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Posted on Tue, Jul. 30, 2002 in
The Miami Herald
TAMPA, Fla. - (AP) -- The mayor and the chairman of the city's chamber of
commerce are in Cuba but no one in city government seems to know why.
Tampa Mayor Dick Greco and chamber chairman A.D. ''Sandy'' McKinnon left
Sunday with La Gaceta newspaper publisher Patrick Manteiga. They return on
Wednesday.
Tampa City Council member Charlie Miranda, who said he is acting mayor until
Thursday, said he didn't know where Greco went.
''When he leaves town, he doesn't tell me where he's going,'' said Miranda.
The mayor's office had no information on the trip Tuesday, said spokeswoman
Julie Harris, who referred all calls to the city's attorney, Jim Palermo.
Palermo did not immediately return a call.
Greco's trip comes at a time when many lawmakers across the nation are
supporting an end to the 42-year ban on travel to the island. Under the ban,
only diplomats, academics, researchers, journalists, missionaries and
Cuban-Americans can legally travel to Cuba.
It is unclear under what category the Tampa delegation is traveling. It is
also unclear how the trip was paid for.
Developer Dick Beard, who said he declined an invitation to go because he is
helping organize Tampa's bid for the Republican National Convention, said the
group is "going to see what opportunities there are for Tampa.''
''They're over there for good, legitimate purposes,'' he said.
Beth Leytham, spokeswoman for chamber of commerce, said McKinnon was not
representing the chamber on the trip.
She said Greco and McKinnon were on the mission as individuals.
Manteiga's wife, Angie, said a group called Alliance for Responsible Cuba
Policy is the organizer.
A call to the Washington base of the organization was not immediately
returned Tuesday.
''I believe the purpose of the trip is to see Cuba and the condition of the
Cuban people firsthand,'' Angie Manteiga said.
But some citizens are not happy about the trip.
'How the mayor of the city known as the 'Cradle of Cuban Independence' could
right now be cavorting in (Fidel) Castro's Cuba, it's just an insult to every
Cuban-American in this community. It's a sad day,'' said City Councilman Bob
Buckhorn.
There are about 35,000 Cuban-Americans in Hillsborough County, according to
the most recent Census. Many families have been here a century or more.
Buckhorn, who is also a candidate for mayor, said he was outraged Monday
when he learned of the trip. Greco is not running for re-election.
''Maybe they were embarrassed to announce it, and they should be,'' he said.
"They darn well better have gone on their own penny, because I would dare
them to make them [taxpayers] pay for it.'' | 
