
09:26:06AM THEN WE'LL HAVE FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY COME TO GIVE
09:26:08AM YOU GIFTS AND WHAT NOT.
09:26:09AM ON BEHALF OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL FOR YOUR AMAZING WORK
09:26:14AM AND BEING TAMPA FIREFIGHTER OF THE QUARTER WE PRESENT TO
09:26:18AM YOU THIS COMMENDATION, SIR.
09:26:19AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:26:21AM GOD BLESS YOU.
09:26:24AM [APPLAUSE]
09:26:28AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, CITY STAFF.
09:26:30AM NICK STOCCO, PRESIDENT OF TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS 754.
09:26:35AM WE WANT TO CONGRATULATE PARAMEDIC FONTE.
09:26:38AM HE SAVED A LIFE AND NOT JUST ANY LIFE, A KID'S LIFE.
09:26:42AM HERE IS A PLAQUE ON BEHALF OF YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS
09:26:45AM AT 754 AND A GIFT CARD.
09:26:47AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:26:51AM >> MORNING, EVERYONE.
09:26:53AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:26:54AM I'M GRACE GONZALEZ ON BEHALF OF THE GONZMART FAMILY AND
09:26:58AM THE 1905 FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS.
09:27:00AM WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU THIS GIFT CARD TO ENJOY AT ANY
09:27:03AM RESTAURANT, ANY OF THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANTS.
09:27:05AM ULELE, CASA SANTO STEPHANO OR GOODY GOODY.
09:27:08AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND
09:27:10AM CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS RECOGNITION.
09:27:11AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:27:16AM >> GOOD MORNING.
09:27:17AM I'M MARY LOU BAILEY ON BEHALF OF ZOO TAMPA.
09:27:20AM I SERVE ON THE BOARD THERE.
09:27:21AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:27:23AM I HOPE IF MY KIDS ARE IN TROUBLE, YOU'RE NEAR BY.
09:27:27AM AWESOME WORK.
09:27:28AM ALL THE RESPECT IN THE WORLD.
09:27:29AM WE'RE PRESENTING YOU WITH AN ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE
09:27:32AM ZOO.
09:27:32AM IT'S A $245 VALUE AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY IT WITH YOUR
09:27:36AM FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN GOOD HEALTH AND KEEP EVERYONE ELSE
09:27:39AM HEALTHY.
09:27:39AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:27:40AM >> THANK YOU.
09:27:41AM I APPRECIATE IT.
09:27:46AM >> ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS I WANT TO
09:27:49AM PRESENT THE BALL TO YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE.
09:27:51AM WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD AND WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISHED AND
09:27:55AM THOUGH THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE YOUR NAME YET, IT'S COMING.
09:28:03AM >> MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:28:04AM MIKE McARTHUR, STEPPS TOWING SERVICE.
09:28:07AM CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.
09:28:09AM IT'S VERY -- I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN SAYING WE'RE GOING TO
09:28:12AM BE TALKING ABOUT YOU MORE AND THIS IS JUST A REMARKABLE
09:28:16AM STORY AND CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS YOU FOR EVERYTHING
09:28:19AM YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
09:28:21AM SO ON BEHALF OF STEPPS TOWING WE'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU
09:28:25AM WITH A GIFT CARD TO GO OUT TO DINNER AND A NIGHT IN THE
09:28:28AM LIMOUSINE.
09:28:29AM ENJOY SOME TIME OFF.
09:28:31AM YOU DESERVE IT.
09:28:32AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:28:35AM >> GOOD EVENING.
09:28:37AM ON BEHALF OF TAMPA THEATRE, CONGRATULATIONS.
09:28:40AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND SERVICE IN OUR
09:28:43AM COMMUNITY AND I'M HONORED TO GIVE YOU A GIFT OF A
09:28:46AM MEMBERSHIP SO YOU CAN COME.
09:28:49AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:28:55AM >> GOOD MORNING, JOHN.
09:28:56AM DONNA McBRIDE WITH THE STRAZ CENTER.
09:29:00AM I APOLOGIZE.
09:29:01AM I DIDN'T SEE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON TIME BUT I'LL BE
09:29:05AM GETTING YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY A SHOW.
09:29:08AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF
09:29:11AM THAT FAMILY WHO STILL HAS A LITTLE BOY AND KEEP DOING
09:29:13AM IT.
09:29:13AM >> YES, MA'AM.
09:29:14AM THANK YOU.
09:29:19AM >> GOOD MORNING, SIR.
09:29:21AM HOW ARE YOU?
09:29:22AM YOU TIRED YET?
09:29:23AM >> A LITTLE BIT.
09:29:24AM >> AFTER YOU HAVE ALL THIS STUFF, YOU'LL HAVE TO GO WORK
09:29:28AM OUT AGAIN, SO CICCIO RESTAURANT GROUP, STEVE MICHELINI.
09:29:32AM I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE
09:29:34AM TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE YOUR CONTRIBUTION.
09:29:37AM WE CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE PARAMEDICS AND PEOPLE THAT
09:29:40AM ARE IN TAMPA FIRE RESCUE AS WELL AS TAMPA POLICE
09:29:43AM DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY.
09:29:45AM SO THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR JOB.
09:29:47AM AND CONGRATULATIONS.
09:29:49AM ON BEHALF OF THE CICCIO RESTAURANT GROUP, WE'RE
09:29:52AM PROVIDING YOU WITH A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY YOURSELF,
09:29:55AM $50, BREAKFAST, LUNCH OR DINNER.
09:29:57AM YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO, AND I KNOW THE CHIEF IS
09:30:00AM LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND WANTS TO GO THERE.
09:30:05AM THE TAMPA METROPOLITAN Y IS PROVIDING YOU WITH A GIFT
09:30:08AM CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY YOURSELF THERE.
09:30:12AM BELLABRAVA IN MIDTOWN, LUNCH OR DINNER AND ON BEHALF OF
09:30:16AM MEAT MARKET IN THE OLD HYDE PARK DISTRICT, YOU CAN GO
09:30:20AM ENJOY YOURSELF THERE.
09:30:21AM SO CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
09:30:25AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:30:31AM >>LUIS VIERA: IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND THEN
09:30:34AM WE'LL HEAR FROM OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
09:30:36AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:30:36AM IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND AN HONOR.
09:30:39AM I'D LIKE TO THANK CHIEF TRIPP AND ALL THE FIRE RESCUE
09:30:43AM HERE AND STAFF FOR PRESENTING ME WITH THIS AWARD.
09:30:46AM I'D LIKE TO THANK MY CAPTAIN WHO IS NOT HERE RIGHT NOW,
09:30:49AM RUSS ROBERTS FOR NOMINATING ME FOR THIS AWARD.
09:30:53AM I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE UP HERE TO RECEIVE ANYTHING LIKE
09:30:55AM THIS.
09:30:56AM I FEEL A LITTLE STAR STRUCK.
09:30:58AM BUT I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN WHAT I DO EVERY DAY FOR TAMPA
09:31:02AM FIRE RESCUE, AND I'M HERE TO REPRESENT STATION FIRE AND
09:31:06AM JUST ALWAYS STRIVING TO DO BETTER AND CONTINUE ON THE
09:31:08AM PATH THAT I'M ON.
09:31:10AM [APPLAUSE]
09:31:17AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: LET'S GO TO COUNCILMAN MIRANDA THIS
09:31:19AM TIME.
09:31:20AM WE'LL SWITCH IT UP.
09:31:21AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.
09:31:23AM MY FRIEND, IT'S -- YOU TRAIN FOR THESE THINGS BUT AT THE
09:31:27AM END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE INSTINCTS THAT YOU HAVE TO SAVE
09:31:30AM SOMEONE THAT'S IN DANGER.
09:31:32AM YOU MAY HAVE ALL THE TRAINING IN THE WORLD, BUT IF THAT
09:31:35AM REACTION IS NOT WITHIN YOU AS A HUMAN BEING, THEN THAT
09:31:38AM TRAINING -- TRAINED YOU BUT IT WASN'T THERE IN YOUR
09:31:42AM CASE, IT WAS THERE.
09:31:44AM AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU
09:31:48AM SEE THAT KIND -- THAT IMPACT OF A BODY UNDER A CAR, I
09:31:52AM CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND.
09:31:54AM I CAN JUST IMAGINE THE THOUGHT PROCESS AND WHO DO I CALL
09:31:58AM FIRST AND YOU DID IT PERFECTLY.
09:32:01AM YOU WENT EXACTLY HOW YOU WERE TRAINED AND DID SAVE A
09:32:04AM LIFE AND UNFORTUNATELY THE GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY, BUT
09:32:09AM WHEN DOING THESE THINGS OF HEROIC NEEDS, THAT'S WHAT IT
09:32:13AM IS.
09:32:13AM IT'S A HEROIC DEED YOU DID.
09:32:17AM YOU SHOULD BE COMPLICATED FAR MORE THAN JUST AN
09:32:19AM COMMENDATION.
09:32:20AM I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
09:32:22AM I DON'T KNOW WHAT FONTE FAMILY YOU'RE FROM BUT THEY'RE
09:32:26AM ALL VERY GOOD.
09:32:27AM I COVERED THEM FOR YOU SO I WON'T ASK YOU WHAT FAMILY
09:32:31AM BUT CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING A FONTE ALSO.
09:32:35AM >> THANK YOU.
09:32:36AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:32:38AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: YOU SAID IT'S NOT JUST TRAINING BUT
09:32:40AM INSTINCT.
09:32:42AM IT'S INSTINCT.
09:32:47AM TO GET ON SCENE AND GO INTO ACTION.
09:32:51AM YOU DON'T PANIC.
09:32:53AM YOU GO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
09:32:57AM AND SAVING PEOPLE, TIMES, SECONDS ARE THE ESSENCE.
09:33:05AM YOU GOT TO MOVE.
09:33:06AM YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO THINK.
09:33:07AM YOU JUST GOT TO MOVE.
09:33:09AM SO I KNOW THAT FEELING.
09:33:12AM WHAT A FEELING.
09:33:13AM THAT STRESSFUL FEELING BUT YOU GOT TO GET IT DONE NO
09:33:16AM MATTER WHAT, YOU GOT TO GET IT DONE, SO AS COUNCIL, WE
09:33:21AM APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS.
09:33:22AM THE CITY APPRECIATES YOUR EFFORTS.
09:33:24AM THAT FAMILY APPRECIATES YOUR EFFORTS EVEN THOUGH WE LOST
09:33:28AM ONE, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE ONE.
09:33:31AM SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE INSTINCT AND DOING WHAT YOU
09:33:35AM NEED TO DO.
09:33:36AM CONGRATULATIONS TODAY.
09:33:37AM >> THANK YOU.
09:33:38AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
09:33:41AM >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO ECHO THAT.
09:33:45AM INSTINCT CAN'T BE TAUGHT.
09:33:47AM THAT'S JUST -- THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT GOES.
09:33:51AM YOU HAVE TO -- YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE
09:33:53AM TRAINING WHICH I KNOW YOU CONTINUOUSLY HAVE AFTER I
09:34:00AM SPENT SOME TIME AT STATION 1 A FEW WEEKS AGO AND SAW ALL
09:34:02AM THE AMAZING WORK THAT YOU ALL DO PREPARING, JUST
09:34:05AM PREPARING FOR THAT MOMENT, AND YOU WERE ABLE TO PREPARE
09:34:09AM ENOUGH THAT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED, YOU JUST
09:34:12AM WERE ABLE TO REACT AND SAVE THAT CHILD'S LIFE AND
09:34:17AM REALLY, YOU KNOW, SAVED A FAMILY.
09:34:18AM SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK FORWARD TO
09:34:24AM SEEING MORE OF YOU.
09:34:25AM YOU'RE YOUNG.
09:34:26AM YOU'LL BE HERE FOR A WHILE AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU
09:34:28AM HERE AND CONGRATULATIONS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT
09:34:33AM YOU DO NEXT.
09:34:34AM >> THANK YOU.
09:34:35AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
09:34:37AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU'RE A HERO.
09:34:39AM THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO PUT IT.
09:34:41AM WHEN I SAW THE NEWS WITH THAT STORY, NOW YOU'RE HERE.
09:34:44AM IT'S AN HONOR TO BE IN YOUR PRESENCE BECAUSE YOU SAVED A
09:34:46AM LIFE.
09:34:47AM I KNOW THE GRANDMOTHER, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE
09:34:50AM CIRCUMSTANCES BUT YOU SPRUNG INTO ACTION, SPLIT SECOND
09:34:54AM DECISIONS THAT YOU MADE.
09:34:56AM I DON'T KNOW IF -- I COULDN'T DO IT.
09:34:58AM I COULDN'T DO IT.
09:34:59AM I ALWAYS LOOK UP TO FIREFIGHTERS BECAUSE YOU HAVE
09:35:02AM A -- JUST LIKE THE POLICE, YOU HAVE A CERTAIN COURAGE.
09:35:06AM YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.
09:35:08AM YOU THINK ABOUT THE OTHER PERSON AND YOU JUST GO AND YOU
09:35:10AM DO.
09:35:11AM AND WHAT YOU DID AND WHAT YOUR TEAM DID IS NOTHING LESS
09:35:14AM THAN HEROIC.
09:35:17AM EVERYBODY NOTICED.
09:35:18AM IT WAS ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE NEWS.
09:35:23AM THIS IS WHAT INSPIRES PEOPLE TO WANT TO BECOME A
09:35:25AM FIREFIGHTER AND DO WHAT YOU DO, RIGHT THERE.
09:35:27AM IT'S AMAZING SO THANK YOU.
09:35:30AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE.
09:35:33AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, YOU, YOUR TEAM, YOUR STATION,
09:35:36AM EVERYBODY THERE.
09:35:37AM YOU MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS WITHOUT -- JUST LIKE THAT.
09:35:41AM WITHOUT EVEN THINKING, YOU GO WITH YOUR TRAINING AND
09:35:43AM KNOW WHAT TO DO AND DO IT AND PROTECT US.
09:35:45AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:35:46AM >> YES, SIR.
09:35:48AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
09:35:50AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMON SENSE,
09:35:54AM INGENUITY, INITIATIVE.
09:35:56AM LIKE MY COLLEAGUE WHEN I SAW THIS, IT MADE ME SO PROUD
09:35:59AM TO BE PART OF THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:36:01AM THIS IS ONE OF THOSE CASES THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THAT
09:36:04AM MAKE US BE -- PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE CITY AND JUST TO
09:36:09AM YOU AND ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THE DAYS WHEN YOU'RE
09:36:12AM FACING HORRIBLE SITUATIONS AND FEEL LIKE YOU MIGHT EVEN
09:36:16AM WONDER WHY YOU'RE IN THE JOB, PLEASE REMEMBER THIS DAY
09:36:18AM AND TELL EVERYBODY THAT WE DO CARE ABOUT THEM AND THAT
09:36:20AM WE WANT TO SUPPORT THEM AND WE NEED YOU.
09:36:24AM OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS YOU TO PROTECT US AND
09:36:26AM HELP US TO SAVE LIVES LIKE YOU'VE DONE.
09:36:28AM THANK YOU.
09:36:34AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WANT TO SEE
09:36:38AM WHAT THESE BRAVE WOMEN AND MEN WITH THE TAMPA
09:36:41AM FIREFIGHTERS GO THROUGH, GO TO THE FIRE ACADEMY AND
09:36:44AM YOU'LL SEE EXACTLY WHAT THEY GO THROUGH EACH AND EVERY
09:36:50AM DAY.
09:36:50AM PARAMEDIC FONTE, I JUST ATTENDED A GRADUATION FOR
09:36:54AM FIREFIGHTERS AND INEVITABLY IN ONE OF THE GRADUATIONS,
09:37:00AM I'LL HEAR -- YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THINGS YOU NEVER
09:37:03AM THOUGHT YOU'D SEE AND YOU'LL SEE THINGS YOU DON'T WANT
09:37:06AM TO SEE.
09:37:08AM SEEING A YOUNG CHILD AND AN ELDERLY WOMAN PINNED UNDER A
09:37:13AM CAR, I MORE THAN LIKELY WOULD HAVE JUST FROZE AND NOT
09:37:18AM HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO HAVE DONE.
09:37:20AM YOU INSTINCTIVELY CALLED FOR BACKUP AND IMMEDIATELY
09:37:24AM HELPED RESCUE THE LITTLE GIRL AND PULL THE GRANDMOTHER
09:37:30AM FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR.
09:37:32AM AS ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAID, YOU ARE A SUPER
09:37:35AM HERO.
09:37:36AM THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE FAMILY OF TAMPA.
09:37:39AM CONGRATULATIONS.
09:37:41AM WELL DONE.
09:37:42AM >> THANK YOU.
09:37:52AM >>LUIS VIERA: AND WHO IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA?
09:37:53AM IS IT POLICE OR FIRE?
09:37:57AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: ANDREW CARTER.
09:38:00AM >>LUIS VIERA: LET'S WELCOME MR. CARTER AND HIS FAMILY.
09:38:09AM HOW ARE YOU?
09:38:10AM >> GREAT, YOURSELF?
09:38:11AM >>LUIS VIERA: DOING GOOD.
09:38:12AM IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, TO HAVE A
09:38:15AM TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION FOR OUR FRIEND
09:38:17AM MR. ANDREW CARTER FOR HIS SERVICE AS PRESIDENT OF TAMPA
09:38:19AM FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 754.
09:38:23AM YOU KNOW, ANDREW HAS DONE A REALLY, REALLY REMARKABLE
09:38:25AM JOB DURING HIS TIME ON TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 754 IN
09:38:30AM TERMS OF ADVOCATING FOR EVERYDAY ISSUES FOR OUR
09:38:33AM FIREFIGHTERS, WORKER SAFETY, MORE STATIONS, RESPONSE
09:38:36AM TIMES AND JUST BASIC BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES.
09:38:38AM HE BRINGS WITH HIM HIS OWN STYLE AND YOU'LL LOOK AT THE
09:38:42AM DIFFERENT PRESIDENTS OF TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 754.
09:38:46AM YOU HAVE KNOWN NICK.
09:38:48AM BEFORE YOU HAD JOE GRECO, STEVE SUAREZ OF COURSE BEFORE,
09:38:53AM ET CETERA.
09:38:53AM EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN STYLE AND HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE FOR
09:38:56AM WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
09:38:57AM ANDREW'S STYLE IS TO BE COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED, BUT TO
09:39:02AM BE FIRM AND FAIR AND WHAT NOT.
09:39:04AM AND OH, LOOK AT THAT.
09:39:04AM A LITTLE -- HEY, BUDDY.
09:39:07AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: I WANT HIS SHOES.
09:39:09AM >>LUIS VIERA: THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
09:39:12AM THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
09:39:13AM BUT ANDREW HAS DONE A REMARKABLE JOB AND IF YOU KNOW
09:39:16AM ANDREW, HE IS ALSO A VERY DECENT PERSON.
09:39:19AM HE IS VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD WITH YOU.
09:39:21AM HE IS VERY FIRM AND FAIR WITH PEOPLE AND JUST A GOOD
09:39:24AM PERSON SO IT'S OUR HONOR TO GIVE THIS FINE GENTLEMAN FOR
09:39:28AM HIS WORK AS PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL
09:39:31AM 754 ANDREW CARTER A TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION.
09:39:34AM SO, SIR, HERE YOU ARE.
09:39:36AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:39:45AM >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
09:39:46AM ANDREW CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT TAMPA FIREFIGHTERS.
09:39:48AM I'VE SEEN THIS MISTAKE MADE A COUPLE TIMES SO I'M NOT
09:39:51AM GOING TO MAKE IT.
09:39:51AM FIRST OFF I'D LIKE TO BRING MY FAMILY UP.
09:39:55AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: GOOD MAN.
09:39:56AM >> USUALLY IT WINDS UP -- THEY DESERVE THIS AWARD JUST
09:39:59AM AS MUCH AS I DO BUT THE TIME AND COMMITMENT IT
09:40:01AM TAKES -- MY WIFE, THE --
09:40:04AM [APPLAUSE]
09:40:07AM -- THE C.O.O. OF THE CARTER HOUSEHOLD AND HANDLES
09:40:10AM LOGISTICS AND DAY TO DAY.
09:40:11AM MY DAUGHTER ELLA AND SON LUCAS.
09:40:13AM SO OVER THE LAST 10 TO 12 YEARS I FOUND MYSELF IN AN
09:40:17AM ELECTED POSITION IN THE UNION STARTING FROM TRUSTEE, ON
09:40:21AM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, VP AND ULTIMATELY CULMINATING AS
09:40:25AM PRESIDENT.
09:40:25AM I LEARNED A LOT ALONG THE WAY.
09:40:27AM SOME OF THE THINGS I LIKE TO PASS ON ARE BUILD BRIDGES,
09:40:30AM NOT BARRIERS.
