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Daytona Beach’s ‘dirty’ road secret Division Lane draws crime, code violations
Of the 169 miles of existing neighborhood streets the City of Daytona Beach hopes to improve if the half-cent sales tax proposal passes, the overgrown Division Street and Division Lane area between Orange Avenue and Live Oak Street – essentially a dirt road – is an area of the city that needs improvement fast.
Major corridor Along with International Speedway Boulevard and George W. Engram Boulevard, Orange Avenue is a key gateway to the
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BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
HALFPENNY SALES TAX
beachside that runs through a substantial portion of Daytona Beach’s Black community. Just one block east of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the 300 block of Division Street runs south just of Orange Avenue into
a short dirt road known as Division Lane, where a dead end sits. On the other side of that dead end is another section of Division Street, which runs south to Live Oak Street.
Sales tax could help The proposed countywide sales tax increase being endorsed by the city could help such an area by resurfacing the street. The tax is designed to raise funds for improvement to roads, sidewalks, storm water projects, bridges and other infrastructure The half-cent sales tax will not apply to purchases of gas, groceries or medicine. For example, tt would add about two cents a McDonald’s Happy Meal. For large purchases such as automobiles and boats, the tax would only See DIVISION, Page 2
DAYTONA TIMES / 40TH ANNIVERSARY
Cops eye ‘The Rec,’ Shiloh plans sanctuary
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR. / HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
This dilapidated home sits on Division Lane, a dirt road about six blocks from Daytona Beach City Hall.
Dickerson Center the site of city’s first tax meeting BY ANDREAS BUTLER DAYTONA TIMES
The City of Daytona Beach kicked off a series of April meetings on Tuesday about the proposed half-cent sales tax. Tuesday’s meeting was held at the John H. Dickerson Community Center and several others also are scheduled at sites in predominantly Black neighborhoods. The countywide initiative is designed to raise funds for capital improvement projects such as roads, sidewalks and flooding in all of the county’s 16 municipalities. If approved by voters in May, the additional half-cent sales tax is expected to bring in $45 mil-
lion per year countywide for the next 20 years. The tax is estimated to generate $3.7 million per year for Daytona Beach alone and over $74 million during the 20-year span.
Daytona improvements The money raised in each municipality is designed to be spent in that municipality. In Daytona Beach, the halfcent tax could provide $46.4 million to improve existing streets; $12.9 million for new sidewalks and $15 million to improve flood prone areas. Road improvements could net the following: Zone 1 (28 miles of roads at over $6.9 million); Zone See MEETING, Page 5
DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Daytona Beach City Manager Jim Chisholm addresses a small crowd gathered at the Dickerson Center Tuesday night.
Stewart Memorial: Serving community for 126 years Editor’s note: Volusia County is home to dozens of churches with predominantly Black congregations. Only a limited number can claim to have stood the test of time for 100 years or more. Mass Communication students at BethuneCookman University visited some of these churches to find out what makes them special. This is one in a series of stories about the iconic religious institutions.
Fourteen years ago in 2005, the Daytona Times reported on the Daytona Beach Police Department eyeing the location of the former Cypress Street Recreational Center for its new headquarters, and Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church planning construction of a new $1.68 million facility.
ALSO INSIDE
BY KAREN ROMERO DIAZ SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church is one of several local churches in the African-American community that have been in existence for more
COMMUNITY NEWS: F.A.I.T.H. HOLDS ANNUAL ASSEMBLY | PAGE 3 COMMUNITY NEWS: HISTORIC COURTHOUSE TURNS 90 | PAGE 5
than a century. The church, located at 300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., will mark its 126th anniversary this year. Church officials trace the beginnings to 1893 and the Rev. Thomas H.B. Walker. It is not known where the church held its first meeting. Documents do show that in 1895 Stewart Chapel was built on a spot between Second Avenue (now Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard) and Spruce Street. The Rev. M.L. Stewart donated the funds to build the chapel and the building was named in his honor. See CHURCH, Page 2
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sion Lane area.
