Ray Roa
@rayroa.bsky.social
EIC @cltampabay.bsky.social
cltampa.com
rroa@cltampa.com
cltampa.com
rroa@cltampa.com
Talking ‘accountability problems’ in Florida’s school voucher system, plus St. Pete’s grocery co-op www.wmnf.org/talking-acco...
November 28, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Talking ‘accountability problems’ in Florida’s school voucher system, plus St. Pete’s grocery co-op www.wmnf.org/talking-acco...
Just had a fantastic conversation with Dr. Herzberg about his NYT essay, "I Am a Drug Historian. Trump Is Wrong About Fentanyl in Almost Every Way." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/o...
November 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Just had a fantastic conversation with Dr. Herzberg about his NYT essay, "I Am a Drug Historian. Trump Is Wrong About Fentanyl in Almost Every Way." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/15/o...
The new rule, passed in the fall proviso bill, applies to all three USF campuses.
crowsneststpete.com/2025/11/17/u...
crowsneststpete.com/2025/11/17/u...
USF Senate bans styrofoam and single-use plastics in student org spending
By Laura Troyer Student Government senators at the University of South Florida have voted to ban Activity and Service (A&S)-funded student organizations from using student fee money to buy Styrofoam…
crowsneststpete.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The new rule, passed in the fall proviso bill, applies to all three USF campuses.
crowsneststpete.com/2025/11/17/u...
crowsneststpete.com/2025/11/17/u...
Jerry Demings, the latest Democrat to enter the race for governor of Florida, talks education, FWC, and more www.wmnf.org/jerry-demmin...
Jerry Demings, the latest Democrat to enter the race for governor of Florida, talks education, FWC, and more
Jerry Demings has plans to be in the Tampa Bay area next week as he dives into a year-long campaign for the governor’s office. Demings, a lifelong public servant who’s served as police chief, sheriff ...
www.wmnf.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Jerry Demings, the latest Democrat to enter the race for governor of Florida, talks education, FWC, and more www.wmnf.org/jerry-demmin...
"We allow the exceptions of systems to tell us the story of a system as a whole."
music.youtube.com/watch?v=vbq7...
music.youtube.com/watch?v=vbq7...
Zohran Mamdani Says He's Ready for Donald Trump | The New Yorker Interview
YouTube video by The New Yorker
music.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
"We allow the exceptions of systems to tell us the story of a system as a whole."
music.youtube.com/watch?v=vbq7...
music.youtube.com/watch?v=vbq7...
Young won all but three precincts in the race, according to @tampamonitor.com with her strongest support coming from pockets of Tampa Heights, West Tampa, East Ybor, Seminole Heights, and the Riverbend area.
Photos: Tampa’s new city councilwoman, Naya Young, celebrates landslide victory in Ybor City www.cltampa.com/news/photos-...
Photos: Tampa’s new city councilwoman, Naya Young, celebrates landslide victory in Ybor City
Naya Young defeated Thomas Scott in the runoff for Tampa CIty Council's District 5 seat, and celebrated at 7th+Grove in Ybor City, Florida.
www.cltampa.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Young won all but three precincts in the race, according to @tampamonitor.com with her strongest support coming from pockets of Tampa Heights, West Tampa, East Ybor, Seminole Heights, and the Riverbend area.
With 26 of 28 precincts reporting, about half an hour after polls closed on Tuesday, Naya Young had earned 3,053 votes (61%). Thomas Scott had 1,963 votes (39%).
BREAKING: Naya Young upsets Thomas Scott to win Tampa City Council special election www.cltampa.com/news/naya-yo...
Naya Young upsets Thomas Scott to win Tampa City Council special election
One of Tampa’s most crowded single-seat elections is finally over, and Naya Young is headed for Tampa City Hall.
www.cltampa.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:58 PM
With 26 of 28 precincts reporting, about half an hour after polls closed on Tuesday, Naya Young had earned 3,053 votes (61%). Thomas Scott had 1,963 votes (39%).
Corrections officers, elected officials past and present, talk about criminal justice ahead of Tampa summit www.wmnf.org/corrections-...
