BY LEON B. CREWS
Sentinel Staff Writer
For decades, East Tampa Community Leaders have fought hard to keep their streets clean. The task has been made more difficult with the increased number of vacant homes and renters moving into the area, and the fact that the area continues to be the favorite spot for illegal dumpers.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn reorganized two of the city’s divisions, and starting July 1st, Code Enforcement and Clean City operations are being run out of one office.
Sal Ruggiero, Manager of the City of Tampa’s Neighborhood Enhancement Division, said on June 5th, they got a great response from the East Tampa community on a big cleanup project.
“Pastor Daniel Dean, founder of the HOPE Center, sent over a group of volunteers, and people from the community got involved. Others just came out to voice their concerns, and we were able to take care of it right away.
“Mayor Buckhorn has offered to buy us new equipment, and hire more personnel.”
Ruggiero said their plan is to spend more time in East Tampa and Sulphur Springs.
“One area we really want to put more emphasis on is the illegal dumping problem in East Tampa. Along with the Solid Waste Department and Tampa Police, we will be focusing hard on that problem. We also need help from the community to help us identify the violators.
“People come into East Tampa and dump their waste, and we have to stop that. We will be very visible and active in the community.”
Code Enforcement District I Senior Inspector, Jerry Williams, said he has assigned three inspectors for the East Tampa community, and if any resident needs to contact an inspector, all they need to do is call their switchboard at (813) 274-5545, or (813) 426-6018.
East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership Chair, Essie Sims, said he thinks by consolidating the two departments, it will cut down on a lot of confusion.
“I think the merger is great, and now everything will come out of one office. There will be more attention to detail, and the merger will put more people on the street.”
Highland Pines Neighborhood Association leader, Betty Bell, said she thinks the merger just makes sense.
“I’ve always thought they performed the same tasks. It’s great to see the young people working, and with the two departments working together, it will help keep the neighborhood cleaner. I think the illegal dumping, however, will continue to be a problem, because they do it late at night when no one is around.”
Eastern Heights Neighborhood Association leader, Samuel Mobley, said he doesn’t feel the merger will make a difference.
“I really don’t expect to see a big difference, because neither department was able to consistently keep the area clean.
“I’d like to see more inspectors out checking the vacant houses and overgrown lots. I’d also like to see them respond to complaints from residents in a more timely manner.
“I would like to see things get better, and I believe they will. In Eastern Heights, it always seems the attention is given to other areas first and we either have to do the job ourselves, or just let it stay the way it is. We want the community to look good, and we will need the help of both agencies to get that done.”
Rainbow Heights Neighborhood Association leader, Ms. Frankye Jones, said illegal dumping, and abandoned homes with overgrown lots are the biggest concern in her community.
“I’m happy to see the two groups combine, because the process before in getting something done took too long. The property owners would take their time cleaning up the properties, but now I think things will move along a lot faster.
“We have a lot of things in Rainbow Heights that need the attention of city officials, and I’ve prepared a list of the critical areas that need the most attention.”
