he Republican National Convention will bring a record number of television cameras to town, but is Tampa ready for its close-up?

No, says City Council member Harry Cohen.

“The most likely scenario is that every major national news broadcast is going to be broadcast from Bayshore Boulevard during the last week in August,” he says.

But after months of various road projects to improve parts of Bayshore and the Platt Street bridge, Cohen calls the boulevard “a patchwork quilt of all different levels, colors and various grades,” with weeds poking through gaps in the pavement.

Bayshore is better than it was, he says, but not what it should be.

“I am frustrated that this city asset is not going to be able to put its best foot forward when the eyes of the world are upon us,” Cohen says.

Don’t worry, says Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

By the time the convention is gaveled to order on Aug. 27, he expects Tampa will have done one and maybe two projects to beautify Bayshore.

“We will have our prom dress on, lipstick affixed, and we will be ready for the show,” Buckhorn said Friday. “We’ll be like Cinderella at the dance.” 

Full story here.