Corrections officers, elected officials past and present, talk about criminal justice ahead of Tampa summit
No one wants to be caught up in the justice system, and Florida’s is front and center this weekend as the Tampa Bay Criminal Justice Summit lands at Tampa Prep in downtown Tampa. The summit—which runs...
www.wmnf.org
October 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Corrections officers, elected officials past and present, talk about criminal justice ahead of Tampa summit www.wmnf.org/corrections-...
Reposted by Ray Roa
In today's candidate forum, @rayroa.bsky.social asked Thomas Scott about my comments regarding experience. Scott compared being a city council member to being a heart surgeon. Which is kinda laughable but ok. Do you want someone who hasn't been in the ER in 15 years operating on you?
October 17, 2025 at 7:12 PM
In today's candidate forum, @rayroa.bsky.social asked Thomas Scott about my comments regarding experience. Scott compared being a city council member to being a heart surgeon. Which is kinda laughable but ok. Do you want someone who hasn't been in the ER in 15 years operating on you?
'Voodoo' taught me how to love music. I am gutted.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/a...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/a...
D’Angelo, Acclaimed and Reclusive R&B Innovator, Dies at 51
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
'Voodoo' taught me how to love music. I am gutted.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/a...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/a...
Reposted by Ray Roa
I've avoided commenting on this story because there's just been too much speculation and ugliness in the FB posts around it but @rayroa.bsky.social does a good job of pulling some details together. Love the shade former Mayor Freedman throws at Castor for not having a comment.
Former Tampa City Council candidate flashes gun at forum, stealing attention from otherwise successful debate
Elvis Piggott, a former candidate for Tampa City Council, flashed his gun at an Oct. 9 forum.
www.cltampa.com
October 13, 2025 at 9:12 PM
I've avoided commenting on this story because there's just been too much speculation and ugliness in the FB posts around it but @rayroa.bsky.social does a good job of pulling some details together. Love the shade former Mayor Freedman throws at Castor for not having a comment.
Never thought I'd get to work with Dewey Saunders, but here we are ...
Jeff Weiss finally comes to Florida's Gulf Coast to talk Britney, American media, and more www.cltampa.com/arts/intervi...
Jeff Weiss finally comes to Florida's Gulf Coast to talk Britney, American media, and more - Creative Loafing Tampa
Los Angeles author Jeff Weiss brings his new Britney Spears book to St. Petersburg on Oct. 15, 2025.
www.cltampa.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Never thought I'd get to work with Dewey Saunders, but here we are ...
Talking opioids, heroin, and Pam Bondi with ‘The Florida Shuffle’ author Dave Aronberg www.wmnf.org/talking-opio...
October 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Talking opioids, heroin, and Pam Bondi with ‘The Florida Shuffle’ author Dave Aronberg www.wmnf.org/talking-opio...
Assata Shakur Dies at 78 in Cuba; Listen to Her 1998 Message to Pope www.democracynow.org/2025/9/29/de...
September 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Assata Shakur Dies at 78 in Cuba; Listen to Her 1998 Message to Pope www.democracynow.org/2025/9/29/de...
Reposted by Ray Roa
Tampa Bay's best restaurants, food and drink of 2025, according to the real experts, Creative Loafing readers via @rayroa.bsky.social @cltampabay.bsky.social www.cltampa.com/food-drink/t...
Tampa Bay's best restaurants, food and drink of 2025, according to our readers - Creative Loafing Tampa
Food & Drink winners and finalists for Creative Loafing Best of the Bay 2025.
www.cltampa.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Tampa Bay's best restaurants, food and drink of 2025, according to the real experts, Creative Loafing readers via @rayroa.bsky.social @cltampabay.bsky.social www.cltampa.com/food-drink/t...
An AI fail as I was trying to get alt text for a photo of myself. The response is creepy, I think. And yes, I used the AI again to create alt text for these screenshots
September 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
An AI fail as I was trying to get alt text for a photo of myself. The response is creepy, I think. And yes, I used the AI again to create alt text for these screenshots
Appreciate the @cltampabay.bsky.social hat tip from Kristen Hare at @poynterinstitute.bsky.social mailchi.mp/poynter/cx9k...
