CITY OF TAMPA COMMENDATIONS AND/OR PRESENTATIONS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2023, 9:00 A.M.
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09:03:40 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GOOD MORNING TO YOU.
09:03:42 THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR THIS COMMENDATION AND
09:03:46 PRESENTATION AWARDS HELD TODAY.
09:03:48 COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, YOU HAVE THE INVOCATION.
09:03:52 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN.
09:03:53 IT'S MY PLEASURE, AS ALWAYS, TO WELCOME CHAPLAIN NANCE WHO
09:03:58 IS NO STRANGER HERE.
09:04:00 I THINK YOU GIVE ONE OF THE BEST INVOCATIONS.
09:04:03 WHEN I SAY THE BEST INVOCATIONS, THE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS ON
09:04:07 POINT AND YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY -- WHAT YOU SAY IT ALWAYS
09:04:15 FITS THE TIME.
09:04:16 WE WELCOME YOU BACK AND HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.
09:04:18 IF YOU WOULD PLEASE APPROACH THE LECTERN, EVERYBODY PLEASE
09:04:21 STAND FOR THE INVOCATION AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE
09:04:23 OF ALLEGIANCE.
09:04:29 >> PSALM 46 SAYS GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY
09:04:33 PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.
09:04:34 OUR FATHER, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH TODAY FOR YOUR BLESSINGS
09:04:38 AND YOUR PROTECTION UPON THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:04:40 LORD, WE DO NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED, LORD, HOW THAT YOU HAVE
09:04:44 BLESSED THIS CITY, LORD, NOT ONLY FROM STORMS AND FROM
09:04:48 TROUBLES, BUT, LORD, EVEN FROM VIOLENCE AND FROM OTHER
09:04:51 THINGS.
09:04:52 YOU HAVE BLESSED US, LORD, WITH BUSINESSES AND WITH
09:04:55 FINANCIAL HELP AND RESOURCES AND EVEN, LORD, WITH
09:04:59 LEADERSHIP.
09:04:59 AND, LORD, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
09:05:02 WE COME TO YOU TODAY, LORD, AND WE CONTINUE TO NEED YOUR
09:05:05 HELP AND YOUR GUIDANCE ON A DAILY BASIS.
09:05:08 LORD, I THANK YOU FOR THE LEADERSHIP THAT YOU PROVIDED FUSS.
09:05:12 I THANK YOU, LORD, FOR OUR MAYOR AND FOR THE COUNCIL HERE.
09:05:17 LORD, WE JUST PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM PROTECTION AND
09:05:20 STRENGTH AND WISDOM.
09:05:22 LORD, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BURDENS THAT THEY CARRY AND
09:05:25 DECISIONS THAT THEY MAKE AND, LORD, THOSE ARE NOT EASY.
09:05:28 THEY WRESTLE OVER THOSE.
09:05:30 WE JUST PRAY FOR YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE, LORD, IN THEIR
09:05:33 LIFE.
09:05:33 WE PRAY FOR THEIR STAFF AND THOSE THAT AID THEM.
09:05:36 LORD, WE ALSO PRAY, LORD, FOR THOSE THAT SERVE ON THE FRONT
09:05:40 LINES.
09:05:41 LORD, WE THINK OF OUR TAMPA POLICE AND, LORD, OUR FIRE AND
09:05:45 RESCUE AND, LORD, ALL OF THESE PEOPLE THAT BRAVELY, LORD,
09:05:50 SERVE.
09:05:50 AND THEY SERVE IN SUCH A HUMBLE FASHION. WE PRAY, GOD, THAT
09:05:54 YOU WOULD BLESS THE LEADERSHIP, BLESS OUR CHIEF AND THOSE
09:05:56 THAT ARE IN LEADERSHIP, THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE THEM AND BE
09:06:00 WITH THOSE AND PROTECT THEM, LORD, THAT DAILY MAKE
09:06:03 DECISIONS.
09:06:04 AND, GOD, WE WANT TO JUST PRAISE YOU AND THANK YOU, LORD,
09:06:07 FOR YOUR ABUNDANT GRACE, FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU GIVE US AND
09:06:12 JESUS AND LORD FOR THIS COUNCIL.
09:06:14 BLESS THIS TIME.
09:06:15 BLESS THE HOUR.
09:06:16 IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN.
09:06:20 [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
09:06:33 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:06:33 PLEASE BE SEATED.
09:06:34 ROLL CALL.
09:06:39 >>BILL CARLSON: HERE.
09:06:40 >> VIERA?
09:06:41 MANISCALCO?
09:06:41 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE.
09:06:42 >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE.
09:06:43 >>ORLANDO GUDES: HERE.
09:06:44 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE.
09:06:45 >>JOSEPH CITRO: HERE.
09:06:46 >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM.
09:06:48 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:06:49 COUNCILMAN VIERA WISHES THAT HE COULD BE HERE.
09:06:51 HE HAS OTHER APPOINTMENTS THAT HE HAS TO BE AT TODAY.
09:06:54 AND IN THAT CASE, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WILL BE TAKING OVER HIS
09:07:00 DUTIES AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
09:07:02 OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS PRESENTATION OF COMMENDATIONS TO
09:07:05 THE ATU LOCAL 1464, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
09:07:12 COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:07:32 >>ORLANDO GUDES: GOOD MORNING.
09:07:32 GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN, COUNCIL MEMBERS.
09:07:36 THIS MORNING WE HAVE OUR ATU EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH,
09:07:39 MS. ASHLEY SMITH, WHO WORKS IN OUR GREAT PARKS AND
09:07:42 RECREATION.
09:07:43 EVERYTHING STARTS IN THE PARK.
09:07:45 IT TRULY DOES.
09:07:46 STEVE, WOULD YOU GIVE US A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF MS. ASHLEY
09:07:51 SMITH WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY AND DOING A GREAT JOB, OUR
09:07:55 RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
09:07:56 >> ABSOLUTELY.
09:07:56 GOOD MORNING, MR. CHAIRMAN.
09:07:57 GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, AND GOOD MORNING CITY OF TAMPA.
09:08:00 I'M STEVE SIMON, PRESIDENT OF ATU LOCAL 1464.
09:08:03 I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE THIS MORNING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE
09:08:06 ATU EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH, ASHLEY SMITH.
09:08:11 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:08:12 NEW TO TAMPA FROM VIRGINIA, ASHLEY SMITH STARTED WITH THE
09:08:22 CITY OF TAMPA PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT IN JULY 2018 JUST AS
09:08:27 WE OPENED THE TAMPA RIVER CENTER AT JULIAN B. LANE
09:08:31 RIVERFRONT PARK.
09:08:32 AT THE TIME WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD BE IN STORE FOR US,
09:08:34 BEING A BRAND-NEW EVENT RENTAL FACILITY, BUT SHE HIT THE
09:08:39 GROUND RUNNING HELPING TO MAKE SURE EVERY EVENT LIVES UP TO
09:08:41 THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE CLIENT.
09:08:43 SINCE WE HAVE OPENED, SHE HAS BEEN A PART OF MOST OF THE 400
09:08:47 EVENTS WE HAVE HOSTED FROM WEDDINGS TO THE NFL SUPER BOWL
09:08:52 EXPERIENCE AND THE ATU HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS PARTY, WHICH WAS
09:08:55 FANTASTIC.
09:08:56 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:08:56 ASHLEY HAS JUMPED IN AND HELPED IN OTHER DIVISIONS OF PARKS
09:09:00 AND REC AS NEEDED, INCLUDING HELPING SAVE A YOUNG MAN'S LIFE
09:09:04 WHO WAS DROWNING IN THE RIVER.
09:09:06 ASHLEY IS THE EPITOME OF SOUTHERN CHARM WITH HER BRIGHT
09:09:11 SMILE AND FRIENDLY PERSONALITY.
09:09:13 SHE HAS RECENTLY MARRIED AND IN HER SPARE TIME LOVES TO
09:09:16 SPEND TIME WITH HER FAMILY AND EXPLORE HER NEW TOWN.
09:09:20 WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, ASHLEY, ALWAYS GOING ABOVE AND
09:09:23 BEYOND YOUR NORMAL SCOPE OF DUTIES.
09:09:25 THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR PART IN KEEPING THE CITY OF TAMPA
09:09:27 RUNNING.
09:09:28 ON BEHALF OF ATU LOCAL 1464, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH
09:09:32 THIS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
09:09:37 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:09:41 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:09:49 >> ALSO, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU WITH A LETTER FROM THE
09:09:52 MAYOR, AND IF YOU DON'T MIND.
09:09:56 DEAR ASHLEY, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING SELECTED AS THE
09:09:59 AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION'S EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR YOUR
09:10:02 PROFESSIONALISM, STRONG WORK ETHICS, ENTHUSIASM, AND FOR
09:10:05 GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND IN ALL ASPECTS IN YOUR POSITION AS A
09:10:09 REC LEADER 3.
09:10:10 YOU'VE DEMONSTRATED A STRONG COMMITMENT AND HIGH STANDARDS
09:10:13 SINCE YOUR HIRE DATE OF JULY 2018.
09:10:16 AS A REC LEADER 3, YOU ASSUME MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT
09:10:19 REQUIRE ATTENTION TO DETAIL, MULTITASKING SKILLS,
09:10:23 ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS, AND YOU ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING
09:10:26 MAJOR EVENTS HELD AT THE JULIAN B. LANE RIVERFRONT PARK ARE
09:10:30 MEMORABLE FOR THOSE ATTENDING.
09:10:32 YOUR CONCERN FOR OTHERS AND THEIR SAFETY IS COMMENDABLE AND
09:10:35 EVIDENCED BY YOUR HEROIC EFFORTS HELPING TO SAVE A YOUNG
09:10:38 MAN'S LIFE WHO NEARLY DROWNED.
09:10:40 YOU HAVE EARNED THE RESPECT OF YOUR SUPERIORS, PEERS, AND
09:10:43 THE COMMUNITY, AND YOU ARE WELL-KNOWN AS SOMEONE WHO IS
09:10:46 PASSIONATE, RESULTS-ORIENTED, FRIENDLY, AND CHARMING.
09:10:50 YOU ARE AN ASSET AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PARKS AND REC
09:10:54 DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY OF TAMPA'S MISSION OF PROVIDING
09:10:56 SUPERIOR SERVICES AND YOUR PROFICIENCY AND OUTSTANDING
09:10:59 POSITIVE ATTITUDE MAKE YOU HIGHLY DESERVING OF THIS
09:11:02 RECOGNITION.
09:11:03 YOU ARE ADMIRED, WELL-RESPECTED AND SET A SHINING EXAMPLE
09:11:06 FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
09:11:08 IT IS EMPLOYEES LIKE YOU, ASHLEY, THAT MAKE ME PROUD TO
09:11:10 SERVE AS MAYOR.
09:11:11 THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE.
09:11:14 SINCERELY, JANE CASTOR.
09:11:18 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:11:23 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:11:28 SHERISHA HILLS, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC.
09:11:32 JUST TO SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS.
09:11:34 I THINK COUNCILMAN GUDES AND STEVE REALLY SUMMED IT UP.
09:11:37 BUT ASHLEY IS REALLY AN ASSET TO US IN PARKS AND REC.
09:11:40 IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO THE RIVER CENTER, THIS IS THE FACE
09:11:43 YOU SEE.
09:11:44 THIS IS THE PERSON WHO WALKS YOU THROUGH THE EVENT YOU'LL
09:11:46 HAVE THERE.
09:11:47 SHE DOES ANYTHING.
09:11:48 SHE IS IN THE EVENT CENTER, BUT WHEN SHE SEES SOMEONE WHO
09:11:51 NEEDS HELP, SHE JUMPS IN.
09:11:53 NO PUN INTENDED, LITERALLY JUMPS IN.
