Florida Sentinel Bulletin

   Candidates for Hillsborough State Attorney, Suzy Lopez, Elizabeth Martinez Strauss and Andrew Warren. Public Defender candidates, Lisa McLean and Rocky Brancato.

     The three candidates for the Hillsborough County state attorney position along with the two candidates running for Hillsborough Public Defender met for a debate recently during the Tampa Tiger Bay Club political forum in Ybor City.

    Suspended Hillsborough County state attorney, Democrat Andrew Warren, current appointed state attorney, Republican Suzy Lopez, and Democrat Elizabeth Martinez Strauss faced off with a large crowd on hand.

     Candidates Warren and the governor’s appointee to the job, Suzy Lopez took the gloves off during the debate. It didn’t take long for Lopez to throw the first punch.

    Just a few minutes into the Tampa Tiger Bay Club debate in Ybor City, she said she took an oath to defend the Constitution and alleged that the State Attorney’s office was dysfunctional prior to her taking over.

      Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Warren in 2022 after he pledged not to prosecute new state laws on abortion and transgender health care. Federal courts have since found that DeSantis violated the constitution by removing Warren from office.

     Warren, early on said he would not run again for the office; however, said he changed his mind after a federal appeals court ruled that a federal judge could reinstate him to office. A decision from that judge has not yet been issued.

     Warren introduced himself to cheers from the audience at the Hotel Haya as “still the duly-elected state attorney.”

    “I wasn’t illegally appointed because of my politics and I was reelected with support from Democrats, Independents and Republicans because we had tremendous success,” he said.

     “We’ve had tremendous success working with law enforcement and no controversy until the governor’s political stunt threw out your votes, broke the law and jeopardized our democracy.”

      Warren will face Tampa lawyer Elizabeth Martinez Strauss in the Democratic primary in August. Lopez, a Republican, is unopposed.

    The two candidates for Hillsborough public defender: Lisa McLean and Rocky Brancato are vying to replace the retiring Public Defender, Julianne Holt. Both are Democrats.

 Rome Yard

    The Miami-based Related Urban Development Group and the Tampa Housing Authority broke ground on the Rome Yards, a prime 18-acre piece of city-owned property on Tuesday (May 21).

   The first phase of the project will include a workforce training center as well as the 11-story, 234-unit Gallery at Rome Yards.

       According to the plan, 80% of the units (roughly 180+ apts.),  will be reserved for households at or below 80% of the area median income, and the remaining 20% will be reserved for workforce housing. Rome Yards is a former city maintenance yard south of Columbus Drive between Rome Avenue and the Hillsborough River.

    At completion, Rome Yards will include 954 units of mixed-income housing and 33,605 square feet of commercial space. Gallery at Rome Yards is a $94 million project; the total development costs of Rome Yards is around $300 million.

   Gallery at Rome Yards will also include live-work units for artists and entrepreneurs.

Photo in 5-24

     Rendering of Rome Yards.

PAUL S. SNOW

     Congratulations to Paul S. Snow, who recently earned his Bachelor’s degree. Paul earned his BS degree in Religion from Liberty University School of Divinity.

     Paul is the son of Paula Sheehy Snow and David Snow.

PRESIDENT LARRY ROBINSON, Ph.D.

KRISTIN HARPER

…Chairman, FAMU Board of Trustees

      Just days after the announcement of FAMU receiving the largest donation in school history, FAMU President Larry Robinson announced Thursday (May 9) that the university would “pause” a historic $237 million donation.

      “With regards to the gift and the processing of it … We’ve already decided that it is in our best interest to put that on pause,” Robinson said, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

     We reported earlier that Florida A&M University (FAMU) received a staggering $237.75 million contribution from the Issac Batterson 7th Family Trust. Gregory Gerami, CEO of Batterson Farms Corp, presented the generous donation to FAMU during Saturday’s (May 4^th) commencement ceremony at the Al Lawson Center.

      This record-breaking donation is earmarked to bolster student success programs and enhance athletics at the esteemed institution.

      However, following an emergency FAMU Foundation Board meeting on Thursday, Robinson stated that the university would pause any further action until it could assess the value of the stock options contributed by Gerami, a trustee of the Isaac Batterson Family 7th Trust.

     FAMU Board of Trustees Chair, Kristin Harper, issued a statement on Friday.

     “…Serious concerns have been raised regarding the validity of the gift, the adequacy of the due diligence process and whether the Foundatio0n Board and Board of Trustees have been provided ample oversight opportunity.

     “As a result, the following actions have been taken:

*The administration was directed to conduct briefings with each Trustee

*A special Board of Trustees meeting will be convened on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 3 p. m. …to seek truth and recommend any corrective actions necessary…”

     Chairman Harper asks for “patience and grace” while they work to “gather information, take action, and build a stronger Florida A&M University.”

     The donation to the university has elicited praise and skepticism from FAMU staffers and alumni. Some expressed concern about Gerami’s background and financial history, which cast doubt on his portrayal as a wealthy hemp farmer and entrepreneur.

