Neighbors Form Group to Reduce Crime Along Nebraska Ave

Press Release: With the recent rise in prostitution and illegal activities along the Nebraska Avenue Corridor, residents have begun an initiative to create a Nebraska Avenue Alliance to attack the problem head-on. The goal of the group will be to focus on the Quality of Life issues that affect the major North-South Corridor through our neighborhoods. The Alliance held their first meeting to discuss issues that affect the entire corridor which runs from Downtown Tampa to the county line. Residents representing each neighborhood bound by the corridor, were invited to participate. In addition to each neighborhood being represented, the group has also enlisted legal counsel to assist with researching various laws and Florida Statutes. “Until now, efforts have been limited to a specific neighborhood or small stretch of the Nebraska Corridor” says Stan Lasater, a Seminole Heights resident. “When one neighborhood becomes active in attacking the problem, we seem to push the problem onto someone else.”

While many call prostitution a victimless crime, those along the Nebraska Avenue Corridor know that the effects of prostitution have a lasting negative impact on our neighborhoods. After residents were told by TPD leaders that "our hands are tied" and "our plan is to continue making arrests. The problem is we have not been consistent,” neighbors felt the need to take action. Neighbors feel that our city officials have no plan or long term vision to improve the issues that affect the Nebraska Avenue Corridor.

The Group will focus on issues such as:

How businesses can play a vital role in decreasing prostitution
Local and state laws (i.e. mapping, precursors to prostitution)
Comparing cities and cases across the nation with Tampa
Working with major media outlets to publish names of prostitution related arrests
Long term treatment programs
Community policing
Tampa Police arrest procedures
Working with Code Enforcement along the corridor
Working with TECO to increase corridor lighting
Identifying various grants that may assist with the clean up efforts
Establishing a no-prostitution zone with harsher penalties
Working with the Judicial System to institute a no leniency policy for 2nd time offenders

By creating the Nebraska Avenue Alliance, we are hopeful that we can address many of the problems in unison, thereby eliminating the environment that encourages the illegal activity.

For more information, please contact Stan Lasater, 813-391-5855

UC TAMPA MAGAZINE May/June 2009 Edition

(formerly New Heights Magazine)
See complete version online at www.UCTampa.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------

WIN UP TO $450 IN PRIZES!
Kids Play Cutest Photo Contest
Send us your cutest photo of your child(ren) and you could win up to $450 in prizes and see your child(ren) on the next cover of UC Tampa!
OPPORTUNITIES N.O.K.
The "North of Kennedy" Business Boom
GREEN&EARTH
Home Detox
FOOD&DRINK
Downtown's The Tampa Club
PEOPLE&PLACES
Working Out At The Gem
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT
The Fave 5ive
NEWS&RUMORS
What's Happening In Your Neighborhood?!

-----------------------------------------------------------
URBAN CORRIDOR (UC) = Downtown, Heights Areas, South Tampa, Ybor, The Islands, West Tampa & surrounding areas.

Neighborhood Yard Sale

Is anyone interested in a VM Ybor Yard Sale - a designated Saturday / Sunday for a large neighborhood yard sale?? The more folks participating, the better the traffic to the yard sale. March 14 & 15th is the targeted date, from 7am to 2pm. We will take care of advertising in the Tribune, online, etc. - all you need to do is sell your goods in your front yard, on your porch, etc. and let us know you are participating.

Please comment on the blog or email Kim Headland if you are interested. Thanks!

Drugs, more drugs, and prostitution

I've noticed a huge upswing in the crime in the north end of V.M. Ybor. I can't mention how important it is to call TPD District III (242-3800) when you see illegal activity. I want you all to know that emailing TPD, Chief Hogue, Mayor Iorio, and other key people has had an impact, but it hasn't lasted. If you have a few minutes to spare, please write to them. Demand more police. We need to end the time of apathy in our streets. Drug dealers should not be running the neighborhood - we should. Please keep me posted of your efforts so that I can follow up with TPD. Bad economy or not, TPD has a job to do.

Help Support Local Businesses

A couple new shops are taking route on Nebraska Avenue. Located just north of our area at Osbourne, they are a welcome addition to the neighborhood. One business sells pre-prepared lunch and dinner to take home, the other sells antiques. Read this article for more information. Hopefully new businesses will open up on our side of MLK.

Update on Digital Billboards

Looks like we don't have to fight anymore as the Mayor has put her foot down. Read this article from the Times.

Say NO to Digital Billboards

Neighborhood leaders across the city are asking for your help to ask/demand that City Council reject a measure to allow digital billboards in our city. The measure will allow a swap of digital billboards for regular billboards. There is a lot of fine print, but basically, it will allow for hundreds of these eyesores to show up all over town, and in many cases, impacting residences. City Council will vote on this March 5th. Please attend and voice your concern. If you cannnot be there, contact the city council members. Currently the measure is on the fence as some council say yes, and some no. Send emails to tampacitycouncil@tampagov.net. If you would like more information, let me know and I may be able to steer you in the right direction. Please, this is a very important issue for all of Tampa.