Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 4-17-20

Feature
Elected Officials Address Crime In East Tampa
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
State Representative Dianne Hart and Tampa City Councilman Orlando Gudes say something must be done about the escalating crime in East Tampa. The two met two weeks ago with Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan to discuss what can be done. Rep. Hart had ini- tially reached out to Mayor Jane Castor, who suggested she speak with Chief Dugan.
“I was appalled when I re- turned home (from the Talla- hassee Legislative session, March) to find the number of our people who are losing their lives to senseless crimes –8hadbeenshotand5of them had passed away in a week. To this date (Tuesday,
REP. DIANNE HART
April 7th), there have been over 20 shootings in 2 weeks, including this past weekend,” she said.
Rep. Hart said their goal is to bring awareness to the community, and to let the community know “that your elected officials have not for-
CITY COUNCILMAN ORLANDO GUDES
gotten about you and we want to know what is going on, too.”
Councilman Gudes and Rep. Hart say crime in East Tampa has nothing to do with economics. “We cannot blame the economy or other people for the crimes that are
happening in East Tampa,” Gudes said. “This is a serious problem and we have to come to some resolutions,” he added.
Both agree that the ”snitching rule” in the com- munity makes no sense.
“Innocent people are being shot and you don’t want to tell. But, if it’s your family member, you want someone arrested.”
Rep. Hart concurred. “We cannot stick our heads in the sand, or turn the other way when poeople are losing their lives,” she said. “If you see something or know some- thing, reach out to someone. You can even talk with me,” she said.
The two elected officials want to do something about the East Tampa shootings, however.
“I’m asking parents to please search your children’s rooms; know the where- abouts of guns. If you find some turn them over to the proper officials,” Rep. Hart said. She added that if some- one has ideas about combat- ting the violence in East Tampa, please contact her of- fice, (813) 224-1956.
Councilman Gudes
says, “This is a very serious problem. Once COVID-19 is over, I’m going to be on the hunt for some Black men who won’t mind getting in the trenches to talk with these guys and tell their stories. We have to take it to them, be- cause they’re not coming to us.”
“We want to find out what do they need, so we can help – be it finances or health is- sues,” he said.
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