Rick Kriseman Comes Out In Support of Gay Marriage

Equality Florida made this statement on Facebook.

We applaud St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman for signing the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry initiative today! "By signing this pledge, we’re taking one more step towards creating a city of opportunity where the sun shines on all who come to live, work and play.” Click "like" to thank Mayor Kriseman for supporting marriage for all Floridians!

Rick Kriseman Endorses Alex Sink

You really didn't think St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was going to endorse Republican David Jolly? The Alex Sink campaign sent out this email.

“I am proud to support Alex Sink because I know she will bring the bipartisan, results oriented values she’s practiced all her life to Washington and finally get Congress focused on solving problems that matter,” said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman. “At City Hall, we know firsthand that the challenges facing our community are not partisan issues – that’s why we need a leader like Alex Sink who will bring Republicans, Democrats and Independents together to tackle our most pressing problems, and I know we can trust Alex to take the voices of every Pinellas resident to Washington.”

“Every day Mayors and local leaders across Pinellas put problem solving over politics to serve residents – and I’m running to bring this same brand of bipartisan leadership back to Washington,” said Alex Sink. “From protecting Social Security and Medicare, to cutting wasteful spending, to helping businesses create jobs, the challenges facing are community are too important to let partisan finger-pointing stand in the way of getting results. I am honored to receive the support of Mayor Rick Kriseman, and I look forward to serving as an effective partner for Pinellas residents in Congress.”

Sink is running for the Florida congressional District 13 seat. The seat is currently empty after the passing of Bill Young.

Rick Kriseman's Inauguration Speech

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman was sworn in. Kriseman hit the right notes during his inauguration speech.

It's been a long and winding road, and it's time to put our destination in view.

The form and fashion of the next pier is unlikely to meet with universal approval. We must recognize this now so that our progress isn't impeded later.

However, what we can agree on -and to a large degree already have -is how our signature structure will function. With a renewed sense of urgency and a spirit of collaboration, I am confident that the coming year will be productive and that a final design will emerge.

In the interim, residents and visitors should be able to once again enjoy walking, running or fishing around the pier head.

And that's why this morning we have begun the process of removing that unfriendly fence, allowing the pier head to be accessible within the next week.

The hard work of reaching an accord with the Tampa Bay Rays must also begin, with the primary goal of doing what's in the best interest of the residents of St. Petersburg.

And while I am eager to see this resolved so that we can better plan St. Pete's future, our desire for clarity must not supersede the need for continued diligence.

The Pier and the Rays may be our most high profile challenges, but a police station, a port, a renewed focus on creating sustainable jobs throughout the city, economic stimulus for Midtown and South St. Petersburg, and the revitalization and re-branding of vital corridors -also hang in the balance.

On Midtown and South St. Pete, my remarks on election night bear repeating.

Too many people there are struggling.

One out of every five residents is unemployed.

One out of every four lives at or below poverty.

Property values have fallen 42% since the onset of the Great Recession.

This is happening right here in St. Petersburg. It is unacceptable, especially given Midtown's rich history and potential.

It is good that Kriseman addressed Midtown and the economic problems St. Petersburg is still facing after the Great Recession. Former Mayor Bill Foster would have likely mentioned neither. Foster often seemed to live in a bubble that reality could not penetrate.

Kriseman will not be able to keep the Rays in St. Petersburg. Voters are not going to approve a tax for a second stadium. The sooner Kriseman allows the Rays to talk with the City of Tampa the better.

Swearing in Ceremony For Rick Kriseman

Rick Kriseman will be sworn in as Mayor of St. Petersburg on January, 2 2014. The event is open to the public.

When: Jan. 2

Time: 12:45 PM

Where: St. Petersburg City Hall

Does Benjamin Kirby Want a Job in a Kriseman Administration?

It is no secret that Benjamin Kirby has been Rick Kriseman's biggest online cheerleader. Kriseman is running for mayor of St. Petersburg. Kirby tweeted not one, but two posts on Kriseman's new ad. Kirby spent 8 years in the Clinton administration. Kirby is more than qualified. I'm wondering if Kriseman getting elected his his ticket back into the game.

