Page 34 - Florida Sentinel 10-5-18

Memoriam
How Newark Mayor Ras Baraka Is Tackling Rapid Gentrification Head On
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
HENRY HERLING HEPBURN, JR. October 4, 1921 – May 17, 2018
Dearly loved, sadly missed by wife, Mary; daughter and son-in-law, Ben and Barbara Ford, family members of Hep- burns, Williams and Cails.
Nationwide Black and Brown communities are being affected by economic redevelopment. In Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Ras Baraka claims he has a plan that will improve cities with- out rapid gentrification.
The Newark native re- cently discussed the chal- lenges he faces as a Black mayor whose goal is to ensure Black voices are heard in the process of the city's rapidly changing environment. He says a burdensome challenge Black city officials face is to reverse something that is sys- temic.
Mayor Baraka, has a few ideas of which other city officials may want to take note. The city of Newark has partnered with major local companies, colleges, and community groups.
Much of his solution plans involve fair housing. The community advocate has im- plemented plans for "inclu- sionary zoning," which means "if you're going to build in a city, a certain percentage of it must be set aside for low-in- come housing, whether reno-
vated or brand new."
When it comes to develop-
ers and gentrifiers Mayor Baraka has a message for them, “If you want to be part of the benefit, you have to be willing to take part in the bur- den.” He encouraged black folks to let developers know that, “we should have the right as a city to determine if you get to push us out or not."
One of his recently devel- oped initiatives includes Newark 2020, a campaign which hopes, “to cut the un- employment gap between
Newark and New Jersey in half by connecting 2,020 un- employed residents to well- paying jobs by the year 2020.”
According to report con- ducted by the New Jersey In- stitute for Social Justice, current residents are em- ployed by about 18 percent of jobs available in Newark, and Baraka is determined to lower that unemployment rate.
He says the city should not only hire Newark resi- dents, but also invest in Newark businesses.
National
Accidents
Elderly Man Killed In Early Morning Accident
A 68-year-old man was killed in a traffic accident early Thursday. The accident took place at U. S. Highway 92 (Hillsborough) and Par- sons Avenue.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the man was walking northbound on U. S. Highway 92, in an unlighted portion of the roadway around 7 a.m. He traveled into the path of a 2012 Honda driven by Ms. Re- becca Welsh-Jaques, 42, of Seffner.
The victim, who police have not identified, died at the scene as a result of his in- juries.
Four Killed In Traffic Accident
The Lakeland Police De- partment is currently inves- tigating an accident that claimed four lives. The acci- dent took place on Memorial Boulevard.
According to police, around 11:30 a.m., Monday, a silver Chevrolet sedan was traveling eastbound on Me- morial Boulevard. At the same time, a green Chevro- let truck, with an empty live- stock trailer, and a black Ford truck were traveling west bound.
For unknown reasons, the silver sedan crossed over into the westbound lanes and collided with the
Chevrolet truck and then with the Ford truck.
As a result of the acci- dent, the driver, identified as William McClelland, 50, along with both backseat passengers, Lisa Vorholzer, 54, of Winter Haven, and passenger, iden- tified as Linda Henson, 66, of Pickens, South Car- olina.
The front passenger, identified as Ernest Man- ley, 88, was transported to Lakeland Regional Health with life-threatening in- juries. He later died as a re- sult of his injuries.
Sanford Meeks, 50, was the driver of the Chevro- let truck, and his passenger was Sanford Meeks, Jr., 24, of Polk City. Both were transported to Lakeland Re- gional Health with non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Ford truck was identified as Dan- nel Cantu, 62, of Plant City. He was not taken to a hospital.
Detectives are asking anyone with information about the accident to call the Lakeland Police Department at (863) 834-6900.
PAGE 22-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018