Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 4-24-20

Local
After Proposing The 9 p. m.- 5 a. m. Curfew, Commissioner Les Miller Receives Threats
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The Curfew was re- scinded after the EPG met on Thursday, April 16th.
When the Emergency Policy Group (EPG) met on Monday, April 13, 2020, Hillsborough County Com- missioner Les Miller pro- posed an immediate curfew of 9 p. m. – 5 a. m. The pro- posal passed 5-3.
Immediately, Miller says he began receiving calls and over 600 nasty emails, threats of bodily harm, face- book posts, mostly of people protesting the curfew.
“I had received calls about large gatherings, specifically at 25th Ave. and 15th St., and several yard par- ties that were going on, with- out regard to distancing. The Sheriff said he also had re- ceived calls of the same thing in the county.
“I made the motion that we should institute a curfew to slow things down. I was only trying to protect the peo- ple in Hillsborough County, since people were not adher- ing to the guidelines estab- lished. People just went biserk,” he explained, saying all types of disrespectful things to him.
COMM. LES MILLER
One of the threats was very disturbing to Miller and his family. He was called the ‘N’-word and a Nazi. That’s when he reached out to law enforcement to report what was happening. He and his family had to have police pro- tection. And now says he has to be very careful for he and his family.
Because of so much back lash from the community, the EPG withdrew the curfew when they met on Thursday, April 16th.
“It was a very unfortu- nate situation, when I was only trying to protect people. It was very hurtful and it still is. This is 2020 and people are not any better than they were in the ‘50s and ‘60s. We don’t know the mind-set of these mean-spirited people. It’s disheartening when you’re only trying to help people,” he said.
Lee Davis Center Added To Testing Sites
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Four additional testing sites opened on Wednes- day, April 22nd
Lee Davis Community Re- sourse Center (3402 N. 22nd St.) was one of three centers Hillsborough County opened on Wednesday for COVID-19 testing. The others are Plant City Community Resource Center, 307 N. Michigan Ave., Plant City; and SouthShore Community Re- source Center, 201 14th Ave. SE, Ruskin.
Also added to the list is Busch Gardens’ Adventure Islands,9a.m.–4p.m.each weekday. Call 866-694-5503 during the hours of 7 a. m.-11 p. m. to register. A doctor’s order is not required for test- ing.
County Commissioner Les Miller, Chair of the Hillsborough County Com- mission, and Chair of the Emergency Policy Group (EPG), says he would also like to see remote testing “for those confined and those who are without transportation.
“We’ve only tested 1% of the population in Hillsbor- ough County and in the state.
Lee Davis Community Resource Center
That’s not enough to talk about reopening the state,” he said.
Before the EPG added three other sites, the only one available was at Raymond James Stadium.
As is the case with the current testing, those who are to be tested must be pre- screened and pre-registered. Testing will be administered to individuals with symptoms related to COVID-19.
The three new sites will offer drive-through, but a ve- hicle is not required as long as the resident has pre-regis- terd ands scheduled an ap- pointment. Call the Hillsborough County Call Center at (813) 272-5900, Monday through Friday, 8 a. m.–5p.m.Ifyouneedthe
test, you will be informed of time, date and testing loca- tion. There is NO CHARGE for the residents tested at the Hillsborough County loca- tions.
Only those who need to be tested should be in your vehicle when you go for test- ing. You should have the cor- rect confirmation code, full name, current address and best phone number to be reached.
Also among the instruc- tions given are do not eat for two hours prior to your ap- pointment time.
COVID-19 Coronavirus testing is a collaboration be- tween Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, the University of South Florida; and the 4 major medical groups in the region – BayCare, Tampa General Hospital, Ad- ventHealth and HCA Health- care – West Florida Division.
PAGE 8-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020