LATIN TIMES MAGAZINE - 2019 Summer Edition | Page 15

Mayor Jane Castor
by: Victor A. Padilla
LTM: Tell us about where you were born and
your Family History?
Jane Castor: I was born North Tampa, in the
old St Joseph’s, Downtown. 1 out of 5 kids
and everybody except my sister was born in
the old St Joes. My family moved down here
from Indiana. My mother told my father she’d
marry him on the condition that they moved
down to Florida. We were all born and raised
here and still live here in Tampa.
LTM: Being the former Police Chief of Tampa, what inspired you
to become the Mayor of Tampa?
Jane Castor: Mostly the fact that the city is going to change more
in the next 10 years than it has in my entire life, and we have one
opportunity to create the city we all want to live, work, and play
in, a city that well be proud to pass off to the next generation.
The possibility of being a part of the future and the creation of
Tampa was something I wanted to be a part of.
LTM: Now that your Mayor, what do you feel is going to be your
biggest Challenge? (Please interject how people in the Latino/
Hispanic community can help)
Jane Castor: I think the biggest challenges are going to be trans-
portation and affordable housing, and the help from the Lati-
no community is in imperative. One with affordable housing
and providing input where it’s needed and some ideas on how
it can be provided. And the same thing with transportation. To
help create the different forms of transportation, and the cost
of transportation, and the transportation routes where are they
most needed. Lastly when we create a new bus system, we're go-
ing to have the community change the culture here in the south,
because buses aren't viewed as a viable source of transportation,
its viewed as something that poor people take, and so we have to
change that culture and encourage people to use the bus system
as a reliable form of transportation.
L atin T imes M agazine
LTM: What is your favorite type of Latin Music and Latin
Food?
Jane Castor: Any kind of Salsa music I love, and Latin food.
Man I’ll tell you I couldn't narrow it down to my favorite. I
just had Michelle Faedo's Cuban sandwich yesterday; it's the
best, Colombian last night, had arroz con pollo some black
beans and then Ana, my partner makes an incredible ropa
vieja, so now that we're all hungry... It’s difficult for me to
pick a favorite its easier for me to name a food I don’t like.
LTM: What are your goals as Mayor of Tampa, and what can
we expect to see in Tampa’s future?
Jane Castor: My goals are to continue the thoughtful devel-
opment that’s been put in place. We are creating new com-
munities throughout the city of Tampa, we’ve got Ybor City,
the changes that are coming there the creation of Water St,
the revitalization of our Downtown, what’s going on in the
Midtown area, a West Tampa is being recreated, Westshore,
they have an incredibly large strategic plan, even the Up-
town area. What I would say is were in the midst of creating,
in essence, a new City and we need to ensure that everyone
takes part in the creation of that city and that everyone gets
to benefit in the success and prosperity were sure to realize.
LTM: What well-known person Now or in the past do you
most identify with and why?
Jane Castor: My mom and dad, a combination, my dad
passed away 20 years ago, but if you asked my mom, she
would say I am my dad.
LTM: Who has always been your hero or inspiration?
Jane Castor: I have so many, I would say my family of course,
but also men and women of the 1st responders, those people
that go out and dedicate their lives to serving and protecting
our community.
Read more at: www.LatinTimesMedia.com
www .L atin T imes M agazine . com
A braza el calor de tu cultura !
15