Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 9-20-16 Online Edition

Features
How can we make sure our vote matters? One elected official told a group of Black pastors, “you failed to ask for anything and that’s what you got - noth- ing!” This time we are re- questing the healing of our community!
The Black community is suffering from several ills that can be corrected.
• There is a lack of jobs and vocational training within the City of Tampa for Black youths.
However, there is a shortage of carpentry, plumbing, block masons and electrical workers. Ap- prenticeship programs would help to reduce unem- ployment and crime among young black males.
• An effective coalition between the community and law enforcement agen- cies to help improve com- munity relations.
• Establish early race- based educational pro- grams to help reduce school to prison pipeline.
• Improve campaign strategies that target the Black community thru proper funding with Black media.
Millions of dollars are spent for long periods of time on TV ads. However,
Community Policing Panel Discussion Set
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Black Folks’ Votes Matters
the Black media receive lit- tle or no money until the latter part of the campaign. What is the black vote worth to most white candi- dates?
• Failure to hire the proper number of cam- paign workers that repre- sent our communities. Many campaign workers are from cities and lack the knowledge of the Black community they are can- vassing, going door- to- door. This should include phone banking. It is good to see a person who looks like you and can relate to you!
• We should have knowl- edgeable Black community representatives with access to Washington, in person or by telephone, after the elec- tion in order to discuss the needs and concerns of our community. Without a voice to make known our needs, our votes will be fruitless.
To secure the Black vote, Black issues must be ad- dressed and solved in order to ensure that the Black vot- ers have a reason to vote. We don’t want to give any Black voter a reason to give up and stay home. When a person doesn’t vote this is a vote for the opponent.
In Reverend Wayne Per- ryman’s book “Unfounded
Loyalty,” he takes an in- depth look into the blind love affair between Blacks and Democrats. The book points out the Black Church is the most powerful institu- tion in the African Amer- ican community and that it has, at times, compromised its Christian values to sup- port the Democratic agenda.
Many pastors fear to speak out against commu- nity leaders or either party for fear of losing their 501(C) 3 status.
This has left Inner-City Black voters wondering why they should remain loyal to the Democratic Party when there has been a lack of remedies to address the issues in the Black Com- munity.
Will things change or re- main the same after this election if a Democratic or Republican is elected!
If Black folks’ votes re- ally matter, please listen to Ray Charles, “Sings for America, “HEY MISTER” and “GOD BLESS AMER- ICA, Again!” I believe God will bless America again when we see justice and equality for all mankind! This is when all life will matter!
REV. WILLIE G. DIXON
ATTORNEY MIKE STEPHENS
On Wednesday, September 21st from 6 p. m. to 8 p.m., 34th Street Church of God’s King’s Men Ministry will be hosting a Community Policing Panel Dis- cussion at the church, 3000 North 34th Street.
The event will feature repre- sentatives from law enforce- ment (Detective John Albert Footman), Attorney Mike Stephens, and Community Activist James Cole.
The forum will include top- ics such as what to do when en- gaged by a member of law enforcement; definition of
ACTIVIST JAMES COLE
probable cause and many, many more.
If you are interested in being a part of this discussion, please contact Brother Paul Wha- ley, Brother Ken Patterson, or Elder Anthony Haynes at the church, (813) 248-6548.
“This will be a great discus- sion for the community, and we’d love to see a lot of young Black males attend,” said Elder Haynes.
“We’re using social media to speak out against violence, and rally support for more panel discussions in the future.”
Realtors Feel County’s High House Flipping Ranking Due To Need
DWIGHT MCDONALD
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Tampa Bay and Hillsbor- ough County rank third nation- ally in house flipping, and a couple of area realtors feel they may be ranked even higher.
According to a source, 80% of all bay area flips were cash purchases, and flippers paid a median of $92,800 and sold for $150,000, making their gross profit $57,200. Those figures don’t take into account repairs, improvements, and carrying costs that can reduce true profit.
The Seminole Heights com- munity displayed the highest gross return on investment for flippers. Other areas included North Tampa, Temple Terrace, Zephyrhills, Dover, Plant City, Kenneth City, and other areas in St. Petersburg.
Dwight McDonald of In- ternational Realty Plus, said the reason the ranking is so high is the availability of wholesale prices, and a demand for retail.
“Affordable rehab projects are in demand as well as move- in ready homes. I’ve also no- ticed the activities picking up in the older neighborhoods.
“Some are waiting for prop- erties to come on the market, and from my perspective, the market is rich because there is
KENNY RUSHING
a shortage of affordable hous- ing and that’s where the de- mand is now.”
Area realtor, Kenny Rush- ing said he thinks the county is actually ranked second nation- ally.
“When the market crashed in 2008, that sent a lot of real- tors reeling, but we rebounded quickly, because the area still attracts a lot of new home own- ers.
“There’s a huge demand for first time homebuyers, but there’s a limited supply right now. That’s sometimes due to banks selling off their inven- tory.”
Rushing said it’s impor- tant to key in on areas with high sales and fast turnaround times.
“There is a massive need for affordable housing and there are more new homes being con- structed now. Areas close to the downtown area are prime, and gentrification is taking place everywhere.
“More renters are in the market now, and that’s because there is a shortage of affordable homes, and the banks are still tough on some financing deals. Also, with the changes in public housing, you will be seeing more renters and first-time home buyers flooding the mar- ket.”
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016