The Early Learning Coalition (ELC), St. Petersburg Police Department, YMCA and Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) work together to bring Officer Friendly’s Book Club to preschoolers at the Speer YMCA Preschool Academy in Midtown.
On Monday, October 19, Officer Josh Hall, Speer’s own Officer Friendly, read Say Hello to Zorro! by Carter Goodrich to the four-year-old classes at Speer as a part of the JWBs Read Across the Globe event, an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most children read to by adults in one day.
Learn more about Officer Friendly’s Book Club and the Read Across the Globe event by following this link to the full article posted on The Weekly Challenger.
Wanting to change the community he lives in, Phil Garrett decided to make another run at City Council.
He is running against Steve Kornell to represent District 5. The city election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
This district covers the majority of the Midtown community, where Garrett has been a resident for the last 20 years. Though he ran once before, he’s hoping this time for different results. He is running his campaign on limited donations. So, he has attempted to reach the neighborhoods and people of Midtown the old fashioned way – going door to door.
His style of campaigning reflect his beliefs and wants for Midtown. While politicians spend thousands of dollars on campaigns and consultants, he believes the focus should be to reach out to the community personally. He has spent about $1,400 in the past weeks, mostly on signs. He has dedicated a huge portion of his time in the community attempting to strike a fire into the hearts of the families of Midtown.
“The black community is on a treadmill, it’s about time we got off,” said Garrett regarding recurring problems and empty promises.
His vision for the community and what his plans are if he is elected are to bring in jobs and improve education.
Garrett wants to use money from the Community Redevelopment act to lure businesses into vacant shopping centers. Those businesses will bring jobs and economic development opportunities. He believes that this can be done through partnerships with the neighborhood associations and giving incentives to new businesses.
Another way he plans to improve the economy in Midtown is through the use of Tropicana Field. He agrees with Mayor Rick Kriseman and the proposition to allow the Tampa Bay Rays to look for a new site for a better stadium. He believes by allowing this, the baseball team will be able to remain local while also opening up 84 acres of land the field currently resides on for redevelopment.
Garrett’s plan to improve education aims to help students at a young age. He believes that education should start as early as possible. He wants to start a tutoring program for elementary and middle school students. The program would take place at the neighborhood recreational centers and would involve local college students, who would get college credit, working as tutors. The focus of this program would help struggling students stay focused and supported at the after school programs they are already enrolled in instead of unwisely using that time.
Garrett is a self-described “out of the box thinker” and believes that even though he is not a “perfect man” he is the perfect man for this job. As a father of three, he strives to give back to the community and wants to show his children that anyone can make a difference as long as they have passion and drive.
He hopes his campaign helps change the way current leadership is handling Midtown. Feeling neglected and overlooked while the rest of downtown builds up around the community, Garrett believes Kornell has not placed the people of Midtown as a priority.
“It is what you do that shows what you care about,” said Garrett.
When asked how he would feel if he lost the race, he responded that he would be devastated but would refuse to give up and would probably run again next time. His reaction will only be seen by his family, however, as he plans to spend that night at his house surrounded by the support of his family instead of spending money on what he feels to be an unnecessary party.
“How can I celebrate a win, when it is just the first step into making a better Midtown,” said Garrett. ” I’ll celebrate when changes are made for the better.”
Each city council candidate was asked the same questions by NNB reporters. Here are their unedited responses.
Why are you running for City Council?
“I have dedicated my entire career to caring about people. I was a firefighter and EMT for 23 years, dedicated to public safety and saving lives. I’m now District Vice President of the Florida Professional Firefighters Union, working to create secure futures for people and their families. I’m also a former President of the Childs Park Neighborhood Association. It is that strong commitment to our community that has led me to seek public office.”
What is your plan for Midtown?
