News & Public Affairs
Panhandling policy workshop at Tampa Chamber fails to draw support for ban listen
07/27/11 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: panhandling, Tampa, Tampa Chamber of Commerce, homelessness, poverty
This morning the Tampa Chamber of Commerce tackled the controversial issue of a possible ban on Panhandling in Tampa. Only two in attendance supported a full or partial ban. Everyone else expressed with a show of hands, their desire to give the matter further consideration.
It took effect in St. Petersburg last June. Parts of unincorporated Hillsborough County adopted it early this year. So far though, the city of Tampa has managed to thwart a ban on street solicitation. That could cha...
Be the first to commentIs the US an empire? Group in Tampa says yes listen
06/30/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: United Church of Christ, UCC, empire, imperialism, economic justice, Homelessness
When they hear the word empire, many people think of Rome, Babylon, Britain, or the USSR. But today a group in Tampa talked about imperial aspects of the United States. Just ahead of the country’s two-hundred-thirty-fifth birthday, a United Church of Christ workshop revealed an imperial America they say varies greatly from the vision of the nation’s founders.
Reverend Tom Warren is with a United Church of Christ congregation in Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. In talking about America as an imper...
Be the first to commentFood Not Bombs movement grows in Tampa Bay listen
05/13/11 Andrea LypkaWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Food Not Bombs, feeding, parks, homelessness, peace, war, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Tampa, Keith McHenry, Alex Nadeau
Across Florida the Food Not Bombs movement is going through a revival. It may be due to unemployment, foreclosures, and restrictions on homeless feedings in Orlando. In Tampa Bay new Food Not Bombs chapters are formed and volunteers share food and literature in support of the Orlando volunteers who got arrested for handing out poor to the homeless and needy. The St. Petersburg chapter is growing fast, says volunteer Alex Nadeau. He quit his corporate job and now works for free: he feeds the h...
Be the first to commentFood Not Bombs co-founder Keith McHenry takes calls on attempts to criminalize public feedings
05/11/11 Seán KinaneLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Food Not Bombs, feeding, parks, homelessness, Peace, War, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Tampa, Keith McHenry
Welcome to the WMNF afternoon call-in show the Last Call. I’m Seán Kinane. This afternoon we’ll talk about efforts by cities across Florida that are making it more difficult – and in some cases illegal – to feed people in public parks.
Joining us in this conversation is the co-founder of Food Not Bombs, Keith McHenry. He’s in St. Petersburg right now helping to cook a meal for people in downtown’s Mirror Lake Park. Thank you for Joining us Keith.
9 commentsCount find spike in Hillsborough's homeless population listen
05/05/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Homelessness, homeless count, homeless coalition, Hillsborough County, Tampa
The results of the 2011 Homeless Count are in, and they show Hillsborough’s Homeless population nearly doubled since the 2009 count. But the reason behind the drastic increase is probably not what you think it is.
The collapsed economy is probably a contributing factor for any spike in an area’s homeless population. This time around, there’s something else that drove the number from around 9,500 two years ago to nearly 18,000 this year. Homeless Coa...
Be the first to commentPinellas County Commission gathers facts on affordable housing availability listen
03/15/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: affordable housing, economy, Pinellas County Commission, Susan Latvala, Bob LaSala, homelessness, poverty
If you’re looking for cheap rent in Tampa Bay, chances are you’re not having in easy time finding it. Today the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners held a workshop today to find answers on how to deal with a lack of affordable housing in the county. Bill Sanchez with the Tampa Bay Community Development Corporation said foreclosures are down nationwide, but not because few homeowners are filing.
Be the first to commentIt seems that the drop is basically having to do with banks having to refile paperwork that ...
Tampa City Council hears grim homelessness stats, skirts panhandling discussion listen
02/24/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Homelessness, Hillsborough County, Tampa, Panhandling
Tampa City Council may have tabled a controversial proposal to ban panhandling, but the debate has spurred discussion on what causes people to ask for money on street corners. Today the council got a pretty dire picture of homelessness and poverty throughout the city.
Those expecting a spar over panhandling at the city council workshop may have been disappointed. Today, the council sought stats on the homeless and impoverished population as well as things like the number of beds available ...
Be the first to commentHomelessness, panhandling and unemployment
02/22/11 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Tuesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: panhandling, homelessness, unemployment
Good morning, welcome to Radioactivity. I'm Rob Lorei. Coming up today we'll talk about panhandling, homelessness and unemployment.
Our guest is Sara Romeo with Tampa Crossroads. She is working to insure that female vets are able to access services that will help them remain independent. This employment program was funded by the Dept. of Labor specifically to assist honorably discharge homeless female veterans. But she also works on ending homelessness and will testify this Thursday befor...
1 commentsInterview with Tampa Mayoral candidate Rose Ferlita
02/15/11 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Tuesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Rose Ferlita, panhandling, homelessness, Cuba, Rays stadium, elections, Tampa election
Coming up next on Radioactivity an interview with Rose Ferlita who is running for mayor of Tampa. Ferlita is a Tampa native. She is by profession a pharmacist- having once owned a local drug store in Seminole Heights, Ferlita now works for a pharmacy in South Tampa.
She served from 1999-2006 as a member of the Tampa City Council and Member of the Hillsborough County Commission from 2006-2010.
Be the first to commentTampa City Council reverses panhandling decision listen
02/03/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Tampa City Council, panhandling, Mary Mulhern, Joseph Caetano, poverty, homelessness
The Tampa City Council reversed course today and voted down an ordinance that would have created a partial ban on panhandling within city limits. Members of the council couldn’t agree on how to tackle an issue many say is one of the recession’s most visible consequences.
Fran Williams, a pastor with Paradise Missionary Baptist Church, plainly stated his views on a panhandling ban that would apply to everyone from curbside beggars to charities and those who hawk newspapers along busy roadsi...
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