Mariella Smith

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner, Countywide. Passionate about smart growth management, transportation options, environment, #VisionZero, equity.

[Jarrett Walker @humantransit]

The worst kind of development is not low-density sprawl. It's high-density configured to be unwalkable and unservable by public transit. High-density = high traffic, and this guarantees all that traffic is in cars. Sadly the US exported this idea all over the world.

[Barack Obama @BarackObama]

Today, the Trump administration repealed the endangerment finding: the ruling that served as the basis for limits on tailpipe emissions and power plant rules. Without it, we’ll be less safe, less healthy and less able to fight climate change — all so the fossil fuel industry can make even more money.

[Tom for a Better USA @Otismerk]

@JoJoFromJerz

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

Yes we can.

[Alex Steffen @AlexSteffen]

If this election proved nothing else, it proved once again that OPTIMISM IS A POLITICAL ACT.

Believing we *can* make things better — that we, together, have the power to create change — is always the first step towards actually making them better.

[John Fugelsang @JohnFugelsang]

"NO FOOD FOR YOU UNTIL THE DEMOCRATS LET US TAKE AWAY YOUR HEALTHCARE"

-US House Speaker Mike Johnson

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

Act Now to Save Public Media – WMNF Needs You  https://t.co/eOoyCRmEcq

[Michael Lowry @MichaelRLowry]

A huge blow was dealt to hurricane forecasters this week as a critical tool was abruptly terminated by @DeptofDefense and @NOAA. The immediate discontinuation of data from 3 weather satellites will severely impact hurricane forecasts this season and beyond https://t.co/0Zk92kjKNB

[Rick Steves @RickSteves]

In the spring of 2008, I feared America was on the verge of war with Iran — and, believing that it’s good style to get to know people before you bomb them, I took my TV crew to Tehran to make ��Rick Steves’ Iran,” a one-hour special that could (and would) only debut on PBS. Sadly, this special has become pertinent again today — and I hope you will invest an hour streaming it on the PBS app (or online at https://t.co/3XihMRbpLE), so you have a little honest context on the current situation and the 90 million Iranians involved.

The news that Trump is flirting with the idea of bombing Iran breaks my heart. Why? Because, along with the humanity of the Israeli people — which I shared in my 2014 Holy Land special — I recognize the humanity of the Iranian people, who have lived under a brutal theocratic dictatorship since 1979.

I remember the moment it dawned on me, in the nasty wake of 9/11 — watching American bombs light up the sky over Baghdad on the evening news — that I could do my country a service by producing a one-hour TV special on Iran, which I feared Bush might target next. I was painfully aware that what the average American knew about Iran, they learned from Ted Koppel during the hostage crisis (1979-1981) — in other words, almost nothing.

The documentary was the most exciting, demanding, and gratifying script I had written. Rather than getting mired in politics, we simply humanized the Iranians by telling their story — the story of a society America knows almost nothing about, even though it’s constantly in our news... the story of a proud nation with a rich and complex heritage shaped by not living in Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood.

If you want to be a savvier consumer of the news as Israel and Iran duke it out in 2025 and as the USA considers joining in, please educate yourself by watching this special. Shalom and Salam.

[Hayden @the_transit_guy]

Under the “Big Beautiful Bill,” federal lands like Teton National Forest will be put up for sale to pay for tax cuts for the rich. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

@MarkSharpe39kft @PatrickMcGee_ Looks good - adding to my list. I think ‘Careless People’ is another perspective on how our biggest companies (this on Meta) are building China.

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

It was great to be with you, @CouncilmanViera, a past honoree who has a long career of working to make our community inclusive.

[Luis Viera @CouncilmanViera]

I was invited by my friend former County Commissioner Mariella Smith to attend the Community Tampa Bay Silver Medallion ceremony where she was to be honored for her work in promoting social justice, environmental stewardship and inclusion. Commissioner Smith has always been a voice for making wrongs right in our community.

Also honored were Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, former Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and Antionette Davis and Dr. Sheila Simmons Tribble for their work in promoting inclusion and justice.

A salute to all Silver Medallion honorees. It is so important to honor thise who promote inclusion and social justice in 2025.

Thank you Community Tampa Bay for always being a voice for pluralism, equity, justice, and inclusion of all. We all do better when we all do better. And to me, that means fighting for economic security, fighting racism and bigotry and building bridges of understanding and respect for all.

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

I've long been concerned about CDDs & their impacts on homeowners & the larger community. This is the best report on the topic I've seen. If you're concerned about the impacts of growth, & the power of developers in Fla, this is essential reading.
https://t.co/9GHZyaFiY9

[Hillary Clinton @HillaryClinton]

Remember: Republicans in Congress can put a stop to this at any time.

[Pete Buttigieg @PeteButtigieg]

There were howls of protest and denial from the GOP any time we pointed out that Republicans want to cut Social Security.

Now the most powerful official in the White House goes on TV and calls it "the big one to eliminate."

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

MAGA keeps blocking lifesaving health care from Americans, every which way.

[philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_]

Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots https://t.co/Mpg5Sax0DM

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

“you aren’t going to like
what comes after
America.”
— Leonard Cohen

[Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla]

Please read this. It's literally been 8 years in the writing.

The first wave of tech disruption of democracy 2016-2024 is over. What starts now is something much, much worse: the age of information chaos.
1/
https://t.co/bsnKnag51p

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

@dieworkwear Cristopher Walken always wears his pants at his waist, and always looks cool.

[Mariella Smith @MariellaSmith]

@LaundryPrncss @dieworkwear The fingers look like ai though.