What a wild ride for Tampa this week. Tampa does have a few crazy roller coasters in our city.The long planned  GOP Republican National Convention 2012 came to Tampa in force. Tidied up hotels and revamped resorts and golf courses are packed all the way to Lakeland. The anti protesters came or are still coming. An underestimated number though. The Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor is overseeing  3,000 statewide police officers converging on the security of downtown Tampa and the area bridges in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties, What great looking light weight ‘sand storm trooper police uniforms’ they sport to the world. We commend the leadership to giving a required police crash class on “Be nice & friendly to everyone.” The event planners with groups from 100 to 50,000 are pulling their hairs out. Party locations had to be realigned for the unexpected storm. The 14,000 national and international press media contingencies merged to the West Coast of Florida looking for a slant story on the RNC event. And what appeared to possibly be disastrous to everything, a major annual gulf storm. Hurricane Isaac caused a little havoc with winds and rain to our area but moved away from Tampa to the Gulf Coast states. Lookout New Orleans! Hurricane Katrina was 7 years ago to the day.

    This is an historic time in Tampa Bay. Be it stormy rain or hot humid sunshine the party continues.The big GOP hasn’t yet had national memorable events (well they did cancel the 1st day of the convention). BUT Tampa residents are shining on all media reports. This is a very diverse and friendly city.

    What has positively happened to Tampa Bay we have all noticed. Historical Ybor City’s GaYBOR District rekindled new business and crime cleaned up. New Tampa’s expanded new suburban growth and residences, downtown Tampa being redeveloped after decades of scarred blight and controversies and St. Petersburg shining redesigned downtown is well kept manicured and prospering.

    Say what you want, we are very happy that the former Republican Chairman Michael Steele, former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Investor /Developer Al Austin persuaded a conservative convention site delegation to Tampa Bay, even if Tampa is led by a Democrat governance with Mayor Bob Buckhorn at the realm. August is a traditionally dead month in almost all industries in Tampa except for the 9th largest school system in America!

    So we are all driving different routes to work or play, witnessing what looks like a police battalion scene on TV from Beirut, closed downtown city and county government business, and 400+ charter buses roaming Tampa’s streets looking for a place to let off its passengers.

    We all Welcome You All to Tampa GOP’rs !!!

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