Rick Kriseman's First Video Ad

St. Petersburg Democratic candidate for mayor Rick Kriseman has roled out his first video ad. The ad is only okay. St. Petersburg does look nice in the ad.

Rick Kriseman's Fundraising

It is safe to say that St. Petersburg mayoral candidate Rick Kriseman has momentum behind him. Longtime Kriseman supporter Benjamin Kirby reports that Kriseman has raised $59,004 in 17 days.

“Once again, I am humbled by the outpouring of support for my campaign for mayor of St. Petersburg,” said Kriseman. “This campaign has grown into a movement for a St. Petersburg with more jobs, better schools, and stronger neighborhoods. The people of this city want decisive leadership from City Hall and I am confident I will deliver that leadership as mayor.”

Translation: Democrats are fundraising their asses off because they feel they finally have a shot at the mayor's office after years of Republican administrations.

Bill Foster Pulls Out His Secret Weapon and It Is Gov. Rick Scott (WTF)

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and Democratic challenger Rick Kriseman debated. Mark Puente caught this bizarre exchange. Foster bragged about his BFF Gov. Rick Scott.

He then surprised many with his answer on the importance of higher education when he mentioned Gov. Rick Scott. He boasted about spending a long weekend in Tallahassee securing $5 million for a business school at USF St. Petersburg.

"It's something the governor was going to veto," Foster said. "It helps to have a friend in the governor's mansion."

To give you an idea of how unpopular Scott is in Florida; Vern Schillinger on the HBO prison series had a higher approval rating with the other prisoners than Scott has with Floridians. Scott is less popular than Schillinger was in this video below. NSFW.

Benjamin Kirby wondered why Foster would politically link himself to Scott.

This is the same Governor Rick Scott who is one of the least popular — and by a factor of a lot, most vulnerable — governors in the nation. In recent polling, Scott gets trounced by a man who hasn’t even declared his intentions yet.

Right now Bill Foster's campaign team must really be wishing Kathleen Ford finished second in the primary.

Poll on St. Petersburg Mayoral Race

St. Pete Polls shows Bill Foster with a slight lead over Rick Kriseman. Kathleen Ford is a distant third.

Cates: 2.4%

Congemmi: 1.5%

Ford: 20.4%

Foster: 37.9%

Kriseman: 35.9%

Undervote: 1.9%

678 St. Petersburg voters were polled. An interesting tidbit is Kriseman polls at 0 percent with Asians or Pacific Islanders. That is rather odd.

Bill Nelson Endorses Rick Kriseman

Rick Kriseman, Democratic candidate for St. Petersburg mayor, received a huge endorsement from Sen. Bill Nelson. The only bigger endorsement a Florida Democrat can receive is from Bob Graham.

“Rick Kriseman is a strong leader who will bring people together to find solutions for the challenges facing St Petersburg,” Nelson said in a statement. “As mayor, Rick will do well for St Petersburg.”

Early polls showed Democrat Kathleen Ford leading Republican incumbent Bill Foster and Kriseman. Ford has imploded. Nelson's endorsement of Kriseman is the Democratic establishment abandoning Ford. Kriseman is also much more apart of the establishment than Ford will ever be. Kriseman recently served in the Florida legislature. Ford hasn't held office in years. The Democratic establishment knows Kriseman. The same can't be said of Ford.

Rick Kriseman Receives Endorsements of LGBT Groups

St. Petersburg candidate for mayor, Rick Kriseman, has been endorsed by the LGBT groups Equality Florida and the Stonewall Democrats.

“I am proud to have the support of the LGBT community,” Kriseman said in a statement. “As mayor, I will ensure that St. Petersburg remains a city that values and celebrates diversity.”

In the Florida House of Representatives, Kriseman filed a bill urging President Barack Obama to end 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'

"It’s past time to end the failed policy of ’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ There are nearly eighty thousand gay or lesbian veterans who live in Florida. Brave men and women who served honorably, but also in fear. They deserved better, and today’s service members deserve better. I urge our leaders in Washington, D.C., to move quickly in repealing this terribly ineffective law," said Rep. Kriseman.

Kriseman has served as the Grand Marshall in the St. Pete Pride parade and has sponsored legislation to ban discrimination against sexual orientation or gender identity in the Florida workplace. Kriseman has a stronger record on LGBT issues than most members of his party.

