Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 8-30-16 Online Edition

Local
West Tampa Business Owner Concerned Area Losing Its History
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Being born and raised in West Tampa, Yolanda Allen has personal memories, and the ones passed on from her mother, about the history of the area.
“I know next to Central Av- enue back in the day, Main Street had the most Black- owned businesses along one stretch of road.
“The Black businesses that once adorned Central Avenue disappeared, and with the ex- ception of a few, none of them ever reopened at a new loca- tion. With them went all the history of Central Avenue, and that opened the door for others to come in who didn’t respect the history.”
Ms. Allen is afraid the same thing is happening in West Tampa. She’s seen a cou- ple of businesses open along Main Street that in no way re-
YOLANDA ALLEN
flect the history of the area. “These new businesses have gone out of their way to bury the history of this community. They want to replace it with the
history they will leave behind. “My restaurant, Lanna’s En- trees, is located in a building that once housed the late Moses White business. Main Street was even renamed in his honor, yet the new business owners don’t recognize that
and don’t care.”
Ms. Allen has suggested all
of the existing Black business owners form some kind of union to collectively can ad- dress the invasion along Main Street and the surrounding area, and pool their resources to stop it.
“I’m a new business owner, and I’m proud to be a part of this area’s history. I don’t want to see that history kicked aside for the interests of a group of people who just got here. I think that’s disrespectful to the people who established the his- tory in this community.
“As a united group, I think we can protect each other’s in- terests and future. Otherwise, the people who have laid siege to West Tampa will continue to drive us apart.”
To contact Ms. Allen, you can stop by her restaurant on Main Street, one block east of Howard Avenue, or call (813) 895-8289.
Domestic Violence Victim Creates Foundation
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Lynn Williams thought she had found her perfect soul mate. However, she later found out she never really took the time to know more about the man she had pledged to spend the rest of her life with.
“Everything was going great with us in the beginning. We started a family, and the future began to look really bright.
“Somewhere and at some- time during our marriage, my husband changed. He became verbally, mentally, and physi- cally abusive, so I divorced him and tried to move on with my life.”
What Ms. Williams dis- covered was because of her husband’s career as a law en- forcement officer and his past career as a military policeman, he was threatening her and taking advantage of her efforts to get custody of their children.
“He used his career position to take advantage of our situa- tion, and circumvent the process within the court sys- tem.
“He has manipulated every- one into believing he should re- tain custody of our children, and he hasn’t been charged with the abuse.”
Instead of sitting around feeling sorry for herself and getting depressed, Ms. Williams decided to create
LYNN WILLIAMS
the “Domestic Violence Foun- dation.”
“I’m creating a place for women who have suffered as I have, and have not gotten a fair deal in the court system.
“I am putting together a great legal team with creden- tials in family law, and they can’t be manipulated or intim- idated by people like my ex- husband.”
Ms. Williams said she knows there are women out there who either have endured, or are still enduring the shame, pain, anger, and fear of being a victim of domestic violence.
Ms. Williams will launch her new foundation in Atlanta, Georgia, with connections to Tampa through associations she has with some residents and business owners.
Anyone interested in find- ing out more about this foun- dation, you can reach Ms. Williams at (678) 733-4190.
Study To Offer Solutions For Tampa’s Public Transit Problems
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
The majority of patrons who depend on public transporta- tion all have the same com- plaints: lack of coverage areas, time between buses, and the need for late night service.
Tampa’s public transporta- tion source, HART, spear- headed an effort called Go Hillsborough! to convince County Commissioners to allow a referendum be put on a ballot requesting a half-cent tax proposal that would fund the county’s public transporta- tion problems for decades to come. However, Commission- ers decided to not allow voters to decide on the tax, and voted to not have it put on a ballot.
Commissioner Les Miller, who is also Chair of the Metropolitan Planning Or- ganization Board (MPO), has been most adamant about passing the half-cent tax re- quest.
In October, a Feasibility Contract will be offered to HART and other planning or- ganizations from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
FDOT spokesperson, Kris Carson, said the study will take between 18 and 24 months to complete.
“The study will be looking at different transit options, like
COMMISSIONER LES MILLER
light rail and others. Whatever comes out of the study will be funded mostly locally and with state funds.”
Carson said there are sev- eral options that will be stud- ied.
Comm. Miller said the study has not been presented to the MPO yet, and he doesn’t have all the information on the study at this time.
“I know they (HART) will be looking at different kinds of transportation. All of that will be state funded. Locally, we’ll be looking at TIF (Tax Incre- ment Finance) dollars to help us fund transportation up- grades. HART is looking at what transportation options they have.
“Hillsborough County will be growing fast in the next 15 years at a rate of more than
35,000 new people every year. Those numbers have to be ac- counted for. The study they are doing must reflect on the needs of the people moving here, as well as the ones who are al- ready here.
“My colleagues on the County Commission want to take funds from one source to help fund transportation, but that will negatively impact other services, and that would put our bonding activities in jeopardy.”
Comm. Miller said every- one needs to stop playing poli- tics with an issue this important.
“My colleagues, Sandra Murman and Stacy White, are pushing for TIF dollars to fund transportation, but I don’t think that should be an option. That’s taking money from service we need without any discussion on how to re- place the funds.
“They have been led to be- lieve the funds will be there later, but there’s no guarantee of that. We’re in a deep mess right now.”
HART spokesperson, San- dra Morrison, said they will get the contract in October, and will immediately start the process of coming up with the priorities of public transporta- tion for Hillsborough County, and developing funding sources.
Close Out ‘Black Business Month’ By Donating, Spending, Or Paying $31 Forward
National Black Business Month is celebrated in Au- gust. The crusade for Black businesses was launched in 2004 by Frederick E. Jor- dan and John William Templeton in California. Currently, there are over 20 states, including Florida, that have established programs recognizing Black Business Month.
On Wednesday, August 31, 2016, starting at 11:31 a. m. until 3:31 p. m., residents are encouraged to donate $31 to a non-profit, spend $31 on merchandise or give $31 by
paying it forward with a Black business in East Tampa.
DSI Black Pages and 5508 Co-Working and Collabora- tion Exchange invite the com- munity to celebrate the 12th anniversary of Black Business Month during the showcase of Black Businesses at the James A. Hammond Business Complex, 5508 N. 40th St., Tampa, 33610 The theme is: “The Power of 31 Economic Stimulus Tour.”
For additional informa- tion, email showcasing@dsi- blackpages.com, or call (813) 282-3883.
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