8-24-12            It was a quiet day but oh so much is happening. The downtown street closures start today. I took pictures of the different tent locations. Also at the end of the Amtrak train that comes into Tampa Union Station was the Patron Tequila  Railcar as a caboose. It is so unique and owned by Paul Mitchell. The tents are set up all over Tampa Bay for Private RNC Parties, National Organizations, Special Political PAC Groups Tent Parties. We only hope that Mr Hurricane Isaac cooperates in the convention with little storm, wind and rain. We noticed government satellite trucks roaming downtown Tampa all over the place. And the Apache Helicopters wake even the dead! They fly in groups of 4 all over Tampa’s downtown area which includes GaYBOR/ Ybor City. Then to our surprise the fantastic quirky singing Kinsey Sicks Quartette from LA was doing a concert at the Tampa Theatre and was cancelled for RNC security. They were in the store and are touring GaYBOR tonight! The show a benefit for the TIGLFF is re-scheduled for October! The convention with Hurricane Isaac upon us continues

8-23-12           Yesterday Carrie was stopped by the seceret service & police. Today we started out by cleaning out our car. No more extra business cards, tools, posters, doggie treats. Just registeration, insurance and a bottle of cologne (LOL).  TV is a buzz about people blowing up bridges here. Personally we don’t believe it. Our Fl Gov. Rick Scott has been all over TV talking about Hurricane Issac. Hum…since the Gov was given a cold shoulder from the RNC he must be enjoying all the TV time. One station reported that they could not believe the “Complancy of the people of Tampa over Issac.” Guess that is because when we are in a direct hit 7 days out it’s no way coming close. National News reported that Republican spend $150 average in strip clubs and Democrate spend $50.  Below are 2 Gay Videos to make Facebook today.

Wrong Direction’s “Disclosure” – A Full Frontal Freedom production http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSAGR0arBUo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Gay Hookers Gear Up For the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Tampa https://s-static.ak.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v1/y2/r/5l8_EVv_jyW.swf?v=2307244257531&ev=0

Now for Carrie’s Day…. Wow I got a great history lesson about downtown Tampa today. I went down to see the redevelopment of the North Franklin Street Project. I was also following up on a possible rumor of a presidential headquarters  Three magnificent buildings with a lot of Tampa history; Woolworth’s, SH Kress Building, and JJ Newberry’s Dept Store had been boarded up for 30 and 50 years respectively. At one time the buildings were set to be demolished by the owners for new renovations and building of new condos for downtown. Tampa City Council stead fast. Now with the upcoming RNC dollars have been given for downtown renovations and redevelopment. Thank goodness!

            I was taking pictures of additional buildings on Franklin Street. The old 911 Club, Old Solar Club are under major renovations. One building is just finishing up renovations Revolution Martini. I saw Larry Williams, an old friend I hadn’t seen in years also taking pictures of the old rehabitated dept store buildings. “ It looks great. I grew up in these wonderful buildings. Do you remember?” He said.  Mark & I moved to Tampa in 1980 and a few of the buildings were already in disrepair

and boarded up.  So I asked for the historic downtown Tampa Franklin Street Tour and he obliged.  I let Larry tell the stories of his yesteryear ‘been there’ memory.

First was the old Woolworth’s Art Deco Building. The new redo now has framed windows in place. This old 5 & dime had a Civil Rights sit in at the cafeteria lunch counter in February 1960. This has been a historical preservation nightmare. Different Tampa groups want the building as a remembrance to the African American Civil Rights Story. It was also the go to place for an array unique family items. I was in the Woolworth’s building when the Tampa Gay & Lesbian Film Festival showed film shorts during their festival in 1994.

Larry asked if the short stubby police officer had given me any lip? No, in fact he was sort of welcoming and friendly to me. “Well here he comes again.” Larry does have that limp wrist with attitude about him. We walked towards the next door to the historic Kress Building. Again, the renovations in front of the old national chain building was like a huge breath of fresh air. Opening up a store that had been boarded up for over 50 years…alive again! The store had multiple floors and was always very busy I was told. Still there were the big identifiable crests on the buildings exterior and the new windows that replaced the old ones just shined.  Scaffolding still in place we went next to the JJ Newberry Dept Store. Unique because the store had a full basement with a lunch counter there. It also had a 2^nd floor landing for special men & women’s clothing.  “Let me show you something you might just have missed.”  I followed Larry around to Florida Ave. to the etched transom exterior doors as he pointed. On the upper glass had ‘JJ Newberry’s Office’. Dusty, old and faded it is historical and the glass not broken. An adjacent door had etched ‘ Newberry Dept Store Deliveries’. Work was continuing on at the backside as well with ladders aligned. The frontage of the backside of the Kress is as gorgeous as ever. “I bought a Tiffany Lamp here for my Mother and I still have it.”

A Miami Stage & Sound trucks and crew were inside the Florida Ave. backside of Woolworth building setting up sound stage equipment. We have secretly heard that this whole restored block was going to be Mitt Romney’s For President Florida Headquarters. Bain Capital was writing the checks. A lot of work left to do but a gem everlasting for downtown Tampa. Larry gave me a couple more pointers of wit. He was an elevator boy at the Floridan Hotel when he was in high school. The 911 Building just north on Franklin Street was the WT Grant Dept. Store and where the US Courthouse is was Sears and that the Hub in its previous location had Elvis Presley party there and he sang after his concert at the Armory Building on Howard Ave. back in August 5, 1956. Larry was at the concert and at the Hub to see him both times. We left in different directions again. We have more meetings and more blocks to historically cover.

Then came the afternoon: I went to Freedom Village in East Tampa where the Occupy Tampahas a campground. I talked to many of the different organizations that were there. Ron Paul For President, The Green Party For President Committee and a a number of other Occupy groups including Portland, Ore and Boston, MA.

