Dick Greco pondering another run for Tampa mayor
By Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Sunday, October 18, 2009

TAMPA — When a local radio station launched a news talk show last week, host Malcolm Teasdale invited former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco as his guest of honor.

After shaking dozens of hands, hugging men, kissing and complimenting women and munching on some pulled pork, Greco took a flute of champagne into the studio where Teasdale introduced him as "a hero to many of us. A gentleman who's shaped this community."

Then Teasdale said he planned to take a poll: "Should Dick run for mayor? That's the talk. That's been the chatter."

Greco demurred.

"I get that question about 30 times a day," Greco said later.

So will he give it another go in the March 2011 election, six months after he turns 77?

"There's nothing that I like more than politics, and specifically, being mayor was the high point of my entire life," he said. "What I've got to do in the next several months is ask myself the question honestly, by myself, 'Can you do this for one term? Do you feel up to it?' "

In 2007, he toyed with the idea of running again so seriously that he held a press conference to announce he wouldn't challenge Pam Iorio's bid for a second term. At the time, he said polls showed Iorio would be a tough but not unbeatable opponent.

This time is different.

The seat is open, with Iorio term-limited out of the post. And in an election with a typical turnout of about 30 percent, name recognition counts.

Greco definitely has that. He was a popular mayor, serving from 1967 to 1974 and again from 1995 to 2003.

But this time, Greco is also different.

Three months ago, he had surgery to treat a narrowing of his spinal cord that caused him severe pain.

"I faked it for a year," he said.

He took a pass on a fishing trip because he didn't want anyone helping him in and out of the boat. Ultimately, he relented and went under the knife for three hours. The procedure went well. He left the hospital three days early and shopped for an hour and a half at Nordstrom with his wife, Linda McClintock Greco, the day after that.

But he still walks slowly and with a bit of a limp.

"Nerve damage," he said.

The experience threw him for a loop.

"I was scared to death. I'd never had any surgery like that. I'd never been to the hospital. I never even had my tonsils out," he said.

Before the surgery, his most serious medical condition was a cavity at age 40, he said.

"The back problem got my attention," he said.

He feels good now, he said.

But if he were to run for mayor, and possibly win, he would want to be able to do it with the same energy he did in the past. For Greco, that meant putting in 20 hours a day if necessary and keeping a police radio by his side so he could check out emergencies in the middle of the night.

"If my back is hurting and I can't walk around, I'm not going to think about running for political office," said Greco, a Democrat who sometimes supported Republicans.

The city is different, too.

During Greco's last stint as mayor, he presided over the development of Centro Ybor, lobbied for a sales tax that helped build Raymond James Stadium, grew the Police Department and bought up riverfront property. He unveiled a monumental new art museum that was later scaled back by the more practical Iorio.

The days when Greco could negotiate big deals are over.

Today's city government is marked by massive budget cuts, layoffs, and projects that can't get done.

It's tougher than it's ever been probably in my lifetime," he said. "There's not a way to quickly change this."

That, he said, doesn't scare him. But he still comes back to the question: "Can I do it?"

Some are convinced he will.

"I firmly believe that Dick Greco will be a candidate for mayor," said City Council member Charlie Miranda, who recently had lunch with Greco in West Tampa. "Did he tell me that? Absolutely not."

But Miranda, himself in his 70s, said he saw the shine of a 40- or 50-year-old in Greco's eye.

"He was vibrant, he was energetic," he said. "What I was looking at was a candidate that would be hard to beat."

Some say Greco aspires to be both the city's youngest and oldest mayor. Some say his wife is pushing him to run.

"I don't push Dick Greco to do anything," said McClintock Greco, who married the sitting mayor 14 years ago. "Being mayor was the happiest I've ever seen him. When you love somebody, you want them to be fulfilled, even if it's not in the best interest for your personal life."

