Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 9-1-15 Edition

Features
High School Senior Torchbearer For National Youth Story Telling Showcase
Mekeia Butler is a Na- tional Youth Story Telling Showcase Torchbearer. She was chosen out of thousands of applicants to attend and repre- sent the State of Florida at the Timpanogos story Telling Fes- tival and Conference in Orem, Utah September 1-6, 2015.
Mekeia has been doing story telling for over three years. She has participated in many functions, including the Hillsborough County Story Telling Festival, The Youthful Voice Story Telling Festival, Florida Folk Festival Story Telling, Miami Book Fair and many libraries around the Tampa Bay area.
Story Telling is the art of effectively telling a story so vividly until the listener sees the tor in their mind’s eye. Mekeia gets her talent and skills form all over the place, as she just stands and impacts the audience. With this platform she feels that she can spark the beginning of a mind set for our youth and the people around them. All her life it has been a dream to change the world. She essentially wants to do it one child at a time.
Mekeia will be accompa- nied on the trip by her story Teller Mentor, Mrs. Tamara Green.
Mekeia Butler is a senior
MEKEIA BUTLER
and a Musical theater major at Howard W. Blake High School. Butler is active in ministries at St. John Cathedral that in- clude St. John Youth Choir and the Drama Department. Among her honors and recog- nition, the National Society of High School Scholars, In- ducted Thespian in 2012, Vocal Director of the Howard W. Blake Gospel Choir, Secre- tary of Howard W. Blake Glee Club, President of the Today Mentoring Program and the Natural Hair Club. She is an author, plays the piano, sings, and praise dances.
Mayor Creates 11-Member Citizens Review Board
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Friday, Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward announced the formation of the Citizens Review Board. This board, es- tablished by Executive Order, is the second time that the City has assembled such a board.
In recent months, numer- ous young, Black men have died at the hands of police of- ficers throughout the country. Because of several complaints against Tampa Police, mem- bers of the community called for the board to review those complaints.
Mayor Buckhorn said the independent panel would be responsible for reviewing cases and issues related to the Tampa Police Department. The board would also provide feedback and recommenda- tions to Chief Ward.
Mayor Buckhorn said, “We have always welcomed cit- izen input and value trans- parency as a core value of city government. This Citizens Re- view Board is a Tampa solution that addresses the concerns of our community while balanc- ing the desire of our neighbor- hoods for a safe city.
“The Tampa Police Depart- ment has reduced crime 60 percent over the last ten years. We welcome the community’s input to make a great depart- ment even better.”
Chief Ward said, “This is
MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN
ERIC WARD Chief of Police
plete the Tampa Police De- partment’s Citizens Acad- emy; donate necessary time to review cases; at- tend a minimum of 9 monthly meetings; and be at least 18 years of age.
Members cannot hold or campaign for political office; be a City employee; be directly related to a member of the Tampa Police Department; currently working for any law enforcement agency; or have any prior felony convictions.
The monthly board meet- ings will be televised and open to the public. The meetings will be held on the fourth Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
Chief Ward has the re- sponsibility to develop an ap- plication process for those who wish to serve on the board. Members must complete a background check and suc- cessfully complete the Tampa Police Citizens Academy, among other qualifications to be eligible to serve.
Topics Of Review
The members of the Citi- zens Review Board will be re- sponsible for reviewing: written directives, policies, and procedures pertaining to the review; the department’s Manuel of Regulations; Law Enforcement Ethics; Use of Force Policy; Pursuits Policy; Writing and Understanding of Offense Reports; Professional Standards Complaint Process- ing; Public Records; and Griev- ance Procedures.
an exciting step forward for our department, in terms of openness and transparency. I often say that we work in part- nership with the community to keep our city safe. This is tak- ing that partnership to a new level, and we welcome the feedback.”
Board Membership
The Citizens Review Board will consist of 9 voting mem- bers and 2 alternatives. The majority of the members will select the Chairperson.
Two members of the volun- teer board will be appointed by City Council and the remaining members appointed by Mayor Buckhorn.
Board Requirements Members of the board must: complete the appli- cation; pass the back- ground check; be current residents or business owners in the City of Tampa; agree to serve a 4- year term, beginning De- cember 1, 2015; devote a minimum of 3 hours to “ride-a-longs” in each dis- trict; successfully com-
City Council Delays Decision On Stormwater Fee Increase
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Last Thursday, the Tampa City Council listened to public opinion before deciding whether or not to move for- ward in approving the pro- posed stormwater fee increase.
The fee increase was based on a 2003 assessment study and a formula developed by a consulting firm is what city of- ficials want to implement in assessing the fee hike.
One of the most outspoken people against the increase has been LaGaceta Publisher, Patrick Manteiga, who feels the assessment is not fair to everyone, and excludes others.
“The formula they want to use would more than double the current fee a lot of people are paying, and for those on fixed incomes this is going to be traumatic.”
After listening to the com- ments of numerous people, the Council members decided to continue with the current stormwater assessment plan, and wait until City Staff comes back with another formula be- fore approving the proposed
fee increase. The dates of Sep- tember 3rd or October 4th were mentioned.
Most of the people who ad- dressed this issue before the Council were residents of South Tampa. One man said he thinks everyone should pay regardless of where they live, and another said the city needs to find out what they’ve been doing with funds they’ve been collecting for decades.
Another citizen, Dave Caban, said this is not just a South Tampa problem.
“This is a city problem that’s impacted businesses and employees, because the flooding prevents them from getting to work. The flooding also exists along evacuation routes, and that can be cata- strophic when it’s time to use those routes.”
Marlon Anderson, Pres- ident of the Sunset Park Asso- ciation, said they are in favor of the fee increase, especially with the flooding they experi- ence along Swann Avenue.
Residents of East Tampa also addressed the Council, one of them asking for a repeal of the current ordinance be-
cause he feels it continues to overtax people on fixed in- comes. Another man said he fears his mother will lose her home if the fee is increased. He suggested funds be re- quested from the federal gov- ernment.
Other residents felt in- creasing the fee will not solve the flooding problem, and will only give the city money to di- vert to other projects.
Businessman Joe Capi- tano said he’s alright with the fee increase, but first come up with a different formula on the amount.
Engineer Joe Robinson
addressed the Council by first telling them that their request was “Bad Science.”
“The 2003 study needs to be updated, because things have changed. A lot of low in- come areas already have im- proved stormwater systems they get no credit for.
“I think a Title 6 complaint should be filed with the Envi- ronmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the entire process. Let’s get some engineers to up- date the 2003 study, because right now it’s just bad science.”
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015