Spotlight On Luis Viera!Β 

Now Running For The State Legislature, New Tampa’s City Councilman Is Still Out There Working For You!Β 

District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera has announced his plans to run for the State Legislature in 2026 but, in the meantime, he’s still out there working for New Tampa! (Photo by Charmaine George)Β 

 For those of you who don’t know the story, District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera and I had never met prior to his first run for his City Council seat back in 2016. 

Viera was running against Dr. Jim Davison, who was my neighbor in the same subdivision in Hunter’s Green for more than a decade (until I moved out in 2006). I also knew Dr. Jim from attending many City of Tampa and Hillsborough County governmental meetings with him, especially on transportation issues. 

I was the moderator for the debate between Dr. Jim and Luis, the top two finishers in the special election in November 2016 (Davison was first, by nearly 2,500 votes; Luis was second). They both advanced to the runoff election in December because neither one received 50% of the Nov. vote. 

During that debate, I asked a question about whether or not the candidates would support New Tampa seceding from the City of Tampa and incorporating as its own city, an idea originally floated by former Dist. 7 Councilman (and Tampa Palms resident) Joseph Caetano. 

While Viera said β€œAbsolutely not. I’m running for Tampa City Council,” Davison said that although he wasn’t in favor of the idea, he didn’t think seceding from the city should be taken off the table. The Tampa Bay Times wrote an unfavorable editorial about Davison’s comments following the debate and Viera won the Dec. runoff β€” where fewer total votes were cast than either candidate received in Nov. β€” by 65 votes. 

Since then, Viera has kept his promise to be a hard-working councilman who builds bridges across political aisles. He also finally got the city to fund the expansion of the New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms and build the city’s first All-Abilities Park on the Rec Center property. Viera also is still fighting for a Tampa Fire Rescue station in K-Bar Ranch on or near Morris Bridge Rd., in order to improve response times in that community, since response times from TFR Station No. 23 on Cross Creek Blvd. (more than two miles away from the entrance to K-Bar) are too slow. 

But, fighting for New Tampa (and North Tampa, the other part of his district) is nothing new for Viera. He says he will continue to fight for our area if he wins his next election in Nov. 2026 β€” for the District 67 State House seat currently occupied by his friend (and State House Minority Leader) Fentrice Driskell, who is term-limited in 2026. 

A Focus On Morris Bridge Rd. 

Unlike many elected officials, who really only make pubic appearances when they are actively running for office, Viera has hosted more community meetings/Town Halls β€” around 85 β€” in his tenure as a City Council member than pretty much any β€œpolitician” I’ve met in my 31 years as the editor of this publication. 

His most recent community meeting was at Easton Park on Apr. 15, where Viera said the #1 issue for most of the residents was β€œMorris Bridge (MB) Rd. People were just expressing frustration over Morris Bridge, with the main idea being that there’s so much construction and development that’s happened and yet, the road hasn’t really kept up with that, so there’s a lot of concern there.” 

Viera says he told those in attendance about the county’s plans to improve MB Rd., as we reported in our last issue, β€œAnd people were very, very happy about that. $2 million is great but my main issue I stress to people is that I want to put Morris Bridge on the radar of the City of Tampa, because even though it’s a county road, it affects our [city] residents. A lot of times, we defer exclusively to the county on Morris Bridge. I’m not calling out Hillsborough or Pasco, I’m actually saying that the City of Tampa needs to step up and be collaborative on this road for our constituents because it does have an effect on our city residents.” 

In addition, Viera said that many city residents who attend Cypress Pointe or Heritage Baptist Church, the Islamic Society of New Tampa Mosque or the Sikh Gurdwara of Tampa Bay on the road, β€œhave an interest in seeing Morris Bridge Rd. widened and made safer.” 

He added that the residents in attendance at the Easton Park meeting said they feel that MB Rd. is, β€œvery unsafe. They want to see incremental and structural changes β€” like short-term impact and long-term evaluation changes. So, they were very happy with the short-term changes that the county is doing and I, of course, shared those changes with them in detail.” 

He said that long-term, however, several of the residents wondered what can be done long-term β€œto transform Morris Bridge Rd. from the β€˜rural’ road it still is today to a more modern road. And, those are questions that transportation engineers and professionals have got to answer.” 

He also noted that one of the most important things the city can do is, β€œcontinue to have law enforcement presence out there, because a lot of the problems out there are caused by bad actors β€” speeding, distracted driving, unsafe passing β€” if we can take care of that, we can take care of a lot of the issues. But, the truth is that we can’t just blame individuals. We’ve got to look at the road itself and be prepared for people who are bad actors.” 

Viera also said that he is going to propose composing a letter from the city to the county asking, β€œif it’s feasible to build a sidewalk from Easton Park to the Mosque and to Cypress Pointe Church. That is very important because a lot of people walk to their house of worship. It’s not my jurisdiction, but we can at least request that to the county. I believe we’re all on the same team. We all want to protect our constituents.” 

