Reporting @TB_Times 🌞 Talk to me: rellenbogen@tampabay.com
Joined January 2016
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191 Photos and videos
Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
Jun 3
A DeSantis appointee appears to be trying to remove skeptics of the Tampa Bay Rays' stadium deal.
The governor strongly supports using $1 billion in local tax dollars to pay for it. The owner is also a megadonor to his campaign.
By @Colleen_Wright:
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
In a twist, @GovRonDeSantis' arguments for middle-class property tax relief are starting to sound an awful lot like Zohran Mamdani's tax-the-rich politics.
“Tax someone rich. If some billionaire from Brazil is buying, tax them,” DeSantis said. “I’m looking out for the Floridians here.”miamiherald.com/news/politic…
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As DeSantis has pushed for his property tax plan, he's said the state could easily backfill local government for the lost money. But Florida's incoming legislative leaders are more skeptical.
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
May 29
NEW: DeSantis' property tax plan contradicts itself, leaves key details vague and doesn't have the $500,000 homestead limit he keeps touting.
And data centers, megacorporations and billionaires could benefit, too.
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DeSantis wants to use millions of dollars in state money to alert voters about his proposed property tax amendment.
Lawmakers last year banned public money being used to discuss amendments, but DeSantis' bill says the notices are factual info.
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
May 21
The lone finalist for the U. of Florida presidency is facing conservative blowback over his DEI record.
Sound familiar?
That’s what doomed Santa Ono’s UF bid last year. Here’s how the new guy stacks up: miamiherald.com/news/politic…
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
Sham news sites are increasingly common across the US and are a dangerous development for democracy.
Florida Trib reporter @hellokatepayne and @zsaintlou with the Question Everything @PlacementTheory podcast and @kcrw dug into one such site in Florida:
floridatrib.org/2026/05/14/t…
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
NEW: A routine surrogacy case last year became a springboard for Florida's AG, who is fighting surrogacy as a whole.
The case, which is pending in the 4th DCA, has the potential to alter other reproductive issues in Florida including IVF and abortion.
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
May 8
Surrogacy is akin to slavery, Florida AG says, with big implications for families, by @romyellenbogen tampabay.com/news/florida-po…
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The redistricting effort will cost taxpayers statewide millions, with local elections supervisors hurrying to inform voters about their new district. From @katelynferral
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
May 4
“Over the years, my lab has collected a lot of seaweed samples, which are all stored in that building, in the freezers,” one professor said. “Now I’m very concerned those samples are gone. I cannot go back to history to recollect those samples.”
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NEW: The architect of DeSantis' new congressional map, which would likely give four more seats to Republicans, said Tuesday that he used partisan info to make the plan.
The gov's office is arguing that Florida's partisan gerrymandering ban is invalid
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
Apr 28
NEW: DeSantis' staffer said he used party affiliation data when drawing up a map that would give Republicans four more seats in Congress.
By @romyellenbogen:
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
Here's how the DeSantis proposed Florida congressional map (left) would split Tampa to avoid a blue seat in Tampa Bay.
East Tampa/Ybor joins Citrus County.
Downtown Tampa joins Pasco.
South Tampa joins deep suburbs.
St. Pete would split north/south.
(Current map on the right.)
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Florida's constitution bans partisan gerrymandering, adopted by voters in 2010.
But DeSantis' office is implying that the Fair Districts Amendment can't be followed. New map gives GOP 4 more seats.
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
Apr 16
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is voicing its displeasure after a Florida city commission on Tuesday moved forward with a plan to build the state’s first hyperscale data center. Via @romyellenbogen
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Romy Ellenbogen retweeted
Apr 15
New: @GovRonDeSantis layers AI regulations vaccine exemptions into agenda for now-delayed special session on redistricting, simultaneously shortens schedule by one day.
w/ @romyellenbogen
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Florida's first large scale data center could be thwarted by a state water management district rule that was quietly adopted last year.
With @mahoneysthename
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DeSantis said he didn't get involved in the Tampa state Senate race because the GOP candidate, Josie Tomkow, didn't share his values and goals.
As for the Republican loss, "that's just kind of the way the cookie crumbles."
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