Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Leader of Florida Legislative Black Caucus Calls on Governor to Halt Voter Suppression throughout Florida’s non-protected Counties

TALLAHASSEE – State Senator Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa), Chair, Florida Legislative Black Caucus on Monday called on Republican Governor Rick Scott to heed the recent federal court ruling preserving early voting in Florida’s 5 protected counties, and halt the voter suppression efforts still underway in the rest of the state by restoring early voting to its previous time period throughout Florida.

“The Court found that implementation of the 2011 election law would disproportionately affect African American voters in these five counties. If that would occur in five counties, then there is a high likelihood of active voter suppression in Florida’s remaining 62 counties,” Senator Joyner, who currently chairs the Florida Legislative Black Caucus and travelled to Tallahassee to meet with the Governor said.

“I call on Governor Scott to stop his party’s blatant attempt to influence an election by denying a fundamental right to Black and white Floridians have fought and died for.”

At issue is the governor’s adherence to a 2011 Republican-sponsored change in Florida’s elections law that reduced early voting days by half. The move came 3 years after the 2008 election in which Barack Obama not only won Florida, but the White House, propelled in part by record voter turnout among Blacks casting early voting ballots. In fact, the lines were so long in some African American communities that Governor Scott’s predecessor was compelled to issue an Executive Order extending early voting to accommodate the historical demand.

“Targeting early voting had only one purpose: to stack the deck in a presidential election by limiting minority turnout and Democratic votes at the polls,” said Senator Joyner, who has been part of ongoing litigation fighting the election law changes.

The Governor needs to acknowledge the obvious: it would be amoral to address voter suppression in 5 counties and ignore the exact same misconduct in the remaining 62 counties.

“The Florida Legislative Black Caucus calls on the Governor to immediately act to restore the full early voting time period throughout the entire state and commit to expanding hours even further through Executive Order if the limited hours are unable to suitably accommodate Floridians who seek to early vote.”

“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, the blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere. The ceremony of innocence is drowned; the best, lack all conviction, while the worst, are full of passionate intensity.” (Excerpt:  W. B. Yeats’ Poem: Second Coming)

We gather at convention time hoping we can garner social, economic and political leverage, but we have overlooked our own spiritual crisis. There is a spiritual crisis in our country. Things have indeed fallen apart.  We have neglected our responsibility as global citizens to address the cognitive dissonance created by the clamor of corruption, anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness, mistrust, and schizoid politics (Rollo May).

The Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes (pictured, right) explains that there is an absence of accountability between politicians and the spiritual community.  A discourse fueled with contempt, and it is up to the spiritual community to restore hope. Why is it the responsibility of the spiritual community to restore hope, one might ask?  The answer is this: It is pervasive in our families, communities and we are everywhere impacted. We must face ourselves in-the-mirror to face our own schizoid nature.

Many religious groups have already chosen sides in the campaigns.  Questions of a candidate’s beliefs and spiritual qualifications to be president have been dogging the hopefuls for more than a year.  We are being called to a higher level of accountability at this time, to seek healing from “spiritual depression”.  One might ask why?  The answer is obvious.

The result of this spiritual malaise has caused a national crisis of “spiritual depression” and the symptoms arise from the obvious disconnection from God, others, family and community.
The answer is this; we must recover our moral and spiritual connectors.  On the eve of the Republican National Convention the Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes will preach; “Hope In The Time of Spiritual Depression” to illuminate the issue of spiritual depression and crisis across our nation.

What is our path back to togetherness? Our Congress can’t come together as depression fills their halls. We must renew the center and create a consciousness of hope and conviction. We must sound out the political idols of our day and raise political awareness in our spiritual contexts. We must commit to a higher level of accountability between spiritual and political communities. The Christian community must come together. It is our responsibility.

Well, three of our local pastors have joined together to get this message to the people of our community. The message will be presented by Dr. James A. Forbes, retired Sr. Pastor of the famed Riverside Church, New York City, New York, on Sunday, Aug 26.  Service times are listed below, and the entire city is invited.

