New Southside

Winterize your yard

2012-01-11T21:32:00.000-05:00

New Saltwater Fishing Regulations Available Online

2012-01-07T11:17:00.001-05:00

Anglers, make sure you know what fish you can keep -- and how many -- when enjoying your favorite sport by checking out the new January 2012 Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations for Florida. Produced by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the regulations are now available online for review or download at:myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/regulations/

You can also sign up to receive the monthly "Hot Sheet" via email to learn about changes in state and federal fishing regulations, season openings and closures and other current events in Marine Fisheries.

From Tampa Bay Estuary Program

City of Life and Death, the story of a holocaust the west has forgotten.

2011-11-01T16:58:00.000-04:00

Showing Friday, November 11, 2011 - 7 pm @ Eckerd College. 4200 54th Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33711 (800) 456-9009 or (727) 867-1166 | Directions & Map

City of Life and Death Directed by Lu Chuan (Mandarin with English Subtitles, 132m, 2009)

A vividly realistic, beautifully shot black and white portrayal of the 1937 siege of the Chinese capital of Nanking by Japanese forces. Kenneth Turan of the LA Times described the film as "Harrowing and unflinching...City of Life and Death is a cinematic experience unlike any you've had before. It's a film strong enough to change your life"

This story was forgotten because Japanese refused to officially acknowledge the massacre and the Chinese government did not want to raise the issue, perhaps because of their own human rights abuses.

The Official site of Iris Chang the Movie - The Rape of Nanking

www.irischangthemovie.com/

This story was brought back to the worlds attention by Iris Chang, who's family was from Nanjing.

See the trailer

2011-09-24T21:59:00.000-04:00

58: THE FILM

Our Town: Conversations with St. Pete Mythmakers

2011-09-23T23:13:00.003-04:00

Thursday, September 29, 6:30 - 7:45 pm

Our Town is a once-a-month conversation with a notable St. Pete mythmaker.
Host Dr. Carol Mickett, philosopher and artist, will converse with these local heroes about their visions, accomplishments, and contributions to shaping the identity of our town.
Where else but at the Dali Museum - which showcases the mythmaking of artist Salvador Dali - to honor the people of our city and its surroundings who are building the greatness which is St. Petersburg?

This month's guest: Mrs. Johnnie B. Mack

Cost: Free to all. Series takes place in the Theater. Come early for tapas and copas for sale at Cafe Gala. RSVP at 727-623-4710

Help improve transit and traffic by taking the survey

2011-09-22T16:10:00.000-04:00

Awake the State Pinellas - May 10, 2011 Rally at Rep. Jeff Brandes' Office

2011-05-15T20:11:00.000-04:00

Rick Scott hears chorus of boos at Rays opener

2011-04-02T08:04:00.000-04:00

Join us to clean up Bartlett Park and have some fun in the sun.

2011-03-31T21:44:00.000-04:00

Bartlett Park, St. Petersburg

Thursday, April 21, 2011

3:30-5:00 pm

Join us to clean up Bartlett Park and
have some fun in the sun.

Join USF St. Petersburg students and community resi-
dents for a day of service and fun in the sun at Bartlett
Park.

USF St. Petersburg students will embark on a journey towards a cleaner
city with trash bags in hand. The USF Waterfront will also be there
with kayaks; allowing everyone to get out onto these beautiful waters
and enjoy the beauty and serenity that can be found right here in St. Pe-
tersburg.

The city of St. Petersburg was recently cast into the spotlight because of
tragic and disheartening events. We believe that it is time for the com-
munity to come together and rebuild this glorious city. Coming together
as one, and creating a safe and beautiful place to live, is our goal.

Please join us!

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Samantha at

samantha7420 at yahoo dot com

The Greenhorns, free documentary film this Tuesday night at Eckerd

2011-02-20T20:48:00.002-05:00

The 13th Annual Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature Environmental Film Festival begins this Friday, February 18th. The festival brings films to the Tampa Bay area in order to raise awareness and promote discussion of questions relating to nature, place and the environment.

Programs at this year’s festival highlight themes such as reincarnation, plastic bags, forgotten things, global warming, natural gas, independent farming, insect obsessions, astronomy and urban bird watching. Plus, there will be a number of short films featured, some straight out of Sundance 2011, and others the winners of a 2011 environmental short film competition. All films are free and open to the public, and screen in the Miller Auditorium of Eckerd College.

Monday, February 21, 7pm - Split Estate, dir. by Debra Anderson

Examines the impact on human lives of the natural gas industry. The film will be introduced by the director, who will lead a discussion afterwards.

Tuesday, February 22, 7pm - Greenhorns; and Nourish: Food + Community

Two short films: about young farmers in America, and about our changing relationships to food in a global economy. The film will be introduced by Eckerd professor Kip Curtis and some "Greenhorn" farmers.

Wednesday, February 23, 7pm - Beetlequeen Conquers Tokyo, dir. by Jessica Oreck

A documentary exploring Japan's longstanding love affair with bugs. The film will be introduced by Eckerd Professor of Japanese Eileen Mikals-Adachi.

Thursday, February 24, 7pm - Bag It!

An average guy (Jeb Berrier, who will be here to present the film) decides to stop using plastic bags and it ends up changing his life.

Friday, February 25, 7pm - Nostalgia for the Light

A gorgeous and provocative essay film that examines two seemingly unrelated phenomena in the Atacama desert of Chile: astronomers search the skies for timeless truths and families search the ground for the remains of their loved ones who disappeared during the brutal regime of Pinochet.

Saturday, February 26, 7pm - Legend of the Pale Male

A delightful documentary following the fame of a wild redtail hawk who made his home among the tall buildings of downtown New York City. The film will be introduced by its producer, Janet Hess, who is also series editor of the PBS series Nature.

For more information and a complete program, see the website at http://www.eckerd.edu/eff. The "Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature," Environmental Film Festival is coordinated by Cathy Griggs, Eckerd College Prof. of Environmental Studies, and Nathan Andersen, Eckerd College Prof. of Philosophy. Major support is provided by the Phoenix Venture Philanthropy Foundation.

GIVE YOURSELF EXTRA TIME AS CONSTRUCTION ON NEW SCIENCE BUILDING HAS PUSHED PARKING TO THE SIDES -- ASK GUARD FOR DIRECTIONS!

The Chrysler 200 has arrived. Imported from Detroit.

2011-02-04T23:17:00.003-05:00

South St. Petersburg and the Police; Fundraiser for Slain Officers Organized by Crime Victims in South St. Petersburg and radio interview

2011-01-26T22:19:00.008-05:00

Families who have suffered a loss due to violence hosted a car wash on Saturday near the area where two St Petersburg Police officers were killed in the line of duty. In addition to raising money for the families of K-9 Officer Jeffrey A. Yaslowitz and Sgt. Thomas J. Baitinger, organizers raised awareness specifically in South St. Petersburg about the value of our law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line everyday to make ALL neighborhoods safe.

When: Saturday January 29th 2011
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Shell Gas Station
1800 34th Street South, St. Petersburg

Proceeds of $500 were given to the Jeffrey A. Yaslowitz Memorial Fund and Thomas Baitinger Memorial Fund, set up at Wachovia Bank.

Spearheading the car wash was community activist Lisa Wheeler Brown. Brown’s son, Cabretti Wheeler, was murdered in September 6, 2008. Brown recently organized a similar car wash that raised more than $2,700 that was used to help pay for the funeral of shooting victim, 18 year old Latedra Everett in September 2010.

“It is one small way to show that we appreciate our police officers. We are deeply saddened by two more senseless deaths in our community.” Brown said.

For more information, call 727-278-8423.

Florida Matters: South St. Pete and the Police (February 1, 2011 ...
South St. Petersburg and the Police. After two St. Petersburg police officers were gunned down in south St. Petersburg, we explore the community's reaction to the tragedy, and we take a look at the sometimes tense relationship between the police and some of the neighborhoods near the site of the shooting.

Click here for podcast

www.wusf.usf.edu/news/.../south_st._pete_and_the_police

Radio Broadcast- | Sunday at 7:30 AM on WUSF 89.7 Friday at 7:00 PM on WSMR 89.1

Florida-style Gardening Workshops

2011-01-19T20:00:00.000-05:00

January 26

Florida-style Gardening Workshops

St. Petersburg Water Resources Administration, 1650 3rd Ave. N., 6 p.m.

Learn how to garden, Florida-style, by selecting environmentally-friendly plants, preventing pollution and encouraging wildlife to inhabit your space. Take a tour of a Florida-friendly demonstration garden before class! Pre-registration required at 727-551-3177.

Cistern Workshop Feb. 2

2011-01-16T13:10:00.000-05:00

A "Cistern Workshop, The Next Level of Rainwater Harvesting," will be offered at Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs. Registration is from 9-9:30 am. Program from 9:30-11:30 am. There is no charge for this workshop.

Learn why cisterns are the rainwater harvesting choice of the future, their functions, types, installation, filtering systems, maintenance and more. Presentation by Brian Gregson, President, Rainwater Services, member of the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA).

You can register for this workshop at:

http://cisternworkshopfeb022011.eventbrite.com

Sponsored by Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas County Extension Offices and Tampa Bay Water.

Restrepo- World Television Premiere Monday 9PM on NatGeo

2010-11-25T12:17:00.007-05:00

“Restrepo” has its world television premiere, unedited and with limited commercial interruption,on Monday, November 29, 2010, at nine p.m. ET/PT. National Geographic Channel

Restrepo, the documentary that takes you to Afghanistan to observe American soldiers from the perspective of embedded journalist/filmmakers Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junge... a tension-filled war documentary that takes you to the heart of the American soldiers' harrowing experiences in combat in Afghanistan, is like a nonfiction version of The Hurt Locker.

Film review by journalist Jennifer Merin

On November 16, 2010, Staff Sergeant Sal Giunta of the 173rd Airborne became the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. His actions occured in Afghanistan's Korengal valley during the deployment chronicled in the movie 'Restrepo'. This fourteen-minute video tells his story.

Read the complete text of Tim Hetherington's interview with Sal Giunta on Vanity Fair.

Author and journalist Sebastian Junger talked about his latest book, War, which chronicles the experiences of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. Mr. Junger was embedded with 173rd Airborne Brigade's Battle Company at various times between June 2007 and June 2008. Video of interview.

Also by Sebastian Junger , the book War.

Ten of the best community gardens in Los Angeles County

2010-11-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

A Glenn Beck-Donald Duck "mashup" video

2010-10-14T22:12:00.004-04:00

From Cartoon Brew

Regardless of your politics, “Right Wing Radio Duck” is a nearly seamless remix of Disney cartoons that pits Donald Duck against Glenn Beck, and captures the spirit of any number of earlier Disney propaganda shorts. The second half of the cartoon is particularly brilliant. It was created by Jonathan McIntosh, and dare I say, it’s the funniest and most relevant that Disney animation has been in years.

Glenn Beck Responds To Donald Duck Video

2010-09-22T22:24:00.003-04:00

St. Petersburg’s Central Avenue Shuttle is Expanding Service

Beginning Sunday, October 3, 2010, service on the Central Avenue Shuttle will be expanded to provide public transit service between Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg and PSTA’s Grand Central Station located on Central Avenue at 31st Street. There are frequent stops along Central Avenue serving businesses, retail and the arts.

The new service schedule replaces PSTA’s Route 35, which will be ending at Grand Central Station. PSTA’s Routes 5, 7, 14, 15, 18, 52, 79 and 97 will continue to travel between Grand Central Station and Williams Park. For more information about PSTA, visit their website at www.PSTA.net

New Service Schedule: Sunday – Thursday 6:20 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 6:20 a.m. to Midnight

Service frequency and destinations vary, depending on the time of day as follows:

Central Avenue Shuttle Service Schedule

Every day 6:20 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Every 30 minutes
Williams Park to Grand Central Station

Sunday – Thursday 5:20 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Every 30 minutes
Williams Park to Grand Central Station

Every day 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Every 15 minutes
The Pier to Williams Park to Grand Central Station

Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. to Midnight
Every 15 minutes
The Pier to Williams Park to Grand Central Station

Both the Central Avenue Shuttle and the Downtown Looper provide convenient, affordable public transportation in downtown St. Petersburg. The fare is only 25¢ each time you board. For seniors, those that are disabled and Medicare cardholders, the fare is 10¢. Children 5 and under ride free. Wheelchair service is provided on all trips.

For more information about the St. Petersburg Trolley, including advertising and rental opportunities, visit our website at www.StPeteTrolley.com

The St. Petersburg Trolley is administered by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

Survivor’s Summit- Rest In Peace

2010-09-06T20:00:00.011-04:00

Saturday, September 18

Have you experienced a loss due to violence?

* Discover what you can do today to make our

community safer.

* Share your personal story for an educational/public

awareness video.

* Access resources for helping your family cope with

a loss and navigating the court process.

What: Survivor’s Summit

When: Saturday, September 18, 2010

Where: Wildwood Recreation Center

1000 28th St. South St. Petersburg

Time: 10 a.m.- Noon

Who: Lisa Brown, The Cabretti Wheeler Project

Brown’s son’s 2008 murder remains

unsolved. Hear what she is doing for justice.

Rest In Peace

Please wear your memorial t-shirts and bring a picture of your

loved one to share for a group photo.

-------------------------

When we defeat the "Stop Snitchin" culture, public street level drug sales and the accompanying violence will be over.

Speak Up Speak Now!
on display through October 10th at the Florida Holocaust Museum.

http://www.flholocaustmuseum.org/education/start-standing.aspx

Labor Day 2010 TV Spot

2010-09-01T19:37:00.000-04:00

Freedom Riders - Could You Get On the Bus?" The film will replay on WEDU, Channel 3, May 20th and 22nd

2010-08-16T11:27:00.003-04:00

Two more opportunities to see this film.
Freedom Riders Discuss 50th Anniversary of Protest Movement

For more information, photos and videos, go to:
Sundance
Director: Stanley Nelson, Producer: Laurens Grant
The film is scheduled to air on the PBS series American Experience in 2011 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders.

May 16th, 2011

Based in part on the book Freedom Riders by
Raymond Arsenault, the John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History and co-director of the Florida Studies Program at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. A graduate of Princeton and Brandeis, he is the author of two prize-winning books and numerous articles on race, civil rights, and regional culture.
To order a copy of the book from a union book store go here.

Representative Mary Brandenburg’s Substantial Assistance Legislation Signed Into Law

2010-06-06T18:49:00.001-04:00

Representative Mary Brandenburg (D-Lake Worth) welcomed the signing into law of House Bill 615

“Today’s signing into law of House Bill 615 highlights the need in our communities to find ways to reduce the amount of violent crimes in Florida,” said Representative Brandenburg. “Too many communities in our state have experienced high numbers of incidents of gang-related activity, and we must use every tool at our disposal to make sure our neighborhoods and families are safe. This new law will help prosecutors provide appropriate sentencing for those who can help us put a halt to gang-related crimes and other crimes in our communities.”

The new law will allow state prosecutors to ask a sentencing court to reduce or suspend the sentence of any person who is convicted of a felony offense and who provides substantial assistance in the identification, arrest, or conviction of any person engaged in criminal activity which would constitute a felony. This reform will help in the identification, investigation and prosecution of crimes that would otherwise go undetected.

“ I am pleased to have had the opportunity to work with State Attorney Michael McAuliffe on this important legislation,” said Representative Brandenburg. “We have a great team here in Palm Beach County.”