09:11:55 SO SHE HAS BEEN A HUGE ASSET FOR US, EVEN WHEN SHE IS NOT
09:12:00 WORKING, HER HUSBAND WORKS IN PARKS AND REC AS WELL.
09:12:02 ALWAYS LIKE, ASHLEY, DO YOU EVER LEAVE PARKS AND REC?
09:12:05 LIKE, IT'S JUST HER, RIGHT?
09:12:07 IT'S JUST HER.
09:12:08 FROM THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT, MYSELF, WE THANK YOU, AND
09:12:11 WE APPRECIATE YOU.
09:12:12 YOU ARE TRULY ONE OF OUR BEST.
09:12:14 SO THANK YOU.
09:12:15 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:12:16 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:12:22 >>ORLANDO GUDES: TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION PRESENTED
09:12:24 TO ASHLEY SMITH, ATU EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH.
09:12:27 IN RECOGNITION OF ASHLEY SMITH ATU EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR
09:12:30 YOUR DRIVE, DETERMINATION AND TEAMWORK WITH THE PARKS AND
09:12:34 RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
09:12:35 THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF TAMPA IS PROUD TO PRESENT THIS
09:12:39 COMMENDATION TO ASHLEY SMITH WHO EXEMPLIFIES THE TYPE OF
09:12:43 EMPLOYEE WHO EVERYONE ADMIRES RESPECTS AND CHEERS TO
09:12:46 SUCCESS.
09:12:47 YOU ARE A GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:12:48 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
09:12:49 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:12:58 >> DONNA McBRIDE WITH THE STRAZ CENTER.
09:13:02 CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR AWARD AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS
09:13:05 WONDERFUL PARK SHINE.
09:13:07 KEEP IT UP.
09:13:08 WE'RE RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER FROM YOU.
09:13:10 WE'D LIKE TO YOU COME AND ENJOY A COUPLE OF SHOWS.
09:13:13 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:13:13 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:13:17 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES --
09:13:23 >> MIKE McARTHUR, STEPP'S TOWING SERVICE.
09:13:26 CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.
09:13:27 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.
09:13:29 ON BEHALF OF TODD STEPP AND STEPP'S TOWING, I WOULD LIKE TO
09:13:31 PRESENT WITH YOU A $50 GIFT CARD.
09:13:33 HAVE SOME DINNER.
09:13:34 TAKE SOME TIME OFF.
09:13:35 YOU DESERVE IT.
09:13:37 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:13:40 >> GOOD MORNING, PETE ON BEHALF OF THURMAN AND BUSCH
09:13:44 GARDENS.
09:13:45 WELCOME TO TAMPA.
09:13:46 ON BEHALF OF LIKE I SAID NEIL, WE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER YOU
09:13:49 AND YOUR FAMILY TICKETS TO COME ENJOY A DAY AT THE PARK.
09:13:52 THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
09:13:53 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:13:54 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:13:57 >> HI.
09:13:57 MARK HANEY WITH ZOO TAMPA.
09:13:59 >> MARY LOU BAILEY ON THE BOARD OF ZOO TAMPA.
09:14:02 >> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE PARKS AND REC
09:14:04 DEPARTMENT.
09:14:05 OUR PARKS ARE WHAT MAKES TAMPA AMAZING.
09:14:07 HERE ARE SOME PASSES FOR A DAY AT THE ZOO, COMPLETE WITH A
09:14:12 RIVER OTTER.
09:14:17 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:14:17 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:14:20 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:14:21 GOOD MORNING, ASHLEY.
09:14:23 I'M GRACE GONZALEZ HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GONZMART FAMILY AND
09:14:26 1905 FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS.
09:14:28 WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TAMPA.
09:14:30 YOU WERE HERE PRE-LOCKDOWN, PRE-SUPER BOWL.
09:14:34 THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND MAKING TAMPA SUCH A
09:14:37 SPECIAL PLACE.
09:14:37 WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO CONTINUE EXPLORING AND ENJOY A MEAL
09:14:40 WITH YOUR FAMILY AT ANY OF OUR RESTAURANTS.
09:14:43 ANY COLUMBIA RESTAURANT, ULELE, CASA SANTO STEFANO, GOODY
09:14:48 GOODY AND CHA CHA COCONUTS.
09:14:50 ENJOY TASTE OF FLORIDA AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:14:53 CONGRATULATIONS.
09:14:53 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:14:57 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:14:59 BRIAN FORD WITH THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS.
09:15:02 THANK YOU.
09:15:03 THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, THE SACRIFICE
09:15:06 AND WHAT YOU DO FOR THE KIDS.
09:15:08 WE HAVE A LITTLE TRADITION AT ONE BUC.
09:15:10 WE GIVE OUT GAME BALLS WHENEVER ANYBODY GOES OVER AND ABOVE.
09:15:14 HEARING YOUR STORY, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO.
09:15:16 ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION,
09:15:19 I PRESENT TO YOU A GAME BALL.
09:15:21 CONGRATULATIONS.
09:15:21 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:15:26 >> STEVE MICHELINI.
09:15:29 HERE ON BEHALF OF A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FOLKS.
09:15:32 I THINK YOU OUGHT TO ASK FOR SOME TOM BRADY DIRT.
09:15:36 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:15:36 ON BEHALF OF MEAT MARKET AND OLD HYDE PARK, WE'RE PROVIDING
09:15:40 YOU WITH A GIFT CERTIFICATE SO YOU CAN GO ENJOY YOURSELF
09:15:43 OVER THERE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.
09:15:45 ON BEHALF OF THE CICCIO RESTAURANT GROUP, WE'RE PROVIDING
09:15:49 YOU WITH A GIFT CERTIFICATE.
09:15:50 ENJOY YOURSELF FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, OR DINNER.
09:15:56 I KNOW SHERISHA WANTS TO GO FOR ONE OF THOSE.
09:15:58 ON BEHALF OF BELLABRAVA, WHICH IS IN THE MIDTOWN SECTION,
09:16:02 WE'RE PROVIDING WITH YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR LUNCH OR
09:16:04 DINNER.
09:16:04 ON BEHALF OF YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO, WE'LL PROVIDE WITH
09:16:08 YOU A GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE.
09:16:10 HERE ARE YOUR GIFT CERTIFICATES.
09:16:12 PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THEM WITH YOU.
09:16:14 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:16:14 I APPRECIATE IT.
09:16:15 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:16:21 >> WOW.
09:16:21 YOU KNOW, I'M VERY HUMBLED BY ALL OF THIS.
09:16:24 I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
09:16:26 I'VE HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE SINCE I'VE MOVED DOWN HERE.
09:16:30 I MOVED FROM A LITTLE DOWN FROM VIRGINIA ALL THE WAY DOWN
09:16:32 HERE IN TAMPA.
09:16:35 I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT BUT I'VE BEEN WELCOMED BY
09:16:38 EVERYBODY DOWN HERE IN TAMPA.
09:16:39 AND THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD WITH THE PARKS
09:16:41 AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
09:16:42 I HAVE WONDERFUL BOSSES AND ALL THE COWORKERS THAT EVERYONE
09:16:46 THAT I WORK WITH, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
09:16:49 SO I APPRECIATE IT.
09:16:49 THANK YOU, GUYS.
09:16:50 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:16:57 >>BILL CARLSON: CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING
09:16:59 TAMPA.
09:16:59 WE'RE LUCKY THAT YOU DECIDED TO COME HERE.
09:17:02 PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS FROM VIRGINIA TO COME, TOO.
09:17:05 AND THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO.
09:17:08 THE ATU EVENT WAS FANTASTIC.
09:17:09 SO IF YOU WERE INVOLVED IN ANY WAY, CONGRATULATIONS.
09:17:13 THANK YOU.
09:17:13 PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
09:17:15 LET US KNOW IF WE CAN HELP YOU IN ANY WAY.
09:17:19 >>LYNN HURTAK: I'M GOING TO ECHO HIS THANKS.
09:17:21 WORKING IN SUCH A FIELD IS REALLY FUN.
09:17:25 YOU GET TO BE THERE FOR SO MANY DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS.
09:17:28 IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOLLOWS.
09:17:30 THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, SO EVERYONE SEES HOW EXCITED AND
09:17:35 PASSIONATE OUR EMPLOYEES ARE.
09:17:37 SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
09:17:40 THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO SAVE A CHILD'S LIFE.
09:17:43 THAT'S ABOVE AND BEYOND AND SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE COMMENDED.
09:17:47 THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS LOOKING OUT AND DOING THE RIGHT THING.
09:17:52 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:17:53 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN.
09:17:54 AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
09:17:56 ECHO MS. HURTAK SAYING ABOUT SAVING THE LIFE OF A CHILD.
09:18:02 BUT YEAR-ROUND IS WHAT YOU DO THAT COUNTS ALSO.
09:18:05 YOU HAVE GIVEN YOUR EFFORT.
09:18:07 YOU HAVE GIVEN THE BEST YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR
09:18:09 DEPARTMENT IS WELL REPRESENTED, THAT WHOEVER IS THERE IS A
09:18:13 GUEST AND YOU TREAT THEM ALL LIKE GUESTS OF HONOR, AND
09:18:16 YOU'VE DONE THAT BY THE COMMENDATION YOU RECEIVED TODAY.
09:18:19 CONGRATULATIONS ON RECEIVING IT.
09:18:20 I THINK I WILL BE THERE FRIDAY NIGHT.
09:18:22 SO I'LL EXPERIENCE ALL OF WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE.
09:18:25 THANK YOU VERY MUCH AGAIN.
09:18:26 THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TAMPA AS A CITY TO MOVE TO.
09:18:30 YOU ARE ONE OF ABOUT 300 MILLION THAT WANT TO COME IN.
09:18:32 BUT THANK YOU FOR MAKING THAT CHOICE.
09:18:34 >> THANK YOU.
09:18:36 >>JOSEPH CITRO: CONGRATULATIONS.
09:18:38 AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF TAMPA'S FAMILY.
09:18:41 ALL THE WORKERS THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA, NO MATTER
09:18:44 WHICH DEPARTMENT, ARE FAMILY MEMBERS.
09:18:47 THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR FAMILY.
09:18:49 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
09:18:50 THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THAT EVENT CENTER BOOKED YEAR-ROUND.
09:18:57 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:18:57 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:19:03 >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
09:19:15 >>JOSEPH CITRO: AND NOW COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WILL BE
09:19:36 PRESENTING POLICE OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
09:19:39 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU, HONORABLE CHAIRMAN, HONORABLE
09:19:41 MEMBERS OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL.
09:19:42 I'M PLEASED AND PLEASURED TO BE HERE NOT ONLY WITH CHIEF
09:19:47 BERCAW, BUT THE DETECTIVE THAT WAS CHOSEN THE EMPLOYEE OF
09:19:50 THE MONTH FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
09:19:52 DAVID ALVERSON.
09:19:55 CHIEF, I KNOW YOU HAVE THE WHOLE ITEM OF WHAT HE DID.
09:19:58 THIS IS NOT LIKE CSI OR ANY OTHER THINGS YOU SEE ON TV.
09:20:02 THIS IS LABOR OF DEDICATED TO HIS JOB.
09:20:05 I'M NOT SAYING TV THINGS ARE NOT REAL; THEY ARE.
09:20:08 BUT THIS INDIVIDUAL, WHAT HE'S DONE BY SEARCHING AND
09:20:12 RESEARCHING THE CRIME SCENE AND WALKING AND DOING WHAT HE
09:20:15 HAS TO DO HAS MADE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENT.
09:20:18 CHIEF BERCAW WILL ELABORATE ON THOSE.
09:20:21 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:20:22 I'M HONORED HERE TO PRESENT OUR OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
09:20:25 DETECTIVE DAVID ALVERSON HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE TAMPA
09:20:31 POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 11 YEARS.
09:20:32 HE IS CURRENTLY IN HIS SECOND YEAR AS A HOMICIDE DETECTIVE.