‘A process’
from Page 1 be applied to the first $5,000 of the purchase because the tax is capped at $25 per purchase. It remains to be seen if the tax is passed – and if the money will be spent in and used to improve these areas especially in the Black community.
Trust but verify Supporters say there will be a local citizen oversight committee to ensure the money is spent as approved, with four layers of protection to ensure funds can only be used as outlined in the proposal: A local citizen oversight committee; Florida law ensures the money can only be used for projects listed on the ballot; a local ordinance that clearly defines where the money will go and how it will be spent; and locally elected officials, will be making decisions on when and where projects are completed.
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR. / HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Division Street has no sidewalks. The half-cent sales tax would pay for them. came upon that area of Division Lane. It was shocking! “There is a home with a tarp on it from the hurricane three years ago. There are some rundown homes and a homeless camp. How can the police, code enforcement and the city not know that this area has gotten this way?” exclaimed Heard. City officials are aware of the problems.
A reminder Right now, the circular dirt road area in front of Division Lane is an eyesore and is a reminder of the time when Black Daytonans lived in wooden shacks built on dirt roads. There are deteriorating homes, homelessness and squatting. There is also known drug activity. Residents in that area and others familiar with that area declined to speak to the Daytona Times directly; however, one person did refer to Division Lane as a “danger zone.” Another person who wished to remain anonymous told the Times, “I wish that they would come and do something. There is one homeowner in that area that owns their home and property; they are OK. There is squatting going on inside the other homes. Many of the houses are unlivable. Drug activity is also rampant.”
‘Shocking’ sight
CHURCH from Page 1 Delay after storm In the 1920s, the original structure was demolished and construction began on a new building. Completion of the new building was delayed by a storm in 1926, which damaged the partially finished walls, according to an African American History Trail guide published by the City of Daytona Beach. The two-story building, finally completed in 1936, contained a sanctuary, choir room, Sunday school room, dining room, kitchen and pastor’s study. The delay caused by the 1926 storm resulted in a basement being added to the original plans. Initially the basement provided space for church services while the building was being completed, and later it was used as a dining room.
Converted to center Stewart Memorial moved to a new facility in 1973 and the vacated structure was sold to the city and converted into the Richard V. Moore Community Center. Moore was president of then Bethune-Cookman College from 1947 to 1974. The center is now home to the college’s black box theater.
Subject of book Since its beginning, more than 40 ministers have served as pastors at Stewart Memorial. Through the years, the United Methodist Church evolved, and so did Stewart Memorial, but the basis foundation of Methodism was unshakeable, a book about the church states. “Methodism, as perceived by John Wesley, emphasized small group worship,” according to a church history titled “The Rich Heritage of Stewart Memorial Church.” The book, published in 2011 was written by church member Jake C. Miller, a retired professor at B-CU, and illustrated by Joel V. Fears, another longtime
On the city’s list
The homeless have sought refuge in an area off Division Street. Shiloh Baptist Church has held community meetings entitled Neighborhood Upkeep: “Elevation” to address issues such as upkeep, code enforcement, crime and more, including a meeting held on March 24. Pa-
tricia Heard is a member of that church and one of the meeting organizers. “In the past, we had some church members that lived in that area. I was riding with a city commissioner one day and we
The half-cent sales tax requires Volusia County cities to identify the improvements the tax revenue will pay for. Streets are selected due to a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the condition of roads. A score of 100 is the best road condition; a score of zero is the worst. The Division Lane area’s score ranges from 42 to 48. According to city statistics, about 90 percent of Daytona’s roads are in better condition than the Divi-
“As for the code issues, people need to know that there is a process. Code Enforcement has put a dumpster in the area and given citations. In one of the homes, there is a homeowner actually living there,” responded Zone 6 City Commissioner Paula Reed. The area is in her zone. Law enforcement calls in the Division St. and Division Lane area over the past two years include one for arson, and multiple calls for disturbances, narcotics, domestic disturbances, suspicious incidents, outstanding warrants, assaults and batteries, animal complaints, vandalism, burglaries of residences, and more. “In the past it used to be a drug haven, but it’s died down. On the other hand, there are some code issues in that area,” said Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri. Code enforcement violations in that area over the same span include multiple violations of a having a building unfit for human occupancy, owning a dangerous structure or premises, junk vehicles, and poor maintenance, among others.
