Florida Sentinel Bulletin

Last Thursday, the Tampa City Council decided to postpone next week’s vote on a proposed citywide panhandling ban after a last minute challenge to proposed restrictions.

This week, Council members were supposed to consider two proposed options aimed at reducing the number of beggars on the city’s streets.

One proposal would repeal the city’s existing rules on roadway solicitation, making Hillsborough County’s seven-day ban enforceable on Tampa’s roads. The other would be a six-day ban, excluding Sunday.

However, the threat of litigation from a lawyer representing several labor unions – who urge they would be prevented from protesting or handing out informational leaflets under both of the proposed panhandling bans – has forced city officials back to the drawing board.

Council members will revisit the issue at a September 8^th workshop, when they will consider a possible third option that addresses the constitutional arguments raised by the unions. [private]

Mayor Bob Buckhorn favors a seven-day ban and has said he understands the issue is complicated, but the community wants the Council to come up with a solution.

City Councilman Frank Reddick said he’s received several calls asking that he and his colleagues not rush on a decision.

Councilman Reddick said the Council will have their actual vote September 22^nd. [/private]

BY IRIS B. HOLTON

Sentinel City Editor

 On Valentine’s Day, (February 14) 2007, Ms. Lori Harrison married Miguel Angel Ruiz. Three days later, she was stabbed several times and her attacker turned the knife on her 10-year-old son when he attempted to intervene.

When police arrived, Ms. Harrison told them the stabbing resulted from an altercation after she discovered her husband, Miguel Angel Ruiz, using drugs and alcohol.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Ruiz that night. He was charged with several crimes ranging from attempted murder to aggravated child abuse. Last week, Ruiz received 2 life sentences for the attempted murder of Ms. Harrison and her son, Damar Warburton.

Ruiz was also sentenced to 30 years for aggravated battery with a weapon causing great bodily harm, 30 years for aggravated child abuse, and 5 years for false imprisonment, records show. [private]

Of the verdict, Ms. Harrison said, “I feel great. I can finally move on with my life. I didn’t know if I was going to stay in Florida, so it was touch and go for a while.”

Ms. Harrison stayed in the hospital for a week following the attack. She has one wound that began at her ear and stopped in the middle of her neck. Her son was stabbed 18 times, but his wounds were superficial and he fully recovered from them.

Trial Delayed

Normally, a trial moves through the system in less than 4 years. However, jail records show that Ruiz was admitted to the State Mental Hospital at least 3 times prior to the stabbing. He was found incompetent and hospitalized 3 times after his arrest in connection with the stabbing.

Ms. Harrison said she and her son testified during the trial. She attended every day. “When I heard the verdict, I was squeezing the Victim’s Assistant’s hand so hard. And I asked for a copy of the verdict because I wanted to read it later,” she said.[/private]

On Tuesday, a Hillsborough County judge revoked the bond of a murder suspect after being shown a photograph taken in a nightclub hours before a double murder. The suspect was charged with killing another teenager at a graduation party last May.

The photograph was taken at Club Underground on the night of June 4, 2011. Khayri McCray, 18, was photographed with Charles Waits. A few hours later, Kiara and Jeremi Brito, were murdered in their home. Waits was indicted in that murder on June 17, 2011.

Prosecutors used the photograph as proof that McCray violated the terms of his release on bond.  A curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. was imposed as part of the bond agreement.  He was also forbidden to be with Waits, whose name appears on the prosecution’s witness list in McCray’s trial.

DEVANTE DALLAS

McCray is a suspect in a Riverview 2010 graduation party shooting that left 18-year-old Devante Lamar Dallas dead and De Ron Richardson, 21, and Jeffrey Thomas, 42, wounded. Witnesses identified McCray as the shooter.

McCray allegedly fired several shots after he was hit during a fight at the party. Dallas, Richardson, and Thomas, were injured, but Dallas died from his injuries, deputies said.

McCray was released on $200,000 bail January 1st. McCray’s new bail is set at $250,000.

On Tuesday, local and state elected officials, along with several clergy and community activists were among more than 500 people who crowded into the 34th Street Church of God to hear Civil Activist Jesse Jackson speak.

Rev. Jackson, Founder of Rainbow/Push Coalition, was in town as the guest speaker for the Coalition on Voter Empowerment Rally to encourage everyone to fight the efforts to control their voting power.