09:40:31AM BE HARD ON THE ISSUE BUT SOFT ON THE PERSON.
09:40:34AM BRING FACTS, NOT FEELINGS BECAUSE WE KNOW BUDGETS DON'T
09:40:37AM CARE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, RIGHT?
09:40:39AM THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THE FACTS.
09:40:40AM I WORKED WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE.
09:40:42AM THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS GREAT.
09:40:44AM CHIEF BENNETT, CFO ROGERO, KELLY AUSTIN, KIMBERLY, I'M
09:40:49AM SURE SHE IS WATCHING THIS FROM TURKEY.
09:40:51AM I DON'T KNOW THE TIME CONVERSION, BUT I'M SURE SHE IS ON
09:40:53AM THE WEBCAST.
09:40:54AM REBECCA AND BECCA.
09:40:55AM BRANDON, DARLA, DANNY ALVAREZ WITH THE PBA.
09:41:01AM WE HAD A STRONG SAFETY PRESENCE.
09:41:02AM IT'S HASN'T BEEN RED VERSUS BLUE.
09:41:03AM IT'S BEEN PURPLE.
09:41:04AM SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.
09:41:06AM THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENDATION.
09:41:07AM AND ULTIMATELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC
09:41:11AM SAFETY.
09:41:11AM I'M GOING TO END WITH WHAT MY GRANDFATHER USED TO SAY.
09:41:14AM BUY MORE LAND.
09:41:15AM THAT'S ONE THING THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY MORE OF BECAUSE
09:41:18AM WE NEED THE LAND FOR THE FIRE STATION.
09:41:20AM SO THANK YOU AGAIN.
09:41:22AM I APPRECIATE IT.
09:41:26AM >>LUIS VIERA: IF I MAY, MR. CHAIR, WE HAVE CHIEF TRIPP
09:41:30AM IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING OR NICK STOCCO.
09:41:36AM >>FIRE CHIEF TRIPP: BARBARA TRIPP, TAMPA FIRE RESCUE.
09:41:38AM CONGRATULATIONS, CAPTAIN.
09:41:40AM IT'S WONDERFUL WORKING WITH HIM FOR THE YEARS ON THE JOB
09:41:43AM AND OF COURSE THE POSITION AND RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE
09:41:46AM BUILT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, TWO YEARS, YOU
09:41:48AM KNOW, HAS BEEN GREAT.
09:41:49AM SO LIKE HE SAYS, AS FAR AS BUILDING BRIDGES INSTEAD OF
09:41:52AM BARRIERS AND STUFF AND I THINK WE BUILT A LOT OF
09:41:57AM BRIDGES -- POSITIVE BRIDGES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, YOU
09:41:59AM KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO NEGOTIATION, WHEN COMING TO
09:42:01AM MAKING SURE THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN OF TAMPA FIRE RESCUE
09:42:04AM IS TAKEN CARE OF ON BOTH ENDS FROM AN ADMINISTRATIVE
09:42:07AM POINT OF VIEW AND LABOR.
09:42:10AM I APPRECIATE THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAD AND LOOK FORWARD TO
09:42:13AM CONTINUING TO DO GREAT THINGS FOR TAMPA FIRE RESCUE.
09:42:16AM >> THANK YOU.
09:42:17AM [APPLAUSE]
09:42:23AM >> GOOD MORNING.
09:42:24AM NICK STOCCO, THE SUCCESSOR OF ANDREW CARTER.
09:42:28AM YOU KNOW, THIS COMMENDATION REALLY IS JUST A SMALL PIECE
09:42:32AM TO SAY THANK YOU TO ANDREW AND ALL HIS HARD WORK.
09:42:36AM I'VE KNOWN ANDREW FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND I'VE WATCHED
09:42:41AM HIM -- WOW, OVER 10 YEARS.
09:42:42AM PROBABLY WHEN I WAS 18, 17 YEARS OLD WHEN I WAS A CADET
09:42:46AM RIDING WITH ANDREW AND NOW BEING ABLE TO FOLLOW IN HIS
09:42:51AM FOOTSTEPS.
09:42:52AM I REALLY WANT TO TOUCH ON THANK YOU AND LIKE COUNCILMAN
09:42:55AM VIERA, BEING A HUMAN BEING AND NOT ONLY BEING IN THE
09:42:58AM SEAT FOR 10 DAYS, I CAN TELL YOU IT'S BEEN INCREDIBLY
09:43:02AM HECTIC AND JUST LIKE HOW ANDREW WAS ABLE TO JUGGLE HIS
09:43:06AM SON HERE, HOW HE JUGGLED BEING ABLE TO DO EVERYTHING AT
09:43:09AM HOME AND THE WORK STUFF.
09:43:11AM THAT'S JUST PARTS OF BEING A GOOD HUMAN AND TIME
09:43:14AM MANAGEMENT SO ON BEHALF OF THE LOCAL 754 AND THE
09:43:17AM BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT RETIRING BUT
09:43:19AM THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAN.
09:43:20AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.
09:43:21AM >> APPRECIATE IT.
09:43:28AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON, LET'S GO TO YOU
09:43:31AM FIRST, PLEASE.
09:43:33AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU.
09:43:35AM BEAUTIFUL FAMILY AND I LOVE THE SHOES TOO.
09:43:37AM I WISH WE COULD ALL WEAR THOSE.
09:43:39AM FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T SEE, THEY'RE ALL LIGHTING UP WITH
09:43:42AM DIFFERENT LIGHTS.
09:43:43AM YOU HAD BIG SHOES TO STEP INTO AND DID THAT WELL AND
09:43:46AM GUIDED ALL OF US THROUGH THE TIME YOU WERE THERE AND
09:43:49AM GAVE US LOTS OF GREAT ADVICE AND THE THING I LIKE THE
09:43:53AM MOST ABOUT YOU IS YOU'RE VERY STRATEGIC AND LONG-TERM
09:43:55AM THINKING AND YOU GAVE A LOT OF IDEAS.
09:43:59AM UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVEN'T MOVED THEM ALL AS QUICKLY AS WE
09:44:02AM SHOULD BUT WE'LL KEEP MOVING THOSE FORWARD SO THANK YOU
09:44:06AM AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
09:44:11AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SO THIS MONTH MARKS 23 YEARS SINCE
09:44:15AM WE HAVE BEEN FRIENDS.
09:44:16AM YOU WERE THE FIRST PERSON THAT TAUGHT ME TO DRIVE A
09:44:19AM STICK SHIFT.
09:44:21AM I DID BURN OUT THE CLUTCH.
09:44:23AM THAT WAS ONE OF THE EARLIER MEMBERS.
09:44:24AM WE HAD MANY MEMORIES AT TAMPA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL AND
09:44:28AM YOU WERE A GREAT FRIEND, A GOOD ALL-AROUND PERSON.
09:44:32AM AS WE BOTH GROW AND WE'RE HERE IN A PROFESSIONAL
09:44:35AM CAPACITY, YOU'VE GONE ON TO REPRESENT OUR GENERATION AS
09:44:38AM PRESIDENT OF THE UNION.
09:44:40AM I MEAN, I'M 38.
09:44:41AM WE'RE 38, 39 YEARS OLD.
09:44:42AM WE'RE YOUNG.
09:44:43AM NICK, WHAT ARE YOU, 33 YEARS OLD?
09:44:47AM 32 YEARS OLD.
09:44:48AM SO A NEW GENERATION IS BEING REPRESENTED AND YOU HAVE
09:44:51AM DONE IT WELL.
09:44:51AM YOU TALKED ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU HAD WITH THE
09:44:55AM PBA AND EVERYBODY ELSE AND IT'S COHESIVE.
09:44:57AM IT'S NOT RED AND BLUE.
09:44:58AM IT'S PURPLE.
09:45:00AM I'VE ALWAYS SEEN YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
09:45:02AM YOU'VE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND.
09:45:04AM YOU'RE DEDICATED 100% AND MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU HAVE THAT
09:45:07AM PERFECT FIREFIGHTER MUSTACHE.
09:45:10AM I REMEMBER SHOWING MY WIFE -- I WAS MEETING YOU FOR
09:45:13AM SOMETHING ONE DAY AND GO I GOT TO MEET THIS GUY, I WENT
09:45:16AM TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HIM AND IT'S THE PROFESSIONAL
09:45:18AM PORTRAIT WITH THE AX AND MUSTACHE.
09:45:23AM IT WAS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL ACTOR.
09:45:25AM IT WAS PERFECT.
09:45:27AM I KNOW THIS IS NOT A RETIREMENT.
09:45:28AM SOUNDS LIKE IT.
09:45:29AM BUT WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO AND APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR
09:45:32AM SERVICE AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
09:45:33AM THANK YOU, SIR.
09:45:36AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
09:45:37AM >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO ECHO THE THANKS.
09:45:39AM WHEN I WAS APPOINTED YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE
09:45:42AM THAT REACHED OUT AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
09:45:45AM AND THE GREAT WORK RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
09:45:48AM HAVE BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
09:45:52AM SUPPORTING THE FIREFIGHTERS AND SUPPORTING LABOR.
09:45:57AM I MEAN, YOU ARE DOING THE WORK THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY
09:46:01AM IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES GET
09:46:05AM WHAT THEY DESERVE AND YOU HAVE DONE IT FAIRLY AND YOU
09:46:08AM HAVE -- YOU'VE COME TO US AND WORKED WITH THE
09:46:13AM ADMINISTRATION TO SHARE WHAT YOU WANT AND YOU HAVE
09:46:15AM ADVOCATED FOR THEM AND YOU DON'T BACK DOWN.
09:46:21AM YOU SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THAT.
09:46:22AM THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN BEING ABLE TO
09:46:25AM SUPPORT THOSE AROUND YOU AND SUPPORT BRINGING EVERYONE
09:46:29AM UP AND I LOVE THE WAY YOU HAVE DONE THAT AND THE WAY
09:46:32AM THAT YOUR UNION IS FOCUSED ON ITS MEMBERS.
09:46:37AM >> THANK YOU.
09:46:38AM >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU.
09:46:39AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:46:42AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: ANDREW, LIKE COUNCILWOMAN SAID, I MEAN,
09:46:47AM FROM DAY ONE, THE FIRE UNION, YOU WERE AT OUR OFFICES.
09:46:54AM YOUR OFFICES FROM DAY ONE YOU COME IN, YOU'RE THERE
09:46:58AM SHAKING HANDS.
09:46:59AM WHEN YOU COME BY AND SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.
09:47:01AM NOT JUST TO ASK FOR ANYTHING BUT JUST TO ASK, HOW YOU
09:47:05AM GUYS DOING?
09:47:06AM THAT MEANS A LOT.
09:47:08AM IT'S NOT ALL GIVE AND TAKE.
09:47:09AM IT'S A FRIENDSHIP AND YOU, YOU KNOW -- WE APPRECIATE
09:47:15AM THAT.
09:47:17AM BECAUSE YOU -- SO YOU DO CARE.
09:47:20AM IT'S NOT ABOUT US VERSUS THEM.
09:47:23AM IT'S HOW WE CAN GET THINGS DONE.
09:47:25AM WHAT MAKES IT BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.
09:47:26AM THE CITY, THE PEOPLE.
09:47:29AM AND, YOU KNOW, I'M APPRECIATIVE.
09:47:32AM A LOT OF TIMES YOU GUYS WOULD CALL ME, COUNCIL, WE GOT
09:47:35AM SOMETHING GOING ON AND GOT SOME MONEY FOR YOU AND WANT
09:47:38AM TO DO THIS.
09:47:38AM IT'S LIKE, OKAY, HEY.
09:47:41AM I DIDN'T CALL TO ASK BUT IT SHOWS ME THE COMMITMENT YOU
09:47:45AM HAVE BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE LIVING IN THOSE PLACES, YOU
09:47:50AM KNOW, PEOPLE COMING UP TO THE STATIONS.
09:47:53AM YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO THE GROCERY STORES AND IT
09:47:58AM MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
09:48:01AM IT'S LIKE A FAMILY.
09:48:02AM MEETING PEOPLE.
09:48:03AM BEEN TO SOMEBODY'S HOUSE BEFORE, HEY, HE'S BEEN TO MY
09:48:07AM HOUSE.
09:48:07AM IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BEING A POLICE OFFICER VERSUS A
09:48:11AM FIREFIGHTER.
09:48:11AM IT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FEELING.
09:48:13AM I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE WAY YOU TREATED ME.
09:48:17AM I TOLD NICK, EVERY LEADER STYLE IS DIFFERENT.
09:48:21AM YOU HAD YOUR STYLE.
09:48:22AM JOE HAD HIS, YOU KNOW?
09:48:25AM NICK WILL HAVE HIS BUT I THINK YOU KEPT EVERYBODY KIND
09:48:28AM OF BALANCED BECAUSE OF THAT -- THE WAY YOU TREAT PEOPLE.
09:48:31AM SO I KNOW NICK IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB, YOU KNOW,
09:48:35AM GOOD GUY.
09:48:38AM SO JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND AND
09:48:40AM THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND IN THIS COMMUNITY.
09:48:42AM >> THANK YOU.
09:48:43AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:48:45AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL, IF YOU KNEW GUIDO MANISCALCO IN
09:48:48AM HIGH SCHOOL, TELL US ABOUT IT.
09:48:50AM HE DIDN'T BURN OUT THE CLOCK BUT I HOPE HE DIDN'T WRECK
09:48:54AM THE CAR.
09:48:55AM >> HE DIDN'T WRECK IT EITHER.
09:48:58AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HE'S A GREAT GUY AND I'M GLAD YOU
09:48:59AM WERE IN THE SAME HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER AND CAN CONTINUE
09:49:02AM THAT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, THE FRIENDSHIP.
09:49:04AM BUT ON THE SERIOUS SIDE OF MATTERS, THEY EVER CALL YOU
09:49:07AM AC?
09:49:08AM >> A COUPLE TIMES.
09:49:09AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I FIGURE WHEN I SAW THE NAME ANDREW
09:49:13AM CARTER SOMEBODY HAD TO CALL YOU AC.
09:49:14AM THE SPEECH YOU SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR
09:49:18AM PRESENTATION CAME FROM THE HEART.
09:49:20AM YOU SPEAK WITH AN ESSENCE OF FACTS AND YOU HAVE TO BE
09:49:26AM TRAIN -- TRAIN YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU HAD ALL THE 754
09:49:30AM UNION MEMBERS SPEAKING AND ASKING FOR WHAT THEY FELT YOU
09:49:33AM NEED AND YOU HAD TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO TALK TO THE
09:49:37AM ADMINISTRATION AND THE MANNERISM WHICH YOU PRESENTED
09:49:41AM YOURSELF THIS MORNING, I CAN TELL THERE WAS NO YELLING.
09:49:44AM I CAN TELL IT WAS NOTHING BUT FACTS.
09:49:47AM NOTHING BUT COMPARISON WITH OTHER UNITS THROUGHOUT THE
09:49:49AM STATE AND COUNTRY.
09:49:51AM THAT'S WHAT I'M ASSUMING HAPPENED BECAUSE I CAN TELL THE
09:49:54AM WAY YOU HANDLE YOURSELF THAT YOU ARE WITHOUT REALIZING
09:49:57AM AN EXPERT IN WHAT YOU DO.
09:49:59AM AND THESE THINGS COME FROM LEARNING ON A DAILY BASIS.
09:50:03AM IT TOOK SOME TIME.
09:50:04AM OR YOU WERE BORN WITH THAT NATURAL GIFT AND SINCE YOU
09:50:09AM HAVE ALMOST THE SAME HAIRCUT THAT I HAVE, I THINK YOU'RE
09:50:13AM BRILLIANT SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOUR
09:50:15AM FAMILY FOR LETTING YOU DO WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR MANY
09:50:18AM YEARS AND THAT'S TO HELP THE CITIZENS OF THE GREAT CITY
09:50:20AM OF TAMPA, YOU AND ALL YOUR MEN AND WOMEN AND LOCAL 754,
09:50:24AM YOU'RE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
09:50:25AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES.
09:50:27AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND LASTLY, WE CAN PULL UP THE
09:50:30AM ELMO, I'LL END ON WHAT COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO ALLUDED TO.
09:50:38AM THAT'S THE OFFICIAL HEADSHOT THERE.
09:50:40AM SO SOMETHING -- IT'S OUR YEARBOOK.
09:50:42AM SO SOMETHING GOES ON, THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO HIT THE
09:50:45AM MEDIA.
09:50:45AM SO I APPRECIATE IT.
09:50:48AM >> WE HAVE JOE --
09:50:50AM >> -- IN CLOSING, CHAIR, THANK YOU.
09:50:54AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: I GOT TO TALK TO YOUR WIFE.
09:50:56AM >> LET'S BRING HER UP.
09:50:57AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: I THANK YOU.
09:50:58AM I THANK YOU BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE WAS PLENTY OF TIMES
09:51:01AM WHEN YOU HEARD HIS PHONE RING AND YOU LOOKED DOWN AND
09:51:06AM SAID OH, HONEY, TAKE IT, WILL YOU PLEASE?
09:51:08AM I WOULD CALL HIM AT ALL HOURS.
09:51:10AM I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO HIM
09:51:14AM BECAUSE HE IS A BRILLIANT MAN.
09:51:16AM HE IS A PERSON WHO KNOWS THE DIALOGUE WILL SOLVE
09:51:20AM EVERYTHING.
09:51:20AM HE AND I SPOKE MANY, MANY TIMES ON MANY, MANY DIFFERENT
09:51:23AM THINGS AND HE FINALLY MADE ME AGREE ON A LOT OF THEM.
09:51:33AM ANDREW, YOU'RE A GREAT GUY.
09:51:34AM THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME WITH ALL THE FIREFIGHTERS.
09:51:38AM THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
09:51:42AM THEIR HEADS, WHAT'S GOING THROUGH THEIR MINDS, WANTS,
09:51:44AM NEEDS.
09:51:45AM NOT ONLY FOR THEM BUT FOR THE FAMILIES AS WELL.
09:51:49AM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THEIR JOBS ARE IMPORTANT BUT THEY
09:51:52AM DO IT FOR ONE THING, THEIR FAMILIES.
09:51:58AM THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME ANDREW.
09:52:00AM YOU'RE ONE HELL OF A GUY.
09:52:01AM >> MY PLEASURE.
09:52:02AM THANK YOU.
09:52:04AM [APPLAUSE]
09:52:10AM >>LUIS VIERA: NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS DARLA PORTMAN,
09:52:13AM CORRECT?
09:52:13AM THERE YOU GO.
09:52:14AM SO NOW IT IS OUR GREAT PLEASURE -- TO GIVE A TAMPA CITY
09:52:22AM COUNCIL COMMENDATION TO DARLA PORTMAN FOR HER WORK WITH
09:52:24AM THE TAMPA POLICE BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION.
09:52:27AM WE'LL WAIT, I GUESS -- GO FORWARD?
09:52:32AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: HANG ON.
09:52:33AM WE'LL WAIT.
09:52:33AM LET'S TAKE OUR TIME.
09:52:35AM MS. PORTMAN IS WORTH IT.
09:52:38AM >> DARLA.
09:52:41AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: LET'S FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON --
09:52:50AM >> MS. PORTMAN AND I START LOOKING FOR MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.
09:52:54AM >> I HEAR YOU.
09:52:55AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: WHILE WE'RE TAKING THE TIME, COUNCILMAN
09:52:57AM MIRANDA MAY HAVE TO LEAVE AT 11:00 FOR A PREVIOUS
09:53:00AM APPOINTMENT FOR AN APPOINTMENT HE SCHEDULED PRIOR.
09:53:04AM THANK YOU.
09:53:15AM >> WE'RE GETTING OUR PICTURE TAKEN BY A STATE
09:53:18AM REPRESENTATIVE.
09:53:19AM GOOD TO SEE YOU, DANNY.
09:53:20AM GOOD TO SEE YOU.
09:53:21AM MAY I BEGIN, SIR?
09:53:23AM THANK YOU.
09:53:24AM IT'S MY GREAT PLEASURE TO GIVE A TAMPA CITY COUNCIL
09:53:28AM COMMENDATION TO DARLA PORTMAN.
09:53:29AM SHE IS LEAVING THE TAMPA BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION AND
09:53:32AM RETIRING FOR THE POLICE FORCE, CORRECT?
09:53:34AM VERY SOON.
09:53:34AM GOD BLESS YOU.
09:53:35AM SO, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION WITH MR. CARTER
09:53:39AM THAT I THINK IS VERY RELEVANT ALSO TO DARLA IS NOT JUST
09:53:42AM THEIR WORK THAT PBA AND TAMPA FIREFIGHTER 754 HAVE DONE
09:53:47AM TOGETHER BUT ALSO WITH ATU.
