Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 3-18-16 Edition

Features
Groups Push To Get Citizens Review Board InitiativeOn Ballot
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
On Wednesday, a group of concerned citizens held a news conference to discuss placing a referendum on the ballot in November. If successful, voters will determine if there is a need for a Citizen’s Review Board that would have investigative and subpoena powers.
Organizers must obtain 21,000 signatures of voters liv- ing within the city limits for the referendum to be place on the ballot. The deadline for the sig- natures to be submitted to the Hillsborough County Supervi- sor of Elections Office is July.
If voters pass the referen- dum, it would result in an amendment to the City Char- ter.
Two of those involved in gathering the signatures are the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP and Tampa For Justice.
The new proposed panel would be accept and investi- gate complaints about the Tampa Police Department, have subpoena power, and would have the authority to in- terview witnesses under oath.
The board would also make recommendations to the mayor, chief of police, or City Council and receive timely re- sponses.
Dr. Bennie Small, Presi- dent of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP served as a panelist on the Civil Rights Commission in Washington, D. C., on March 17th and 18th. Two of the issues Dr. Small is seeking answers to is the bicy- cle ticketing policy and the seatbelt controversy revealed in a different Tampa Bay Times article.
City officials, the NAACP, Tampa For Justice, and private citizens have been waiting on the report from the U. S. De- partment of Justice. The report was slated for release in De- cember 2015. However, it has not been released.
City Council Chairman Frank Reddick, who at- tended the news conference said, “The problem we are hav- ing is that the Department of Justice promised to release the report in December 2015, and then in January 2016.
“I’m thankful that the Civil Rights Commission reached out to the NAACP so that he can ask about these issues. Hopefully, we will get the re- port as soon as possible.”
Last summer, City Council
Chairman Frank Reddick
suggested the formation of a Citizen’s Review Board. The idea came about after the po- lice shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
At the time, Chairman Reddick said the Department of Justice ordered officials in Ferguson to create a Citizen’s Review Board and set the crite- ria that the board would fol- low.
As the Ferguson investiga- tion was underway, another highly controversial investiga- tion was underway in Tampa. The Tampa Bay Times had released an article about the disproportionate number of African Americans riding bicy- cles who had been ticketed by the Tampa Police officers.
Amid the controversy, Mayor Bob Buckhorn and then Police Chief Jane Cas- tor requested the Department of Justice to investigate the controversial bicycle ticketing practice of the department. At the time, Chairman Red- dick suggested the city create its own board so that citizens would have input.
Utilizing an Executive Order, Mayor Buckhorn created the Citizen’s Review Board and the criteria it would follow. However, many citizens complained that the board was ineffective because it did not have subpoena nor investiga- tive powers. The board can only review cases after they have been investigated and closed.
FRANK REDDICK City Council Chairman
Avid Reader Introduces ‘Books At The Barbershop’ Concept
Hollywood, Manager of Boyz 2 Men Barber- shop at Brandon Westfield Mall is shown with James Colston.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
James Colston is a 6th grade student at Williams I.B. Middle School, where he is an honor student, athlete and member of the orchestra. A graduate of Lomax Magnet Elementary School, James is also avid reader who has a collection of books that continues to grow through the years.
James is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. (Kim) Dwight Colston, who are both pharma- cists.
He knows the value of reading and feels others should be encouraged to read. But, after a while, his collection of books began to accumulate and he faced the task of finding some of them a new home.
His mom, Mrs. Kim Colston said although the books were older, they were in great shape. And then his grandmother, Mrs. Barbara Rouse, a retired instructor from FAMU, shared an idea with James. Mrs. Rouse told him about the barbers in New York who put books out for their clients to read while they wait.
James thought it was an excellent idea and Mrs. Colston reached out to a friend who intro- duced her to Teneca Williams, owner of Boyz 2 Men Barbershop, corner of N. Florida Avenue and E. Waters Avenue.
“She was excited about the idea. So we organ- ized the books and magazines for Pre-K to teens and placed them on a small bookshelf with a log- in sheet,” Mrs. Colston said.
They replace the 20 books with 20 new ones every week. The last time Mrs. Colston visited
James Colston stands beside the book display inside the Boyz 2 Men Barbershop at the corner of N. Florida Avenue and E. Waters Avenue.
the shop, the log-in sheet was a full page and a half.
“We have given books away, but this is the first time we have seen the usage.
“The last time we were in the shop, I saw fa- thers reading to their sons. It was very powerful and it makes it worth it to know the parents are reading with their sons,” she said.
The next stop was the Boyz 2 Men Barbershop at Brandon Westfield Mall. Once again, Ed Williams, Jr., was excited about the idea and welcomed the concept into the shop as well. Williams also plans to expand the idea to include other shops.
The incentive to get the young men reading as they wait is simple. If a child reads for 20 or 30 minutes, he will receive a special treat from the barber. If he completes a book, then he will re- ceive a special part in his hair.
James, who will celebrate his 12th birthday on April 7th, said he enjoys reading, music and play- ing outside. When asked about his future goals, James said, “I like school and I may become a pharmacist or a physical trainer.”
When asked about the types of books he likes to read, he responded, “I like reading books about adventures, Greek mythology and sports.”
Mrs. Colston said she found Tampa barbers are in favor of the young men reading while they wait and will place books in other shops.
His mother said James was recently accepted into the Junior National Honor Society. “I believe that everything good that happens to him comes back to his reading,” she said.
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016