A Look At Rick Kriseman's Run For St. Petersburg Mayor

Rick Kriseman in running for St. Petersburg mayor. Kriseman has been piling up some impressive endorsements.

West Central Florida Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO)

Former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink

St. Petersburg Councilman Charlie Gerdes

Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala

Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long

Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice

Incoming House Minority Leader Darryl Rouson

State Representative Dwight Dudley

Former state Senator Paula Dockery

Largo Mayor Pat Gerard

I like Kriseman's more realistic approach to the situation of the Tampa Rays wanting a new stadium.

St. Petersburg and its residents have invested much time, energy, and money into the Tampa Bay Rays. The African-American Community, and particularly residents of the Gas Plant Neighborhood, made great sacrifices to make way for Tropicana Field. My preference is for the team to remain in St. Pete and to thrive here. If that proves to be unrealistic - if the Rays simply do not want to be here any longer - then they should be given the opportunity to pay an exploratory fee in order to look at other locations, provided those locations are in the Tampa Bay area.

I would like to know what Kriseman means by this statement.

Throughout the negotiating process and regardless of the outcome, I will ensure that our taxpayers are protected.

Kriseman is vague on if he would support funding for a new Rays stadium. The fact that he is willing to let the Rays leave St. Petersburg means he doesn't want to take this to the voters. I don't blame him. Voters don't want to pay off a second Rays stadium.

I wonder if Kriseman is hinting at light rail and other infrastructure projects as economic stimulus. I'm for that. The question is where will the funding come from.

We must do a better job of attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones in order to compete with other cities. Avoiding high taxes, unreasonable regulations, and burdensome permitting is important, but the best way to grow and sustain our local economy is by having a top notch public education system, efficient mass transit, and sound infrastructure. We want to embrace and celebrate diversity. We want vibrant neighborhoods and we want well-trained, properly funded and fully-staffed public safety personnel. These are quality of life issues. Our residents and visitors deserve the best -- and the best will bring businesses looking for a home.

Kriseman is sounding like Ed Turanchik with his idea about a ferry to Key West. Really?

Why not - at last - transform our underused port? Good leadership can turn it into one of our most important assets. Imagine a ferry service to and from Tampa or a high speed catamaran to Key West. The port already is ideal for research vessels; let's generate other uses to serve the general public.

I don't see it.

Kriseman's announcement for his candidacy.

WMNF Interview With Ayele Hunt

Ayele Hunt is the organizer of I Am Choice. The rally in St. Petersburg encourages people to vote. Local Democrats Kathy Castor, Rick Kriseman and Jessica Ehrlich will speak at the event. The highlight of the rally is feminist icon Gloria Steinem making an appearance.

Hunt organized I Am Choice to make citizens aware of Amendment 6 of Florida ballots. This blog has urged voters to vote no on Amendment 6. If it becomes law, Amendment 6 would put more needless restrictions on women seeking an abortion. Hunt pointed out, in her WMNF interview, that Florida operates under the Hyde Amendment. Federal money for abortions is only in the cases of rape, incest or the women's life is in danger due to the pregnancy.

Information on I Am Choice rally.

GOTV Rally When: October 20 Where: Jannus Live, St. Petersburg Time: Doors open at 11:30 AM

GOTV Vote Rally at Jannus Live

Gloriia Steinem will headline the GOTV Rally at Jannus Live, in St. Petersburg. Rep Kathy Castor, State Rep. Rick Kriseman and congressional candidate Jessica Ehrlich will also speak against the rally.

Steinem is at the rally to urge voters to vote no on Amendment 6.

This proposed amendment provides that public funds may not be expended for any abortion or for health-benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. This provision does not apply to an expenditure required by federal law, a case in which a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would place her in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, or a case of rape or incest. This proposed amendment provides that the State Constitution may not be interpreted to create broader rights to an abortion than those in the United States Constitution. With respect to abortion, this proposed amendment overrules court decisions which conclude that the right of privacy under Article I, Section 23 of the State Constitution is broader in scope than that of the United States Constitution.

Never mind previous legal decisions on a woman's right to privacy. Let's make an amendment that turns back the clock on the reproductive rights of women in Florida.

