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Controversy Continues Over Mayor’s Citizen Review Board
Council Chair Outraged Over Mayor’s Decision On Citizens Review Board
PASTOR TIMOTHY KEMP
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Last Thursday, Tampa City Council Chambers was packed with citizens who wanted to give their opinion on Mayor Bob Buck- horn’s decision on how the Citizen’s Review Board would be setup.
Several citizens spoke to the Council about how they felt about the Mayor’s handling of the issue.
Pastor Timothy Kemp: “It’s asinine for any- one to pose as a dictator, and that’s what Mayor Buck- horn is doing. With the ex- perience I have, I’d love to serve on the Citizens Review Board.”
Janice Williams: “I came from a law enforce- ment family, and my uncle was one of the first to inte- grate the police department. For every law enforcement officer who sees me as an in- dividual, I say thank you. Un-
JANICE KURT WILLIAMS YOUNG
fortunately, I recently had to file a complaint on an officer. “I support whatever deci- sion the Council reaches. This is a human issue, not an issue of race. This shouldn’t be used as a revenue stream for the city and a lot of people knew about the citations and
said nothing.”
Ricky Chapman:
“Looking at the issue of a Cit- izens Review Board, I believe you can’t have a board being run by the same people being complained about. The peo- ple who don’t have a voice need to be heard, and I sup- port a compromise. I’d like to see the Council bring back an ordinance of compromise.
Kurt Young: “We ar- rived at this discussion through different paths. I ar- rived at it through the death of Mr. Arthur Green, Jr. Our patriarch didn’t have a chance to be recognized as an asset to the community due to the actions of the police. He made a commitment to
JOYCE HAMILTON-HENRY
help people. A lot of people recognized for accommoda- tions aren’t deserving of that honor. We will support this Council in our community. We have a Mayor that doesn’t understand the peo- ple.”
Joyce Hamilton- Henry: “We were reminded that the citizens are the lead- ers. We’ve asked for a long time for a Citizens Review Board that’s transparent. I’m here on behalf of the ACLU to tell the Council to listen to the people. We need a CRB with teeth. We must listen to the citizens and come up with a compromise that values the opinions of the citizens. We want a CRB that’s independ- ent and has the power to ad- dress all complaints.”
James Ransom: “We support the original vote made by this Council. There are more important things we need to be talking about. We want the Council to maintain its power and con- trol, and ask their attorney to find a way to do what you want.”
Mabel Smith: “I’m ap- palled at what the Mayor is dong. Who is Mayor Buck- horn going to put on the Board and trust them to do the right thing? I just want the Council to do the right thing. Some of you will be seeking reelection and we will see your faces again.”
Julius Howard: “I have no beef with the police. I op- pose what the Mayor is trying to do, because all it will be is a kangaroo court setting. When you lodge a complaint with Internal Affairs, they in- terrogate you like you are the problem.”
Lena Young-Green:
“I’ve listened to the com- ments and this is an impor- tant issue. This is about life. We must have independence subpoena power, resources and policy. The discussions today have been about policy. When we tried to address what happened to my hus- band with the Mayor and police chief, they all said the officers behaved properly. We still haven’t had an op- portunity to meet with the Mayor.”
On Thursday, the Tampa City Council met once again to discuss the creation of a Citizens Review Board (CRB).
The request to establish a CRB was made by Council Chair Frank Reddick on the heels of complaints that Black bicyclists were being targeted by Tampa Police and issued cita- tions.
Before Council Chair Red- dick could discuss the creation of a CRB with his colleagues, Mayor Bob Buckhorn inter- vened and said he would create the Board and the makeup would include 9 appointees by him and 2 by the Council.
That suggestion proved to be unacceptable by Council mem- bers who asked their attorney for an opinion on whether Mayor Buckhorn could su- persede their authority to set up a CRB.
After it was determined that the City Attorney, Julie Man- dell, had final legal authority, and that the City’s Charter stated that the Mayor could make the selections and the Council couldn’t, the issue has been under fire.
On Thursday, several citizens came up and spoke, all of them taking shots at Mayor Buck- horn for his actions. Before the Council could vote on at least three motions on the floor, a group attending the session began chanting, forcing the Council members to shut the meeting down, and leave the Chambers.
Council Chair Reddick
said one of the motions was made by Councilwoman Lisa Montileone to draft an ordinance that would give the Mayor 5 appointments, the Council 4 from the single mem- ber districts, and two alternates split between the Mayor and the Council.
A second motion was made by Councilman Charlie Mi- randa for Council Chair Reddick to meet with the Mayor about working out a compromise and then return the information to the Council.
Council Chair Reddick
made a motion in a compromise to expand the Board by 15
members with 8 selections coming from the Mayor and 7 from the Council.
“First, let me make it clear that I have no problem meeting with the Mayor. We want to give him more than one option,” said Council Chair Reddick.
“However, I expect him to turn it down. Councilman Guido Maniscalco has met with the Mayor twice to try to get him to compromise, and both times he was turned down, the last time through a text mes- sage. The Mayor intends to stick with his suggestion of 9 ap- pointees made by him and 2 by the Council.”
After the Council reconvened later that evening, Mayor Buckhorn said he would agree to give Council members more of a voice over who will serve on the CRB.
Mayor Buckhorn said he will allow the Council to pick one additional member of the 11 member CRB and also one al- ternate, giving the council four picks overall. He will amend his original executive order estab- lished the CRB that gave the council only two selections.
Council Chair Reddick
said he and his colleagues are outraged that Mayor Buck- horn made this decision and let the media know about it before any Council members got the news.
“We had decided to allow me as Council Chair to meet with Mayor Buckhorn and work out some kind of compromise. A date of Friday, October 2nd had been set.
“I get up Friday morning, read the paper, and find out the Mayor had released a statement to the media Thursday night of his decision. He already made up his mind he wasn’t going to meet with me and it’s obvious he’s not interested in any kind of compromise.”
Council members decided to continue with their plans on the composition of the CRB, and they will continue their discus- sions during their meeting on Thursday, October 1st.
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