On the other hand, she notes, she already understands what it means to be in the public eye. When she married Greco, details of her five previous marriages appeared in the newspaper. And after Greco left office, she hit the papers again after allegedly throwing a cup of hot coffee at a South Tampa gym manager.

"I've already paid the price of admission,' she said.

Others say Greco should not run.

"Dick's had his turns," said Tampa businessman Bob Clark. "He should enjoy being a senior statesman. Because he has a lot of clout, a lot of influence. He does a lot of good things. He doesn't need to get his life tied up trying to run a city again. All of us love him. He is just a wonderful guy. Wherever he goes he is the center of attention."

Former Tampa City Council member Mary Alvarez, whose husband, Manny, is friendly with Greco, agrees.

"He did a great job. He brought in a lot of development for the city. It was a good time for him, but I think that time is gone," she said.

Alvarez wonders if he would win. "I wouldn't want to see him hurt," she said.

Retired business owner George Levy said he told Greco, his friend for nearly 60 years, that he shouldn't count on him for campaign help. "I'm too old for politics," Levy said.

In the highly competitive 2003 mayor's race, Pam Iorio raised $463,000 and Frank Sanchez totaled $891,000.

In about six months, when the back surgery is well behind him and the election is closer, Greco said he'll do some serious soul searching to decide if he wants to take another shot at being mayor.

"I love it, and there's probably nothing I would rather do in the world," he said, but adds: "I've got to ask myself, 'Well, can you really?' "

Greco keeps busy, with days that begin at 7 a.m. and end no earlier than midnight. He lunches with elected officials and business leaders, gives speeches, attends parties and special events. He is also renovating a condo on Bayshore Boulevard and opening a consulting office on Harbour Island.

For now, he carries in his wallet a slip of paper from a fortune cookie he got a few weeks ago after dinner at a Chinese restaurant with his wife. It reads: "Mayor."

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Janet Zink can be reached at jzink@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3401.



[Last modified: Oct 19, 2009 11:26 AM]

http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1044908.ece

This would be an epic Tampa FAIL.

Basically it's saying you only have a shot at becomign Mayor in Tampa if you demonstrate the same ideas and ideals as the good-ole-boys. It says there really is nothing to look forward to and the only option is to kick up the old guard instead of moving forward with a new guard.

That's not to say any of the candidates impress me... But the fact that Greco or Sandy Freedman are options in this race does not give me confidence at all in city politics. (and on the other side of the bay, having two batshit crazy candidates for Mayor of St. Pete after a long, drawn out primary doesn't exactly wash me over with confidence either)

I did personally meet Mr. Greco a couple weeks ago down in Ellenton. He seemed like a real nice person and had the cheerfulness that you'd likely expect from a man his age. I like that he brought back the streetcar, but Centro Ybor was a total joke and still is. Plus yes, he is still part of the good-ol'-boy system. So if he was elected mayor, he'd probably bring all that corruption back too.

I moved to Tampa in the Post Greco era, so I don't know how well he did things, literally all I know is from this posting, don't get me wrong I knew of Dick greco before, just only knew bringing back the streetcar as one of his accomplishments.

So can someone fill me in a lil more the pros and cons of the man.

I think one of Greco's major accomplishments was developing and passing of the Community Investment Tax, which uses the taxes that come from a specific community for only that specific community(helped build Ray Jay, lots of neighborhood parks and schools, and roads, etc...) it simply reinvestes the taxes into the same 'neighborhood' where the taxes were generated from...things downtown like the Riverwalk, Curtis Hixon Park, Coatanchobee Park, etc...are all built from the C.I.T.

He also was the one behind getting an NFL team to Tampa by expanding the stadium...

He was responsisble for the start of the re-development of downtown area where the Convention Center, Marriott Waterside and Streetcar Terminus is located(this is why there is now a bronze statue of him in the exact lacation sitting on a bench and call it Dick Greco Plaza)

Dick Greco did do a lot for the city, but I think it is time to hang up the coat. But like John F said, there isn't much hope from the candidates who have been announced. Pam Iorio could had done better, but overall she did a good job. Wish she was more vocal on the issues though.