09:20:35 HE TAKES THE LEAD ON AN INCREDIBLY HIGH NUMBER OF CASES FOR
09:20:39 A NEW DETECTIVE AND HAS NOT ONLY WELCOMED THE CHALLENGES
09:20:41 THAT COME WITH THE CRITICAL INVESTIGATIONS BUT ALSO EXCELLED
09:20:44 IN HIS WORK.
09:20:45 AS COUNCILMAN MIRANDA WAS ALLUDING TO, BEING A HOMICIDE
09:20:49 DETECTIVE IS NOT LIKE ON TV.
09:20:50 HE DOESN'T SOLVE THESE CASES IN 60 MINUTES WITH COMMERCIALS
09:20:53 IN BETWEEN.
09:20:54 THERE'S A LOT OF WORK.
09:20:55 I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT TWO EXAMPLES FOR YOU.
09:20:57 ONE EXAMPLE OF DETECTIVE ALVERSON'S TREMENDOUS WORK WAS ON
09:21:01 JUNE 30th OF '21 WHEN HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A LEAD DETECTIVE
09:21:05 ON A FATAL SHOOTING AT THE SILVER OAKS APARTMENT COMPLEX.
09:21:08 INITIALLY, PATROL UNITS ARRIVED ON SCENE IN RESPONSE TO
09:21:12 REPORTED GUNFIRE.
09:21:15 OFFICERS LOCATED A VICTIM SHOT INSIDE HIS VEHICLE AT THE
09:21:17 APARTMENT GATE.
09:21:19 SEVERAL WITNESSES WERE ONLY ABLE TO ADVISE ON AN UNKNOWN
09:21:23 SUSPECT IN AN OLDER BLACK NISSAN ALTIMA THAT SHOT THE
09:21:27 VICTIM.
09:21:28 SO LITTLE LEADS HERE TO GO ON.
09:21:31 DETECTIVE ALVERSON THEN BEGAN TO RETRACE THE VICTIM'S
09:21:33 ACTIVITIES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS.
09:21:35 IN DOING SO, HE LEARNED THAT THE VICTIM WAS INVOLVED IN AN
09:21:39 ALTERCATION AT HIS JOB HOURS PRIOR TO THE MURDER.
09:21:42 DETECTIVE ALVERSON SPOKE WITH DOZENS OF THE VICTIM'S
09:21:46 COWORKERS AND RETAINED SEVERAL DAYS' WORTH OF SURVEILLANCE
09:21:49 FOOTAGE.
09:21:50 THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS A WEEK'S WORTH OF WORK JUST TO
09:21:54 WATCH THE VIDEOS.
09:21:55 NOT ONLY WAS HE ABLE TO LOCATE THE VIDEO OF THE ALTERCATION,
09:21:58 BUT HE ALSO DISCOVERED EVIDENCE OF THIS BLACK NISSAN ALTIMA
09:22:02 ARRIVING AT THE VICTIM'S JOB, PARKING ACROSS THE STREET FOR
09:22:05 SEVERAL HOURS THE DAY OF THE MURDER.
09:22:08 THEN FOLLOWING THE VICTIM AS HE LEFT WORK.
09:22:11 DETECTIVE ALVERSON FOCUSED HIS EFFORTS ON INVESTIGATING THE
09:22:14 SUSPECT VEHICLE AND DAYS LATER HE LOCATED THAT VEHICLE WITH
09:22:19 THE HOMICIDE SUSPECT INSIDE OUT IN THE COUNTY, JUST OUTSIDE
09:22:23 THE CITY LIMITS.
09:22:24 ENOUGH EVIDENCE WAS LOCATED TO ARREST AND CHARGE THE SUSPECT
09:22:27 WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER, AND THAT'S NO EASY TASK.
09:22:31 DETECTIVE ALVERSON'S OUTSTANDING WORK WAS ALSO EVIDENT IN
09:22:35 JULY OF LAST YEAR WHEN PATROL UNITS RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF
09:22:39 A SUBJECT LAYING ON A COMMUNITY DOCK WITHIN THE GRAND
09:22:42 HAMPTON NEIGHBORHOOD IN NEW TAMPA.
09:22:45 UPON ARRIVAL, OFFICERS DISCOVERED A PERSON DECEASED FROM
09:22:48 MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS.
09:22:50 AGAIN, ASSIGNED AS THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR, DETECTIVE ALVERSON
09:22:54 IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CANVASSING THIS VERY LARGE GATED COMMUNITY
09:22:58 FOR WITNESSES.
09:22:58 WITHIN HOURS, HE LOCATED FOUR TEENAGERS WHO WITNESSED THE
09:23:03 HOMICIDE.
09:23:03 WHILE THEY DID NOT INITIALLY REPORT THE INCIDENT OUT OF
09:23:06 FEAR, DETECTIVE ALVERSON WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY ESTABLISH A
09:23:09 RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM AND OBTAINED INTERVIEWS WHICH LED TO
09:23:12 NOT ONLY A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT, BUT ALSO SPECIFIC
09:23:16 DETAILS ON THE VEHICLE THAT DROVE AWAY FROM THE SCENE.
09:23:19 HE LATER LOCATED THE SUSPECT AND SUSPECT VEHICLE PARKED IN A
09:23:24 DRIVEWAY AT A NEARBY RESIDENCE.
09:23:25 DIDN'T STOP THERE.
09:23:27 HE BUILT A RAPPORT WITH THE SUSPECT, GAINED A CONFESSION FOR
09:23:30 THE MURDER, AND THE SUSPECT LED HIM TO WHERE HE HID THE
09:23:34 FIREARM FOR THE OFFENSE.
09:23:35 THE AMOUNT OF DEDICATION AND EFFORT THAT DETECTIVE ALVERSON
09:23:39 PUTS INTO HIS INVESTIGATIONS TO OBTAIN JUSTICE FOR HIS
09:23:42 VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES IS TRULY REMARKABLE.
09:23:45 IT IS CLEAR FROM SPEAKING WITH THE VICTIMS AND THEIR
09:23:49 FAMILIES -- OR THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES THAT DETECTIVE ALVERSON
09:23:52 REGULARLY PUTS IN THEIR NEEDS ABOVE THE NEEDS OF HIS OWN.
09:23:56 DETECTIVE ALVERSON IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY
09:24:01 TAMPA IS ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES ITS SIZE AND HOW WE'VE
09:24:04 REDUCED VIOLENT CRIME BY 5% OVER THE LAST YEAR.
09:24:07 FOR HIS EFFORTS AND DEDICATION, HE'S BEEN CHOSEN AS OUR
09:24:12 FEBRUARY 2023 OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
09:24:13 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:24:23 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I WANT TO PRESENT THE CITY COUNCIL
09:24:26 COMMENDATION TO DETECTIVE DAVID ALVERSON AND THEN WE'LL HAVE
09:24:29 THE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME HERE ON A REGULAR BASIS TO MAKE
09:24:32 THEIR PRESENTATION OF HONORING YOU SIR, ONE AT A TIME.
09:24:36 YOU KNOW WHAT THE CHIEF JUST SPOKE ABOUT, IT'S REALLY THE
09:24:39 DESIRE TO CATCH WHOEVER DID THAT.
09:24:42 IT'S NOT EASY TO BE IN ANY POLICE OFFICER IN ANY PART OF THE
09:24:45 UNITED STATES OR ANY PART OF THE WORLD NOWADAYS.
09:24:49 WHAT YOU HAVE DONE BY HAVING THE INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITTED A
09:24:52 CRIME TELLING YOU THAT HE COMMITTED A CRIME, IT'S REALLY
09:24:55 UNREMARKABLE GREAT.
09:24:58 YOU HAVE EARNED NOT ONLY THIS COMMENDATION BUT A LOT MORE
09:25:01 THAN RESPECT FOR THE CITY OF TAMPA AND FOR THE BADGE THAT
09:25:04 YOU CARRY.
09:25:05 AND FOR THAT REASON, THIS CITY COUNCIL IS MAKING THIS
09:25:08 COMMENDATION TO YOU AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE,
09:25:12 YOUR DEDICATION TO SERVICE, COMMITMENT AND EXCELLENCE AND
09:25:14 GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.
09:25:15 THOSE ARE THE WORDS THAT REALLY STRIKE RIGHT AT THE HEART.
09:25:17 ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.
09:25:19 AND YOU'VE DONE THAT.
09:25:20 IF YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY, YOU WOULD GET A CONGRESSIONAL
09:25:24 MEDAL OF HONOR BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE.
09:25:26 WE HAVE THIS COMMENDATION.
09:25:27 YOU DESERVE EVERY BIT OF IT, EVERY LETTER OF IT, NO MATTER
09:25:30 WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST, CONTINUING DOING WHAT YOU'RE
09:25:33 DOING BECAUSE YOU ARE SETTING THE EXAMPLE, EXEMPLIFY WHAT IT
09:25:37 MEANS TO BE A POLICE OFFICER NOT ONLY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA
09:25:39 BUT THROUGHOUT THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
09:25:41 IT'S NOT EASY.
09:25:41 IT'S VERY HARD WORK.
09:25:42 AGAIN, THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART, FROM ALL CITY
09:25:45 COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO THE
09:25:48 REST OF YOUR CAREER IN TPD.
09:25:50 CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.
09:25:51 >> THANK YOU, SIR.
09:25:51 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:26:02 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:26:03 DONNA McBRIDE WITH THE STRAZ CENTER.
09:26:05 DETECTIVE, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUCCESS AND
09:26:09 YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR MAKING TAMPA THE BEST PLACE IN THIS
09:26:13 COUNTRY TO LIVE.
09:26:15 I WOULD LIKE ON BEHALF OF THE STRAZ CENTER TO INVITE YOU TO
09:26:18 ENJOY A SHOW.
09:26:18 THANK YOU.
09:26:19 >> THANK YOU.
09:26:19 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:26:25 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:26:26 PETE BREVI ON BEHALF OF BUSCH GARDENS AGAIN.
09:26:29 AS I PROBABLY SAID A COUPLE HUNDRED DOZEN TIMES IN MY TIME
09:26:33 IN DOING THIS, LIKE TO CONTINUE TO THANK YOU FOR HONORING
09:26:36 THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
09:26:38 IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT THING TO RECOGNIZE THEM MONTHLY FOR
09:26:41 THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AND FOR ALLOWING BUSINESSES
09:26:43 LIKE MYSELF TO HAVE A SMALL PART IN THAT.
09:26:46 BEFORE I TALK TO DAVE, I JUST WANT TO SAY I'VE KNOWN DAVE
09:26:49 FOR A LONG TIME.
09:26:51 HE'S A PHENOMENAL POLICE OFFICER, GREAT DETECTIVE BUT
09:26:55 PROBABLY A BETTER HUMAN BEING.
09:26:57 ON BEHALF OF NEIL AND BUSCH GARDENS, PRESENT YOU WITH
09:27:00 TICKETS.
09:27:02 ENJOY A DAY AT THE PARK IN BETWEEN HOMICIDES.
09:27:05 THANK YOU.
09:27:05 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:27:09 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL, CHIEF.
09:27:11 DETECTIVE ALVERSON, UNBELIEVABLE STORY.
09:27:14 I COULDN'T SAY IT ANY BETTER THAN COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:27:16 THANK YOU.
09:27:17 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICE, YOUR FAMILY'S SACRIFICE, AND
09:27:20 ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
09:27:22 WE COUNT ON YOU.
09:27:23 WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
09:27:25 ON BEHALF OF THE GLAZER FAMILY AND OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION,
09:27:27 WE HAVE THIS TRADITION OF GIVING GAME BALLS FOR PEOPLE THAT
09:27:30 GO OVER AND ABOVE.
09:27:31 YOU TRULY DO.
09:27:32 I JUST WANT TO PRESENT THIS.