Please vote no on Amendment 6.

GOTV Rally

When: October 20

Where: Jannus Live, St. Petersburg

Time: Doors open at 11:30 AM

Stop Alex Sink

Danger, Will Robinson. Failed gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink tells the Tampa Bay Times that she is considering running against Gov. Rick Scott in 2014.

"Of course, I've thought about it," Sink said. "Many, many people are encouraging me. Even strangers who I've never met before would like to see me back."

Who are these people telling Alex Sink to run? Are these the same people whom serve as imaginary cab drivers for Thomas Friedman.

Sink made this remark at the Hillsborough County Democratic meeting.

"Just think about Rick Scott. Elections do matter. And voting matters, and who gets into office matters," Sink said. "If I were your governor, we wouldn't be doing things this way up in Tallahassee."

In case you forgot, Sink lost to Scott, in the general election. Scott had excessive baggage. Scott was forced to step down as the CEO of Columbia/HCA. Scott's former health care company had to pay the federal government a $1.7 billion fine. During his deposition, Scott was evasive about the simplest of questions. An example:

Cusack: Have inpatient visits declined?

Scott: For what time period?

Cusack: The last two years.

Scott: It depends on the quarter.

Cusack: But taken as a total, have you seen a decline?

Scott: For what time period?

Cusack: Over the last two years.

Scott: I'm not sure I understand the question.

Alex Sink lost to a candidate as damaged as Scott. Sink was so bad that MSNBC named her the worst candidate of 2010. High praise Sink, considering 2010 produced Christine O'Donnell and Joe Wilson and a host of other bizarre tea party candidate. Chuck Todd citing Sink lost in Florida to an opponent whose company committed Medicare fraud.

Florida state Rep. Rick Kriseman (D) believes Sink would be a weak candidate.

"She didn't do anything to energize the Democratic base," Kriseman says. "They stayed home. You can't take the base for granted."

State Sen. John Thrasher (R) is salivating at the prospect of at another Sink run.

Said Thrasher: "That would be the best opponent we could ever have."

Progressives need to put pressure on Sink and her political adviser Steve Schale. Sink should never run for State office again. Tweet Sink and Schale and tell them you will not support Alex Sink in 2014.

Update: Steve Schale sent me a message on Twitter stating he is not Sink's political adviser. I had some questions for Schale but couldn't message him back because he unfollowed me. Schale may not be currently employed by Sink. Schale was talking up Sink's potential candidacy last year.

“If Alex runs, Alex is the frontrunner,” said Steve Schale, a Democratic strategist who advised Sink on her run for the Governor’s Mansion last year.

'Docs Verses Glocks' Law Ruled Unconstitutional

I wrote about HB 155 that was signed by Gov. Rick Scott. The legislation made it against the law for doctors to ask patients if their homes had a gun within the reach of a child. Republicans also voiced conspiracy theories about doctors keeping a secret database on patients that have guns. The wondering thing about a conspiracy theory is that Republicans did not have to provide evidence to support their fanciful claims.

Apparently, Judge Marcia Cooke agreed with my assessment that the law infringed upon the First amendment rights of doctors.

A federal judge in Miami has blocked enforcement of a first-in-the-nation Florida law restricting what physicians can say about guns to their patients.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke ruled Wednesday that the law violates the Constitution's free-speech protections for both doctors and patients.

To be fair, patients have a right not to answer the question on if they own a gun that is near a child. I want to see people practice gun safety around children. I do believe people have a right to their privacy.

This legislation was slammed through the legislature by NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer. It is no exaggeration to call Hammer the most powerful lobbyist in Tallahassee. Hammer constantly slammed Republican superstar Marco Rubio last year. You didn't hear the Florida GOP establishment take Hammer to task for going after Rubio. That is because Republicans don't want to piss off Hammer and the NRA.

In related news: Rep. Rick Kriseman has a bill to repeal HB 155. The bill is symbolic. Krisemen doesn't expect the bill to make it out of committee.

Republican Hypocrisy on Campaign Money

Fort Lauderdale police officers came out with a video asking Floridians to help stop SB 830. The bill's purpose to to financially destroy unions.

