The Rays’ latest communication with public agencies who they wish to fund their new stadium contained some easily defeated sleight of hand, yet also served as an important indicator of the franchise’s intention. That intention…
“As we have made clear at every step of this process, a 2029 ballpark delivery would result in significantly higher costs that we are not able to absorb alone,” the Tampa Bay Rays wrote in…
The current in-force agreement for the Tampa Bay Rays’ use, management and operation (UMOA) of Tropicana Field has a so-called force majeure clause which governs what happens in the event of hurricane damage. With Major…
“You have written so many bold faced lies in your newspaper about me,” Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Board member Nadia Combs wrote in a text message to the Guardian three days ago. [EDITOR’S NOTE:…
Hillsborough Schools procurement boss Christopher Farkas accepted a trip this year’s Kentucky Derby from a major vendor to Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), two separate and independent sources have told the Tampa Bay Guardian. Farkas…
“Despite recovery efforts, we need at least another day before we can safely reopen schools,” this pop-up message on the front page of the Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) website said Monday, October 14th, five…
“The School Board has failed to recognize the seriousness of their staff getting big gifts from vendors,” the latest edition of La Gaceta reported. “This not only deserves their scrutiny, it should be examined by…
Cell phone call logs show that Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Deputy Superintendent Chris Farkas was also present in Augusta, Georgia and nearby Macon cell tower areas at the time of the Masters Golf Tournament.…
“I did wanna, um, you know, address some comments that were made today, addressing some misinformation that I talked to each of you about individually,” Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent Van Ayres told the…
Multiple sources have confirmed off the record that Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) Superintendent Van Ayres has admitted that he in fact did accept transportation on a private jet provided by a vendor to HCPS.…
Florida Statute 119.0701 governing public agency contracts requires that all contracts for services entered into with contractors to the agency contain a clause governing public records and public records requests. That law has been in…
“Will you categorically deny that you and/or Mr. Farkas accepted free transportation on a private jet provided by a vendor to your agency?” This is the question we posed via email on August 9th to…
“If it is true the city didn’t push for an inflation adjustment, then that’s poor policymaking and I’d be upset with lawmakers as a resident.” That’s what Geoffrey Propheter, Professor at the School of Public…
“The long and short of it is that the only thing we cannot do is spend DOT funds on producing wraps,” asserted a PSTA marketing staffer in the PSTA Legislative Committee meeting on May 8th.…
After repeatedly claiming that “promises” were made decades ago to “the black community, and businesses displaced” by the then redevelopment of the Gas Plan District, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch now claims he needs three…
“The way you know that Welch has the votes is because all the agreement documents have now been made public,” a former high level elected official told the Guardian on condition of anonymity. “That’s how…
The Art Deco style “Beach Theatre” at 315 Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach has been an icon in the city ever since it opened in 1940. However, the Beach Theatre has been closed for…
In its request for proposal (RFP) for the redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field property, the City of St. Petersburg required that a city-produced proposal form be filled out, signed and submitted with any proposal.…