2010-04-12T21:38:00.006-04:00

Here are some links:

http://citypaper.net/articles/2009/08/13/uhuru-philadelphia

Police Chief blamed the violence on the Uhuru Movement, which had advocated executing the police officers involved in the Oct. 24 shooting of TyRon Lewis.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9406E5DC173AF936A25752C1A960958260&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Subjects/D/Demonstrations%20and%20Riots

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/21/Southpinellas/Tallying_up_costs_sol.shtml

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/22/news_pf/Tampabay/_Officers_primed_to_q.shtml

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1996-11-14/news/9611140167_1_police-officer-grand-jury-riot

Enhancing police integrity
By Carl B. Klockars, Sanja Kutnjak Ivković, Maria R. Haberfeld http://tinyurl.com/45ofq5p

Recovering From a Political Cult

http://www.csj.org/pub_affnews/aff_news42.htm Recovering From a Political Cult

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/14/Columns/Uhurus_disrespect_a_g.shtml

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/talk/2008/08/crist-throws-mc.html?cid=129946510

School of Hate: This article describes activity at the proposed school campus; "a local gang called the 8 Hype Boys and was involved in a gang shooting the day before Paris' death. They accused him of shooting at a Bethel Heights member at a party at Uhuru House on 18th Avenue S."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1041368.ece

http://www.sptimes.com/News/060900/SouthPinellas/New_Uhuru_plan_baffle.shtml

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/1/560703/-Obama-Heckler:-Local-Knowledge

http://4noone.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/clowns-to-the-left-jokers-to-the-right/

Uhurus arrested for selling illegal drugs

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-37321944_ITM

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/uhuru-leaders-sons-arrested-accused-of-running-drug-house-in-st-petersburg/1101196

http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-37363998_ITM

http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005_04_01_archive.html

Calling him a 'true hero', mourners hold vigil for suspected Oakland cop killer Lovelle Mixon. What is the message that the organizer, the Uhuru Movement, is sending? That they are condoning the horrific actions of a career criminal.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/03/26/vigil_held_for_suspected_oakland_cop_killer/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/03/26/2009-03-26_calling_him_a_true_hero_mourners_hold_vi.html

http://monroeanderson.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/cop-killing-is-a-bad-political-cause.html

http://www.dailycal.org/article/105007/fallen_oakland_police_officers_remembered

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5336891&mesg_id=5337865

http://www.softmachinecubed.com/other/tag/oakland

http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2009/03/26/dont-blame-the-united-way-for-uhuru/#comment-7762

http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2009/03/25/uhuru-movement-praises-cop-killer/#comment-7752

http://articles.sfgate.com/2009-03-26/news/17213584_1_mixon-s-mother-marchers-officers

http://www.abetteroakland.com/honoring-oaklands-fallen-officers/2009-03-23

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/868/reftab/36/t/Many-Law-Enforcement-Officials-Outraged-at-Rally-for-Oakland-Gunman/Default.aspx

http://www.causes.com/causes/255268?as_id=370854&as_type=Sharing&

http://www.blackinformant.com/headlines/bizarro-world

Neighborhood safety is a collective effort

http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/letters/neighborhood-safety-is-a-collective-effort/1131733

Anti-Defamation League (page 18) lists Uhuru with groups that "possess ideologies based on hate and intolerance".

http://www.adl.org/learn/extremismfloridainside.pdf

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/12/29/Southpinellas/St_Petersburg_gets_li.shtml

http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/gangs/racial.html

40 years of violence in our town.

This article describes activity at the proposed charter school campus that may possibly be related to the murder of an 8-year-old child; "a local gang called the 8 Hype Boys and was involved in a gang shooting the day before Paris' death. They accused him of shooting at a Bethel Heights member at a party at Uhuru House on 18th Avenue S."

http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1041368.ece

http://www.sptimes.com/News/060900/SouthPinellas/New_Uhuru_plan_baffle.shtml

Protesting WMNF http://tampa.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/off_the_air/Content?oid=5062

http://www.poynterextra.org/pointssouth/writingsummer99/stories/whang.htm

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/1/560703/-Obama-Heckler:-Local-Knowledge

http://www.sptimes.com/News/030101/SouthPinellas/Black_vote_reflects_u.shtml

http://seminoleheights.blogspot.com/2005/04/connie-burton-booted-from-home-and.html

http://www.sptimes.com/News/030101/SouthPinellas/Black_vote_reflects_u.shtml

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/05/14/Southpinellas/Jury_rules_for_city_i.shtml

http://oaklandlocal.com/blogs/2010/21/east-oakland-paying-price-cop-killings-one-year

http://deletionpedia.dbatley.com/w/index.php?title=International_People%27s_Democratic_Uhuru_Movement_%28deleted_18_Feb_2008_at_23:27%29

http://yesbuthowever.com/naacp-8500001/

http://www.dailypundit.com/?p=34290

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/baratunde-thurston/to-obamas-black-hecklers_b_116495.html

The enemies list By P. J. O'Rourke Or you think it does until you read this astonishing statement from the People's Democratic Uhuru Movement: Representing the interests of the African ...

http://tinyurl.com/46hc5gc

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=lcptOKKG520

http://medlibrary.org/medwiki/International_People%27s_Democratic_Uhuru_Movement

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/forum/local-state/1610-local-racists-uhuru-start-fight-council-2.html

"No Snitch" rule and witness intimidation

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jun/12/121559/uhuru-leader-says-children-witnessed-st-pete-polic/

http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/7247014058.html

Call Uhuru what they are, a libelous, unhelpful fringe group

http://www.abetteroakland.com/ha/2008-05-30

Watch TBEP's New "Pooches for the Planet" Video on YouTube

2010-03-19T22:01:00.001-04:00

Just the Facts 2010: Guns, An examination of falsehoods.

2010-03-13T23:55:00.000-05:00

Walking Tour of Historic African-American Main Street Is Set for Saturday, March 6

2010-03-02T21:28:00.002-05:00

St. Petersburg Preservation Inc., the Carter Woodson Museum and the 22^nd Street Redevelopment Corp. are sponsoring a special walking tour of historic 22^nd Street South starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 6 from the Carter G. Woodson Museum of African American History, 2240 Ninth Avenue S. The tour is free for members of St. Petersburg Preservation or the Carter Woodson Museum and a $5 donation is requested from non-members. Free parking is available at the museum or directly across the street from the museum.

During the segregation era, 22^nd Street South was the vibrant main street of St. Petersburg’s African American community. At its zenith about 1960, the street was home to more than 100 businesses, many Black-owned and operated. The legendary Manhattan Casino, host to such top performers as Louis Armstrong,12 James Brown, and Duke Ellington, was a cornerstone. The segregated Mercy Hospital and Royal Theater were landmarks. Memories still remain of Geech’s Barbecue, Henderson’s Sundries, Harden’s Grocery, and Doctors Pharmacy.

The tour 1 ½ to 2 hour tour will discuss the importance of 22^nd Street Sourth and tell the story of African-Americans in St. Petersburg. Guides are lifelong resident James Oliver, community historian Minson Rubin, and Jon Wilson, a retired St. Petersburg Times journalist who has co-authored two books on the city’s African-American history.

For more information about St. Petersburg Preservation and its other historic walking tours, visit www.stpetepreservation.org. For information about the Carter Woodson Museum, visit www.woodsonmuseum.org and for information about the 22^nd Stree Redeveloment Corp., visit, www.discover22ndst.com.

CONTACTS:

P.O Box 838 Event Line: 727/824-7802

St. Petersburg, FL 33731 www.stpetepreservation.org

Peter Belmont, peterbelmont@earthlink.net, (727) 463-4612

Jon Wilson, jlwilso5@mail.usf.edu, (727) 488-3382

South St. Petersburg through eyes of longtime resident

2010-02-21T21:57:00.000-05:00

South St. Petersburg through eyes of longtime resident

Free Movie Screening in Gulfport, FL

2010-02-21T08:23:00.005-05:00

A Movie of Global Proportions! The Age of Stupid

Movie Showing: Wednesday, February 24th 6:30 p.m. Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S., Gulfport

St. Petersburg gun bounty program sees slow start

2010-02-04T17:15:00.001-05:00

St. Petersburg gun bounty program sees slow start

Posted using ShareThis

Geoff Lawton's Permaculture News Review

2010-01-31T23:33:00.006-05:00

As the Global Food Crisis looms ever closer, interest in Permaculture is becoming ever more evident in the mainstream media. In this short newsroom remix, meet the Managing Director of The Permaculture Research Institute in Australia, Geoff Lawton.

For More Information about Geoff and The Permaculture Research Institute Please Visit;
http://www.permaculture.org.au

For More Information about The Global Permaculture Movement Please Visit;
http://www.permacultureplanet.com

Raisin in the Sun Play LIVE - Saturday Feb 6, 2010 - Black History Month

2010-01-28T20:42:00.006-05:00

A Raisin In The Sun from Rory Lawrence on Vimeo.

Doors open at 6:30pm –
Performance starts at 7pm
Call 888-559-0008 or 727-447-5661
for more information.
Please go to www.harlemnightsbenefit.org
to order your tickets at $25 each
or buy group of 10
for only $20 each per ticket.

We Need Jobs Now

2010-01-28T20:21:00.002-05:00

Listen to AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka's response to President Obama's State of the Union address.

Please take a moment to watch this video and pass it around. The president was absolutely right to make jobs a top priority, and we must act on a scale that is meaningful. I hope you can join us in this fight.

In solidarity,

Richard L. Trumka
AFL-CIO President

2010-01-11T18:10:00.001-05:00

http://www.bartlettpark.net/2007/11/chocolate-nutcracker.html

http://newsouthstpete.blogspot.com/2007/10/see-it-stop-it-and-say-it-get-illegal.htm

The Garden, at The Eleventh Annual Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College

2010-01-06T21:56:00.004-05:00

Urban Ecology - The Garden, directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy

When: February 28, 2009, 7 pm

Credits

Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Length: 80 mins

Introduced by: Nathan Andersen, Associate Professor of Philosophy, and Kelly Schiller, Senior in Political Science and Environmental Studies

The fourteen-acre community garden at 41st and Alameda in South Central Los Angeles is the largest of its kind in the United States. Started as a form of healing after the devastating L.A. riots in 1992, the South Central Farmers have since created a miracle in one of the country's most blighted neighborhoods. Growing their own food. Feeding their families. Creating a community.

But now, bulldozers are poised to level their 14-acre oasis.

The Garden follows the plight of the farmers, from the tilled soil of this urban farm to the polished marble of City Hall. Mostly immigrants from Latin America, from countries where they feared for their lives if they were to speak out, we watch them organize, fight back, and demand answers:

Why was the land sold to a wealthy developer for millions less than fair-market value? Why was the transaction done in a closed-door session of the LA City Council? Why has it never been made public?

And the powers-that-be have the same response: "The garden is wonderful, but there is nothing more we can do."

If everyone told you nothing more could be done, would you give up?

The film was an official selection of Silverdocs and the LA Film Festival and is currently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary of 2009!

The Eleventh Annual Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College

February 21 to 28, 2009

General Information

All programs are free and open to the general public.

Eckerd College is located at 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida. Click here for driving directions and maps to Eckerd College.

For further information, please contact the Eckerd College Office of Communications at 727-864-7979 or events@eckerd.edu.

Program

All screenings are at 7 p.m. in The Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium at Eckerd College except Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m.

All programs will be preceded by a short reception with the presenter and will feature an opportunity for audience questions immediately after the program. Refreshments will be available in the lobby of The Dan and Mary Miller Auditorium

FREEDOM RIDERS

2010-01-05T18:35:00.001-05:00

Freedom Riders was one of 16 films selected from 862 Submissions for the US Documentary Competition of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival!

For more information, photos and videos, go to:
Sundance
Director: Stanley Nelson, Producer: Laurens Grant
The film is scheduled to air on the PBS series American Experience in 2011 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders.
Based in part on the book Freedom Riders by
Raymond Arsenault, the John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History and co-director of the Florida Studies Program at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. A graduate of Princeton and Brandeis, he is the author of two prize-winning books and numerous articles on race, civil rights, and regional culture.
To order a copy of the book from a union book store go here.

Emancipation Day 2010

2009-12-24T00:51:00.004-05:00

January 1, Friday from 10AM till Noon
The St. Pete NAACP Branch will host an Annual Emancipation Day Celebration
"Continuing Our Legacy, Bold Dreams Speak Victories,"
Bethel Community Baptist Church
2901 54th Ave. So. in St. Pete

``On the first day of January 1863 all persons held as slaves within any state shall be thenceforth and forever free,`` said the Emancipation Proclamation.

Emancipation Day has been commemorated in our community on New Year's Day by the NAACP and the Council on Human Relations in various churches. Years ago we had older participants who grew up with former slaves, their great grandparents. Now they are not here to tell their story and we must learn this history from books.

Washington, D.C. celebrates April 16 as Emancipation Day. That day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act. This Act freed enslaved persons nine months before the more famous Emancipation Proclamation.

Two years ago Mayor Anthony Williams signed legislation making Emancipation Day an official public holiday in the District. Wikipedia reports that the Emancipation Day celebration was held yearly from 1866 to 1901, and was just resumed in 2002.

Emancipation Day has long been celebrated in Texas, where it is known as Juneteenth. St. Pete has had one of the biggest and best Juneteenth celebrations.

The emancipation proclamation freed slaves only in states that were in rebellion and, Juneteenth celebrates the day much later that the slaves learned they were free.

Here is an account of last years ceremony from community activist Norm Bungard.

I attended an inspiring event that took place at the Lakewood United Church of Christ, on New Year's Day. The annual (we think it was the thirtieth) Emancipation Proclamation Service emceed by Elder Martin Rainey, First President, and Trenia L. Cox, Second President, of the St Petersburg Branch of the NAACP was very inspiring. There were political leaders; ministers; NAACP state and local leaders present and each had an opportunity to share the past, present and future of Race Relations.

I first became a member of this branch a L O N G time ago when Morris Milton was President and Myrna Gemmer and her late husband Dr Bob were the educational chairs. I certainly learned a lot about the movement, which I have supported since the sixties. It was probably 26 or so years ago that I head Morris speak at the Princess Martha Hotel. He was a real orator, the greatest I have ever heard. He lifted us out of our seats.

There were two highlights I want to share. One was the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by a teen who has such a strong and beautiful voice that it added to the words in an eloquent manner. Her name is Kalima Haneef and I hope at some future point you will get to hear her or see her. She is a leader and I feel certain we will hear more from her in future years.

The second highlight was from a Minister (all ministers were inspiring; as were all speakers). Frank Peterman introduced Rev Joe Tucker of the 5th Avenue Church of Christ. We had heard from speakers who called attention to the low graduation rate in Pinellas for all students, black students in particular, and how we collectively need to fix that. Rev Tucker's thundering comment that I will recall is this: The answer to our problems is not in the White House; it's in your house.

There is much to digest and you may agree or disagree. I personally believe it's in both houses and everywhere in between. His point was that proper parenting is the most important.

My best to each of us for a new year filled with hope for improved relations among everyone.
Norm Bungard

Credit: "Memory for the slaves" by Clara Sornas, at the former auction square in front of the now Anglican Church , Zanzibar, Tanzania. Photo by Farl, Cebu, Philippines, some rights reserved.