“They (the Tea Party and Republican Party) are using kamikazi tactics, because they don’t care about sacrificing anyone for their purpose. This is a civil war on the rights of states. Restrictive voting is not a Black thing, because more whites are being impacted than Blacks with this legislation.”

Rev. Jackson said you don’t stop an election, you control it by disallowing who can vote and legislating people away from the polls.

“Race has become the front man for economic control.

“We can win Florida if we organize. Let’s win the 5 protected districts and the others will fall into place. Personal contact and less social meetings. In other words, we need more face-to-face and less Facebook.”

The voting section of the department of Justice is currently reviewing the changes to Florida’s election laws that passed the legislature this year as HB 1355 for its compliance with the Voting Rights Act. [private]

Rev. Jackson presented the “Map Of Shame,” that outlines vote suppression legislation by state. The  map indicates Florida is one of the states with repressive election legislation, along with Ohio. The map also shows Florida as being one of the states that will require a photo voter identification card.

Community-based voter registration efforts in several minority communities have been suspended or permanently cancelled because of the new law’s registration requirements. The result has been restricted access to voter participation.

Florida’s new law cuts by 40% the number of days counties may now offer the opportunity for early voting, including a specific ban on early voting on the Sunday prior to election day.

The new law will also force many voters to vote by provisional ballots even though they are legal, qualified voters. These provisional ballots are only half as likely to actually be counted as a regular, normal ballot. [/private]

During its Summer Commencement on Friday, August 5, 2011, Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University will bestow and Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters upon one of Florida’s and the nation’s most noted Civil Rights attorneys.

Attorney Warren Hope Dawson is a native of Mulberry and a product of Polk County Schools. He is only the second Black graduate of a high school, public or private, to become a lawyer. He received a BA Degree in Political Science from Florida A&M University in 1961; was a commissioned officer in the United States Army and served active duty from 1961-1963. He received a Juris Doctor Degree from Howard University in 1966.

His civil rights work in the federal courts included 27 years as the lead counsel in Manning v. The School Board, a school desegregation case that involved the Hillsborough County School District. He also intervened as counsel in Warren v. The City of Tampa, a voting rights case that ultimately eliminated the racially repressive at-large system of electing the City Council in Tampa and the County Commission in Hillsborough County.[private]

Atty. Dawson had this to say about the recognition: “The joy and good feelings I felt when I learned of the University’s decision are best described by the lyrics in a current gospel song, which says: I’ve had some good days; I’ve had some hills to climb; I’ve had some weary days and some sleepless nights.  But when I look around and think things over, all of my good days outweigh my bad days, and I just say Thank You Lord – I won’t complain.”

Atty. Dawson has always shown himself as a leader. While a student at FAMU, he was a student leader, Army ROTC Distinguished Military Student; the Voice of “The Marching 100,” lead speaker on the FAMU Varsity Debating Team and a member of the University Choir.

His civil rights work in the federal courts included 27 years as the lead counsel in Manning v. The School Board, a school desegregation case that involved the Hillsborough County School District. He also intervened as counsel in Warren v. The City of Tampa, a voting rights case that ultimately eliminated the racially repressive at-large system of electing the City Council in Tampa and the County Commission in Hillsborough County.

As an organized leader, Atty. Dawson served as the 40th President of the National Bar Association, National President of the Howard University Law Alumni Association, and one of the founders of the Edgecomb Bar Association.

His many recognitions and awards include: “The 100 Most Influential Blacks in America,” Ebony Magazine, May 1983; induction into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame, August 2007; and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award,” FAMU, April 1992. [/private]

***Look for full story in Friday’s Sentinel***

BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor

Wednesday, Hillsborough County Commissioners voted 4-3 to close the after school programs at County Parks. The move leaves 64 employees without jobs and the parents of 1,800 children scrambling to find a safe environment for their children.

Commissioners Les Miller, Jr., Ken Hagan, and Victor Crist voted to spare the parks. The last day of operation is September 30th, the end of the County’s fiscal year. “This is very unfortunate that this had to happen. However, the program is no more, it’s absolute, and 64 employees have lost their jobs. I think other cuts could have been made to save the program, but we were outvoted.

Ms. Sharon Subadan, Deputy County Administrator for Public Safety and Community Services said the parks are not being closed, but the after school program is being eliminated. “The parks will still be available for different types of programs for the community.” [private]

Ms. Subadan further stated that the county is formulating an After School Transition Task Force. Its purpose is to make contact and assist all of the families impacted by the closing of the after school programs.