“The city recently created the Southside CRA, designed to bring jobs, affordable housing and small businesses to long-troubled neighborhoods. I strongly support the Southside CRA. It is my hope that the 85-acre Tropicana Field site can be added to the Southside TIF district once the Rays baseball issue is resolved. at or below the
Federal Poverty Level. Poverty’s symptoms are no secret either: Increased crime rates, high unemployment, insufficient public transportation options, insufficient affordable housing, limited access to healthy food, limited access to health care, and lower educational outcomes. Poverty affects the economic prosperity of our entire community, costing everyone living in St. Petersburg and throughout Pinellas County an astounding $2.5 billion annually. While spending so much combating the adverse outcomes of poverty, we have failed to spend enough to actually reduce poverty! One could say we’ve spent too much on a pound of cure, and nowhere near enough on an ounce of prevention. These conditions will continue to fuel the cycle of povertyuntil our City Council revisits its stance, lifts its restrictive funding policies, and resets its priorities. District 7 needs a City Council member who will respectfully call on colleagues to consider a different perspective and a meaningful commitment to break the cycle of poverty that burdens our entire city.”
What do you feel are issues impacting Midtown?
“I have chosen to run for the District 7 City Council seat because it is the best opportunity to bring positive change for our community. I live in a part of town with a lot of challenges – crime, un- and under-employment and both a lack of opportunities and role models for young people. Addressing these problems will take a strong work ethic, leadership and an ability to compromise. These are the traits that my brothers and sisters in uniform saw when they chose me to lead them, and they are the same traits that I think have prepared me to be the right person at this time in this particular office.
The three most pressing concerns in my district are crime, a lack of employment opportunities for both juveniles and adults and a lack of affordable housing units. In particular, the employment opportunities for juveniles and young adults feed many of the problems in my district.”
ST. PETERSBURG- Residents get the chance to choose whether the City Council’s electronic voting system is an adequate way to measure votes on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3.
The referendum reads:
“Shall the City Charter be amended to generally clarify the voting process of City Council the main clarification being that a roll call vote can be accomplished by an electronic system that is used to tally, display and record City Council votes, without the City Clerk needing to orally recite what is visually displayed?”
While the referendum would mean council members either have to vote electronically as they have been doing, or verbally announce their votes, many voters in St. Petersburg seem uninterested with this particular question.
“I don’t care one way or the other, but if electronic voting has been working, then why would you change it?” said Janet Richardson, who lives in Midtown.
BY BRIGITTE TOULON, CLARENCE FORD AND LORIEN MATTIACCI NNB Reporters
ST. PETERSBURG – Teachers, college students and residents of Midtown are concerned about education issues, neighborhood improvements and the Tampa Bay Rays future as the city election approaches Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Melrose Elementary teachers Kelly Milnes and Ashli Doss are looking for more changes to be made in the community.
Milnes is looking for a face lift for the area. When she first attended her job interview she noticed a house with boarded windows and furniture in a yard nearby.
“It looks better now it has been cleaned up, but if the area around it (the school) doesn’t look nice, it kind of brings it down,” Milnes said. “You know, it takes a village to fix an ‘F’ school.”
Doss said she is hoping for a continued partnership with the city council members so they can come into the school and talk with students about their jobs.
“I would ask the candidates what their plan is to get involved with these schools,” said Doss. “Are you planning to come and have your staff volunteer with these kids, not just when there is a special event, but to be actively involved with these kids as well as in their communities?”
Other members of the Midtown community are more apathetic about the election.
Frank Santiago, a student at St. Petersburg College (SPC) in Midtown, is more concerned with whether or not the results of the election would affect him personally.
“If the issue of boundaries the city council is discussing does not affect tuition, it won’t concern me just because I live in Midtown,” said Santiago. “But if the city council’s decisions about boundary changes affects tuition, then it may concern me.”
Still, the issue of the Tampa Bay Rays future is also a concern. The team’s contract to play at Tropicana Field ends in 2027 and the team has expressed interest in a new stadium.
Paul Wilborn, executive director of the Palladium Theater at SPC, is interested in the Rays future, the redevelopment of Midtown near 22nd Street South and investment in the arts.