St.Pete is a whole different story and just lucky I don't live in the city cause I would have no candidate to vote for.

So The Bucs, the street car, Raymond James stadium, Centro Ybor, and the southern part of Downtown,... all of those seem good to me.

What are the bad things?

Greco is a great boom-time mayor. He knows how to shake the trees to get the money falling. He is also very good at sweet talking major projects through (at least get them started). Therefore I think he would be a perfect mayor come 2011. By that point the economy should have improved nationally, and the Florida economy which always lags by 8-12 months should be starting to get going again as well. He isn't great at the mundane things like sidewalks and stormwater systems, but generally the money is there for that during the boom-times, so its kind of a wash. Ideally Iorio would get the money started for LTR or transit and in a year or two Greco steps back in and gets the money really flowing to push for big expansions to the system.

It sucks that Tampa really has only two proven public leaders you can more or less trust, but you could do with much worse.

So The Bucs, the street car, Raymond James stadium, Centro Ybor, and the southern part of Downtown,... all of those seem good to me.

What are the bad things?

International Mall killed Hyde Park Village

International Mall killed Hyde Park Village
But that occurs everywhere and anywhere and the city and region adapts to it. Once something that like happens, the "victim" should either change what they are doing or just fall under the pressure. Yeah, a few lose business and a few dozen are out of job, but the thing has been happening for 100 of years in this country and isn't as bad as people put it. Survival of the fittest.

^^
Hyde Park was already on the decline even before IP was built.

The bad about Greco is his above-the-fray approach to everything. He wants it done without discussion, or he doesn't want it done at all. You see it in other state politics. There were also stories about city hall corruption.

[QUOTE=DShenise;44904360]Greco is a great boom-time mayor. He knows how to shake the trees to get the money falling. He is also very good at sweet talking major projects through (at least get them started). Therefore I think he would be a perfect mayor come 2011. By that point the economy should have improved nationally, and the Florida economy which always lags by 8-12 months should be starting to get going again as well. He isn't great at the mundane things like sidewalks and stormwater systems, but generally the money is there for that during the boom-times, so its kind of a wash. Ideally Iorio would get the money started for LTR or transit and in a year or two Greco steps back in and gets the money really flowing to push for big expansions to the system.

It sucks that Tampa really has only two proven public leaders you can more or less trust, but you could do with much worse.[/QUOTEDShenise:

You are quite the optimist on the economy getting better by 2011. I hope I am wrong, but I am quite confident we are in a world of hurt for longer then you know.

1. Commercial real estate is going to make the residential market crash seem pale by comparison. This is also going to add to the overall unemployment since companies will be forced to move, close shop or cut employees. This is going to affect not just Tampa but nationally and it’s not being talked about

2. Cap and Trade if gets passed and I think it will, is going to put a burden not only on companies, but their consumers as well. From power bills, gas prices and transportation for goods and service is going to go through the roof.

3. Deflation of the U.S dollar, I suspect that we will be seeing a rise in cost by 2010 or early 2011. Everyone (globally) is not confident in the US politically, industrially and our debt no longer makes us attractive to investors.

4. Student loans: We will be seeing a major crisis on this within the next 2 to 3 years. The feds have been doing student loans (high-risk) for years and now that the economy is in the tank and the dollar is being devalued…..do the math.

5. Health Care: This is not about politics, to me it simple math. You can’t give all these services to people and think it’s not going to cost upfront in this case down the road. I am in my early forties, however those of you young and not really in the need of health care will be force to pay and big time and it’s not fair in my opinion.

6. Interest rates/Bonds: Only china is buying them (So low yield) that only a matter of time when they say I don’t want them.

7. National debt will be unsustainable and it’s really no longer a democrat or republican issue but an American one. We are in for a long run of troubles and I hope I am wrong.

