What’s Wrong With Tampa?
I’ve had the pleasure of living in Tampa for over ten years now. When I first moved here, I thought Tampa was going places. It was a city on the move with an abundance of opportunity. Lately, I would have to say that is not the case anymore. Tampa has become a city that most likely will not reach its full potential for sometime.
When you drive through downtown Tampa, you just don’t feel any energy. No excitement in the air. The Latin flair that Tampanians boast about just doesn’t hold up to cities like Miami, where Cuban culture is the lifeblood of the Miami social and economic scene. Tampa is a city that is searching for an identity. A soul that can draw people to want to work, play, and build Tampa to a city that it has the potential to be the robust city of tomorrow. The nightlife in Tampa is a disappointment.
There is Ybor city, the historic section of Tampa that is known for its wild side, but mainly caters to young college students and those who are looking for a sever hangover in the morning. Tampa certainly has drawn national attention with hosting several Super Bowls and next years Republican National Convention.
Major musicians from U2 and Bon Jovi to Lady GaGa have visited Tampa to perform. Yet with all the national exposure, Tampa still has a lackluster jobs market that just doesn’t satisfy the amount of college graduates from the areas major Universities; University of South Florida and the University of Tampa.
Perhaps it is just the times we are in. We are suffering from an economic crisis that is growing worse by the day. Major cities across the country are having to cope with an economy that is creating problems for even the largest of cities. I don’t really have the answers for fixing Tampa.
I do know the answer can be found in Tampa’s economy, that needs a jolt from major corporations and businesses to open up shop and create jobs in Tampa. There needs to be nightlife that can reflect Tampa’s culture from the days when Tampa was bustling with activity and moxy from the vibrant cigar industry. Can Tampa achieve this? It can, but it all depends on what the leadership in Tampa’s citizens and politicians are willing to do about it.