There were a lot of disorganized efforts in this camp. This campsite village seems like a lot of independent leaders and no followers.  The old Occupy Tampa bus was in the back corner of the Joe Redner Park on Main Street.. The police have been driving around the camp in caravans. “We are really upset with Mr Frank Reddick. He wants us out!” said a couple of protesters. I didn’t say a word.  His picture is on the back of many posters. ‘Tampa City Council is Untrusted!” Many other slogans were there as I snapped away pictures!

8-22-12            Mark & I saw a news mobile bus at Army Navy store on way home from work last night. Today I went out to see who these groups were.

 I met up with Richard Pawski who was serving pancakes to people in the nearby “Romneyville” primitive camp site. The transient mobile group is “Kiddie Village; Rainbow Gathering of the Living Light” activists group. There mission and purpose is to feed activists, the poor and homeless for free. They travel in am old Bluebird painted school bus around the country. The leader is Phillipe Chavez, who was at a meeting when I was there. A co-assistant was Aaron Daily who came out of the bus shirtless. The need they said is for donations of food, water, supplies, tents or canopies and diesel fuel for the bus. They are set to stay during the whole convention and thru August 31. They are assisting with  Occupy Wall Street groups marches and demonstrations. A major concern is the possible storm heading through the Caribbean and could land fall on Tampa next Monday.  Richard who was from Wisconsin said pleasingly, “All we do is give out free food.  We have fresh coffee, clean water & hand cleaning centers. We need donations of everything.”           

            Richard introduced me to the NOmadjik Mobile Media News Bus was the next bus to theirs. John R. Penley,  http://www.facebook.com/john.penley.3 , a founder of many protest groups including Occupy Wall Street organization and a self proclaimed 30 year political anarchist photographing demonstrations starting in the 1980’s in the lower NYC area when landlords were quick to throw out abiding renters. His photo work has pictures displayed in the Tamiment library at New York University in New York City, UPI , AP and NY Times   Now he is perched in a tent in “Romneyville” the tent city named in downtown area of Tampa. He is central in streaming raw video pictures and videos to social media sites around the world. John is very interesting to talk with. He has a very well pleasant demeanor about him. A person who wants to make things equal and fair around the world. If that is at all possible. The weather is of great concern. It was really hot in the media bus and he turned a fan on to circulate the air. Laptop computers are all over. A bunk

style bed was in the back. Planned for the Tampa RNC is a RNC… LET THEM EAT CAKE DRUM CIRCLE DANCE PARTY / FREE BRADLEY MANNING  Party at the North Tampa Street campsite August 26, Sunday at 9 PM. He said bring your drums. He was also involved with starting ACT UP in NYC in the 1980’s. He is going to be here throughout the RNC and identified many thousands of people and groups that will coming into Tampa in the next couple of days. They are here to protest. He also has a major demonstration happening up in Charolette for the Democrat National Convention in September.  The demonstration is called Demcon 2012. He reinterated that the need for people to donate food and water is critical. Walking into the bus was Chappel a volunteer that is involved with Occupy Wall Street. She is part of the media relaying team. I was told to meeet up with Rev. Bruce Wright in the fenced in Canopy Tent area.

            Walking into the 30+ painted numbered tents campground and being greeted by a shirtless receptionist under a canopy. He took me to meet Rev Bruce Wright who was working at a laptop computer under a canopy tent. “ Welcome to Romneyville.” He said. Introductions were made and I sat on a chair next to the Occupy leader. His group www.refugestpete.org is a nationwide grassroots association with

The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) (wiipedia). He worked for the homeless as a church advocate. He said he was from St. Pete and prior to that Boston. He has planned a “Romneyville March to the RNC Convention Center”,  Monday August 27^th at 3 pm. Leading the march is Cheri Honkala, VP candidate for the Green Party. “The march with supporters are talking about the real issues in America, Poverty, Unemployement and homelessness.!” He told me that he attended a St. Petersburg church leader seminar on Tuesday. He said that he saw a razor blade sharp 8’ fence that is surrounding Tropicana Field in St. Pete. Besides the barricades that are already in place. The weather is going to be a major issue and again the need for more supplies, food and water is needed. Asked how he was being treated. The Rev Wight said that helicopters are overhead hovering at 8am. 1 problem and the Tampa Police came and did their work. “The setup of the Mr Announymous painted figure on top of one of the buildings was a set up. It was from the RNC sympathizers to attract attention to something that isn’t a part of the occupiers. One thing is we have more secret campsites that are in place if needed.” the Rev said.

 To donate call 727-278-1547 or drop off at 4507 N. Nebraska Ave Tampa  33603.

I left and again said that I would be meeting up with them again during the upcoming week. I turned around our Honda Element and headed down Tampa Street toward the downtown . I had noticed an unmarked black car come from across and down the street when leaving. It was definitely following me. I turned to go around the convention center and it still followed me around the Tampa Bay Times Forum. I noticed the large GOP signs on the forum and wanted to get some pics for our weekly column. A few large 8’ fencing barricades were in place and others were being worked on at the Hillsborough County History Museum. Out of nowhere between me and the unmarked car following me came a Tampa cruiser and put their lights on to pull me over. I asked what was the matter? She said that she had some questions. What was I doing in the forum area? Where was I from? What type of work do I do? Then looked in the back of our Honda. The give me ID, Insurance and registration came next. The rain started to down pour on the female officer. She said to wait and ran back to her cruiser. I had no idea that Tampa was turning into a police state 5 days before the biggest convention Tampa ever held. On her return she said that I didn’t have thing outstanding and the car was registered but You have a sticker in the wrong place on your license plate. Fix it and Thank you!  So it’s only Wednesday and can’t wait to see what else is going to happen.