September 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Appreciate the @cltampabay.bsky.social hat tip from Kristen Hare at @poynterinstitute.bsky.social mailchi.mp/poynter/cx9k...
NBA Reporter Fired After Accurately Describing Charlie Kirk’s Beliefs - defector.com/nba-reporter...
September 17, 2025 at 1:57 PM
NBA Reporter Fired After Accurately Describing Charlie Kirk’s Beliefs - defector.com/nba-reporter...
Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones talks Charlie Kirk, taxes, and more www.wmnf.org/florida-sen-...
September 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones talks Charlie Kirk, taxes, and more www.wmnf.org/florida-sen-...
New from Noah Bookstein. Barbara Petersen, Executive Director of Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA), told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I think it’s unenforceable because it’s unconstitutional.”
FWC is limiting social media comments, raising First Amendment concerns www.cltampa.com/news/fwc-flo...
FWC is limiting social media comments, raising First Amendment concerns
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 1, 2025. At a time when Florida’s wildlife agency is
www.cltampa.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:37 PM
New from Noah Bookstein. Barbara Petersen, Executive Director of Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA), told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “I think it’s unenforceable because it’s unconstitutional.”
Scott and Young headed for runoff in Tampa City Council race www.cltampa.com/news/scott-a...
Scott and Young headed for runoff in Tampa City Council race
Thomas Scott and Naya Young both captured at a Tiger Bay candidate forum on Aug. 15, 2025. And then there were two. Tampa’s special election for the
www.cltampa.com
September 10, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Scott and Young headed for runoff in Tampa City Council race www.cltampa.com/news/scott-a...
“It’s shaping up to be our biggest event yet, and it’s rooted in everything we believe in—community, creativity, connection (and great beer, obviously),” Vergnaud-McKinnon told @cltampabay.bsky.social . www.cltampa.com/food-drink/s...
Ybor City's Sky Puppy Brewing celebrates first anniversary with day-long party this weekend
Sky Puppy Brewing in Ybor City stages a day-long party to celebrate its first anniversary.
www.cltampa.com
September 9, 2025 at 9:06 AM
“It’s shaping up to be our biggest event yet, and it’s rooted in everything we believe in—community, creativity, connection (and great beer, obviously),” Vergnaud-McKinnon told @cltampabay.bsky.social . www.cltampa.com/food-drink/s...
Tampa rap superstar Doechii plays hometown concert this fall. The Yuengling Center concert is the only Florida show on Doechii’s “Live From the Swamp Tour.”
www.cltampa.com/music-2/doec...
www.cltampa.com/music-2/doec...
Tampa rap superstar Doechii plays hometown concert this fall
Doechii, a Blake High School alum, will play a hometown concert in Tampa this fall.
www.cltampa.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Tampa rap superstar Doechii plays hometown concert this fall. The Yuengling Center concert is the only Florida show on Doechii’s “Live From the Swamp Tour.”
www.cltampa.com/music-2/doec...
www.cltampa.com/music-2/doec...
Leon Bedore, aka Tes One, wants to know if he’s doing the ‘art for tourism’ thing right.
www.cltampa.com/arts/tes-one...
www.cltampa.com/arts/tes-one...
‘Tourism follows culture. Culture does not follow tourism’: Co-founder of St. Pete’s SHINE festival responds to funding cuts with art and a plea
HINE Mural festival co-founder Leon Bedore aka Tes One has a message for commissioners who defunded Creative Pinellas.
www.cltampa.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Leon Bedore, aka Tes One, wants to know if he’s doing the ‘art for tourism’ thing right.
www.cltampa.com/arts/tes-one...
www.cltampa.com/arts/tes-one...
New Sponatola mixtape today
tidal.com/browse/album...
tidal.com/browse/album...
September 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
New Sponatola mixtape today
tidal.com/browse/album...
tidal.com/browse/album...