FRESH --an upbeat and wonderfully fresh look at our food system

2009-12-14T23:02:00.008-05:00

Check here for a listing of local screenings.

Will Allen, 6ft 7" former professional basketball player, is now one of the most influential leaders of the food security & urban farming movement. His farm and not-for-profit, Growing Power, have trained and inspired people in every corner of the US to start growing food sustainably. This man and his organization go beyond growing food. They provide a platform for people to share knowledge and form relationships in order to develop alternatives to the industrial food system.

"FRESH is just that--an upbeat and wonderfully fresh look at our food system and how to make it work better for the health of humans and the planet. It's a must see for everyone who eats."

-Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard Professor,
Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health, New York University

We all know about the problems with the American food system, but what about the solutions? FRESH is a bracing, even exhilarating look at the whole range of efforts underway to renovate the way we grow food and feed ourselves.
-Michael Pollan, Author, In Defense of Food

"Absolutely first-rate...The film is not a preach-fest; it's an informative, inspirational, swiftly-edited and beautifully scored movie. What the doc does best is demonstrate that nature's own ways of doing things - nature's food chain, nature's circle of life - is, ultimately, the best treatment of land and livestock."
-Moving Pictures Magazine

"FRESH, The Movie, in contrast to Food Inc. presents a vision of the possible by profiling heroes all over the country who are changing the way we eat. FRESH'S strength is that it shows how organic, ecological farming methods can be viable."
-EcoSalon.com

"It is becoming increasingly clear that for all its past benefits, the industrial food system no longer serves the best interests of people or the planet. FRESH begins to suggest what at least part of our future food system might look like...."
-Frederick Kirschenmann, Distinguished Fellow, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

"FRESH is a rich and inspiring meal. FRESH offers not only a serious look at where we are and a useful primer on how we got there, but repeated heart-lifting demonstrations that there are ways to produce food that are safer, kinder and more natural."
-Joan Gussow, Author, and Professor Emeritus (Nutrition), Columbia University Teachers College

Our current industrial method of food production is increasingly viewed as an unsustainable system, destructive to the environment and public health. But what is the alternative?

Fresh profiles the farmers, thinkers, and business people across the nation who are at the forefront of re-inventing food production in America. With a strong commitment to sustainability, they are changing how farms are run, how the land is cared for, and how food is distributed. Their success demonstrates that a new paradigm based on sustainable practices can be profitable and a model for our food system, if people choose to support it.

Fresh opens with a short summary of the problems and consequences of industrialized food production, then focuses primarily on the individuals who are creating new approaches to address environmental, health, and economic challenges throughout the food chain.

Joel Salatin is a world-famous sustainable farmer and entrepreneur who, by observing nature, devised a rotational grazing system for his animals that heals the land while making his operations many times more profitable than his conventional farming neighbors.

Will Allen, a former pro basketball player and recipient of a Macarthur Genius Award, is now one of the most influential leaders of the urban farming movement. He teaches people in the inner city the value of healthy food and how to grow their own.

David Ball saw his family-run supermarket and a once-thriving local farming community dying with the rise of Walmart and other big chains. So he reinvented his business, partnering with area farmers to sell locally-grown food at an affordable price. His plan has brought the local economy back to life.

Fresh also features a farmer in Iowa who illustrates the struggles family farmers face, a hog farmer in Missouri who stopped using antibiotics on his pigs, and commentary by noted food expert and author Michael Pollan.

www.freshthemovie.com

Running Time: 70 minutes
A film by Ana Sofia Joanes

2008 MacArthur Fellow: Will Allen

Victory Gardens-Free Class on Saturdays

http://www.bartlettpark.net/2009/05/community-garden-ordinance.html

Kid FABulous! Fit, Active, Black Families

2009-12-14T21:58:00.000-05:00

From Keisha Bell, JD, FAB Families Project Manager

FAB Families is currently accepting applications for its upcoming Kid FABulous! program. For a visual of Kid FABulous! watch the video.

Our next 12-week series begins Saturday, January 30^th. The application deadline is Friday, January 15^th. Space is limited!

Please share with your networks!

Kid Fabulous is part of the F.A.B. (Fit, Active, Black) Families St. Petersburg program aimed at reducing childhood obesity and improving all around health in St. Petersburg's African-American community.
For more information on FAB Families, visit: www.stpeteFABFamilies.com

Substantial savings on delicious food and groceries

2009-12-13T23:20:00.001-05:00

Share Host Site Directory

Field of Forgotten Dreams/The African-American Baseball Experience Exhibit comes to Tampa

2009-12-11T17:03:00.029-05:00

Hinchliffe is one of the last surviving stadiums that hosted Negro League games. Can it be saved?

Monte Irvin stepped into the batter's box at Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, N.J., took measure of the stately new ballpark, and began depositing baseball after baseball over the outfield wall, some of his prodigious blasts traveling more than 400 feet.

It was the spring of 1937, and Irvin, a 17-year-old rising star from the nearby city of Orange with a .666 high school batting average, was at Hinchliffe trying out for a professional baseball team. Because Irvin was African American, and because of the color barrier in the major leagues, the team was not the New York Yankees or the Brooklyn Dodgers but a Negro League ball club called the Newark Eagles.

The sweet sound of home run after home run—crack, crack, crack—attracted the attention of Josh Gibson and Buck Leonard, two Negro League players preparing for a game at Hinchliffe later that day. Irvin was introduced to the two stars, whose grace, athleticism, and dapper uniforms and dress had inspired him. Indeed, Gibson had been called The Black Babe Ruth and Leonard The Black Lou Gehrig (though some wondered if Gehrig should have been dubbed The White Buck Leonard). And on this day, Irvin learned he would play alongside his two idols. He had made the Eagles.

Even though Irvin never imagined it possible at the time, with his paltry $125-a-month salary and the seemingly unshakeable reality of segregation in America, he would become one of the first African American players to make the major leagues after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, and would go on to enjoy a Hall of Fame career as a left fielder for the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs.
The courage that players such as Irvin and Robinson mustered in the face of hostile crowds in the majors had a profound impact on African Americans everywhere, their performance and character a rebuke to the notion that race somehow rendered them inferior. It was in the Negro Leagues —where conditions were often second-rate but the play was anything but—that their long journey began. More: http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/story-of-the-week/2009/negro-league-stadium.html

Subscribe to Preservation

New Southside

PRIDE & PASSION: The African-American Baseball Experience Exhibit

From: Monday, January 4, 2010
To: Friday, February 19, 2010

Location: John F. Germany Public Library 900 North Ashley Dr. in Downtown Tampa

Price: Free to the public

Contact: Stacey Jurewicz | phone: 813-272-5504 | email: Jurewiczs@hillsboroughcounty.org | website: http://www.hcplc.org

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System is pleased to announce it has been awarded the opportunity to host Pride and Passion: The African-American Baseball Experience at the John F. Germany Library, from Jan 4, 2010 through Feb 19, 2010 and to receive $2500 grant funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The traveling exhibition is based on an exhibition of the same name on permanent display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and tells the story of black baseball players in the U.S. over the past century and a half. In addition to the exhibit, the John F. Germany Library will be presenting an Opening Day Ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. with the Tampa Bay Rays, acclaimed illustrator Kadir Nelson, Jackie Robinson’s daughter Sharon Robinson and Negro League scholars Dr. Lawrence Hogan and Dr. Robert Cvornyek. Many other programs that are inspired by the exhibit will also be offered during its run, including appearances by former players, scholarly panel discussions, baseball-themed craft programs for children, and much more!

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: “Are Human Rights Universal?”

2009-11-29T22:21:00.001-05:00

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: “Are Human Rights Universal?”
is the topic of a Human Rights Day program by Dr. Bill Felice, professor of political science at Eckerd Colleges who teaches courses in international political economy, international organization, international law, and human rights.
The program will begin at 7:00 PM on Human Rights Day, Thursday, December 10 at the Eckerd College Miller Auditorium, 4200 54th Avenue South in St. Petersburg. Dr. Felice will discuss whether or not the concept of human rights is primarily a western concept, how human rights are reconciled with religious practice, who defines human rights, and developing countries’ ability to afford human rights without assistance. A panel discussion will feature Luz Estella Nagle, professor at Stetson Law School with a background in fighting drug lords in Colombia and stopping human trafficking; a representative from the Tampa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations; and Dr. Fred Morris, Director of the Faith Partners of Americas in Panama, who was tortured by the Brazilian government, which recently acknowledged torturing Dr. Morris and gave him a formal apology and compensation. Dr. David Randle, Co-Facilitator of Global Healing Initiative, will moderate.

The program is sponsored by the United Nations Association of Tampa Bay, Global Healing, and the Eckerd College Center for Spiritual Life and Campus Ministries

Violent Crime Celebrated in Uhuru Video

2009-11-23T22:16:00.002-05:00

The intent is to incite further violence bringing more death and destruction to a beleaguered African American community. This disturbing statement makes heroes of criminals who attacked our St. Petersburg police officers during the October and November '96 riots.

Part 2 in a series.

The speaker is Omali Yesheltela, a local politician who has been taken under the wing of Florida Governors Charlie Crist and Jeb Bush and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker. A pardon of his felony conviction was arranged so that he could run for Mayor and help Baker defeat the strongest candidate, a populist Democrat.

Several hundred thousand dollars of your tax money went to his organization, an attempt was made to start a charter school, city staff have provided extensive support and half a million dollars was just put into their building yet this group has not been required to renounce violence.

Omali brags of the armed assault against police officers during the ’96 riots. His version of reality has the police attacking the Uhurus with intent to “get rid of us”and then “they got their asses whupped”. With obvious glee he describes how criminals “brought down a police helicopter with gunfire,gunshots...”, “shot one cop”, and forced the officers to withdraw “under heavy fire”.

How could one be happy to see murder attempted? These armchair revolutionaries have taken on the role of guerrilla fighters by inciting misguided teenagers to do the actual violence. Their goal is to destroy the peace of this neighborhood and make residents question our loyalty to a state that can not protect us and an economic system that can not provide for us. Many of the criminals are simply sociopaths or drug addicts too desperate to think about the harm they do. Their actions show they don't care about the people they grew up amongst or the neighborhood where their families live. Put these groups together, provide them with a fat budget, paid staff and a large support network of well intentioned white folks and you have a recipe for destruction of a community.

Do you wonder why the media haven't told you any of this?

The video is titled "Riots, Rebellions, and Revolution--The Battle of St. Pete."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you want to see more tax money go the this group?
Contact City Council

Mailing Address:
175 5th St. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Phone: 727- 893-7117
E-mail Council: Council@stpete.org

http://tinyurl.com/4vnuuxz

Victory Gardens-Free Class on Saturdays

2009-11-22T21:12:00.006-05:00

In the early to mid part of the 20^th Century, the US Government encouraged citizens to plant Victory Gardens to reduce the pressure on the public food supply brought on by the war effort. These home gardens also helped to improve morale on the home front. Eleanor Roosevelt cultivated the last major Victory Garden at the White House in 1943. First lady Michelle Obama rekindled interest in Victory Gardens this spring when she and her family planted the seeds for the White House's largest 1,100-square-foot organic vegetable garden. Inspiring a host of suburban gardeners to do the same in economic hard times.

Beyond the Pennsylvania Avenue, Victory Gardens seem to be catching on across the US and in the Bay Area.

"Gardening is catching on in these rough times not just because of its economic implications but it is good for individual well-being," said Matt Fahy, a Masters student in licensed mental health counseling. "Exercise, improved nutrition and stress reduction are all added benefits to gardening not to mention the sense of accomplishment. These benefits help in these uncertain times," said Fahy, whose studies emphasize horticultural activities as simple solution to improve a person's quality of life.

Fahy will help seasoned and aspiring organic gardeners learn to plan and plant their own Victory Gardens as part of an four-part series beginning November 28, lectures are from 1-3pm at Twigs & Leaves Nursery, 1013 9th (Dr. Martin Luther King) Street South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701.

Attendees can learn the history of victory gardens and how they are relevant in today's economy, environment and the social benefits.

"These gardens saved resources, provided food, reduced environmental stress from the agricultural industry, bound communities together and helped our troops achieve victory abroad. Today, the troubles we face have changed, but this tool can help us to overcome them." said Fahy.

The Victory Garden series continues every Saturday from Dec 5-19 from 1pm-3pm with a free seminars from Sustainability to Wellness and more.

For more information call Matt Fahy, 727.488.2597 or email mattfahy74@yahoo.com

New Southside

The Age of Stupid

2009-11-16T23:08:00.001-05:00

The Age of Stupid coming soon to St. Pete

Representative Kathy Castor on HR 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act

2009-11-14T15:50:00.003-05:00

More here

and here

The Ybor City Stogie: Rally At Kathy Castor's Office

Making His Dream a Reality

2009-11-07T20:58:00.000-05:00

Four decades ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led what would be his last campaign—a strike in Memphis, Tenn., involving hundreds of working people who dared to take a stand for dignity and respect on the job and a voice at work with AFSCME.During the strike, King spoke to the workers and reminded them of the dignity of their labor:"So often we overlook the work and the significance of those who are not in professional jobs, of those who are not in the so-called big jobs. But let me say to you tonight that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth."

Watch video of his speech here.

Tragically, King never witnessed the success the Memphis sanitation workers achieved. The 64-day strike ended with a union contract for 1,300 members of AFSCME Local 1733. The strike is credited with reviving a dormant union movement in Memphis and initiating a wave of public employee union organizing in other parts of the South.In honor of the strike’s 40th anniversary, the AFL-CIO is holding its 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observance this weekend in Memphis. More than 900 union and civil rights activists are gathering to reaffirm their commitment to making King’s dream a reality.

Learn more here and here.

The weekend is devoted to community service projects serving the community that King worked to help—the poor and disadvantaged.AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will present a computer lab paid for by union members to a local elementary school, and AFSCME and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) will make contributions to schools and the Head Start program.“Working people across the country know that civil and worker rights go hand in hand, and that without the tools for a proper education, students can never go on to attain the kind of economic equality in which King and other leaders believed,” Sweeney said. A few years before the Memphis strike, King spoke of the importance of a strong labor movement in our country’s history. “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress,” he said.

