Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 8-21-15 Edition

Features
Mayor Decides To Keep Extended Programs At Parks
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
At the beginning of the summer, Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Tampa Po- lice Chief Eric Ward initi- ated two programs designed to keep children safe. They introduced the “Stay And Play” Summer Program that extended the hours of some parks and recreation centers.
The success of the dual program was measured by the overwhelming response with 2,834 youngsters who participated in the tradi- tional summer camps and the 3,882 who took part in the specialty camps.
Now, as the youngsters prepare to return to school, Mayor Buckhorn is calling the program a success.
The first initiative in the “Stay And Play” Program was to extend the hours of neigh- borhood parks and centers, offering the children a safe haven.
The program was offered at 9 facilities. Statistics re- cently released shows that between June 11th, and Au- gust 18th, 15,231 children par- ticipated in the program.
Based on the program’s success, Mayor Buckhorn has decided to continue the program with extended hours throughout the school
MAYOR BOB BUCKHORN
year.
“The goal with “Stay And
Play,” was to help curb the rising tide of violence as summer started. We gave kidsachoicetobeapartofa safe, productive, and fun en- vironment, and it was an overwhelming success. This is a success not just in terms of the thousands of kids who participated, but in terms of the number of kids who were not left facing potentially vi- olent situations in our streets this summer. There is no bet- ter return on an investment than that,” Mayor Buck- horn said.
As a result of the pro- gram, Mayor Buckhorn will offer an extended pro- gram at several locations. The new hours at the chosen locations will be from 10 a.m.
to at least 6 p.m., on week- ends. The hours on Satur- days and Sundays will also be extended.
The activities being of- fered will be in a semi-struc- tured environment at the locations. The activities range from sporting events to arts and guest speakers. The anticipated cost for the ex- tension during the school term is approximately $100,000.
Designated Locations
The designated locations are: Martin Luther King, Jr., Park, Recreation Center, and Pool, 2200 N. Oregon Av- enue; Copeland Park, Recre- ation Center,, 11001 N. 15th Street; Grant Park, 3724 N. 54th Street; Jackson Heights Recreation Center, 3310 E. Lake Avenue; and Springhill Park and Recreation Center, 1000 E. Eskimo Avenue.
“Rec Cards” Programs
Additionally, statistics show that the “Rec Cards” Program was also very suc- cessful. It was designed for teenagers and 1,258 youth between the ages of 13 and 19 took advantage of the pro- gram.
The “Rec Cards” are good for a year and will allow ac- cess into facilities and pro- gramming including free After School Programs dur- ing the school year.
Senator Requests Public Participation And Follow Set Directives On Maps
In order to guarantee ample time for full public vet- ting prior to an October spe- cial legislative session, state Senator Oscar Braynon, II, (D-Miami Gardens) on Tuesday formally asked Sen- ate staff to begin work on drawing new Senate district maps.
“Rather than limiting pub- lic scrutiny to a few days prior to House or Senate commit- tee consideration, starting the work over a month in advance allows for full public partici- pation in a process that af- fects everyone. And establishing the ground rules for maps that affect political futures is critical to protecting the integrity of the final prod- uct,” Senator Braynon said.
Seeking to reflect the vot- ers’ wishes and the intent of the Fair Districts Amend- ments, Senator Braynon, in an email to the Senate Reapportionment Commit- tee, asked that the new Senate maps be drawn “using the same standards and methods used in the Congressional base map” and that the boundaries be based “on standard population distribu- tion while respecting the Vot- ing Rights Act, existing municipal and geographic boundaries, directives from the courts and the state con-
SENATOR OSCAR BRAYNON (D) Miami Gardens
stitution.”
Senator Braynon, the
incoming Senate Democratic Leader, asked that the first draft be submitted this week.
“The Senate maps which must be re-drawn were premised on the same flawed Congressional maps struck down by the Supreme Court,” said Senator Braynon.
“By establishing a mirror process for the new Senate maps as that outlined by the high court for the Congres- sional ones, we can assure the public that not only will their Fair Districts’ mandate be en- forced, but that the maps will truly represent the best inter- ests of the people.”
The 3-week special ses- sion called to pass new Senate district maps is scheduled to convene on October 19th.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2015