Just a few thoughts: Friendly City truly so; Uber worries; new Bradenton sign
Here's more affirmation of the Friendly City's engaging nature.
The first Skyway Film Festival in downtown Bradenton will screen some 50 films over two days in June. Joe Restaino, the festival's artistic director, previously led Tampa's Gasparilla International Film Festival and remains on the board.
No stranger to Manatee County, several of his eight film productions ventured here for scenes.
In this week's news report about the new Skyway festival, the Tampa resident told Herald writer Marty Clear this telling statement in describing the great support from governmental agencies and the Bradenton community surpassing his expectations:
"It took us years to get this kind of support in Tampa. Years. But Bradenton has really embraced us."
Stand up and take a bow, Bradenton.
This is quite the testimonial about a small town besting a big city on creating a welcoming atmosphere that attracts new cultural and business opportunities.
Passenger risk with Uber
Patrons of the popular Uber ridesharing service should be well aware that the personal auto insurance policies carried by their drivers excludes livery services. Passengers are not covered because of that exclusion, according to the Florida Insurance Council.
But bills moving through the Legislature would require that either the driver or ridesharing service carry automobile liability insurance, though not until March 2016.
To its credit, Uber is negotiating with a host of states for a national coverage plan.
Legislation in both Florida's House and Senate would require each driver to carry $1 million in liability insurance when either carrying or en route to picking a passenger.
On personal risk, forewarned is forearmed.
Paying for sign of times
The city of Bradenton is on the road to replacing the aging Anthony T. Rossi Park sign on Ninth Street West with a high-tech LED electronic sign.
While the new sign would inform motorists of the northern boundary of the city's key visitor magnet by saying "Bradenton Riverwalk at Rossi Park," it would also promote downtown and Riverwalk events.
Might that qualify for county tourism tax dollars? After all, Riverwalk and the events calendar help drive tourism here.
The city targeted impact fees, but might the Tourism Development Council at least pitch in to cover some of the estimated $35,000 to $55,000 cost of a new sign?
Just wondering.
Quote of the week
"We don't have a Plan B if funding stops. At some point we will have to make a Plan B. Right now we are waiting to see what direction the Legislature goes."
-- Kevin DiLallo, chief executive officer of Manatee Health Care System, which includes Manatee Memorial Hospital, in discussing the county's pending health care funding crisis for the uninsured and under-insured at Thursday's Manatee Tiger Bay gathering.
Florida's Legislature is at loggerheads over accepting federal Medicaid money; a different source of federal funding is in jeopardy, and Manatee County's indigent fund is almost depleted.
This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Just a few thoughts: Friendly City truly so; Uber worries; new Bradenton sign ."