Opinion by: E.
Eugene Webb
Thursday's St. Pete City Council workshop to discuss a new
baseball stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays seemed to go really well. You can read
all of the details on saintpetersblog
in Janelle Irwin's Post: St. Pete City Council to
independently evaluate Rays Economic development.
Everything seemed pretty cordial, given the fact that Mayor
Kriseman had sent a letter to staff and employees indicating they should not do
anything to support the workshop, until Council member Wengay Newton questioned
City Attorney John Wolfe as to his ability to give the Council direction given
the Mayor's order.
Mr. Wolf made it
crystal clear he does not report to the Mayor and the office of the City
Attorney serves both the Mayor and City Council equally.
I was with the City about 28 years and I can't recall any
time where a strong Mayor directed staff not to support a City Council effort.
