Anna M. Phillips, Times Staff Writer
Anna Phillips writes about government and politics in Pinellas County. Before joining the Times in 2012, she covered the New York City public schools for the New York Times' SchoolBook website and for GothamSchools. She grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia and graduated from Columbia University.
Phone: (727) 893-8779
Email: aphillips@tampabay.com
Twitter: @annamphillips
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At St. Petersburg City Council session, the eyes didn't have it
06/15/13LocalLullabies
St. Petersburg City Council members must need to rest their eyes when they can — even when being paid to represent residents.
A camera caught Jim Kennedy rocking in his chair with his eyes closed for one minute during a recent council meeting. Someone posted the video on YouTube, titled "Jim Kennedy Pondering Difficult Topics."
It's common for residents to blast the council for not paying attention during meetings. ...
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Tampa art students to design Safe Harbor fundraising campaign
06/12/13 Local GovernmentA class of undergraduates at the Art Institute of Tampa has been handed a challenge: Make Pinellas residents care about the homeless.
The students have been asked to design a public awareness campaign that would debut in September and show the many faces of homelessness, departing from the stereotypical image of the chronically homeless man who is forever asking for change. It is intended as the first step toward a push to raise more private money for Safe Harbor, the Pinellas County's largest homeless shelter....
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PSTA authorizes more spending on Greenlight Campaign
06/11/13 BlogPinellas County's transit agency is planning to drop another $95,000 on its public awareness campaign for expanded bus service and light rail.
Called Greenlight Pinellas, the campaign was designed by Tampa-based public relations firm Tucker Hall for $300,000, and is just beginning to get off the ground. The campaign's website is live and is selling everything from Greenlight t-shirts to iPhone cases....
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St. Pete Council District 8 candidate exits race
06/11/13 BlogThe list of contenders for Jeff Danner's District 8 City Council seat has fallen from five to four with the news that Bill Hurley has bowed out of the race.
In late May, he wrote on his candidate Facebook page that he was doing some "serious soul searching" about the race and followed that up last night with a post announcing that he would no longer run. Hurley, 52, is currently a student at St. Petersburg College. He was a little known candidate who entered the race out of frustration over the Lens issue -- he strongly opposes the design for a new pier....
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Sewage standoff pits Pinellas County, neighbors, against waste business
06/08/13 Local GovernmentPINELLAS PARK — "I'm sorry I stink," said Michael Albert, looking sheepish.
Early on Wednesday, he'd been emptying a restaurant's grease trap into one of his trucks when a hose loosened, spraying decomposing food, oil and fat down the front of his green polo shirt. Half an inch of dark muck clung to his white tennis shoes. But if there was an Albert-specific smell, it was impossible to isolate hours later as he sat in his office, where Pine-Sol-flavored air battled the stench of raw sewage....
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GOP speaker conflict; pro volleyball in park; St. Pete council is Bradyesque
06/08/13LocalGOP speaker strife
Pinellas County's Republican Party is facing criticism from some of its own members for inviting a University of Central Florida academic to give an anti-Islam speech at its next meeting.
In its June newsletter, the group advertised a 45-minute speech called "The Islamic Threat to America," by Dr. Jonathan Matusitz, an associate professor. The speech is supposed to take place roughly an hour before the organization's executive committee meets and hears from Blaise Ingoglia, vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. ...
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Pinellas Republicans criticized for inviting anti-Islam speaker
06/06/13 BlogUpdated: The party sent out an email blast on Saturday announcing that Matusitz's speech has been postponed. No word on whether it will be rescheduled.
Pinellas County's Republican Party is facing criticism from some of its own members for inviting a University of Central Florida academic to give an anti-Islam speech at its next meeting.
In its June newsletter, the group publicized that Dr. Jonathan Matusitz, an associate professor, would be giving a 45 minute speech called “The Islamic Threat to America.” The speech is scheduled to take place roughly an hour before the organization's executive committee meets and hears from Blaise Ingoglia, the vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida....
