Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 10-23-15 Edition

Features
300 Grassroots Leaders Unite To Stop The Practice Of Arresting Our Children
REV. BERNICE REP. ROSS SPANO REP. ED NARAIN POWELL JACKSON
REP. DARRYL ROUSON
Legislators: Ensure chil- dren in Florida get equal ac- cess to civil citation programs.
Local Stakeholders: Stop practice of arresting children for misdemeanor marijuana offense.
Three hundred residents will gather to stop the practice of arresting children for first time misdemeanors on Mon- day, October, 26, 2015, at 7 p. m., in sanctuary of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 1203 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa, 33602.
Only 32% of children eligi- ble for a Civil Citation for first time misdemeanors according to state law received one in Hillsborough County last year. 994 children were arrested in Hillsborough County for first time misdemeanors. Almost 75% of these arrests were for misdemeanor marijuana pos- session. Of the 59 Florida Counties that offer civil cita- tions, Hillsborough County is the only one that does not offer a civil citation to a child for misdemeanor marijuana possession.
Chief Judge Ronald Fi- carrotta and Public Defender Julianne Holt will be asked
about action they have taken on commitments to support, including first time misde- meanor marijuana possession as an offense eligible for a Civil Citation/Arrest Avoidance program in Hillsborough County.
Similarly, across the state last year, 12,000 children were arrested for first time misde- meanors. The 300 residents will therefore ask Hillsbor- ough State Legislators to co- sponsor and support Senate Bill 408 (Companion bill to be filed by House Criminal Jus- tice Subcommittee, Chair Rep. Trujillo). Represen- tative Ross Spano, Repre- sentative Ed Narain, and Representative Darryl Rouson will be present to re- spond to the residents’ re- quests.
During October, over 2,000 grassroots leaders from throughout the state of Florida are gathering to ask their State Legislators to support SB 408, which can provide equal ac- cess to Civil Citations for chil- dren in Florida. Children who receive civil citations have shown to be three times less likely to get in trouble again than children who are arrested for the same offense. It also saves $3,500 in tax payers’
money to give a civil citation, instead of an arrest.
Last year Pinellas County gave civil citations to 82% of children committing first time misdemeanors, yet children in Polk and Sarasota Counties have not had access to civil ci- tations at all.
"It’s not equal justice when some of our children are ar- rested and others receive civil citations for the same offense! By making civil citations the default for all first time misde- meanors in our state, we can decrease the number of chil- dren arrested and help them become productive citizens," states Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson, Pastor of First United Church of Tampa.
The residents will empha- size and report on efforts to tackle the crisis of the lack of decent, safe, and affordable housing for working families and seniors with low incomes in Hillsborough County.
This gathering is being or- ganized by Hillsborough Or- ganization for Progress and Equality, HOPE, a countywide organization composed of 20 diverse congregations from different racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds throughout Hillsborough County.
Public Invited To Grand Opening Of The Reed At Encore
MS. ESSIE MAE THE REED AT ENCORE REED
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Monday, October 26th at 10 a. m., the Tampa Hous- ing Authority, City of Tampa, and Bank of America Commu- nity Development Corporation would like to invite everyone to the grand opening of “The Reed at Encore.”
The Reed, named in honor of pioneer, Ms. Essie Mae Reed, is the second and last senior building at Encore, and the third to be erected on the development site. The building will have 7 floors and 158 units of 1 and 2 bedroom floor plans.
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Ms. Reed came to Tampa as a child. In 1967, she commit- ted her life to be a spokesper- son for the residents of Central Park Village, and during that same year, she created the Tenant’s Association. She served the Association without pay and worked as a house- keeper to make money for her family. She also fought for a Boys and Girls Club in the housing complex, and took children to Hillsborough Com- munity College on weekends for enrichment activities.
During her tenure with the Association, Ms. Reed publi- cized the unsanitary condi- tions and had hot water heaters installed in apart- ments so residents could shower in warm water. She also ensured children would receive lunch at school. Her
biggest accomplishment was overturning the policy exclud- ing single mothers from being allowed to live in public hous- ing.
In 1971, Ms. Reed ran for Tampa City Council, the first African American woman to seek that seat.
Fighting back the tears her daughter, Sheila Reed- Paramore, said the family is in awe of this honor, and so full of joy.
“My mother was paralyzed for 26 years, and I kept her with me. Although it’s been over a year since she passed, her loss is still very painful for me. She tried to hold on as long as she could.”
Two of Ms. Reed’s grand- children, Siberia and Nicholas, said they were in tears about the honor, and they all feel blessed.
“I’m lucky to be able to share this honor with my fam- ily,” said Nicholas.
“She meant so much to this community, and I’m glad I was around so much wisdom. This is a joyful time for all of us.”
The family thanks Tampa Housing Authority CEO, Jerome Ryans, the City of Tampa, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and all of the Central Park Village families.
“We also want to thank the members of her church, Mt. Moriah, and we want to see everyone come out and join us in this celebration,” said Ms. Paramore.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015