“Selfishly, I think the city needs to support the arts in a better way, because I think the arts are driving St. Pete,” said Wilborn.
ST. PETERSBURG – It’s called the Avenue of Faith. It’s where the 20th Street Church of Christ stands. There are other nearby places of worship here in the heart of 9th Avenue South that serve as a symbol of the resilience in Midtown, a once vibrant African-American neighborhood during the era of segregation.
“I don’t remember those times because I’m not that old, but that’s the only church I know, the only (one) I ever been affiliated with. From a baby and I’m 67 years old now,” said Lawrence Dorn, a church member who grew up in Jordan Park. “We have gone through a lot of good changes, every minister we get has an impact on building the church,” he added.
According to the African American Heritage Project, this historical place —with six other major black denominations, Queen Street Church of God in Christ, Greater Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Stewart Memorial CME Church, Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church, Elim Seventh Day Adventist Church and Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist— played a role in the moral and social development of the neighborhood. The churches survived the integration that occurred in the city during the sixties and membership is up.
“At one time, we had 127 members now we have pretty close to a 1,000,” said Dorn about 20th Street Church of Christ membership. “A lot of people have come and a lot of people have gone, but this is a non-denominational church.”
People from Midtown and nearby areas attend Sunday worship at 20th Street Church of Christ in St. Peterburg.
Resilience
This house of worship has been a silent witness to the changes that the area has faced during its 88 years.
Its origins date to 1927 when, according to the church records, two brethren with the surnames of Richardson, and Dye enlisted the evangelistic services of brother Marshall M. Keeble of Nashville, Tenn. A tent meeting was constructed in which pastor Keeble baptized 92 people.
After its founding, Luke Miller became the first minister of the 20th Street Church and, according to church files, “divided his time between congregations in St. Petersburg, Lakeland, and Tampa.” Today, the Robert E. Smith leads the church.
While a newer main sanctuary for the congregation was built in 1989, the original building is still part of the church complex and houses the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg.
According to historians, since its inception 20th Street Church of Christ, located in St. Petersburg (FL), has experienced unprecedented growth. For example, in 1962, there were 149 baptisms.
Salvation
The place of worship does various ministries as evangelism, benevolence, personal work, baptism, education, youth services, prison, Seniors, Singles, Support Group, Outreach, Women of Faith, and Food Pantry. As well it offers the services of Nurses Guild, Bus, Nursery, Technology, Kitchen, Unity and Voices of Praise, and Bible study.
Every Sunday, members and visitors put together a choir of devotees that sing: “On my knees, bowed in prayer/ I take all my trials to God/ and gently lay them there/ He still bears, dries my tears/ only Jesus give me strength/ through all my trials…”
After this song, Dorn makes his own request for help by saying he would like to see Midtown come back to life.
“Everything changed with the interstate highway. Lots of buildings are gone,” said Dorn. “Things aren’t the same, but I hope that it changes someday.”
Church member Lawrence Dorn goes every Sunday and greets nearly every visitor to the 20th Street Church of Christ in St. Petersburg.
BY BRIGITTE TOULON
ST. PETERSBURG – On the evening of September 24th, The League of Women Voters of the St. Petersburg Area in partnership with The Florida Holocaust Museum, The Pinellas County Urban League and Pinellas Technical College (PTC) hosted the event, Voices of Experience: Personal Stories of the Civil Rights Struggle and Insights on the Voting Rights Act at PTC.
The event was held as a way to commemorate the passing of the Voting Rights Act 50 years ago. It began at 6 p.m. with opening comments from the sponsors of the event. The moderator was Rene Flowers, who made sure that all of the questions were addressed by the panelists before questions were turned over to the audience.
The panel was comprised of Harry Harvey, Dr. Joyce Henry, Imam Aquil and Stephanie Owens- Royster. Each individual, aside from Mrs. Owens-Royster, was able to shed some light on the experiences they went through during the time before the Act was passed. Owens-Royster, the youngest of the panelists, instead chose to shed some light on her insights into the Voting Rights Act and the improvements that could be made today in regards to voting.