In addition to MB Rd., Viera said that several people at the Easton Park meeting were interested in Viera’s efforts to get some sort of emergency vehicle somewhere near the connection of MB Rd. and K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to try to get better response times for the K-Bar and Easton Park communities. β€œThey were very interested in that,” Viera says. β€œI actually texted [Tampa Fire rescue] Chief [Barbara] Tripp about that re-zoning we approved almost a year ago to get a status update on whether that β€˜safety connection’ you guys reported about will be made.” 

β€œWe also had Tampa Police Department officers (photo) on hand at the meeting to talk about crime. People always are happy to get updates from the police on that.” 

Election Effects? 

One issue Viera knows he has to deal with is that, now that he’s announced he’s going to run for a different office, how does he continue to see his pet projects and ideas through to fruition? 

β€œWell, I do have another year and a half or so on City Council, so I’ve got plenty of time to get things done,” he said. β€œBut of course, we will have an election for my seat and many of the things I’ve been fighting for, including Morris Bridge Rd., are real issues so it’s important for my constituents to talk to these candidates and make sure New Tampa’s issues are on the minds of the candidates.” 

In addition to Morris Bridge., Viera says he has had constituents come to him about, β€œstormwater issues, getting a [city] pool for New Tampa and others,” he says. β€œThese are issues that I can work on now, to a degree, but some of them will have to be done or followed up by the next councilman. So, it’s important for these candidates to have these issues stressed to them by residents.” 

And, speaking of elections, Viera said that several of the residents were interested in getting more involved in city politics. 

β€œI said, β€˜Good!,” Viera says. β€œTake a look at the voting record in New Tampa in city elections. The numbers aren’t very good. New Tampa needs to get involved in city elections.” 

Viera admits that he has, β€œwielded a very big hammer on behalf of New Tampa, but we need to have a bigger voice from the people. We vote OK in even-year elections (county and state) but not in odd-year city elections.” 

His proposal to move city elections to even-numbered years, which he says would save the city β€œabout a million dollars every four years per election, got one vote β€” mine. It’s one of those fights I’ve fought where I’ve said, β€˜We fought the good fight, but we don’t got it.” 

As for his announcement about seeking Leader Driskell’s seat, Viera says the reaction so far has been, β€œVery positive. A ton of elected officials have given me their support. State Legislators haven’t been able to endorse yet, because they’re in session in Tallahassee, but I will keep everyone updated on my supporters as we go through the process. It seems that a lot of people were happy to hear that although I’m term-limited out of City Council, that I’m not planning to leave politics.” 

He added, β€œLook, a lot of politicians, when they run for office, they step it up β€” going to community events and such. But, I do that in the course of my work in office. I’m always meeting with constituents. This is how I’m built. I’m the son of Cuban immigrants, so I work hard and that’s what I’m going to do, God-willing, in Tallahassee, with the support of people in the New and North Tampa areas.” 

About Harrison Boonstoppel 

One of the issues he didn’t have to fight for was that Viera made a motion to rename the New Tampa All Abilities Park in honor of Harrison Boonstoppel, the 20-year-old innocent bystander who was fatally shot in an Ybor City gunfight on Oct. 29, 2023, after a fight broke out. Harrison and his friends had just arrived in Ybor City minutes before the shots rang out. In all, 16 people were injured and another 14-year-old youngster also was killed. 

On Mar. 28, Viera made the motion to rename the All Abilities Park for Harrison, whose life was, β€œa testament to resilience and determination, exemplifying the power of hard work, along with the support of his family. Despite facing many physical and developmental challenges, Harrison overcame many obstacles with unwavering perseverance. He graduated from Pepin Academies in 2022, a remarkable achievement. Honorably remembering Harrison shows that with hard work, support and positive outlook, one can overcome much adversity.” 

Harrison, who was born premature and barely survived his first few months in the neonatal ICU, needed a feeding tube until he was three years old. He developed a hearing disorder and would wear a cochlear implant at age 5. He began middle school weighing only 60 pounds and was developmentally delayed at school. 

Viera, who has gotten to know Harrison’s mother Brucie and his twin sister Ava, has a developmentally disabled brother Juan, so, β€œThis is very near and dear to my heart.” 

Luis Viera Updates Provides Updates On The Plans For The K-Bar Ranch ParkΒ 

New Tampa has long felt that, for a growing area, with such a large tax base, we do not get our fair share of parks. So, when I was elected, I worked to build on past successes for more park equity in New Tampa. 

The first step was a nearly $3-million expansion of our New Tampa Recreation Center in Tampa Palms. That same year, I got into the city budget design funding for the New Tampa All Abilities Park – the first of its kind in Tampa funded entirely by city dollars. 

Not long thereafter, we got funding for that All Abilities Park β€” a fully accessible park for people with sensory and physical challenges. We would then work with the Hillsborough County School District for a seven-figure expansion of (and improvements to) the basketball court at Liberty Middle School. 

But, there was one promise I made to a group of New Tampa residents that I would be hard-pressed to forget about. 