8am: St. John Prog. Bapt. Church 10am: Bible-Based Fellowship
Rev. Bart Banks, Sr. Pastor             Rev. Arthur T. Jones, Sr. Pastor
2504-Chipco Ave.                                   4811-Ehrlich Road
Tampa, FL 33605                                   Tampa, FL  33647

12 noon: College Hill C.O.G.I.C.
Elder Charles Davis, Sr. Pastor
6410- N 30th St.
Tampa, FL 33610

On Wednesday, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reported that a local reporter received a text message on her company phone that was sent from a cellular phone with an 813 area code.

Deputies said the message stated, “seems like I gotta make threats to be heard, its f—–up how I’m being done with my kids, but if I go and blow up the H.K.I. East Care Center, then everyone is gonna want to listen then.”

The reporter contacted law enforcement to report the incident, and detectives responded to the facility at 4520 Oak Fair Boulevard to search the building. The search proved to be negative.

At 8:40 p.m., a sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office responded to the residence of the person who sent the threatening message. She reportedly admitted sending the message to the reporter.

Recia Henry, 27, was arrested and charged with threatening to discharge a destructive device. She remains in jail with her bond posted at $7,500.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Mrs. Carolyn Caraway decided to be proactive and get all of the paperwork she would need to renew her driver’s license. She contacted the Georgia Department of Vital Statistics and obtained her birth certificate.

She went to renew her license on July 30th, armed with marriage licenses, divorce documents, her birth certificate, and all types of legal documents. She didn’t think she would have a problem.

After the person assisting her discovered that her name was misspelled on her marriage certificate, she instructed her to get it corrected and to return. And that is when the nightmare began.

Mrs. Caraway said she worked with a different individual the second time she went to the office. This time, they informed her that she would have to use the spelling of her name as it appeared on her birth certificate.

“My mother is still living and she has always spelled my name C-A-R-O-L-Y-N, not C-A-R-O-L-I-N-E. They issued me a temporary license even though my license in their system had my name spelled C-A-R-O-L-Y-N. Now, nothing matches. They told me I would have to get my name legally changed and that would cost about $600.00,” Mrs. Caraway said.

After hearing about Mrs. Caraway’s problem, the Sentinel contacted Doug Belden, who stated that the rules as set by Homeland Security and federal law mandates that the follow certain procedures.

When the Sentinel contacted the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles, a spokesperson for that office said that a group of individuals in that office handle such situations and instructed Mrs. Caraway to contact them.

When the Sentinel contacted the office of U. S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, her assistant suggested that Mrs. Caraway amend her birth certificate so that it would reflect the correct spelling of her name.

Mrs. Caraway was especially concerned that the mistake would prevent her from voting. However, she said that the Supervisor of Elections Office had been contacted on her behalf and she would be allowed to vote in Primary Election while she took corrective measures with the spelling of her name.

Tampa Police detectives are investigating a complaint of sexual battery against a 12-year-old male.

Police said on August 8th between 12 p. m. and 2:30 p. m., a man approached a 12-year-old boy in the 3600 block of East Deleuil Avenue and lured him to a vacant home under the guise of hiring him for an odd job. Once inside the home, police said the suspect raped the victim.

Detectives have been working leads on the case, but need help from the public to locate the suspect.

He is described as a Black male 20 to 30 years old, 5’9” to 5’10” tall, and weighing 170 to 185 pounds.

If anyone recognizes the suspect, they are asked to call (813) 231-6130.

Detectives with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested three people and charged them with fraudulent use of personal identification. The three were arrested after they attempted to collect $152,000 from a local credit union.

Three people identified as John Hartley (pictured right), 47, of Jonesboro, Georgia; Jodi Summers, 21, at large; and Laura Jean Hall, 50, of Riverdale, Georgia, were all been charged with criminal use of personal identification and grand theft. Hartley was charged with possession of marijuana, also.

According to police, between August 2 and August 8, three people entered the different Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Unions, at 1370 Oakfied Drive, 6804 E. Hillsborough Avenue, and 950 E. Fletcher Avenue.

Each of the individuals opened accounts using counterfeit identification and identities of people who lived in three different states. After opening the accounts, each person applied for a loan via the Internet.

