Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 3-29-16 Edition

Features
City Council Reviews Availability Of Subsidized, Affordable Housing
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
With the exception of En- core, there has been no new af- fordable or subsidized housing construction in the City of Tampa.
With the impending dis- placement of thousands of res- idents from North Boulevard Homes, there is concern over where they will go, and the choices they have of where to live.
City of Tampa Housing and Community Development Manager, Vanessa Mc- Cleary, gave her report to Council members Thursday, along with Leroy Moore from the Tampa Housing Au- thority, and the future doesn’t look good for residents of sub- sidized and/or affordable housing.
According to Moore, cur- rently more than 29,000 peo- ple are living in public housing, and there is a waiting list for another 10,000. With public housing complexes being razed, there’s concern over where these people will go.
“Some residents living in public housing are not taking advantage of programs that will get them jobs, or give them an opportunity to step up from public housing,” said Moore.
“We currently have a wait- ing list for Encore.”
According to Ms. Mc- Cleary, available housing for low or no income is almost non-existent. Also, with mini- mum wage being so low, many families can’t move into af- fordable housing.
Councilwoman Yolie Capin said she’s noticed a lot of luxury apartments and con- dominiums being constructed in the downtown area, but she’s yet to see the people who will be occupying them.
“It seems to me the interest would be on attracting new businesses to Tampa and their workforce could live in those places, if they are earning those kind of wages.
“It’s easier to believe that the majority of employees can’t afford to live in these places, but no one is building affordable or subsidized hous- ing. So, where are these people
supposed to live, and what’s going to happen with the peo- ple already here?”
Councilwoman Lisa Montileone said for years, the natural migration for peo- ple seeking subsidized or af- fordable housing has been to the north or northeast.
“There is affordable and subsidized housing in East Tampa, Robles Park and some areas north of there, but you have to go north of Fowler and Fletcher for most subsidized and affordable housing.
“With everyone being sent to North Tampa, it’s created a problem for law enforcement and residents who have been living in that area for decades.”
Ms. McCleary said an- other problem is some people don’t want to leave familiar surroundings, so it’s difficult to get them to move into areas that offer them no support.
“People feel more comfort- able living near the places that are convenient for them to get to. Also, available public trans- portation, and the placement of their children in school is an issue.”
Tampa Man Gets Award From Teamsters National Black Caucus
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Retired educator and com- munity activist, Marvin L. Martin, Sr., was among those honored by the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Teamsters National Black Cau- cus (TNBC) as Flame Award recipients. Martin received the Community Leadership Award.
The event was the 14th-Year Celebration Educational Ban- quet which was held at the Hilton Airport Westshore on Saturday, March 19, 2016. The banquet theme was “Strength in Leadership Focusing on Today’s Youth.” Ineda Ed- wards is President of the Florida Gulf Coast TNBC.
Martin, who was nomi- nated for the award by his brother-in-law, volunteers a lot of time and gives support to the Teamsters organization in Bradenton, home of Tropi- cana, the largest orange juice processing company in the country.
“I enjoy helping people,” Martin said when asked to comment on receiving the award. “When you do things for people who appreciate it, that makes you feel good,” he said.
Martin graduated from FAMU in 1968 with a degree in Political Science and History. After a stint in the military, he returned to FAMU and earned a Master’s degree in Education in 1971.
After FAMU, he matricu- lated to Florida State Univer- sity, where he earned a special
MARVIN L. MARTIN, SR.
degree in Social Studies Edu- cation.
It is here that he met his fu- ture wife, Janett. This union produced three sons – Mar- vin, II, and twins, Morris and Maurice. After 30 years of marriage, Janett suc- cumbed to cancer in 2002. Eight years later, his son, Maurice had his homegoing. Marvin II and Morris are educators in Hillsborough County.
A retired History teacher, Martin spent 33 years at Safety Harbor Middle School in Pinellas County. He coached track and volleyball.
As Martin is active in his hometown of Bradenton, he is just as active in the Tampa Bay area. He’s active in politics as a member of the Democratic Black Caucus of Tampa, life member of the FAMU Na- tional Alumni Association, FAMU National Rattler ‘F’ Club, and a member of the FAMU Rattler Boosters.
He is also a longtime active member of St. James House of Prayer Episcopal Church.
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