Page 11 - 6-24-16 Friday's Edition

Local
Public Housing Residents Ask For Independent Study On Housing Conditions
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
The Tampa Housing Au- thority (THA) has announced their plans to demolish the Robles Park Public Housing Complex during the next five years.
Last year, THA paid for the residents to set up a non- profit Tenant Council Associ- ation to advocate on their behalf. Robles Park resident, Reva Iman, is President of the Association.
Iman and the Tenant Council Association are try- ing to get an independent study on conditions at Robles Park, and said she’s been try- ing to get this done for the past two months.
Some of the conditions residents have complained about are insect problems, and leaking bath tubs.
“We know there was a cost involved, and students
from the University of South Florida were going to do the survey, but later we were told they couldn’t.
“When I asked Housing to do the survey they said it wasn’t practical. We were told we’d have to do a survey for our non-profit on services for the residents. We also wanted to do a needs assess- ment. We decided to take it further and address specific concerns, like problems with management, maintenance, and other issues.”
Iman said they all believe THA is afraid they will be ex- posed as to what they aren’t doing for the residents at Robles.
“One of my main con- cerns is whenever the grants come for services, we don’t get them.
“It’s going to cost to bring in an outside agency to con- duct the survey, but once it’s set up, residents will be able
REVA IMAN
Robles Park Tenant Council Association President
specialists working full time at Robles and we have job and health fairs throughout the year.”
T.H.A. Chief Operating Officer, Leroy Moore, said Ms. Iman asked for the playground equipment dur- ing a board meeting, and there was no basis for it.
“As far as bringing in someone independently to inspect our buildings is con- cerned, we have them in- spected annually by HUD, and our score this year was 75, and according to HUD’s code, that’s pretty good.
“We considered Ms. Iman’s request to relocate the playground equipment to Robles, and found it not to be feasible. We need to know what they want so we can see if we can accommodate them.
“We will maintain the property at Robles and make repairs, but there will be no major renovations. It doesn’t make sense to do that on a complex we’re planning to demolish.”
to participate and get paid.” Iman said the survey she is asking for is what the resi- dents are saying they want, what they don’t have, and if the management has han-
dled their requests.
“I requested that the play-
ground equipment at North Boulevard Homes be brought over to Robles, and was told the cost wouldn’t allow that to happen.”
As far as the service ele- ment is concerned, Susan McIntyre, from THA’s De-
partment of Program and Property Services, said most of the things Ms. Iman is re- questing they already pro- vide.
“We have a Family Self Sufficiency program and an economic program that teaches self sufficiency. It is open to all heads of house- hold to help free them from public assistance, and assist them toward getting their GED and becoming gainfully employed.
“We have family support
Fundraiser To Be Held For Family Of Slain Teen
When the news spread about the shooting death of 17-year-old Corey Gordon, Jr., the community quickly joined forces to help the family in any way they could.
After discovering the family was in dire financial straits, and couldn’t afford a funeral service for Gordon, Jr., the New Black Panthers decided to help by sponsoring a fundraiser.
The fundraiser will begin Friday on the corner of 22nd Street and 26th Avenue, where there will be a car wash and fish fry.
The community is asked to please come out and support this ef- fort to help the family of Corey Gordon, Jr.
Democratic Black
Caucus Hosts 2016
Candidates Forum
On Saturday, June 25th, the Hillsborough County Democratic Black Caucus the Hispanic Caucus and the Young Dems will pres- ent the 2016 Candidates Forum, “Education Equals Empower- ment.”
The forum will be held at St. John Cathedral Church, 3401 East 25th Street, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be a question and answer session with confirmed candidates for:
Hillsborough County Clerk of Circuit Court Senate Seat District 18
State House of Representative District 58 State Attorney
Hillsborough County Commissioners Hillsborough County School Board District 5
State House of Representative District 61 Hillsborough County School Board Districts 1 and 3 State of Florida House of Representative District 63 U. S. Congress District 15
State of Florida State Senate District 19 Hillsborough County School Board District 7
Everyone is asked to come out to meet the candidates that are asking for your vote, and ask them questions.
Refreshments will be served and there will be a break for lunch during the forum.
For more information, contact Robin Lockett at (813) 310- 0793.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-A