This year, 40 years after Dr. King’s death, we ask ourselves, "How will things be for our children 40 years from NOW?" We owe it to him to keep up this fight—and that's exactly what we're planning to do.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Memphis strike, pick up Michael K. Honey’s book, “Going Down Jericho Road: The Memphis Strike, Martin Luther King's Last Campaign” at the Union Shop Online.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Labor

Negroes are almost entirely a working people. There are pitifully few Negro millionaires, and few Negro employers. Our needs are identical with labor's needs — decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children and respect in the community. That is why Negroes support labor's demands and fight laws which curb labor. That is why the labor-hater and labor-baiter is virtually always a twin-headed creature spewing anti-Negro epithets from one mouth and anti-labor propaganda from the other mouth.
AFL-CIO Convention, December 1961

I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream—a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality. That is the dream...
AFL-CIO Convention, December 1961

New economic patterning through automation is dissolving the jobs of workers in some of the nation's basic industries. This is to me a catastrophe. We are neither technologically advanced nor socially enlightened if we witness this disaster for tens of thousands without finding a solution. And by a solution, I mean a real and genuine alternative, providing the same living standards which were swept away by a force called progress, but which for some is destruction. The society that performs miracles with machinery has the capacity to make some miracles for men—if it values men as highly as it values machines.
UAW 25th Anniversary dinner, April 27, 1961

As I have said many times, and believe with all my heart, the coalition that can have the greatest impact in the struggle for human dignity here in America is that of the Negro and the forces of labor, because their fortunes are so closely intertwined.
Letter to Amalgamated Laundry Workers, January 1962

It is in this area (politics) of American life that labor and the Negro have identical interests. Labor has grave problems today of employment, shorter hours, old age security, housing and retraining against the impact of automation. The Congress and the Administration are almost as indifferent to labor's program as they are toward that of the Negro. Toward both they offer vastly less than adequate remedies for the problems which are a torment to us day after day.
UAW District 65 Convention, September 1962

At the turn of the century women earned approximately ten cents an hour, and men were fortunate to receive twenty cents an hour. The average work week was sixty to seventy hours. During the thirties, wages were a secondary issue; to have a job at all was the difference between the agony of starvation and a flicker of life. The nation, now so vigorous, reeled and tottered almost to total collapse. The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress. Out of its bold struggles, economic and social reform gave birth to unemployment insurance, old age pensions, government relief for the destitute, and above all new wage levels that meant not mere survival, but a tolerable life. The captains of industry did not lead this transformation; they resisted it until they were overcome. When in the thirties the wave of union organization crested over our nation, it carried to secure shores not only itself but the whole society.
Illinois AFL-CIO Convention, October 1965

The South is labor's other deep menace. Lower wage rates and improved transportation have magnetically attracted industry. The wide-spread, deeply-rooted Negro poverty in the South weakens the wage scale there for the white as well as the Negro. Beyond that, a low wage structure in the South becomes a heavy pressure on higher wages in the North.
Illinois AFL-CIO Convention, October 1965

In the days to come, organized labor will increase its importance in the destinies of Negroes. Automation is imperceptibly but inexorably producing dislocations, skimming off unskilled labor from the industrial force. The displaced are flowing into proliferating service occupations. These enterprises are traditionally unorganized and provide low wage scales with longer hours. The Negroes pressed into these services need union protection, and the union movement needs their membership to maintain its relative strength in the whole society.
Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? 1967

Today Negroes want above all else to abolish poverty in their lives, and in the lives of the white poor. This is the heart of their program. To end humiliation was a start, but to end poverty is a bigger task. It is natural for Negroes to turn to the Labor movement because it was the first and pioneer anti-poverty program. It will not be easy to accomplish this program because white America has had cheap victories up to this point. The limited reforms we have won have been at bargain rates for the power structure. There are no expenses involved, no taxes are required, for Negroes to share lunch counters, libraries, parks, hotels and other facilities. Even the more substantial reforms such as voting rights require neither monetary or psychological sacrifice. The real cost lies ahead. To enable the Negro to catch up, to repair the damage of centuries of denial and oppression means appropriations to create jobs and job training; it means the outlay of billions for decent housing and equal education.
Teamsters and Allied Trade Councils, New York City, May 1967

When there is massive unemployment in the black community, it is called a social problem. But when there is massive unemployment in the white community, it is called a Depression.
We look around every day and we see thousands and millions of people making inadequate wages. Not only do they work in our hospitals, they work in our hotels, they work in our laundries, they work in domestic service, they find themselves underemployed. You see, no labor is really menial unless you're not getting adequate wages. People are always talking about menial labor. But if you're getting a good (wage) as I know that through some unions they've brought it up...that isn't menial labor. What makes it menial is the income, the wages.
Local 1199 Salute to Freedom, March 1968

You are demanding that this city will respect the dignity of labor. So often we overlook the work and the significance of those who are not in professional jobs, of those who are not in the so-called big jobs. But let me say to you tonight that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth.
AFSCME Memphis Sanitation Strike, April 3, 1968.

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Speech to the UAW 25th Anniversary Dinner

2009-11-03T14:38:00.002-05:00

From IamtheUAW.org
"The UAW and Martin Luther King Jr.: Shared Beliefs, Shared History"

Starting in the late 1950’s, UAW members joined Dr. King and many others in campaigns to end segregation and to expand civil rights throughout the country.
In 1961, then UAW President Walter Reuther invited Dr. King to speak at the UAW’s 25th Anniversary Dinner in Detroit. (You can listen to part of that speech here, but please note the audio file is copyrighted).
In 1963, King and other leaders of the civil rights movement, with backing from the UAW and other labor unions, were mobilizing to pass landmark civil rights legislation.
On June 23rd, 1963, as part of that fight, Dr. King delivered the Speech at the Great March on Detroit. King worked out of an office in Solidarity House, the UAW’s headquarters, while organizing the Detroit march; the speech he gave there is considered the first version of his now famous I Have a Dream Speech delivered to over 200,000 people attending the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Speech to the UAW 25th Anniversary Dinner April 27, 1961

Mr. Chairman, President Reuther, distinguished Secretary of Labor, Mr. Goldberg, Senator Hart, all of the distinguished guests assembled here on the platform, delegates and friends of UAW, Ladies and Gentlemen, I need not pause to say how very delighted I am to be here this evening and to be a part of his auspicious occasion, and
I cannot stand here without giving just a word of thanks to this great union for all that you have done across these 25 years. You have made life more meaningful for millions of people, and I'm sure that America is a better place in which to live as a result of the great work that has been done by UAW. You have given to this nation a magnificent example of honest, democratic trade unionism. And your great president, Walter Reuther, will certainly go down in history as one of the truly great persons of this generation. (APPLAUSE)
I bring greetings to you this evening from the hundreds and thousands - yea, millions of people in the Southland who are struggling for freedom and human dignity. I bring greetings to you from the thousands of Negro students who have stood up courageously against the principalities of segregation for all of the all of these months they have moved in a uniquely meaningful orbit, imparting light and heat to distant satellites. And, as a result of their non-violent and yet courageous struggle, they have been able to bring about integration in more than 139 cities at the lunch counters. (APPLAUSE)
I am sure that when historians look back over this particular era of our history, they will have to record this movement as one of the most significant epics of our heritage.
Now, as I think with you tonight and think about this significant occasion, I would like to open by saying that organized labor has come a long, long way from the days of the strike-breaking injunctions of federal courts, from the days of intimidation and firings in the plants, from the days that your union leaders could be physically beaten with impunity. The clubs and claws of the heartless anti-labor forces have been clipped and you now have organizations of strength and intelligence to keep your interest from being submerged and ignored. This is certainly the glorious meaning of your 25th Anniversary.
Negroes who are now but beginning their march from the dark and desolate Egypt of segregation and discrimination can gain from you real inspiration and encouragement for the hard road still ahead. But though we have a multitude of problems almost absorbing every moment of our time and consuming almost every ounce of our energies, we cannot be unmindful of new problems confronting labor. And toward these problems we are not neutral because they are our problems as well.
The auto workers are facing hard core unemployment. New economic patterning through automation and relocation of plants is dissolving the nation's basic industries. This is to me a catastrophe. We are neither technologically advanced nor socially enlightened as a nation if we witness this disaster for tens of thousands with finding a solution. And by a solution I mean a real and genuine alternative providing the same living standards and opportunities which were swept away by a force called progress, but which for many is destruction.
A Society that performs miracles with machinery has the capacity to make some miracles for men if it values men as highly as it values machines.
This is really the crux of the problem. Are we as concerned for human values and human resources as we are for material and mechanical values? The automobile industry is not alone a production complex of assembly lines and steel-forming equipment. It is an industry of people who must live in decency with the security for children, for old age, for health and cultural life. Automation cannot be permitted to become a blind monster which grinds out more cars and simultaneously snuffs out the hopes and lives of the people by whom the industry was built.
Perhaps few people can so well understand the problems of auto workers and others in labor as Negroes themselves, because we built a cotton economy for 300 years as slaves on which the nation grew powerful, and we still lack the most elementary rights of citizens or workers. We too realize that when human values are subordinated to blind economic forces, human beings can become human scrap.
Our kinship was not born, however, with the rise of automation. In the birth of your organization as you confronted recalcitrant antagonists, you forged new weapons appropriate to your fight. Thus in the 30s, when industrial unionism sought recognition as a form of industrial democracy, there were powerful forces which said to you the same words we as Negroes hear now: "Never…..You are not ready…..You are really seeking to change our form of society….You are Reds….You are troublemakers…..You are stirring up discontent and discord where none exists….You are interfering with our propertyrights…. You are captives of sinister elements who would exploit you."
Both of us have heard these reckless charges. Both of us know that what we have sought were simple basic needs without which no man is a whole person.
In your pursuit of these goals during the middle 30s, in part of your industry you creatively stood up for your rights by sitting down at your machines, just as our courageous students are sitting down at lunch counters across the South. They screamed at you and said that you were destroying property rights-but nearly 30 years later the ownership of the automobile industry is still in the hands of its stockholders and the value of its shares has multiplied manyfold, producing profits of awesome size, and we are proudly borrowing your techniques, and though the same old and tired threats and charges have been dusted off for us, we doubt that we shall collectivize a single lunch counter or nationalize the consumption of sandwiches and coffee. (APPLAUSE)
Because you persisted in your quest for a better life, you brought new horizons to the whole nation. Industry after industry was compelled to civilize its practices and in so doing benefited themselves along with you. The new unions became social institutions, which stabilized the nation, fortified it and thrust it up to undreamed of levels of production.
There are more ties of kinship between labor and the Negro people than tradition. For example, labor needs a wage-hour bill which puts a firm floor under wage scales. Negroes need the same measures, even more desperately, for so many of us earn less than One Dollar and twenty-five cents an hour. Labor needs housing legislation to protect it as a consumer. Negroes need housing legislation also. Labor needs an adequate old-age medical care bill and so do Negroes. The list might be extended ad infinitum for it is axiomatic that what labor needs. Negroes need and simple logic therefore puts us side by side in the struggle for all elements in the decent standard of living.
As we survey the problems of labor from the chilling threat of automation to the needs in housing and social welfare generally, we confront the necessity to have a Congress responsive to liberal legislation. Here again the kinship of interests of labor and the Negro people expresses itself. Negroes need liberal Congressmen if they are to realize equality and opportunity. The campaign to grant the ballot to Negroes in the South has profound implications From all I have outlines, it is clear that the Negro vote would not be utilized in a vacuum. Negroes exercising a free suffrage would march to the polls to support those candidates who would be partial to social legislation. Negroes in the South, whether they elected white or Negro Congressmen, would be placing in office a liberal candidate, if you will-a-labor candidate. (APPLAUSE) No other political leader could have a program possessing appeal to Negroes.
In these circumstances, the campaign for Negro suffrage is both a fulfillment of constitutional rights and a fulfillment of labor's needs in a fast changing economy. Therefore, I feel justified in asking you for your continued support in the struggle to achieve the ballot all over the nation and in the South in particular. We, the Negro people and labor, by extending the frontiers of democracy to the South, inevitably will sow the seed of liberalism, where reaction has flourished unchallenged for decades. A new day will dawn which will see militant, steadfast and reliable Congressmen from the South joining those from the Northern industrial states to design and enact legislation for the people rather than for the privileged.
Now I need not say to you that this problem and all of the problems which we face in the nation and in the world, for that matter, will not work itself out. We know that if the problem is to be solved, we must work to solve it. Evolution may be true in the biological realm, but when we week to apply it to the whole of society, there is very little evidence for it.
Social progress never rolls in on the wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals. Without this hard work, time itself becomes the ally of the insurgent and primitive forces of social stagnation. So in order to realize the American dream of economic justice and of the brotherhood of man, men and women all over the nation must continue to work for it.
They have certain words that are used in every academic discipline and pretty soon they become a part of the technical nomenclature of that discipline . Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any word in modern psychology-it is a word maladjusted, this is the ringing cry of a new child of psychology-maladjusted.
Now certainly all of us are desirous of living the well-adjusted life in order to avoid the neurotic and schizophrenic personalities, but if you will allow the preacher in me to come out now, let me say to you that there are some things in our social order in which I'm proud to be maladjusted and to which I call upon you to continue to be maladjusted. (APPLAUSE)
I never intend to become adjusted to segregation and discrimination . I never intend to adjust myself to religious bigotry. I never intend to become adjusted to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few. I never intend to become adjusted to the madness of militarism of the self-depleting effect of physical violence. In a day when Sputniks and Explorers are dashing through outer space and guided ballistic missiles are carving highways of death through the stratosphere, no nation can win a war. It is no longer a choice between violence and no-violence, it is either non-violence or non-existence. And so I'm proud to be maladjusted. (APPLAUSE)
It may well be that the salvation of our world lies in the hands of the maladjusted and so let us be maladjusted if maladjusted as Prophet Amos, who in the midst of the injustices of his day could cry out in words that echo across the centuries. "Let judgment run down like waters and righteous like a mighty stream. "as maladjusted as Abraham Lincoln who had the vision to see that this nation could not exist "half slave and half free," as maladjusted as Thomas Jefferson, who, in the midst of an age amazingly adjusted to slavery, would cry out in words lifted to cosmic proportions, "We hold these truth's to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by the Creator with certain unalienable rights…..(APPLAUSE)
And I believe that through such maladjustment we will be able to emerge from the bleak and desolate midnight of man's inhumanity to man into the bright and glittering daybreak of freedom, justice and human dignity for all men.
We will continue to work, and work with the faith that this dream can be realized. I believe it will be realized. For although the arc of the moral universe is long, it bends towards justice. Before this dream is realized, maybe some will have to get scarred up; before the dream is realized, maybe some will have to go to jail; before the dream is realized, maybe some will have to face physical death; but if physical death is the price that some must pay to free their children from a permanent life of psychological death, then nothing could be more honorable. (APPLAUSE)
There is something in this universe. So we must continue to struggle for economic justice-the brotherhood of man with the conviction that there is something in this universe which justifies Carlyle in saying, "No lie can live forever." There is something in this universe which justifies William Cullen Bryant in saying, "Truth crushed to earth shall rise again." There is something in this universe which justifies James Russell Lowell in saying, "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne. " Yet that scaffold sways the future.
This is our hope. This is the faith that will carry us on the and if we will stand by this and continue to work for the ideal, we will be able to bring into being that new day. This will be the day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing anew with the Negro slaves of old, "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" (APPLAUSE)

From UAW.ORG

The African American Health Forum

2009-10-28T22:01:00.004-04:00

November 14, Saturday -

The African American Health Forum will be held at Johnnie Ruth Clarke, providing FREE screenings and presentations by many of the community's black physicians and health experts.
FMI: mdmills916@msn.com or 727-510-5051

2009-10-09T15:51:00.002-04:00

Hi! Most of you know Vel Thompson! For any of you who do not know Vel personally, here is an opportunity to meet her and find out why so many leaders in the community support her. A new poll has her within the margin of error; yes, she is that close! Let’s make it happen on November 3^rd. Come support Vel next Sunday and help her win!

Help elect Vel Thompson as our representative in District 6

Bring a check and bring a friend

When: Sunday, October 11^th from 5 – 7 p.m.

Where: Atwater’s Cafeteria

895 22^nd Avenue, South at the corner of MLK

St. Petersburg

Hosts

Mike Atwater

Mario Farias

Edward & Adrien Helm

Gwen Reese

Gibbs Teachers Tour Southside Neighborhoods

2009-09-21T19:42:00.004-04:00

This tour included 22nd Street South, 18th Avenue South, Bartlett Park, Harbordale, Jordan Park, Childs Park and the Carter G. Woodson African-American Museum.