09:27:34 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:27:35 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:27:40 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:27:41 I'M MARY LOU BAILEY.
09:27:42 HERE ON BEHALF OF ZOO TAMPA.
09:27:44 >> MARK HANEY WITH ZOO TAMPA.
09:27:45 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
09:27:47 IT'S AWESOME.
09:27:48 THANK YOU FOR ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS HERE AND WHO AREN'T
09:27:51 HERE TODAY.
09:27:52 WE LOVE YOU.
09:27:53 I'VE BEEN TO THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
09:27:54 I HAVE A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT IT TAKES.
09:27:56 I'M NOT CUT OUT FOR IT, SO I'M GLAD YOU ARE.
09:27:58 CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
09:28:01 ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WE BOUGHT YOU A
09:28:04 MEMBERSHIP TO THE ZOO, ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE ZOO, WHICH
09:28:06 WE HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY IN GOOD HEALTH AND A
09:28:10 COUPLE OF CUTE CUDDLY THINGS.
09:28:12 >> AND SOME ANIMAL CRACKERS.
09:28:15 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:28:16 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:28:19 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:28:21 GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE.
09:28:22 I'M GRACE GONZALEZ HERE ON BEHALF OF THE GONZMART FAMILY AND
09:28:25 1905 FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS.
09:28:26 WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
09:28:28 11 YEARS IS A LONG TIME TO WORK THIS HARD FOR THE CITY.
09:28:33 WE APPRECIATE SO MUCH ALL THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU MAKE AND
09:28:36 WE'D LOVE FOR YOU TO TAKE SOME TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY TO
09:28:39 ENJOY HOME-COOKED MEAL AT THE COLUMBIA RESTAURANT, ULELE,
09:28:43 CASA SANTO STEFANO, ANY OF OUR RESTAURANTS.
09:28:48 PLEASE ENJOY.
09:28:50 CONGRATULATIONS.
09:28:50 THANK YOU AGAIN.
09:28:51 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:28:54 >> MIKE McARTHUR, STEPP'S TOWING.
09:28:57 CONGRATULATIONS DETECTIVE ON A JOB WELL DONE.
09:28:59 I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE THAT THE WORK YOU DO DOESN'T GO
09:29:01 UNNOTICED AND THE COMMUNITY PULLING TOGETHER TO KEEP PEOPLE
09:29:04 LIKE YOU IN OUR COMMUNITY IS GREAT.
09:29:06 ON BEHALF OF TODD OF STEPP'S TOWING, PRESENT WITH YOU A $50
09:29:12 GIFT CARD TO GO OUT TO DINNER AND NIGHT OUT.
09:29:14 INVITE YOU A NIGHT OUT IN THE COMPANY LIMOUSINE.
09:29:18 GO TO THE ZOO IN A LIMO.
09:29:20 HAVE FUN.
09:29:20 THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
09:29:23 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:29:23 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:29:26 >> GOOD MORNING.
09:29:28 I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA THEATRE.
09:29:30 ON BEHALF OF THE THEATER, I'M HONORED TO GIVE YOU THE GIFT
09:29:34 OF A MEMBERSHIP TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE IN OUR
09:29:36 COMMUNITY.
09:29:36 I FEEL LIKE WE COULD MAKE SO MANY MOVIES WITH EVERYTHING YOU
09:29:40 LIVE EVERY DAY.
09:29:41 CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU AGAIN.
09:29:42 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:29:43 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:29:48 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:29:49 MY NAME IS LEO GEARY.
09:29:51 THIS IS GRACE THOMAS.
09:29:53 HERE ON BEHALF OF BILL CURRIE FORD.
09:29:55 WE WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS.
09:29:56 THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE THAT YOU DO
09:29:59 EVERY SINGLE DAY.
09:30:00 I TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
09:30:03 WANT TO GIVE YOU A BAG WITH GOODIES IN THERE.
09:30:06 ALSO GET WITH GRACE THOMAS AND SHE WILL GET YOU A VEHICLE OF
09:30:09 YOUR CHOICE OF 2023 FOR THE WEEKEND.
09:30:13 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:30:15 >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:30:18 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:30:24 >> I LOVE THAT CAVEAT.
09:30:35 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:30:35 THIS IS ALL YOU CAN EAT WHENEVER YOU WANT FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
09:30:41 IT HAS A CAVEAT.
09:30:45 YOU CAN ONLY USE IT ONCE.
09:30:47 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:30:47 ANYWAY, THIS IS THE YUMMY HOUSE CHINA BISTRO.
09:30:53 YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF OVER THERE FOR LUNCH OR DINNER.
09:30:56 ON BEHALF OF -- I'M STEVE MICHELINI, BY THE WAY.
09:30:59 I'M REPRESENTING THESE FOLKS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
09:31:02 THE CAVEAT STILL STANDS.
09:31:03 ONLY USE THESE ONCE.
09:31:04 MEAT MARKET IN OLD HYDE PARK.
09:31:07 THE CICCIO RESTAURANT GROUP, BREAKFAST, LUNCH, OR DINNER.
09:31:12 AND BELLABRAVA OVER IN THE MIDTOWN SECTION.
09:31:16 YOU CAN USE THESE CERTIFICATES, BUT THEY DON'T GO ON
09:31:19 FOREVER.
09:31:20 >> THANK YOU.
09:31:23 >> CONGRATULATIONS, AND WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR US.
09:31:26 WE HAVE A GREAT POLICE FORCE.
09:31:29 WE HAVE A GREAT TAMPA FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU ALL DO
09:31:32 A WONDERFUL JOB FOR US EVERY DAY.
09:31:34 SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
09:31:36 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:31:40 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I KNOW THAT BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN YOU
09:31:42 HAVE A GREATER WOMAN.
09:31:43 IS SHE AROUND?
09:31:45 >> SHE IS.
09:31:49 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: CHIEF, COME ON.
09:31:51 THIS IS POLICE WORK.
09:31:52 I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE THE LAST WORDS WITH YOUR WIFE.
09:31:56 AND THOSE ARE "YES, MA'AM."
09:31:57 THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
09:32:01 INTRODUCE YOUR WIFE FIRST.
09:32:02 DON'T WANT YOU TO GET DEMERITS.
09:32:04 >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:32:05 THIS IS MY WIFE LISA.
09:32:06 I'M NOT GOOD AT THIS, RECEIVING ANY KIND OF PRAISE OR
09:32:14 ANYTHING.
09:32:15 SO I DO APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL TAKING TIME TO SHOW THEIR
09:32:23 THANKS AND, OF COURSE, THE STAFF FOR DOING THE SAME.
09:32:26 OBVIOUSLY, MY WIFE, SHE'S IN WITH THIS JUST AS MUCH AS I AM,
09:32:34 GETTING PHONE CALLS LATE AT NIGHT TO GO OUT.
09:32:37 OBVIOUSLY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT.
09:32:41 PUTTING UP WITH IT JUST AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE.
09:32:45 THIS IS NOT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT'S DONE COMPLETELY BY
09:32:50 MYSELF.
09:32:52 NONE OF THESE CASES GET SOLVED WITHOUT TEAMWORK AND WITHOUT
09:32:57 A PARTNERSHIP WITH EVERY MEMBER OF MY SQUAD.
09:33:02 TRULY, SOME OF THE BEST.
09:33:04 I'VE BEEN A COP FOR 18 YEARS TOTAL.
09:33:06 11 YEARS HERE IN TAMPA.
09:33:08 I'VE NEVER WORKED WITH A MORE TALENTED GROUP OF DETECTIVES
09:33:12 AND INVESTIGATORS THAN WHAT I HAVE SINCE I'VE BEEN A MEMBER
09:33:15 OF THE HOMICIDE SQUAD.
09:33:17 I THANK STAFF.
09:33:18 I THANK SERGEANT LIPHOLD AND SERGEANT KELLY FOR GIVING ME
09:33:22 THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
09:33:24 SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:33:26 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU.
09:33:29 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:33:29 COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
09:33:35 >>LYNN HURTAK: WELL, I WANT TO SAY -- I WANT TO JUST THANK
09:33:37 YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS.
09:33:40 AND THE STORY THAT CHIEF BERCAW SHARED, BOTH STORIES ARE
09:33:45 REALLY AMAZING.
09:33:47 COUNCILMAN MIRANDA TALKED ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE ON
09:33:51 TELEVISION.
09:33:52 I HAVE TO SAY THAT THAT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST
09:33:56 INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT DOING RIDE-ALONGS WITH BOTH POLICE
09:33:58 AND FIRE IS HOW NOBODY JUST JUMPS UP AND RUNS.
09:34:02 IT'S ALL JUST -- I MEAN, YOU DO YOUR JOB, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE
09:34:08 TO RUN TO GET THERE.
09:34:09 YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO DO EVERY DAY.
09:34:13 WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOU CHOOSING TO USE YOUR TIME AND YOUR
09:34:17 TALENTS HERE IN TAMPA WITH TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT.
09:34:19 WE ABSOLUTELY ARE INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
09:34:25 AND THANK YOU.
09:34:26 ALSO, I CAN TELL WHAT A WONDERFUL PERSON YOU ARE BECAUSE YOU
09:34:29 IMMEDIATELY THANKED YOUR WIFE AND ALSO YOUR ENTIRE SQUAD.
09:34:32 AND THAT JUST REALLY IS THE HALLMARK OF A TRUE LEADER.
09:34:37 I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN.
09:34:38 AND ENJOY ALL OF YOUR WELL-DESERVED GOODS AND THINGS YOU GET
09:34:45 TO DO AND ALL THE PRAISE.
09:34:46 CONGRATULATIONS.
09:34:47 >> THANK YOU.
09:34:47 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
09:34:48 >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TAMPA.
09:34:51 IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE A REAL-LIFE HERO, AND WE APPRECIATE
09:34:56 THE HARD WORK YOU DO.
09:34:57 WISH WE COULD REPLICATE YOU.
09:34:59 I'M SURE YOU HAVE A LOT OF GREAT COLLEAGUES.
09:35:01 BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS NEED MORE POLICE
09:35:03 OFFICERS, AND WE'RE WORKING -- I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF YOUR
09:35:06 COLLEAGUES IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE NEED TO FILL THE 200
09:35:09 OFFICER SHORTAGE.
09:35:10 I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE'RE BEHIND YOU ALL IN WHAT YOU
09:35:13 NEED TO GET THE JOB DONE.
09:35:16 WITH THE NUMBER OF MURDERS THAT WE HEAR ALL THE TIME, WE
09:35:19 NEED A LOT MORE OF YOU.
09:35:21 SO PLEASE FIND YOUR REALLY SMART FRIENDS TO BRING THEM IN
09:35:24 BECAUSE WE NEED MORE OF YOU.
09:35:25 THANK YOU.
09:35:27 >>JOSEPH CITRO: DETECTIVE.
09:35:27 I WISH WE COULD GIVE EVERY POLICE OFFICER A COMMENDATION
09:35:32 EVERY DAY.
09:35:34 YOU ARE THE ONES WHO KEEP THE CITY SAFE.
09:35:37 YOU ARE THE ONES WHO LOOK AFTER THE CITIZENS.
09:35:40 WE VALUE YOU AS FAMILY MEMBERS.
09:35:45 BUT TODAY YOU WERE CHOSEN AS THE POLICE OFFICER OF THE
09:35:48 MONTH.
09:35:50 GLAD YOU RECOGNIZED YOUR WIFE.
09:35:51 IT SHOWS YOU ARE A SMART DETECTIVE AND A SMART MAN.
09:35:56 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
09:35:57 THIS AWARD IS VERY DESERVING FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR WIFE.
09:36:02 CONGRATULATIONS.
09:36:03 >> THANK YOU.
09:36:03 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:36:13 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:37:23 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: [INAUDIBLE]
09:37:26 >> YOUR MIKE IS NOT ON, SIR.