At one of my earliest town halls, New Tampa residents asked about the roughly 65 acres of land at K-Bar Ranch saved for a community park. Among those residents were my friends Nagesh Nayak and Prahlad Madabhushi, who asked about space for cricket β€” a sport which is very popular in India and with a large number of local residents. 

I promised these constituents that, by the time I left office, I would get the ball rolling permanently on this project. 

I like to think that I am a man of my word. In last year’s budget, I was able to secure $750,000 in the city budget for the K-Bar Ranch park design. This gets us to first base on creating this much-desired park and cricket pitch. 

So, what is next for this park? 

We will have a number of public meetings on park design. I already had one on August 6 of last year for initial public input. In attendance was park booster, State House Minority Leader and Dist. 67 State Rep. Fentrice Driskell β€” and there will be more such meetings. 

It is anticipated that by Spring of this year, vendor submittals for design will begin and this will last into this summer and be completed with the execution of a contract to design the park. Once this contract is in place, the consultant will conduct the public meetings. It is during this part of the process that design elements with community input and interest will be done. 

In other words, now is the time for you to think about your proposals for this park, with regard to density and lighting. Think about amenities for this park and what accommodations the community will need and will want to see included in this park, which is being funded by the Community Investment Tax (CIT). 

We are now therefore in the design stage. This park is likely include a playground, trails, fields and a conservation area. Residents should begin to think of what they want in this park. The design is anticipated to include an all-purpose athletic field that is adaptable for cricket. For many of our Indian-American friends, I know this is a remarkable passion –it is a passion I share and will fight for. A cricket space would not only be a real win for our area, but it would be an impressive symbol of New Tampa’s rich cultural diversity. 

Much of the K-Bar Ranch leadership has spoken out in favor of the cricket field β€” a symbol of the solidarity residents have with one another and how we are all Americans. K-Bar Ranch Homeowners Association president Patrick Leduc always speaks proudly of the cultural diversity of this community. 

Every development β€” including parks β€” goes through analysis from various city departments, including Fire, Police, Mobility, Stormwater, etc. If you have concerns about any of these areas, please let us know. 

If you have ideas for this park, please email me at luis.viera@tampagov.net. 

And, please know that, no matter your politics, where you come from or who you are, what a real pleasure it is to be able to represent you in office. 

What Is Being Done About Morris Bridge Rd.?Β 

Will The β€˜Rural’ Road’s Flooding Following Hurricane Milton & Clear Need For Widening Ever Be Addressed?Β 

This is Morris Bridge Rd. looking south from the entrance to Cory Lake Isles on a usual weekday morning. For those who live along this formerly rural roadway, the daily commute to Tampa can be an absolute nightmare. So, what, if anything, is being done about it? (Photo by Joel Provenzano)Β 

 What are some of the things New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have in common? 

In addition to car washes, nail salons and self-storage facilities, both rely heavily on two β€œmajor” north-south roadways β€” the eight- (in New Tampa) or six-lane (in Wesley Chapel) Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and the mostly two-lane Morris Bridge (MB) Rd β€” as important daily travel routes. 

Due to the explosive growth in both K-Bar Ranch/Easton Park in New Tampa and, especially, in the plethora of new developments in and near Wesley Chapel, dependence upon MB Rd. has continued to grow year after year. 

However, traveling on the winding, two-lane MB Rd. from the Fletcher Ave. exit off I-75 in Hillsborough up into Pasco County can be a white-knuckle experience for any motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian β€” and for more than just one reason. 

Development has caused this formerly rural roadway to be plagued by flooding (resulting in closures), as well as by heavy traffic, safety concerns, poor road conditions and some other silly stuff that commuters in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have to deal with every day. 

With three mattresses tied to a roof, even a single Nissan Altima going 25 mph at rush hour can create havoc on MB Rd., generating a quarter-mile-long backup of angry drivers, all inching over the centerline to see if they can pass. Yes, we observed this while standing outside our vehicle and taking photos from the entrance to Cory Lake Isles! 

We reached out to both Hillsborough County and City of Tampa governmental officials to find out their thoughts, and if there are any β€œreal” projects actually moving forward to improve MB Rd. We provided them with a list of questions that did generate some responses. 

We specifically asked if there were any planned capacity or safety improvement projects in the works, especially any widening plans to handle future volumes, or how the county (since MB Rd. is a county road that serves both city and county residents, as does BBD) plans to handle those traffic volumes that are expected to significantly increase over next few years, due to development on the north end β€” primarily the continuing expansion of K-Bar Ranch and the massive Two Rivers development, which is really just getting started building near MB Rd. both north and south of the Hillsborough-Pasco county line. 

In short, much-needed flooding countermeasures have been installed (following the multi-week shutdown of MB Rd. north of Cross Creek [CC] Blvd. following Hurricane Milton last October) and both a safety project and resurfacing project are coming, but any real vehicle capacity/ modernization projects are still up in the air. District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, in his final term in his seat, at least has an idea about how to address the everyday traffic on MB Rd. 