‘Use the money’ Meanwhile residents have their own take on the half-cent sales tax. That same anonymous person added, “Yes, I am for it if they use it to fix up these areas which desperately need it. Division Lane could benefit. If it does pass, I hope they do use the money to do what they say they will do.” City officials say sales tax money could help Division Lane and similar areas, but so can the community. Reed explained, “The sales tax is for roads, bridges, sidewalks and stormwater projects. We don’t have to wait on the city. We have churches and other organizations. We can clean up the community ourselves and go help homeowners like they do in other areas.”
member. Both men have since died.
welcome. “My children were very young and when I would enter the pew at the Catholic church for mass the people would move as far away as they could,” she said. “My neighbor’s daughter and my daughter played together and she taught Sunday School to the children and youth at Stewart Memorial. She would pick my children up and I would come in time for service. I enjoyed the service, my children enjoyed being in Sunday School and thus we became members.”
Pastor’s outlook The Rev. Dr. Miriti Silas M’Woria is the current pastor of Stewart Memorial. M’Woria, a native of Kenya, was appointed pastor nine years ago. M’Woria said he received the call to the ministry from his early days in high school. Stewart Memorial plays a big role in its community, he said, adding that its location at the corner Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and Dr. Martin Luther King boulevards provide a lot of visibility and makes it instantly connected to the Bethune-Cookman University community. The congregation has a strong base of older people but few students. The pastor said he would love to attract a younger public to his congregation, which now numbers about 100 people. Services are held at 10 a.m. on Sundays. The pastor said Stewart Memorial also has resources to help young adults pay for an education. There is a scholarship for students offered every year, where
Stewart Memorial United Methodist Church is one of the oldest predominantly African-American churches in the area. the only condition is to be a member of the congregation.
Remembering Rev. Fair Charles Long joined Stewart Memorial more than 50 years ago and continues to play an active role. Long said religion has always play an active role in his life. “I grew up in the church in Arcadia. I was baptized at age 11,” he said. “Church to me is the most impor-
tant in my life.” He said he first came to know Stewart Memorial by its then pastor, the Rev. Rogers P. Fair, now deceased. “He was very lively and had an outgoing personality. Everybody was his ace,” he said, referring to Fair, who also was the chaplain at the time for then-Bethune-Cookman College. “I have been acing here ever since,” Long said, adding that he likes the cohesion, spiritualty and uplift-
ing spirit of the church. “It has given me stability. It has taught me a lot.”
A member’s testimony Stewart also counts on people like Shelia Davis Jackson, who joined the church 25 years ago. Jackson said she was raised in the Catholic faith and when she relocated here from another state, she attended the Catholic church but did not feel
Focused on youth Jackson said she liked the fact that the members were so friendly and also very concerned about the youth in the church as well as those within the community. Stewart is home to one of the first Boys Scout troops in the AfricanAmerican community. “To this day, we as members are still focused on our youth, our community and our relationship with Bethune-Cookman University. We welcome all students to our church for we do have a place for them,” she said.
M A YNEWS OR
APRIL 4 – APRIL 10, 2019 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
F.A.I.T.H. to hold annual assembly on April 8 at Peabody Fighting Against Injustice Towards Harmony (F.A.I.T.H.) will hold its annual Action Assembly at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8, at Peabody Auditorium, 600 Auditorium Blvd., Daytona Beach. At the assembly, up to 1,800 community members are expected to gather to urge local officials to take action in the areas of youth arrests, out-of-school suspension, and affordable housing. Leaders from the congregations will call attention to the lack of affordable rental units for working individuals and families. F.A.I.T.H. is a non-profit organization comprised of 32 religious congregations in Volusia County.
