Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 1-26-16 Edition

Features
Rally And March Against I-275 Toll Planned
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Former City Council- woman, Linda Saul-Sena recalls the impact the con- struction of I-4 had on com- munities in the early 1960s, and the impending work done on I-275 years later.
As an elected official, Ms. Saul-Sena said not only was she involved in meetings with the Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO), but actually led the group for a while.
“That’s why when I heard about the proposed toll road project by the Florida De- partment of Transportation (FDOT), I knew I needed to see what was going on.
“This project was planned in 1990 and in 26 years, so many things have changed. I do know that $3 billion won’t change the traffic problem in Tampa.”
Ms. Saul-Sena said in 1990, there was no talk about toll lanes.
“The discussions then were that the roadway would be open to everyone without
LINDA SAUL-SENA
charge, but nothing about the installation of toll lanes down the middle of I-275.
“This proposed project is supposed to be funded through a trust fund where taxpayers would have to cover any overages. The cost per trip on the toll road would be $10-per-motorist. If that’s not bad enough, the residents living in the im- pacted area won’t have access to it because of where the on and off ramps will be.”
Ms. Saul-Sena said the easiest thing would be for the MPO to say they want to re-
move the toll lanes from the plan.
“Either that, or a Title 6 complaint would have to be filed. It would be easier for the MPO to just say no, and that can happen with the voices of the people loudly opposing the project.
“The majority of the Mob- ley Park Apartment Complex will be gone, and that means hundreds of people will be displaced.”
Ms. Saul-Sena said peo- ple need to know about the impact of the project, and on Friday, January 29th, a rally will be held at the Commu- nity Center on Lamar and Palm Avenue at 4 p. m.
“On February 6th, we will be staging a march that will start at a café on Mitchell Street and go through Tampa Heights, ending at the Com- munity Garden to the east of the center.
“We need every resident in Tampa Heights to join us for this rally and march, and also to attend any future meetings on this proposed project.”
Activist Rapper ‘Killer Mike’ Says Help Poor Children In Your Community
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Grammy-winning rapper and social activist ‘Killer Mike’ wants no part of the lifestyle that comes with being famous. Trying to live as a celebrity felt “weird,” he said.
What Atlanta-based ‘Killer Mike’ – whose real name is Michael Render –wants in- stead is for University of South Florida students, Black and white, to go out and help poor and Black youths in the com- munity.
Organize them, tutor them – do something positive to make a difference in the life of those children, he said.
“It is time that you take your butt off campus and find a child that does not look like you, that does not have the same background as you and mentor that child with a pur- pose,” Render said. “You’re not going to fix any problems unless you fix the five miles around you.”
For more than an hour, Render – who is one-half of rap duo Run the Jewels – shared with the audience of several hundred USF students and staff and Tampa Bay resi- dents at Oval Theater his in- sight on politics, mentoring, and civic engagement.
Render’s appearance was part of a host of events that marked the university’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Com- memorative Week that hon- ored the legacy of the slain civil rights leader.
Render – who’s nick- named ‘Killer Mike’ because he “kills the microphone” – said King “was a radical” who was killed “because he talked about uniting poor people.”
Michael “Killer Mike” Ren- der addresses an audience.
So, for those who wish to follow in his footsteps, “don’t say you want to be like Dr. King, unless you really want to be like Dr. King,” Render said.
One way USF students can bring King’s dream of racial unity to fruition is for everyone – Black and white – to come to- gether and stop allowing color or class to separate us “from the greater good,” Render said.
“It’s time that you start speaking to one another,” he said.
Students should treat their dorm rooms like barbershops and have honest conversations about race, Render said.
“Black people, I know it’s maddening to try to teach white people something,” he said. “But it’s worth it.”
Meanwhile, whites should unite with Blacks to dismantle systems that abuse African- Americans and other minori- ties, Render said.
To stand by and do nothing while knowing that “the game is fixed” against minorities is “willful ignorance,” he said.
“White people, we need your help,” he said. “It’s time to help.” Good enough is not good enough, he said.
“We should push for more,” he said. “Get out into the com- munity.”
Woman Dies After Colliding With Semi
A 28-year-old woman was killed early Sunday in a colli- sion with a tractor trailer. The accident took place around 5:30 a.m., 0n State Road 600 East of County Line Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Ms. Idania B. Cazarrubis, of Lakeland, was traveling eastbound on State Road 600. The tractor trailer, driven by 50-year-old Raymond Harris, of Plant City, was traveling westbound on State Road 600.
For undetermined rea- sons, Ms. Cazarrubis’ vehi-
cle crossed the line into the westbound lanes and struck the right side of the tractor trailer. The collision caused the tank on the tractor trailer to rupture and catch fire in both lanes on State Road 600.
Ms. Cazarrubis was transported to Lakeland Re- gional Medical Center, where she died from her injuries.
Harris was hauling dairy products at the time of the ac- cident. The investigation is continuing. However, no charges are pending, officials said.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3