09:37:28 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:37:32 >>ORLANDO GUDES: WELL, COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, I FOUND
09:37:36 OUT ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WITH OUR SOLID WASTE,
09:37:42 AND A LIFESAVING MEASURE, IT'S WHAT I CALL IT.
09:37:47 KNOWING HIS VEHICLE, KNOWING HIS SURROUNDINGS, AND BEING
09:37:53 ABLE TO ACT SWIFTLY BECAUSE THIS INCIDENT, I'M GOING TO LET
09:38:00 MR. WASHINGTON TELL YOU ABOUT, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHY
09:38:05 THE COMMENDATION.
09:38:06 >> THANK YOU.
09:38:07 GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
09:38:08 THE CHAIRMAN IS NOT HERE, BUT GOOD MORNING COUNCIL.
09:38:10 LARRY WASHINGTON, DIRECTOR OF SOLID WASTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
09:38:13 PROGRAM MANAGEMENT.
09:38:14 I'M HERE TODAY WITH MY TEAM AS WELL TO RECOGNIZE MR. EFRAIN
09:38:22 CABAN AND HIS EFFORTS TO SAVE A LIFE, SPECIFICALLY -- WELL,
09:38:26 FIRST AND FOREMOST, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN
09:38:29 GUDES, FOR ALWAYS RECOGNIZING US.
09:38:31 IT IS NOTED AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
09:38:33 BUT BACK TO THE MATTER AT HAND.
09:38:38 I WANT TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MR. CABAN AND HOW HE
09:38:41 GOT TO THIS POINT.
09:38:42 HE WAS BORN IN PUERTO RICO.
09:38:44 SHORTLY RELOCATED TO CONNECTICUT.
09:38:48 THIS IS WHERE HE FOUND HIS LOVE FOR THE SOLID WASTE
09:38:50 INDUSTRY.
09:38:50 IF YOU CAN SURVIVE IN CONNECTICUT, THE COLD WINTERS, I'M
09:38:55 FROM ILLINOIS, YOU CAN HERE IN THE CITY OF TAMPA.
09:38:58 HE TOOK HIS TALENTS TO TAMPA, CITY OF TAMPA IN 2020.
09:39:01 AND I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT SINCE THEN, HE HAS ZERO
09:39:05 INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS ON HIS RECORD.
09:39:09 HE IS A PILLAR IN OUR DEPARTMENT.
09:39:11 STELLAR EMPLOYEE, STELLAR TEAMMATE AND WANT TO THANK HIM.
09:39:15 NOW, SPECIFICALLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANOTHER PERSON THAT
09:39:17 WAS FIRST ON THE SCENE, MR. BRUCE ALLEN.
09:39:19 HE WILL GIVE THE DETAILS.
09:39:20 HE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE COMMERCIAL SERVICES UNIT.
09:39:23 HE WILL GIVE THE DETAILS OF WHAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY AND HOW
09:39:27 COLLECTIVELY A LIFE WAS SAVED.
09:39:28 MR. ALLEN.
09:39:30 >> COUNCIL, GOOD MORNING.
09:39:32 SO THIS ALL WAS A SHOCKING MOMENT WHEN A LIFE IS INVOLVED IN
09:39:39 THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THIS INDIVIDUAL COULD HAVE BEEN
09:39:41 CRUSHED INSIDE THE CAB, INSIDE THE BODY OF THIS TRUCK.
09:39:46 WE GOT THE CALL THAT THERE WAS A BODY INSIDE THE VEHICLE.
09:39:51 SO CONGRATULATING MR. CABAN.
09:39:54 HE DID EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS TRAINED TO DO AS IT RELATES TO
09:40:00 SAFETY, OBSERVING HIS CAMERAS AND BE MINDFUL AND BE
09:40:05 EXTREMELY DILIGENT WITH EVERYTHING.
09:40:11 ON THAT SPECIFIC DAY, WHILE HE WAS PACKING HIS GARBAGE
09:40:16 BLADE, HE NOTICED HANDS WERE STICKING UP ON THE BLADE.
09:40:21 AT THAT TIME, ON THE TRUCK, IT HAS A CAMERA THAT ACTUALLY
09:40:24 LOOKS DOWN INSIDE THE BODY, AND AT THAT MOMENT HE STOPPED
09:40:29 THE TRUCK AND SAID, WAIT A MINUTE, SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT
09:40:32 HERE.
09:40:32 THERE IS A HUMAN BEING BACK THERE.
09:40:34 SO HE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE TRUCK, SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN,
09:40:37 BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN, THE CYLINDERS
09:40:42 BEHIND THE BLADE OF THE BODY OF THE TRUCK, IT COULD COME
09:40:44 BACK STILL AND OPERATE AND CRUSH THAT HUMAN BODY.
09:40:48 HE WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN COMPLETELY.
09:40:50 MADE A PHONE CALL TO THE OFFICE.
09:40:53 CALLED 911.
09:40:55 EVERYBODY CAME OUT THERE, AND IT WAS AN EFFORT BETWEEN THE
09:41:00 POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE RESCUE.
09:41:02 SO THEY ARE NOT HERE TO RECOGNIZE HIM, BUT I WANT TO COMMEND
09:41:05 THEM AS WELL FOR A GREAT JOB.
09:41:09 THEIR PLANNING, HOW THEY HOISTED THE GENTLEMAN OUT OF THE
09:41:12 BODY OF THE TRUCK.
09:41:13 WE'RE ALL PATIENTLY JUST SITTING THERE JUST WATCHING ALL
09:41:22 THIS EVENT UNFOLD, WONDERING, IS THE GUY ALIVE?
09:41:26 IS HE OKAY?
09:41:26 WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?
09:41:28 THROUGH HIS EFFORT HE DID A WONDERFUL JOB.
09:41:33 THIS IS HIS MOMENT.
09:41:36 AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS.
09:41:39 MR. WASHINGTON ALREADY WENT OVER YOUR HISTORY, SO THERE'S NO
09:41:42 NEED FOR ME TO READ THIS.
09:41:44 >> AND TO ADD TO THAT POINT, SO THE INDIVIDUAL INSIDE OF THE
09:41:48 DUMPSTER WAS SEEKING REFUGE.
09:41:50 IT WAS A VERY COLD DAY.
09:41:51 THE DAY BEFORE IT WAS RAINING.
09:41:53 THE INDIVIDUAL WAS TRYING TO GET -- TRYING TO ESCAPE THE
09:41:57 RAIN.
09:41:57 I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 40-DEGREE WEATHER.
09:42:00 A RATHER COLD DAY IN TAMPA.
09:42:02 SO LUCKILY, WITH YOUR DILIGENCE, WITH YOUR DEDICATION, WITH
09:42:05 YOUR TRAINING, A LIFE WAS SAVED.
09:42:08 THANK YOU AGAIN.
09:42:09 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:42:16 >>ORLANDO GUDES: TAMPA CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION PRESENTED
09:42:18 TO EFRAIN CABAN.
09:42:20 IN RECOGNITION OF EFRAIN CABAN FOR YOUR COURAGEOUS EFFORTS,
09:42:24 DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK AS A FRONT-LOAD AUTOMATED DRIVER
09:42:28 WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT, HE BEGAN HIS
09:42:30 CAREER WITH THE CITY OF TAMPA SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT IN 2020
09:42:33 WITH 20 YEARS OF PRIOR SERVICE.
09:42:35 TODAY, THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF TAMPA IS PROUD TO
09:42:38 PRESENT THIS COMMENDATION TO MR. EFRAIN CABAN, THE TYPE OF
09:42:41 EXCELLENCE, DEDICATION, AND EXEMPLARY SERVICE EVERYONE
09:42:45 ADMIRES.
09:42:46 GREAT ASSET TO THE CITY OF TAMPA, PRESENTED THIS DAY, THE
09:42:49 7th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2023.
09:42:51 THANK YOU, SIR.
09:42:53 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:42:59 >> I WANT TO THANK THE FIRST RESPONDER THAT SHOWED UP AT THE
09:43:03 AREA I WAS AT AND MY EMPLOYEE, MY BOSS, STEVE, BRUCE.
09:43:09 THEY SHOWED UP.
09:43:11 THAT'S IT.
09:43:16 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:43:17 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL, WE HAD AN EXTRAORDINARY DAY TODAY.
09:43:22 WE'VE HAD INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DONE WAY AND ABOVE WHAT THEY
09:43:25 WERE TRAINED TO DO REALLY IN A WAY.
09:43:27 AND THIS EXEMPLIFIES WHAT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF TAMPA
09:43:32 GOES THROUGH.
09:43:34 THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY, BUT I KNOW IT HAPPENED
09:43:37 SOMEWHERE ELSE IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.
09:43:39 I TELL YOU GUYS THE STORY AFTER THIS MEETING IS OVER.
09:43:42 WHAT IF HE HADN'T LOOKED IN THE MIRROR, WHAT IF HE HAD NOT
09:43:49 LOOKED AT THE CAMERA, HE WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN.
09:43:52 WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE GUIDELINE, WHAT YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION IS
09:43:55 SOMETIMES YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED.
09:43:57 WHATEVER THE STRESS OF LIFE IS YOU MIGHT HAVE FORGOTTEN TO
09:43:59 LOOK AT THAT.
09:44:00 AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.
09:44:01 YOU DID DO EVERYTHING YOU WERE TAUGHT TO DO.
09:44:09 THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE YOU, THE AWARD THAT YOU'RE
09:44:13 HAVING TODAY, NOT BECAUSE YOU JUST WORK FOR THE CITY, BUT
09:44:16 YOU WENT WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND BY MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING
09:44:20 THAT YOU WERE TAUGHT BEFORE YOU GOT YOUR COMMITMENT TO DRIVE
09:44:24 AND DO WHAT YOU DO ON A DAILY BASIS KEEP THE CITY OF TAMPA
09:44:29 RUNNING, YOU WENT AND FOLLOWED ALL YOUR INSTRUCTIONS.
09:44:32 AND FOR THAT REASON, YOU WERE ABLE TO SAVE A LIFE.
09:44:35 AND NOT TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS CAN COME HERE AND SAY THEY HAVE
09:44:39 DONE WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
09:44:40 IN FACT, I KNOW OF NONE.
09:44:41 AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE TAMPA CITY COUNCIL, I JUST WANT TO
09:44:44 SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, SIR.
09:44:46 THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
09:44:47 NOW YOU SET THE BAR AS THE STANDARD FOR ALL THE WORK IN THE
09:44:51 DEPARTMENT TO KEEP THE EYES OPEN AND TO HEAR THINGS, AND GOD
09:44:55 BLESS YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
09:44:58 [SPEAKING SPANISH]
09:45:02 >> THANK YOU.
09:45:03 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
09:45:05 >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT IS AN AMAZING STORY.
09:45:06 YOURS IS AN AMAZING STORY.
09:45:08 CONGRATULATIONS.
09:45:09 REALLY, JUST BEING AN ACTUAL LIFESAVER.
09:45:13 NOW YOU CAN PUT THAT ON YOUR RESUMÉ.
09:45:15 LIFESAVER.
09:45:16 BUT JUST FOR THE FACT THAT YOU PAID ATTENTION.
09:45:19 THE QUICK THINKING TO TURN OFF YOUR TRUCK AND MAKE SURE THAT
09:45:26 PERSON GOT THE HELP THEY NEEDED IS JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.
09:45:30 THE FORETHOUGHT YOU HAD.
09:45:33 A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD HAVE FROZEN IN THAT SPACE, IN THAT
09:45:35 TIME, AND YOU DID NOT.
09:45:37 AND IN NOT FREEZING, YOU SAVED HIS LIFE.
09:45:41 AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL STORY.
09:45:43 YOU DESERVE ABSOLUTELY ALL THIS CREDIT.
09:45:46 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
09:45:50 I KNOW THAT YOU'LL CONTINUE TO DO WONDERFUL THINGS.
