The sad life of Kim

Kim has been on the streets for at least twenty years. Long time cab drivers know her from Kennedy Blvd where she would work as a prostitute. She is mentally ill and unpredictable. She can also be sweet and nice.

I saw her today for the first time in a year. I was at a gas station and she asked me for money. I just don't have any extra and told her no. She looked sad, and walked off. I genuinely have sorrow for her.

Her disappearances are from being in jail or rehab. I hope. Perhaps ObamaCare will help her if she goes online and pays the $400 a month. Right.

The homeless hot dog man

I see this guy as early as five in the morning up to nine. He rides his bike (with a wagon on it) and always gets two hot dogs and seems happy to have them. He's always in good cheer and talks to people (you see him here talking to a black guy). I'm thinking the dogs may be his meal of the day. Two for two bucks. Not bad. At least he's not paying $3.50 a gallon and $92 lease a day six days a week. Life is a matter of perspective. I like mustard and onions.

First good day I've had in four years

With two out of town trips, and one to Lakeland, I had the best day in four years driving a taxi
We just need the economy to continue to recover. I need to get my life back together. I have so much I need to do and I have been on the mat because of this recession. I can't wait until it gets the hell out of here.

I am still here in Tampa for now

Things have been a little hard right now. Business has not been the best for this time of year. The cruise industry has saved us on the weekend. Other then that, we would be screwed. I can not stress how bad the economy is here in Tampa Florida. All I can do is hang in and hope for the best.

I just got my cell phone re-connected after a month. I have to make decisions about where I will spend my money. The cell phone is a low priority. My internet connection means more too me.

Tampa Epoch newspaper is helping the homeless

A street newspaper in Tampa

"This is a noteworthy time for the Tampa community." - proclaims the publisher of Tampa Epoch.

A new Newspaper is now being circulated in Tampa by the homeless community. The newspaper has a unique business arrangement with them. They get to keep the profits off the street sales and the publisher keeps the profits off the advertising. This is a legal (ethical and moral) way for homeless people to make an income, without panhandling.

The publisher of the newspaper is Bill Sharpe. I have not been able to interview him yet, but I would believe that his main concern is first amendment rights. The homeless have been marginalized by local politicians who have made it illegal for people to express their right to free speech. They said that holding a sign informing others of  your plight was a crime. It is free speech; It is protected by the Constitution.

Now, homeless (and formally homeless) can get around what Bob Buckhorn wants, and still find a way to make a living - the only way they can right now with an unemployment rate close to Great Depression levels.

The newspaper I bought today was from a vendor at the 'Occupy Tampa' sight. I felt the dollar was worth it and in twelve pages it had more content then the Tampa Tribune (which will soon be out of business). I support this effort and wish them well. The vendor seemed very happy to make a sell and I was happy for him to provide a service to me.

Street newspapers work well for the homeless and there are over 100 world-wide. They provide employment for the unemployed (something Obama has been promising for years). They provide information to the public that they will not get anywhere else. The main thing is they financially help people. Tampa Epoch is sort of a stimulus plan.

Way to go Bill Sharpe. You are one guy that is trying to make a difference by helping people that others have giving up on.

Taxi Stand Hyde Park is full of surprises

The Hyde Park taxi stand

We don't have taxi stands anymore but many of the drivers still sit on the old Hyde Park 21 stand. The stand is at a city park that is centrally located for getting calls. There is shade, a basketball court, a baseball diamond, and some cool wildlife. The retention pond behind the chain link fence is now the home of many migratory and wading birds. Richard says they eat frogs, which are plentafull in the lake.

A wading bird

This pond  has formed its own eco-system and I would not be surprised if there were now fish in it. Every time I stop by, I see different birds. They know there is food in there and they are patient enough to wait it out. There is something else that is going on out there as well.

You can see the "Obamaville" thru the fence line

A 'hobo camp' has been set up behind the pump house. These guys are not hurting anyone and they don't bother people for money. The camp is along the railroad line where it is open and provides them with some security. They have collected some mattresses and and a sofa. Hell, at least they don't have the rent I have. I guess you call this an 'Obamaville.'

