Comments on: The Forbes Article Excludes Tampa Bayâ€™s Real Assets

By: Brittany

Brittany — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:53:16 +0000

I actually found this article to be very interesting (and very relatable to myself). I am a young professional of a somewhat different mindset, I guess. I am a newly married 22 year old, who works full-time for a city government and who attends graduate school part-time at The University of Tampa. I, unlike some of the other Creative TampaBay Young Professionals love Tampa Bay because of the “unalluring” reasons cited in the article–its convenient and close to my family. My husband and I recently bought our first home (a few minutes away from my mother-in-law–free babysitting when the babies come); yet we are still looking forward to the future growth of Tampa Bay. Although Tampa does not have the same “glamour and appeal” of other cities like NY, LA, or Boston; it does have a family allure with a twist of city-appeal. Tampa Bay provides the suburbia-lifestyle and mindset, as well as the city-living aspects of the performing arts, green spaces, and the like. Our city offers balance of family and excitement. Yes, we are not extreme–but we are stable. And stability will always last longer than the extreme and passing fads. On the other hand, building in a stable environment takes time…so, we must also be patient. As an MBA student at UT, I have also been exposed to the coming excitement and opportunities in Tampa. We are not hopeless–we are just the opposite. A place in growth is always more exciting than one that has already reached its pinnacle and prime. We should all be excited about the fact that we can and will be a part of the growth of our “odd-appealing” city. I cant wait to see what our city becomes in time. It is up to us–we decide.

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:29:27 +0000

Florida’s economy is supported by a salad bowl of retirees, transplants, and snowbirds. The culture (or lack thereof)and way of life is catered to this demographic who come here to die, not to see it grow and prosper. This demographic is not looking to the future, but to the here and now. Even with all of the diversity Florida has to offer, the “powers that be” are still rooted in “old florida”. Having lived in Tampa my whole life, I am disappointed that this rebuttal to the Forbes article states there is more to life than “glamour”, culture, and nightlife. I think the author of this post missed the boat completely. It is not about “glamour”, but rather being exposed culturally as to what is going on today (i.e. fashion, visual and performing art, etc). A majority of young professionals are motivated by these finer things in life,and Tampa just doesn’t have it.

It is disappointing the author states we should be happy be in a “second or third tier metro region”. I guess we should all just strive for the white picket fence and the two kids and enjoy suburbia, because that is “normal” after all, right? To accept complacency and not challenge our city to grow and prosper defines the mindset of the older generation, not the young professional. No wonder they do not want to come here.

By: bauhaus

bauhaus — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 14:21:42 +0000

This may sound strange to Michael and to others - but we are in a way lucky to have such a bad transporation situation…there is nowhere to go but UP.
The best way to understand this picture - is to picture a Masari warrior with his wealth - his cattle in the background - with him holding a long tall spear in one hand and a itelephone in the other…
If you dont get this picture -then you dont get it….
And when was private jets, private yachts, Italian designed sports cars… boring?

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:55:58 +0000

On what grounds are we to become the Global Leader in transportation and distribution? We have a strong port and a repsected airport, but we are a notorious lag in terms of mass transit. This seems so arbitrary and has been dominated by so many other cities already. This is an industry that needs to be strengthened as a backbone to other industries, but it is not a predominantly high-tech, white collar creative industry. Why would we not want to be an innovator in industries that already thrive here. If tourism is so strong here, why not try to become a globale leade in ecotourism and cultural/heritage tourism? People seem to recognize Florida as a place to get away from it all and to see landscapes/animals/architecture that cannot be found anywhere else. Let’s preserve these unique aspects of our way of life and brand ourselves that way. But how boring is a transportation/distribution “dream” for the area!

By: Tim Raines

Tim Raines — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:20:02 +0000

My wife and I both own our own consulting businesses and we are leaving Austin for Sarasota - mine happens to be targeted towards start-ups and technology commercialization and my wife’s is urban development. We will keep ties to Austin but both of us looking at the horizon see the Tampa area and south as a green field with the ideal components to grow rapidly. We are looking forward to our arrival and hope to help the area build something great!

By: bauhaus

bauhaus — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 11:04:14 +0000

Visions â€¢Â Missions â€¢Â Goals - Our Region - our Bay needs a VM Goal!

We suggest that the goal is Global Leadership in an industry [re: San Francisco Bay - IT Computer Tech...] .

And we ask all to share their answers to the following three questions:

1. Is our Bay Region a global leader in any one industry that provides many good paying jobs…and has direct spin off for all who live, work, and play here?

2. Should we be? what should that industry be? - how should we brand ourselves? - what do we wannabee?

3. If we we decide to be a global leader in an industry - what should that industry be and why?

Our answers are:
1. No
2. Yes
3. Transportation and Distribution.

By: CreativeTampaBay.com » 07.16.07

CreativeTampaBay.com » 07.16.07 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 10:24:51 +0000

[...] Read the full story and provide us with your feedback, click here >> [...]