On the MOU with Rays for stadium funding
The non-binding agreement with the MLB team has the City of Tampa committing $80 million in Community Investment Tax (CIT) funds and $100 million from the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
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Tampa City Council to vote on MOU with Rays next Thursday May 21
The non-binding agreement would allow more detailed negotiations to continue and has been a point of contention for the legislature to approve the funding promised by the governor.
Alison Hewitt: Public Investment Must Be Structured as Equity, Accountability, and Community Wealth Creation
Guest author Alison Hewitt is the first in a new Tampa Monitor feature, “Community Voices”. It’s intended to elevate the voices of folks who are doing the work and have the subject matter knowledge to truly speak to the issues affecting the city.
5/14/26 – CRA agenda leads with $35 million for Ybor Harbor development, Drew Park & East Tampa reprogram FY26 budget
This week Tampa City Council sit as the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board for a 13 item agenda with a 12 item evening land use agenda. Discussion will range from a $50 million request in the CRA Channelside district to mid-year budget realignments in the Drew Park and East Tampa districts in the morning to the first reading of land development code changes first proposed over a year ago in the evening.
5/14/26 – CRA & Evening Land Use
When a transparency dashboard isn’t transparent
The Tampa Police Department’s public traffic-stop dashboard has been displaying wrong race data since it launched in July 2022. TPD says they caught it last fall. The public didn’t find out until we asked.
5/7/26 – Rays Workshop, Council Chair election and a 118 item agenda grind
Council kick off their week with the much anticipated Ray’s stadium workshop on Tuesday then sit for a regular meeting Thursday with an 118 item agenda The agenda ranges from electing council chair to end the EBO Program.
5/7/26 – Special Workshop & Regular Meeting
$64 million question
How would you allocate $64 million in extra Community Investment Tax funds? A baseball stadium or…
4/30/26 – Week off so talking baseball, trees and South Howard Flood Relief
With no council meeting this week, a looking ahead to the baseball stadium discussion and catching up on some lingering issues.
The Tree Trust Fund Debate
Tampa is debating how to best utilize its tree trust fund, which currently holds $6 million. A debate over Type 3 trees and funding is holding up thoughtful plans ready to plant.
Take Aways From the South Howard Flood Relief Engineering Report
This project isn’t about one neighborhood.