ST. PETERBURG -Principal Kevin Gordon and his staff have been working
almost around the clock as they prepare for the 2009-10 school year. On Tuesday
the staff participated in a Cultural Competency Day which included guest speaker
Zachary, Zack Rich, Richardson, author of “The DUMB Kid Speaks: 6 Keys to
Helping Your Student to Succeed In School & In Life.” Richardson is the
president and founder of A Pivotal Point Enterprises and the Executive Director
of The Character Center. He recently received the 2009 Delta Economic Lifetime
Township Achievement Award from the Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter of the Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. He is currently working with the mayor of Tallahassee
and Florida State University in the PBS Kids Raising Readers Program. Richardson
is a 1989 graduate of Gibbs High School and credits many of his teachers,
including some who are still teaching there, with his success.A very important
part of the day’s activities was the bus tour through many of the south side
neighborhoods that a large number of Gibbs students call home; the tour was
sponsored by the Gibbs Class of 1966. Class president, Eugene Roberson and
officers unanimously agreed to donate $698.00 for the tour buses used to
transport 110 teachers through the community. Roberson said, “This is a small
way to support the school that provided us with the strong foundation that
accounts, in no small way, for the success of so many Gibbs Gladiators.”

More at The Weekly Challenger
http://www.theweeklychallenger.com/news/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=98680&sID=4

Credit Union coming after Washington Mutual closed its South St. Pete branch

2009-08-31T21:31:00.005-04:00

Update:
Today the long awaited groundbreaking for the new GTE Credit Union was scheduled. A day before the city elections.
I don't have all of the answers on this but I know the media have asked too many questions. The deal is very complicated and I don't claim to understand it. The Times held this out as a national model for redevelopment. Loan guarantees may still put local taxpayers on the hook if Sweetbay fails.

At the time this was developed Wal-Mart and Save-A-Lot were looking for inner city locations for stores to build without government subsidy. This was reported in the business section of the Times but never mentioned in the context of the city offering subsidies for this project.

Another option was to let Sweetbay buy out the Winn Dixie lease and open at a fraction of the cost and let another grocer and dollar store build on the 22nd St site at their own cost. City funds then could have gone to public safety making all neighborhood businesses more viable.

What else could the city have done with this money?

This was first published April 10th,2008:
This company was a neighborhood partner and the only bank to do business in what is now called Midtown St. Petersburg. Local media have told us we didn't have any banks here but we know that WaMu was a part of our community for many years.

Until just a few years ago this bank was part of a thriving shopping center across the street from a high rise home to hundreds of customers. Then the city used tax money to bring in the Sweetbay shopping center with its proposed bank branch, and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority began to depopulate the Graham Park Apartments in preparation for its transformation to more upscale housing.

Winn Dixie was in trouble as competition from Wal-Mart cut into its bargain priced market. The store seemed to be hanging on in anticipation of the construction of several new buildings with hundreds of residents within walking distance. Those building were built but sit empty after the bubble collapsed. Save a Lot and Publix also recently opened new stores nearby.

Sweetbay opened on the first weekend of November '05, two days before the city elections. Winn Dixie didn't wait for this and had already closed a few weeks before in August. The bank never recovered from the loss of their shopping center anchor. Local news reports largely ignored the existing store and bank as they talked up the new store and proposed bank. This typical report contributed to the election hype.

Midtown is a 5.5-square-mile area that sits mostly below Central Avenue. Many of its residents are in the low-income range. City officials targeted the area for improvement after racial disturbances there in 1996. Residents were asked what they wanted, and they put a chain grocery store at the top of their list. They also wanted a post office, which opened this month, and a bank, which should be in operation next year.

Times story by Luis Perez: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/economicdevelopment/article1013610.ece

22nd Street South Community Festival - Sept 19th

2009-08-29T23:41:00.004-04:00

EVENT FEATURES:

§ SEAFOOD & OTHER FOOD VENDORS

§ ARTS - CRAFTS – SERVICE - GREEN VILLAGE VENDORS

§ MUSIC ALL DAY

§ ADMISSION FREE TO THE PUBLIC

Event to be held at the Corner of 22^nd St. South & 13^th Ave. So.
site of the historic Mercy Hospital & the current Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center

Event Organizer - 22^ND STREET REDEVELOPMENT CORP., INC.
a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization revitalizing 22^nd Street South

Application Deadline Fri. Sept. 11, 2009 – space is limited – register early so as to not be left out

http://www.discover22ndst.com/SeafoodFestInfo2009.htm

Deveron Gibbons recalls murder in his Bartlett Park neighborhood

2009-08-28T20:20:00.003-04:00

FOREVER YOUNG by Alphaville

2009-08-28T20:10:00.002-04:00

"Let There Be Peace On Earth" (BEAUTIFUL a capella)

PS22 Chorus MICHAEL JACKSON Tribute

Childs Park Champions

2009-08-17T20:56:00.002-04:00

New Southside

2009-07-14T21:59:00.002-04:00

Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay

2009-05-14T13:42:00.000-04:00

A new online Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay, designed by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and
Wildlife Research Institute, is now available on the Internet. The FWRI
created the new guide in response to requests from the public to provide
boating and angling information in an interactive, user-friendly format.

Funded through a Tampa Bay Estuary Program Bay Mini-Grant, the
interactive, online guide complements the recently updated print version
of the guide.

The guide contains all of the information found in the print version and
much more. Users can zoom in and out on specific areas of the Tampa Bay
region. They can view detailed maps of popular recreation areas, with
information and links specific to those locations. Users also can
download many of these maps directly to their computer to view and print
at their leisure.

Anglers can access up-to-date fishing regulations specific to the Tampa
Bay area, information on proper catch-and-release techniques and a list
of popular local sport fish. Paddlers can plan trips with a list of area
paddling trails linked to the corresponding trail Web sites and maps.

To view the new interactive guide or to order a printed copy of the
Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay, visit
http://research.MyFWC.com/boating_guides.

Union Members Fight off Somali Pirates!

2009-04-19T15:18:00.002-04:00

When working people have the choice to form unions, they can ensure that they receive the proper training to keep the safe on the job.

The American crew members of the Maersk Alabama - a ship recently hijacked by Somali pirates - regained control of the ship. The seamen specifically cite their union membership as a reason for how they were able to beat the pirates.

In an interview with NBC, the ship's Third Engineer, John Cronan, said this about their efforts:

"We are American seamen. We are union members. We stuck together, we did our jobs. And that's how we did it."

Green for All

2009-04-04T02:30:00.001-04:00

Update:
A year ago today, more than 1,100 people gathered to build a better future together, at The Dream Reborn conference in Memphis, Tennessee. It was the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the start of a nation-wide movement for an inclusive green economy.

Since The Dream Reborn, the green jobs movement has become a vibrant and powerful force in American politics.

President Obama's economic recovery plan is green, and includes $500 million dollars for green jobs training. This funding is designed not only to train workers, but also to create green pathways out of poverty for those struggling the most.

Our force has been felt outside of Washington, D.C as well. State legislatures and local governments across the country have passed landmark green jobs legislation.

Our successes cannot only be measured by laws passed and policies changed. Over the last year, the community of 1,100 that gathered in Memphis has grown to 75,000. Dozens of local organizers have been trained through the Green For All Academy, scores of local green jobs implementers have convened through our "Community of Practice" working groups, and tens of thousands of Americans have stood up for Green Jobs Now.

Where we've come in just one year is inspiring. We have created the space for the green-collar jobs movement to be bolder and louder. This means defining what the green economy will look like, making sure it works for all of us.

It's our vision and it's what Dr. King lived and died for forty-one years ago - equality and opportunity for all people.

This weekend, as you remember Dr. King and honor his legacy, you should feel proud. We are one year closer to building a country and a green economy that Dr. King could also be proud of.

Green for all,

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
Chief Executive Officer, Green For All

It's official: live in Memphis from April 4-6, Green For All is bringing together the practitioners, activists, and communities at the center of the emerging green-collar economy. Community activists and neighborhood leaders from South St. Pete will be there. We will be bringing you updates here on the blog and at the Bartlett Park Neighborhood Association meeting Thursday April 10th.

On Friday morning, Willeen Kelly and Chris Kelly are heading to Memphis for the 'Dream Reborn' conference, a three day commemoration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's premature passing, and a recasting of his dream for the 21st Century. The conference is organized to work for justice, opportunity and peace in urban America.

What's special about this weekend, is that the organizers have tied the push for Green Collar jobs to a vision of social justice. Their goal is to "build a green economy that is strong enough to lift people out of poverty. By organizing now, the movement will insure that the billions of dollars spent on green jobs in the next fifty years include low-income people. By training people now and organizing to insure capital moves to urban green job training, we'll insure that our neighborhoods will be able to take part in these new opportunities. There's no reason we can't fight poverty and pollution at the same time...

Chris writes "We'll be back Sunday night late, but I'll try to drop an email or two from the conference and look forward to sharing the experience and information Willeen and I gather."

This is the 40th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination. This historic event will celebrate his extraordinary life and present positive solutions from today's generation of visionary leaders. A bullet killed the dreamer, but not the dream. Together, we will create ecological solutions to heal the earth while bringing jobs, justice, wealth and health to all our communities.

Green For All is bringing organizations and leaders from communities across the nation together to produce The Dream Reborn. This racially just, green gathering will celebrate the life of Dr. King and present positive solutions for social and environmental equity from today's generation of visionary leaders.

Watch these videos to learn more:
Dream Reborn Attendees Share Their Dreams

Solar Richmond Success Story - The Dream Lives in Richmond!

Van Jones Opening Remarks at Green For All Conference

The Green Economy Is Coming

For more information on Dr. King's work toward a just economy go here and here.

Dr. Martin Luther King's last speech, "I've Been to the Mountain Top "

Photo: Van Jones is a civil rights lawyer and activist in Oakland and organizer of Green for All.

Update: Marchers honor King on anniversary of death

Leaders, everyday citizens converge on Memphis to reflect on his legacy

first published 3/30/08

Supporting Partners of the Employee Free Choice Act

2009-04-02T22:28:00.004-04:00

Supporting Partners of the Employee Free Choice Act
Josh Goldstein
American Rights at Work

Sierra Club: “The green economy holds great promise to build the American middle-class. One way to ensure that it benefits the many rather than the few is by passing the Employee Free Choice Act.”

Human Rights Watch: "Weak US labor law effectively denies millions of workers the right to form a union and bargain collectively. Congress should bring worker protections closer to international standards by passing the Employee Free Choice Act."

Sojourners: “The “right to organize” is what is at stake with the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), and it is why the Employee Free Choice Act is fundamentally a moral issue. It is a way to level the playing field, to give workers a collective voice in the wages, benefits, and conditions of their employment. It is a way to ensure their basic human dignity.” - Reverend Jim Wallis, President

National Partnership for Women and Families: "With our nation's work/family policies badly out-of-sync with the realities of this era, and the economy taking a terrible toll on families, the National Partnership for Women & Families strongly supports the Employee Free Choice Act because it has the potential to dramatically improve working conditions of millions of women and men around the country. Union participation improves wages, health coverage, pensions, and other benefits that hard-working Americans need to hold jobs and care for their families and their health." - Debra Ness, President

Center for American Progress Action Fund: “The Employee Free Choice Act holds the promise of restoring workplace democracy for workers attempting to organize, boosting unionization rates, and improving the economic standing and workplace conditions for millions of American workers.”

People for the American Way: The Employee Free Choice Act supports important American values around workers’ rights to association. It provides workers a free and fair choice about how to form a union, helps workers secure their first contract in a reasonable amount of time, and toughens penalties against employers that violate the law. This is a sound and measured approach to restoring workers’ rights – and to rebuilding and renewing our nation’s economy.

Center for Community Change: “Our economy can only prosper when it works for everyone. Especially in difficult times, American communities have a history of meeting challenges by coming together. The rise of corporate greed and irresponsibility has created the worst economic crisis in this nation since the great depression. It’s time that we empower American families and working people to hold corporations accountable. Through unions, workers come together to balance their voices with the power of companies, and to build an economy that works for all of us.”- Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director

National Consumers League: The National Consumers League is proud to join with our labor friends and other national consumer groups in supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. Consumer groups understand that the fair wages, benefits, and protections that union workers receive allow them to have a decent standard of living and be better-informed consumers. That is good for America and that is why NCL supports the Employee Free Choice Act.

Alliance for Justice: "Union members have been a key voice for all Americans on issues like affordable health care, public education, green jobs, and equal opportunity. Restoring the freedom to choose a union is a key to getting America back on track... Congress should pass the Employee Free Choice Act to help strengthen workers' ability to win justice at work and in our communities." - Nan Aron, President

Catholics United: “The Employee Free Choice Act is the cornerstone of an economy that serves working families. The right to organize is foundational to Catholic social teaching. Catholics United stands with working families and supports the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.”

National Employment Law Project: “Workers have a fundamental right to join together into unions, but any semblance of a free and fair process for exercising that right is destroyed by ruthless employer opposition to organizing and a legal framework favoring employers every step of the way. By insisting that workers alone get to decide whether to form a union and the process for making that choice, the Employee Free Choice Act will renew workplace democracy, improve jobs, strengthen the economy and rebuild America’s middle class. This simple and just measure will at long last genuinely restore “the right of employees to organize and bargain collectively.” - Christine L. Owens, Executive Director

Jobs with Justice: “The Employee Free Choice Act is an issue not only for workers but also for their communities. When workers are fired for organizing on the job the effects ripple through their families, their churches, and their neighborhoods. When workers can choose a union through a fair process it creates a stable and prosperous community. That’s why Jobs with Justice supports the Employee Free Choice Act as a necessary part of a broad economic recovery that benefits working men and women.”

Economic Policy Institute: "The evidence suggests that more than 50 million Americans who don’t have union representation today would choose it if they were given an easy, safe way to do so," he said. "This legislation is an essential part of rebuilding the middle class in America and ensuring broadly shared prosperity."- Ross Eisenbrey, Vice-President

Campaign for America's Future: "We built a middle class because workers were able to win a decent share of the profits and productivity that they helped to generate. Unions were central to that. That is why passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is so important now, as we make the reforms needed to build an economy that works for the many and not the few." - Robert Borosage, Co-Director

The Partnership for Working Families: Millions of Americans are in economic crisis, facing the loss of their jobs, their health care, and their homes. The Employee Free Choice Act is a critical step toward rebuilding the middle class and will restore balance to our economy and our country.

Labor Council for Latin American Advancement: "Latino workers will strongly benefit from the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. It will assist them in their efforts to organize at the workplace which in turn will ensure better wages; health benefits and the opportunity for a secure retirement. The introduction and ultimate passage of this legislation will help move workers into the middle class and thus help reinvigorate the economy." Dr. Gabriela Lemus, Executive Director

Workplace Fairness: “The Employee Free Choice Act is the best stimulus package we have. Workers with good jobs, benefits and job security are able to confidently spend their earnings and help lift our economy out of this recession.” - Paula Brantner, Executive Director

USAction: “One key to economic recovery is rebuilding the middle class in this country and that’s why we need the Employee Free Choice Act. Big business and CEOshave too much power, make too much money and wield too much influence. They get golden parachutes and bailouts while the workers get lower wages, higher health care costs and reduced pensions. So the Employee Free Choice Act is about leveling the playing field.” - William McNary, President

Pride at Work: "It is still legal to fire someone for being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender in 30 states. In states without non-discrimination legislation, labor unions are the LGBT community's front line of defense against workplace discrimination. This is why so many national LGBT organizations have signed on in support of the Employee Free Choice - because an LGBT workers best protection is a union contract." - Sandra Telep, Program Director

Interfaith Worker Justice: “All faith traditions teach that workers should be treated with respect and dignity and paid fairly. Unions serve vital roles in ensuring workers' just treatment and pay, which is why Interfaith Worker Justice supports the Employee Free Choice Act. In this time of economic crisis, workers need a voice in the future of their companies that comes through collective bargaining.” - Kim Bobo, Executive Director

Bishop Gabino Zavala: “The right of workers to freely associate and form unions without fear of intimidation or retaliation is consistent with the democratic principles that sustain our society and ensure the quality of life for its citizens. This right is also consistent with the precepts and teaching of the Roman Catholic tradition.”