Detectives were able to determine that the I. P. address that was used was located at a downtown Courtyard Marriott. The suspects were contacted and asked to return to the Credit Unions to obtain the loan money.

On August 15th, one of the suspects arrived at the credit union branch 1920 E. Hillsborough Avenue. Police followed the suspect back to the hotel were all three were arrested.

After obtaining a search warrant, police searched the hotel room where additional identities were discovered.

A bond of $15,500 was set for Hartley. The bond for Ms. Hall and Ms. Summers was set at $22,500. All three were in jail at press time.

The family of Orenthal J. Murdock donated his organs after his death. The popular athlete died on July 30th, of an apparent suicide.

His brain tissue was donated to researchers who are studying the impact of repetitive traumatic head injuries. His mother made the decision after being contacted by researchers after his death. His other useable organs were donated to LifeLink.

Murdock, 25, was a standout athlete who excelled in football and track and field. He graduated from Middleton High School in 2005. He continued his education at Fort Hays State University. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Tennessee Titans.

Boston University is conducting the research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease that results from repeated blows to the head. Studies show that the disease affects boxers. However, recent data has shown it affects other athletes as well, including football players.

The university also received brain tissue from former NFL player Junior Seau who died in May of a gunshot wound to the chest. Seau’s death has been ruled a suicide.

Murdock’s death is still under investigation.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Several months ago, Patrick Donahue, Postmaster General for the U. S. Postal Service, announced the possible closures of more than 3,700 post offices. The Produce Station on East Hillsborough Avenue was on that list, but an outcry from the community successfully lobbied to keep it open.

U. S. Rep. Kathy Castor was among those working to protect the Post Office. After it was saved from closure, Rep. Castor submitted a bill to have the facility renamed in honor of the late Reverend Abraham Brown, a popular East Tampa resident.

The U. S. House passed the bill in June, and the U. S. Senate passed earlier this month. Last Friday, President Barack Obama signed the bill into law. On Monday afternoon, Rep. Castor, family members of Rev. Brown, and other members of the community gathered for the dedication ceremony.

A Tampa native, Rev. Brown died nearly two years ago. After graduating from Middleton High School, he completed his education at Florida A & M University.

Rev. Brown returned to Middleton High School, his alma mater, where he taught classes. He served as an assistant football coach at Middleton High School and eventually became the Head Coach at Blake High School. He retired from Chamberlain High School as Dean of Boys.

In the mid 1970s, Rev. Brown launched a program to visit prisons and offer help to ex-offenders. As the Prison Crusade grew, Rev. Brown provided transportation to various prisons in the state so that family members could visit. The organization was later renamed “Abe Brown Ministries.”

Rev. Brown also served as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of College Hill. He died in September 2010 after a bout with cancer. Rev. Brown was 83 years old.

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Last year, Tampa taxpayers paid $81,000 to clean up hundreds of sites where illegal dumping took place. While dumping occurred throughout the city, it was more prevalent in certain Tampa neighborhoods.

In an effort to combat the ever-growing problem, the City of Tampa is introducing Solar-powered cameras at some of the most notorious dumping locations. The cameras are motion-activated and designed to photograph license plates in total darkness.

Ms. Tonja Brickhouse, Director of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management said, “Illegal dumping is an issue of public health and safety as well as cost. We are taking aggressive action to identify and hold violators accountable.”

Individuals caught dumping waste can face criminal charges and pay the costs for disposal and cleaning up the dump site, she said.

Last year, Solid Waste Code Enforcement Officers identified 890 illegal dumping sites throughout the city, with the highest concentration in North Tampa and East Tampa neighborhoods. So far this year, nearly 200 tons of illegal dumping has already taken place. The cameras are part of the City’s deterrence program to stop the illegal activity.

Ms. Brickhouse is teaming up with the Tampa Police Department’s Environmental Crimes Unit and the East Tampa Revitalization Partnership to help combat the problem.

Ms. Brickhouse said in addition to the cameras being solar-powered, they are also mobile and can be relocated to problem areas as they develop.