Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 10-18-16 Online Edition

Features
Readers Discuss Controversial Issues Of Election
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
The climate surrounding the 2016 General Election is one never experienced before by the American people. The controversy began with the unusually high number of Republican candidates, to the final moment before the selection and endorsement by the respective parties.
Never has a Presidential Election been so enshrined in so many controversial is- sues. There are so many, in fact, that the Sentinel asked some readers to share their opinions about the issues surrounding the election.
James Tokley said, “American democracy is messy, at its best, it is unpre- dictable. But, in its unpre- dictability, one thing is clear colonial democracy does not work if the people it repre- sents do not vote.
“So if America is to pre- vail, only the ballot can save us. In this upcoming election anyone who could have voted, but refuses to vote, is not a lot of their country.”
Ms. Ann Porter said, “The 2016 American Presi- dential Election is a hurtful and heartbreaking experi- ence for our citizens and our country. The targeting of mi- norities --- Blacks, Hispan- ics, the disabled, Muslim and women --- has been the worst election of those who will represent us in this great democracy in the history of our country. Ugly, ugly, ugly is the name calling of women, sexism, and hatred of immigrants. Our young people studying history, civics, and political science could pay the negative cost of our future.
“However, we must con- tinue to vote, vote, vote. We must go to the polls and en- courage as many as we can to vote. It is important that we work to make our system work. And, we must never forget to pray, pray, pray for God to deliver us from this worst ever election experi- ence.”
Mrs. Bonnye Crews said, “The fact that Donald Trump has for decades,
evaded federal taxation is a big deal for me. Paying taxes is critical to the overall suc- cess of our military, schools, infrastructure, government, etc. Having traveled to places where there are no tax as- sessments, I've seen vast areas of the population living in dilapidated homes with no building codes, no running water or electricity, public schools akin to condemned properties, and streets so broken they're barely drive- able. Because of this, for the well-being of my country, I don't mind paying my fair share of taxes.
“However, when I, a re- tired educator on a fixed in-
come, struggle to pay thou- sands in taxes each year, I'm outraged that this "smart" billionaire pays NONE. Fur- thermore, as a non-taxpay- ing potential president, why should he have the right to decide how the revenues got- ten from actual taxpayers should be spent? For years Trump has made millions upon millions and has appar- ently stiffed our country by not paying taxes for the con- veniences he enjoys everyday at our expense--protection of military/law enforce- ment/secret service, new and maintained roads/high- ways/bridges, basic infra- structure, airport and air traffic services, etc. And don't get me wrong--I'm all for taking whatever legal de- ductions you can, but in my opinion, there's got to be some lying going on some- where if you're making a gazillion dollars and paying NO taxes whatsoever. Just saying...”
Howard Harris said, “Who could have predicted
that in 2016, the Republicans would nominate a presiden- tial candidate who lost a bil- lion dollars on failed casinos deals; who hasn't paid fed- eral taxes in at least a decade; who has fact checked public statements that are 75% untrue; who believes that women have an attrac- tiveness expiration date of 35 years; who allows another man to say to the nominee's face that the nominee's daughter is a "very volup- tuous piece of a__."; who ad- mits via an open mike that he was a sexual predator; and who's language is so x rated that children are sent out of the room when he speaks?”
East Tampa Homeowner Feels Property Dispute Could Have Been Resolved
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
When Mr. and Mrs. Mar- tinez (Cynthia) Wright bought his home on 34th Street and MLK, Jr. Boulevard more than a decade ago, he was happy that he would be able to access his property from 34th Street instead of along busy MLK, Jr. Boulevard.
What Mr. Wright didn’t count on was entering into a debate with the City of Tampa, and the property owner north of his property who felt he was being infringed on.
“There’s a small unused alley behind my house I was using to gain access to my property.”
Mr. Wright contacted Councilman Frank Red- dick, as well as law enforce- ment officials, in an effort to resolve the issue, but nothing happened.
“I’ve spent a lot of money on this issue over the years, because I’ve had to hire attor- neys.
“I’ve been told one thing by Code Enforcement, and aother by law enforcement. Now, I’m being told I can take down the fence, but on the advice of my lawyer, I’m going to let it stay.”
Mr. Wright said he was re- cently told the issue over the property was a civil matter and it would have to be resolved in
that arena.
“I’m not filing any lawsuits,
or making any outrageous de- mands. I just feel I haven’t been treated fairly in this process. I do want my com- plaint filed in federal court to see what can be done.”
Mr. Wright said he doesn’t understand why he’s being de- nied access to the north end of his property, and he only uses that entrance to stay out of busy traffic.
“What I’m most upset about is I had no knowledge of what the city had done to former State Senator, Mr. James Hargrett’s property directly behind my lot. I should have been told an agreement had been reached and I would no longer have access to my prop- erty from 34th Street.”
The agreement Mr. Wright is talking about is Mr. Hargrett discovered the city had encroached onto 10 feet of his property and adopted it as part of the 34th Street roadway. When the issue was brought to the atten- tion of the city, the issue was resolved by Mr. Hargrett getting 5 feet of the property back as well as additional city- owned property just south of his building. That area runs di- rectly into the area Mr.
Wright says is his.
“I was hoping that I’d be
able to actually sit down and
get this thing settled once and for all, but it hasn’t worked out that way. I’ve even tried to compromise with the property owner, but to no avail.”
Mr. Hargrett said he has no dispute with Mr. Wright, and he’s only acting on the agreement reached with city officials and himself as pay- ment for the right-of-way they used for the roadway that took away part of his property.
“This is not an issue. This was not a decision I made, nor was it something I asked for. I never asked that I be given part of Mr. Wright’s prop- erty.
“There’s a huge oak tree sit- ting in the alleyway between my property and Mr. Wright’s property. After the alley was closed, and the city had granted me the property, I put up a fence, and apparently Mr. Wright doesn’t think it belongs there. He thinks my fence is running across his property, but that’s not what the city says.”
Mr. Wright said he appre- ciates the help he’s gotten from Councilman Reddick and others, and that there are some things you just can’t walk away from.
“I’ve always felt this was something that could have been resolved with a mutual understanding, but it just did- n’t work out that way.”
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016