Sunshine Citizens

Since 2015, our community of warriors, friends, volunteers, advocates, and experts has kept up the fight against FDOT’s plan to widen I-275. While we do not know what the future holds in a world that changes so quickly, we want to pause and appreciate this moment and thank our community. It has truly been an honor.

At present, there is no significant funding for I-275 beyond current construction. The work you see now, and the work you will see in the near future, is already funded and underway. The two major construction projects are the Westshore Interchange, which has already begun, and the Downtown Interchange, which will likely be completed in 2027. You may also see resurfacing, new striping, and possibly some telecommunications and signage work, but you should not see the highway expanded through our historic neighborhoods.

There has been no other group of advocates and concerned citizens who have accomplished what you all have. In December 2016, just a little more than a year after Sunshine Citizens launched its STOP TBX platform, we became the first in Florida to completely stall and reset TBX into a much smaller project. It was not just about size. The original estimates placed the project at $9 billion; now it is under $3 billion. We were also able to reduce the footprint significantly, which would have been much worse if FDOT had moved forward with the original plan.

Last week, we achieved another first: removing a project from the TIP. In this case, it was the I-275 widening between Hillsborough and Bearss avenues.

In all, what we have all done is truly unheard of. We released White Swans in the midst of tension, fear, frustration, and anger caused by repeated rebranding of highway-widening plans that trace back to 1989. While some of us may feel nostalgic for older times, revisiting interstate transportation plans from nearly forty years ago is not the right approach for planning the future.

🥹The future of Sunshine Citizens is still being considered. We are not thrilled with Facebook or with much of what the metaverse offers. We may move to other platforms, which could mean losing touch here, or we may keep this account active for followers who want updates on key events while sharing more content elsewhere. We are also tired — and maybe it is okay to say that in 2026 — and may choose to focus on other transportation and public health issues in our community. Perhaps a sabbatical is in order until these uncertain times reveal new opportunities. We do not know exactly when that will happen, but we will keep you posted.
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Because meeting minutes are unavailable, we want to share who supported and who opposed removing the I-275 widening.

The item for removal was FPN Item #431821-3, from north of Hillsborough Avenue to south of Bearss Avenue:

✅School Board Member Gray made the original motion to remove the project from the TIP.

✅The motion was seconded by Commissioner Gwen Myers and supported by eight TPO Board members. TPO Chair and Temple Terrace Mayor Ross.

💀Commissioners Wostal, Plant City Mayor Kilton, Klug, Slater, and Planning Commissioner Joseph, voted no.

💀Commissioner Wostal then made a substitute motion to keep the TIP as recommended by staff, which would have kept the I-275 widening in place. That motion was seconded by Mayor Kilton.

✅It failed by a vote of six to eight. Commissioners Boles, Cohen, Myers, Hurtak, Gray, and Stephens voted no.
Commissioner Cohen then moved to approve the TIP as amended, seconded by Councilmember Clendenin, and it passed eleven to three.

💀Commissioner Wostal, Mayor Kilton, and Planning Commissioner Joseph voted no.

Among those running for election (we are not endorsing anyone and graphically using emoticons to note the differences in this post for readability):

✅Harry Cohen, who rejected the I-275 widening, is running for District 1 in Hillsborough County.

✅Gwen Myers, who rejected the I-275 widening, is running for District 3 in Hillsborough County.

💀Joshua Wostal, who supported the widening, is running for District 7 in Hillsborough County.

✅Lynn Hurtak, who rejected the widening, is running for Mayor in Tampa.

✅Naya Young, who rejected the widening, is running for District 5 in Tampa.

💀While we may not know their reasons, Commissioner Wostal, Mayor Kilton, and Planning Commissioner Joseph voted no on the TIP despite this document including OTHER transportation improvements in areas within their own districts. It is fair to ask them why, if you feel compelled to do so.
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We will keep you updated on the future of Sunshine Citizens. We urge everyone to stay engaged on transportation issues in Tampa Bay. Even when there is no money, FDOT plans ahead. And if they can do that, our community can too.

