Bob Buckhorn will, in my opinion, be recognized as one of the great mayors in Tampa's history. He helped greatly with the diversification of the city's economy. The downtown renaissance happened on his watch and with his direct involvement.The city's long-imagined Riverwalk is no longer a dream, and it is proving to be what everyone said it could be. Remarkable old buildings once abandoned have been refurbished and are useful again, adding to Tampa's character.His relentless push for the downtown Waterworks Park gave the city a first-rate gathering spot along the Hillsborough River. Partnerships with Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and the University of South Florida will pay dividends for decades to come.There is one area, though, where I simply do not understand what the mayor is thinking. His opposition to placing a Cuban consulate in Tampa — specifically Ybor City — is baffling and inconsistent with his other proactive moves during five-plus years in office.Buckhorn has said he won't support bringing a consulate here as long as a repressive regime runs Cuba. I have always believed that is nonsense. Change happens from within, and normalizing relations with the island nation 90 miles from Key West is a big step toward that.It's in Florida's best interest.It's in Tampa's best interest.Tampa has the rich Cuban heritage.Rich?Way more than that. The José Martí Park on Eighth Avenue in Ybor City has been owned by the Cuban government since 1956. From cafe con leche to the grand old cigar buildings in Ybor, Tampa's link to Cuba is real and deep.Yet, the mayor is willing to stand by and let the consulate go to St. Petersburg. Its mayor, Rick Kriseman, has aggressively pursued this prize for his city.I don't get it, and I'm not alone.Tampa City Council member Yvonne Yolie Capin recently told Paul Guzzo of the Tampa Bay Times , "It is very sad that our mayor has been AWOL on this subject. Cuba is part of this city's history. He doesn't seem to understand that."U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has been a champion for Tampa on this issue. Asked about Buckhorn's lack of involvement, she recently said, "They have the congresswoman from Tampa who is the lead sponsor of a bill to lift the embargo. They have the congresswoman from Tampa who reinstated the bipartisan Cuban working group meant to advance U.S.-Cuban relations."In other words, they have Kathy Castor.The movement to strengthen ties with Cuba will likely only pick up speed if Hillary Clinton is elected president. Buckhorn and Castor are strong backers of Clinton, and if this issue ever reaches her desk in the Oval Office, she may ask Castor what the deal is with the reluctant mayor.A lot of people are asking that.This issue does resonate differently in other parts of our state, particularly in Miami where anti-Castro sentiment runs deep. No one is pretending the steps toward normalization that have taken place so far made life better for most of the Cuban people. Corruption remains rampant and human rights violations continue.But the U.S. embargo against Cuba hasn't changed anything either. Nearly 56 years of U.S. sanctions haven't run the Castro family from power. It's time for a new approach.Tampa could be at the forefront of that movement.Check that. Tampa should be at the forefront.Opening a Cuban consulate in Ybor City would be a big step in that direction. Kathy Castor and many other people believe that, but Tampa's mayor, who has done so much and has been such an unflinching champion for this city, is not among them.That is puzzling. Contact Joe Henderson at joehtampa@gmail.com. Follow @JHendersonTampa