“We want to ensure that every family receives assistance and no family gets left out,” Ms. Subadan said.[/private]

***Look for full story in Friday’s Sentinel***

For the third time, James Williams, III is behind bars. Williams is a personal trainer accused of sexually battering numerous women at his gym in North Tampa.

After a 3-hour man hunt in Arkansas Friday, Williams was arrested by U.S. Marshals who had received a tip he was staying at a home with family.

On Friday morning, investigators arrived at the home to arrest Williams, but he fled out of a rear door, leading authorities on a three and a half hour manhunt.

Williams was arrested about a mile north of the residence without incident. Authorities in Florida are asking Williams be held on $500,000 bond this time after he’s successfully bonded out twice on lesser amounts. [private]

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies are working to bring Williams back to Florida as soon as possible.

So far, four women have come forward claiming they were inappropriately touched or sexually battered by Williams during personal training sessions at his gym. The women have also alleged that Williams claimed he was a former University of Florida football player named Elijah Williams.

The real Elijah Williams said his attorney sent a letter to James Williams several years ago ordering him to stop using his client’s name.

An attorney representing Williams said he will fight for his client’s release.[/private]

On Tuesday, Rev Jesse Jackson will headline a rally in Tampa to protest a new Florida election law Republicans say is intended to cut costs and prevent fraud, but that Democrats and civil rights organizations say is aimed at suppressing voter turnout to improve Republican 2012 election chances.

The goal is to rouse citizen opposition to convince the U. S. Department of Justice to overturn the law, said Rev. Charles McKenzie, a local NAACP official and state coordinator for Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Rev. Jackson will appear Tuesday, July 26th at 2 p. m. at the 34th Street Church of God, whose pastor is Tom Scott, former Tampa City Council member, Hillsborough County Commissioner and mayoral candidate. There will be a community leadership meeting beforehand.[private]

Opponents of the law in last spring’s legislative session said its GOP backers produced no evidence of the widespread fraud it’s supposed to combat. Noting similar restrictions passed in other states, critics say it’s part of a nationwide attempt to inhibit turnout of pro-Barack Obama voters in 2012.

According to Rev. McKenzie, it’s “an effort on the part of politicians in 34 states to reduce the participation of minority and Democratic-leaning voters.”

The law decreased the number of days of early voting, popular among minority voters; makes it harder for voters who move to change their addresses at the polls, which critics say will affect Democratic-leaning young and minority voters; and imposes new restrictions on volunteer groups’ registration drives.

Groups including the League of Women Voters have announced they were suspending voter registration efforts unless the law is overturned.[/private]

BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer

The Greater Tampa Chamber Of Commerce has named Jerry Green their new Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications.

Green has more than a decade of experience in senior management and leadership. He has led in high-level management roles for industry giants such as Jabil Circuit, Inc., and L-3 Communications, and his prior experience includes serving in the United States Army, where he was awarded multiple medals and commendations.

After Green’s discharge from the Army in 1998, he was hired as Facility Security Manager of L-3 Communications’ Government Security Programs. For seven years, he led the federal security program both in the United States and abroad. He also served as Corporate Government Compliance Facility Manager for Jabil Circuit in 2005.

Green holds a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies, Government, and Pre-Law from Eckerd College, and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Management and Leadership at Webster University.

Originally from Greensboro, North Carolina, Green said he always knew he wanted to do something to help others. [private]

“After 20 years in the Army, I retired out of MacDill and stayed in Tampa. I’m very proud to have gotten involved with the Ye Mystic Krewe that is part of the city’s annual Gasparilla celebration. I’m vice president of a krewe, and I know it was tough getting that group to integrate. We’ve been a part of the group since 1999.”

Green said being a part of Ye Mystic Krewe has been a great experience for him and very difficult. “We’re an African American only krewe, and we’re still trying to get more African Americans involved.

In his new position, Green said he works with elected officials and political insiders to create dialogue about community issues and the impact those issues have on the community.

“The panhandling issue is a perfect example. Employment is the key to everything, and panhandling is a result of the economy being bad and people being driven to that. It’s up to us to see what we can do to help that situation.

“We also have to sell the City of Tampa to get new businesses to come here. We’re working on getting more international flights to come to Tampa, hoping that will attract some of those businesses.”

Green is married and the father of two sons, the oldest on his way to Germany and the youngest also living in Germany as a member of their soccer team. [/private]