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Drug War Hypocrisy
hen Attorney Gen-
eral Jeff Sessions
cranks up his version of the "war on drugs," that he's been adamant about resur- recting, I wonder what it will look like? I vividly remem- ber the visual of the old one.
During the presidencies of Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush you couldn't turn on a television without seeing some kind of “Say No To Drugs” ad Campaign while images of Black crack addicts and dealers were seared into the public consciousness through movies, documen- taries and news specials.
Now that the drug of choice for most Americans comes in the form of an opi- ate, administered through a pill or needle and is ravaging trailer parks, along with sub- urban enclaves, with the same intensity that hard, white cocaine once brought upon inner cities, I'm curious to know what the strategy is going to be to combat this new problem?
It already seems as though they're using a differ- ent playbook. Instead of the
heavy-handed techniques that were once a staple of law enforcement in communities of color, when it comes to the opioid crisis, it appears that the situation is being han- dled with a little more deli- cacy.
Not only have I not seen a multitude of news feeds showing SWAT teams kick- ing in the doors of suspected pill distributors, I haven't heard a single state or federal legislator bring up increasing penalties for those who profit from illegal pill dispensaries. Two things that I'm sure wouldn't be the case if the majority of the people cash- ing in on the epidemic were of a more ethnic persuasion.
Instead, when it comes to current rampant drug use, the conversations are all cen- tered around treatment, re- habilitation and relaxed drug laws. A far cry from the days when “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” was presented as the only solution.
I mean, where was this compassion for the dope fiends of the 80s and 90s whose lips were hopelessly attached to crack pipes? I guess, now that little
Johnny and Rebecca are facing the same harsh mini- mum mandatory sentencing that ruined so many Black and brown lives, the “pow- ers-that-be” have miracu- lously discovered that there could be a better way.
This is what makes At- torney General Sessions’ racist ulterior motives be- hind reinstating a failed drug war so obvious. His insis- tence on directing federal prosecutors to continue to seek maximum punishment for urban (read Black/His- panic) drug offenders comes off even more racially biased considering the fact that, as it stands now, his white, doc- tor neighbor is probably flooding the streets with more narcotics with a stroke of his pen than ten 18-wheel- ers from Mexico ever could.
The disturbing part is this is something Session surely, already knows. But I imagine, after so many decades of donning a white hood, when it comes to en- forcing the law and throwing people in prison, his eyes re- main permanently focused in the direction in which he's most familiar.
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Joyner And Suarez Defend Democracy
dmitted former Florida Senate Minority Leader
Arthenia Joyner, “I was blown away by the cre- ation of (the Trump administration’s so-called Advi- sory Commission on Election Integrity) and the audacity of the president to think that he should have a national database of every registered voter with per- sonal information, which could lead to fraudulent ac- tivities.”
Because it, too, blew us away, we congratulate Sen- ator Joyner for hitting the nail right on the head. But Joyner wasn’t the only one with a hammer. Tampa City Councilman Mike Suarez joined Arthenia and the ACLU to file suit against President Donald Trump and company regarding what seems daily a bald-faced at- tempt to bully American voters under the guise of sus- picion that outside elements have infiltrated our Democracy’s voting pool.
Hooting down a so-called peek into voter informa- tion which would divulge voters’ full names, dates of birth, party registration, the last four digits of Social Security numbers and voting history, Suarez argued, “Somebody had to step to the plate and take the stand that this is bad for all citizens of Florida.”
No, Councilman Suarez. This is bad for all citizens of the United States.
Yet, many voices have come out to decry what reads like a recipe from a former KGB cookbook, How to Fry the Lumpen Proletariat. An additional voice, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner, said bluntly, “Florida will absolutely not provide any information that is not already available to the public.”
He is joined by secretaries of state throughout our Union who have shed political party affiliations to cry foul against what has become a python’s chokehold on a nation that once was certain it was a democracy.
So, we congratulate Joyner and Suarez for not being afraid to stick their fingers in a leaking dam.
CDC Of Tampa, Inc. Partnering With Sanwa Farmers Market For Rededication
DC of Tampa, Inc. is
hosting a rededication ceremony for Sanwa Farmer’s Market. The event will be held Friday, July 21, 2017 at 9 a. m., at the Sanwa Farmer’s Market, 2621 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa. Congress- woman Kathy Castor will be the special guest.
CDC of Tampa, Inc. is part- nering with Sanwa Farmers Market to improve access to healthy foods and create job opportunities for low income residents.
Through an award from the Office of Community Serv- ices, as part of a Healthy Foods Initiative, CDC of Tampa, Inc. received a grant award in the amount of $759,000. $400,000 of the award will be provided to Sanwa Farmers Market as a loan to improve efficiency, in-
ERNEST CONEY, JR. ...President/CEO, CDC of Tampa, Inc.
crease access to healthy foods and create 12 new jobs in East Tampa. The partnership has already created 6 jobs for low- income residents, as well as additional management level positions.
“We are excited about the opportunity to increase the visibility and success of Sanwa’s Farmers Market in East Tampa. The market has become a destination site, drawing shoppers from across
the Tampa Bay Area,” said Ernest Coney, Jr., Presi- dent/CEO, CDC of Tampa, Inc.
Sanwa Farmer’s Market has experienced increased growth over the past several years. Sanwa has been a staple in the East Tampa Community for 15 years providing fresh and unique produce, meats, refrigerated and frozen goods, and grocery items.
“The success and support of the store has created an op- portunity to invest in the building and operations. This will allow us to continue to be an asset, as well as, enhance the quality of the customer’s shopping experience.” stated Wes Pinkerton, President, Sanwa Farmer’s Market.
For more information on the CDC of Tampa Inc. please visit www.cdcoftampa.org.
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