Did you notice that the governor got out of his office recently to visit several districts of legislators who want to cut back on Enterprise Florida and on Visit Florida? These taxpayer-funded agencies are only quasi-public, and allegations of improper spending have been around for years. House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Republican of Land ‘o Lakes, wants to de-fund or even abolish them, and his fellow Republican, Governor Rick Scott wants to continue business as usual.  Read More 

I’m finding that the most informative section of the Tampa Bay Time these days is the section called “The Tampa Tribune.” Ernest Hooper is its editor, and he (or someone) has had the good sense to reach out to reporter William (Windy) March. Long with the real Tampa Tribune, which folded last year after more than a century of publication, Windy always was the most astute political writer in our area, with the widest network of contacts willing to trust him. I’m so glad to be able to read his work again.  Read More 

This is another of many maxims that are arguable, but the meaning is clear: apples, nuts, and other such don’t fall far from their source; and if allowed to sprout and grow, they will be the same as the parent tree. Humans are more complicated and don’t necessarily replicate their sources – but given all the factors of both genetic inheritance and the influence of years of exposure to parental beliefs and behavior, the probably is that a child will be similar to mom and dad.  Read More 

During his first few days in office, Donald Trump wreaked more international havoc and violated the US Constitution more than any other president even imagined. I’m delighted, though, that a younger generation is responding in kind, with the hair-on-fire visibility that is necessary to refute Hitler-like behavior. My generation has lost the sense of urgency that we had back in the Vietnam days, and I’m very pleased that today’s young people are returning to the kind of activism that is essential to democracy.  Read More 

I expected that the anti-inaugural Women’s March would exceed the puny attendance at The Donald’s swearing-in – but I had no idea of how large it would be and especially how far the marches would extend. I knew lots of my local friends were going to Washington, while others went to the one here. Some Minnesota kinfolk planned to go to the Minneapolis one, and old friends in Boston went to theirs. But that there would be almost 400 such demonstrations involving millions of people across the globe truly was awe-inspiring.  Read More 

This edition of LaGaceta will come out on January 20, which is Inauguration Day -- and my oldest brother’s birthday. He has shared that date with incoming presidents every four years since Franklin Roosevelt’s second swearing-in in 1937.  Read More 

I see signs of new life among progressives, especially women. They have stopped grieving over Hillary and are ready to trump Trump’s tricks. Some of the activist names I see in daily e-mails are familiar, but many are new. Some are veterans of feminist wars for equality, but others are young. For them, the election was an epiphany, and they have come to understand that the rights they took for granted can be ephemeral. As Thomas Jefferson said, “eternal vigilance is the cost of liberty” -- and some women were not very vigilant in this last election.  Read More 

Bronson Thayer, who died on Christmas Eve, was one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever known. I’m sure he had literally thousands of friends – and could remember not only their names, but also those of their children, grandchildren, and quite possibly their pets. The man was a walking rolodex. More than that, he truly cared about those in his database mind. Hubby and I knew Bronson from the local Harvard Club, and I have no idea how that organization will carry on without him. He was its heart and soul.  Read More 

This edition of LaGaceta will come out on New Year’s Eve, so like last week’s on Christmas Eve, I don’t expect many readers. If you are one, please let me know: your message will brighten the comparatively molasses-paced early days of January. Those of us who take Christmas to heart are busy, busy, busy, with shopping and wrapping, decorating and card-sending, baking and cooking – until the 26th, when it comes to a crashing halt. Especially in an election year, the inbox is empty compared with just weeks earlier, and for me, there won’t be a trip to Washington and an inauguration to anticipate.  Read More 

At bedtime most nights, I do the newspaper crossword puzzle. I feel increasingly justified in spending time this way because neurologists are saying that such mental exercise is good for the brain. Crosswords are words, of course, and Hubby and I enjoy talking about words. We have frequent conversations on etymologies and usages, and we are glad to be native English-speakers because that language has by far more words than any other. It offers lots of choices for nuance and precision.  Read More