09:53:49AM I'VE SEEN THAT CHANGE OVER THE LAST THREE, THREE AND A
09:53:52AM HALF YEARS WHICH IS THE THREE CITY OF TAMPA UNIONS
09:53:55AM WORKING TOGETHER ON COMMON GOALS AND HAVING EACH OTHER'S
09:53:58AM BACKS WHENEVER IT REALLY COUNTS BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT
09:54:01AM WORKER DIGNITY AND DIGNITY ON THE JOB.
09:54:03AM DARLA PORTMAN HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA PBA
09:54:06AM FOR -- HOW LONG?
09:54:08AM TWO AND HALF?
09:54:09AM >> THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
09:54:11AM >>LUIS VIERA: DURING VERY DIFFICULT TIMES FOR OUR CITY
09:54:13AM AND HER MEMBERS AND THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, DARLA HAS BEEN
09:54:15AM A STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, A STRONG
09:54:18AM SUPPORTER OF THE MISSION THAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
09:54:21AM HER MEMBERS HAVE GONE THROUGH CIVIL UNREST, A PANDEMIC
09:54:25AM AND MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES AND THROUGHOUT THIS TIME
09:54:29AM DARLA'S MESSAGE IS ALWAYS CONSISTENT WHICH IS THAT SHE
09:54:32AM AND WE SHOULD ALL RESPECT AND HONOR THE WORK THAT LAW
09:54:36AM ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
09:54:38AM WE LIVE IN THE CITY, THE CITY OF TAMPA VERY PRO FIRST
09:54:41AM RESPONDER THAT INCLUDES POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS
09:54:45AM AND WE SUPPORT THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
09:54:46AM AND IF YOU DOUBT THAT, THEN LISTEN TO THE CALLS WE GET
09:54:49AM ALL THE TIME.
09:54:50AM ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES WE HEAR ABOUT IS CRIME.
09:54:53AM CRIME, CRIME, CRIME AND GETTING POLICE OFFICERS' SUPPORT
09:54:57AM FOR THAT WORK AND THE FIGHT ON CRIME.
09:54:59AM SO IN THAT REGARD, IT IS OUR GREAT PLEASURE AND HONOR TO
09:55:03AM GIVE DARLA PORTMAN A TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION.
09:55:06AM I KNOW DARLA.
09:55:07AM I THINK SHE IS A VERY GOOD PERSON AND I'M ALSO HONORED
09:55:09AM TO CALL HER A FRIEND.
09:55:11AM IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS
09:55:13AM INCLUDING ON POLITICS.
09:55:15AM WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
09:55:17AM WE'RE FRIENDS.
09:55:17AM SHE IS A GOOD LADY.
09:55:18AM SHE IS A COP AND SHE DOES A GREAT JOB AT HER JOB EVERY
09:55:22AM SINGLE DAY SO DARLA, ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA CITY
09:55:25AM COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU A TAMPA CITY
09:55:27AM COUNCIL COMMENDATION.
09:55:28AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:55:31AM [APPLAUSE]
09:55:34AM >> SO I WANT TO TELL YOU GUYS THAT I APPRECIATED ALL
09:55:38AM YOUR WISDOM AND CONVERSATIONS WE HAD.
09:55:40AM I APPRECIATE THE CITY, MAYOR, CHIEF BENNETT, KELLY
09:55:44AM AUSTIN AND KIM SULLIVAN AND BECCA CARR.
09:55:47AM WE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER.
09:55:49AM AND JUST LIKE ANDREW SAID, IT'S BUILDING BRIDGES.
09:55:51AM I HAD A LOT OF BRIDGES THAT I HAD TO BUILD WHEN I CAME
09:55:56AM HERE THAT WERE DESTROYED PREVIOUSLY.
09:55:59AM I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP THE BRIDGES STRONG AND OUR
09:56:02AM RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE
09:56:04AM THE CONVERSATIONS, EVEN IF THEY'RE HARD.
09:56:06AM LIKE LUIS SAID, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE BUT WE RESPECT
09:56:11AM EACH OTHER.
09:56:11AM AS A POLICE OFFICER YOU HAVE TO RESPECT EVERYBODY
09:56:13AM BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE DO UNLESS YOU WALK IN
09:56:16AM THEIR SHOES AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
09:56:19AM THIS IS HUMBLING TO ME TO GET AN AWARD.
09:56:21AM I APPRECIATE IT.
09:56:22AM THANK YOU.
09:56:23AM >>LUIS VIERA: AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S FUNNY?
09:56:24AM THE COMMENDATION FELL OUT.
09:56:26AM SO WE GOT TO PUT IT BACK IN.
09:56:28AM THANK YOU, CHIEF.
09:56:31AM LET ME PUT THAT BACK IN THERE.
09:56:33AM NOW I KNOW WE HAVE SOME INDIVIDUALS HERE.
09:56:35AM IF BRANDON BARCLAY OR REPRESENTATIVE ALVAREZ OR CHIEF.
09:56:43AM >> BRANDON BARCLAY, TAMPA PBA.
09:56:48AM I KNOW THIS IS EATING HER ALIVE.
09:56:51AM I'LL KEEP IT SHORT.
09:56:52AM I CAME TO THE DEPARTMENT 13 YEARS AGO.
09:56:54AM MY FIRST DAY I WAS TEAMED UP WITH DARLA AND WE HAVE
09:56:59AM BASICALLY BEEN PARTNERS EVER SINCE.
09:57:01AM IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU ON THE STREET AND YOUR
09:57:04AM VICE PRESIDENT SO CONGRATULATIONS.
09:57:10AM >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:57:11AM SO DARLA AND I ACTUALLY GO WAY BACK.
09:57:13AM WE WERE OFFICERS TOGETHER WORKING THE STADIUM.
09:57:15AM I REMEMBER US FLAPPING TRAFFIC TOGETHER TRYING TO GET
09:57:19AM THE CARS IN AND OUT SWEATING IN THE SUN.
09:57:21AM FROM THERE WE BECAME FRIENDS EVER SINCE.
09:57:24AM THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS SHE DID AS A
09:57:26AM PRESIDENT AND SHE DID BUT SHE WAS ALSO A GREAT COP AND
09:57:28AM SHE WAS THAT COMMUNITY POLICE OFFICER.
09:57:31AM SHE'LL TELL YOU STORIES WHERE THE COMMUNITY WOULD CALL
09:57:33AM HER AND KNOW HER AND INVITE HER TO BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR
09:57:37AM HER OWN KIDS.
09:57:38AM THAT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD COP AND SHE WAS NOT ONLY A GREAT
09:57:41AM PRESIDENT BUT A GREAT COP AND WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO
09:57:44AM MISS YOU.
09:57:44AM >> THANK YOU.
09:57:47AM >>LUIS VIERA: REPRESENTATIVE ALVAREZ?
09:57:49AM COME ON UP.
09:57:50AM >> I WASN'T EXPECTING IT.
09:57:52AM THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR HAVING US.
09:57:54AM ONE THING I NEED YOU TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT DARLA,
09:57:58AM YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE BUT THERE IS ONE THING YOU WILL
09:58:01AM ALWAYS UNDERSTAND IS HER LOVE FOR HER DEPARTMENT AND HER
09:58:03AM CITY WITH UNWAVERING.
09:58:06AM I REMEMBER WHEN SHE CAME AND FOUND ME WHEN I WAS ALL SAD
09:58:09AM I LOST RUNNING FOR JUDGE AND SHE SAID, YOU GOT PURPOSE,
09:58:13AM WILL YOU HELP ME SEND THE MESSAGE AND I SAID PROUDLY
09:58:16AM BECAUSE I KNOW HER HEART AND HER EVERYTHING WAS BEHIND
09:58:20AM THE MEN AND WOMEN SHE SERVED SO WE'LL MISS YOU.
09:58:22AM IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE WITH YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR
09:58:25AM THE OPPORTUNITY.
09:58:26AM >> THANK YOU.
09:58:32AM >>LUIS VIERA: OKAY, COUNCIL.
09:58:34AM OH, I'M SORRY.
09:58:34AM GO AHEAD.
09:58:35AM BY ALL MEANS.
09:58:37AM >> GOOD MORNING.
09:58:37AM I'M REVA IMAN.
09:58:41AM IT'S A PLEASURE.
09:58:42AM I'M HERE FOR SOMEONE ELSE BUT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WAS
09:58:45AM HERE.
09:58:45AM I WAS A -- STILL AM RESIDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR THE
09:58:50AM ROBLES PARK VILLAGE AND ASSOCIATION OVER THERE.
09:58:52AM THIS PERSON HERE MADE GREAT CHANGES AND WILL RESPOND.
09:59:00AM IT'S AN HONOR THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER.
09:59:03AM I'M GLAD THAT THE COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT SHE DID
09:59:07AM IN ROBLES PARK AND BROUGHT CHANGE.
09:59:09AM AND WHEN YOU SAY COMMUNITY POLICING, SHE IS AN EXAMPLE
09:59:11AM OF COMMUNITY POLICING.
09:59:14AM IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE CRIME.
09:59:16AM SHE GOT OUT AND TOLD THE PEOPLE, SHE MADE US COMFORTABLE
09:59:19AM AND IT'S AN HONOR TO SEE YOU TODAY HERE AND GETTING THIS
09:59:22AM AWARD.
09:59:23AM I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU.
09:59:24AM THANK YOU.
09:59:28AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:59:29AM >>LUIS VIERA: SO NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM -- ACTUALLY NO,
09:59:32AM WAIT.
09:59:32AM WE'LL HEAR FROM YOU.
09:59:33AM >> I ALREADY SPOKE.
09:59:34AM >>LUIS VIERA: I'M SORRY.
09:59:36AM OKAY.
09:59:36AM GO AHEAD.
09:59:38AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
09:59:40AM DARLA, I CAN SEE IN YOUR FACE AND YOUR HEART, IT'S
09:59:44AM TELLING YOU, WHY AM I LEAVING?
09:59:47AM BUT THAT'S A DECISION YOU MADE AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS
09:59:52AM YOU.
09:59:52AM YOUR ACTIONS WHEN YOU WERE LEADER, AND YOU STILL ARE THE
09:59:58AM LEADER, IS SOMETHING TO BE BEHOLD TO BECAUSE WHEN YOU
10:00:02AM LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS YOU HAVE, OVER 1,000
10:00:06AM AND MORE MAYBE IN OTHER AREAS, IT'S INCUMBENT UPON YOU
10:00:12AM TO HANDLE THAT MANY PEOPLE AT ONE TIME.
10:00:14AM AND I DON'T SEE HOW THEY ALL FIT IN THE LITTLE OFFICE
10:00:17AM HERE FOR YOUR UNION OFFICE.
10:00:21AM BUT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON INDIVIDUALS LIKE YOURSELF THAT
10:00:24AM YOU HAVE WORKED OUT A BALANCE.
10:00:26AM YOU HAVE BROUGHT IN THE BEST OF THE BEST.
10:00:30AM YOU HAVE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS AND MADE THEM BETTER
10:00:33AM THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD BE AND BECAUSE OF
10:00:35AM TALKING TO THEM AND MAKING SENSE OF WHAT LIFE IS REALLY
10:00:39AM ABOUT.
10:00:39AM IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT I WANT OR EVERYBODY ELSE WANTS.
10:00:42AM IT'S REALITY OF LIFE THAT YOU MADE THOSE OFFICERS, THE
10:00:46AM UNION OFFICERS AND NON-UNION OFFICERS IF THERE IS ANY,
10:00:49AM TO SAY THANK YOU FOR WHAT I'M DOING.
10:00:51AM YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT IN YOUR HEART TO DO THE JOB YOU'RE
10:00:55AM DOING.
10:00:56AM YOUR MIND TELLS YOU ONE THING.
10:00:57AM YOUR HEART TELLS YOU ANOTHER.
10:00:59AM SOMETIMES YOU SAY, I SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO MY HEART.
10:01:03AM IN YOUR CASE YOU ARE ALMOST 100% PROOF, AND I DON'T MEAN
10:01:06AM LIQUOR, BUT THE DECISION THAT YOU MADE AND WHAT YOU
10:01:10AM HANDLED YOURSELF HERE AND THE CHAMBERS AND I'M SURE
10:01:12AM DURING THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE CITY, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN
10:01:18AM FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS COURAGABLE BECAUSE IT WAS
10:01:22AM DONE IN A CIVIL MANNER AND THOSE CIVIL MANNERS IS WHERE
10:01:25AM YOU SHINE AT.
10:01:26AM THANK YOU AGAIN FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
10:01:28AM NOT TODAY, TOMORROW, BUT FOREVER.
10:01:32AM WE ALWAYS WILL MISS YOU FOREVER.
10:01:34AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN.
10:01:35AM >> THANK YOU, CHARLIE.
10:01:39AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
10:01:41AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME
10:01:46AM AND I'VE KNOWN MOSTLY ALL OF THE PBA PRESIDENTS.
10:01:53AM -- AND MY RECOLLECTION SERVES ME CORRECT THIS IS THE
10:01:57AM FIRST WOMAN TO BE PRESIDENT OF PBA SO LET ME GIVE YOU
10:02:01AM A --
10:02:02AM [APPLAUSE]
10:02:02AM I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT THE JOB IS BEING THE PBA PRESIDENT.
10:02:09AM TRUST ME, I KNOW.
10:02:11AM FROM GRIEVANCES AND DISPUTES AND OFFICERS NOT FEELING
10:02:13AM THEY'RE GETTING THEIR FAIR JUST OF LABOR AND COMPLAINTS.
10:02:20AM AND MOST PERFECT TIME IS WHEN A POLICE SHOOTING OCCURS.
10:02:28AM THE PBA PRESIDENT AND STAFF GO ON SCENE.
10:02:34AM AND I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT SO I KNOW HOW STRESSFUL THAT
10:02:37AM CAN BE AND TRYING TO GET THE FACTS OUT.
10:02:42AM BUT WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT DARLA BECAUSE DARLA IS A GOOD
10:02:45AM PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE AND THINKS THE WORLD OF DARLA,
10:02:51AM SHE KNOWS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND I THINK THE WORLD
10:02:53AM OF DARLA TOO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, DARLA CALLED ME.
10:02:56AM WE TALKED.
10:02:57AM WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE.
10:02:59AM AND THAT'S GOOD THOUGH.
10:03:03AM WE CAN WALK AWAY EXPRESSING THE THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS
10:03:09AM AND DECISIONS BE MADE AND IT'S OVER.
10:03:13AM AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
10:03:14AM I KNEW WHERE YOUR HEART IS.
10:03:17AM YOU DID A GREAT JOB IN YOUR TENURE AS THE PRESIDENT.
10:03:21AM BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IT IS TO WORK WITH THOSE GUYS.
10:03:25AM I KNOW.
10:03:26AM SO I KNOW YOU TELL HEAT BUT I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
10:03:32AM GIVING ME THE CALL WHEN YOU NEED TO GIVE THEM TO ME.
10:03:35AM I CALL YOU SOMETIMES AND SAY, DARLA, YOU NEED TO DO
10:03:38AM THAT.
10:03:38AM SO IT WORKS BOTH WAYS, BUT YOU GOT, WHAT, A MONTH TO GO?
10:03:45AM >> YEP.
10:03:46AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: IT'S GOING TO COME FAST.
10:03:48AM I'M GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, FAREWELL TO YOU.
10:03:52AM BECAUSE THAT LAST DAY WHEN THEY GIVE YOU THAT LAST TALK
10:03:57AM ON THAT WALKIE-TALKIE, EVERYONE GETS CHOKED UP.
10:04:02AM NOBODY TELLS YOU BUT THEY DO.
10:04:04AM NO ONE I KNOW IN THE CITY HASN'T GOT CHOKED UP.
10:04:08AM YOU'LL WAKE UP THE NEXT WORK DAY, WHERE IS MY CAR?
10:04:12AM WHERE IS MY CAR?
10:04:15AM IT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE.
10:04:18AM THAT'S THE EXPERIENCE I'VE HAD AND MANY OTHERS AND
10:04:21AM YOU'LL HAVE IT TOO.
10:04:23AM I'LL SAY GO AND ENJOY YOURSELF.
10:04:26AM DO THE THINGS THAT YOU NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO DO.
10:04:30AM DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
10:04:33AM STILL SUPPORT THE POLICE BUT DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
10:04:36AM BECAUSE YOU HAVE THAT COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND CAN MAKE
10:04:41AM CHANGES IN THE LIVES OF OTHER PLACES BUT AGAIN, I
10:04:44AM APPRECIATE YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU, DARLA.
10:04:47AM GOD BLESS YOU.
10:04:49AM >> THANK YOU.
10:04:50AM >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR DOING THE
10:04:52AM WORK, HELPING YOUR FELLOW OFFICERS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT
10:04:57AM UNION IS ALL ABOUT.
10:05:02AM ALSO VERY PROUD THAT YOU ARE THE FIRST WOMAN.
10:05:05AM THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID FOR THAT.
10:05:10AM WE HAVE A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF EXPECTATIONS AND BEING ABLE
10:05:15AM TO DO THAT FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS IN A
10:05:19AM MALE-DOMINATED FIELD IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE AND YOU SHOULD
10:05:22AM ALWAYS CARRY THAT.
10:05:27AM AND I KNOW THAT YOUR COLLEAGUES AND YOUR FELLOW OFFICERS
10:05:31AM REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO WORK FOR
10:05:34AM THEM, TO GET THEM WHAT THEY NEED AND TO MAKE SURE THAT
10:05:38AM EVERYONE IN THE CITY KNOWS WHAT THEY NEED.
10:05:43AM THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES AND LABOR IS SO IMPORTANT SO THANK
10:05:47AM YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON MAKING SURE THAT YOU
10:05:50AM ARE PROTECTING THE INTERESTS OF THOSE THAT YOU SERVE
10:05:54AM WITH.
10:05:54AM AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT.
10:05:57AM LIKE COUNCILMAN GUDES SAID, I KNOW YOU'LL FIND SOMETHING
10:06:01AM ELSE WONDERFUL TO DO BUT TAKE THAT STRENGTH WITH YOU.
10:06:05AM >> THANK YOU.
10:06:07AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU.
10:06:08AM CONGRATULATIONS.
10:06:09AM WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU.
10:06:10AM I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.
10:06:12AM WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.
10:06:15AM AND BEFORE YOU THERE WAS ABE AND VINNY AND, YOU KNOW,
10:06:18AM I'VE BEEN HERE ALMOST EIGHT YEARS AND HAD THE PLEASURE
10:06:20AM OF WORKING WITH SO MANY IN THE PVA AND MOST RECENTLY
10:06:24AM YOU, BUT AS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA MENTIONED, WE'RE GOING TO
10:06:27AM MISS YOU.
10:06:28AM CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESSES AND ON YOUR COMING
10:06:32AM RETIREMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VOID THAT IS GOING TO
10:06:35AM BE THERE.
10:06:37AM BRANDON IS HERE AND I KNOW HE'LL LEAD THE WAY IN AN
10:06:42AM EXCELLENT WAY, BUT AGAIN, WE'LL MISS YOU AND APPRECIATE
10:06:47AM YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU.
10:06:51AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU.
10:06:51AM I'M SAD YOU'RE LEAVING THE CITY.
10:06:54AM FOUR YEARS AGO THE PBA ENDORSED MY OPPONENT AND SO WHEN
10:06:58AM I STARTED, I DIDN'T -- I WAS WORRIED THAT I WAS GOING TO
10:07:00AM HAVE A HOSTILE RECEPTION AND INSTEAD YOU AND I TALKED
10:07:05AM AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO HELP THE MEN AND WOMEN
10:07:09AM IN POLICE FORCE AND YOU SAID I WANT TO HELP YOU, EDUCATE
10:07:12AM YOU, WORK WITH YOU, LET'S SET THE PAST -- AND THAT'S
10:07:16AM WHAT WE DID.
10:07:16AM I APPRECIATE THAT.
10:07:18AM I THINK WE AGREED MOST OF THE TIME.
10:07:20AM NOT ALL THE TIME BUT MOST OF THE TIME AND YOU ALWAYS
10:07:22AM TOOK MY CALL WHICH I WAS THANKFUL FOR.
10:07:25AM A COUPLE YEARS AGO, OUR CITY AND COUNTRY FACED DIFFICULT
10:07:29AM TIMES AND YOU AND I HAD GREAT CONVERSATIONS THROUGH THAT
10:07:31AM AND YOU GAVE ME PERSPECTIVES AND INSIGHTS I NEVER WOULD
10:07:34AM HAVE GOTTEN HAD -- AND I THINK THAT'S FROM YOUR UNIQUE
10:07:39AM ABILITY TO READ PEOPLE AND SITUATIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE
10:07:42AM NUANCES OF IT.
10:07:42AM SO WE WENT WAY BEYOND POLITICS TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN
10:07:46AM WORK TOGETHER TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE
10:07:48AM CITY.