Rabbi Robert Marx: “The Employee Free Choice Act offers an important opportunity to offer more than words to support the just goals of millions of working people.”

Rev. Dr. Frank Raines: “By empowering workers, the Employee Free Choice Act will enable more people to earn better wages and improve working conditions that will allow them to lift up their families.”

Imam Mahdi Bray and Hussam Ayloush: "An Islamic Perspective on the Employee Free Choice Act" available at Interfaith Worker Justice

Rev. Dr. William Jarvis Johnson: “Discourse about work and the plight of workers is sacred discourse that belongs in the pulpit and in churches all across this country.”

Rev. Aaron McEmrys: “The word "union" best describes what happens when groups of individuals come together in a spirit of mutual support, respect and love. In this sense, the concept of union is one of the most beautiful and spiritual words in my vocabulary.”

For more faith spokespersons, visit Interfaith Worker Justice.

Catholic Labor Network Organizing Committee Employee Free Choice Act Endorsement Statement:

Well over a century ago, with the rise of industrial capitalism, Pope Leo XIII issued his encyclical Rerum Novarum. Reflecting on how the modern economy too often offered the rich and powerful an opportunity to exploit working people, he took consolation in the multiplication of “workingmen’s unions” that helped ameliorate the condition of labor. “There are not a few associations of this nature,” the Holy Father observed, “but it were greatly to be desired that they should become more numerous and more efficient.”

But we live today in a nation where associations of this nature are becoming steadily fewer, in large measure because of widespread unlawful action by employers to obstruct the right of workers to organize in unions. Conservative estimates indicate that tens of thousands of workers are fired every year for exercising their lawful right to organize. Seeking a union under today’s National Labor Relations Act system is an arduous and dangerous process for employees if their employers object, yet penalties for violating the Act are so trivial as to create economic incentives for illegal union-busting activities.

Catholic social teaching on the right of workers to organize has been admirably consistent over the century since Leo XIII wrote, with John Paul II observing even more emphatically in his 1981 encyclical “Laborem Exercens” that labor unions are “indeed a mouthpiece for the struggle for social justice” and in fact “an indispensible element of social life.”

We in the Catholic Labor Network agree that trade unions represent “an indispensable element of social life” and that “it were greatly to be desired that they should become more numerous,” but that the current condition of labor law in the United States militates against this. The Employee Free Choice Act would help address this problem. For this reason, we in the Catholic Labor Network conclude that the Employee Free Choice Act represents a sound public policy method to effect the purposes of Catholic Social Teaching.

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State Senator Dan Gelber Supports Employee Free Choice Act

2009-03-19T20:01:00.000-04:00

Scary Movie - The Horror of the Employee Free Choice Act

2009-03-03T21:11:00.000-05:00

Please buy American.

2009-02-22T16:12:00.003-05:00

Joe Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock

(MADE IN JAPAN ) for 6am.

While his coffeepot (MADE IN CHINA )

was perking, he shaved with his electric razor (MADE IN HONG KONG ).

He put on a dress shirt (MADE IN SRI LANKA ),

designer jeans (MADE IN SINGAPORE ) and tennis shoes

(MADE IN KOREA )

After cooking his breakfast in his new electric skillet (MADE IN INDIA )

he sat down with his calculator (MADE IN MEXICO )

to see how much he could spend today. After setting his watch

(MADE IN TAIWAN )to the radio (MADE IN INDIA )

he got in his car (MADE IN GERMANY )filled it with GAS

(from Saudi Arabia ) and continued his search for a good paying job.

At the end of yet another discouraging and fruitless day

checking his Computer (Made In Malaysia ),

Joe decided to relax for a while.He put on his sandals (MADE IN BRAZIL )

poured himself a glass of wine (MADE IN FRANCE )and turned on his

TV (MADE IN INDONESIA ),and then wondered why he can't find

a good paying job in the United States .
-----------

Please buy American. Click here and here for a list of American union made products.

2009-02-06T19:55:00.002-05:00

March 3-April 14, Tuesdays - FAB Families Fit for Life Program provides FREE cooking and exercise classes for the whole family at St. Mark's MB Chruch, 1301 37th St. So. in St. Pete from 6:30P-8:30P. FMI/Register: 727-582-2122 or www.stpeteFABFamilies.com.
.

2009-02-06T19:55:00.001-05:00

March 1-6, Sunday-Friday - Join Pastors Louis Murphy Sr., Frank Peterman, Clark Hazely, Robert Ward, Ricky Houston, and Norris Martin for a City Wide Revival 2009, at Mt. Pilgram MB Church, 3500 5th Ave. So. in St. Pete. The first night (Sunday) will start at 4P and will continue nightly at 7:45P.

Black History Month Event at Johnson Branch Library

2009-02-01T21:53:00.001-05:00

Johnson Branch Library - 1059 18th Ave. S 893-7113 Monday, February 23, 2009 at 6:30 pm
	What is Juneteenth? Presentation by Ms. Faye Dowdell, President and CEO of Juneteenth St. Petersburg, Inc.
Ms. Faye Dowdell will discuss the origins of the Juneteenth celebration. Historically, Juneteenth refers to the signing date of the Emancipation Proclamation, and is celebrated nationwide with picnics and potluck gatherings, fun, and programs that feature history and self-improvement.

2009-01-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

Feb. 3 - Crime Prevention Seminar.
Enoch Davis Center. 11 a.m - 1 p.m. Presented by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas County Valuable information will be shared by experts in the field of crime prevention. Topics such as fraud, scams and identity theft will be presented. 727-893-7159.

2009-01-22T19:29:00.000-05:00

Buy from Powell's Books and help Crime Watch

2009-01-22T07:16:00.000-05:00

From humble storefront beginnings in 1971 on a derelict corner of northwest Portland, Oregon, Powell's Books has grown into one of the world's great bookstores, with seven locations in the Portland metropolitan area, and one of the book world's most successful dot-coms serving customers worldwide. The workers of Powell's are organized under the banner of ILWU Local 5.
Type a title, author or type of book in the search box and and click search, or just click search to browze Powell's online store. 7% of your purchace made through this search box will be donated to crime watch

The Midtown People's Law School

2009-01-20T22:03:00.002-05:00

St. Petersburg Bar Association and St. Petersburg College

Present

The Midtown People's Law School

Featuring Judges, Attorneys, Clerk of the Court and Court Staff

All sessions are scheduled to be held at St. Petersburg College Midtown Campus

1048 22^nd Street South, St. Petersburg

Cost: FREE – Everyone Welcome

Registration: NONE (seating limited to first come, first serve basis)

Location; Room MT104A

Accommodations: Reasonable accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities. Contact the OSSD office at 727-341-4316 V/TTY, Fax 727-341-7988

February 17, 2009

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Family Law Issues

Speakers: Carin Constantine, Esq., Gary Williams, Esq. and Laurel Farrell, Esq.

March 17, 2009

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Traffic Court and Criminal Matters

Speaker: TBA

April 21, 2009

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Landlord/Tenant and Real Estate Transactions

Speaker: TBA

May 19 2009

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Wills, Advance Directives and Life Planning

Speaker: Trish Dockery, Esq.

More information

Black History Month

2009-01-16T22:07:00.001-05:00

Featured Events
			USF St. Petersburg Calendar of Events Barry Scott, A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. January 29, 2009, 7 p.m. Location: USF St. Petersburg, Campus Activities Center, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Map and directions Barry Scott discusses the Civil Rights Movement and recreates King's most inspiring speeches. Guests: The Alumni Singers. More

			SANKOFA: African-American Museum on Wheels, Angela Jennings, Curator February 2-3, 2009, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Location: USF St. Petersburg, Campus Activities Center, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Map and directions Spanning the period from 1860 to the present, SANKOFA will take you on a journey through slavery, the era of King Cotton, and the uplifting days of Emancipation. More

			Umdabu South African Dance Company February 11, 2009, noon Location: USF St. Petersburg, Campus Activities Center, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Map and directions Come and enjoy an afternoon of traditional and contemporary South African history and dance. More

			God's Trombones: A Celebration of James Weldon Johnson February 16, 2009, 7 p.m. Location: Studio@620, 620 1st Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Map and directions Performers, poets and clergy read the work of author and activist James Weldon Johnson, with trombone by Buster cooper, at the Studio@620. Through a grant from the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. More

			Salvador Dali Museum Book Exhibit, VisualKulture.cat February 20, 2009 - June 2009 Location: USF St. Petersburg, Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Map and directions This exhibition surveys the creative production of the 'artist book' from famed Catalans Dali and Miro to the current generation. Dali Museum and Nelson Poynter Memorial Library. More

			Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, The Legacy of African-American Achievement March 1, 2009, 1:00 p.m. Location: USF St. Petersburg, Campus Activities Center, 140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Map and directions Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, this year’s speaker for the Debbie and Brent Sembler Florida Holocaust Museum Lecture Series at the College of Education, is an American athlete and retired professional basketball player who is widely considered to be one of the greatest NBA players of all time. In addition to his historic career as a basketball player, Abdul-Jabbar has served as coach for professional and high school basketball teams. As an author, Abdul-Jabbar has published five books, among them Black Profiles in Courage: A Legacy of African-American Achievement, On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance and Giant Steps (an homage to jazz great John Coltrane). More

			David Walton, M.D., Medicine and Social Justice March 10, 2009, 6:15 p.m. Location:TBD Dr. David Walton, a physician working with the Partners in Health projects in Haiti, will discuss the impact of social justice on medicine. More

			Andras Miklos, Global Inequities in Health Care March 26, 2009, 10 a.m. Location:TBD Join Andras Miklos, Fellow at Harvard University Program in Ethics and Health, for a fascinating healthcare discussion. More

Michelle Obama - USAService.org

2009-01-12T19:47:00.002-05:00

Local events

Abasi Ote performance

2008-12-31T18:59:00.001-05:00

You're Invited to an Alternative Visions of Peace (AVP) opening reception and art show on Sunday, Janurary 25, 2009 at the Studio @ 620 in St. Petersburg, FL.

A celebration of diverstiy, the reception will highlight artwork, dance, music and poetry related to peace. The opening will feature patchwork pillows made by young women in the Quilt Project of the Florida Youth Corps as well as the artwork of local artists and non-artists alike who joined together to create multifariously painted chairs and imaginative craft projects.

Performing as part of the opening celebration will be Abasi Ote. Ote is known for playing World/Folk music and instruments including Didgeridoo, Tibetan Bowl, Conch Shell horn, Kilimba (African Mirba) to name a few.

Admission for the opening reception is free to the general public. Purchased artwork will help benefit AVP, local artists and the studio @ 620.

Experiential Workshops

Mini experiential AVP workshops will be offered the first week in February exploring the concept of transformative conflict resolution. Each one is unique.

February 2 6:30-8:30 PM : "Creating a positive and affirming community"

February 3 6:30-8:30 PM : "Practicing pro-active communication"

February 5, 4:30-6:30 PM : "Transformative Conflict Resolution"

A team of experienced trainers will facilitate the workshops.

About AVP

Alternative Visions of Peace, known internationally as the Alternatives to Violence Project, is a non-profit organization which sponsors workshops in war-torn countries (such as Rwanda and Kenya, Columbia and Bosnia), in prisons and communities throughout the US and around the world. Workshops involve basic building blocks of affirmation, community building, communication and cooperation skills, dealing with conflict management and resolution experientially, and through introduction of the concept of Transforming Power which is at the core of the project. Participants examine violence as it surrounds us in our lives and how it is personal to each of us. By working and playing together, we discover ways to function more effectively and peacefully every day.
AVP Tampa Bay consists of a group of community volunteers who offer at least one workshop a month, often two, at Coleman Federal Correctional Complex, Women's Camp in central Florida; workshops in the Tampa Bay community for youth.and adults. It currently has an active group of young adults in the Peace Studies Program at USF/Tampa working with students at the college. Dr. Darrell Hefte, Coordinator of AVP Tampa Bay, has also worked with children and youth using AVP principles through the Pinellas County School System; the Pinellas County Health Department; and with Family Services as part of a grant to serve the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pinellas County (KUNGA).
Come find out more about AVP during our open-house on Sunday and during the week when AVP facilitators will be available to talk and when mini-workshops will be offered.

To find out more about AVP, please visit http://www.avpusa.org online or e-mail avp-tampabay@tampabay.rr.com

Contributing Organizations/Volunteers

Youth Arts Corp: A Program of Family Resources, Inc., is a free youth development, arts education and job training program that uses the fine arts to help youth reach their potentional. The opening will feature patchwork pillows made by young women in the Quilt Project of the Florida Youth Corps at Wildwood Community Center.

Community Volunteers: Local artists and non-artists alike joined together to create multifariously painted chairs and imaginative craft projects.

About Abasi Ote

Abasi Ote - Excels at The Art of Primal Musical Instrument Making
He is noted for his sounds that he creates on the aboriginal Australian didgeridoo and for the making and playing of primal music instruments from Africa & the Middle East such as the Outa, Bull Roarer, and Clapper. Abasi Ote aslo does presentations that include information on the historical origins of instruments, their relationship to ecology and the cultures they come from. Abasi Ote, a peace maker, musician and primal instrument maker, teaches you to discover music anywhere, through innovation, adaptation, and borrowing from different cultures.

Abasi uses traditional and indigenous instruments such as wooden flutes, didgeridoos, bull roarers, rainsticks, musical mouth bow, and clappers. He teaches about their historical origins, as well as, their relationships to the ecology and the cultures from which they are derived. He pays special attention to Africa and Australia."Many children are becoming passive consumers at an early age," Abasi says. Without elaborate toys, games, and media, they often regard their surroundings as inadequate or boring."

Abasi's hands-on presentation encourages the audience to identify and make use of the bounty of human and natural resources all around us, creating deeper sense of connection to the world.

Abasi Ote & Joseph Z

2008-12-31T18:08:00.001-05:00

Building a Health Ministry Workshop

2008-12-30T23:35:00.000-05:00

Save The Date

January 3, 2009, Saturday -
Churches United For Health Congregations will present a Building a Health Ministry Workshop at the James B. Sanderlin Family Service Center, 2335 22nd Ave. So. in St. Petersburg from 8:30A-1P. Churches who wish to participate should contact the Sanderlin Center at 727-321-9444 by 12/27/08. Registration limited to two people per RSVP.

Toxic Toys Jingle

2008-11-24T20:07:00.000-05:00

The United Steelworkers (USW) union has produced a video (featuring singing Steelworker kids) that symbolizes what the Stop Toxic Imports campaign is all about--protecting our children from dangerous imported products and fighting unfair trade laws that allow global corporations to cheat us out of good jobs.

