Activist calls Olympic bid's timing 'dumb'

Neil Cosentino disagrees with Florida 2012's decision to pitch the Games for late June, which is in hurricane season. "It defies common sense," he says.

By WAYNE WASHINGTON

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 5, 2000

TAMPA -- Once again, Neil Cosentino is at odds with a movement he started. This time, it's the Olympics.

Cosentino, a retired Air Force pilot, isn't opposed to bringing the Olympics to Tampa. What bothers him is that Florida 2012, the not-for-profit group spearheading the effort, has proposed hosting the Games during hurricane season.

"Our position is really any time other than hurricane season," Cosentino said.

If not for Cosentino, Florida would not be pursuing the Games. In an effort to save old Houlihan's Stadium, Cosentino called then-Hillsborough County Commissioner Ed Turanchik and suggested the Games be brought to Tampa and the football stadium be used as the primary venue.

Initially, the idea was laughed at -- by Turanchik and by just about everyone else who heard it. Turanchik was the first to stop laughing. He used his political contacts to muster support for the bid, resigned from the Commission and took over at Florida 2012.

However, things haven't gone exactly as Cosentino had planned.

Houlihan's Stadium, now a parking lot, won't be the primary venue.

"That was the one we lost," Cosentino said. "That's too bad. We just move on."

The new fight is over the dates Florida 2012 has proposed -- June 15 through July 1.

"It's so dumb. It defies common sense," Cosentino said.

He is particularly incensed that Gov. Jeb Bush signed a bill to have Florida taxpayers cover losses of up to $175-million if the Games come to Tampa and are a financial stinker.

"He's going to look really stupid bonding a bid for an Olympics in the hurricane season," he said.

This is not the first time Cosentino came up with an idea that took hold only to be shoved aside as it worked its way to fruition.

In December 1996, Cosentino thought the Gandy Bridge shouldn't face the wrecking ball. He lobbied county commissioners and community members, and before long saving the bridge became a quirky cause celebre.

Cosentino and a group of community members formed a committee to save the bridge. That group then told Cosentino the same as Florida 2012: We can take it from here, thank you very much.

"We asked for his resignation," said Frank Miller, who served on the committee.

Why can't Cosentino stick around to see his ideas through?

Turanchik and Miller say it's because Cosentino can't stop himself from modifying his ideas on the fly.

"I think Neil is honestly community-minded, but he goes on tangents that don't make a lot of sense," Turanchik said.

"I wonder what goes on in that head," Miller said, noting that Cosentino wanted to line the bridge with solar panels.

For his part, Cosentino insists that he hasn't been shoved aside. He proudly takes credit for Tampa's Olympic bid and for the fact that the Gandy Bridge was saved.

His concern about hurricanes does raise a question. Florida, after all, is ground zero for most hurricanes that strike the United States.

Turanchik said Florida 2012 is unconcerned.

"We have researched the weather history in central Florida over the past hundred years and have conducted a detailed, hour-by-hour weather evaluation for all competition hours over the past thirty years for the proposed Olympic period," he wrote Cosentino. "We have found that the probability of poor weather is (minimal)."

Still, Turanchik said Florida 2012, like each of the eight metropolitan areas pursuing the 2012 Olympics, must submit a detailed evacuation plan along with its bid to the United States Olympic Committee.

That bid is due on Dec. 15, and the USOC will pick the American candidate in the international competition to host the Games in 2002. The International Olympic Committee will make the final choice three years later.

Turanchik said while the risk of a hurricane striking Florida during late June is low, Florida 2012 would be prepared for other emergencies.

"Irrespective of whether it's a hurricane or another act of God or an act of human violence, you have to have a contingency plan," he said.

Can Cosentino be credited with spurring Florida 2012 to put together that plan?

No, Turanchik said.

"He is not on any of our committees."

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