Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 1-14-22

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Road To Restoration Conference Set For January 23rd
Real Estate Market Leaving Residents In The Cold
Although Tampa has been riding a wave as one of the hottest real estate markets right now, the affordability of the homes is causing concern among residents. Increasing rents are causing vexation and worry for long-time renters.
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, city and county officials met with residents to discuss the issue and hopefully fix the situation.
Right now, the Bay Area real estate market is hotter than ever. Demand is soaring partly thanks to new out-of- state residents in search of a warmer climate with a cheaper cost of living and fewer pan- demic restrictions. However, the influx is creating problems for long-time residents.
"We have to be able to have
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DIANNE HART
a way that everyone can be able to live. Those who are Floridians, those who are Tampanians who have been here living all their life. They
shouldn't have to be forced out," District 5 Tampa City Council Member and Council President Or- lando Gudes has said.
It has been reported that rent prices in the Bay Area in- creased by 24% in 2021. That figure is from an analysis by the data firm CoStar group. It includes data from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Her- nando counties.
State Representative Dianne Hart who has been advocating for affordable housing stated, "We have a cri- sis on our hands so I believe as we go back to Tallahassee that's going to be the conversa- tion, the crisis in the state of Florida as it relates to housing whether it's rental or home- ownership."
Society-First is a 501(c)(3) non-profit criminal justice re- form organization hosting its first annual conference to create awareness about critical crimi- nal justice issues in Florida.
The goal this year is to in- form legislators, government of- ficials, and citizens about the need for sentencing reform, in particular the fact that Florida has more Life Without Parole sentences than 30 other states COMBINED.
There are more than thirteen prominent speakers from Florida and all over the country, including State Legislators and many political figures. The top- ics range from the history of life without parole sentencing, the collateral effects of mass incar- ceration, and the necessary solu-
tions for positive productive change.
A special segment of the schedule will feature many “Dia- monds in the Rough,” who can rewrite the narrative of the pre- viously incarcerated. These “Di- amonds” are returning citizens who are giving back to their communities in a positive way.
The conference is on Sunday, January 23, 2022, from 2-8 p. m., and includes a buffet dinner.
The Location of the event is: Tallahassee Community College, 444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahas- see, FL 32304
(850) 201-6200.
For more information, con-
tact: Kristina Hodgdon, (239) 580-7899, or kristina.society- first@gmail.com. See advertise- ment in this issue)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 2022 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 7-A