Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 9-8-17

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Update From Senator Darryl Rouson
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
The next session for the Florida Legislature is months away, but Florida state Sena- tor Darryl Rouson said he’s preparing now.
With just weeks before he starts up another round of townhall meetings, Rouson wanted to share his reflec- tions on his first term as sen- ator representing the 19th District, which includes parts of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
Rouson had served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives before suc- ceeding term-limited former state Senator Arthenia Joyner in 2016.
Despite his extensive ex- perience in the Legislature, Rouson said there was a learning curve.
“I learned a lot in my first session,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next.”
Rouson introduced or co-introduced 11 bills that passed the Legislature, in- cluding one that acknowl- edged abuses committed against children at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys.
When the Legislature con- venes in January, the Senator said he’ll put forth a number of bills addressing issues such as housing discrimination and suspension of civil rights.
But he’ll approach three issues with earnest: criminal justice reform, transporta- tion, and substance abuse ed- ucation.
STATE SENATOR DARRYL ROUSON
Rouson, himself a for- mer addict, said he was disap- pointed that the last session ended without legislators put- ting any extra money behind drug addiction education and treatment.
It’s unacceptable at a time when Opioid use and over- dosing are at critical highs, he said.
“That’s tops on my list...to urge leadership to do some- thing,” he said.
Rouson, who is vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said he’s equally anxious to see some movement on trans- portation matters in Tampa Bay.
Last year, the Florida De- partment of Transportation trashed Tampa Bay Express – also known as TBX – its am- bitious, $6 billion transit plan that faced serious opposition from residents. It has since unveiled a new project, Tampa Bay NEXT, that de-
partment officials say will in- clude more input from resi- dents.
Rouson said, with the of- ficials hitting the “reset but- ton” on the project allows a much-needed opportunity for legislators to “think about the impact to the community and neighborhoods, good and bad.”
“The fight ahead is to get bureaucracy out the way and come up with some solu- tions,” he said.
Rouson said he’s eager to pursue changes to the state’s criminal justice laws, espe- cially regarding Pinellas’s high teen car theft rate and driver’s license suspensions.
The former is in light of three teen boys who died ear- lier this summer after the car they stole crashed.
“I promised...that those deaths would not be in vain,” he said. “These are not bad boys, but boys who made bad decisions.”
The same can be said for those whose driver’s licenses are suspended for reasons un- related to driving, like truancy or possession of marijuana, Rouson said.
“Once your license is sus- pended, it’s like a vortex – it’s hard to get it back,” he said.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Chooses Tampa Bay For 2020 Conclave
CITY COUNCILMAN FRANK REDDICK
Visit Tampa Bay an- nounced that Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will hold its Biennial Conclave in Tampa Bay in July 2020. The na- tional conclave will be a first for a historically Black frater- nal organization in Tampa Bay, which has hosted smaller regional gatherings in recent years.
“This is a major success for Tampa Bay as a conven- tion destination,” said Santi- ago Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “We’re honored to host Omega Psi Phi in a commu- nity where, from Clara Frye to Moses White to Perry Harvey, Sr., the African American community has a long history of achievement and influence.”
Founded at Howard Uni- versity in 1911, Omega Psi Phi has more than 750 chapters around the world. In Tampa
ATTY. ALEC F. HALL
Bay, the membership of Omega Psi Phi includes Tampa City Council member Frank Reddick and Attor- ney Alec F. Hall, who will be the Grand Marshall of the 2020 Conclave.
Visit Tampa Bay estimates that the week-long gathering will attract 8,000 members and their guests and fill 7,000 room-nights. The conclave could have an economic im- pact of $2.3 million on the local economy.
The decision to hold the 2020 Conclave in Tampa Bay came shortly after the desti- nation hosted the Divine 9 – leaders of the nation’s histor- ically black fraternities and sororities – at the Epicurean Hotel in June.
Visit Tampa Bay is a not- for-profit corporation that works with 800 partners to tell the world the story of Tampa Bay.
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