10:07:49AM AND THERE IS THIS BALANCE BETWEEN CIVIL RIGHTS AND
10:07:52AM PROTECTING THE CITY AND WE KNOW WE HAVE TO WALK THAT
10:07:54AM LINE AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE WALKED THAT CAREFULLY AND
10:07:59AM WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE
10:08:03AM THAT YOU REPRESENT HAVE BEEN OVER WORKED AND STRESSED
10:08:06AM OUT, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THOSE DIFFICULT TIMES AND COVID
10:08:10AM AND EVERYTHING, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO MORE TO
10:08:15AM SUPPORT THEM SO THANK YOU FOR BEING MY GUIDE THROUGH IT
10:08:18AM ALL THIS.
10:08:19AM AS YOU GO ON TO DO WHATEVER YOU DO NEXT, PLEASE STAY IN
10:08:22AM TOUCH AND HOWEVER WE CAN HELP YOU BECAUSE I'M SURE
10:08:25AM YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN WHATEVER YOU DO.
10:08:28AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DARLA CARRIED ON
10:08:30AM TWO JOBS MUCH LIKE NICK DID.
10:08:32AM SHE WAS AN OFFICER AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE PBA.
10:08:36AM NOW THAT'S A 24/7 JOB, BOTH OF THEM.
10:08:40AM >> AND A MOM.
10:08:42AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE SELFISH BUT
10:08:46AM DARLA, THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY PHONE CALLS LATE.
10:08:48AM THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO WALK INTO THE PBA OFFICE
10:08:52AM AND SAY, DARLA, I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
10:08:55AM YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME.
10:08:56AM YOU HELPED ME WORK THINGS OUT IN MY HEAD.
10:08:59AM WE'D SIT DOWN AND TALK AND DISCUSS.
10:09:01AM THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR ME.
10:09:04AM THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR YOUR FELLOW OFFICERS AND
10:09:07AM HELPING THEM.
10:09:09AM DARLA, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE.
10:09:12AM YOU'RE NOT GOING.
10:09:13AM I KNOW YOU'LL BE INVOLVED SOME WAY, SOMEHOW.
10:09:18AM DARLA, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE YEARS YOU'VE SERVED AS AN
10:09:23AM OFFICER AND PRESIDENT OF THE PBA.
10:09:24AM THANK YOU, DARLA PORTMAN.
10:09:27AM [APPLAUSE]
10:09:39AM >> COUNCILMAN GUDES.
10:10:14AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: WELL, GOOD MORNING AGAIN, COUNCIL
10:10:17AM MEMBERS AND CHAIRMAN.
10:10:18AM AS YOU SAW, WE HAD SOME -- GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS EARLIER
10:10:22AM THIS MORNING WITH POLICE AND FIRE.
10:10:25AM SOME HEROIC FOLKS AND PEOPLE WHO SERVED THE CITY.
10:10:30AM WELL, BUT THIS MORNING, YOU'RE GOING IT TO SEE SOME
10:10:35AM SUPER STARS NOW.
10:10:37AM SOME FOLKS WHO WORK EVERY DAY IN AND OUT TO SERVE OUR
10:10:42AM COMMUNITY WITH ACTIVISM, BEING WITH -- CARING FOR OUR
10:10:47AM ELDERLY.
10:10:47AM BEING CARING FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
10:10:50AM BEING GOOD CITIZENS AND ROLE MODELS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
10:10:53AM SO THE FIRST ONE I'D LIKE TO BRING UP IS MS. BELINTHIA
10:10:56AM BERRY.
10:11:11AM AS COUNCIL KNOWS, I ALWAYS USE THE PHRASE, I GIVE PEOPLE
10:11:14AM FLOWERS WHEN THEY'RE WITH US TO MAKE SURE THEY
10:11:17AM UNDERSTAND THAT WHY THEY WORK SO HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY
10:11:21AM MUST BE RECOGNIZED.
10:11:23AM AND MS. BERRY HAS BEEN THAT.
10:11:25AM MANY OF YOU HAVE GONE TO THE GOURMET GENTS FUNDRAISER
10:11:32AM DURING ELECTION TIMES AND DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.
10:11:35AM MS. BERRY HAS BEEN THERE FOREVER PUTTING THOSE ON.
10:11:40AM SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT FOR THE NATIONAL COALITION OF
10:11:44AM 100 BLACK WOMEN IS A BIG JOB TO DO, BIG HONOR TO HAVE.
10:11:49AM SO THIS MORNING, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MS. BERRY FOR HER
10:11:52AM WORK WITH ONE OF THE GREAT -- I JUST ATTENDED A FAIR AND
10:11:59AM IT WAS GREAT.
10:12:00AM I THINK THIS YEAR YOU'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE THEME UP A
10:12:02AM LITTLE BIT AND YOU'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
10:12:03AM THEY'LL CHANGE IT UP THIS TIME.
10:12:05AM SO THIS MORNING, PRESENTING MS. BELINTHIA BERRY,
10:12:12AM RECOGNITION, A NATIVE OF TAMPA AND DEVOUT COMMUNITY
10:12:16AM SERVANT WITH OVER A DECADE OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY
10:12:18AM SERVICE, MS. BERRY SERVES AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL
10:12:21AM TAMPA BAY AREA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL COALITION OF 100
10:12:24AM BLACK WOMEN INC.
10:12:26AM A MEMBER AND FIRST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA CHAPTER
10:12:30AM OF THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY.
10:12:34AM ALL RIGHT.
10:12:35AM SHE WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED CHAIR OF THE TAMPA BAY
10:12:38AM HEALTHCARE COLLABORATIVE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, A
10:12:41AM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES AND ADVOCATES THE
10:12:43AM HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF THOSE UNDERSERVED IN COMMUNITY
10:12:47AM COLLABORATIONS AND BUILT PARTNERSHIPS WITH KEY PRIVATE
10:12:52AM AND INCLUDING HILLSBOROUGH SCHOOLS AND NATIONAL COLLEGES
10:12:58AM AND UNIVERSITIES AND PEER INSTITUTIONS.
10:13:00AM MS. BERRY HAS DEVOTED COUNTLESS HOURS EMPOWERING HER
10:13:03AM LOCAL COMMUNITY WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND AVENUES
10:13:06AM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR DAY TO DAY LIVES.
10:13:10AM A LEADERSHIP OF MS. BERRY, THE NCBW100 INC HELD NUMEROUS
10:13:20AM DRIVES AND CONTINUED TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AND
10:13:24AM LEADERSHIP IN HER CURRENT ROLE AS THE DEAN OF WORKFORCE
10:13:28AM DEVELOPMENT OF ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE.
10:13:29AM SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW.
10:13:31AM >> JUST NEWLY APPOINTED.
10:13:33AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: THE CITY COUNCIL IS PROUD TO PRESENT A
10:13:35AM COMMENDATION TO BELINTHIA BERRY WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE TYPE
10:13:38AM OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATE FOR COURAGEOUS, DETERMINED,
10:13:41AM DEVOTED TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY.
10:13:44AM YOU'RE A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY OF TAMPA.
10:13:47AM THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. BERRY.
10:13:48AM >> THANK YOU.
10:13:51AM [APPLAUSE]
10:13:53AM THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GUDES.
10:13:56AM THANK YOU, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL.
10:13:57AM I'D LIKE TO GIVE HONOR TO GOD WHO IS THE HEAD OF MY
10:14:00AM LIFE.
10:14:01AM I'D LIKE TO THANK FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND MY BOSS WHO IS
10:14:03AM HERE AND, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY SERVICE IS THE RENT WE PAY
10:14:06AM TO BE IN HERE ON EARTH.
10:14:08AM AND I'D LIKE TO ATTRIBUTE TO MY HERO, MY MOTHER, ANTONIO
10:14:13AM BARBER IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT THERE WHO INSTILLED IN ALL
10:14:16AM HER CHILDREN THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE IS WHAT WE DO AS A
10:14:20AM FAMILY TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ONLY WAY OUR
10:14:23AM COMMUNITY CAN BE WHAT IT IS IS IF YOU DO THE WORK AND
10:14:27AM THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.
10:14:30AM ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THOSE PUBLIC SERVANTS DOING THE
10:14:33AM WORK TO ENSURE OUR NEXT GENERATION AS COUNCILMAN, YOU
10:14:35AM TALKED ABOUT -- JUST TURNED 40.
10:14:37AM I'M NOT ASHAMED OF THAT AND THE NEXT GENERATION TO
10:14:44AM CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK WE HAVE DONE.
10:14:45AM I HAVE MANY MENTORS.
10:14:47AM I THANK ALL MY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORTED ME BECAUSE I WAS
10:14:50AM THE PANDEMIC PRESIDENT LEADING THEM THROUGH THE CHARGE
10:14:52AM ALL AT HOME AND CONTINUE TO RAISE FUNDS.
10:14:56AM THANKS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTS.
10:14:57AM OUR GOURMET GENTS IS A GALA.
10:15:00AM THERE HAVE BEEN MEN WHO SUPPORTED US FOR ALL 30 YEARS TO
10:15:04AM ENSURE THE FUNDS WE GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY SO ALL
10:15:09AM CAMPS ARE FREE.
10:15:10AM FREE STEM CAMPS FOR STUDENTS.
10:15:11AM WE RECEIVED DOLLARS FROM AT&T AND OTHERS WHO BELIEVE IN
10:15:15AM THE WORK WE DO BECAUSE GUESS WHAT?
10:15:17AM THE KIDS NEED IT.
10:15:18AM OUR COMMUNITY NEED IT.
10:15:19AM IT'S JUST FAMILIES AND I'M PROUD TO GET THIS AWARD AS MY
10:15:22AM MOM SAID, AWARDS ARE EARNED.
10:15:25AM NOT GIVEN.
10:15:25AM AND I JUST APPRECIATE THIS AWARD.
10:15:28AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:15:30AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: APPRECIATE YOU.
10:15:34AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:15:35AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
10:15:37AM IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE LIST AND IT'S PROBABLY JUST A
10:15:40AM LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU ACTUALLY DO, SO THANK YOU SO
10:15:43AM MUCH.
10:15:44AM YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY SUPPLY SO MUCH AND IN
10:15:48AM AMERICA, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF VOLUNTEERS
10:15:50AM LIKE YOU WHO CARE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE LITTLE BIT
10:15:54AM WE'RE ABLE TO DO IN GOVERNMENT IS AMPLIFIED SO MUCH MORE
10:15:57AM BY FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY.
10:15:58AM YOU TALKED ABOUT PAYING REPRESENT.
10:16:00AM YOU'RE PAYING RENT FOR LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WITH ALL
10:16:03AM THE SERVICE THAT YOU DO SO PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON WHAT
10:16:06AM YOU'RE DOING AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU.
10:16:08AM THANK YOU.
10:16:09AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING.
10:16:12AM I READ UP ON YOU BEFORE BECAUSE I LIKE TO SEE ON THE
10:16:16AM BACKGROUND OF FOLKS AND SOMETHING THAT CARLSON SAID IS
10:16:20AM THAT GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY PRIVATE
10:16:23AM ENDEAVORS AND GOVERNMENT CAN FEED THE STOMACH BUT CAN'T
10:16:25AM ALWAYS FEED THE HEART AND THAT'S WHERE GOOD FOLKS LIKE
10:16:28AM YOU COME IN SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
10:16:30AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR
10:16:32AM THIS RECOGNITION.
10:16:33AM YOU SAID IT.
10:16:34AM THE SERVICE IS THE RENT WE PAY FOR OUR TIME HERE ON
10:16:38AM EARTH AND YOU EXEMPLIFY THAT.
10:16:40AM WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND AGAIN,
10:16:43AM CONGRATULATIONS.
10:16:44AM >>LYNN HURTAK: I ALSO REALLY LIKE THAT SAYING.
10:16:47AM I WROTE IT DOWN.
10:16:48AM I'M GOING TO SAY THAT.
10:16:49AM COMMUNITY SERVICE IS THE RENT WE PAY AND I KNOW EXACTLY
10:16:54AM WHAT THAT'S LIKE.
10:16:56AM MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME THE VERY SAME THING AND WE DID IT AS
10:16:59AM A FAMILY.
10:17:00AM IT'S JUST A -- IT BECOMES A PART OF WHO YOU ARE.
10:17:03AM YOU CAN'T IMAGINE LIVING LIFE AND NOT THINKING ABOUT
10:17:07AM OTHERS.
10:17:08AM AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT IN YOUR HEART, YOU JUST -- IT'S
10:17:13AM JUST WHO YOU ARE.
10:17:14AM WHEN YOU SEE A NEED, YOU CAN'T WALK AWAY FROM IT.
10:17:18AM AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT.
10:17:20AM IT'S A SPECIAL GIFT.
10:17:22AM IT'S A GIFT.
10:17:25AM IT IS NOT A BURDEN, IT'S A GIFT AND I WANT TO SAY THANK
10:17:29AM YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING TO SHARE YOUR GIFT AND
10:17:34AM ENCOURAGING OTHERS, I'M SURE, TO FOLLOW IN THAT GIFT
10:17:36AM GIVING.
10:17:37AM SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PROUD TO
10:17:41AM HAVE YOU IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
10:17:43AM >> THANK YOU.
10:17:44AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
10:17:46AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU.
10:17:47AM MS. BERRY, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN FOR THE AWARD.
10:17:49AM COMMUNITY SERVICE IS SOMETHING THAT NO GOVERNMENT CAN DO
10:17:52AM THE WORK THAT SOMEONE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES.
10:17:55AM BECAUSE THEY'RE THE CLOSEST TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO
10:17:57AM REALLY NEED IT AND TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY NEED.
10:18:00AM BUT MORE THAN THAT IS THAT AS LIFE GOES ON, YOU REALIZE
10:18:07AM AT AN EARLY AGE THAT LIKE YOUR MOTHER HERE TODAY, YOUR
10:18:10AM MOTHER WOULD SAY WHEN YOU'RE A CHILD, YOU WOULD SAY,
10:18:13AM DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
10:18:16AM BUT YOU GET OLDER AND SAY MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT.
10:18:19AM NOT ONE TIME BUT 100% OF THE TIME.
10:18:21AM I GUESS I GOT -- MY MOTHER PULLED ME BY MY HAIR SO MANY
10:18:26AM TIMES THAT I HAD TO LISTEN TO ALL THE STUFF.
10:18:28AM BUT YOU -- YOU REALLY VALUE LIFE WHEN YOU GET BACK TO
10:18:32AM LIFE.
10:18:32AM AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW AND YOU'VE DONE
10:18:36AM IT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME SO WHEN YOU HELP SOMEONE, A
10:18:40AM HAND UP, INSTEAD OF A PUSH DOWN, YOU CERTAINLY
10:18:43AM ACCOMPLISH A LOT.
10:18:44AM AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU AND ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN TO
10:18:48AM SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION.
10:18:52AM KEEP DOING WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF
10:18:55AM SOCIETY BEFORE THEY BECOME A PROBLEM.
10:18:57AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:18:58AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: SOME PEOPLE WALK THE WALK.
10:19:00AM SOME PEOPLE TALK THE TALK.
10:19:01AM YOU'RE DOING THE DO.
10:19:04AM AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS COMMUNITY EXEMPLIFIES
10:19:08AM THE HEART AND SOUL THAT YOU HAVE.
10:19:11AM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THE
10:19:13AM COMMUNITY.
10:19:14AM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR TAMPA.
10:19:16AM THANK YOU.
10:19:17AM >> THANK YOU.
10:19:24AM [APPLAUSE]
10:19:40AM >> I'M THE DEAN AND I GOT A MEETING.
10:19:46AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: WE'LL DO THEM UP HERE SINCE -- ALL
10:19:54AM RIGHT.
10:19:55AM MS. ROBIN LOCKETT.
10:19:56AM [APPLAUSE]
10:20:08AM MR. VICE CHAIR, THIS COMMENDATION IS GIVEN TODAY.
10:20:12AM IT WAS CONTINUOUS BECAUSE WE HAD AN ELECTION GOING ON SO
10:20:15AM WE HAD TO MOVE TO TODAY.
10:20:23AM ALL RIGHT.
10:20:27AM WELL, AGAIN, TODAY IS A DAY THAT I'VE GOT SEVERAL THAT
10:20:33AM ARE -- WHAT I CALL SUPER STARS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE
10:20:36AM BEEN WORKING, DOING THE WORK, AND MS. LOCKETT IS NO
10:20:39AM DIFFERENT THAN MS. BERRY.
10:20:42AM BUT MS. LOCKETT HAS A SPECIAL GIFT OF GALVANIZING
10:20:49AM PEOPLE, THOSE WHO CAN'T FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND SPEAK
10:20:52AM FOR THEM.
10:20:53AM AND SHE'S DONE THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
10:20:57AM SO TODAY I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE ROBIN LOCKETT.
10:21:01AM IN RECOGNITION OF ROBIN LOCKETT AND THE COMMUNITY
10:21:04AM ADVOCATE WITH OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND
10:21:07AM UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO REMOVING SYSTEMATIC BARRIERS,
10:21:11AM MS. LOCKETT HAS SHOWN BEYOND A DOUBT TO BE DEVOTED AND
10:21:14AM DEDICATED TO ORGANIZE FOR THE RIGHTS OF CITIZENS ALL
10:21:21AM OVER TAMPA.
10:21:22AM SHE BELIEVES EDUCATION EQUALS EMPOWERMENT.
10:21:25AM HER PURPOSE IS TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE
10:21:26AM INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT ISSUES DIRECTLY AFFECTING THEM
10:21:30AM WITH THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION.
10:21:31AM I CAN SAY THAT'S TRUE.
10:21:32AM ROBIN LOCKETT IS A VALUED COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER AND
10:21:37AM DIRECTOR OF TAMPA BAY FOR FLORIDA RISING AND THE NAACP
10:21:43AM AS A POLITICAL CHAIR AND HOSTS POLITICAL FORUMS TO EQUIP
10:21:44AM THE COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION ON CANDIDATES AND VOTING
10:21:47AM AND SERVED AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LIAISON FOR
10:21:50AM SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS AND MOST RECENTLY SHE ORGANIZED
10:21:54AM A GRASSROOTS FIGHT AROUND THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT
10:22:00AM AFFECTS UNDERPRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES AND ARRIVED TO THE
10:22:04AM POLLS ON AFFORDABLE HAS BEEN A VOCAL ACTIVIST AROUND
10:22:06AM THIS INITIATIVE.
10:22:08AM THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TAMPA IS PROUD TO PRESENT
10:22:12AM THIS COMMENDATION TO ROBIN LOCKETT WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE
10:22:15AM COMMUNITY LEADER AND GRASSROOTS ACTIVIST WHO IS
10:22:18AM STEADFAST, COURAGEOUS, FEARLESS AND DEVOTED TO ENHANCING
10:22:22AM HER COMMUNITY PRESENTED THIS DAY, THE TENTH DAY OF
10:22:24AM JANUARY 2023.
10:22:28AM MS. ROBIN LOCKETT.
10:22:29AM [APPLAUSE]
10:22:41AM >> I'M THE PERSON LOST FOR WORDS AND DON'T HAVE A TIMER
10:22:45AM AND THAT SAYS THREE MINUTES SO I WROTE MY NOTES.
10:22:48AM FIRST OF ALL, I GIVE ALL GLORY TO GOD.
10:22:51AM COUNCIL, COUNCILMAN GUDES, COUNCILMEN, I'D LIKE TO THANK
10:22:55AM YOU FOR THIS ACCOMMODATION.
10:22:57AM IT'S HEARTFELT.
10:22:58AM JUST IN THE RECOGNITION OF THE WORK THAT I'VE BEEN
10:23:00AM INVOLVED IN OVER THE YEARS, I OFTEN SAY THAT INNOVATION
10:23:04AM AND IDEAS AROUND MY WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS GOD
10:23:09AM DRIVEN.
10:23:09AM I'M VERY INTENTIONAL.
10:23:11AM I MOVE WITH PURPOSE.
10:23:12AM IT HAS ALSO BEEN ABOUT THE EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE AND
10:23:15AM ALWAYS WANT TO SEE PEOPLE WIN.
10:23:18AM I WORK WITHIN THE COMMUNITY STAYING IN MY LANE TO MAKE A
10:23:22AM DIFFERENCE WHETHER IT WAS AS A POLITICAL CHAIR OF THE
10:23:25AM NAACP, PAST PRESIDENT OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY BLACK
10:23:32AM CAUCUS OR FLORIDA RISING AND YOU EXPERIENCED MY POSITION
10:23:36AM WITH THE FLORIDA RISING.
10:23:38AM NOW WITH MY CURRENT POSITION, FLORIDA RISING, YOU'VE GOT
10:23:42AM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE WHEN THE
10:23:45AM COMMUNITY -- WITH COMMUNITY AND PARTNERSHIPS.
10:23:48AM IT'S ABOUT BEING CONSISTENT AND DOING HOMEWORK AND
10:23:52AM HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND BEING REALISTIC ABOUT
10:23:56AM CHANGE, ONE BITE AT A TIME.
