Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 12-23-16 Online Edition

FYI
Attorney General Takes Action Against Alleged Price Gougers
Tuskegee University Reps Bring
SPOTLIGHT
SHAKIRA
Merry Christmas to all, especially this week’s Spotlight feature, Shakira. As the year prepares to end, Shakira said she’s just getting started, and if you didn’t get to see her in 2016, she promises 2017 will be the year she becomes a star. Let’s all wish Shakira Happy Holidays. Congratulations to Shakira as this week’s Spotlight feature.
TALLAHASSEE --- Attorney General Pam Bondi an- nounced three actions filed against lodging businesses in the Tampa Bay area alleging price gouging during the State of Emergency declared for Hur- ricane Matthew.
In the first action filed in Hillsborough County, the Attor- ney General’s Office alleges Mitch & Murray Hotels, Inc., d/b/a Days Inn/MPR LLC, a business located in Tampa and owner Jamil Kassam, en- gaged in pricing practices dur- ing the State of Emergency.
According to the complaint, this Days Inn raised room rates for at least 23 guests, charging some guests $150 more than the average nightly rate.
Additionally, the hotel al- legedly forced guests who re- served rooms and checked in prior to the evacuation days, to leave because they could not af- ford the increased nightly rate.
Attorney General Bondi’s Office also filed a complaint in Pinellas County against Shanti CC Clearwater, LLC, d/b/a Red Roof Inn Clearwater, Shanti CC Holding, Packard Hospitality Management, LLC, and Michael
Goldstein for allegedly charging and excessive prices during the State of Emergency.
According to the complaint, Red Roof, located in Clearwa- ter, raised room rates for at least 27 guests, with some guests being charged $140 more than the average nightly rate.
In the third action, Attorney General Bondi’s Office filed a complaint in Polk County against, SKAN, LLC, a Florida Corporation d/b/a Sleep Inn & Suites, and Nilayam S. Patel, Suresh B. Patel and Kusum S. Patel for allegedly charging excessive prices.
According to the complaint, Sleep Inn & Suites, located in Lakeland, raised room rates for at least 25 guests, charging some guests $200 more than the average nightly rate.
At the time of the alleged price gouging, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk Counties were under a State of Emergency for two storm events, Hermine and Matthew.
All three complaints seek civil penalties, disgorgement, in- junctive relief, restitution and other statutory relief.
Scholarship
Opportunities
To Tampa
Representatives from Tuskegee University will be vis- iting Tampa and holding discus- sions with parents and students on excellent scholarship oppor- tunities for Bay Area high school students. Parents and guardians are encouraged to at- tend.
Presentations are scheduled as follows:
Middleton High School
January 18 -- 1:30-2:30PM 4801 North 22nd St., Tampa
Seminole Heights Li- brary
January 18 -- 6:30-9PM Phone: 813-273-3652 4711 Central Ave, Tampa
Tampa Bay Technical High School
January 19 -- 8:20-9:30 AM 6401 Orient Rd., Tampa
For further information and to ensure seating is available for the January 18th, Seminole Heights Library discussions, please contact TU grad, Wilson Blount at skegee66@gmail.com, or 505- 463-4210.
Talladega College President To Visit Tampa
Dr. Billy C. Hawkins, President of Talladega Col- lege (Alabama) will share news about the college, in- cluding information regard- ing campus programs and projects, as well as student success stories when he vis- its Tampa on Sunday, Janu- ary 8, 2017.
Dr. Hawkins will be at D1 Sports Training, 6918 Gunn Highway (Tampa 33625), 3-4:30 p. m.
Please RSVP to Linda Edmunds, (256) 761- 8832.
DR. BILLY C. HAWKINS President
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The Florida Sentinel Office Will Open At 1 P.M. On Monday, December 26th.
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016