In a surprising last minute motion, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board unanimously approved continuing the special call workshop held Thursday May 21 for the vote on the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with the Tampa Bay Rays until June 11. The decision to continue the meeting was a result of mayoral candidate and Board Member Bill Carlson, who had just previously voted to approve the MOU as Tampa City Council, saying “since the vote was close last time, I just want to let everyone know if we have to vote on this as the CRA today I’m going to vote no” citing the lack of the CRA Board’s participation in the negotiations.

In an emailed statement, Carlson wrote “This morning I told the Rays I would vote no. Throughout the day they asked me to vote yes. I finally told them I would vote yes to give them a chance to get state money and to have more time to negotiate a fourth vote but that I would vote no or to delay the CRA and I would vote no on the final deal.”

The Tampa Monitor reached out to Carlson in late March to inquire who was negotiating on behalf of the CRA and his response was “John Bennett” (the mayor’s chief of staff). The same question was posed to Council Chair Alan Clendenin who replied “CRA staff works closely (with) city staff, they are city employees.” Then CRA Chair Luis Viera did not respond to a similar inquiry.

The April CRA agenda had an item for the Drew Park CRA district that was approved by consent with no other discussion. Same for the May meeting last week even after they heard during the workshop held for the Rays stadium deal that the Drew Park residents and specifically the CRA Citizen Advisory Council hadn’t been approached by city staff or the Rays. Board members had ample opportunity to publicly raise any concerns about what was being reported in the media regarding the CRA.

Answering to the voters over the MOU vote was a common refrain during public comment. Lutz based personal injury lawyer and stadium supporter Christopher Palermo threatened city council members who voted no on the MOU that he’d “spend my dollars” to “make sure you never hold this position or any other position in this city.”

After the council vote to approve the MOU — as they were standing for a break — a member of public could be heard loudly, “Carlson, you’re a sellout.”

Tampa’s mayoral and council elections are slated for March 2027.