The scheduled Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board meeting scheduled for 9am Thursday, January 15th 2026 was canceled with the statement from the Chair Luis Viera

“Due to unforeseen circumstances personal to council members, we are having to reschedule this meeting. Thank you very much. I apologize for any inconvenience.”

Posts on Facebook indicate that long time speaker during public comment, Tony Daniels, who identifies himself as “Mentesnot” when speaking may have been the cause. Daniels’ comments are often bombastic as are his custom t-shirts. Recently he has been found to be out-of-order with his comments and removed from council chambers.

That doesn’t seem to have slowed him down as photos shared on social media showed him dressed in a bra and jeans with homophobic imagery painted on both prepared to attend today’s CRA meeting.

Ultimately Tampa City Council meetings are to conduct the business of the city, not public forums. However Tampa City Council have a long history of allowing public comment and affording everyone 3 minutes to speak regardless if the topic is focused on the agenda. As long as speakers follow council rules. Particularly Rule 5, Public Participation and Rules of Decorum.

• F. Speakers shall refrain from disruptive behavior, including making vulgar or threatening remarks, and shall refrain from making personal attacks against any city official, city staff member, or member of the public. Comments shall be directed to the Council as a body and not to individual Council members.
• G. No one present during a Council meeting shall engage in disruptive behavior, including intentionally making or causing to be made any disruptive sound or noise, or displaying signs or graphics in a manner disruptive to the proceedings.

Violating any of the rules can result in the chair having the person removed from chambers not to be allowed re-entrance the remainder of the day.

If today’s cancelation was a result of the appearance of Daniels without a ruling by the chair it’s unclear how council intends to address the issue. Stephanie Poynor, president of T.H.A.N. and regular speaker during public comment is concerned this could lead to council shutting down public comment. “It’s simply taking it too far. Council has been very generous with their time listening to issues that have nothing to do with running the city. It gives our citizens a place to be heard publicly and bring up real issues in our community. But it’s against council rules to attack individual members, this is clearly that. It’s hate, just that simple.”