09:45:52 >> THANK YOU.
09:45:55 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
09:45:56 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THERE IS TO SAY.
09:45:59 YOU ARE A HERO.
09:46:00 AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE STORIES LIKE THIS AND HEAR THIS, YOU
09:46:03 KNOW, YOU MAKE US PROUD.
09:46:05 YOU MAKE YOUR WHOLE TEAM PROUD.
09:46:06 YOU MAKE THE WHOLE CITY PROUD.
09:46:08 YOU SAVED SOMEONE'S LIFE.
09:46:11 AND YOU WILL NOT ONLY BE REMEMBERED FOR YOUR HARD WORK BUT
09:46:15 FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
09:46:16 AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING MORE I CAN SAY.
09:46:18 I'M HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
09:46:21 CONGRATULATIONS, SIR.
09:46:23 >> THANK YOU.
09:46:24 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
09:46:26 >>BILL CARLSON: SAME THING MY COLLEAGUES SAID, ALMOST
09:46:28 EVERYTHING.
09:46:29 BUT I WANT TO ADD IN A WORLD NOW WHERE WE HAVE SO MANY
09:46:32 DISTRACTIONS, WE SEE PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY 80
09:46:36 MILES AN HOUR LITERALLY WITH BOTH HANDS ON THEIR PHONE
09:46:38 TEXTING, NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
09:46:40 THEY ARE NOT EVEN HOLDING THE HANDLE OF THE CAR.
09:46:43 SO MANY PEOPLE AREN'T PAYING ATTENTION ANYWHERE.
09:46:46 THAT'S WHY PEDESTRIANS ARE HIT, ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
09:46:49 CONSIDERING THE WORK YOU DO, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S INCREDIBLY
09:46:55 IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION AND BE PRESENT.
09:46:57 AND, WOW, IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU SAW HANDS THERE.
09:46:59 THEY COULD MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THIS, THAT YOU SAVED THIS
09:47:02 PERSON.
09:47:03 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
09:47:05 YOU'RE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL OF US.
09:47:07 >> THANK YOU.
09:47:08 >>JOSEPH CITRO: WHENEVER I PASS SOLID WASTE -- AND I'M SURE
09:47:12 SOME OF THE GUYS IN HERE KNOW -- I'M ALWAYS SAYING SOLID
09:47:16 WASTE RULES.
09:47:16 SOLID WASTE ROCKS.
09:47:18 YOU GUYS ARE NUMBER ONE.
09:47:20 THE AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CITY, BUT TODAY IS
09:47:26 ABOUT YOU, THE AMAZING THING YOU DID FOR OUR CITY.
09:47:32 THANK YOU FOR SAVING A LIFE.
09:47:33 THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF TAMPA'S FAMILY.
09:47:37 THANK YOU FOR MAKING TAMPA LOOK GOOD.
09:47:39 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
09:47:41 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:47:41 COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
09:47:53 COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, YOU ARE GOING TO BE GIVING A
09:48:09 COMMENDATION.
09:48:10 I MUST SAY, I DON'T SEE ONE UGLY MAN IN THIS ROOM.
09:48:14 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I WALKED IN AND I ASKED IF MY GROUP IS
09:48:17 HERE.
09:48:18 AND SOMEBODY SAYS, YOUR 13 UGLY MEN ARE HERE BUT THEY ARE
09:48:21 NOT UGLY.
09:48:22 I SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A GREAT GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.
09:48:28 FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS HERE IN TAMPA, HELPING, GIVING BACK TO
09:48:32 THIS COMMUNITY.
09:48:33 I HEARD THE NAME 13 UGLY MEN SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER.
09:48:36 AT FIRST, WHEN YOU HEAR IT, YOU GO, 13 UGLY MEN.
09:48:40 WHAT IS THIS?
09:48:42 BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMUNITY SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE
09:48:44 DONE, HOW THEY HAVE GIVEN BACK, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RAISED.
09:48:49 IT'S NOT JUST THE PARADES.
09:48:52 YOU SEE THEM IN THE PARADES AND THEIR FLOATS OR THE PARTIES
09:48:55 THAT THEY HOST.
09:48:55 EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO HELP SOMEBODY OR AN ORGANIZATION OR
09:49:00 CHILDREN OR WHOMEVER THEY MAY BE.
09:49:02 IT'S A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE DEDICATING TO MAKING
09:49:05 OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.
09:49:07 AND THEY MADE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.
09:49:10 THEIR FINGERPRINTS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN A POSITIVE WAY
09:49:13 AND HOW THEY HAVE HELPED.
09:49:15 WHO WISHES TO COME UP?
09:49:17 IF YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP.
09:49:19 SO WE HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL COMMENDATION, WHICH IS A VERY
09:49:26 SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE.
09:49:29 I'LL READ IT QUICKLY.
09:49:30 TAMPA CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY RECOGNIZES THE 13 UGLY MEN FOR
09:49:33 THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
09:49:35 THE 13 UGLY MEN WERE ORIGINALLY FOUNDED IN TAMPA IN 1994 AND
09:49:39 SINCE THAT TIME HAVE HOSTED HUNDREDS OF PARTIES TO RAISE
09:49:42 MONEY FOR LOCAL TAMPA CHARITIES.
09:49:43 OVER $2 MILLION.
09:49:45 I HEARD $3 MILLION, BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
09:49:48 HAS BEEN RAISED AND DONATED TO OVER 100 LOCAL CHARITIES,
09:49:51 SPANNING THE LAST THREE DECADES, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE FEAT
09:49:54 FOR JUST A FEW VOLUNTEERS WHOSE MOTTO IS "PARTY WITH A
09:49:58 PURPOSE."
09:49:59 THEY HAVE NOT ONLY RAISED MONEY AND GARNERED AWARENESS FOR
09:50:02 LOCAL CHARITIES, THEY HAVE ALSO DEDICATED COUNTLESS
09:50:05 MAN-HOURS PAINTING BUILDINGS, SERVING FOOD, REMODELING
09:50:09 FIREHOUSES, AND MANY OTHER ACTS OF SELFLESSNESS.
09:50:13 THE 13 UGLY MEN HAVE BECOME AN ICON IN TAMPA, AND THAT'S
09:50:17 VERY, VERY TRUE.
09:50:17 IT IS TAMPA CITY COUNCIL'S PROFOUND HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO
09:50:20 PRESENT THE 13 UGLY MEN OF TAMPA BAY WITH THIS COMMENDATION
09:50:22 ON THE 7th DAY OF FEBRUARY 2023.
09:50:25 THERE YOU GO.
09:50:27 I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO HOLD IT.
09:50:30 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:50:36 >> SURE.
09:50:37 BY THE WAY, THE WORD "UGLY" IT'S MY FAULT.
09:50:43 I STARTED THE WHOLE THING.
09:50:44 THIS IS AMAZING.
09:50:46 WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE RECOGNITION.
09:50:48 WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME.
09:50:50 I SAID I WOULD BE OLD AND BALD BY THE TIME WE GOT
09:50:53 RECOGNITION.
09:50:54 HERE YOU HAVE IT.
09:50:55 I'M OLD AND BALD.
09:50:56 WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
09:50:57 THE GUYS BEHIND ME, I'M ONE OF THE ORIGINAL OLD GUYS NOW,
09:51:02 BUT THE GUYS BEHIND ME WHO ARE MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE, THEY
09:51:04 HAVE BROUGHT US TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
09:51:06 THESE GUYS HAVE MADE AN EVEN BIGGER DEAL, RAISING A LOT MORE
09:51:10 MONEY.
09:51:11 THE HISTORY IS BACK IN THE DAY, WE HAD TOO MANY PEOPLE
09:51:14 ATTENDING OUR EVENTS, SO WE HAD TO ACTUALLY CHARGE A COVER
09:51:17 TO REDUCE THE VOLUME.
09:51:18 AND WE CHARGED A COVER, WE HAD MONEY.
09:51:21 WE SAID WE DON'T WANT THE MONEY, DON'T NEED THE MONEY.
09:51:24 LET'S GIVE IT AWAY TO THE LOCAL CHARITY.
09:51:27 THAT'S HOW THIS ALL CAME TO BE.
09:51:29 I'M HONORED.
09:51:29 THESE GUYS ARE KILLING IT BEHIND ME.
09:51:31 I'M VERY PROUD OF THEM.
09:51:33 WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR ACCOMMODATING US TODAY.
09:51:36 APPRECIATE IT.
09:51:38 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:51:40 >> THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR.
09:51:41 I'VE BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE GROUP FOR THE PAST DECADE.
09:51:44 WHAT'S FUN IS SEEING THAT WE'RE HELPING THE TAMPA THEATRE,
09:51:49 THE CHILDREN'S GLAZER MUSEUM.
09:51:51 WE'RE USING STEPP'S TOWING.
09:51:54 WE'RE INVOLVED IN ALL THESE -- IT'S REALLY COMMUNITY, AND IT
09:51:57 TAKES ALL OF US TO HELP THE COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO
09:52:00 CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
09:52:01 EVEN THE RIVER CENTER IS A VENUE THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO
09:52:04 OUR DERBY PARTY AT NEXT YEAR.
09:52:06 WE THANK YOU FOR THE HONOR AND WE APPRECIATE THE TIME AND
09:52:08 THE CONSIDERATION.
09:52:11 IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED TO GET THIS RECOGNITION.
09:52:14 THANKS.
09:52:14 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:52:18 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:52:19 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:52:20 I HATE TO BE THE WIND BLOWER THAT KNOCKS THE SAIL OUT, BUT
09:52:24 ALL OF YOU ARE NOT UGLY; ONLY SOME.
09:52:27 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:52:27 THAT'S NUMBER ONE.
09:52:28 NUMBER TWO, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE
09:52:30 AND TO MAKE THE CITY OF TAMPA AND THE WHOLE AREA BETTER.
09:52:33 NUMBER THREE, I COUNT 16 OF YOU.
09:52:37 IT'S 13.
09:52:40 MY DEGREE WAS IN CRIMINOLOGY, SO I STUDY EVERYTHING BEFORE I
09:52:45 OPEN MY MOUTH.
09:52:45 BUT YOU GUYS ARE GREAT.
09:52:47 THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
09:52:49 AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE CITY OF TAMPA WHOLLY HELPING
09:52:53 PEOPLE.
09:52:53 CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR WHAT YOU
09:52:56 CONTINUE TO DO.
09:52:56 AND APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
09:52:58 GOD BLESS YOU GUYS.
09:53:00 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
09:53:04 >>ORLANDO GUDES: 13 UGLY MEN.
09:53:06 13 ILLUSTRIOUS MEN.
09:53:12 THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
09:53:14 THANK YOU, MR. MANISCALCO, FOR RECOGNIZING THIS ORGANIZATION
09:53:17 AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
09:53:19 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
09:53:20 >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU.
09:53:24 EVERYBODY HAS A GIFT AND EVERYBODY USES IT IN A DIFFERENT
09:53:27 WAY.
09:53:28 AND I LOVE THE WAY THAT YOU TAKE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF EACH
09:53:33 OTHER AND FRIENDSHIP AND USE THAT TO RAISE MONEY FOR CAUSES
09:53:39 THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
09:53:41 THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES AS THE TYPE OF PEOPLE YOU ARE.
09:53:45 SO WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING
09:53:51 AND KEEP IT UP.
09:53:52 THANK YOU.
09:53:54 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
09:53:57 >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO.
09:54:00 THANKS TO GUIDO FOR PROPOSING THIS.
09:54:01 I'M KICKING MYSELF FOR NOT PROPOSING IT MYSELF.
09:54:05 I'VE BEEN FRIENDS WITH LEE FOREVER.
09:54:07 I SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT MYSELF.
09:54:09 GREAT IDEA.