^^
I see an OUTRIGHT DEPRESSION BY 2012. It will get WAY worse than this.

[QUOTE=DShenise;44904360]Greco is a great boom-time mayor. He knows how to shake the trees to get the money falling. He is also very good at sweet talking major projects through (at least get them started). Therefore I think he would be a perfect mayor come 2011. By that point the economy should have improved nationally, and the Florida economy which always lags by 8-12 months should be starting to get going again as well. He isn't great at the mundane things like sidewalks and stormwater systems, but generally the money is there for that during the boom-times, so its kind of a wash. Ideally Iorio would get the money started for LTR or transit and in a year or two Greco steps back in and gets the money really flowing to push for big expansions to the system.

It sucks that Tampa really has only two proven public leaders you can more or less trust, but you could do with much worse.[/QUOTEDShenise:

You are quite the optimist on the economy getting better by 2011. I hope I am wrong, but I am quite confident we are in a world of hurt for longer then you know.

1. Commercial real estate is going to make the residential market crash seem pale by comparison. This is also going to add to the overall unemployment since companies will be forced to move, close shop or cut employees. This is going to affect not just Tampa but nationally and it’s not being talked about

2. Cap and Trade if gets passed and I think it will, is going to put a burden not only on companies, but their consumers as well. From power bills, gas prices and transportation for goods and service is going to go through the roof.

3. Deflation of the U.S dollar, I suspect that we will be seeing a rise in cost by 2010 or early 2011. Everyone (globally) is not confident in the US politically, industrially and our debt no longer makes us attractive to investors.

4. Student loans: We will be seeing a major crisis on this within the next 2 to 3 years. The feds have been doing student loans (high-risk) for years and now that the economy is in the tank and the dollar is being devalued…..do the math.

5. Health Care: This is not about politics, to me it simple math. You can’t give all these services to people and think it’s not going to cost upfront in this case down the road. I am in my early forties, however those of you young and not really in the need of health care will be force to pay and big time and it’s not fair in my opinion.

6. Interest rates/Bonds: Only china is buying them (So low yield) that only a matter of time when they say I don’t want them.

7. National debt will be unsustainable and it’s really no longer a democrat or republican issue but an American one. We are in for a long run of troubles and I hope I am wrong.


I agree. Crime will also rise as more and more are out of work. :banana:

I'll take 'em point by point.

1. Commercial real estate is going to make the residential market crash seem pale by comparison. This is also going to add to the overall unemployment since companies will be forced to move, close shop or cut employees. This is going to affect not just Tampa but nationally and it’s not being talked about A bit of a wildcard because the economy is starting to grow. You have to remember that Florida always lags the rest of the country coming out of a recession by 8-12 months. Things are drastically better here in Atlanta versus 8 months ago. Business optomisim is on the rise, new businesses are opening and existing businesses are starting to hire again.


2. Cap and Trade if gets passed and I think it will, is going to put a burden not only on companies, but their consumers as well. From power bills, gas prices and transportation for goods and service is going to go through the roof. Independent study after independent study show that most consumers will only be looking at between $15-$25 a month more in power bills. Also, just as one industry will get hammered (coal power generation), many others will benefit.

3. Deflation of the U.S dollar, I suspect that we will be seeing a rise in cost by 2010 or early 2011. Everyone (globally) is not confident in the US politically, industrially and our debt no longer makes us attractive to investors. If there is deflation, things get cheaper, not more expensive. This has been a steady trend for decades. Improvements in production have made most consumer goods cheaper than they were before. Look at the cost of data storage devices, they drop every quarter.

4. Student loans: We will be seeing a major crisis on this within the next 2 to 3 years. The feds have been doing student loans (high-risk) for years and now that the economy is in the tank and the dollar is being devalued…..do the math. What math? Federally backed student loans are endlessly modifiable, making repayment easier and easier. Deferments, income sensitive payment plans, and other options exist. I've been toting around a $100K balance for years with very little impact on my lifestyle.