10:23:59AM WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE AND CHANGE
10:24:02AM POLICY.
10:24:04AM I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE.
10:24:08AM THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND OUTLOOK AND PERSPECTIVE BEING
10:24:10AM NOW -- BEING NOW THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
10:24:15AM I'M A FIRM BELIEVER OF PEOPLE DO BETTER MOST OF THE TIME
10:24:18AM WHEN THEY KNOW BETTER.
10:24:20AM I TREAT PEOPLE HOW I WANT TO BE TREATED.
10:24:22AM I BELIEVE IN CONSISTENCY AND BEING CONSISTENT TAKES A
10:24:26AM LOT OF TIME AND WORK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT WILLING
10:24:30AM TO DO THAT.
10:24:32AM EVERYONE CAN BE IN THE SAME ROOM, HEAR THE SAME MUSIC,
10:24:36AM SEE THE SAME THING, AND HAVE A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.
10:24:40AM THAT'S THE KEY OF LISTENING.
10:24:44AM A LEADER CAN BE LED -- A LEADER -- I'M SORRY.
10:24:47AM A LEADER BEING ABLE TO BE LED AND I'VE HAD GREAT
10:24:51AM TEACHERS BEING LED.
10:24:54AM MS. BETA REED, SHE WAS A LEADER OF MINE AND MY VILLAGE,
10:25:02AM RIGHT?
10:25:02AM SHE WAS MY CONFIDANTE AND FRIEND AND A SECOND MOM.
10:25:05AM MS. SPENCER.
10:25:06AM SHE TAUGHT ME ABOUT COMMUNITY WHEN I WAS WITH NAACP.
10:25:09AM AND I CAN'T FORGET MY MOM.
10:25:12AM I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF MY MOM.
10:25:16AM AND I'M SO PROUD OF THAT.
10:25:20AM AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU.
10:25:22AM I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU.
10:25:26AM TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.
10:25:28AM I CONTINUE -- I'VE LOOKED FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE
10:25:31AM THE COMMUNITY BE MORE ENGAGED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING
10:25:35AM ON WITH THEM AND BE A PART OF THAT SOLUTION, SO THANK
10:25:40AM YOU AGAIN.
10:25:41AM AND I WANT TO THANK MY FRIENDS, FAMILY, FOR ATTENDING.
10:25:46AM AND WHERE IS MY SON?
10:25:49AM CAN I BRING HIM UP?
10:25:51AM I WANT MY SON TO COME UP.
10:25:54AM HE FLEW IN FROM CANADA AND I DIDN'T KNOW -- I KNEW HE
10:25:56AM WAS COMING BUT I DIDN'T THINK HE WAS GOING TO MAKE IT SO
10:25:59AM THIS IS MY SON.
10:26:00AM ONE OF MY SONS.
10:26:02AM MY YOUNGEST SON.
10:26:04AM [APPLAUSE]
10:26:05AM SO THANK YOU.
10:26:09AM OKAY, THANK YOU.
10:26:12AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: I KNOW YOU WORKED SO HARD.
10:26:14AM >> I HAVE A SECOND SON.
10:26:16AM MY SECOND SON IS IN CALIFORNIA.
10:26:18AM HE IS MY OLDEST SON, CEDRIC.
10:26:22AM I KNOW HE POSSIBLY WATCHING.
10:26:25AM >> I'M A MEMBER OF FLORIDA RISING.
10:26:28AM WITH ROBIN.
10:26:29AM AND LOOKING AT THE WORK THAT SHE HAS DONE AND THE WORK
10:26:34AM THAT SHE HAS PRESENTLY DONE, I THINK SHE DESERVES ALL
10:26:38AM THOSE ACCOLADES THAT THESE PEOPLE BROUGHT WITH THE GIFT
10:26:45AM OF OTHER PEOPLE.
10:26:46AM SHE DESERVES THAT TYPE OF ATTENTION.
10:26:48AM AND FROM YOU PEOPLE, SHE DESERVED THE GREATEST OF
10:26:52AM SUPPORT.
10:26:53AM IF YOU DON'T SUPPORT THAT, THEN YOU'RE REFLECTING AN
10:26:57AM IGNORANCE OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS.
10:26:59AM THIS LADY AN IS AWARE OF THIS SO SHE NEEDS ALL THE
10:27:03AM SUPPORT SHE CAN AND THE MEMBERS BEHIND HER, THEY SUPPORT
10:27:07AM HER TOO.
10:27:08AM I MEAN, I'M FLABBERGASTED THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THOSE
10:27:12AM PEOPLE STANDING HERE ON THE WALL TO GIVE THESE PEOPLE
10:27:14AM THESE GIFTS AND AWARDS THAT THEY WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE THIS
10:27:18AM LADY.
10:27:19AM ABSURD.
10:27:21AM IT'S A -- IT'S A CONTINUATION OF A SUPPRESSION -- THAT'S
10:27:27AM IT.
10:27:27AM THANK YOU.
10:27:30AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: AND WE -- AGAIN, WE -- WE THANK YOU FOR
10:27:32AM YOUR WORDS BUT THE ACCOMMODATIONS THAT WE GIVE OUR
10:27:37AM CITIZENS ARE FROM OUR HEARTS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.
10:27:40AM THE WORK THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS GIVE,
10:27:44AM THAT'S A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CEREMONY GIVEN TO THOSE FOLKS
10:27:48AM BUT WE DO THANK YOU.
10:27:49AM WE STILL THANK YOU FOR THAT.
10:27:51AM WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.
10:27:52AM MY SISTER -- I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE.
10:27:55AM GOD BLESS YOU.
10:27:56AM CONTINUE TO DO THE GOOD WORK.
10:27:57AM THANK YOU.
10:28:04AM COUNCIL GOING TO COMMENT.
10:28:07AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:28:09AM [APPLAUSE]
10:28:16AM >>BILL CARLSON: GOT YOUR SONS.
10:28:18AM HOPEFULLY THE ONE IN CALIFORNIA IS WATCHING BUT THEY CAN
10:28:20AM BE VERY PROUD OF THEIR MOTHER FOR ALL THE HARD WORK SHE
10:28:25AM IS DOING.
10:28:25AM I APPRECIATE THE JOURNEY WE HAVE BEEN ON AND ALL THE
10:28:28AM INFORMATION YOU GIVE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE OUT THERE AS
10:28:31AM YOU SAY TALKING TO PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND YOU BRING THAT
10:28:33AM FEEDBACK BACK TO US.
10:28:35AM IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP IN THE
10:28:38AM AUDIENCE HERE OR THE E-MAILS WE GET ARE NOT ALWAYS
10:28:41AM REFLECTIVE OF THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE KNOCKING
10:28:44AM ON SO MANY DOORS THAT YOU'RE REALLY GETTING FEEDBACK.
10:28:46AM THE OTHER THING AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'LL LIKE THIS
10:28:49AM TITLE BUT WHEN I ASKED PEOPLE IN OTHER CITIES WHAT DO WE
10:28:51AM NEED TO DO TO MAKE TAMPA BETTER, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS
10:28:56AM THEY SAY IS WE NEED MORE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS.
10:28:58AM WE NEED ORGANIZERS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY OUT SO WE CAN
10:29:01AM HEAR THE COMMUNITY BUT WE NEED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS
10:29:03AM WHO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THE RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND WHO
10:29:06AM THEY'RE PRESENTING TO, WHAT THE CONTEXT IS, WHAT'S
10:29:08AM HAPPENED BEFORE AND UNDERSTAND THE POLITICS OF WHAT CAN
10:29:11AM HAPPEN WHEN, WORK WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND SO
10:29:15AM IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE COMING AND GIVING THEIR OPINION.
10:29:19AM IT'S THAT YOU ACTUALLY ENGAGE US AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
10:29:22AM TO HAVE A DIALOGUE AND TAKE THE LONG-TERM VIEW SO I
10:29:25AM APPRECIATE YOUR ORGANIZATION AND SUPPORTING YOU AS WELL.
10:29:28AM BEFORE A FEW YEARS AGO, I THOUGHT THE BEST ORGANIZER IN
10:29:33AM TOWN WAS TIM HABERLIN AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER CITRO
10:29:37AM HIRED HIM AND UNFORTUNATELY WE TOOK HIM OFF THE TABLE
10:29:40AM BUT HE WAS BRILLIANT AT ORGANIZING GROUPS AND BRINGING
10:29:43AM PEOPLE TO THE TABLE AND YOU ARE THE -- FROM WHAT I SEE
10:29:48AM HERE ANYWAY, THE LEAD PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER RIGHT
10:29:51AM THERE.
10:29:51AM I HOPE YOU CAN HELP TRAIN A WHOLE GENERATION OF OTHER
10:29:54AM PEOPLE TO DO WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE WE NEED MORE PEOPLE
10:29:56AM LIKE YOU TO MAKE SURE THE COMMUNITY IS FULLY ENGAGED AND
10:30:00AM WE'RE LISTENING TO AND SOLVING PROBLEMS IN THE WHOLE
10:30:03AM COMMUNITY.
10:30:03AM THANK YOU.
10:30:04AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE
10:30:07AM OVER THE YEARS.
10:30:08AM WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE
10:30:11AM NUMBER OF THINGS YOU HAVE ADVOCATED FOR AND REALLY HAD A
10:30:15AM UNIQUE TOUCH ON THAT PASSED THE CITY COUNCIL AND DID
10:30:19AM WELL.
10:30:20AM I THINK OF THE TENANT ADVOCATE POSITION.
10:30:23AM FUNDS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR FOLKS BEING
10:30:26AM KICKED OUT OF THEIR HOUSE.
10:30:27AM THE TENNIS BILL OF RIGHTS AFTER IT WAS VOTED DOWN.
10:30:29AM BRINGING IT BACK TO TAMPA CITY COUNCIL.
10:30:31AM MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
10:30:33AM I KNOW YOU WORKED RECENTLY ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CRV
10:30:38AM AND WE MOVED THAT FORWARD AND A BIG THING THAT'S NOT
10:30:41AM ALWAYS IN THE PAPER IS YOUR ADVOCACY IN A LOT OF
10:30:43AM APARTMENTS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE IN TERRIBLE CONDITIONS THAT
10:30:48AM NO PERSON SHOULD LIVE IN.
10:30:49AM FLORIDA RISING PLAYED A REAL PIVOTAL ROLE IN TIMBER
10:30:53AM FALLS.
10:30:53AM WE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE MANY TIMES TOGETHER AND BECAUSE
10:30:56AM OF Y'ALLS WORK THERE ARE ALMOST TWO DOZEN CODE
10:31:02AM ENFORCEMENT CASES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH AND BEEN OPEN
10:31:05AM AND WHAT NOT FOR TIMBER FALLS.
10:31:09AM THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
10:31:10AM YOU DO STUFF IN HERE AND OUTSIDE AND ALWAYS WEAR YOUR
10:31:14AM HEART ON YOUR SLEEVE AND WE TALKED SO MANY TIMES AND I
10:31:16AM VALUE ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
10:31:19AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS RECOGNITION.
10:31:21AM YOU KNOW, YOU'RE A GENUINELY GOOD PERSON AND YOUR HEART
10:31:25AM IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND YOU COMMITTED YOUR LIFE TO
10:31:27AM DOING GOOD AND HELPING PEOPLE AND LIFTING PEOPLE UP AND
10:31:30AM TO RIGHTING WRONGS.
10:31:31AM AND COUNCILMAN VIERA LISTED SO MANY THINGS THAT BECAUSE
10:31:37AM OF YOU AND BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH
10:31:39AM YOUR TEAM AND EVERYBODY YOU ORGANIZED HAVE COME TO
10:31:44AM FRUITION.
10:31:44AM WE THANK YOU FOR THAT AND APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH.
10:31:47AM >>LYNN HURTAK: I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU.
10:31:49AM I WANT TO THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, WHEN I JOINED COUNCIL,
10:31:56AM YOU KNOW, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND I
10:31:59AM THINK YOU SAID TO ME, YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
10:32:02AM WITH ME.
10:32:03AM >> SURE DIDN'T.
10:32:05AM >>LYNN HURTAK: SO I APPRECIATE YOU REACHING OUT AND JUST
10:32:08AM STARTING THAT CONVERSATION AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
10:32:12AM COLLABORATE ON MANY THINGS AND IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING
10:32:15AM AND WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH YOU IN THE COMMUNITY AND I
10:32:19AM DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHEN I STARTED
10:32:21AM AND NOW I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE WORKED REALLY WELL TO BRING
10:32:24AM MORE THINGS FORWARD TO THE CITY AND THAT COULD NOT HAVE
10:32:26AM BEEN DONE WITHOUT YOU AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE
10:32:30AM BEHIND YOU AND ALL THE PEOPLE YOU BRING WITH YOU AND ALL
10:32:33AM YOUR ORGANIZING ABILITY TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT
10:32:38AM THEY ARE OWED.
10:32:40AM AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM.
10:32:41AM AND IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU.
10:32:43AM SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.
10:32:45AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR FRIENDSHIP.
10:32:47AM AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THIS
10:32:49AM COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY.
10:32:51AM >> APPRECIATE IT.
10:32:53AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, ROBIN LOCKETT, AGAIN.
10:32:56AM I'VE HEARD IT MANY TIMES ALREADY.
10:32:58AM THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO AND
10:33:00AM IT GOES BACK TO YOUR SYMPATHY TO HELP SOMEONE ELSE.
10:33:06AM YOU ARE A LEADER BECAUSE YOU WERE BORN TO LEAD.
10:33:09AM YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE THINGS OF
10:33:12AM THE -- THOSE THAT HAVE VERY LITTLE VOICE BECAUSE THEY'VE
10:33:15AM BEEN MUTED TO SAY THEIR VOICE AND YOU UNMUTE THE FACTS.
10:33:23AM FOR THAT ALONE YOU SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED FOR THAT.
10:33:26AM IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BE IN THE POSITION WHERE YOU TURN
10:33:29AM AROUND AND EVERY TIME YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING ONE
10:33:31AM STRAIGHT FORWARD YOU TAKE HALF A STEP BACKWARDS AND
10:33:34AM THAT'S THE POSITION YOU'RE IN.
10:33:36AM SO IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE
10:33:42AM IN NEED GET THE HELP.
10:33:43AM I THINK YESTERDAY OR THE DAY BEFORE, WE HAD A CALL AT
10:33:45AM THE OFFICE ABOUT ONE UNIT THAT HAD A PROBLEM AND ASKED
10:33:50AM MARY TO TURN IT OVER TO THE CITY TO CHECK IT OUT.
10:33:52AM BUT THESE THINGS ARE RAPID ALL OVER, NOT ONLY THE CITY
10:33:57AM OF TAMPA BUT MORE SO IN OTHER CITIES SO WHAT WE SEE HERE
10:34:01AM IS NOT AN EXCEPTION OF THE RULE, IT IS THE RULE ALL
10:34:06AM OVER.
10:34:07AM WHEN YOU BUY SOMETHING AND SELL IT FOR A PROFIT, THAT
10:34:10AM INDIVIDUAL BUYS IT AND WHAT HAPPENS?
10:34:11AM IT GOES UP BECAUSE THEY GOT TO MAKE THE PAYMENT.
10:34:14AM AND SOCIETY NOW WHEN YOU LOOK -- IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO
10:34:20AM LIVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE WEEK IS COMING, YOU GOT TO
10:34:24AM MAKE A CAR PAYMENT OR WHATEVER AND THE RENT PAYMENT AND
10:34:28AM ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RENT PAYMENT WENT UP BY 30 OR 40%.
10:34:31AM IT'S NOT GOOD.
10:34:32AM IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE BUT THANKS TO YOU, YOU
10:34:35AM OPENED THE EYES OF NOT ONLY THIS CITY BUT THE WHOLE
10:34:39AM COUNTY AND MAYBE STATE OF FLORIDA.
10:34:41AM CONGRATULATIONS FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND TRYING TO
10:34:46AM HELP PEOPLE.
10:34:47AM IT'S HELPING PEOPLE.
10:34:48AM THANK YOU.
10:34:49AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: ROBIN, MS. LOCKETT, YOU HAVE BEEN THE
10:34:56AM SPEAKER FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT A VOICE.
10:35:02AM YOU HAVE BEEN A FIGHTER FOR PEOPLE WHO COULD NOT FIGHT
10:35:08AM OR DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIGHT.
10:35:09AM YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE AND DONE SO MANY
10:35:12AM THINGS FOR SO MANY.
10:35:14AM THANK YOU, ROBIN LOCKETT.
10:35:17AM >> THANK YOU.
10:35:36AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: ALL RIGHT.
10:35:38AM MS. DENISE?
10:35:39AM OH, RIGHT.
10:35:41AM HEY, MS. DENISE.
10:36:02AM MR. CHAIRMAN, WE HAVE ANOTHER SPECIAL HERO IN OUR
10:36:05AM COMMUNITY, MS. DENISE METEYE-JAMES.
10:36:09AM AS YOU KNOW, MS. DENISE SERVED ON THE BEAUTIFICATION FOR
10:36:13AM OUR EAST TAMPA CRA FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
10:36:16AM SHE HELPED DO THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AT THE
10:36:21AM YOUNG MILL MAGNET AND OVER AT THE POLICE STATION.
10:36:24AM I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE KNOWS THEY USED TO PUT A
10:36:27AM CHRISTMAS TREE BEHIND THE STATION THERE.
10:36:29AM JUST A GENERAL PERSON TRYING TO BEAUTIFY EAST TAMPA AS
10:36:33AM YOU KNOW.
10:36:33AM THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO GET RID OF OUR SLUM
10:36:37AM AND BLIGHT AND SHE HAS BEEN DOING IT THROUGHOUT THE
10:36:39AM YEARS SERVING ON THE CC FOR THAT COMMITTEE.
10:36:41AM AS YOU KNOW, WHEN I BECAME A COUNCILMAN, I SAID WE NEED
10:36:44AM TO TAKE OUR CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND INCORPORATE WHAT
10:36:49AM SHE HAS BEEN DOING AND TAKE IT OUT OF THE GYM AND BRING
10:36:52AM IT TO A POND SO WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE DOWN EAST TAMPA THEY
10:36:56AM CAN SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL EAST TAMPA IS WITH THE CHRISTMAS
10:36:59AM TREES.
10:36:59AM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE LIGHTING
10:37:02AM THAT MOST ATTENDED.
10:37:03AM WE EXPANDED THAT INTO THE NORTH OF TOWN SULFUR SPRINGS
10:37:07AM AREA IN NORTH TAMPA.
10:37:08AM SO MS. METEYE-JAMES DECIDED TO STEP DOWN AFTER HER LAST
10:37:14AM TREE LIGHTING THIS YEAR.
10:37:15AM SHE'S GETTING UP THERE AND SHE WANTS TO RELAX A LITTLE
10:37:17AM BIT.
10:37:17AM WE WANT HER STILL TO COME BACK AND CONTINUE TO HELP.
10:37:20AM WE ALWAYS CAN USE THE HELP.
10:37:21AM I KNOW CITY SAID THEY HAD GREAT IDEAS MOVING FORWARD AND
10:37:24AM WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP HER LEGACY ALIVE WHO
10:37:27AM STARTED OUR CHRISTMAS TREE PROGRAMS IN EAST TAMPA.
10:37:30AM SO THIS MORNING, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE -- RECOGNITION OF
10:37:35AM DENISE METEYE-JAMES, A TAMPA NATIVE AND DEVOTED
10:37:38AM COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND ACTIVIST WITH OVER 50 YEARS OF
10:37:43AM SERVICE TO HER COMMUNITY.
10:37:45AM MS. JAMES HAS SERVED AS THE EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY
10:37:49AM DILIGENTLY FOR OVER FIVE DECADES AND DEVOTED COUNTLESS
10:37:52AM HOURS OF TIME TEACHING PERSONAL RESOURCES AND LOVE TO
10:37:55AM YOUNG CHILDREN AND ADULTS.
10:37:57AM IN 2003 SHE RETIRED FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA AFTER 32
10:38:01AM YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE.
10:38:03AM MS. JAMES PREVIOUSLY HAS BEEN NOTED AS ONE OF THE MOST
10:38:06AM NOTABLE COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS OF EAST TAMPA.
10:38:08AM AS FORMER VICE CHAIR FOR PARTNERSHIP AND CURRENT CHAIR
10:38:12AM OF THE AESTHETICS AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, SHE HAS
10:38:16AM WORKED DILIGENTLY TO IMPACT HER COMMUNITY.
10:38:18AM FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE
10:38:22AM COMMITTEES OF TAMPA SERVING MOST TIME AS THE BOARD
10:38:26AM SECRETARY.
10:38:26AM MS. JAMES IS REVERED IN EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY FOREVER TO
10:38:31AM DELIVER THE BEST AND MOST EXCEPTIONAL PROJECTS TO HELP
10:38:34AM ENHANCE HER COMMUNITY.