Here are some nontoxic gift ideas.

The Union Shop Online has a great selection of books for children of all ages. Starting with Don Brown's classic tale, Kid Blink Beats the World, about a group of powerless kids who confront some of the world's most powerful adults—and win, to Peter J. Welling’s Joe Van der Katt and the Great Picket Fence, the children in your life can learn about the power of collective action.

We’ve got many, many more, including:

· Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin

· The Night Worker by Kate Banks

· Breaker: A Boy's Story of the 1902 Pennsylvania Coal Miners' Strike by N.A. Perez

· Legendary Labor Leaders by Thomas Streissguth

· ¡Sí, Se Puede! Yes, We Can! by Diana Cohn (Bilingual)

Click here for our entire Union Shop Online children’s gift collection.

Did you know that congress sends $4 billion of our tax money to China every year?

Obama Outlines Job Creation Plan

2008-11-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

Holiday Cards on line

2008-11-13T21:20:00.004-05:00

Grandma and grandpa, cousin Frank, aunt Ann and uncle Bruce. So many relatives to stay in touch with, so many cards to write, so little time to write them.

Get started now by ordering some beautiful 100 percent union-printed holiday cards. Finde a unique selection at The Union Shop Online for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other winter holiday you celebrate. Colorful, whimsical, thought-provoking and inspirational, our cards will help you communicate your feelings of holiday joy.

Don’t forget, Ray Anthony Printers, right here in Tampa, also custom prints Christmas cards. Contact him at (813) 931-8610 or via email at rrayanthony@aol.com for a catalog.

YMCA

2008-11-09T21:28:00.003-05:00

Keep Illegal Guns Out of Kid's Hands

2008-11-09T18:22:00.000-05:00

November 16, Sunday
Join the Bridges Group in the "Campaign to Keep Illegal Guns Out of Kid's Hands" in the
First Presbyterian Church Parlor
701 Beach Dr. NE in St. Petersburg
from 6:30P-8P.
Guest Speaker will be Askia Muhammad Aquil
FMI: 727-235-1416.

Randall Jones for Sheriff Campaign

2008-10-31T20:18:00.000-04:00

Obama: One Voice

2008-10-23T21:01:00.000-04:00

Voting Rights

2008-09-06T19:14:00.002-04:00

RIGHTS RESTORATION DATABASE
The ACLU of Florida and the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition launched an online search tool that enables people with past felony convictions in Florida to search state records and find out if their civil rights, including their voting rights, have been restored. The online search tool is available on both web sites: www.restorerights.org and www.aclufl.org.

“It is imperative that the State makes the process of rights restoration automatic and paperwork free. But, until that time, there needs to be an easy way for Floridians with past felony convictions to determine their status,” said Muslima Lewis, Director of the ACLU of Florida’s Racial Justice and Voting Rights Projects, and FRRC member. “That’s precisely what we’ve done with this tool. This is a simple way to provide important civil rights restoration information to Florida citizens.”
The search tool not only allows individuals to search State clemency records, but it also enables them to contact the Office of Executive Clemency to request a certificate of civil rights restoration if they find that their rights have been restored. This is essential because many people have had their civil rights restored but do not even know it.

Fire Prevention Week Events

2008-08-31T21:04:00.004-04:00

To kick off Fire Prevention week there will be an open house at all of the neighborhood Fire Stations on Saturday October 4th from 9 am – 12 noon.

Our station is at 400 Martin Luther King St. So.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Please come and celebrate Fire Prevention Week with St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue's 19th Annual Block Party. This is a huge event. It’s going to be on Saturday, October 11th, 2008, at Del Homes Park, 2741 22nd Street S.
There will be fire truck displays, extrication and car fire demonstrations, Bayflight will be on scene, lot of games, free hot dogs, picture taking and tons more. Many city departments will be showcasing their equipment, including the Police Department.

2008-08-31T15:04:00.002-04:00

This September, Seven x 7 will hold the largest revival in City history. Help spread the word and sign-up to help us win the soul of South St. Petersburg.
Revival Details
7 locations-7 nights- 49 churches
Sept 7th - 13th 2008 (6 to 8 pm Every Night)
Harbordale/Bartlett (5th Street and 24th Ave. South)

More details will be out soon.

Labor Day

2008-08-28T21:15:00.001-04:00

Our event is shaping up to be a huge success! Activities at the event include:
· Voter registration (AFL-CIO Community Services booth)
· Employee Free Choice Act petitions (Labor 2008 booth)
· Blood pressure checks (DMI Healthcare booth)
· Crane simulator (International Union of Operating Engineers booth)
· Check out union made products (UAW booth, Red Wing Shoes booth, Reliance Media booth)
· Are you a mechanic? HART is looking to fill vacant positions (ATU 1593 booth)
· Verizon FIOS (Verizon/IBEW 824 booths)
· Interested in apprenticing for a trade?
o Electricians at IBEW 915 booth
o Sheet Metal Workers, Local 15 booth
o Painters or glazers at IUPAT, Local 88 booth
o International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 74
o Ironworkers, Local 397 booth
o TECO booth
· Check out local companies that are union:
o UFCW, Local 1625
o AFSCME
o IBEW 824
o IBEW 108
· Get your photo taken with the “Impressive Hulk,” “Spiderman,” and “Captain Cave Man” at the USEP/AFT 3600 booth
· Palm cards for the General Election in November are available at the Central Labor Council’s COPE booth

Car & Motorcycle Show:
Fan participation determines the winners of the car and motorcycle show with trophies awarded for “best of show” in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

Florida Blood Services Bloodmobile:
On-site and available for donations. All lifesaving donors will receive a "Preserve our Species" T-shirt, a buy-one, get-one-free coupon to the Florida Aquarium good for up to six people, and a wellness checkup including a cholesterol screening, plus the chance to save lives!

Entertainment:
Doctor Doctor Thayer has donated his time, talent and equipment to provide us with musical and Karaoke entertainment.
Also appearing on the stage will be Juniper—live—from 2:30 to 3:30 PM. Enjoy their eclectic brand of folk music and haunting sounds.
Many of our endorsed candidates and elected leaders will be attending and mingling with the crowd.
An 8-piece carnival will keep the young ones entertained. At 1:30 the annual Water Balloon Tournament will be held.
102.5 The Bone and 99.5 WQYK will be broadcasting live from the event. Look for radio personalities Brent from the Bone and Dave McKay from WQYK in the exhibit hall (it’s rumored Dave will be entering his vintage Plymouth in the Car Show. . .)

Raffle prizes:
Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. Visit the CLC booth or stop one of our volunteers to purchase your tickets. Various items have been donated by local unions. Our grand prize, from Accent on Travel, is for a 5-day/4-night cruise for two on Carnival cruise lines. Gratuity, taxes and port charges included.
Drawings held hourly, on the hour beginning at 1:00 PM, with the grand prize drawn at 3:00 PM. Need not be present to win!

BBQ:
It’s our long standing tradition to have Lupton’s here again serving BBQ chicken and hotdogs with all the fixings, cole slaw, baked beans, and iced teas.

And so much more. . .
There is very little time to get your meal tickets at the pre-event pricing of $10.00 per person. Contact the CLC today!

Seafood Festival

2008-08-28T20:43:00.001-04:00

2008-08-28T20:41:00.000-04:00

September 13, Saturday
Soulful Arts Dance Academy will hold open auditions for St. Pete's fifth annual production of Langston Hughes' Black Nativity: A Gospel Song Play
from 1P-3P @ Soulful Arts,
290 MLK St. No. in St. Pete.
FMI: 727-822-2555.

NAACP forum is on violence in community

2008-08-24T15:33:00.001-04:00

NAACP forum is on violence in community

The St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP will host a public forum to address the Javon Dawson case and violence in the community. The forum is 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Petersburg Branch, 1501 16th St. S.

A panel will examine the scope of "black-on-black crimes," the community perceptions of "blue-on-black crimes," and the aftermath of critical cases including the Javon Dawson and Martin Lee Anderson investigations pending with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact Norm Brown or Terry Cox at (727) 898-3310.

3 Newspapers: Tribune, Herald and Herald Tribune Endorse Rev. Charles S. McKenzie Jr.

2008-08-20T19:58:00.000-04:00

The Bradenton Herald issued an outstanding endorsement of Charles McKenzie. You can read it at http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/story/813356.html

McKenzie in District 55

Voters in Florida House District 55 must feel a sense of dejÀ vu, since they just voted in April for a successor to former Rep. Frank Peterman Jr., now secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

The same names are on the ballot, except for one. But the appearance of a write-in candidate closed the Democratic primary to all district voters. No Republican is running in this race.

House District 55 is a largely minority district that winds through most of south St. Petersburg as well as portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Running against freshman incumbent Darryl Rouson, 52, is educator Charles McKenzie Jr., 51.

Rouson, former president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP, switched parties before the March primary, but says he will remain a Democrat. Known for his confrontational style, he once called for Midtown to secede from St. Petersburg.

Although less well known, the more low-key McKenzie has an impressive civil rights resume. He was a community activist in Sarasota, taught in middle school and spent a decade as state coordinator for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Though both have a history of community involvement, they differ markedly in style. In House District 55, the Tribune recommends Charles McKenzie.

Link to the Tribune web site

Rep. Darryl Rouson hasn't had long to prove himself to his state House District 55 constituents.

He was elected just four months ago to finish the term of a representative who vacated the seat when he was appointed to higher office. Now, it's already time for Rouson to run for a full term.

The Democratic primary for the post pits Rouson against Charles Mc-Kenzie, who ran against him in March. The winner faces a nominal write-in candidate in the Nov. 4 general election.

Rouson and McKenzie both live in St. Petersburg, the heart of District 55 -- a gerrymandered construct that includes several economically challenged communities south of Tampa Bay: north Palmetto, Tallevast, east Bradenton and Newtown.

Newtown is on the cusp of major redevelopment work; Tallevast is dealing with the legacy of toxic industrial waste. All of the areas have crime problems, need jobs and face educational achievement gaps.

These minority communities need a strong voice in the Legislature, but they are at a disadvantage because of their distance from the core of District 55.

McKenzie, who lived for decades in the southern part of the district and has strong ties to Sarasota and Newtown, seems best suited to meet this challenge. Rouson won their last matchup, but McKenzie outpolled him considerably in areas south of Tampa Bay.

A teacher, minister and longtime advocate for economic justice and civil rights, McKenzie has not been elected to major public office before. In the art of building public support for a project and shepherding it to success, his record is underwhelming. However, his commitment to education -- probably the most important issue on any legislative agenda -- is a powerful mark in his favor.

We by no means dismiss the abilities of Rouson, a rising political star and former NAACP leader in St. Petersburg. A recovered drug addict, his climb to success reveals his tenacious spirit. A former Republican and member of the recent Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, he has useful connections to the governor and other influential politicians.

Rouson is an impassioned but sometimes polarizing speaker. Recently, for instance, he was criticized for his statement (made two years ago) that "homosexuality is morally wrong." He has since apologized and explained that he has "evolved."

McKenzie said he "evolved to that point a long time ago," adding that his "respect for egalitarian values prompts me to care for the just treatment of all people."

Both Rouson and McKenzie say the state's economic problems and insurance costs are vital issues, but neither candidate has put forth detailed solutions.

Rouson deserves credit for reaching out to the stranded precincts south of the bay. McKenzie already has earned credibility and the respect of this community.

We recommend Charles S. McKenzie Jr. in the Democratic primary for state House District 55.

Herald Tribune website

Black Male Teachers

2008-08-13T20:30:00.003-04:00

Black Male Teachers
Do you know any Black males who are seniors in high school who want to go to college out of state for "FREE" ? Several Black Colleges are looking for future black male teachers and will send them to universities/colleges for 4 years FREE.

The 'Call Me MISTER' program is an effort to address the critical shortage of African American male teachers particularly among South Carolina 's lowest performing public schools. Program participants are selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities.

The program is a collaboration between Clemson University and four historically black colleges in South Carolina : Benedict College , Claflin University , Morris College and South Carolina State University .

The project provides:
Tuition for admitted students pursuing approved programs of study at participating colleges.
An academic support system to help assure their success. A cohort system for social and cultural support.

Visit Call Me MISTER
www.callmemister.clemson.edu/index.htm for more details and the online application or call (800) 640-2657.

PLEASE FORWARD TO AS MANY FRIENDS, FAMILY CHURCH MEMBERS AS POSSIBLE, SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO SPREAD THE WORD.

Democratic leaders come together to support Obama

2008-08-03T22:33:00.002-04:00

State Senator Arthenia Joiner, Rene Flowers, Rev. Charles S. McKenzie and Lorna McKenzie at the Pinellas Jefferson/Jackson Dinner

Media puts national spotlight on handful of Uhurus at Obama town hall meeting

2008-08-01T20:03:00.003-04:00

This was an exciting event. Gibbs High School was crowded with hundreds of people for over four hours this morning yet the Times and local TV put the focus on the one minute disturbance.

It’s frustrating to see the Times and other media present the myths of this "Uhuru Movement" and ignore facts that conflict.

The Channel 8 coverage is an example of this distorted view. The Uhurus were the focus with Obama’s platform getting just a brief mention before a shot and discussion of him eating Plant City strawberries.

I was there and I saw more white people than black in their group but the reporting continued to describe them as a black activist group. People entering Gibbs walked by a small group that appeared to be white skinheads in black Uhuru tshirts being led in chants by a young black man with a bullhorn.

What is the connection to this white group who outnumbered the few black folk in the group of protesters on 34th Street before the meeting? Were they Nazi or KKK? How are they cooperating with the Uhurus?

Local media do not serve us by hiding this history and printing Uhuru spin. Their success in inciting violence holds back our neighborhood and city. They continue to get a free ride by media on their efforts to incite violence and foster a climate where black on black murder continues unabated.

The reporting followed the pattern of presenting the Uhuru talking points while ignoring any obvious facts that conflicted with the Uhuru message.

The Uhuru message seemed to coincide with the current McCain theme about Obama playing the "race card." No reporter asked if this was merely coincidence. There was no reporting on the long history of Uhurus helping republicans and getting government money in return. They have been a factor in local city elections since the early 90's.

This story covers an earlier anti Obama event.

This video shows them celebrating the attempt to murder police officers. Yet the media present them as a civil rights group.

Communities Adding Vacant Property Fees on Foreclosed Properties

2008-07-31T22:29:00.003-04:00

From the Stateside Dispatch:

At the beginning of the year, PSN highlighted a number of steps states and communities could take to ease the foreclosure crisis. At the time, a few communities had adopted what we called "You Foreclose on it, You Maintain it" policies to prevent banks and others taking control of properties from letting homes decay, bringing down community property values for remaining property owners.
As a Wall Street Journal article this week details, more than sixty communities are adopting similar policies, including stiff fees on companies responsible for vacact properties. California has passed the toughest law in this regard, empowering local governments to impose a $1,000-a-day fine on financial institutions that fail to maintain vacant properties if problems aren't fixed within 14 days.
The new law allows cities "to go in, abate the problem and tack [the cost] on to the tax bill" without having to enact a local ordinance, said California state Sen. Don Perata, the bill's sponsor.
Providence, R.I., enacted a "vacant property penalty" that allows the city to assess a fine equal to 10% of assessed property value if a vacact property becomes a blight on the neighborhood. Cincinnati has stepped up enforcement of its existing ordinance and collected about $192,000 in fees so far this year.
The key is that such policies not only help preserve communities but give lenders incentives to not foreclose in the first place, encouraging them to work out arrangements with the original owners who will then maintain the properties.
You Foreclose on it, You Maintain it
Requiring banks and other homeowners to upkeep foreclosed property is essential to containing the effects of the subprime foreclosure crisis. The Center for Responsible Lending study cited earlier, found a "spillover effect": a decline in property values in houses that were one eighth of a mile from a foreclosed subprime property. Not surprisingly, lack of upkeep on foreclosed homes brings down the overall appearance, and property value, of the area surrounding the foreclosed home.