5. Health Care: This is not about politics, to me it simple math. You can’t give all these services to people and think it’s not going to cost upfront in this case down the road. I am in my early forties, however those of you young and not really in the need of health care will be force to pay and big time and it’s not fair in my opinion. I'm not diving into this can of worms except to say that if the rest of the industrialized world can do it cheaper, with better levels of service and outcomes and we can't do it, we deserve what we get.

6. Interest rates/Bonds: Only china is buying them (So low yield) that only a matter of time when they say I don’t want them. My friend works in bond trading and lots of people are buying bonds. Don't buy the nonsense that we are on the verge of bankruptcy. The economy is SUBSTANTIALLY more complex than most give it credit. Its not simple economics, and the varieties of leveraged instruments will boggle your mind.

7. National debt will be unsustainable and it’s really no longer a democrat or republican issue but an American one. We are in for a long run of troubles and I hope I am wrong. As a percentage of GDP it isn't even close to worrying about. In fact its in line with most other states and isn't out of line with the rest of the post war period. We could double the debt and it would still be easily sustainable. The economy is of a scale that it is very hard to get your head around. Pick a company, say Verizon, they made $3,160,000,000.00 last quarter in PROFIT, during a recession. One large company. Its a big economy.

So yes I am realistic not optomistic. The economy is improving daily, hiring decisions are being made and budgets are being increased. I see it daily. Not a week goes by without feelers from either firms looking at hiring me directly (from NY to Bethesda), or companies looking to hire me to do freelance work for them (Atlanta to Munich). My friends all see substantial improvements in their businesses, from IT to telecom, to arbitrage, all are seeing more activity and the beginnings of an improved and stabilized economy. Tampa lags behind, it always has, but it will improve.

So, when I see that Greco is looking at running on '11 it looks like the perfect time for him. The economy will be on the upswing and his ability get money flowing and then get the projects going will serve the area well. The biggest challenge you have in the Tampa area is education and that's funded on the state and county level. Unless that improves you'll always be behind the eight ball regardless of how much Greco is able to get built.

^^Geez if thats the case I really have to leave this metro quicker, I didn't think anything has started picking up yet because everything here in Tampa Bay is still falling.

Republicans view of the future Vs a Democrats is what it looks like to me

Yeah, and then you throw in a couple classes in macroeconomics, comparative political economies, about twenty years of reading The Economist, Financial Times and Foreign Affairs, a Master's Thesis on comparing the US and Japanese Political Economies (avail at USF) you'll tend to get a more global and historical perspective on the economy. Its why I keep banging the drum on the need for the Bay area to increase taxes and drastically spend more on education. Everyone is a ship at sea, some cities are aircraft carriers and can ride things out, others are 30' cabin cruisers and really take a beating. It takes guts to make a decision which way you want to go. Its fine doing either, but you have to realize the limitations of either. I think people like Greco want the area to become the aircraft carrier, Iorio is more of a lets be a destroyer (big enough, but not nothing exception, Lyon for a direct comparison).

Unfortunately TB suffers from a reliance on growth from without as opposed to growth from within. Until the people start realizing that they shouldn't need new residents to prosper you'll always have the same problems. Being overly reliant on real estate and relocation is what is making the current problem worse. It'll get better, it'll just take longer. The same thing happened in 1992, the US recovered about a year before the TB area did. Its why I went to grad schoool.

As the rest of the US comes out of the recession during this quarter and the next, it'll probably be another year of dodgy growth for TB. This is why having Dick in place come 2011 makes the most sense. He is perfect for cheerleading a recovery and getting things going. Maybe he only serves one more term and then Eddy T. can take over. That would be the ideal situation.

Business seems to be picking up for me as well. I have clients all over the country though, so not really a sign of a TB recovery. I have been getting more projects as of late. Individually smaller, but from new people which is a great sign.