Labor and Employment; Prohibits a state agency from deducting from employee wages the dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments of an employee organization or contributions made for purposes of political activity. Prohibits a county, municipality, or other local governmental entity from deducting from employee wages the dues, uniform assessments, fines, penalties, or special assessments of an employee organization or contributions made for purposes of political activity, etc.

Unions negotiate better wages and working conditions for their members. So for Republicans to merely label politicial organizations is a simplification.

There is also the hypocrisy of Republicans attempting to restrict political contributions. Conservative columnist George Will and the Supreme Court have argued that political contributions. Republicans are suddenly against the free speech when the money goes elsewhere. Apparently, Republicans believe it should be illegal for unions to be able to set up a political contribution system. Yet, that is exactly what Republicans in the Florida legislature did with its leadership funds.

The passage of the so-called leadership funds bill, HB 1207, will strengthen the clout of legislative leaders, allow them to work outside the purview of the party and, for Republicans, outside the the influence of the governor. In 2012, all legislators must run in newly drawn districts. Proponents argue the measure will increase ``transparency'' because they would give citizens the opportunity to view campaign finance activity, which is currently obscured by party reporting.

Leadership funds were banned 21 years ago when Democrats, in charge of the Legislature then, were embarrassed by a perception of pay-to-play politics. Rep. Rick Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, said that lawmakers are headed down that path again.

"People just want you to be honest with them,'' he said. "This bill isn’t about transparency...This is about winning elections.''

It is about the Republicans able to keep to caucus in line with the promise of campaign money. Unions giving money to Democrats hinders the Republican cause. What the union-busting and leadership fund bills have to do with creating jobs is beyond me.

The Domestic Partnerships Act.

State Representative Mark Pafford is the sponsor of the Florida House bill the Domestic Partnerships Act. Rick Kriseman is the co-sponsor of the bill

Domestic Partnerships: Sets fees & costs for dissolution or registration of domestic partnership; requires DOH to examine certificates of domestic partnership & dissolution reports; requires clerk to transmit declarations of domestic partnership; authorizes DOH to issue certified copy of certain vital records to domestic partner; includes domestic partnership within domestic violence provisions; requires DOH to create & distribute forms; provides jurisdiction over partnership proceedings; requires partnership registry; requires form to be filed to form partnership & specifies contents; authorizes partners to retain surnames; provides that any privilege or responsibility granted or imposed by statute, administrative or court rule, policy, common law, or any other law because individual is or was related to another by marriage, or is child of either spouse, is granted on equivalent terms to domestic partners or individuals similarly related to domestic partners; provides exceptions; provides methods to prove existence of partnership when certificate is lost or unavailable; provides for termination of partnership.

So far there is no pdf file of the bill. The legislation addresses recognizing domestic partnership. Nowhere in the language is gay marriage mentioned. What is unclear is if the bill will recognize gay marriages and domestic partnerships from out of state. Currently no gay or lesbian couple can get a gay marriage or partnership license.

Florida Senator Senator Eleanor Sobel is sponsoring a Senate version of the bill. Sadly, the House and Senate bills will die in the chambers. Republicans hold supermajorites. Pafford, Kriseman and Sobel should be commended for their political courage.

Heller & Kriseman Honored by Developmental Disabilities Council.

Congratulations to Florida House members Bill Heller and Rick Kriseman for being honored as "Outstanding legislators by the Developmental Disabilities Council. Both Heller and Kriseman have championed civil rights for the disabled.

Representative Heller was honored for co-sponsoring HB 1073, a bill concerning notification of parents whose children are subjected to restraint and seclusion procedures in the classroom. “This additional oversight will go far toward protecting the welfare and rights of these children,” wrote Susan Gold, chair, Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc. in a July 6 congratulatory letter to Representative Heller.

Representative Kriseman (D-St. Petersburg) was honored for his sponsorship of an amendment to Senate Bill 1166, a bill dealing with Planned Residential Communities. The amendment clarified that these communities would include individuals without disabilities as well as those with developmental disabilities.

Rick Kriseman Fundraiser

Democrat Rick Kriseman is running for re-election for Florida House district 53. A fundraiser is being held for Kriseman is St. Petersburg.

Date: Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Georgie's Alibi
Street: 3100 3rd Avenue N
City/Town:
Saint Petersburg, FL