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Pinellas County property values on rise
06/04/13 Local GovernmentFor the first time since 2007, Pinellas County property values are climbing this year, led by beach towns that took a beating during the recession.
In havens of wealth that line the county's barrier islands, estimated home and property values are predicted to rise between 5 and nearly 8 percent in 2013. And countywide, real estate values are expected to increase in every city, including towns that are currently experiencing little growth. ...
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As hurricane season begins, Pinellas plans to move vulnerable technology
06/03/13 Local GovernmentThe radio system that lets Pinellas firefighters and police officers communicate is not stored in a tower, far above sea level and safe from high winds. It's on the ground floor of a county building on Ulmerton Road, a location that is starting to give officials pause.
As another hurricane season begins, officials are planning to ask the County Commission for $9 million to move the communication network to the Public Safety Campus that's expected to open next year. The $81 million complex that's going up behind the Sheriff's Office is being built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, which could bring winds of more than 155 mph. ...
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St. Pete Beach still hopes for money to add sand to its shores
06/02/13 Local GovernmentInitially left out of plans to restore Pinellas County's beaches, St. Pete Beach may get another shot at renewal.
State lawmakers have set aside $3.7 million in next year's budget for Pinellas' beaches, money for tons of sand to replace what was lost during last year's Tropical Storm Debby. Two million has been earmarked for Treasure Island, where the Army Corps of Engineers already has signed off on a beach restoration project that should begin in early fall. But the remainder could go to St. Pete Beach if the Corps decides the beaches there are deserving....
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To spur redevelopment, Pinellas examines land codes
06/01/13 Local GovernmentOne of the key arguments for building a light rail system in Pinellas County is that it would kick start urban renewal. People could live closer together, walk to buy their morning coffee and take the train to work.
But for any of that to happen, the county's antiquated land use and zoning policies need to be rewritten, a process county officials have already begun.
Pinellas' land codes, which tell developers what they can build where, still read as though the county was full of open territory with for sale signs sunk into the grass. But there's little of that land left — less than 6 percent of the unincorporated area is vacant — and what does remain is often untouched for a reason....
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The Buzz: St. Pete mayor's race heats up
05/31/13LocalBob Buckhorn opines on mayor's race
The Tampa mayor refuses to intercede in the debate over a new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, but Bob Buckhorn said the St. Petersburg primary election is crucial in the yearslong saga.
Buckhorn said residents will be "increasing pressure on all of the candidates to stake out a position" on two of the city's most controversial issues: the stadium and the future of the Lens, the Pier replacement. ...
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More of Alex Duensing's handmade campaign signs
05/30/13 BlogAlex Duensing's cheerful campaign signs can be described in words - and I tried in today's story - but pictures are really best. Here are a few pulled from the candidate's Facebook page, where you can find even more. Duensing is running for Jeff Danner's District 8 seat on the City Council, along with four other candidates: Amy Foster, Steve Galvin, Robert Davis and William Hurley....
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St. Petersburg City Council candidate uses unusual campaign signs
05/29/13 Human InterestA bird feeder dangles from one of Alex Duensing's campaign signs and, by the August primary, Mexican sunflowers could bloom out of another.
When it comes to lawn ornamentation, almost anything goes in Kenwood and Disston Heights. But for neighborhoods that have become a draw for artists and craftsmen, their local political signage is oddly conventional. Or it was before Duensing, 39, announced his candidacy for the District 8 City Council seat and began making yard signs out of other people's trash....
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A quiet St. Petersburg mayor's race via Twitter
05/25/13LocalRefresh, refresh
St. Petersburg residents can now get daily updates on the future referendum to stop the Lens from moving forward.
The Pinellas Supervisor of Elections is posting daily updates on how many signatures have been verified on the more than 20,000 petitions turned in to the city clerk.
As of Thursday, the county had processed 8,512 signatures, and 95 percent had been declared valid. The office updates the total at the end of each day on its website....
