Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 10-20-15 Edition

Features
Inaugural Citizens Review Board Members Chosen
Community Leader Not Happy
With Traffic Signals Near
Site Of Fatal Accident
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On November 16, 2011, pregnant 27-year-old Mon- ica Alvarez, 1-year-old Imani Golden, 24-year-old Shanita Little, and 1-year- old Marquisha Wilson were hit by a car as they walked along 43rd Street north of Hillsborough Av- enue.
The accident killed Al- varez, Golden was left in critical condition, and the other two were reported to be in stable condition.
The driver told police he did not see the women and children. The street was poorly lit and did not have a sidewalk.
Everyone involved in the accident were residents of the Johnson-Kenneth Court Apartments.
Since the accident, the apartment complex has un- dergone a complete makeover, and is now called Silver Oaks Apartments.
Karen Peoples, who is the Resident Council Presi- dent at the complex, was among a group of angry resi- dents who demanded the city improve the lighting along the street, and install side- walks.
City Council Chair Frank Reddick took their request a step further by re- questing a traffic signal be in- stalled at Hillsborough
KAREN PEOPLES
Avenue and 43rd Street. Although the improve-
REV. DR. BARTHOLOMEW
DR. CAROLYN HEPBURN- COLLINS
LINCOLN TAMAYO
ROBERT SHIMBERG
and Robert Shimberg, a practicing attorney with the law firm of Hill Ward Hen- derson and Chairman of the Board of Metropolitan Min- istries.
The two alternate mem- bers are: Lee Lowry, former Junior League of Tampa President; and Bemetra Simmons, Hillsborough County Mart President at BB&T Bank.
Members of the City Council are responsible for selecting four additional members. They had not re- leased their list as of press time.
ments have helped, Peoples BANKS
said she’s not happy with where the lights are, and mo- torists are still making u- turns at that intersection.
“The new lights and the sidewalks have given people a safe place to walk, and the lights have helped people driving see pedestrians.
“But, there is still a prob- lem at that intersection, be- cause the traffic signal is not in the right place, and the traffic traveling west on Hills- borough Avenue coming from 50th Street is like a race course.”
Peoples said she wants to appeal to all parents to keep their children informed on how to cross busy streets.
“Parents, teach your chil- dren to be vigilant, and I want to appeal to drivers to slow down in areas where they know children are crossing.
“I also want to appeal to city officials to once again take a look at that area, and see what else they can do to insure the safety of the peo- ple.”
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Monday, Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced the names of his choices for the Citizens Review Board. He se- lected five members and the two alternates. Members of the City Council will select four others to serve a 4-year term on the 11-member board.
Mayor Buckhorn said, “After a healthy and thorough debate, “I’m happy to an- nounce my appointments to the Citizens Review Board. These men and women repre- sent a vast cross-section of Tampa’s most trusted and up- standing residents.
“Their diverse back- grounds as well as unique life experiences will be key in pro- viding an objective and trans- parent review of cases as they arise. I am confident that these appointees will serve the City with integrity and re- sponsibility.”
The inaugural members of the Citizens Review Board are:
Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Banks, Senior Pastor of St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church;
Dr. Carolyn Hepburn- Collins, former President and current Executive Com- mittee member of the Hills- borough County NAACP;
Judge E. J. Salcines,
Appellate Court Judge serv- ing the Florida Second Dis- trict Court of Appeals;
Lincoln Tamayo, Head of School at Academy Preparatory Center of Tampa;
JUDGE E. J. SALCINES
LEE LOWRY ... Alternate Appointment
BEMETRA
SIMMONS ... Alternate Appointment
State NAACP Disagrees With Governor Being Chosen As University Honoree
Recently, Bethune-Cook- man University announced the recipients of its 3rd An- nual Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Awards. The univer- sity has chosen five recipients for recognition.
The However, the Florida State Conference and Volusia County NAACP disagree with one of the recipients. The awards program will take place on Wednesday, October 21st at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center.
The four individuals who will be recognized are: Gov- ernor Rick Scott, who is slated to receive the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Leadership Award; Ms. Lucille O’Neal, who will receive the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Beacon of Light Award; Rev. Dr. Ger- ald Lord, who will receive the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Lifetime Achieve- ment Award; and Tony Jenkins, who will receive the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Philanthropy
GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT
JOE PETROCK
should recognize accomplish- ments that are in-line with the values of Dr. Bethune.
Governor Scott has done virtually nothing to im- prove the lives of African Americans and other minori- ties since elected to office. Critically, in 2011, Governor Scott cut all funding from HBCUs includ- ing Bethune-Cookman Uni- versity. The recent monetary gift that he has granted to the university only restored money that he had taken away from HBCUs.”
On Friday in an open let- ter, Joe Petrock, Chairman of the Board of Bethune- Cookman University said Governor Scott was se- lected as one of the honorees based on his ability to deliver needed resources to the uni- versity.
He further said Scott’s support has included more than $15 million in funding allocations over the past three years.
Award.
However, members of the
Florida State Conference and Volusia County NAACP dis- approve of the university’s choice of presenting the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Lead- ership Award to Governor Scott.
In a statement, the two organizations said, “While the Volusia County NAACP commends Bethune-Cook- man University president, Dr. Edison Jackson for his vision of creating the Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Gala, the Branch be- lieves that the Mary McLeod Bethune Leadership Award
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