I'm glad the health care bill and the utopian ideas of both parties has everything to do with Dick Greco.
How about someone young and bold? Oh yeah Tampa can't keep their youth. Honestly living where I live it makes it very easy to hate living here. Whenever I go downtown or experience the culture of this city and region my will to live and stay here is replenished. This is a recession time so I doubt we're going to get a mayor who will do anything at all just due to budget restraints and stuff. Although you never know what they could do and what programs they could cut. I honestly hope we just get a one term mayor and Pam runs again. Or someone new who will carry out the ideas expressed here to create the Utampia.

As they say, age is just a number. I would put Greco up against most 30-40 year olds. He has shown more vision, enthusiams, drive, and civic pride than most people other local politicians. Most look for reasons not to do things, he always looks for reasons to do things. I've never met the guy, but I know plenty of people who know him well. All speak highly of him. You need a visionary Jack Welch type and Greco is the best you have in the area. Look at your other choices: Ferlita, Dingfleder(?), Scott, they vary between Meh? and down right scary.

I just don't like old people in politics, especially from his generation. I just don't feel like they are able to be on level with the generations who are going to be here the longest.

^^
I agree. And again, his good ol' boy ways aren't going to work in this recessionary climate.

I just don't like old people in politics, especially from his generation. I just don't feel like they are able to be on level with the generations who are going to be here the longest.
I agree, no offense to the baby boomer generation because it wasn't everybody but that generation has been and is running the country... into the ground! We need new people with new ways of thinking running things if we ever hope to get out this mess, that goes for our backwards thinking metro and the nation.

Just name me one current politician in the entire bay area that is remotely as visionary and has a track record of getting things done...just one.

How are they gonna have a track record if they are young or new to the political scene? Sometimes new ideas are better than old ideas with a proven track record. Just because someone has done something in an era prior to this current one doesn't mean they can take over a city that is eons different and continue the progression (slow progression, but progression none the less)
Seriously, how much different is Tampa from 2003-2009 vs 1995-2003? How much change actually happened to Tampa's image as a city '95-'03?

No, I think Greco has newer fresher ideas than most politicans half his age. The point I'm making is that the age isn't what matters, I've worked with plenty of designers and architects in their 60s and 70s who blow the doors off 20-30 year olds. Greco is the best of both worlds, he gets things done and has a record of thinking creatively.

And public policy, politics and administration are like any other field in that you need some experience and sophistication about how things are supposed to work. So that when you are in power you can work around the existing channels.

Most of the people who affect architectural design are older to begin with lol. I've never really heard of a young person effecting architecture in a profound way. Now I'm not too sure on the ages of Van Der Rohe and the Bauhaus architects when they started innovation.
Frank Gehry certainly didn't revolutionize architecture at a young age. Or Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, etc... Architecture unlike politics ages like wine

My parents hated Greco, and know a lot of corrupt stuff he has done, Aside from that, I DO NOT TRUST old people in politics. WHY? Do you honestly feel like you're being represented in our government by people who are from a generation totally different than yours? Look at the 60's and 70's, distrust of the system is back. Cos once again the majority of people in politics don't represent the ideas that the public. But as long as the media choses to report on certain things and spills the lies it normally does, you won't hear about the real issues, and the real problems, and the real solutions that exist that maybe counter-status quo. Do you really think some of these old politicians can accept these real solutions that are counter-status quo to what they grew up with? Thats the way I look at it. Though, I'm 21, and angry that these old assholes in politics got rid of all the depression laws acting like the great depression would never happen again.


BUT once again, this probably is a useless time to be mayor anyway. This election is probably as important as our need to eat babies.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/dick-greco-considering-another-mayoral-run-102710

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/dick-greco-considering-another-mayoral-run-102710
I hope he does run again. Tampa needs him as mayor again and he'll do much to compliment the HSR station and the area around light rail, if it happens.

I hope he does run again. Tampa needs him as mayor again and he'll do much to compliment the HSR station and the area around light rail, if it happens.

