Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 10-14-16 Online Edition

Features Unsolved Murders
Community Leaders Push Message Of Stopping Violence
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Community leaders on both sides of the Hillsborough River have mounted a campaign aimed directly at young people and their families to put an end to the violence that has claimed the lives of so many young peo- ple.
“Over the past 15 years, if you look at the list of unsolved murders, you will find the ma- jority of the victims are under 25-years-old,” said Mrs. Darla Saunders.
Mrs. Saunders, and her husband, Elliott, are the founders of Advocates for Safer Communities. The organiza- tion was founded after their son, Isaiah Brooks, was mur- dered in February 2005. No one has been arrested for his murder.
“We’ve got to find a way to reach our young people, and change their thinking. There’s no way anyone can justify tak- ing someone’s life for no rea- son other than personal greed or some blind vendetta.
“Most of these unsolved murders were committed for reasons none of us understand, and it’s all senseless.”
Mrs. Saunders and her husband have held rallies and other events in an effort to bring attention to these atroci- ties, and the apparent inability of law enforcement to bring someone to justice for the crimes. She said it doesn’t help when the community turns a deaf ear and blind eye to these murders, and won’t talk to law enforcement.
“I think it’s one of those sit- uations where they don’t feel connected to any of these crimes until it happens to one of their loved ones. No parent should have to bury their child.”
MR. AND MRS. ELLIOTT (DARLA) SAUNDERS
Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, along with community leaders in East Tampa, West Tampa, Progress Village, and other areas are planning a sit-and- listen session with the hope of combining their efforts to re- turn things to normal in their neighborhoods, and get the criminals off the streets.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s your son or daughter who has been getting away with these crimes. As a parent, you have a respon- sibility to other parents to look out for their children, and you expect the same from them. You also expect them to tell you when your child has done something wrong so they can be punished accordingly.
“The love a parent has for their children shouldn’t blind them to protecting their chil- dren after they’ve murdered someone. That only gives them the notion to go out and do it again, because they know their family members will protect them.”
Mr. and Mrs. Saunders
are open to any ideas to put an end to the destruction of neigh- borhoods all over the city, and the fear people have of sitting outside or even attending a movie or going out to a club.
Oakhurst Square Owners Dispel Rumors About Future Of Complex
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
There are going to be some dramatic changes to the Oakhurst Square apartments, and those changes may re- quire the relocation of the cur- rent tenants.
But, Adam Harden of Soho Capital, the owners of the complex, said nothing dra- matic will happen at the com- plex for the next three to four years.
“We are working on a planned development for the property, and that will be over a 3-to-4 year period. We’re also looking at a relocation plan for the tenants when that time comes.
“We’ve met with community leaders and presented our in- tentions to them, especially the West Riverfront Crime Watch Group. We will con- tinue that engagement and collect input from the neigh- bors in the surrounding area.”
Harden said among the rumors about the future of the complex he wants to dispel, is the notion all of these changes are to entice University of Tampa students to move into the renovated complex.
“We have no plans of Uni-
OAKHURST SQUARE
versity of Tampa students tak- ing over the complex and turn- ing it into a dorm.
“The complex will be status quo for another 3-years, and there is no secret plan to tear down Oakhurst Square right away. We also don’t plan to re- locate our tenants to Suitcase City. We’d like to see some of them return.”
Harden said he’s aware of the concerns of the surround- ing community and that’s why he tries to keep the lines of communication open between his office, the tenants of the complex, and homeowners in the surrounding community.
“We have acquired some properties in the area, and we did acquire the land a quadraplex sat on at the cor-
ner of Edison and Cypress. “Another rumor we want to dispel is that we have an in- terest in acquiring Beulah
Baptist Institutional Church.” Harden said SoHo Capi- tal no longer owns Columbus
Court.
“The complex is owned by
Southport Financial, and they are spending more than $6 million in renovations to the complex.
“They are undertaking a rental rehabilitation of all the units, and they will be in- stalling new cabinets, appli- ances and making other changes to the units.”
Harden said Southport Financial is one of the largest owners of affordable housing in the country.
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