❤️— Chris
President, Sunshine Citizens, Inc.

After 11 years of fighting, we removed a portion of I-275 from the TIP.

Did you all know that Tampa’s earlier driveless car demonstration (it might have been the first) occurred in 1932?! We think the driverless car emerged from R.S. Evans on Jackson Street. Or, the lot that now Hyatt House sits on (that fun Buckhorn-boosted Project) just east of City Hall.

Check out the article and image from
Robertson and Fresh.

The article is from The Tampa Daily Times, Tampa, Florida · Wednesday, February 10, 1932

The building photo is from Robertson and Fresh, "R.S. Evans Motors on Jackson Street" (1930). Robertson and Fresh Collection of Tampa Photographs. Image 1752.
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“DRIVERLESS AUTO DODGES CITY TRAFFIC

Controlled by Radio, Car Runs Through Crowded Streets.

Tampans yesterday saw a driverless automobile propelling itself through the crowded business dis-trict.

"It doesn't seem possible."
"There's a trick to it."
"The driver is under the hood."
"It can't be done."

These and similar expressions were shouted and whispered as the car rode through traffic, made complete U-turn at Franklin and Lafayette streets, straightened itself and proceeded northward back to the plant of R. S. Evans, who sponsored the event.

By this time you have guessed it.

It is the new wonder of the age-a radio-controlled automobile.

Directed From Rear.
Captain Lynch, who has been engaged in perfecting this mechanical wonder, was seated in the second car, On the lap of his companion was an instrument board fitted up with small batteries and a telegraphic key, similar to the dispatching instruments seen in telegraphie offices.

Captain Lynch touched the key, the starter in the driverless car turned over, the motor was spinning with life and energy.

He pressed another code message through the key the front car was off. Lynch's car follow-ed, about five fert behind.

On and on went the spooky, mystical little automobile driven by an unseen hand, a marvelously uncanny creation.

It stopped itself, started, turned to right or to left, turned suddenly to right and then to left, completing a perfect cirele and turn, righted itself, drove straight ahead.

It missed automobiles to left and to right, it passed street cars, it stopped as a bicyele rider passed in front of the car.

Newly Developed.
Radio control,comparatively new, is still in its infancy. Already tests have been successfully completed whereby airplanes can control automobiles on the ground far below. But a driverlesa car in
crowded traffic, driving itself for-ward, turning, twisting and stopping is something new.

"Anything is possible these days," declared Mr. Evans as he stood watching the denionstrition. There is only one thing that the radio-control fails to do, and that is to back the car. Sounding the horn is no trick at all, yet a few scant years ago such a feat would have been most amazing, actualiy unreal.

Led by a motor police patrol, the driverless automobile left the Evans garage at 3 o'clock p. m., progressed southward to Platt, made a perfect right turn into Franklin and proceeded to Lafayette where a perfect circular turn was negotiated, the radio-con-trol being solely and completely in command.”

Unfortunately for now, the widening of I-275 north will remain as a funding priority. We thank those who spoke up. It was unfortunate that two mayoral candidates, Lynn Hurtak (who left) and Bill Carlson were not present during the vote when the community needed them the most. We thank Harry Cohen and Gwen Myers for their thoughts and stance against the widening.

In other news, there is a meeting for the much-anticipated Tampa’s bike/ped improvement for El Prado.

“The City of Tampa is hosting an open house Wednesday (TODAY) from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Jan Platt Library,”

It is from this article that talks about the project:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/tampa-delays-controversial-street-redesign-after-neighborhood-uproar?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a0467c81f2f3300018dfe3c #

Tampa delays controversial street redesign after neighborhood uproar People in South Tampa will get a chance to weigh in Wednesday on a plan to redesign El Prado Boulevard, a project that’s sparked a growing debate in the neighborhood.

