Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Let's all pull in same direction

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published June 12, 2005

Inspire leadership, raise awareness and encourage healthy debate.

The latest effort from the Tampa Bay Roundtable has the potential to do that, and a whole lot more. The roundtable, a consortium of nonprofit African-American organizations in the Tampa Bay area, will have the first in a series of Leadership Luncheons on June 21.

The luncheon will run from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the 34th Street Church of God, 3000 N 34th St. in Tampa. St. Petersburg Times columnist/editorial board member Eric Deggans and Tampa Tribune columnist/editorial board member Joe Brown will be the speakers.

If the lunch series catches on and draws some of the community's top leaders, it could become a catalyst for effecting change. Plus, it should produce some needed cohesion among the area's African-American leaders.

Every time I tal k to someone about the Tampa Museum of Art, I hear Bonnie Tyler belting out her 1984 hit Holding Out for a Hero. More than anything, the museum needs a hero right now.

The latest buzz is that the proposal to move the museum into the old federal courthouse will be dead on arrival when the results of a feasibility study come back next month.

So what's the next possible solution? There is talk of using sites just north of 400 N Ashley Plaza (the beer can building) for a museum. Another possibility is finding room in the actual beer can building by using the adjacent cubes as well as space on the office building's lower floors.

All the speculation seems to underscore the need for a permanent museum director. The search is on for an interim, but how can someone assume the reins of such a complex project on a temporary basis?

And, trust me, if someone is able to gain the trust of the mayor, earn the support of the museum board, placate the various donors, win over the art community and bring this project to fruition, that person is certain to be crowned a hero.

Word has it that Tampa City Council member Rose Ferlita is a few steps closer to running for the County Commission next year.

Ferlita has hired consultant Adam Goodman and organized a finance committee. I'm hearing that she's going to announce in the next couple of weeks plans to run for the District 1 County Commission seat being vacated by Kathy Castor.

Because of term limits, Ferlita cannot seek re-election for her District 2 citywide council seat. She could challenge John Dingfelder for his District 1 (South Tampa) council seat, but a run for County Commission appears more likely.

Two other Republicans already have filed to run for the District 1 county seat: Eddye Bexley and Deborah Cope. Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce vice president Brad Swanson also is a likely candidate on the Republican side.

No Democrats have filed, but state Rep. Bob Henriquez, D-Tampa, has been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Hungry? Then maybe you'll want to check out today's Gourmet Gents: A Culinary Fanfare. The annual event is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and typically features a smorgasbord of incredible dishes prepared exclusively by local men.

Doors open at Higgins Hall at 2 p.m., but people generally line up at least an hour before. Last year, I made the mistake of showing up 90 minutes late (Hoopertime) and found more empty dishes and full bellies than tasteful delicacies.

My advice. Get there and get there early. Tickets are $25 and will be on sale at the door.

That's all I'm saying.

Ernest Hooper can be reached at 813 226-3406 or Hooper@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 12, 2005, 00:38:17]