Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 9-15-15 Edition

Features
West Tampa CDC Vice Chair Outraged Over
Actions Of CRA Board
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
West Tampa CDC Vice- Chair, Joe Robinson, was his organization’s choice to represent the CDC on the West Tampa CRA’s Commu- nity Advisory Committee (CAC).
Robinson, along with other nominees attended last week’s CRA Board meeting to introduce themselves to the Board as the selection process to officially accept the 8 ex-of- ficio members, and the 3 at- large members was to be finalized.
What Robinson didn’t expect was for the CRA Board to delay accepting the 8 ex-of- ficio members, but move on in filling the 3 at-large seats.
City Council Chair Frank Reddick made the motion to review the 8 ex-of- ficio members in October as he felt none had met the re- quirement of turning over their minutes and proving they’ve been around for at least two years.
“This was a great injustice done to neighborhood groups by the CRA Board without any notice to any of the groups.
“The entire process was corrupted by the selection of
JOE ROBINSON
the 3 at-large members sets and holding out on the ex-of- ficio representatives.”
Robinson said the CRA Board is making up rules as they go and it’s not fair to the groups who met the require- ments outlined to them by West Tampa Development Manager Jeanette Fenton.
“I think this is setting a bad precedent, because this action has never been taken against any other CRA group. This is not the way to a fair process.”
The 8 ex-officio groups that were delayed are the West Tampa CDC (Robin- son), West Tampa Alliance (Dee Jackson), West Tampa Chamber of Com- merce (Ed Turanchik), West Tampa Community Council (Walter Smith, II), North Hyde Park Alliance (Carlos Ramirez), Old
West Tampa Civic Associa- tion (Mike Vanetta), North Hyde Park Civic Association (Benjamin Buckley), and West Riverfront Crime Watch Neighborhood Association (Delphine Jones).
The three at-large seats were filled by Jeffrey Rhodes (Ray Williams Fu- neral Home), Ken Perry (West Tampa resident), and Marvin Knight (West Tampa business owner).
Dee Jackson said the decision didn’t surprise him or the members of the West Tampa Alliance.
“We complied with what Ms. Fenton told us we needed to do, so I’m satisfied from that respect. As far as the CRA Board delaying mak- ing our seats official, I think it’s all politics, and not at all fair.
“This decision by the CRA Board will in no way deter the mission of the West Tampa Alliance in creating an envi- ronment in West Tampa for job creation, entrepreneur- ship, and a relaxed and safe environment for our seniors.”
Ms. Fenton said the Board rescinded their prior action approving the ex-offi- cio organizations that would be part of the West Tampa CRA Community Advisory Committee and directed that any organizations operating within the West Tampa CRA that seek ex-officio seats on the CAC should apply for con- sideration.
“Applications will be available at a later date and more information will be pro- vided once the organization recruitment and application process is developed.
“For those who applied and were not appointed, we hope you remain involved and encourage our participa- tion in future advisory com- mittee public meeting and activities.”
West Tampa CRA’s Citizens Advisory Board Selection Process Put On Hold
JEFF RHODES
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
On Thursday, the City of Tampa’s Community Redevel- opment Agency (CRA) met to select three at-large members for their Citizens Advisory Board, and also to approve the 8 ex-officio members.
City Council Chair Frank Reddick, who earlier had ex- pressed concern over the se- lection of the 8 groups, again questioned the process, and asked that the approval of the ex-officio members be delayed until October 8th.
“I feel information re- quested from the 8 ex-officio groups has not been submit- ted, and the information that has been submitted isn’t accu- rate.
“Jeanette Fenton (Drew Park and West Tampa Devel- opment Manager) was specific in what she asked each group to submit, in regards to their minutes covering the past two years, and the meeting they held to select their representa- tive.”
The ex-officio groups, the West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the West Tampa CDC, West Tampa Alliance, West Tampa Community Council, North Hyde Park Al- liance, Old West Tampa Civic Association, North Hyde Park Civic Association, and the West Riverfront Crime Watch
MARVIN KNIGHT
KEN PERRY
Neighborhood Association will have to prepare and re- submit the requested docu- mentation to the CRA for review.
The selection of the repre- sentatives for each of the groups has not been ap- proved. Those 8 people are Ed Turanchik, Joe Robin- son, Dee Jackson, Walter Smith, II, Carlos Ramirez, Mike Vanetta, Benjamin Buckley, and Delphine Jones.
The CRA Board did select three people to fill the at-large seats. They are Jeff Rhodes (owner of Ray Williams Funeral Home), Marvin Knight (long time West Tampa resident and owner of a building on Main Street formerly known as The Nite- Liters), and Ken Perry (West Tampa resident and local barber).
Robinson, who is the representative for the West Tampa CDC, said he feels they have fully complied with the requests of Ms. Fenton, and objects to the process being delayed.
Also K. C. Bowick, Founder of the Black Cham- ber of Commerce who at- tended the meeting, said it was his impression that resi- dents and business owners in West Tampa would be the only ones eligible for selec- tion.
“I understand the eligibil- ity criteria, but I’m not com- fortable with people who don’t live in West Tampa or have a business in West Tampa being a part of this group.”
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015