...and run the city as corruptly as he did in the past.

Time for new blood.

I would rather vote for Turanchik than Greco this time around.

Three months ago, he had surgery to treat a narrowing of his spinal cord that caused him severe pain.

"I faked it for a year," he said.
Hey! he has the exact same issue I had to have surgery for!

Except my fear and mistrust of doctors compelled me to hold out for two years. ;)

What I don't want to see is another failed project with our tax dollars.......like CENTRO YBOR! :bash:

^Or projects put in stupid locations, because that's where someone's buddy owns the land.

International Mall killed Hyde Park Village
I say that everyone's naive expectation that HPV could remain a shopping destination, while the city and neighbors refused to allow the place to innovate and grow over time is what killed it.

...and run the city as corruptly as he did in the past.

Time for new blood.
I don't really know how corrupted he was/is, maybe I should research more about him. Reading the part where he says he isn't really liberal or conservative and seeing that he has been voted in 4 times by the people of Tampa, I would had thought he would had been pretty good as a mayor, again. He seems to have more going though when it comes to development, that's why I said he should run again.

Turanchik isn't a bad choice either. :)

I like Rose Ferlita. She knows whats right for the community.

Ed Turanchik's got my support, for now.

TM: Any politician who knows the right people can get voted into office to four terms in two different eras. Greco may know the right people, but it doesn't mean those are good people.

The office of mayor is non-partisan, so how liberal or conservative Dick is wouldn't matter (or anyone else who takes office).... Well, unless the primary takes the form of the disaster in St. Petersburg where the worst rose to the top with thanks to an overly-large crowded primary field.

I'll take 'em point by point.

1. Commercial real estate is going to make the residential market crash seem pale by comparison. This is also going to add to the overall unemployment since companies will be forced to move, close shop or cut employees. This is going to affect not just Tampa but nationally and it’s not being talked about A bit of a wildcard because the economy is starting to grow. You have to remember that Florida always lags the rest of the country coming out of a recession by 8-12 months. Things are drastically better here in Atlanta versus 8 months ago. Business optomisim is on the rise, new businesses are opening and existing businesses are starting to hire again.


2. Cap and Trade if gets passed and I think it will, is going to put a burden not only on companies, but their consumers as well. From power bills, gas prices and transportation for goods and service is going to go through the roof. Independent study after independent study show that most consumers will only be looking at between $15-$25 a month more in power bills. Also, just as one industry will get hammered (coal power generation), many others will benefit.

3. Deflation of the U.S dollar, I suspect that we will be seeing a rise in cost by 2010 or early 2011. Everyone (globally) is not confident in the US politically, industrially and our debt no longer makes us attractive to investors. If there is deflation, things get cheaper, not more expensive. This has been a steady trend for decades. Improvements in production have made most consumer goods cheaper than they were before. Look at the cost of data storage devices, they drop every quarter.

4. Student loans: We will be seeing a major crisis on this within the next 2 to 3 years. The feds have been doing student loans (high-risk) for years and now that the economy is in the tank and the dollar is being devalued…..do the math. What math? Federally backed student loans are endlessly modifiable, making repayment easier and easier. Deferments, income sensitive payment plans, and other options exist. I've been toting around a $100K balance for years with very little impact on my lifestyle.

5. Health Care: This is not about politics, to me it simple math. You can’t give all these services to people and think it’s not going to cost upfront in this case down the road. I am in my early forties, however those of you young and not really in the need of health care will be force to pay and big time and it’s not fair in my opinion. I'm not diving into this can of worms except to say that if the rest of the industrialized world can do it cheaper, with better levels of service and outcomes and we can't do it, we deserve what we get.

6. Interest rates/Bonds: Only china is buying them (So low yield) that only a matter of time when they say I don’t want them. My friend works in bond trading and lots of people are buying bonds. Don't buy the nonsense that we are on the verge of bankruptcy. The economy is SUBSTANTIALLY more complex than most give it credit. Its not simple economics, and the varieties of leveraged instruments will boggle your mind.