Councilman Viera’s Perspective 

Although MB Rd. is entirely a county roadway, roughly 1/3 of the people living along the roadway live within Tampa’s city limits, with all of those residents (at least until the Hillsborough portion of Two Rivers begins building) living in the city-based New Tampa developments of Cory Lake Isles, Easton Park and K-Bar Ranch. 

As such, we were grateful to interview Viera to get his opinion about some of the county’s responses, and what he’d like to see done as a proven champion of innovative intergovernmental (meaning city and county) collaboration. 

He specifically notes that there’s a, β€œNeed to modernize Morris Bridge. The City has to work with the county on long- term solutions,” indicating that county officials can’t, and shouldn’t have to, try to fix MB Rd. all by themselves. 

Viera believes that one of the biggest issues in the past (in regards to capacity improvements) has been the obvious environmental concerns, since MB Rd. winds past thousands of acres of multiple county parks (Flatwoods, Morris Bridge Park, etc.). He explains that, β€œWe need to be respectful of the environment, but the environmental issues have been the biggest roadblock (to improving MB Rd.).” 

Viera clearly believes that NOW is the time for a change. β€œYou know what?,” he says. β€œNext week [the week of March 24, or after we went to press with this issue], I’m going to make a motion to City Council,” in regards to creating a shared vision for MB Rd. by having the city reach out to the county. 

Since the road actually winds through two counties, Viera says he also plans to reach out to District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman (who represents the portion of Wesley Chapel directly to the west and north of the county line at MB Rd.) to also try to get Pasco’s buy-in and help with that shared vision. 

Since several places of worship, and multiple new businesses and communities are quickly popping up along the route, he feels the β€œrural nature” of the road isn’t keeping up with the times or its now more modern suburban context. 

A Little History 

While the original Morris β€œBridge” is long gone, a bridge that was originally located just north of the Pasco County line (near where an underwhelming box culvert now sits), MB Rd. still exists as an β€œold” rural road abutted by suburban communities. 

How old? Apparently, more than 100 years old! In fact, MB Rd. may be one of the oldest surviving (and continually used) county arterial roads in Tampa, coming from a time when maps of the county and state were more likely to show railroads than roads, because that was the primary form of transportation for those traveling long distances. 

Without these primitive roads being shown on maps, their existence, location, and purpose had to be shared by word of mouth and/or in newspaper articles, especially for newer routes. What was written over a hundred years ago about Morris Bridge as a fledgling route was absolutely fascinating. 

In its June 1, 1923, edition, The Dade City Banner (photo, left) had the following article: 

GOOD ROUTE OPEN TO TAMPA 

BY WAY OF MORRIS BRIDGE 

β€œThe recent heavy rains having made the route [where S.R. 39 sits today] to Tampa by way of Crystal Springs and Plant City impassable, there has been considerable inquiry as to another route that could be used by parties who found it necessary to visit the South Florida metropolis and did not care to avail themselves of the convenient train schedules. A number of people have been making the trip lately by way of the Morris Bridge and pronounce that route not only perfectly passable but a surprisingly good one. It is about 12 miles shorter than by way of Plant City. 

To follow this route one turns west at the railroad crossing at Zephyrhills, goes to Will Ryals farm, about a mile from town, from there to Jim Hills’ place. Here take a plain road running southwest and at all forks take the one running in that direction. This road is said to be graded the entire distance and, from the Morris Bridge at the county line to Harney has been clayen [sand-clay]. From Harney a brick road leads to Tampa.” 

This is funny, because to this day, Morris Bridge Rd. still becomes Harney Rd. at its very southern terminus in Temple Terrace. 

Flooding Concerns 

Speaking of flooding and impassable roads, our field review showed where repairs had been done when the road was flooded (and closed) multiple times last year. We asked Hillsborough County staffers if these repairs were permanent fixes that will reduce flooding and road closures in the future, or just temporary fixes to repair the damage? 

Todd Pratt, who is with the Hillsborough County Media Relations Department, says that, β€œThe repairs done after Milton were permanent fixes that consisted of replacing culverts that convey water under and across Morris Bridge Rd. These culverts had collapsed/washed out during the hurricane.” 

Time, and the next major rainy season, will tell if these repairs will hold, or if new ones will be needed. 

Safety Improvement Project 

Regarding MB Rd. safety projects, Hillsborough senior media relations strategist Chris Wilkerson says that, β€œMorris Bridge Road has a planned safety improvement project (see below) slated to begin later this year. The contract for the project is planned to go before the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) in April. If approved, the project would address safety concerns on the roadway, including documented consistent high rates of speed and distracted drivers. The project is designed to address speeding and motorist lane departure crashes.” 