09:54:10 YOU GUYS DESERVE TO BE HONORED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN HONORED
09:54:12 A LONG TIME AGO.
09:54:13 I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN YOU ALL STARTED BUT I REMEMBER
09:54:16 AROUND THAT TIME WHEN THE FIRST EVENT STARTED.
09:54:18 TAMPA HAS ALWAYS HAD GREAT FUN THINGS TO DO, BUT YOU ALL PUT
09:54:23 ON THE BEST PARTIES, THE BEST EVENTS.
09:54:25 AND IT REALLY CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF TAMPA.
09:54:27 IT CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT TAMPA AND THE
09:54:30 EXPERIENCES THAT PEOPLE HAD IN TAMPA.
09:54:32 I THINK MOST ALL OF YOU ARE ENTREPRENEURS, SUCCESSFUL
09:54:36 ENTREPRENEURS.
09:54:36 SO YOU SET A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU CAN ADD TO THE
09:54:41 ECONOMY, BUILD A BUSINESS, HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY
09:54:44 CREATING WEALTH IN THE COMMUNITY.
09:54:46 BUT THEN YOU ARE GIVING BACK AND ALSO ADDING TO THE CULTURAL
09:54:50 SCENE.
09:54:50 THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THE
09:54:52 COMMUNITY, AS YOU SAID VERY EARLY ON, YOU ALL STARTED TO
09:54:55 CONTRIBUTE TO CHARITIES AND GREAT CHARITIES AND YOU BECAME
09:54:57 RESPECTED AS A VERY IMPORTANT NONPROFIT.
09:54:59 I KNOW THAT CHARITIES KIND OF LIKE FIGHT TO SEE WHO IS GOING
09:55:01 TO GET YOUR SUPPORT.
09:55:02 SO THANK YOU ALL.
09:55:04 I'VE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE GROUP
09:55:06 OVER THE YEARS.
09:55:08 THE PROBLEM IS THEY ALL GET MARRIED OFF.
09:55:09 THEIR WIVES TELL THEM THEY CAN'T BE A PART OF THE PARTIES
09:55:12 ANYMORE.
09:55:12 [ LAUGHTER ]
09:55:13 ANYWAY, THANK YOU ALL FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
09:55:15 I HOPE THIS GROUP WILL GO ON FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE YOU
09:55:18 CONTRIBUTE A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY.
09:55:19 THANKS.
09:55:20 >>JOSEPH CITRO: GENTLEMEN, WITH A GREAT, GOOD-LOOKING GUY
09:55:25 LIKE ALGI MOUSER -- [ LAUGHTER ] -- YOU KNOW THIS GROUP IS
09:55:32 DOING GREAT THINGS.
09:55:33 THERE ARE GROUPS THAT GO OUT THERE AND PARTY AND HAVE A GOOD
09:55:36 TIME, BUT YOU ALL PARTY WITH A PASSION.
09:55:38 AND THAT PASSION IS TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.
09:55:41 I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE GREAT THINGS YOU HAVE DONE,
09:55:46 ESPECIALLY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THINGS THAT WERE LISTED BY
09:55:49 COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
09:55:50 AM I GOING TO SEE YOU ALL SATURDAY AT THE KNIGHT PARADE?
09:55:56 ALL RIGHT.
09:55:57 LET'S HAVE FUN.
09:55:57 CONTINUE THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, NOT ONLY FOR THIS
09:56:01 COMMUNITY, BUT FOR THE CITY.
09:56:03 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
09:56:04 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:56:09 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ONE LAST THING, CHAIRMAN CITRO AND I ARE
09:56:14 WATCH NUTS.
09:56:16 I SEE QUITE A FEW -- I SAW A NICE STEVE McQUEEN MONACO
09:56:20 OVER HERE, A NICE AP ROYAL OAK.
09:56:24 THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
09:56:26 >>JOSEPH CITRO: I JUST GOT A 1968 SEAMASTER.
09:56:30 SORRY ABOUT THAT, GUYS.
09:56:31 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I HAVE AN OLD BULOVA.
09:56:37 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA.
09:57:17 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, HONORABLE
09:57:20 MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
09:57:21 IT'S AGAIN A PLEASURE TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU TO MAKE A
09:57:25 COMMENDATION PRESENTED BY ALL OF US TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS
09:57:29 CERTAINLY EARNED IT.
09:57:31 32 YEARS IN ONE JOB CONSISTENTLY IS AN HONOR IN ITSELF.
09:57:35 IN FACT, IF THERE WERE TERM LIMITS, NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE
09:57:39 IT.
09:57:40 SHE'S HERE WITH US.
09:57:41 SHE IS A FRIEND OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS, MORE THAN 32 YEARS,
09:57:45 AND SHE HAD BEEN WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY WITH SOMETHING THAT
09:57:48 REALLY NEEDS HELP MOST OF THE TIME, BUT NOT EVERY MINUTE IN
09:57:51 OUR LIVES.
09:57:52 THAT'S FINDING HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO REALLY NEED IT
09:57:56 THROUGH TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY.
09:57:57 SHE'S BEEN WORKING THERE FOR 32 YEARS.
09:57:59 SHE JUST RETIRED ABOUT TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO.
09:58:02 AND LILLIAN STRINGER IS AN UNBELIEVABLE PERSON WHO HAS
09:58:06 HELPED SO MANY, NOT HUNDREDS, BUT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN HER
09:58:10 DUTIES AT TAMPA HOUSING.
09:58:10 WITH US TODAY IS MR. MOORE, WHO ALSO WILL SAY A FEW WORDS
09:58:15 ABOUT LILLIAN BEFORE WE MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
09:58:18 >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MIRANDA AND TAMPA CITY COUNCIL.
09:58:20 ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND OUR PRESIDENT
09:58:23 AND CEO, THIS HAS BEEN THE HEART OF TAMPA HOUSING AUTHORITY
09:58:27 FOR 32 YEARS.
09:58:28 I'VE ALWAYS SAID NOBODY POURS MORE LOVE INTO THEIR WORK THAN
09:58:33 LILLIAN STRINGER.
09:58:34 AND SHE'S BEEN SO IMPACTFUL ON THE FAMILIES, NOT JUST WITH
09:58:37 THE JOB THAT SHE DOES, WHICH IS COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND
09:58:41 STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, BUT PRIOR TO THAT ROLE, SHE PLAYED
09:58:46 A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING SERVICES DIRECTLY TO OUR
09:58:50 FAMILIES TO HELP THEM GAIN GREATER LEVELS OF
09:58:53 SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
09:58:55 AND THE AMOUNT OF LOVE THAT SHE'S POURED INTO THEM IMPACTED
09:58:58 THEIR LIVES FOR GENERATIONS.
09:59:00 SO WE ARE INCREDIBLY HONORED TO HAVE HAD HER SERVE THIS
09:59:06 GREAT COMMUNITY AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR 32 YEARS.
09:59:11 [ APPLAUSE ]
09:59:15 >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: LILLIAN, ON BEHALF OF TAMPA CITY COUNCIL,
09:59:18 IT IS YOUR RECOGNITION OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE, LIKE MR. MOORE
09:59:21 SAID, NOT ONLY WHAT YOU DID YESTERDAY, THE DAY BEFORE, AND
09:59:24 WAY BACK WHEN YOU STARTED TO HELP MANY, MANY THOUSANDS OF
09:59:27 PEOPLE.
09:59:27 AND WHEN YOU HELP ONE, YOU HELP THE WHOLE FAMILY.
09:59:30 YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY TIMES, TIMES, TIMES, BECAUSE THEN THOSE
09:59:33 YOUTH COME UP AND THEY HAVE A BETTER PLACE IN LIFE BECAUSE
09:59:37 YOURSELF, WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND HELP THEM GET A LEG UP, NEVER
09:59:40 A PUSH DOWN.
09:59:41 SO FOR THAT, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL PRESENTS YOU WITH THIS
09:59:44 COMMENDATION FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE,
09:59:47 WHICH TURNS OUT TO MANY THOUSANDS WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT.
09:59:50 CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE.
09:59:52 CONGRATULATIONS FOR DOING YOUR DEDICATED WORK ON A DAILY
09:59:55 BASIS.
09:59:56 YOU NEVER GAVE UP HOPE.
09:59:57 YOU GAVE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO FEEL SOMETHING IS GOING TO
10:00:00 HAPPEN FOR THE BETTERMENT.
10:00:01 AND YOU'VE DONE THAT.
10:00:02 BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TODAY AS YOUR DAY FOR
10:00:05 YOUR COMMENDATION.
10:00:06 THANK YOU, LILLIAN.
10:00:07 >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:00:08 THANK YOU.
10:00:12 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:00:14 >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
10:00:15 THANK YOU ALL FOR AGREEING TO PRESENT THE COMMENDATION TO
10:00:19 ME.
10:00:19 I WAS A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC HOUSING, GROWING UP WITH NO IDEA
10:00:24 OF HAVING TO EVEN GO TO COLLEGE OR ANYTHING.
10:00:27 HAD TROUBLE WITH GETTING INTO COLLEGE, WELL, NOT REALLY
10:00:30 GETTING INTO, GETTING THERE.
10:00:32 MY PARENTS NEVER TALKED OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN MY HOME.
10:00:36 NO ONE EVER GRADUATED.
10:00:37 MY FATHER, MY MOTHER.
10:00:39 SO I HAD NO ROLE MODELS ABOUT THAT, BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO
10:00:43 GO TO COLLEGE.
10:00:44 I REMEMBER IN SECOND GRADE I GOT A COMMENDATION FROM THE
10:00:48 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
10:00:51 IN THE THIRD GRADE, I WAS THE HIGHEST SCORER OF ENGLISH
10:00:55 COMPOSITION IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
10:00:56 THAT PROPELLED ME TO CONTINUE ON TO TRY AND TRY AND TRY.
10:01:00 SO HERE I AM TODAY, AFTER 32 YEARS OF HAVING TO -- AND
10:01:04 WORKING FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, HAVING GRADUATED FROM THE
10:01:08 UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, STARTED OUT WITH FAMU WITH A
10:01:11 SCHOLARSHIP.
10:01:11 JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT FOR ME.
10:01:13 IT WAS A LITTLE SOCIAL.
10:01:14 BUT I'M JUST SO THANKFUL THAT I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY
10:01:16 AND THAT DESPITE MY HARD TIMES AND ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS THAT I
10:01:20 WAS ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT AHEAD.
10:01:24 32 YEARS AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS PROVIDED ME WITH AN
10:01:26 OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH SOME FINE PEOPLE, TO SPEARHEAD SOME
10:01:30 FINE PROGRAMS THAT ARE STILL OPERATING TODAY THAT SERVE THE
10:01:33 SENIOR CITIZENS, THE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ESPECIALLY MY
10:01:37 SENIORS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FORGOTTEN POPULATION I THINK.
10:01:40 THEY PAY THEIR RENT ON TIME.
10:01:42 THEY NEVER CAUSE ANY PROBLEMS.
10:01:44 THEY ARE QUIET, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING FOR THEM TO DO.
10:01:46 SO I INSTITUTED A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS THAT REALLY PROPELLED
10:01:49 THEM TO WANT TO BE MORE PARTICIPATORY IN A LOT OF THINGS
10:01:53 THAT WE DO.
10:01:54 I FELT THAT THEY COULD SHARE SO MUCH WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, SO I
10:01:59 CREATED THE INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAM WHERE THE SENIORS
10:02:03 WOULD COME IN AND THEY WOULD TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE, TELL THEM
10:02:06 ABOUT HOW YOU GREW UP, WHAT TIMES WERE LIKE, WHAT TOYS YOU
10:02:11 HAD BACK THEN, WHAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE, AND HOW YOU MADE IT
10:02:13 THROUGH.
