I agree

I definetly agree. We cannot expect or wait for other people to fix our problems. I am going to the City Team Meeting this coming Wednesday at City Hall for our every other monthly meeting. It is supposed to be about code violations but our CP officer also attends and tells us how good everything is here in our neighborhood,no prostitition. no drugs, no parking of cars on lawns and everything is perfect in Oz. I will make it a point to speak to officer Kosak(sp)along with who ever else is there about the problem and how to fix it Other than that and maybe marches again, I really do not know what to do. I know where a couple of these guys live and was thinking of finding out if they rent. If they do maybe pressure on the landlord is a way to go. I will try to get some definete answers from our CP officer..........Kathy

By Kathy Young

renters

Hey Diane, You are absolutely right. There are way too many rentals especially the further east and south you go in the neighborhood. I am doing my part in buying and fixing. I suggest that you call our resident expert, Debbie Cunningham at Arvida. She owns this neighborhood as far as listings go. Ask her what is for sale and what is coming up for sale in the future. Kathy

By Kathy Young

Pressure

Speaking of landlord pressure, there was a landmark case in Calif. more than 10 years ago regarding a neighborhood street suing the owner of a property for creating a nusiance. The homeowner's won the case and the landlord had to pay each homeowner on the block $2,000 in restitution.
Just a thought. And also, the idea that all the drug houses are gone is rediculous. There's one (it appears abandoned, never any lights, etc) right on 22nd St. between 2nd and Burlington. Usually busy on Fri. eves. in case anyone wants to check it out. One of the previous officers in the neighborhood said he helped shut it down, but it never has gone away. Anyone else see this activity?

By Pam

Bringing the drug marchers back

As a regular, committed, Wrice drug marcher until we were disbanded, I can tell you that the way we left it was that we are only too happy and ready to be re-activated and called upon to march whenever it is needed. However, according to Susie Ahoc, whom I spoke to a while back regarding getting the word out to former marchers of events to honor Herman Wrice when he passed away, she does not have the list of marchers. Why she does not have the list of Turn Around Tampa Bay marchers that her office supposedly maintained, I cannot tell you. Our community police officer also told me that he does not have the list. And Paul B. doesn't have the list. Therefore, I have been very concerned as to HOW we are supposed to be re-activated if needed. But I can tell you that I am more than willing to march anytime you or anyone else calls upon us. And I know most of the other former Wrice marchers feel exactly the same way. We want to keep our neighborhoods and our city free of drug dealers and all the problems that come along with them. All I can suggest to you is to call Susie Ahoc--maybe you will get farther with her than I can--I find dealing with her extremely frustrating, as her office's sole purpose is to work with grassroots neighborhood groups but it seems she continually drops the ball when called upon to do so. The other thing you could try is to call our community officer and if he doesn't have the list, maybe he can find out who does if it is needed for an active drug situation. Good luck, Kathy--I'm ready to march if needed!