Proposed Safety Improvements – $2.1 million: 

β€’ No Passing Zones w/Vertical Delineators 

β€’ Reflective & Profiled Lane Line Markings 

β€’ Speed Feedback Signs, Flashing Beacons for Intersection Ahead & Curve Warning & Signal Head Back Plates 

β€’ Bike Lane & Safety Enhancements at Bridge over Hillsborough River 

β€’ Bicycle Signs and Lane Markings & Wildlife Signs 

Meanwhile, Viera says that, β€œ$2.1 million isΒ wonderful, but we need to push that envelope!,” although he says he is really happy to see that β€œspeed feedback signs” and β€œno passing” enhancements, are part of the safety project, as these would address issues his constituents have discussed with him.Β 

Prior 1% Surtax to Fund Resurfacing 

The last time MB Rd. (at least north of CC Blvd.) was resurfaced was way back in 2002. The portion south of CC Blvd. is in somewhat better shape, as it was last resurfaced in 2017. 

A physical review we conducted of the corridor noted aging/deteriorating pavement with potholes, multiple patches, narrow, worn or no shoulders, no sidewalks (except self-funded ones in front of a few businesses) and very narrow lane widths at a few points (mostly north of Cory Lake Isles approaching and into Pasco County). 

So, is MB Rd. on the county’s list of roadways to be resurfaced? We hadn’t previously seen or heard of MB Rd. as being on any 3R (Resurfacing, Restoration, Rehabilitation) project list. 

But, Pratt told us, β€œThe Florida Legislature has identified repaving projects to be completed in Hillsborough County using a portion of the previously collected Transportation Surtax funds (see below). One of the roads to be repaved is Morris Bridge Road. The County will need to coordinate this paving to be done in conjunction with the safety improvement project.” 

Confused? You may recall that back in 2018, Hillsborough County voters had passed a one-cent sales tax to fund needed transportation projects. This tax ended up being legally challenged, and was found to be unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court in March 2021. But, by then, the county had already collected about $589 million from local taxpayers. 

After the tax was eliminated, state lawmakers went ahead and made a plan to split that collected money up between county road improvement projects, a Hillsborough tax holiday, reimbursement of the county’s legal fees, and a settlement fund that would allow Hillsborough taxpayers and residents to receive refunds (up to $100 without showing any receipts). 

That plan began about a year ago, when county commissioners met to start dividing up the funds. It was decided that about $256 million would go towards road projects (including road resurfacing). At the beginning of March of this year, the first $17 million of that money started being distributed, with all of the funds expected to reach the long list of target projects by 2030. 

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is slated to make sure the county completes these projects by the deadline. That overall plan will be up for approval at one of the upcoming BOCC meetings in April. 

Capacity Concerns 

At our press time, county officials had not yet responded to our most pressing question β€” How does the county plan to handle MB Rd. volumes that surely will significantly increase over next few years due to development on the north end of the road (from K-Bar Ranch, Two Rivers and other Pasco developments), and what those forecasted volumes (if they’ve been forecasted through traffic studies or other models) might be, compared with recent historic volumes (meaning, how much growth in percentage or number of vehicles is expected?). 

Current state data shows an annual average daily traffic (or AADT) of 15,000 vehicles per day for MB Rd.. (Note-AADT is the total number, in both directions, of vehicular trips taken on that road each day, divided by 365 days in a year.) 

Based on our preliminary calculations, it would not be unreasonable to see an increase of 20% in the traffic volumes over the next few years, given the size of the future developments that will be connected to the road. 

As we had written in a previous article from April of 2024, the final phase of K-Bar Ranch in Hillsborough will add hundreds more homes, and open up ALL of K-Bar to MB Rd. via an extension of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to the east, past Easton Park. Once that extension has been completed, this also will subsequently open all of the Union Park and Meadow Pointe developments in Wesley Chapel to MB Rd. as well, via the planned Wyndfields Blvd. extension to the south, and the existing Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension. 

The 6,000-acre Two Rivers development on the edge of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa (although it actually is located in Zephyrhills in Pasco and Thonotosassa in Hillsborough) will be adding an estimated 7,500 more residences, plus commercial developments, the Peak Surf Park and schools, with its north-south traffic to be split between U.S. Hwy. 301 and MB Rd. But, as anyone living in the area might imagine, it will still have a significant impact on MB Rd. 

Bridge Scouring 

The current bridge over the Hillsborough River on MB Rd. was built in 1963. Since then, its piers have experienced significant base erosion, which is referred to as β€œscouring,” a critical problem that can affect the bridge’s structural sturdiness if not properly addressed. 

Based on a fact sheet put out in January 2025,Hillsborough plans to spend roughly $864,000 to, β€œinstall an articulating concrete block revetment system as a scour countermeasure.” Revetment is just a fancy way of saying a sloping structure that is usually made of stone or concrete, used to protect the riverbed around piers from erosion caused by river currents or other forces. Otherwise, the piers can become unstable if too much of the bed is eroded, which is why this is a critical repair. 

Construction of the revetment system is expected to be completed by early 2027. 

So, How Can I Get Involved? 

Believe it or not, your elected officials actually want β€” or even, make that need β€” to hear your traffic and safety concerns about MB Rd. 