Technology
“How safe do you think the American people will actually feel knowing that technology has proven not to be as beneficial and safe and as secure as some people feel going in with their own ballot?”, Flowers addresses to the panel.
Owens-Royster said, “We have some amazing technical people in Silicon Valley that if we put it to the test, in the private sector, in an open way, that we would get the kind of end to end security that would be needed to protect the vote, just like when we collect medical information.”
“Florida just passed online voting registration legislation. It was signed by the governor, it will take effect in 2017. So we’re moving in the right direction to use live technology to make it easier to register to vote”, said Henry.
Aquil made a comment regarding voting in general, “if voting was so important in our society, make it a holiday.”
Restoration
Flowers brought up the topic of restoration of voting rights to those who have had theirs taken from them. Currently, Florida is one out of three states that does not automatically restore these rights back to individuals that have been incarcerated.
“Florida disenfranchises nearly two millions individuals, they are unable to vote due to a felony. You should never lose your right to vote, it should be automatic when you’re realized from prison”, said Henry.
Youth Voting
Owens-Royster said, “You shouldn’t only be voting in presidential elections, or midterms or specials. If there was an election for dog catcher, everybody ought to be out there deciding who it is that they want.” She briefly quoted Rev. Al Sharpton, “you can’t turn them out, if you can’t turn them on.”
Harvey stressed the importance of voting by mail and that people who are 16 or 17 should be registering to vote so that when they go off to college, they can vote by mail instead. Henry’s concern is the problem that they, “need to find a way to engage” the youth, so they go out and vote.
The event closed with questions asked by members of the audience. Some members of the audience were left with more questions that could not be answered because the program ran over time.
ST. PETERSBURG – Midtown residents play a key role in upcoming city elections and need to make efforts to vote Nov. 3, according to officials at the NAACP St. Pete Branch.
There’s also a lot of money on the line.
“The African-American voter can no longer depend solely on one’s self-identifiers as the basis for selecting their candidates, particularly when there is a projected $66,801,797 tax increment financing projected to come to the Midtown and Childs Park communities by 2045,” said Maria Scruggs NAACP president.
Tax increment financing is a funding strategy that allows cities and counties to use taxes in a blighted area for redevelopment for a period of time.
Scruggs was elected president of the St. Petersburg chapter in September 2015 after the branch was closed a year ago. Last September state NAACP officials ordered the local branch to suspend all activities because, according to a letter, the group was not in “good standing.” The then-president, the Rev. Manuel Sykes, was told to turn in building keys, property and records. Scruggs, a longtime St. Petersburg resident joined the local branch at age 16. She said she was asked by former branch president, Ray Tampa, to run for the position. Scruggs and the other officers were elected without opposition.
The St. Petersburg NAACP branch hosted a forum for the candidates running for City Council on Oct. 26. There are four candidates running for two seats that represent Midtown.District 5 candidates are Phillip Garrett and Steven L. Kornell. District 7 candidates are Lisa Wheeler-Brown and Winthrop “Will” Newton.
“In 2015 and beyond it is going to be imperative that African-American voters take the opportunity to not only focus on voting and urging others to do the same, but also to become more educated about candidates,” said Scruggs.
It is important that the city have black representation on the dais.
“Trailblazers such as the late Attorney Morris Milton and other civil rights activist thought by having a black face on public governing boards, African Americans would have a voice that would equate to them receiving equal access to public resources,” said Scruggs.
Scruggs said the Midtown community should be aware of the political issues and how local government works. She advises members of Midtown to make it their business to attend a candidate forum held in the black community and one held in a predominantly white community.
Scruggs said voters should visit the city and Supervisor of Election websites for election information – especially candidate’s campaign contributions.
Follow the money, she said. “Candidates have to pay the piper who paid them. ”