10:02:14 THOSE THINGS STILL LINGER IN MY HEART AS A WAY TO ALWAYS
10:02:17 THAT WE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT US ALONG
10:02:19 AND THOSE ARE OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
10:02:21 SO THAT REMAINS A WARM PLACE IN MY HEART.
10:02:24 I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO LEROY, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FIRM
10:02:27 SUPPORTER OF MINE.
10:02:29 HE WASN'T ALWAYS MY SUPERVISOR, BUT WHEN HE TOOK OVER, I
10:02:33 COULD BEGIN TO SEE A CHANGE IN THINGS AND THE OPERATIONS OF
10:02:35 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE WAY THEY WERE HEADED IN TERMS
10:02:37 OF MAKING IMPROVEMENTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTS.
10:02:40 I LIVED IN COLLEGE HILL, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS
10:02:44 PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN THE NATION, I THINK, NEXT TO
10:02:49 CENTER PARK VILLAGE.
10:02:50 AS YOU KNOW NOW IT IS BEAUTIFUL ENCORE DOWNTOWN.
10:02:55 BACK THEN, I CAN TELL YOU IN MY MIND, TO THINK TO CHANGE
10:02:59 PUBLIC HOUSING WAS THE ADVENT OF THE VIETNAM WAR, WHERE ALL
10:03:03 OF OUR GUYS GOT DRAFTED.
10:03:04 WHEN THEY CAME BACK, ALL YOU HEARD ON THE STREET WAS REEFER
10:03:10 AND REEFER, AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING STARTED GOING DOWN.
10:03:13 PUBLIC HOUSING AT THAT TIME WAS BEAUTIFUL.
10:03:16 WE HAD GREAT BEAUTIFUL YARD CONTESTS.
10:03:17 YOU COULD BUY A LAWN MOWER TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR YARD.
10:03:18 IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.
10:03:23 WE HAD MANGO TREES, ORANGE TREES, AVOCADO TREES.
10:03:26 PUBLIC HOUSING WAS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE UNTIL THE ADVENT OF
10:03:29 DRUGS.
10:03:29 THAT, MY FRIENDS, TURNED PUBLIC HOUSING AROUND.
10:03:32 I SAY ALL OF THAT TO SAY THIS, WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE TORE
10:03:37 DOWN NORTH BOULEVARD COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS ALMOST 40 ACRES,
10:03:40 AND IT IS NOW THE BEAUTIFUL WEST RIVER COMMUNITY.
10:03:43 IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE TO SEE IT, IT IS A SIGHT TO
10:03:46 BEHOLD.
10:03:47 WE KEEP DOING REDEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVING LIVES AND
10:03:50 IMPROVING LIVES, NOT ONLY JUST FOR OUR SENIORS BUT NOW FOR
10:03:55 YOUNGER PEOPLE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO ASPIRE TO AND TO BE
10:03:59 PROUD OF WHERE THEY CAME FROM.
10:04:00 WITH THAT, I AM JUST SO THANKFUL FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY
10:04:03 OF HAVING PROVIDED ME WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE
10:04:07 ABOUT THE HOUSING INDUSTRY, TO SERVE ON NATIONAL BOARDS AND
10:04:10 COUNCILS REPRESENTING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
10:04:13 AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY PLEASURE.
10:04:15 I THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT.
10:04:17 THANK YOU, CHARLIE, FOR EVEN WHEN I WAS A STUDENT IN HIGH
10:04:20 SCHOOL AND THEN I WENT TO OFF TO COLLEGE, EVERY SUMMER, I
10:04:25 WORKED AT THE CITY HALL.
10:04:27 EVERY SINGLE SUMMER FOR FOUR YEARS.
10:04:30 AND THAT WAS UNHEARD OF, I THINK.
10:04:32 BUT I OWE IT ALL TO CHARLIE AND TO FORMER MAYOR SANDY
10:04:35 FREEDMAN OF THINKING OF ME AS A PERSON WORTHY OF HAVING THAT
10:04:40 OPPORTUNITY.
10:04:41 I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME.
10:04:43 I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND TO
10:04:48 PITCH IN WHEREVER I CAN TO CONTINUE TO MAKE LIFE BETTER,
10:04:52 ESPECIALLY FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND FOR THOSE SEEKING
10:04:55 HOUSING AND CAN'T FIND IT.
10:04:56 THANK YOU SO MUCH.
10:04:58 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:05:03 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN GUDES.
10:05:04 >>ORLANDO GUDES: MS. STRINGER, I'VE KNOWN YOU A LONG TIME.
10:05:11 I'M GLAD YOU WERE ABLE TO KIND OF SHARE OF THE HISTORY AND
10:05:15 STORY OF PUBLIC HOUSING.
10:05:16 A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY, A LOT OF OUR
10:05:20 PROMINENT LEADERS LIVED IN THOSE AREAS.
10:05:23 LIVED THERE.
10:05:24 WAS NOT THE WAY IT WAS.
10:05:26 YOU'RE RIGHT, WHEN DRUGS TOOK OVER, IT DECLINED.
10:05:29 I THINK YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR LIFE
10:05:33 EXPERIENCES HELPED THOSE IN PUBLIC HOUSING TO SHOW THEM
10:05:38 THERE IS A WAY OUT.
10:05:39 THERE IS A WAY TO UPLIFT THEMSELVES TO GET HOPE.
10:05:42 AND ONCE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED AND UNDERSTAND IT,
10:05:45 THEY CAN TELL PEOPLE, PEOPLE BELIEVE IT.
10:05:47 THEY DO BETTER.
10:05:49 PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK, BUT YOU WALK THE WALK.
10:05:54 I TELL PEOPLE, DEON IS RIGHT ABOUT WHAT HE SAYS.
10:05:59 WHEN YOU LOOK GOOD, YOU FEEL GOOD.
10:06:02 ACT GOOD, YOU DO BETTER.
10:06:03 IT'S JUST A CHANCE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT, GET IT.
10:06:07 YOU WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IT YOURSELF AND CHERISH AND SPREAD
10:06:13 IT TO OTHERS TO MAKE THEM BETTER.
10:06:15 FOR THAT, I SAY THANK YOU.
10:06:17 ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT, BUT I KNOW YOU WILL NOT BE RETIRED.
10:06:20 I KNOW LEROY IS GOING TO CALL TO YOU GO MENTOR OR COACH
10:06:23 SOMEBODY.
10:06:24 AGAIN, WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
10:06:28 >> THANK YOU.
10:06:28 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK.
10:06:29 >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.
10:06:33 MY MOTHER WAS A SOCIAL WORKER IN CENTRAL PARK VILLAGE IN THE
10:06:37 EARLY '70s, LATE '60s.
10:06:39 AND YOU ARE -- I MEAN, SHE TELLS STORIES OF HOW DRUGS REALLY
10:06:44 CHANGED THE COMMUNITY, BUT OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO LIVED
10:06:51 THERE.
10:06:52 AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN'T FORGET WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC
10:06:57 HOUSING IS ALL THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WE ARE HELPING.
10:07:02 AND YOUR CAREER JUST EMBODIES THAT.
10:07:05 THE THOUSANDS OF LIVES YOU'VE TOUCHED.
10:07:08 THE WAY YOU'VE HELPED PEOPLE IN WAYS YOU'LL NEVER KNOW.
10:07:11 AND HOW, AS MR. MIRANDA SAID, JUST HELPING PAY IT FORWARD TO
10:07:16 THE NEXT GENERATION, TO KNOW WHAT LIVING IN A SAFE PLACE IS
10:07:24 LIKE.
10:07:25 ABLE TO HAVE HOUSING.
10:07:26 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK WITH SENIORS AND WITH
10:07:29 YOUTH.
10:07:31 SENIORS ARE AN UNDERLOOKED COMMUNITY, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE
10:07:34 THE FACT THAT YOU FOCUSED ON THAT.
10:07:37 I KNOW YOU'LL FIND A WONDERFUL WAY TO CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK
10:07:42 IN YOUR RETIREMENT.
10:07:43 I JUST HOPE YOU'LL ALSO TAKE SOME TIME FOR YOURSELF.
10:07:46 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
10:07:47 >> THANK YOU.
10:07:48 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO.
10:07:51 >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR MANY YEARS OF
10:07:55 SERVICE.
10:07:56 I DON'T THINK THEY USED THE WORD "LEGENDARY" BUT YOUR
10:08:00 REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU.
10:08:01 YOU ARE VERY WELL KNOWN, AND YOUR COMMITMENT IN GIVING BACK
10:08:05 AND SERVING AND HELPING AND LIFTING PEOPLE UP, TALKING ABOUT
10:08:08 PUBLIC HOUSING, WHEN MY FAMILY CAME HERE, MY MOM WITH MY
10:08:13 GRANDPARENTS FROM CUBA WHEN THEY FIRST CAME TO TAMPA, THEY
10:08:16 WERE AT ROBLES PARK AND THEN THEY WOULD RENT A HOUSE AND
10:08:21 YEARS LATER BUY A HOUSE.
10:08:23 MY FAMILY HAS BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY CAME HERE
10:08:27 WITH NOTHING.
10:08:29 BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE THAT HELPED THEM FIND A PLACE TO
10:08:32 LIVE AND TO STAY.
10:08:34 AND 60 YEARS LATER MY MOM STILL TALKS ABOUT IT AND REMEMBERS
10:08:38 IT.
10:08:39 AGAIN, THEY WERE HELPED BY THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY,
10:08:43 JUST LIKE YOU HAVE HELPED AND YOUR TEAM HAS CONTINUOUSLY
10:08:47 HELPED TO LIFT PEOPLE UP AND GIVE THEM A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE
10:08:52 IN, TO LIVE IN DIGNITY OR JUST A HAND UP, NOT A HAND OUT, IN
10:08:57 TRYING TO GIVE BACK AND HELP OTHERS.
10:08:59 SO ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.
10:09:01 CONGRATULATIONS.
10:09:02 AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
10:09:05 >> THANK YOU.
10:09:05 >>JOSEPH CITRO: COUNCILMAN CARLSON.
10:09:08 >>BILL CARLSON: I ECHO EVERYTHING MY COLLEAGUES SAID.
10:09:10 THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE AND WHAT YOU'VE
10:09:12 DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
10:09:14 I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US CITY COUNCIL
10:09:17 MEMBERS UPDATED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.
10:09:21 YOU KEPT US INFORMED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
10:09:23 WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO NEXT.
10:09:26 AND IF WE CAN HELP IN SOME WAY, LET US KNOW.
10:09:31 BECAUSE OF ALL YOU'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEARS, I IMAGINE
10:09:34 YOU'RE NOT GOING TO JUST TRAVEL.
10:09:36 YOU'LL PROBABLY BE INVOLVED IN ADVOCACY IN SOME WAY.
10:09:39 SO PLEASE STAY IN TOUCH AND LET US KNOW IF WE CAN HELP YOU
10:09:42 IN ANY WAY.
10:09:43 >> THANK YOU.
10:09:43 I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT.
10:09:44 [ LAUGHTER ]
10:09:46 >>JOSEPH CITRO: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
10:09:49 YOU'VE HELPED GIVE PEOPLE FOUR WALLS AND A ROOF.
10:09:54 BUT WHAT'S MORE IS YOU'VE GIVEN THEM HOPE.
10:09:57 YOU'VE GIVEN THEM HOPE OF A BETTER LIFE AND A BETTER LIFE
10:10:02 ALWAYS STARTS WITH A ROOF AND FOUR WALLS TO KEEP YOU
10:10:07 SHELTERED.
10:10:07 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
10:10:10 ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE LAST
10:10:13 WE'RE GOING TO SEE OF YOU.
10:10:14 THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
10:10:16 >> THANK YOU.
10:10:17 THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENDATION.
10:10:18 [ APPLAUSE ]
10:10:22 >>JOSEPH CITRO: DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US?
10:10:26 THEN WITHOUT OBJECTION, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
10:10:30 [ SOUNDING GAVEL ]
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