So, how can you get involved? In addition to contacting your local county representative β€” District 2 Commissioner Ken Hagan β€” Councilman Viera wants everyone to know that he has an upcoming New Tampa Community public meeting, on Tuesday, April 15, 5:45 p.m., at the Easton Park Community Pool Clubhouse (10776 Pictorial Park Dr., Tampa). 

Viera says he will be on hand at that meeting to receive input, answer questions, and talk about MB Rd., as well as about crime, education, housing, the progress on the planned park in K-Bar Ranch and pretty much anything else New Tampa or even Tampa-related. 

Viera will be joined by a representative of the Tampa Police Department at that Town Hall-style event, as well as by District 6 (countywide) Hillsborough School Board member Karen Perez. 

For more information about that meeting, email luis.viera@tampagov.net. 

Viera’s Latest Town Hall Again Focused On Public Safety

Luis Viera, the New Tampa resident who has served for more than eight years in New Tampa’s District 7 on the Tampa City Council, says he has hosted about 85 town hall meetings during his tenure on the Council. And, even though not all of those town hall events have been located in β€” or focused on β€” New Tampa, Viera has made his home zip code of 33647 a top priority, especially over the past year or so, when there has been an increase in headline-grabbing homicides in our area.

Viera’s most recent town hall, held on March 3 at the Compton Park at Tampa Palms clubhouse, was again attended by nearly 50 local residents, as Viera brought Tampa Police Department (TPD) Capt. Benjamin Brown and  two TPD sergeants to discuss public safety, as well as Viera’s plans for his future (as we reported in our March 4 New Tampa issue). 

Among the topics Viera discussed:  

Politics – “I am not rot running for Mayor. Running for that office is a full-time job and I have a full-time job as an attorney, so this is not my time. But, I certainly am going to be running for something else, which will likely be County Commissioner or State Representative. My friend, State Rep. Fentrice Driskell is term-limited in 2026, so that is likely where I’ll be running, but an announcement will be forthcoming.”

Overview of what he’s been working on in City Council  – 

Hurricane Relief – “I got $3.5 million for North Tampa for hurricane relief, hoping for $1 million more from City Council.”

All For Transportation (AFT) sales tax money that was being held by the State Legislature β€” “It’s going to be released shortly. We’re inquiring about what the City will do with its share of the funds. I would like to see some of it go to two things β€” New Tampa Blvd. and finishing up Tampa Palms (TP) Blvd. We got the $3-$4 mill investment for the first half of TP Blvd. 3-4 years ago. Now we have to finish what we started. I’ve also heard that the county will use AFT funds for Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Fowler Ave. to Bearss Ave.”

Parks – “I got $1 million for the design of the park at K-Bar funded with Community Investment Tax (CIT) funds. I’m also not going to be here after 2027, maybe even 2026, so whoever is in this position after me will need to get the funding in the budget to build that park. A big part of that will be a cricket field, something important to the large Indian -American population in New Tampa. I’m very proud to have gotten over the last eight years almost $10 mill in new city parks funded β€” including expanding the New Tampa Rec Ctr, adding Tampa’s first All Abilities Park (the first city-funded park that caters to people with disabilities β€” autism, intellectual & physical), plus the additional expansion of the courts at Liberty Middle School (a joint project between the Hillsborough School Board and the city).” 

Harrison Boonstoppel – “I made a motion at City Council to have the All Abilities Park renamed for 20-year-old Harrison Boonstoppel, who was killed in Oct. 2023 by the crossfire of rival gangs shooting at each other in Ybor City. Haarrison had some physical and mental disabilities but he was the type of young man, with the help of his family, who really maximized all of his potential. He was a special human being. And, with the support of the neighborhoods, including Tampa Palms, New Tampa, as well as Pepin Academies (where he went to school) and different special needs advocates, we’re trying to see if we can have that park named after Harrison because his life, God rest his soul, really reflects what that park is all about.” 

Stafford Park, Tampa Palms –  “There’s about five acres that was originally supposed to be the location of the All-Abilities Park, but the park got moved because it was very near the interstate, which would not be good for a sensory park. I’m trying to see if we can get design money in the next budget for a soft, neighborhood ‘pocket park’ at that location. Just making sure that before they sell that property to Walmart or whoever, that we look into using it for a city use.”

Penguin Project – “I got the city to give $150,000 for this arts program for people with intellectual disabilities to be able to do plays and arts. another way to promote New Tampa. It’s funny that I get tagged as being anti-arts because I voted against giving $25 million to the Straz Center and $25 million for the Tampa Museum of Art, because I thought that kind of money could be used elsewhere, but the Penguin Project is the kind of arts funding that I can support.”

Fire Rescue – “One of the big things that I really always try to fight for on Tampa City Council is public safety. In 2017, I got Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 23 in Grand Hampton funded, and then Station No. 25 in North Tampa to help out with Station 13, and recently, we were able to fund Station No. 24 on Whiteway near Temple Terrace. I still really want to fix response times in K-Bar Ranch. I’ve been having a disagreement with the administration on K-Bar Ranch response times and I’ve been trying to figure out how to remedy that. Chief Tripp says she’s going to put an additional vehicle out at Station No. 22 in Cross Creek. We build and build and build but you have to have corresponding infrastructure, mobility & public safety to go along with that. It’s just common sense.”