10:38:35AM SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE -- IN THE RETENTION PONDS IN
10:38:38AM EAST TAMPA AND ADDING MURALS TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
10:38:43AM OFFICE PANELS AND INPUTTING CITIZENS FEEDBACK WITH HEART
10:38:45AM AND DUTY TO ACT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
10:38:46AM FOR OVER 13 YEARS MS. JAMES HELPED CELEBRATION EAST
10:38:50AM TAMPA AND COLLABORATION WITH OFFICIALS TO SEE ALONG AND
10:38:57AM PROVIDE 3,000 AND 3,500 BACKPACKS FILLED WITH
10:38:59AM TOILETRIES, CLOTHES, GAMES AND MORE.
10:39:02AM TODAY THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY PRESENTS ON THIS
10:39:06AM TENTH DAY OF JANUARY OUR COMMENDATION TO MS. DENISE
10:39:09AM METEYE-JAMES.
10:39:10AM [APPLAUSE]
10:39:30AM THE MIC IS YOURS.
10:39:32AM >> ALL RIGHT.
10:39:33AM WELL, I HAVE TO PUT MY SEEING ON SO THAT I CAN READ WHAT
10:39:37AM I WANTED TO SAY.
10:39:40AM GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
10:39:43AM THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS GREAT HONOR, COUNCILMAN GUDES AND
10:39:45AM THE OTHERS.
10:39:46AM I HAVE MY FAMILY HERE IN THE AUDIENCE BUT -- THEY PREFER
10:39:50AM TO SIT INSTEAD OF COMING UP AND JOINING ME AND THAT'S
10:39:53AM OKAY AS LONG AS THEY'RE HERE.
10:39:57AM I AM VERY HONORED FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
10:39:59AM I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN BELMONT HEIGHTS EAST TAMPA.
10:40:05AM I HAVE SEEN MANY CHANGES AND FOUGHT OVER 50 YEARS TO
10:40:07AM MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RAISING THREE
10:40:10AM CHILDREN AND WORKING FULL-TIME FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA
10:40:12AM FOR 32 YEARS.
10:40:13AM I RETIRED IN 2003.
10:40:16AM THERE ARE FOUR AREAS OF THE CITY, EAST, WEST, NORTH AND
10:40:20AM SOUTH.
10:40:21AM EAST TAMPA WAS THE FORGOTTEN PART OF THE CITY WITH LOTS
10:40:24AM OF NEGATIVITY.
10:40:25AM IN 2002, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE TAMPA
10:40:29AM HOUSING AUTHORITY REACHED OUT TO STAKEHOLDERS IN BELLMAN
10:40:32AM HEIGHTS TO COME TOGETHER TO NOMINATE LEADERS TO
10:40:35AM REPRESENT COMMUNITY CONCERNS RESULTING IN THE
10:40:38AM ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EAST TAMPA COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION
10:40:42AM PARTNERSHIP, ETCRP.
10:40:44AM FOLLOWING THE START OF THIS ORGANIZATION, WHEN FORMER
10:40:47AM MAYOR WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, SHE BUILT HER PLATFORM ON
10:40:54AM MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN EAST TAMPA AND SHE DID ALONG WITH
10:40:56AM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AT
10:40:59AM THAT TIME SUPPORTED THE CREATION OF THIS GROUP.
10:41:01AM THE COUNCIL CONTINUES TO SUPPORT US.
10:41:05AM UNDER THE ETCRP AND SERVED AS VICE CHAIR THREE TIMES.
10:41:09AM I WAS ALSO APPROVED AND DECLINED THE HONOR OF SERVING AS
10:41:13AM CHAIR.
10:41:13AM SEVERAL COMMITTEES WERE FORMED TO REPRESENT VARIOUS
10:41:16AM COMPONENTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP.
10:41:18AM ONE IS THE STATUS AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE WHICH I
10:41:21AM CHAIRED FOR 16 PLUS YEARS.
10:41:22AM I RESIGNED ON 12/2/22.
10:41:26AM DURING MY 16 PLUS YEARS TENURE AS CHAIR OF THE A&B
10:41:30AM COMMITTEE THESE ARE SOME OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
10:41:33AM CHANGING THE UNSIGHTLY LOOK OF THE RETENTION POND ON
10:41:36AM MARTIN LUTHER KING ACROSS FROM YOUNG MAGNET SCHOOL NOW
10:41:42AM KNOWN AS ROBERT COLE.
10:41:44AM THIS IS BEING USED BY STUDENTS FROM YOUNG FOR SCIENCE
10:41:48AM PROJECTS.
10:41:49AM THE OTHER IS ON 34th STREET ACROSS FROM THE FORMER
10:41:53AM GROCERY STORE.
10:41:55AM THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATES THESE SIGHTS AS THEY USE THEM
10:41:59AM FOR WALKING, COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, PICNICS, ET CETERA.
10:42:02AM THESE SIGHTS WERE NAMED AFTER THESE TWO LONGTIME
10:42:05AM COMMUNITY LEADERS AND MR. COLE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
10:42:11AM SMELL HIS ROSES WHILE HE IS STILL LIVING.
10:42:15AM TO ME THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT AS IT DOES NO ONE ANY GOOD
10:42:18AM TO HAVE THINGS NAMED AFTER THEM WHEN THEY CANNOT BE
10:42:21AM APPRECIATED.
10:42:21AM I HOPE CONSIDERATION CAN BE GIVEN TO THE NAMING OF THE
10:42:24AM NEW FAIR OAKS AFTER MS. BELL SO SHE CAN SMELL HER
10:42:29AM FLOWERS WHILE SHE IS LIVING.
10:42:32AM MIRRORS ON PANELS OUTSIDE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
10:42:34AM OUTSIDE AND SOME OF THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED.
10:42:40AM LET'S SEE.
10:42:43AM A WALL DEDICATED TO THE A&B COMMITTEES LOCATED IN THE
10:42:47AM DR. FRANKYE BERRY MEDIA CENTER AT MIDDLETON SENIOR HIGH
10:42:51AM SCHOOL.
10:42:51AM THIS WALL DEPICTS VARIOUS RENDERINGS OF EAST TAMPA OF
10:42:55AM SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE IS A MURAL OF NOTED TAMPA RESIDENT
10:42:59AM MS. THERESA MANUAL, FORMER MIDDLETON STUDENT, MIDDLETON
10:43:04AM TEACHER AND THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE FROM FLORIDA TO
10:43:06AM COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS IN LONDON IN 1948.
10:43:10AM NOW DECEASED MS. MANUAL WAS FORTUNATE TO ENJOY THIS
10:43:13AM HONOR PRIOR TO HER DEATH.
10:43:18AM DUE TO THE CONSTANT NEGATIVITY IN THE AREA I DECIDED TO
10:43:21AM BRING FOCUS ON SOMETHING POSITIVE IN WHAT TURNED OUT TO
10:43:24AM BE AN ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION.
10:43:27AM FOR 13 YEARS OF ANNUAL EVENTS OVER 4,000 BACKPACKS
10:43:31AM FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND ITEMS SUCH AS
10:43:36AM TOOTHBRUSHES, TOOTHPASTE, DEODORANT, SOCKS AND T-SHIRTS
10:43:42AM REPRESENT ONLY SOME OF THE ITEMS INCLUDED.
10:43:45AM I'M UNABLE TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION AS THESE
10:43:48AM CELEBRATIONS WERE NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF
10:43:51AM TWO INDIVIDUALS AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MS. LOVETT TO COME
10:43:55AM UP.
10:43:56AM IT'S GOOD WHEN WE GET RECOGNITION BUT I FEEL SLIGHTED IF
10:44:02AM I DON'T GIVE HER HER ROSES WHILE SHE CAN SMELL THEM.
10:44:06AM I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THIS PLAQUE TO MS. LOVETT.
10:44:09AM WITHOUT HER AND MICHAEL CARTER -- THIS IS NOT A ONE-MAN
10:44:14AM SHOW AND THERE IS NOTHING I EVER ASK THEM TO DO THAT
10:44:20AM THEY DIDN'T DO.
10:44:21AM THEY MADE IT HAPPEN.
10:44:24AM AND RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEDICATION, COOPERATIVE SPIRIT,
10:44:28AM LEADERSHIP AND INSPIRATION FOR YEARS AS IT RELATES TO
10:44:31AM OUR ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING.
10:44:33AM YOUR CONTRIBUTION HAS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
10:44:35AM OF FAMILIES IN EAST TAMPA.
10:44:37AM WE TRULY COULD NOT DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.
10:44:40AM THANK YOU.
10:44:41AM >> LOLITA IS ONE OF OUR RECREATIONAL SUPERVISORS AT
10:44:46AM CYRUS CREEK.
10:44:47AM >> I ALSO HAVE AN EAST TAMPA PARTNERSHIP BAG FOR EACH OF
10:44:50AM YOU AND I'LL LEAVE THEM WITH CT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
10:44:54AM GUYS GET THESE.
10:44:55AM THIS IS SOME OF THE -- WELL, THAT WE USE AND DISTRIBUTE
10:45:01AM TO OUR 400 KIDS AT OUR ANNUAL CELEBRATION.
10:45:06AM EACH OF YOU CAN HAVE ONE OF THESE.
10:45:08AM AND I GUESS THAT'S IT.
10:45:09AM I DO WANT TO THANK MY SON, MY GRANDSON, MY TAUTER AND
10:45:13AM ALL FOR BEING HERE AND MY ADOPTED DAUGHTER LOLITA.
10:45:16AM MY ALUMNI MEMBER REVEREND MASON.
10:45:21AM THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU AGAIN
10:45:23AM FOR THIS HONOR.
10:45:25AM [APPLAUSE]
10:45:30AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
10:45:31AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL, I'VE HEARD IT ALL.
10:45:33AM I MEAN, YOU'RE LIKE THE ELECTRIC BUNNY.
10:45:39AM YOU KEEP GOING AND DON'T STOP AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES A
10:45:41AM DIFFERENCE.
10:45:44AM NO IS NOT AN ANSWER.
10:45:45AM NO IS JUST A TEMPORARY SETBACK IN YOUR CASE BECAUSE YOU
10:45:48AM CONTINUE TO WORK AND CONTINUE TO GET YOUR FELLOW
10:45:51AM CITIZENS INVOLVED AND YOU CONTINUE TO BEAUTIFY YOUR
10:45:54AM COMMUNITY AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT VIABLE.
10:45:59AM YOU HAVE A GOOD LIFE.
10:46:01AM YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING AND I REMEMBER RIGHT WHEN
10:46:04AM THAT'S AT -- WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, CLOSE TO WHERE I
10:46:08AM GREW UP ON 26th AVENUE AND 20th STREET, AND I ENJOYED
10:46:12AM IT.
10:46:12AM I HAD EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.
10:46:14AM I HAD A BUNCH OF KIDS.
10:46:16AM I HAD A LOVELY HOME THAT WAS MADE OUT OF CONCRETE BLOCKS
10:46:19AM AND IT HAD SOLAR PANELS UP FOR HOT WATER AND EVEN HAD A
10:46:22AM GAS HEATER.
10:46:23AM AND IT WAS CALLED TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY.
10:46:26AM AND THE NAME DIDN'T COME WITH IT BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, WE
10:46:29AM WERE PRIVILEGED TO BE RAISED IN THE WAY WE WERE RAISED
10:46:34AM BECAUSE YOU LEARN MORE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAN
10:46:38AM IF YOU WERE BORN AND HAVE EVERYTHING.
10:46:39AM THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.
10:46:40AM MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME THE RIGHT WAY.
10:46:43AM MY FATHER TAUGHT ME ONE DAY -- HE GAVE ME A DIME AND
10:46:46AM SAYS IF YOU GET IN TROUBLE, CALL SOMEBODY ELSE.
10:46:49AM AND I NEVER, EVER FORGOT THAT AND USE THAT NOW WITH MY
10:46:54AM GRANDKIDS, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE DIME BECAUSE NOW THERE
10:46:58AM IS NO PAY PHONE.
10:47:01AM IT IS WHAT IT IS.
10:47:03AM LIFE CHANGES BUT PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF ALWAYS KEEP DOING
10:47:07AM WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER.
10:47:09AM AND THERE CAN BE NO BETTER AWARD THAN WHAT MR. GUDES DID
10:47:16AM FOR YOU TODAY BECAUSE YOU DESERVE MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
10:47:19AM THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
10:47:21AM YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO RETIRE.
10:47:24AM >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
10:47:27AM BEAUTIFICATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
10:47:31AM EVERY DAY.
10:47:32AM SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEDICATION
10:47:35AM TO THAT.
10:47:36AM THERE REALLY IS SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN YOU CAN GO OUT IN
10:47:41AM YOUR COMMUNITY OR PEOPLE COME INTO THE COMMUNITY AND
10:47:44AM THEY SEE THE BEAUTY IN IT.
10:47:48AM I LOVE THE WAY THAT YOU SAW WHAT COULD BE AND YOU DIDN'T
10:47:52AM STOP UNTIL YOU GOT WHAT YOU WANTED, AND WHAT THE
10:47:55AM COMMUNITY WANTED AND NOW YOU HAVE THESE TWO BEAUTIFUL
10:47:58AM SPACES BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH.
10:48:00AM YOU JUST KEPT GOING TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL AND
10:48:03AM REALLY PULL THE COMMUNITY IN THERE AND MAKE THESE USABLE
10:48:07AM SPACES.
10:48:08AM AND WITHOUT THAT TYPE OF CREATIVITY AND TYPE OF DRIVE
10:48:13AM OUR COMMUNITIES WOULDN'T BE AS BEAUTIFUL AS THEY ARE.
10:48:16AM SO THANK YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT FOR BRINGING
10:48:20AM BEAUTIFICATION.
10:48:21AM I LOVE THAT THAT HAS BEEN YOUR FOCUS AND WISH YOU WELL
10:48:25AM IN YOUR TIME OFF BECAUSE TRUE SERVANTS NEVER STOP BUT
10:48:31AM YOU'LL BE SERVING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
10:48:33AM I SAY EVERY -- THERE IS A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING.
10:48:36AM AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SEASON OF HELPING YOUR COMMUNITY
10:48:39AM AND THE ENTIRE CITY.
10:48:41AM >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
10:48:43AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
10:48:46AM YOU'VE DEDICATED YOURSELF WHOLEHEARTEDLY TO THE
10:48:48AM COMMUNITY AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND COUNCILMAN GUDES SAID
10:48:51AM IT ALL AND YOU HAVE SPOKEN AS WELL.
10:48:53AM SO MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AND SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE
10:48:57AM LIFTED UP THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
10:49:00AM SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
10:49:01AM THIS IS VERY WELL DESERVED.
10:49:04AM THANK YOU.
10:49:06AM >>LUIS VIERA: YES, SIR.
10:49:06AM THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, MA'AM, AND WHICH HAS BEEN
10:49:11AM HIGHLIGHTED REALLY WELL BY COUNCILMAN GUDES AND
10:49:13AM EVERYBODY UP HERE.
10:49:14AM I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HONOR AND RESPECT
10:49:17AM THE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO DO A LOT TO BRING
10:49:20AM FORWARD GOOD CAUSES LIKE YOU OBVIOUSLY DO, SO THANK YOU
10:49:23AM VERY MUCH.
10:49:24AM >>BILL CARLSON: YEAH.
10:49:25AM ECHO EVERYTHING EVERYBODY ELSE SAID.
10:49:28AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
10:49:30AM OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS
10:49:32AM AND VERY IMPORTANT THINGS.
10:49:33AM KEEP US POSTED ON THOSE AND LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN
10:49:36AM SUPPORT YOU AND IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OR THOUGHTS OF ITEMS
10:49:41AM WE CAN PUSH FORWARD, LET US KNOW THAT AS WELL.
10:49:44AM THANK YOU.
10:49:44AM >> YOU'RE WELCOME.
10:49:45AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: YOU SURE YOU'RE NOT MAD AT ME?
10:49:49AM >> NO, I'M NOT.
10:49:50AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: YOU POSITIVE?
10:49:51AM >> I PROMISE.
10:49:52AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: I'LL STILL SAY GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU
10:49:54AM ANYWAYS.
10:49:54AM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
10:49:56AM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
10:49:58AM I'M GOING TO SAY YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER.
10:50:00AM WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT.
10:50:02AM YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER.
10:50:05AM A GREAT LEADER ALWAYS RECOGNIZES THE PEOPLE THAT HELP
10:50:07AM THEM THE MOST.
10:50:09AM THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE TO THE
10:50:12AM COMMUNITY.
10:50:13AM THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING MAD AT ME.
10:50:18AM [APPLAUSE]
10:50:21AM >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ALL OF YOU TO KEEP MY FAMILY AND
10:50:25AM ME, I'M EMBARRASSING ME, IN PRAYER.
10:50:31AM THE DOCTOR ASKED ME TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL TODAY AND I
10:50:36AM SAID NO, I'M GETTING MY COMMENDATION BUT I'LL BE THERE
10:50:40AM TOMORROW.
10:50:40AM SO TAKE CARE.
10:50:52AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: ALL RIGHT.
10:51:02AM GOOD MORNING.
10:51:04AM WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR
10:51:11AM COMMUNITY.
10:51:14AM AND WHO IS A FOUNDER OF A PROGRAM THAT I DIDN'T KNOW
10:51:20AM ABOUT UNTIL I STARTED RECEIVING CALLS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
10:51:25AM AND HOW LONG IT'S BEEN OPERATING AND WHAT IT'S BEEN
10:51:27AM DOING.
10:51:27AM I STARTED LOOKING ON FACEBOOK AND SEEING THE WONDERFUL
10:51:30AM THINGS AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A BIG PROGRAM COMING UP IN
10:51:32AM A COUPLE WEEKS WITH THE LAUNDROMAT AND I THINK
10:51:41AM COUNCILMAN HURTAK IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THAT.
10:51:44AM I'M EXCITED TO GET YOU HERE TO LET YOU KNOW WE
10:51:49AM APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THE COMMUNITIES.
10:51:51AM SO PRESENTED TO MS. SHARMAINE BURR, SERENITY OUTREACH
10:51:59AM FOUNDER AND CEO AND TAMPA FLORIDA NATIVE OF HOLISTIC
10:52:03AM APPROACHES TO BEAUTIFYING HER COMMUNITY.
10:52:06AM SHE EXEMPLIFIED FOR OVER 12 YEARS LOYAL DEVOTION TO HER
10:52:11AM COMMUNITY THROUGH HER NON-JUDGMENTAL AND LOVING
10:52:14AM APPROACH.
10:52:15AM THROUGH SERENITY OUTREACH INC IS A STAPLE IN HER
10:52:18AM COMMUNITY WITH PROGRAMS SUCH AS TALENTS TO WORK, NEXT
10:52:22AM GEN, COLLEGE BOUND NEIGHBORHOOD TO NEIGHBORHOOD, THE
10:52:25AM FAMILY STABILIZATION PROGRAM AND A PROGRAM SHARED TOWARD
10:52:29AM HOMELESS OUTREACH AND HOMELESS PREVENTION.
10:52:32AM SERENITY OUTREACH MISSION IS TO IMPACT THE COMMUNITY AND
10:52:34AM FAMILY SYSTEMS BY ALLEVIATING POVERTY AND BARRIERS.
10:52:39AM SHE AND HER TEAM ASSIST WITH CASE MANAGEMENT, LIFE
10:52:42AM MANAGEMENT, COACHING, DISASTER RELIEF, RECOVERY AND AN
10:52:46AM ARRAY OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY SO THIS
10:52:49AM MORNING THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL PRESENTS YOU WITH A
10:52:51AM COMMENDATION ON THE TENTH DAY OF JANUARY FOR YOUR WORK
10:52:54AM AND PROGRAMS AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
10:52:56AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:52:58AM [APPLAUSE]
10:53:16AM GOOD MORNING.
10:53:17AM GIVING HONOR TO GOD WHO IS THE HEAD OF MY LIFE AND EVERY
10:53:22AM STEP THAT I MAKE AND EVERY SERVICE THAT WE DO IN THE
10:53:26AM COMMUNITY, I WANT TO THANK MR. COUNCILMAN GUDES AND
10:53:33AM TANYA LEWIS FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL WHO
10:53:38AM ALSO HAVE APPROVED THAT.
10:53:42AM I'M JUST SO HONORED AND HUMBLE.
10:53:43AM I'M KEEPING THIS BRIEF.
10:53:46AM SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SERENITY
10:53:50AM OUTREACH WHO HAVE SERVED AND LABORED ALONGSIDE OF ME.
10:53:54AM I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEIR APPROVAL.
10:53:58AM THANK YOU TO MY WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WHO ALLOWED ME TO DO
10:54:02AM WHAT I DO.