In Buffalo, NY, city prosecutors hold banks responsible for fixing peeling paint, broken masonry, and overgrown or trash-filled yards at houses that the banks have foreclosed. Alternatively, the city may try to get lenders to donate properties to community groups or pay for demolition when the houses are beyond repair. City Prosecutor Cindy Cooper says, "At least in Buffalo, the days are gone when you can do a foreclosure and walk away without taking care of the property."

In an example of legal genius and, more importantly, courage, city prosecutors and judges have interpreted a 2004 New York statute that amended the definition of "owner" in its property maintenance code to include those that had "control" over the premises. Once banks send letters to defaulting homeowners threatening eviction, they have begun to assert "control" over the property, and are therefore responsible under New York code. The measure began to get the notice of banks when Judge Henry Nowak began entering default judgments for code violations and imposing the maximum fine, which can reach $10,000 to $15,000. While that may not be much for a big bank, the fines give the city a lien that impedes the banks' ability to buy or sell other properties in the area. Further, when lenders come to Judge Nowak's court to get residents evicted, he refuses to grant the request until the bank addresses the outstanding violations on the property.

Other jurisdictions have explicitly required upkeep on foreclosed properties. The Manteca, CA city council approved foreclosure upkeep rules that require homeowners to keep up foreclosed properties after tenants have moved out. Homeowners that neglect their homes would be fined up to $1,000 a day. Also, homeowners are required to maintain yards outside homes built after 1993. If they don't, the city can hire contractors for the upkeep and pass the bill onto the owners.

Stateside Dispatch: http://www.progressivestates.org/dispatch

2008-07-29T22:28:00.000-04:00

Please join us this Wednesday, July 30th, at the grand opening of the St. Petersburg Campaign for Change headquarters.

Come meet Campaign for Change staff and fellow supporters in the area.

Here are the details:

St. Petersburg Campaign for Change
Headquarters Opening

2321 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL

Wednesday, July 30th
5:00 p.m.

http://fl.barackobama.com/StPete

Join us to learn more about how you can make a difference for the campaign in Florida.

Smokin Joe's Smokehouse

2008-07-29T21:47:00.003-04:00

5051 Jersey Ave. South
Gulfport, FL. 33707
(727) 320-7525
Fax: (727) 327-8053

Charles McKenzie does Dr. MLK at Enoch Davis Center

2008-07-23T21:02:00.002-04:00

Saturday, July 26, 2008

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Charles McKenzie does Dr. MLK at Enoch Davis

Event Location: Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S., St. Petersburg

Event Description:

To thank all his friends and supporters who have made this campaign possible, Charles will be doing a "one man show" of twelve scenes from Dr. Martin Luther King's life. Showing at the Enoch Davis Center in Saint Petersburg, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm on Saturday 7/26, a $20 minimum contribution gets you in the door. All tickets must be arranged in advance with Steve Kornell at 743-1674. Contact us for tickets!

Ask the Candidates

2008-07-09T21:23:00.003-04:00

Dear Friend,
The NAACP Presidential Forum is rapidly approaching, and the questions that have been pouring in are great so far. Make sure that you send yours in before the deadline, if you haven't yet.
There has been a change in the schedule for the Presidential Forum. Because of a campaign scheduling conflict, Senator Obama will be addressing the Convention on Monday, July 14th, instead of Tuesday, July 15th. Senator McCain is still scheduled to address the Convention on Wednesday, July 16th.
Many of you have been submitting questions to our Ask the Candidates section on our website. If you have not yet sent us your video question, find out how to participate here. The deadline is midnight on Wednesday, July 10th, made even more critical by Senator Obama's accelerated appearance.
Make sure you have your videos sent to us before the deadline, so we can get them in front of the candidates before they take the podium. We will be selecting ten of these video questions to post on our own YouTube Channel, and also available at www.naacp.org.
Let's keep this conversation going.
Sincerely,
Julian Bond
Chairman

(c)2008 NAACP, 4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215.

BREAKING NEWS: AFL-CIO Endorses Obama

2008-06-26T20:45:00.002-04:00

With 10.5 million members from every walk of life, the AFL-CIO has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Barack Obama’s record demonstrates he is a champion for working families and his proposals will improve life for generations of working people and our children. Barack Obama says, “Politics didn’t lead me to working folks; working folks led me to politics.” He was raised by a working mother and grandparents, worked as a community organizer in a Chicago neighborhood devastated by the closing of steel mills, fought for working families in the Illinois State Senate and earned a 98 percent AFL-CIO voting record as a U.S. senator. Barack Obama is not someone who just talks the talk—he walks the walk with working families, on picket lines, in organizing campaigns and in bargaining for a better life.

Learn more about his record, proposals and background at MeetObama08.With his emphasis on what America once again can be, and his commitment to lead for all rather than the few, Obama has reinstilled hope for a better future and inspired millions of new voters.
If ever working families needed change we can believe in, it is now. Working families are struggling in an economy that works for the few, not the many. We’re squeezed by stagnant wages, soaring costs for health care, gas and food and the sellout of America’s middle class.
With 80 percent of the public saying our country is headed in the wrong direction, it’s time to turn around America. And the first step is electing Barack Obama.
Find out more and take action at MeetObama08.
This is a make-or-break election. We cannot afford to allow the destructive politics and policies of the Bush administration to continue. We need an economy that works for working families—with health care, good jobs, fair rules for global trade, a robust middle class and the opportunity for every worker to join a union and bargain for a better life.
Barack Obama will lead the change we need.
In solidarity,
John J. Sweeney

A Times Editorial

2008-06-09T21:38:00.003-04:00

Anxieties rise even as crime rate falls

The numbers are not adding up for the St. Petersburg Police Department. Crime totals citywide generally are down, but residents in some neighborhoods feel less safe. Drug seizures are up, but drug arrests are down. The department has more officers than in recent years, but many of them feel overworked and believe the department is understaffed. The gap between hard numbers and public perception is not healthy for the city, and finally police Chief Chuck Harmon is taking more aggressive action.

The City Council sharply questioned Harmon recently about the disconnect. While there was some attempt to score political points at the chief's expense, the frustration reflected the general sentiment in some parts of the city. Crime may be down 10 percent so far this year compared with a year ago, but that is little comfort for those who feel their neighborhood is not as safe. The numbers may show the department is well-staffed, but that does not help morale if officers believe they are overworked. And despite Harmon's protests that the ratio of officers to residents is a simplistic measure, traditionally having one of the lowest ratios among major Florida cities has to have an impact even if St. Petersburg is not Miami or Jacksonville.

Getting to the root cause of the disconnect between crime statistics and public perception will be difficult. Some of it has to do with high-profile incidents such as the BayWalk melee on Christmas night and a number of shootings this spring. Some of it can be traced to individual experiences; a resident whose car is stolen or who hears about homes burglarized in his neighborhood feels uneasy even if these are isolated incidents. Random gunshots fired well before midnight recently on 34th Street S, a major St. Petersburg thoroughfare, catch the attention of everyone who travels that busy street.

For some neighborhoods, the fear of crime is not tied to isolated events. Childs Park remains a hot spot for the drug trade, despite Mayor Rick Baker's considerable efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. A group of churches, Faith and Action for Strength Together, has given police a list of more than three dozen hot spots of violence and drugs. To his credit, Harmon agreed to investigate and report back to the group.

Now the Police Department is appropriately increasing its visibility in particular neighborhoods and focusing more on gun crimes. Some of the changes, such as planning to make more arrests on gun crimes even if victims are reluctant to cooperate, are overdue. Guns are at the forefront of much of the public concern about crime. Governing magazine reports that Cleveland, Philadelphia and other cities are more aggressively searching for illegal guns and increasing the number of gun-related arrests. If it takes St. Petersburg asking the sheriff for help fighting guns and drugs, do it.

Whether the city should hire more police officers is not the relevant issue at the moment. Like other local governments, St. Petersburg is cutting spending because of Amendment 1 and other economic pressures. This is about setting priorities at City Hall and in the Police Department. It is about community leaders — particularly in predominantly black neighborhoods where a disproportionate amount of violence occurs — stepping forward to work on solutions.

It is better to see crime numbers dropping instead of rising, of course. But they provide little comfort to residents who do not feel safe, and St. Petersburg has work to do to bridge that divide.
-------------------------

Get the facts, and get guns off the streets

It should not be considered routine in any community for a 17-year-old high school student to be shot and killed by a police officer outside a graduation party.

Javon Dawson's death Saturday night in St. Petersburg is a tragedy for his family. It is not good news for St. Petersburg police, who once again find themselves under scrutiny and on uncertain footing in predominantly black neighborhoods. And it reaffirms there is a serious problem, particularly in Midtown, with guns on the street.

There should be no rush to judgment about the circumstances surrounding Dawson's death, which occurred after police arrived to break up a large crowd of partygoers. Police say Dawson ignored several commands and aimed his gun at the police officer as he began running away. Officer Terrence Nemeth shot Dawson twice, and a revolver was found near Dawson's body after the shooting. The investigation needs time to proceed, and it will produce more evidence that should shed more light on what happened in a chaotic situation.

Elected leaders, from state Rep. Darryl Rouson to St. Petersburg City Council member Wengay Newton, have responded with appropriate calls for calm, pledges to wait for more facts to come out and pleas for witnesses to come forward. It would be particularly helpful for teens and residents who were in the area at the time of the shooting to tell investigators what they saw and heard, although that almost guarantees conflicting stories.

What is not helpful is for members of the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement to spread wild accusations they will not back up about the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a black teen by a white officer. They appear more determined to inflame emotions rather than ease tensions, and they breed mistrust of law enforcement in an area of the city where many law-abiding residents quietly wish for a greater police presence. If Uhuru members have identified witnesses who can add to the understanding of Saturday night's shooting, they should direct them to the police.

Dawson's death brings more urgency to the broader issue of getting guns off the streets. Illegally carrying handguns and casually firing them has become all too common in many cities, including St. Petersburg. If the police account is correct, why would a 17-year-old have a gun at a graduation party and fire several rounds into the air? And Dawson would not have been the only one. A witness saw two other men firing guns.

Residents in most neighborhoods in St. Petersburg and throughout Tampa Bay would not tolerate such an open display of weapons or routine gunfire. Midtown residents should not have to accept it, either. But tackling the issue requires a renewed effort by police, who just announced a series of initiatives, and the voices of residents who have the courage to speak up and demand better for their families and their neighborhoods.

Patience will be required while the shooting investigation plays out. Ultimately, residents will have to choose how to remember Javon Dawson's death. Those who are destructive will focus on race and recklessly hurl unfounded allegations against the police, regardless of the investigation's findings. Those who are interested in creating safer neighborhoods will find ways to work with law enforcement and public officials to get guns off the streets and out of high school graduation parties.

[Last modified: Jun 11, 2008 05:01 PM]

New Southside

Winterize your yard

New Saltwater Fishing Regulations Available Online

City of Life and Death, the story of a holocaust the west has forgotten.

58: THE FILM

Our Town: Conversations with St. Pete Mythmakers

Help improve transit and traffic by taking the survey

Awake the State Pinellas - May 10, 2011 Rally at Rep. Jeff Brandes' Office

Rick Scott hears chorus of boos at Rays opener

Join us to clean up Bartlett Park and have some fun in the sun.

The Greenhorns, free documentary film this Tuesday night at Eckerd

The Chrysler 200 has arrived. Imported from Detroit.

South St. Petersburg and the Police; Fundraiser for Slain Officers Organized by Crime Victims in South St. Petersburg and radio interview

Florida-style Gardening Workshops

Cistern Workshop Feb. 2

Restrepo- World Television Premiere Monday 9PM on NatGeo

Ten of the best community gardens in Los Angeles County

A Glenn Beck-Donald Duck "mashup" video

Glenn Beck Responds To Donald Duck Video

Survivor’s Summit- Rest In Peace

Speak Up Speak Now! on display through October 10th at the Florida Holocaust Museum.

Labor Day 2010 TV Spot

Freedom Riders - Could You Get On the Bus?" The film will replay on WEDU, Channel 3, May 20th and 22nd

Representative Mary Brandenburg’s Substantial Assistance Legislation Signed Into Law

The enemies list By P. J. O'Rourke Or you think it does until you read this astonishing statement from the People's Democratic Uhuru Movement: Representing the interests of the African ...

Watch TBEP's New "Pooches for the Planet" Video on YouTube

Just the Facts 2010: Guns, An examination of falsehoods.

Walking Tour of Historic African-American Main Street Is Set for Saturday, March 6

South St. Petersburg through eyes of longtime resident

Free Movie Screening in Gulfport, FL

St. Petersburg gun bounty program sees slow start

Geoff Lawton's Permaculture News Review

Raisin in the Sun Play LIVE - Saturday Feb 6, 2010 - Black History Month

We Need Jobs Now

The Garden, at The Eleventh Annual Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College

Urban Ecology - The Garden, directed by Scott Hamilton Kennedy

When: February 28, 2009, 7 pm

Credits

The Eleventh Annual Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College

February 21 to 28, 2009

General Information

Program

FREEDOM RIDERS

Emancipation Day 2010

FRESH --an upbeat and wonderfully fresh look at our food system

2008 MacArthur Fellow: Will Allen

Kid FABulous! Fit, Active, Black Families

Substantial savings on delicious food and groceries

Field of Forgotten Dreams/The African-American Baseball Experience Exhibit comes to Tampa

PRIDE & PASSION: The African-American Baseball Experience Exhibit

HUMAN RIGHTS DAY: “Are Human Rights Universal?”

Violent Crime Celebrated in Uhuru Video

Victory Gardens-Free Class on Saturdays

The Age of Stupid

Representative Kathy Castor on HR 3962 Affordable Health Care for America Act

Making His Dream a Reality

The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Speech to the UAW 25th Anniversary Dinner

The African American Health Forum

Gibbs Teachers Tour Southside Neighborhoods

Credit Union coming after Washington Mutual closed its South St. Pete branch

22nd Street South Community Festival - Sept 19th

Deveron Gibbons recalls murder in his Bartlett Park neighborhood

FOREVER YOUNG by Alphaville

Childs Park Champions

Boating and Angling Guide to Tampa Bay

Union Members Fight off Somali Pirates!

Green for All

Supporting Partners of the Employee Free Choice Act

State Senator Dan Gelber Supports Employee Free Choice Act

Scary Movie - The Horror of the Employee Free Choice Act

Please buy American.

Black History Month Event at Johnson Branch Library

Buy from Powell's Books and help Crime Watch

The Midtown People's Law School

Black History Month

Michelle Obama - USAService.org

Abasi Ote performance

Experiential Workshops

About AVP

Contributing Organizations/Volunteers

Speak Up Speak Now!
on display through October 10th at the Florida Holocaust Museum.