In a city where 45% of the population rents, the stories of last minute rent increases and displaced neighbors is all too common. And we’re about all $600k short of buying those shiny new condos. Tenant protections, first-time homebuyer programs, and more workforce housing need to be priorities in the city of Tampa.

Our small businesses are what gives our city a sense of spirit and culture. Maybe navigating the city’s permitting process shouldn’t suck the soul out of our bright-eyed owners. Perhaps more than a nonchalant day’s notice taped to your door before massive construction projects that jeopardize not just your business’ well-being, but that of you & your employees’ families would be a bare-minimum courtesy the city could provide. Maybe we can offer mentorship, promote intra-city commerce, and inspire a renaissance of local small business networking with a more attentive and compassionate city hall.

Take a look at any vintage map of Tampa and our long-gone trolley system - you’ll either want to cry or fight a dead bureaucrat. Our lack of transportation has been allowed to fester like a forgotten splinter while our city booms, and the path to better transit cannot be kicked down the road any longer. While we wrestle with that unpleasant reality, simpler moves like rebranding and upgrading our city buses can be an easier path to better mobility. But the longer we wait to solve this problem, the more it’s gonna hurt. Growth, much like beauty, is pain. Let’s get to it.

If there has been one particular concern that has been echoed, specifically in Ybor, it is a lacking sense of security and deficient connection with our public safety officials - especially among female business owners and employees. Whether it’s installing non-emergency late night “safe escort” phones for hospitality staff leaving work, creating a more mobile police presence, or establishing better relationships with our local constabulary, we all deserve a sense of security. We sure pay enough of the budget for it.

A healthy city starts with a healthy environment. If we can inspire a more collaborative urban existence with nature, we can create [literally] cooler outdoor spaces, better air quality, and a higher standard of living. Encouraging native landscaping, establishing pollinator gardens, growing our own food (even if it’s just a handful of berries or peppers), and maintaining cleaner waterways are a few reasonable objectives that can create a better city for all of us. Our climate isn’t getting any colder, storms aren’t getting any weaker, so we would be wise to start working in conjunction with an increasingly violent nature. She’s coming whether we do or not.