Port Tampa Murder Suspect in Custody and Other CAPT Meeting News

Though he did not identify the suspect by name, TPD Cpt. Hugh Miller told a standing room only Kwane Doster Rec. Center crowd that a man in custody on other charges is the target of the department's investigation of the two recent murders on S. Morton St. Perhaps surprisingly for such serious crimes they were not the chief law enforcement concern of residents at the CAPT meeting. Traffic enforcement and the need for sidewalks topped the list and Civic Association President Jill Buford had petitions asking the city to install high priority sidewalks ready for signing.

Though many were vocal in their criticism of "no one telling us anything" and "not having a say" in community priorities the group fell silent during the call for nomination of new CAPT officers to serve through '09. While it's great to see more people attending CAPT meetings now that they alternate between the Southwest and Northeast rec centers, it's not so great if they aren't also willing to step up and be part of the solution to community problems.

On a personal note-it is very easy to get information about Port Tampa, and the city in general. This is one of the most Internet accessable city governments I've ever encountered. In the Port Tampa blogger family alone the city has twice cleaned up illegal dumping reported through tampagov.net, they've also had burned out street light bulbs replaced along Interbay just 2 days after they were reported on the tampagov site.

Other things take time, lots of time. The Tampa greenways and trails have been a decade in the making but we are finally on the cusp of seeing parts of the Port Tampa portion come to fruition.