Mayor Iorio's last Town Hall Meeting of 2006 was filled with positive comments about her administration and the many departments of the City of Tampa. Representatives from the Seminole Heights, Sulphur Springs, and other neighborhood groups gushed over the efforts of the Tampa Police Department, Code Enforcement, and other city departments.

Yes, there were some issues still remaining. Roads that still need resurfacing, late night activities at some parks, problems with sound from the interstate, and the list goes on. BUT overall the residents in this central area of Tampa expressed great satisfaction with the Iorio administration.

Unfortunately, the same is not so true in some other parts of the city. Many SOHO (South Howard Avenue area) businesses feel the effort to develop downtown and Channelside is at their expense. Many Ybor businesses feel this administration is their enemy, not their friend.

The parking and traffic problem in SOHO continues to worsen as more building is allowed without real answers to the problem.

Ybor businesses are in a tug of war between the day businesses and the night businesses that frequently have different interests and concerns.

The Mayor has seemed more motivated to curb happy hour and drink specials rather than address a substantive plan for business and development in these two areas of Tampa.

As one of the most responsive elected officials in Tampa's history, it is time for this administration to work harder at reaching to the businesses and residents of Ybor and SOHO to eliminate the animosity and to develop real answers to the issues affecting these communities. The need is overwhelming and the opportunity is there, let's see if it happens.

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