Officials to attend The organization plans to call on members of the Volusia County Council to begin working to create a county-level
Daytona State Food and Wine festival raises funds for homelessness initiative Nearly 400 people attended an inaugural Food and Wine Festival at Daytona State College on March 31. The crowd was served tapas-style food served by area restaurants as well as students attending the college’s Mori Hosseini College of Hospitality and Culinary Management. Proceeds support Daytona State’s initiative to curb hunger and homelessness among its students. The festival, presented by the Daytona State College Foundation, was the first event at the L. Gale Lemerand Student Center, which opened in March.
Support, resources The center serves as a place where students can seek academic support and resources, such as the library and career
Volusia offering express service for renewals
A speaker addresses the crowd at a past F.A.I.T.H. Action Assembly. Affordable Housing Fund, similar ones being used in Pittsburgh and Louisville, Kentucky. F.A.I.T.H. also will call for a decrease of out-of-school suspensions with the implementation of restorative practices. Public officials who plan to attend thus far are: Seventh Circuit Chief Probation Officer Dan Merrithew; Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood; Volusia County
Council Members Billie Wheeler, Heather Post and Barbara Girtman; Volusia School Board Members Ruben Colon and Carl Persis; Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry; along with Daytona Beach City Commissioners Quanita May and Paula Reed. For more information, call 386-2387060. The website is www.faithvolusia. org.
advising, and enjoy various amenities such as the college’s dining hall, offices for student clubs and a gaming center. “This is a place where students can socialize and interact with their peers, faculty and college staff, and access the resources and guidance they need to stay on track,” said Daytona State President Tom LoBasso. “We know that students who are engaged in college life are more likely to achieve academic success and complete their degrees, and that has been the whole strategy behind the design and construction of this building from the very start.” LoBasso also spoke of the mission behind the event. “We also know that hunger and homelessness have increasingly become barriers to student success at colleges and universities across the nation. This evening, we come together to support and advocate on behalf of the estimated 69 percent of Daytona State students who live at or below the state poverty level,
many who wrestle with food insecurity or lack a bed they can call their own,’’ he said.
Free food, fees Daytona State has established a Falcon Fuel Grab & Go Food Pantry operated by its Center for Women and Men, where students can pick up a free, quick snack or even a meal to prepare at home. Students have access to a clothes closet they can use to prepare for job interviews; a book lending library; supplies, free printing and test fees; free emergency Votran bus transportation and free or low-cost health care and more through a collaboration with Hope Place and Halifax Urban Ministries. “We are trying to address every issue that our students might have and remove obstacles to their education,” LoBasso added. “Together, we are making a difference in the lives of so many of our students.”
Do you need your vehicle registration in a hurry? You no longer have to wait for the mail, and you can skip the line by using a new Express Lane service for renewing a registration for your vehicle, boat or mobile home online and picking it up the same day. The convenience fee is $1.50 for payments by e-check or $3.15 for payments by credit or debit card. For same-day pickup, residents can renew online at www.renewexpress. com/volusia/renewals before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Under delivery options, select “Pick up at a Revenue Office Location” and select your preferred location. Renewals completed after 3 p.m. can be picked up the next business day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Volusia County has Tag, Tax and Title offices at: • Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach • Thomas C. Kelley Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand • 111 Canal St., New Smyrna Beach • 2744 Enterprise Road, Orange City Those using the Express Lane will receive two emails: one confirming their payment and the second letting them know when the registration will be ready for pickup. When picking up their registration, residents should go to the customer check-in desk and show their photo ID.
Free resume service available in DeLand Volunteers from Stetson University are offering a free resume-coaching service in which they help create resumes from scratch or help update existing resumes of residents. All are welcome to participate in the service that allows participants to create a resume and walk out with five free hard copies. The service is Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Spring Hill Resource Center, 910 S Adelle Ave., DeLand. Those who want to use the service can simply walk in or schedule an appointment in advance. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 386-740-0808.