7. National debt will be unsustainable and it’s really no longer a democrat or republican issue but an American one. We are in for a long run of troubles and I hope I am wrong. As a percentage of GDP it isn't even close to worrying about. In fact its in line with most other states and isn't out of line with the rest of the post war period. We could double the debt and it would still be easily sustainable. The economy is of a scale that it is very hard to get your head around. Pick a company, say Verizon, they made $3,160,000,000.00 last quarter in PROFIT, during a recession. One large company. Its a big economy.

So yes I am realistic not optomistic. The economy is improving daily, hiring decisions are being made and budgets are being increased. I see it daily. Not a week goes by without feelers from either firms looking at hiring me directly (from NY to Bethesda), or companies looking to hire me to do freelance work for them (Atlanta to Munich). My friends all see substantial improvements in their businesses, from IT to telecom, to arbitrage, all are seeing more activity and the beginnings of an improved and stabilized economy. Tampa lags behind, it always has, but it will improve.

So, when I see that Greco is looking at running on '11 it looks like the perfect time for him. The economy will be on the upswing and his ability get money flowing and then get the projects going will serve the area well. The biggest challenge you have in the Tampa area is education and that's funded on the state and county level. Unless that improves you'll always be behind the eight ball regardless of how much Greco is able to get built.

I couldn't agree more with most of the counterpoints you've offered. However, I respectfully disagree with points 6 and 7. I applaud your wishful thinking where bankruptcy and the national debt are concerned. :) It is truly my greatest fear that we, as a nation, are absolutely on the verge of bankruptcy and there's no getting around it, unfortunately.

We're struggling to pay just the interest on our growing debt (currenty 4th largest appropriation @ $414b in 2010 and projected to increase to over $700b by 2020 http://www.federalbudget.com/ http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/108xx/doc10871/BudgetOutlook2010_Jan.cfm ) let alone the actual accrued debt (currently 13.7t and growing exponentially). It is now mathematically impossible to solve this looming crisis without raising taxes substantially and slashing government discretionary and non-discretionary spending to the point of being ineffective beyond it's current, broken state.

There is only one place to take in additional revenue and that is to take it from those who can most afford to pay. Sorry, that's just the way it goes at this point in our decline. I wish it were different and easier to solve, but it's not. The FACT is that the middle class is already stretched to the limit, and I think we all know this even if we don't wish to admit it on ideological terms. So, to expect more sacrifice from the drowning middle class is truly asinine and pointlessly unproductive. Some will call it socialism, and to those, I really don't give a damn. I call it what it is - a life preserver for our nation, and we're all on the Titanic! I'm talking about a necessary, temporary fix; not a permanent, governing paradigm.

Unfortunately, this "reality" is argued ideologically instead of practically or rationally, and thus the "class warfare" argument will rule the day and nothing will change. Some argue this point on principle; most out of greed. You can't squeeze blood from a turnip, but we'll certainly try.

What does this mean? It means an ever-shrinking middle class; it means higher and higher bankruptcy rates; it means higher mortgage defaults and foreclosures; it means the never-ending cycle of "madness" will continue ad-infinitum; it means an increasing homeless population; it means that until we get our financial dilemma sorted out, we need to (temporarily) count on those most able to help out. "ask not what your country can do for you..."

Add to the mix a very armed and dangerous society and that spells trouble for us all. So, expect over the coming years an ever-increasing crime rate, not based on sociopathic behavior, but rather on the mere instinct to survive. I'm not trying to be a doomsayer; I'm just trying to keep it real... much much pain and suffering ahead! sorry :(

As I see it, it really doesn't matter who we elect as mayor. The next mayor's hands will be tied even more-so beyond his/her predecessors - thus, he/she will be virtually ineffective - a paper tiger so-to-speak...

Oh well, color me blind :storm: Have a nice day! :)