Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 7-15-16 Online Edition

Local
Officials Urge Open Dialogue
Beauty Unlimited
STEPHANIE
This week, the Spotlight is on Stephanie as this week’s feature. Stephanie wants to leave no stones unturned on her journey to success and stardom. She is a photographer’s dream, and enjoys working hard to fulfill her goal of becoming an icon in the in- dustry. Congratulations to Stephanie as this week’s Spotlight feature.
Between Police And Community
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
In recent weeks, the coun- try has been shocked by the slayings of citizens and law enforcement. Seven people lost their lives to gun violence in one week.
On July 5th, Alton Ster- ling, 37, was fatally shot by police in Minneapolis, Min- nesota. The following day, on July 6th, Philandro Castile, 32, was shot and killed by po- lice in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
A day after that shooting, Micah Johnson, 25, opened fire on police follow- ing a peaceful demonstration. In the aftermath, five police officers were killed and seven others wounded. Two civil- ians were also wounded. Johnson was killed when police activated an explosive using a robot.
Local officials believe that open communications and working together can prevent these situations from repeat- ing themselves in Tampa.
Last Friday, Mayor Bob
BOB BUCKHORN ... Mayor Of Tampa
Buckhorn and Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward expressed their condolences in the wake of a shooting in Dallas, Texas. They also shared comments about the relationship be- tween the Tampa Police De- partment and the community.
Mayor Buckhorn said, “We acknowledge as a country that we’ve got to work to- gether. The communities of color and the officers who serve them must have an open line of communication.
“But, this is something that we have been doing in Tampa for the last 30 years. Every day, every interaction, we have been trying to build and strengthen the relationship
ERIC WARD ... Chief Of Police
between police and the com- munity. It is by no means per- fect, but we continue to work at it everyday, try to do better, and will continue to do so.”
Chief Ward said, “We are only as strong as our relation- ship with the community and it’s crucial for the safety of our city that we all work together. During roll calls, we are di- recting officers to get out into the neighborhoods and en- gage in dialogue with the com- munity. This is a healthy function of strengthening the police-community relation- ship, and it also helps the de- partment to stay in tune with the diverse population it serves.”
Three More Roundabouts Planned For E. Tampa
3 Roundabouts, like this one on 22nd Street, are being proposed along 34th Street.
During Thursday’s City Council meeting, a partner- ship between the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership and FDOT was revealed that proposes to in- stall three roundabouts along the North 34th Street corridor in East Tampa.
As part of the 34th Street Safety Improvements Proj- ect, improvements will im- pact North 34th Street from Columbus Drive to Hillsbor- ough Avenue.
The major part of the project will involve the instal- lation of three roundabouts on North 34th Street.
The proposed location of the roundabouts will be a 34th Street and 21st Avenue; 34th Street and Lake Avenue; and 34th Street and Osborne Av- enue.
Statistics were quoted, stating there has been 14 fatal crashes on North 34th Street over the past three years, and speeding was a contributing factor.
As part of the project, North 34th Street will be re- duced from 4 lanes to 2 from Lake Avenue to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Part of the project will also re- quire right-of-way acquisi- tions.
Public hearings will be scheduled on the project that is expected to be completed by 2020.
Councilman Frank Reddick requested that his office be notified as to what businesses and residences will be impacted by the project.
“I have some concerns about this project. I now recall discussions about North 34th
Street improvements in 2014, but none of them involved roundabouts.
“My office is still getting complaints about the round- abouts on 22nd Street and 40th Street. There are still mo- torists in this area who don’t know how to negotiate a roundabout.”
Councilwoman Yolie Capin said she’s concerned that residents and business owners weren’t told about this project.
“People need to know what’s coming their way.”
Councilman Reddick
said he will be watching the progress closely, and will be attending the forthcoming public hearings on the project.
It was also reported that the project may involve land swaps along the 34th Street corridor.
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2016