10:54:03AM THEY ALLOW ME TO COME IN AND FIGHT ALONGSIDE OF THEM.
10:54:08AM THANK YOU TO MY LOVING FAMILY WHO HAS VOLEN-TOLD.
10:54:14AM THE FAMILY AND MY BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS WHO HAVE BEEN
10:54:17AM RAISED UP SERVING AND GIVING.
10:54:19AM IT IS A TRULY LIFESTYLE FOR US.
10:54:21AM I'M JUST REMINDED OF SCRIPTURE.
10:54:24AM MATTHEWS 25:35-36 FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME
10:54:32AM SOMETHING TO EAT.
10:54:33AM I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME SOMETHING TO DRINK.
10:54:35AM I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU INVITED ME IN.
10:54:37AM I NEEDED CLOTHES AND YOU CLOTHED ME.
10:54:40AM I WAS SICK AND YOU LOOKED AFTER ME.
10:54:42AM I WAS IN PRISON AND YOU COME TO VISIT ME.
10:54:46AM I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY AS I END THAT IT'S A LOT OF WORK
10:54:49AM FOR ALL OF US TO DO AND WE THANK YOU, CITY COUNCIL, FOR
10:54:53AM WHAT YOU DO BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND GET YOUR
10:54:56AM HANDS DIRTY PLEASE DO CALL ME.
10:55:00AM AND REMEMBER THIS BECAUSE WE AS A NATION, AS A COUNTRY,
10:55:05AM WE'RE FIGHTING MANY BATTLES AND WARS BUT MY QUOTE IS, IF
10:55:10AM WE LOSE SIGHT OF HUMANITY, WE LOSE SIGHT OF OUR PURPOSE
10:55:15AM SO LET'S NOT WALK IN PURPOSE.
10:55:17AM LET'S WORK IN PURPOSE.
10:55:19AM THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS HONOR AND THIS TIME.
10:55:24AM [APPLAUSE]
10:55:29AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE
10:55:31AM IN THE COMMUNITY.
10:55:31AM PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF US.
10:55:34AM I THINK WE ALL LIKE GETTING OUR HANDS DIRTY SO LET US
10:55:38AM KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO HELP.
10:55:39AM >> THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND WEARING YOUR HEART
10:55:42AM ON YOUR SLEEVE TODAY AND SPEAKING FROM YOUR HEART.
10:55:45AM I CAN TELL YOU'RE PASSIONATE AND SIN VEER ABOUT WHAT YOU
10:55:47AM DO AND I'M GLAD YOU'RE BEING HONORED.
10:55:49AM >> CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING HONORED BUT THANK YOU FOR
10:55:53AM YOUR DEDICATION.
10:55:54AM YOUR HEART AND SOUL IS POURED INTO THIS AND WHAT YOU DO
10:55:57AM AND ALL YOU DO AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE
10:56:00AM WITH US.
10:56:01AM THANK YOU.
10:56:03AM >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU AGAIN.
10:56:05AM WHEN I MET YOU YESTERDAY YOU DIDN'T TELL ME YOU WERE
10:56:07AM COMING TO VISIT.
10:56:10AM SO CONGRATULATIONS.
10:56:12AM AN HONOR WELL DESERVED.
10:56:14AM AND YOU NEED TO TELL US ABOUT THE LAUNDRY, LAUNDRY FOR
10:56:19AM HOPE.
10:56:20AM >> LAUNDRY FOR HOPE, YES.
10:56:22AM >>LYNN HURTAK: IT'S GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 11 AT TAMPA
10:56:24AM COIN.
10:56:25AM >> AT TAMPA CONTINUE AND LAUNDRY ON MARTIN LUTHER KING
10:56:29AM BOULEVARD, 1613.
10:56:30AM IT WILL BE FROM 10:00 TO 2:00.
10:56:33AM IT WILL BE FREE LAUNDRY DAY.
10:56:35AM WE WILL BE SERVING THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY,
10:56:38AM RELIEVING THE COST OF DOING LAUNDRY.
10:56:41AM WE WILL HAVE ALSO OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS THERE SERVING
10:56:44AM THE COMMUNITY AND JUST HAVING A BIG GRAND PARTY AT THE
10:56:48AM LAUNDRY MAT.
10:56:51AM >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU FOR THOSE SIMPLE THINGS.
10:56:53AM WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT YESTERDAY, HOW MUCH, JUST TWO
10:56:56AM LOADS OF LAUNDRY -- HOW MUCH THAT WILL TAKE OFF PEOPLE
10:56:59AM BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE LAUNDRY.
10:57:02AM IT'S THE SUPPLIES YOU'LL BE GATHERING AND BASKETS AND SO
10:57:06AM THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR THE
10:57:08AM COMMUNITY AND YOU CONTINUE TO THINK OF NEW WAYS TO HELP
10:57:13AM AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO JOINING YOU ON FEBRUARY 11.
10:57:16AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:57:17AM >>LYNN HURTAK: WITH LAUNDRY OF HOPE.
10:57:19AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:57:21AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
10:57:26AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WHEN YOU JUST LOOK AT LAUNDRY, SOME
10:57:29AM OF US DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
10:57:31AM HOWEVER, IF THAT LAUNDRY IS GOING TO COST SO MUCH, AND
10:57:36AM NOW THE PRICE OF DOING YOUR OWN LAUNDRY HAS GONE SKY
10:57:43AM HIGH ALSO, THAT MEANS THERE MIGHT BE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR
10:57:45AM SOMEBODY IF YOU DO THAT AND CONTINUE TO HELP PEOPLE HAVE
10:57:51AM A BETTER LIFE.
10:57:51AM YOU KNOW, WE TAKE SO MANY THINGS FOR GRANTED.
10:57:54AM WE THINK THE SUN IS ALWAYS GOING TO COME UP AND IT DOES
10:57:57AM AND THE MOON IS GOING TO -- AND IT DOES.
10:57:59AM BUT WITHIN THAT SUN AND THAT MOON IS EARTH.
10:58:02AM AND HERE IS WHERE IT STARTS.
10:58:05AM IT'S GOT TO GET BETTER BECAUSE I HOPE IT CAN'T GET ANY
10:58:09AM WORSE.
10:58:09AM YOU'RE HELPING PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY IN NEED AND I
10:58:12AM THINK YOU GAVE THE ADDRESS OF 1613 EAST MARTIN LUTHER
10:58:17AM KING.
10:58:17AM THAT'S ONE BLOCK EAST OF 15th STREET.
10:58:20AM AM I CORRECT?
10:58:21AM >> YES.
10:58:24AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOOD.
10:58:25AM I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID, THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.
10:58:28AM IT'S A WONDERFUL AREA.
10:58:30AM PEOPLE THERE ALWAYS CORDIAL AND ALWAYS HELP EACH OTHER
10:58:33AM OUT.
10:58:33AM I'M GOING BACK TO THE '40s.
10:58:37AM MY GRANDFATHER.
10:58:38AM NOT MINE.
10:58:39AM BUT THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU'RE GIVING
10:58:41AM SOMEBODY ONE WORD AND THAT'S HOPE.
10:58:44AM AND WITHOUT HOPE AND WITHOUT HAVING A PATHWAY FORWARD,
10:58:50AM YOU'RE GOING TO FALL OFF THE CLIP AND WE
10:58:53AM CERTAINLY -- THE CLIFF AND WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT THAT
10:58:55AM TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO AND ALL
10:58:58AM THE PEOPLE THAT HELP YOU.
10:59:00AM CONGRATULATIONS.
10:59:02AM >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:59:03AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL DESERVE IT.
10:59:06AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
10:59:09AM >> THANK YOU.
10:59:10AM [APPLAUSE]
10:59:13AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: I SAW A GUY IN THIS AUDIENCE AND LOOKED
10:59:15AM ON FACEBOOK.
10:59:16AM IS THAT YOUR OTHER HALF?
10:59:19AM >> THAT'S MY BETTER.
10:59:22AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.
10:59:23AM TO SCHOOL TOGETHER.
10:59:23AM >> THAT'S MY HUSBAND.
10:59:24AM SO MY -- MAKE SURE HE GETS RECOGNIZED WITH YOUR PROGRAM.
10:59:31AM >> THAT'S MY BETTER HALF.
10:59:33AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: CONGRATULATIONS, ALL RIGHT?
10:59:53AM I KNOW ON YOUR AGENDA YOU HAVE MR. JOSEPH JOHNSON BUT
10:59:56AM AGAIN, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HIM HERE.
10:59:58AM HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO TRAVEL AND NEW BUSINESSES BUT I
11:00:02AM WANT TO THANK HIM FOR THE WORK WE HAVE DONE IN THE
11:00:04AM FINANCE COMMUNITY AND PRESENT THAT TO HIM OFF-SITE AT A
11:00:09AM FUTURE DATE.
11:00:11AM LAST ONE OF THE DAY.
11:00:12AM AGAIN, ANOTHER ORGANIZATION -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT
11:00:16AM THESE OUT THE WAY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BECAUSE
11:00:18AM THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH WORK IN THE COMMUNITIES.
11:00:21AM WE SEE U -- UP HERE.
11:00:28AM WE SEE U.
11:00:29AM I'M GOING TO GET IT RIGHT.
11:00:32AM I'LL GET IT RIGHT.
11:00:33AM ALL RIGHT.
11:00:34AM WE HAVE GEORGE AND TANYA KIMBALL WHO FOUNDED THE WE SEE
11:00:41AM U ORGANIZATION.
11:00:46AM SO I LEARNED ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT THE
11:00:48AM COMMUNITY AND SOME PEOPLE CALL ME ABOUT IT, RESEARCHED
11:00:51AM IT, AND I GET PEOPLE WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND COMMUNITY
11:00:54AM AND HELPING PEOPLE ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME THAT WE'RE
11:00:57AM GOING THROUGH.
11:00:58AM SO AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT THE
11:01:03AM WE SEE U INC. IN RECOGNITION OF THE NON-PROFIT
11:01:04AM ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY GEORGE AND TANYA KIMBALL SINCE
11:01:08AM 2010, WE SEE U INC. THROUGH ITS MISSION PLAYED A
11:01:12AM CRITICAL ROLE IN AIDING AND INSPIRING HARD WORK OF
11:01:15AM INDIVIDUALS BY SUPPORTING YOUTH, INDIVIDUALS AND
11:01:17AM FAMILIES WITH VARIOUS PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL
11:01:20AM NEEDS THROUGH INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
11:01:23AM WE SEE U INC. FOUNDED FORMALLY IN 2017 HAS OVER A DECADE
11:01:27AM OF DILIGENT COMMUNITY SERVICE GEARED TOWARD COMMUNITY
11:01:30AM OUTREACH ASSISTING HARDWORKING MOMS AND DADS AND
11:01:33AM GUARDIANS TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SENIORS.
11:01:36AM EVERY YEAR WE SEE U INC. SERVES 1,000 YOUTH ANNUALLY.
11:01:40AM THEY RECENTLY HELD THE 2022 HOLIDAY ANGEL INITIATIVE AND
11:01:44AM GAVE 270 GIFTS TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE
11:01:48AM TAMPA BAY AREA.
11:01:49AM WITH A PASSION FOR THOSE WHO SERVE THEY ALSO HANDWRITE
11:01:55AM NOTES FOR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS.
11:01:58AM THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND TEACHERS, WE SEE U INC. IS
11:02:02AM KNOWN FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO BE A RESOURCE FOR
11:02:04AM THOSE TRULY IN NEED AND THIS MORNING WE RECOGNIZE YOUR
11:02:07AM ORGANIZATION AND PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION ON THE TENTH
11:02:11AM DAY OF JANUARY, 2023.
11:02:12AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.
11:02:13AM [APPLAUSE]
11:02:33AM >> SO YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, IT'S MY FIRST AWARD BECAUSE I'M
11:02:38AM NOT ONE FOR RECOGNITION.
11:02:40AM I HAVE A HEART TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, GOD GAVE ME THE
11:02:43AM SPIRIT OF GIVING AND THE SPIRIT OF SERVING, SO I NEVER
11:02:48AM LIKE THE LIGHT TO JUST SHINE ON ME BECAUSE I KNOW IT
11:02:51AM TAKES MORE THAN JUST MYSELF.
11:02:53AM IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
11:02:54AM I TRULY BELIEVE THAT.
11:02:57AM I COME FROM A FAMILY OF EDUCATORS AND UNFORTUNATELY MY
11:03:00AM MOM AND DAD HAVE PASSED ON BUT THEY HAD THE HEART TO
11:03:04AM SERVE AND BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS AND IN THE COMMUNITY
11:03:07AM AND I'M JUST THANKFUL THAT GOD GAVE ME THAT SPIRIT AS
11:03:10AM WELL AND I GOT THAT FROM THEM.
11:03:12AM SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP BECAUSE WE SEE U WAS FOUNDED
11:03:17AM BASED ON THE EXPERIENCES THAT, YOU KNOW, I WENT THROUGH
11:03:21AM COMING UP AND BEING A SINGLE MOM.
11:03:26AM YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT GAP BECAUSE I ALWAYS
11:03:28AM WORKED HARD.
11:03:29AM I WENT TO USF, GRADUATED, BECAME A SINGLE MOM --
11:03:34AM >> GO VOLS --
11:03:36AM >> WHILE I WAS AT USF AND THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT GAP
11:03:39AM WHERE I MADE TOO MUCH TO GET ASSISTANCE BUT NOT ENOUGH
11:03:46AM TO, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY GIVE THOSE EXTRA TO MY DAUGHTER
11:03:51AM AT THE TIME, AND SO WHEN WE FOUNDED -- OR FIRST HAD THE
11:03:57AM VISION OF WE SEE U, IT WAS TO HELP THOSE THAT ARE TRYING
11:04:01AM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE WORKING HARD AND THAT DURING
11:04:04AM THOSE SPECIAL MOMENTS WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK
11:04:07AM TO SCHOOL, GETTING YOUR KIDS READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL
11:04:10AM OR THE HOLIDAYS, THEY JUST BARELY HAVE ENOUGH TO KEEP
11:04:14AM THE LIGHTS ON AND KEEP THINGS RUNNING, SO WE SEE U WAS
11:04:18AM FOUNDED ON THAT.
11:04:19AM THAT'S OUR VISION.
11:04:20AM THAT'S OUR MISSION TO HELP THOSE HARD WORKING FAMILIES
11:04:24AM THAT ARE TRYING TO HELP THEMSELVES.
11:04:26AM AND WE LIKE TO DO THAT BY CREATING A PLATFORM FOR THE
11:04:29AM COMMUNITY.
11:04:31AM THE COMMUNITY TO GET ON BOARD.
11:04:34AM INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO CREATE
11:04:37AM A PLATFORM TO MAKE IT EASY TO GIVE AND MAKE IT EASY TO
11:04:41AM SERVE.
11:04:41AM SO THAT'S REALLY THE CORE OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
11:04:45AM THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT.
11:04:46AM WE HAVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT COME ON BOARD, CHILDREN
11:04:51AM WITH A VISION -- FAMILY FOUNDATION AND WE PARTNER ON SO
11:04:57AM MANY THINGS AND SO MANY INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.
11:04:59AM I'M THANKFUL FOR OUR PARTNERSHIP, OUR FRIENDSHIP.
11:05:02AM MY SISTER IS HERE.
11:05:04AM SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THEM UP AFTER MY HUSBAND SAYS
11:05:07AM HIS -- BECAUSE WITHOUT EVERYONE AND WITHOUT, YOU KNOW,
11:05:10AM THAT VILLAGE, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE SO I APPRECIATE
11:05:14AM THE RECOGNITION.
11:05:16AM BUT IT REALLY SHOULD BE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE STANDING UP
11:05:19AM HERE THAT YOU ALL CAN SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT IS PART
11:05:22AM OF THE WE SEE U VILLAGE.
11:05:24AM AND I DIDN'T WANT TO FLOOD THE COURT -- THE ROOM SO I
11:05:28AM DIDN'T SEND AN INVITE OUT TO ALL OUR VILLAGE BUT JUST
11:05:31AM KNOW THAT THERE IS A WHOLE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
11:05:35AM I WORK FULL-TIME FOR PRICE WARNER HOUSE COOPER SO
11:05:38AM THEY'VE COME ON BOARD FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND YOU
11:05:41AM WOULD NOT BELIEVE THE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HELPED AND
11:05:44AM THEY HAD IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH WE SEE U.
11:05:48AM WE DO FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE SCHOOLS.
11:05:54AM WE'RE TEACHING TECHNOLOGY.
11:05:56AM WE'RE IN 10 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
11:05:58AM WE HAVE DONE BLIND SPOTS TRAINING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS AT
11:06:01AM CARROLLWOOD DAY SCHOOL JUST FOR THE DIVERSITY INCLUSION
11:06:03AM SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE STUDENTS KNOW THE DIVERSITY
11:06:08AM THAT EXISTS.
11:06:09AM SO -- AND THAT WAS ALL THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PWC.
11:06:13AM I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT AND I CAN GO ON AND ON AND USUALLY
11:06:15AM DON'T BECAUSE I USUALLY DON'T SAY ANYTHING BELIEVE IT OR
11:06:18AM NOT.
11:06:19AM BUT I'M THANKFUL FOR THE RECOGNITION AND OPPORTUNITY TO
11:06:23AM JUST LET YOU KNOW ABOUT WE SEE U.
11:06:27AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: THANK YOU AND YOU GOT GOOD
11:06:30AM STRONG -- ESPECIALLY MS. DUNGEY ON BOARD AND THE
11:06:34AM PROGRAMS WITH OUR YOUNG MEN AND PEOPLE AND DADS.
11:06:37AM I KNOW IT'S A GREAT ORGANIZATION.
11:06:38AM COUNCIL?
11:06:42AM >> I WANT TO GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A COUPLE
11:06:46AM THINGS.
11:06:46AM >> TO BE BRIEF, THIS AWARD, THIS COMMENDATION LIKE MY
11:06:50AM WIFE JUST SAID GOES TO ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT US BECAUSE
11:06:53AM IT'S NOT ABOUT US.
11:06:54AM WE NEVER STARTED THIS TO GAIN ATTENTION TO OURSELVES.
11:06:59AM SCRIPTURE TEACHES THAT WHAT YOU DO IN SECRET FOR GOD, HE
11:07:03AM WILL OPENLY REWARD YOU FOR.
11:07:06AM THIS IS A MANIFESTATION OF THAT.
11:07:08AM WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT AND WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW
11:07:11AM THAT THERE IS FOLKS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES THAT DON'T
11:07:14AM ALWAYS POP THEIR HEAD UP TO BE SEEN THAT ARE REALLY
11:07:16AM WORKING HARD AS YOU DO.
11:07:20AM AND WE EMBRACE ALL THE HELP, ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT.
11:07:24AM THIS JUST ENCOURAGES US MORE TO CONTINUE WHAT WE DO, SO
11:07:28AM THANK YOU.
11:07:31AM >>ORLANDO GUDES: CHAIRMAN?
11:07:33AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
11:07:35AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: AGAIN, IT'S A COMBINATION OF EVERYONE
11:07:37AM HELPING SOMEONE.
11:07:38AM EVEN IF SOMEONE IS ONE PERSON OR MANY MORE.
11:07:41AM BUT TO GET TOGETHER AND DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING STARTING
11:07:43AM FROM SCRATCH, AND WANTED TO HELP SOMEBODY, RIGHT THERE
11:07:49AM IT'S A GAIN FORWARD THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL
11:07:52AM BECAUSE IT'S THE LOVE OF DOING SOMETHING TO MAKE
11:07:54AM SOMEBODY SMILE FOR JUST THAT BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME MAYBE
11:07:57AM OR GIVE SOMEBODY HOPE THAT THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR LIFE
11:08:00AM AND BE SOMEBODY THAT SHOULD BE WHAT THEY WANT TO BE AND
11:08:03AM CAN'T RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE SITUATION THEY'RE IN.
11:08:06AM GOD BLESS YOU FOR OPENING THE DOOR AND MAKING PEOPLE
11:08:09AM WALK THROUGH THE HALLS SO THEY CAN HAVE SOMETHING.
11:08:13AM A DREAM THEY NEVER THOUGHT THEY COULD ACHIEVE BUT
11:08:16AM BECAUSE OF YOUR ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE HELPING YOU, YOU
11:08:19AM HAVE GIVEN THEM THE OPPORTUNITY.
11:08:21AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND KEEP ON GOING.
11:08:25AM >>LYNN HURTAK: WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY TODAY, FULL OF
11:08:29AM COMMUNITY AND LOVE AND SUPPORT AND SO THANK YOU FOR ALL
11:08:33AM THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.
