Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 9-25-20

Feature
West Tampa CRA Chairman Snubbed Over $24 Million BUILD Grant Selection Process
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Earlier this week, Mayor Jane Castor and Congress- woman Kathy Castor an- nounced that a $24 Million BUILD Grant was slated for the West Tampa area. Ms. Tina Young represented the CRA at the press conference in which the announcement was made.
However, Joe Robinson, West Tampa CRA Chairman said neither he, Walter Smith, Vice Chairman of the organization, nor City Coun- cilman Orlando Gudes were notified.
Robinson further said, “We would expect that a $24 million dollar grant being re- ceived by the City of Tampa
from the USDOT would come with a commitment of busi- ness and community engage- ment of professionalism, inclusivity and diversity of the whole West Tampa Commu- nity.
“Protocol and discipline in the delivery of this important economic incentive to rede- velop an area that has been truly neglected over the years by the City of Tampa Govern- ment and others, especially the West Tampa CRA “slum and blighted” area now being rede- veloped.
“However, we have found out that the City of Tampa does not care about protocol, diversity or Black Communi- ties except to use our slum and blighted status to get Federal, State, Local grants and other
JOE ROBINSON Chairman, West Tampa CRA
funds that sometimes gentri- fies our Black Communities. Obviously “Black Communities Do Not Matter” to them, it shows in their window dressing and bla- tant disrespect of true Black leadership in West
Tampa. When it comes to im- plementation they just want to disrespect the Black leadership and take all the photo ops and credit for themselves and cre- ate animosity among Black leadership, known as Divide and Conquer!
“The most recent disre- spect came when the City of Tampa refused to invite the Chair of the West Tampa CRA CAC (myself) nor the Chair of the City of Tampa’s CRA board Mr. Orlando Gudes, Coun- cilman for District 5, which in- cludes the West Tampa CRA; two Black Men in Lead- ership positions and Chairs of CRAs to the press conference with all the people to the 11:00 a.m., meeting at Julian B Lane River Center. “Transforming Tampa’s Tomorrow,” appears
to be a dog whistle for gentri- fication and all white control. Who will get the contracts to design and build the new West River Walk?
“Enough is Enough! The total and intentional disre- spect of Black and Hispanic people on the Westside has to stop or there will be no suc- cessful development in West Tampa at the end of the day. Regardless of how beautiful it looks because it will only be a façade unless Black Leader- ship is respected by City Gov- ernment.”
When contacted by the
Sentinel, Councilman Gudes wasn’t aware of the event.
When the Sentinel con- tacted the City, they did not re- spond to the question.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 9-A