Capt. Brown, who is with TPD’s Special Operations Division downtown, said his division handles “traffic, traffic homicide, the motor unit, the SWAT (Special Weapons & Tactics) team, bomb squad, helicopters, dogs, horses, boats β€” anything that’s not normal patrol.” Here are some of the items he discussed:

Speeding on Tampa Palms Blvd. β€”“I was told to talk about speeding on Tampa Palms Blvd., but as Councilman Viera said, there are things our mobility department can do to reduce speeding, but speeding is an epidemic, not just on Tampa Palms Blvd. or in New Tampa, but everywhere. I live up here too, so it’s a big concern of mine. I see this problem all the time β€” to work, home from work…and it leads to everything from fights to road rage to shootings. We obviously don’t want that in our neighborhoods. But, stopping people, writing tickets, deters some people but not everyone. In February alone, in zip code 33647, there were over 700 traffic stops. You can imagine the amount of manpower and time that takes to work in [those stops] with calls for service…people who need help. With those traffic stops, some were citations, some were arrests, some were warnings, but the fact of it is the motor squad, the patrol units, they do a lot of traffic stops up here and we still have the problems we have. ‘Environmental’ changes we can make β€” include creating speed zones, traffic circles, reduced speed limits. Those are some of the things that can be done to slow down traffic.”

Capt. Brown also discussed some different vehicles that are definitely growing in popularity, not just in New Tampa, but all over.

Ebikes & Scooters – “I was asked to talk about the laws when it comes to ebikes, scooters, mopeds, those kinds of things. For ebikes , the legislation and laws haven’t really caught up with that yet. You do not need a license or registration to drive an ebike, which is a bicycle that has motor of some sort on it. It can be completely propelled by the motor or kick started by pedal power. There’s three classes β€” Class 1 is a pedal assist only and can only go up to 20 mph. Class 2 is a throttle assist, no pedaling. You just pull a throttle and it goes, and those are only supposed to go up to 20 mph. Class 3  is a pedal assist that can go up to 28 mph. These ebikes still must adhere to whatever the speed limits are on the street they’re on. Helmets are mandatory for anyone under age16 and they must adhere to all rules of the roadway just like a bicycle. They can be on the sidewalks, but pedestrians always have the right of way on sidewalks.”

Golf Carts & Low-Speed Vehicles – “We’re all aware of the trend in certain neighborhoods where golf carts have gotten very popular. They are easy to charge and easy to get around the neighborhood. There’s three classes of these, too. There are golf carts, which go less than 20 mph; low-speed vehicles, which go 20-25 mph, and are basically a hybrid between cars & golf carts; and there are regular cars. Low-speed vehicles look like golf carts but are capable of higher speeds. They can be registered, and they have to adhere to safety protocols that cars have β€” stop lamps, turn signals, head lamps, tail lamps, parking brakes, seat belts, etc. You can get tags for these vehicles and they can be driven on the streets, but then, they must be registered and you must carry insurance for them. Those aren’t something we’re going to go out & attack if they’re being safe, when we have speeders and people being reckless. Low-speed vehicles can be driven on the street as long as the road speed limit is no higher than 35 mph and the vehicle is capable of going at least 20 mph. If they’re registered and you’re a licensed driver, you can drive those on the streets. Golf carts & low-speed vehicles can not go on sidewalks unless they’re designated paths/cart-ways. There will be signs if a sidewalk is designated for that.”

Electric Scooters –Β “These are the ones that the kids are riding, but you actually have to be 16 or older to drive one of those. I’ll admit, though,Β  that I am in violation of that. My daughter, I’m trying to convince her to get off the road and on the sidewalk and, like many parents, I am in violation of that. But, the scooters can’t be on the street, and they can not be registered, but they can go on sidewalks & designated pathways, but not on streets.”Β 

School Bus Info – Capt. Brown also said he was asked to discuss school bus rules. “If the school bus is stopped with its ‘arms’ out and there is no median or a very thin median, cars in both directions have to stop. The only time you don’t have to stop is when there is at least a six-foot-wide raised median,. Then, the oncoming traffic does not have to stop. But obviously, everybody wants to use caution. We’re going to start implementing a school speed safety program. No schools in this area are listed yet but I’m expecting this program to expand and what it does is put cameras in the school zones that are going to pick up those speeding through it . Whether your view of camera-enforced traffic is positive or negative, I don’t think anyone could argue that protecting those school zones and our children is a paramount thing that we should be doing. That should be coming out in August of next year.”

Some of the questions the officers and Viera answered following their presentations will be included when this story appears in the April 1 edition of New Tampa Neighborhood News. 

