Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 10-22-21

Editorials/Columns
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Mayor Jane Castor: City Investing Heavily In East Tampa Neighborhoods
ensure a premium customer experience and create a space that neighbors and employees will be proud of.
The City Center will include an inviting public square and a 161,000 square foot building that will be a gathering space for neighbors. It will improve efficiency by consolidating many city services under one roof, including Workforce De- velopment, Planning, Con- struction Services, Equal Business Opportunity, Water Department – Plan Review Di- vision, Code Enforcement, Housing, Arts & Cultural Af- fairs, Technology & Innova- tion, Facilities Management, Fleet Maintenance servicing light duty vehicles only, Pur- chasing, and Community En- gagement & Partnerships.
All Tampa residents and cus- tomers will receive improved access to government services, ample parking, added green space, and nearby public transportation. Neighbors also will see improved sidewalks and roadways, community meeting space, and the poten- tial for expanded businesses in the surrounding area. This is an investment of nearly $100 million in the community by my administration and the Tampa City Council.
It will be a few years before we see the completion of these ambitious community im- provements, but I am so ex- cited about what’s coming. We are eager to hear input from residents, so please keep an eye out for opportunities to share your ideas and thoughts.
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C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
People tend to talk a lot about downtowns, but to me the heartbeat of any great city is in the neighborhoods. That’s why I am so excited about the historic investments the City of Tampa is making in East Tampa neighborhoods.
Two major capital projects within a mile of each other – a new East Tampa recreation campus and a new City Center, bringing city services closer to the people – will be vital neigh- borhood investments that im- prove the quality of life for nearby neighbors and the en- tire City of Tampa.
In case you haven’t already heard about what’s in the works, I want to give you an update.
First the recreation complex. To say we and the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) will give the Fair Oaks Recreation Center at 5019 N. 34th Street, a makeover would be a huge un- derstatement. More like a $20- million-plus transformation.
After two years of talking to residents and neighbors, de- veloping plans to expand the footprint, creating conceptual plans, and acquiring additional property, we are preparing to seek proposals from compa-
nies to design and build what we expect to be a spectacular recreational campus. The city has bought two neighboring properties, is under contract to buy another, and is negotiating for more.
The exact footprint of the new East Tampa recreation campus will depend on how those real estate negotiations shake out, but we envision a brand new dance and gymnas- tics center, a new senior center, basketball courts, a tots play- ground, splash pad, covered shelters and upgraded football and softball fields, a lighted walking trail, and a sun gar- den. We expect to close parts of East Caracas and Ellicott Streets to improve pedestrian safety.
The other huge project is a new City Center at 2515 East Hanna Avenue. The city bought this land in 2014, and demolition of the old factory and warehouse is complete. Replacing that empty eyesore will be a gorgeous new building serving the community and housing many government services that are currently scat- tered across different loca- tions. The facility’s design includes input from the neigh- bors and user departments to
Vigilance For Breast Cancer
etty, age 42, had done self-breast examinations
daily every morning while showering. This morn- ing, she felt a suspicious lump in her left breast. Betty’s story ended happily when surgery found the lump to be benign. Sadly, the story does not end well for 2.3 mil- lion women each year.
One out of eight of all women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. In addition, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting American women, second only to lung cancer, as a lead- ing cause of death in women.
October is the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness, detection, and cure for men and women. Breast cancer is rare among men (1% of all breast can- cers). However, at least “2,650 men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021.”
For men, 1 in 833 men have a lifetime risk of being di- agnosed with breast cancer. At these rates, there is no doubt that everyone knows someone who has had, or survived breast cancer. We salute all cancer survivors today.
The lifetime risk of breast cancer for Black women is 12%, the second highest of all women. Moreover, Black women were 42% more likely to seek treatment when their cancer was in a more advanced and less treatable stage.
Black women between the ages of 40-50 have a higher incidence of breast cancer and have the highest rate of death from the disease. Access to sources of primary healthcare contribute to the high incidence of the dis- ease in Black women.
Even though most breast cancers are found in 50- year-old or older women, younger women develop breast cancer as well. Currently, 9% of all new cases of breast cancer are found in women younger than 50- years-old.
The disease also may be found in women younger than 25, though rare. These facts are reasons why we en- courage all women 18 years or older to begin self-breast examinations, and to begin getting mammograms at the age of 40 or as early as they can.
Good news about the disease is that the number of cases has been decreasing since 1990, due to greater em- phasis on screening, mammography, and self-examina- tions that can detect breast cancer at earlier stages.
For our readers who have women they love, please re- mind them to get a mammogram and to examine their breasts each month. Everyone must be vigilant for breast cancer.
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