A bad week for Brightline...

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18qqJGUWXu/?mibextid=wwXIfr

BRIGHTLINE DENIED | FEC says it won't approve a passenger station in Stuart.
Read more: https://bit.ly/4wbx7UQ ⬅️🔗

Tampa Transportation has major administrative issues.

Tampa taxpayers just shelled out $350,000 to settle a lawsuit exposing ugly discrimination and retaliation in City Hall’s mobility department.

Top employee Scarlett Lopez faced backlash from boss Jean Duncan—city’s highest-paid at $256k—for protected medical leave during back pain and a heartbreaking miscarriage. Duncan allegedly accused her of faking it, demoted her, blocked promotions, and fired her after a complaint HR ignored, all while giving her own daughter-in-law sweetheart treatment like instant leave approvals and raises.

“Lopez was told she’d be able to apply for a permanent position soon, and she accepted the demotion. Fearing retaliation, Lopez came back to the office just four days after she miscarried in the fifth month of her pregnancy. She got a bad performance review anyway for her “excessive use of sick leave.” Lopez received the performance review on April 19, 2022, and filed a discrimination complaint with the city that same day.”

Duncan’s relative got glowing reviews and perks despite zero experience, contrasting Lopez’s harsh scrutiny—even after returning to work days post-miscarriage. This favoritism in a department already rocked by women’s discrimination claims screams broken leadership.

HR skipped investigation, claiming “at-will” status excuses it, amid Mayor Castor’s team’s “round table” termination chats with no records. Full legal costs hidden from public; another suit brews from fired Assistant Police Chief Ruth Cate.

“Danni Jorgenson was Lopez’ supervisor in her new role. In her deposition, Jorgenson said that Duncan got even more frustrated after the complaint, telling Jorgenson, “Who does she think she is? … She’s an at-will employee. I can do what I want.”

You think it is time to demand accountability?

https://www.cltampa.com/news/city-of-tampa-pays-350k-settlement-for-lawsuit-that-alleged-discrimination-retaliation-and-potential-nepotism/

The City of Tampa is in the midst of a discrimination and retaliation complaint from former Assistant Police Chief Ruth Cate, who was fired last March after nearly three decades of service. How Cate’s ordeal ends is unknown, but about a month prior, the city paid $350,000 to settle a lawsuit by another former employee who alleged discrimination, retaliation and nepotism by one of the highest-paid employees in city hall.

It seems Brightline can’t get a break these days.

Court records in Blake Lively’s legal dispute with Justin Baldoni over “It Ends With Us” mention Florida companies Brightline and Princess Cruises. Brightline, the Orlando-to-Miami rail service, discussed partnering with Lively’s Betty Booze alcohol brand but backed out amid drama. The filings highlight impacts on her business deals, tying into her claims of a smear campaign affecting career opportunities.

Court records show Blake Lively legal drama invoked Brightline, Princess Cruises The Lively-Justin Baldoni dispute roped in several Hollywood stars ... and Brightline?

Brightline's future seems uncertain. But one thing is for sure, you can only widen I-4 so much. Something has to give.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18uaneyKBh/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Brightline admits ‘substantial doubt’ it can avoid bankruptcy More passengers, growing revenues are not enough to pay off a crippling debt load.

Is it worth polluting others’ air quality? Do we even consider the kids, the elderly, or the compromised who live near roads? Or what about the environment that Florida uses to take a lot of money from tourists? Should that take a hit? Or what about trading carbon offsets to reduce taxpayers' obligations to maintain roads?

No, it isn’t worth it.

https://www.facebook.com/share/18xizfLB6M/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In Florida, a bill passed this legislative session that prohibits local governments from issuing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We need to stop rolling back clean air protections that we have at the federal level. And then we also need to allow our local communities in the state of Florida to regulate things like greenhouse gas emissions.” Lyerly told WMNF.