11:08:35AM IT'S AMAZING, YOU TALKING ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT
11:08:38AM YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CREATE AND TO CONTINUE YOUR
11:08:42AM MISSION, BUT I PARTICULARLY LOVE THE WAY YOU TALKED
11:08:45AM ABOUT HOW THIS CAME TO YOU WHEN YOU WERE A MOTHER
11:08:49AM STRUGGLING TO DO -- JUST DO A LITTLE BIT EXTRA AND HOW
11:08:52AM YOU WANT TO FILL THAT GAP.
11:08:55AM IT'S A VERY SPECIFIC GAP AND IT'S ONE THAT WE DO
11:08:59AM OVERLOOK, SO THANK YOU FOR USING YOUR TIME AND YOUR
11:09:01AM TALENT AND TREASURE FOR FOCUSING ON A SPECIFICALLY
11:09:07AM OVERLOOKED COMMUNITY.
11:09:09AM AND THANK YOU FOR AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO, BEHIND
11:09:12AM THE SCENES, AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY THAT WE COULD HONOR
11:09:17AM YOU TODAY.
11:09:19AM THANK YOU.
11:09:22AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO,
11:09:25AM YOU KNOW?
11:09:26AM IT'S -- YOU REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND YOU LIFT THEM UP.
11:09:29AM YOU GIVE THEM A HAND UP.
11:09:30AM AND YOU MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE, SO THANK YOU
11:09:33AM FOR THIS VERY WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION BECAUSE YOU'RE
11:09:37AM MAKING A TREMENDOUS IMPACT AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
11:09:41AM THANK YOU SO MUCH.
11:09:43AM >>LUIS VIERA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
11:09:45AM ONE CONSTANT WE SEE WITH A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT
11:09:48AM COUNCILMAN GUDES HONORED TODAY IS FAITH AND FAITH IN GOD
11:09:51AM AND A SENSE OF HUMILITY BEFORE YOUR CREATOR.
11:09:56AM I THINK THERE IS A BIBLE VERSE THAT SAYS -- I THINK IT'S
11:10:01AM PSALMS, "A LORD BUILDS THIS HOUSE THOSE WHO LABOR IT
11:10:04AM BUILT IN VAIN."
11:10:05AM IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU BUILT SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN
11:10:08AM YOU GUYS.
11:10:09AM I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED CARROLLWOOD DAY SCHOOL.
11:10:11AM I LOVE THAT SCHOOL.
11:10:12AM MY SISTER-IN-LAW AND BROTHER'S WIFE IS A TEACHER THERE
11:10:18AM AND THAT'S AN AMAZING SCHOOL.
11:10:20AM A WONDERFUL SCHOOL.
11:10:20AM BUT THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY.
11:10:23AM IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAVE A HEART FOR PASSION.
11:10:26AM OR A HEART FOR SERVING AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT SO
11:10:28AM THANK YOU GUYS AND GOD BLESS YOU.
11:10:31AM >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.
11:10:33AM THANKS TO ALL YOUR SUPPORTS.
11:10:35AM THANKS TO PWC.
11:10:37AM GREAT COMPANY FOR SUPPORTING YOU AND DOING THIS.
11:10:39AM PLEASE KEEP US POSTED ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING.
11:10:44AM THIS MAY SOUND SILLY.
11:10:46AM HE QUOTED THE BIBLE.
11:10:47AM I'LL QUOTE SOMETHING ELSE.
11:10:49AM I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE NEW AVATAR MOVIE.
11:10:51AM HAS ANYONE SEEN IT?
11:10:52AM ALL THE KIDS ARE -- ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAY IS I SEE
11:10:56AM YOU.
11:10:57AM AND IT'S ABOUT DEEPLY UNDERSTANDING THE PERSON OR
11:10:59AM ACKNOWLEDGING THEM AND UNDERSTANDING -- BEING AWARE AND
11:11:05AM PRESENT WITH WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND I'M A MARKETING
11:11:07AM GUY.
11:11:08AM THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME OPPORTUNITY THERE.
11:11:10AM I'VE HEARD -- HAVE A LITTLE KID SO I HEAR THEIR FRIENDS
11:11:13AM TALKING ABOUT I SEE YOU.
11:11:14AM AND IT -- MAYBE JAMES CAMERON COPIED YOUR IDEA.
11:11:18AM >> I THINK HE DID.
11:11:20AM >>BILL CARLSON: BUT IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT SO THANK YOU
11:11:25AM FOR DOING THAT.
11:11:26AM >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
11:11:28AM THANK YOU FOR THE THINGS I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IN
11:11:31AM THE FUTURE.
11:11:32AM THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
11:11:34AM [APPLAUSE]
11:11:38AM >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE TO LEAVE.
11:11:41AM I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO MR. GOUTOUFAS AND HIS GUEST AND
11:11:44AM THE FAMILY BUT I HAVE TO LEAVE.
11:13:30AM >> COUNCIL MEMBERS, I TOO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT I WAS
11:13:33AM SUPPOSED TO BE AT AT 11:00, BUT I WANTED TO AT LEAST SAY
11:13:36AM SOMETHING ABOUT THIS NEXT MATTER.
11:13:38AM I WAS TALKING WITH MR. URBANSKI YESTERDAY, TALKING ABOUT
11:13:43AM THE PROCESS OF THIS.
11:13:47AM I EXPLAINED THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE
11:13:52AM DONE.
11:13:52AM THERE IS NOW A COMMITTEE ON NAMING OF STREETS, HONORARY
11:13:56AM NAMING OF STREETS, AND THAT THERE HAD TO BE A STREET
11:14:01AM DESIGNATED FOR A NAMING OF SOMEONE.
11:14:03AM NOW WE ALL -- MOST OF US KNOW MR. JIM URBANSKI, A
11:14:11AM LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE TAMPA TRIBUNE.
11:14:15AM AND SPEAKING WITH MR. MARK URBANSKI, HIS SON, WE HAD
11:14:18AM COME TO SOME SORT OF A CONCLUSION THAT PARKER STREET,
11:14:22AM WHICH IS JUST SOUTH OF KENNEDY, IN FRONT OF WHERE THE
11:14:25AM TAMPA TRIBUNE USED TO BE, MIGHT BE AN APPROPRIATE
11:14:31AM STREET.
11:14:32AM SO AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE.
11:14:33AM I HAVE TO LEAVE.
11:14:34AM I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT TO THE VERSE AND
11:14:41AM HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE ACCEPTED IN THIS DISCUSSION.
11:14:43AM THANK YOU.
11:14:43AM >> THANKS.
11:14:44AM MR. GOUTOUFAS?
11:14:45AM YES, SIR.
11:14:47AM >> THANK YOU.
11:14:49AM >> GO AHEAD.
11:14:49AM DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION?
11:14:52AM >>D.C. GOUTOUFAS: THANK YOU.
11:14:54AM THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
11:14:59AM MY FAMILY HAS BEEN IN TAMPA FOR 135 YEARS.
11:15:03AM AND MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS THE FIRST HERE.
11:15:10AM I ALSO WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA.
11:15:13AM AND I WAS THE FIRST DEAF PERSON TO GRADUATE THERE.
11:15:17AM BECAUSE OF ALL OF THIS, I LOVE TAMPA.
11:15:19AM AND I HAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN HERE.
11:15:23AM I WORKED WITH THE CITY BEFORE.
11:15:26AM I ACTUALLY DID THE CLOSED CAPTIONING PROJECT.
11:15:30AM IT'S STILL HERE TODAY AFTER 25 YEARS.
11:15:32AM THANK YOU.
11:15:37AM I'M WORKING ON A NEW PROJECT.
11:15:41AM LIKE YOU SAID, STREET NAMING TO HONOR.
11:15:48AM JIM HAS DONE A LOT FOR TAMPA.
11:15:51AM IF YOU PUT 5,000 PEOPLE IN ONE ROOM, AND YOU CUT IT HOW
11:15:56AM MANY HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, JIM DID WAY MORE THAN
11:16:02AM THAT.
11:16:03AM IT'S NOT COMPARABLE.
11:16:09AM HE IS THE MOST HONORABLE MAN I'VE EVER MET BECAUSE TIME
11:16:12AM IS SHORT AND I WROTE AN E-MAIL AND I'M GOING TO TAKE IT
11:16:18AM FROM HERE.
11:16:20AM I'M HONORED TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A FINE GENTLEMAN THAT
11:16:22AM LOVED THE CITY OF TAMPA AS MUCH AS I DO, JAMES F.
11:16:26AM URBANSKI.
11:16:27AM THIS LEGEND IS MOST DESERVING AND CERTAINLY WORTHY OF
11:16:29AM WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY HAVING A MAJOR STREET NAME IN
11:16:32AM HIS HONOR.
11:16:33AM AS THIS ENDEAVOR HAS BEEN PURSUED I MET WITH MAYOR
11:16:36AM CASTER AND WORKED CLOSELY FOR MONTHS WITH THE
11:16:40AM ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
11:16:43AM WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA.
11:16:44AM OSEA WAS VERY HELPFUL AND A WONDERFUL LADY AND TOTAL
11:16:50AM ASSET TO OUR CITY.
11:16:52AM JIM WAS A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE AND PASSED AWAY AT THE
11:16:55AM AGE OF 93.
11:16:56AM HE LIVED MOST AMAZING LIFE AND I MADE CLOSE FRIENDS WITH
11:16:59AM HIS FAMILY.
11:17:00AM JIM WAS A VERY WARM AND BRIGHT AND GIVING MAN.
11:17:03AM HE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE I EVER MET AND HAD THE
11:17:05AM PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING.
11:17:06AM JIM CONTRIBUTED GREATLY THROUGHOUT HIS CIVIC DUTIES TO
11:17:08AM HELP SHAPE THE CITY OF TAMPA AND TO THE GREAT CITY IT IS
11:17:14AM TODAY.
11:17:14AM HE WAS PRAISED AS THE MOST SELFLESS AND EFFICIENT CIVIC
11:17:19AM LEADER ALSO CALLING HIM A HEALER, DIPLOMAT AND
11:17:23AM MOTIVATOR.
11:17:23AM I AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
11:17:25AM GYM WAS A MEMBER OF THE -- JIM WAS A MEMBER OF THE SMALL
11:17:29AM CADRE OF GENTLEMAN THAT WOULD MEET WITH THE NFL
11:17:32AM COMMISSIONER AND 24 TEAM OWNERS STARTING IN 1970
11:17:36AM PITCHING THEM AND AWARDING TAMPA AN NFL FRANCHISE.
11:17:41AM IN 1974 THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR EFFORTS AND IT
11:17:45AM LEGAL BOARD OF TAMPA WITH THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS.
11:17:48AM THE BUCS FIRST SEASON WAS IN 1976.
11:17:52AM THE EFFECT THIS HAD ON THE CITY OF TAMPA WAS TREMENDOUS
11:17:54AM AND PUT TAMPA IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT FOR DRAMATIC
11:17:57AM GROWTH AND NOT TO MENTION THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE NFL
11:18:01AM FRANCHISE ON THE CITY.
11:18:02AM ACCORDING TO A DECEMBER 21 REPORT BY PINELLAS COUNTY
11:18:06AM WHILE IT'S HARD TO PRECISELY PINPOINT AN ECONOMIC IMPACT
11:18:10AM THE BUCS PROVIDE TO THE TAMPA BAY AREA IT'S LIKELY ABOVE
11:18:14AM $100 MILLION ANNUALLY.
11:18:17AM IN ORDER FOR A CITY TO HOST A SUPER BOWL THE CITY HAS TO
11:18:20AM BE HOME TO THE NFL FRANCHISE.
11:18:22AM JIM AND THE SUPER BOWL TASK FORCE WAS ABLE TO
11:18:26AM SUCCESSFULLY LAND TAMPA OUR FIRST SUPER BOWL IN 1984
11:18:30AM MAKING TAMPA THE SMALLEST CITY EVER TO HOST A SUPER
11:18:34AM BOWL.
11:18:34AM JIM ACTING AS VICE CHAIR OF THE SUPER BOWL TASK FORCE
11:18:37AM DID IT AGAIN IN 1991.
11:18:40AM TAMPA HOSTED A TOTAL OF FIVE SUPER BOWLS AND HE WAS A
11:18:44AM TRUE MODERN DAY PIONEER.
11:18:47AM CONSIDERING TAMPA DID NOT HAVE TO CONSTRUCT ANY NEW
11:18:50AM VENUES TO HOST THE CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS IT'S ALMOST
11:18:53AM CERTAIN THE CITY CAME OUT AHEAD.
11:18:55AM FOR REFERENCE THE 2020 SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE STATED
11:18:58AM THE GAME GENERATED AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 571.9 MILLION
11:19:03AM DOLLARS.
11:19:04AM JIM AND THE GROUP WERE NOT DONE YET.
11:19:07AM 1984, JIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES WERE ABLE TO LAND THE NCAA
11:19:10AM FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME LATER KNOWN AS THE OUTBACK BOWL.
11:19:14AM FROM BIRMINGHAM TO THE CITY OF TAMPA.
11:19:17AM THE PERMANENT IMPACT OF THIS ON THE CITY OF TAMPA HAS
11:19:20AM ALSO BEEN TREMENDOUS SINCE ITS INCEPTION MORE THAN $1
11:19:24AM BILLION HAS BEEN GRANTED AND GENERATED POSITIVELY
11:19:29AM IMPACTING OUR TOWN AND THE ECONOMICS.
11:19:31AM JIM CHAIRED OR SERVED ON DOZEN OF BOARDS AND CHARITABLE
11:19:34AM ORGANIZATIONS AND MUSEUMS AND THE STRAZ PERFORMING ARTS
11:19:38AM CENTER AND HIS -- ON AND ON AND THEN IN 1989 HE WAS
11:19:44AM NAMED THE CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR.
11:19:46AM IN CLOSING, JIM DRAMATICALLY HELPED SHAPE THE CITY OF
11:19:50AM TAMPA INTO THE GREAT CITY IT IS TODAY.
11:19:51AM DUE TO HIS LOVE TO HIS CITY AND THE PASSION TO MAKE IT
11:19:55AM GREAT, AMERICA'S NEXT GREAT CITY.
11:19:57AM HIS SLOGAN THAT HELPED ME APPROVE.
11:19:59AM I PROPOSE THE CITY OF TAMPA TO HAVE A MAJOR STREET NAMED
11:20:03AM AFTER A TRUE TAMPA LEGEND, JAMES F. URBANSKI.
11:20:07AM >> OKAY, THANK YOU.
11:20:09AM >> THANK YOU.
11:20:15AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:20:16AM THANK YOU, JESSICA.
11:20:17AM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I'M RON WEAVER.
11:20:20AM I RISE ON THE OVATION OF A GENTLEMAN WHO IS -- OCCASION
11:20:23AM OF A GENTLEMAN WHO IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE HEROES OF THIS
11:20:25AM MORNING.
11:20:26AM MANY HEROES THIS MORNING REFLECTED UPON WHAT WAS SAID BY
11:20:29AM JESSICA WITH RESPECT TO THE FACT THAT JIM URBANSKI WAS A
11:20:34AM HEALER AND HE WAS A MOTIVATOR AND HE WAS A DIPLOMAT.
11:20:38AM THE SPORTS WORLD SAW THIS MAGNIFICENT NEW BUCCANEERS
11:20:42AM TEAM AND THOUSAND PEOPLE GOT JOBS BECAUSE OF IT IN
11:20:45AM HOTELS.
11:20:46AM BUT QUITE FRANKLY 90% OF JIM URBANSKI WAS NOT JUST THE
11:20:50AM SUPER BOWL AND THE TEAM AND ALL THE MAGNIFICENT THINGS
11:20:55AM THAT ATTENDED.
11:20:56AM 90% OF JIM URBANSKI'S HEART CAME FROM AN ORPHANAGE IN
11:21:00AM BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS FOR HE WAS THERE ALONE AND CAME A
11:21:05AM LITTLE GIRL AND SAW A CUTE LITTLE BOY.
11:21:07AM THEY TOOK HOME THE LITTLE GIRL AND LITTLE JAMES URBANSKI
11:21:11AM WHO WAS GIVEN A BIRTHDAY BY A NUN WHO GAVE HIM ST.
11:21:15AM FRANCIS'S FEAST DAY AS HIS BIRTHDAY, OCTOBER 4.
11:21:18AM THIS YOUNG MAN IN THIS ORPHANAGE WENT TO JOURNALISM
11:21:24AM SCHOOL AND CAME TO TAMPA AND THEN BECAME THE ULTIMATE
11:21:27AM MOTIVATOR AND HEALER AND INITIATOR OF SO MANY DOZEN
11:21:31AM CAUSES.
11:21:31AM THE BUCS ARE ONE AND IN MY MIND MAYBE THE LEAST OF
11:21:37AM HUNDREDS OF THINGS HE DID FOR ALL THE KIDS IN THE
11:21:39AM ORPHANAGE IN BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS, WHEN JIM URBANSKI
11:21:43AM CAME TO TAMPA, RAN THE TAMPA TRIBUNE FOR 31 YEARS AND
11:21:47AM SHOWED TAMPA WHAT A REAL HEALER AND MOTIVATOR AND
11:21:50AM INSPIRER COULD DO IF HE SIMPLY HAD THE HEART OF A LITTLE
11:21:54AM BOY WATCHING A COUPLE COME IN FOR A LITTLE GIRL AND
11:21:57AM SEEING HIM AND TAKING HIM HOME WHERE HE HAS CHANGED
11:22:01AM TAMPA IN WAYS THAT WILL NEVER BE COMPREHENSIBLE.
11:22:05AM AND IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAME EVEN A LITTLE
11:22:07AM STREET OR A BIG STREET AFTER ANYBODY, I HUMBLY TAKE YOU
11:22:12AM BACK TO A BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS, ORPHANAGE AND A YOUNG
11:22:16AM MAN NAMED JIM URBANSKI WHO FORTUNATELY CAME TO TAMPA TO
11:22:21AM BE OUR HEALER AND OUR MOTIVATOR AND OUR INSPIRATION.
11:22:25AM THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
11:22:27AM >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:22:31AM THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
11:22:32AM THESE ARE CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES.
11:22:37AM COUNCILMAN GUDES?
11:22:39AM >> WE'RE MAKING A MOTION TO NAME THE STREET?
11:22:41AM >> WE'D HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MAYBE THE REGULAR MEETING?
11:22:44AM >> YEAH.
11:22:44AM OKAY.
11:22:45AM SO WE'D WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING WHICH IS
11:22:47AM GOING TO BE THE 19th, I BELIEVE.
11:22:51AM SO IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
11:22:52AM WE'LL HAVE A FULL COUNCIL AND THEN WE CAN MAKE A MOTION
11:22:54AM THERE.
11:22:56AM WHAT WE WOULD DO IS RECOMMEND IT TO THE STREET NAMING
11:22:59AM COMMITTEE, AND COUNCILMAN OR CHAIRMAN CITRO MENTIONED
11:23:03AM PARKER STREET.
11:23:04AM I KNOW EXACTLY, IT'S RIGHT HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
11:23:08AM BRIDGE THAT WOULD CONNECT TAMPA TRIBUNE.
11:23:12AM THE OLD TAMPA TRIBUNE SITE.
11:23:14AM SO THAT'S IT.
11:23:15AM WE'D WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AND THEN WE CAN
11:23:18AM MAKE A MOTION THERE TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE
11:23:20AM COMMITTEE.
11:23:21AM SO THANK YOU.
11:23:23AM IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT'S VERY WELL DESERVED.
11:23:25AM I DON'T THINK IF IT WAS FOR URBANSKI, MR. URBANSKI, THAT
11:23:29AM THE BUCCANEER S WOULD EVEN BE HERE.
11:23:31AM WHO KNOWS?
11:23:31AM I MEAN, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL GOING BACK OVER 50 YEARS.
11:23:35AM AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY THINGS HE WAS KNOWN TO
11:23:38AM DO.
11:23:38AM I MEAN, THAT'S A NAME -- GROWING UP, IT'S A NAME THAT
11:23:43AM I'D HEAR ALL THE TIME.
11:23:44AM I REMEMBER HE PASSED AWAY RECENTLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, A
11:23:46AM PILLAR IN THIS COMMUNITY AND EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD
11:23:49AM DONE.
11:23:49AM THAT HE HAD DONE.
11:23:50AM SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:23:52AM ANYBODY ELSE?
11:23:53AM NO?
11:23:53AM THANK YOU.
11:23:54AM MR. GOUTOUFAS, I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH YOU.
11:23:56AM I'LL CONTACT YOU AND LET YOU KNOW --
11:24:00AM >> THANK YOU.
11:24:03AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ALL RIGHT.
11:24:03AM THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
11:24:04AM MOTION TO RECEIVE --
11:24:07AM >> I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU.
11:24:10AM THANKS FOR E-MAILING ME.
11:24:12AM >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'LL GET IN CONTACT.
11:24:14AM MOTION?
11:24:17AM ALL IN FAVOR?
11:24:18AM ALL RIGHT.
11:24:18AM WE ARE ADJOURNED.
11:24:19AM THANK YOU.
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.