You can see the discarded furniture that makes up this camp

Republican Convention Coming To Tampa August 2012 - What Tampa Offers

A popular tourist destination

The Republican convention is coming to Tampa next year. I have a few thoughts on the matter. First, I wonder if the city will do an 'operation shakedown' to get rid of all the street corner sign fliers. The sight of unemployed panhandlers with orange vest on will be something the city may not want delegates to see, but it does underscore a real problem with the current administrations ability to create jobs. So I say, let them see it and have it on the cable news. Second, will the delegates actually use the taxi cabs. I am sure they will have Mears bus service and limos working the hotels, along with the transportation services. This is why we need a strong cab commission to protect our interest. I am sure the delegates will be using the taxi to go out on the town, however.

Bill O'Rilley says he has never been to a strip club. Do you believe that? Maybe. He did write a novel with a cunningligus scene in it. He missed the mark (clit). It was as if he had never eaten a girl out before. Don't take my word for it, you can buy the book on Amazon. However, Tampa is known for many things and that is tourist love to come here. .

Tampa is known for beautiful beaches, great golf courses, penetrating defense, Ybor city, gaybor...and strip clubs!  I bet they are mobbed. With Bill Buckhorn now the mayor; I wonder if he will install the ten foot rule again and start locking up all the Republican delegates that get to close to a naked lady.

I believe it will be busy, but don't hang your hat on it. You will make a few bucks but don't drive for the next year making no money hoping to make a killing next summer. There were drivers that made no money for six months in late 2008 just so they could have a good 4 days during the Super Bowl when it was in Tampa. Don't do that too yourselves guys. You will just be able to pay your bills that week and that's about it.

Homeless Panhandling Is Now Widespread In Tampa

I drive all over Tampa and see first hand the number of people that are at almost every major intersection in Tampa - Dale Mabry and Kennedy is very popular, along with Kennedy and Westshore and Columbus and Dale Mabry. This homeless guy lives out of his van with his Jack Russel dog and uses the dog as a marketing tool to get hits.

Flying A Sign And The Homeless In Tampa

I see it every day in Tampa. They seem to be at every intersection. Their pleas for help are drawn on the back of cardboard and they seem as common as the traffic lights themselves. Who are these people? What led them to the streets? Should I give them money? Whatever is going on in America is driving people to the street corners, and in Florida, the broiling afternoon sun to try and survive.

Some people subscribe to the Urban Myth of the homeless guy “Flying a Sign” and making a couple hundred a day and then going home to his spread in the suburbs. I don’t know about that. Flying a sign does not seem to be a very profitable activity, considering the competition today. Some people believe we should give them a bag with some lame ass crackers and directions to a social center inside instead of money. I think the condition that exist today cannot be solved by directions to a county office. It is more chronic than that

A few years ago, I considered these people to be bums. Nowadays, I’m not so sure. Driving my cab for 12 hours a day, makes me familiar with these people. I don’t think they are bums, they are the homeless and the unemployed. The ones I have talked to HAVE NO JOB. Simple.

A homeless guy named “Billy” hangs out at the Hyde Park taxi stand #21. He talks to the drivers and seems normal. He is just “down on his luck.“ He claims to have been homeless for years and often panhandles for money. He survives, but that’s about all he does. He has found places around downtown to get food. Some are better than others, but most will feed you and give you some sandwiches to take with you. That helps them for today. What about tomorrow.

Billy goes on Sundays to an old venerable church near down town called Hyde Park United Methodist. They feed the homeless on Sundays with a hot buffet of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, hotcakes, juice, fruit and so forth. The dichotomy this creates is that this act of kindness is in the shadow of swanky high rise condominiums and Bayshore Mansions.

Many of the people that eat at this church, hang out and sleep on Bayshore and many of the buildings in East Hyde Park. They are now calling this area Homeless Hyde Park. It is a problem that is getting worse as time goes on. The homeless women Missy Sjostrom was killed by a hit-and-run driver in this area one night while crossing the street at the base of the Davis Island bridge, another area were rich people live. The young women that hit her has rich parents and they hired a good lawyer to protect her from the legal system.

What these people need is HOPE and CHANGE. Maybe, one day, someone will come along and actually do something that will give real hope to these people, like a job and a place to live.

My understanding is that we are in the worst economy since 1936. Over 250,000 more people lost their jobs in America last month, and there seems to be no end in site. The unemployment rate is 9.8% and climbing. There are no jobs. Face it people.

The homeless people need work, money, health insurance and drug counseling. Giving them some lame crackers thru the window of your car is not helping them. You say you don’t want to enable these people since they may have an alcohol problem. You might be, but you are enabling them to live and keep going on. That is more kind.