Luis Viera Remembers A Special Person & Provides Updates On His Next Election PlansΒ 

Remembering Kendra Kay Holden 

On January 14, 2025, a special woman passed: Kendra Kay Holden (right photo). If you ever went to the New Tampa Panera Bread, you probably saw Kendra there. Kendra worshiped at St. James United Methodist Church, worked as a teaching assistant at Hunters Green Elementary and served as a Best Buddies Ambassador representing people with intellectual disabilities. 

Her obituary read in part: β€œKendra loved God, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, Vera Bradley Bags, Sonny’s BBQ, Olive Garden, outlet malls, Christmas movies, Cracker Barrel, unicorns, butterflies, Coke Zero and colorful bands for her Apple Watch.” 

Every time I walk into that Panera Bread, I will think of dear Kendra. She was a special child of God. 

The Penguin Project 

Speaking of those who are differently abled, I recently got to see our friends in The Penguin Project perform their most recent show, β€œSeussical Jr.” 

I can not tell you how proud I am of this group from the New Tampa Players. This effort allows people with intellectual disabilities to take part in a first-rate production play with the help of their artist peers. 

I always get emotional seeing the plays – because I think of my brother, Juan, who is intellectually disabled, and how I would see him as a young person at church plays or in the Special Olympics. I am proud of Juan. And I know that the moms and dads in the audience are so proud of their young people participating in the Penguin Project. 

I have worked to have Tampa give $150,000 to this special New Tampa project. That is money well spent. 

Our Best Values in 33647 

Here in New Tampa, we are a diverse community. We are one community of Americans – but with different faiths and cultures. That is New Tampa and that is America. 

Go to Arlington National Cemetery and take a look at the graves of our heroes – especially in Section 60. You will find Christian crosses. You will find Stars of David for our Jewish friends. And you will find the crescent moon and star for our Muslim friends. 

I will always stand for the idea of the Family of Tampa. That includes the American Jewish family that fled Europe in the 1930s to come to this new country. That includes the refugee Muslim family in New Tampa with anxiety for their loved ones in Afghanistan. That includes members of the Sikh faith, the Hindus, Buddhists, evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics. 

We all do better when we all do better. And we all do better when we all belong. I will stand for that always. I have and will continue to take political β€œhits” for that ideal gladly β€” because it is the right thing to do and that is America to me. 

My Next Election Plans 

I have represented District 7 on the Tampa City Council since 2016, but all good things must come to an end β€” per the City of Tampa’s Charter. I am term limited out of this office in 2027.Β 

It’s no secret that I love my 33647 constituents. I work hard for you because I see public service as a blessing. 

As Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager reported in an online post on Feb. 16, I plan on making a decision soon on what I will do next. That will not, however, include running for Mayor of Tampa. If I choose to try to succeed my dear friend, Florida House District 67 Representative Fentrice Driskell (who has said that her reelection last year will be her final two-year term in office), I will have big shoes to fill. 

But, I will do what I have done here locally: work hard, build bridges and fight for what I believe in. 

You guys know me well. You know my values. You know my work ethic. And you know not only where I stand, but that I stand. 

North Tampa Bay Chamber Breakfast 

While introducing District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, who was the guest speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC)’s monthly Business Breakfast on Feb. 4, NTBC president & CEO Hope Kennedy mentioned that she had heard Viera might be considering a run for Mayor of Tampa. 

But (as it says earlier in his column on the previous page), Viera said he was more interested in a run for the District 67 State House seat currently occupied by House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, or a possible Hillsborough County Commission run in 2026. 

Since that Feb. 4 meeting, Viera says he has been approached by multiple media outlets about his plans going forward. He also says he is mulling over the possibility of running not only for Driskell’s Dist. 67 State House seat, but also for one of the three County Commission seats up for election in 2026. 

β€œI haven’t made a decision yet,” Viera says. β€œBut, once I announce which of those offices I will choose to run for, I will have to give up my City Council seat before my term ends.” 

Even though he is a registered Democrat (City of Tampa elections are all nonpartisan), the 47-year-old Viera also discussed (at the Chamber breakfast) his ability to work with other political office holders β€” including reaching across the political aisle β€” in Hillsborough and Pasco counties, as well as with Rep. Driskell, Dist. 20 State Senator Danny Burgess and with Dist. 15 U.S. Congresswoman Laurel Lee. 

He also talked about New Tampa’s status as the β€œAlaska” of the City of Tampa, zip code 33647’s cultural diversity, as well as what he has accomplished in the nine years since winning his first election β€” by 65 votes in the two-candidate Special Election runoff in Nov. 2016 β€” over fellow New Tampa resident Dr. Jim Davison. 

Among the accomplishments he listed at the breakfast were securing funding to expand the New Tampa Rec Center, add Tampa’s first All- Abilities Park, for Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 23 on Cross Creek Blvd. (and his ongoing efforts to put an additional fire station in K-Bar Ranch), road repaving in Tampa Palms and for the new park (and possible cricket pitch) in K-Bar Ranch. β€” Chamber breakfast recap by Gary Nager