CHERYL HOLDER, MD

      Florida Clinicians for Climate Action, the leading organization for climate and health advocacy and education in Florida, received a $30,000 unrestricted operating grant from Solutions Project!

     “We are grateful for the support of the Solutions Project this year, especially in this dynamic fundraising environment,” said FCCA Executive Director Cheryl Holder, MD. “This unrestricted grant will advance our cause to educate and engage clinicians across Florida so that they can effectively address the health impacts of climate change.”

      The Solutions Project funds and amplifies climate justice solutions created by Black, Indigenous, immigrant, women and communities of color building an equitable world. They are working to accelerate a just transition to a regenerative economy.

     Florida is poised to endure the hottest summer ever making the grant’s timing even more urgent. In Miami-Dade County, officials are using the start of Heat Season, which runs from May 1st to October 31st, to urge residents to prepare for sustained stretches of extremely hot days by preparing cooling strategies, storing medication differently, and learning the early warning signs of heat illness.

     “Knowledge is safety,” Dr. Holder said, “the more you know about the dangers we face in extreme heat and weather, and the more prepared you are to take action, the safer and healthier we’ll all be.”

      Florida Clinicians for Climate Action was formed in January of 2018 at the Florida Climate & Health Equity Symposium, which was a collaboration between the National Medical Association, the W. Montague Cobb/NMA Health Institute, the Florida state chapter of the National Medical Association and The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health. The organization is operated by clinicians and exists as a first stop for anyone seeking to work at the intersection of climate and health in Florida.

JEFFERY ALEX JAMES JOHNSON, Ph.D.

United States Navy

Lt. Johnson shared this information with his social media friends.

     “The last two months I’ve been seemingly silent as I’ve walked through many Godly ordained transitions.

     “In October 2001, I began my pastoral ministry at the Greater Grace Outreach Church of God followed by the Thirty-Fourth Street Church of God from 2004-2016; and then served as the founding pastor of Connections Community Church in 2011.

      “After 22 years of pastoring, on February 25, 2024 I concluded this season of pastoral ministry.  With providential divine guiding I transitioned my ministry from local to Global.

    “With the help of the Lord, my wife, children, and so many dear friends, I achieved one of the biggest victories of my life and ministry. I graduated from Naval Officer Development School in Newport, RI.

      “As I move forward as a Bishop in the Lord’s church I am excited to share my time with the ministries in which I cover, spend time more with my wife and sons, and serve my country until next pastoral assignment.

     “Winning In Every Season of my Life!”

President Joe Biden takes campaign photos before an event at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida, April 23, 2024. (David Lienemann/Biden For President)

Trevor Mallory, President, Florida Democratic Black Caucus, with President Joe Biden and Angela Birdsong, President, Hillsborough Democratic Black Caucus; and appointed to Commission of the Status of Women.

     Angela Birdsong and Nikki Fried, Chair, Florida Democratic Party.

      Since the Florida Supreme Court decided that a six-week abortion bill would go into effect on May 1 and Reproductive Rights would be on the ballot this November, Florida is now considered to be in play by the Biden/Harris Administration. Every state where Abortion has appeared on the ballot so far has won! Including the ruby Red State of Kansas.

     Shortly thereafter, Wheels up on Air Force One and President Biden arrived in Tampa. He made a special visit to the Hillsborough NAACP office before his address at Hillsborough Community College.

     He personally met the State President of the Florida Democratic Black Caucus and the President of the Hillsborough Democratic Black Caucus. He also opened his first field office in Temple Terrace.

     On May 1, Vice President Kamala Harris visited Jacksonville to remind Floridians that over 11 million women will be effected by the new law stripping away their reproductive rights.

     Despite what some may say, Black Voters are still the Heart and Soul of the Democratic Party and intend to vote for their issues in November. The issues include Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Stopping Book Banning, Teaching of African American History and fighting Voting Suppression. Black people have no intention of going backwards on civil rights!

     The Governor of Florida has changed the voting laws and has canceled all Vote by Mail Ballot REQUESTS and has over 24,000 Black voters in Hillsborough County marked as inactive if they did not vote in 2022.

     Voting suppression tactics that Nikki Fried, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party is determined to fight against. She has already flipped the Jacksonville Mayor and State House 35 seats from RED to BLUE and she is just getting started.

     Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer sent out letters to voters who have not renewed their vote by mail ballots. The Republicans on the County Commission then voted to decrease his budget by $200,000. Former State House Representative Sean Shaw and Afro Latina Patricia Alonzo have both filed to run for Hillsborough County Commission to flip it back BLUE.

     With Andrew Warren running again for State Attorney, the Democratic Party ticket is running to win!

     If you want to call Black Voters, attend Democratic Black Caucus meetings or volunteer, please call 813-476-4837 or HCDBC.org for membership and donations.

      The Democratic Party supports Unions and all the Building trades are hiring paid apprentices, job for life, benefits and a pension.