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7 EDITORIAL
APRIL 4 – APRIL 10, 2019
Why I am ‘FOR’ the half-cent sales tax I love Daytona Beach with every inch of my spirit. I love our Midtown community, I love Bethune-Cookman University our Historically Black College/University – and I’ve even grown to love the Daytona 500! There are two main reasons why our community and town runs so smoothly; (1) the unending strength and support of our residents; (2) the economic impact of our tourists. In fact, tourism alone generates BILLIONS for our city every year. And while our town may be a historic one, sometimes it doesn’t seem that way.
We are suffering Our streets are unpaved and nearly undriveable. Our schools are facing illiteracy rates more than ever. Our community as a whole is suffering. It has become evident that there is a need for immediate economic empowerment and an opportunity to truly bring change to our city. This is why I say that the half-cent sales tax would be the saving grace our community so desperately needs to make it beautiful again. Before you say “Rell, I’m not paying any extra taxes,” let me ask you a question. The idea of paying an extra fee on top of a set price is absurd, right? If most of us are already low-income and in poverty, why do we need even more taxes? Luckily, I’m here to tell you that the half-cent sales tax will not only bring money back in this very community, it’s also go-
RELL BLACK GUEST COLUMNIST
If you truly care about Midtown and the children who grow up here, you will do the right thing by securing them a future. Vote FOR the halfcent sales tax and let’s get our city back – by any means necessary! ing to help cultivate and develop Midtown into the superhub it should’ve been decades ago.
What the tax covers For starters, necessities such as food, water and medicine will not be affected. As someone who suffers a chronic muscle condition, knowing that my medicine and prescriptions won’t be taxed truly means the world to me. That half-a-penny that you’ll be charged on luxury items will all be going back directly into the community via an escrow account. That account will go towards redoing our roads, fixing potholes, getting a better and
Toward a living wage It is unfathomable that the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage has not been increased in more than a decade, since 2007. It has remained flat through recession and recovery, through extremely high unemployment rates and much lower ones. Republicans refuse to consider minimum wage increases, and in early March rejected a bill that would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. Still, with the Democratic majority in Congress, the bill came out of committee on a 2820 party line vote.
Doing it themselves While the federal government drags its feet, six states, the District of Columbia and several cities now have a minimum wage that will rise to $15 in a few years. Republican governor Larry Hogan vetoed legislation increasing the minimum wage. Both houses of the Maryland legislature
JULIANNE MALVEAUX TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
overrode his veto, even though he melodramatically noted that a higher minimum wage would “devastate” the Maryland economy. Unions, McDonald’s workers, and the Fight for Fifteen have fueled the national push to raise the minimum wage, especially as people have noted that wage stagnation has resulted in an extremely uneven economic recovery. While those at the top are celebrating economic growth, those at the bottom have barely experienced it. And the current minimum wage produces annual pay of $15,080, assuming that someone works a full 40 hours a week
Let’s talk about love vs. hate Recently, police arrested a young teen in Charlottesville, Virginia. He’d made a racist threat against minority students, both Black and Latino. Why? It was apparently for no reason other than the color of their skin and the culture of their birth. One has must wonder if he experienced love or hate at home, and whether Donald Trump a regular of what the family hears on the news.
Did he have help? With so many people still grieving over the tragic loss of Heather Heyer, how could a teenager reopen those wounds without adult leadership? Every time some of us naive-
DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY NEWS WIRE
ly begin to think we’re more civilized now than we were during slavery and the immediate aftermath, hate seems to rise again. Hate now includes anybody who’s deemed to be different from White people. I wonder if the average White person feels a responsibility to come up with a solution to White hatred? I know where they can start. Rise up as Black people so
VISUAL VIEWPOINT: BOEING CORP. AND JET SAFETY
more efficient water system and the upgrading our neighborhoods. There’s no reason Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard, which houses one of the nation’s elite HBCUs, should not look like a million-dollar street. The officials who have honored Mrs. Bethune with a statue in Washington, D.C., would be ashamed if they saw how run down MMB has truly become. Who’s paying for these infrastructure costs? Tourists! Our city thrives off global tourism year after year. I feel it’s a genius move to fill 30 percent of the escrow with tourism funds. That way our local residents who float right above the poverty line won’t have to worry about the financial burden. Tourists who come from all over to shop at Tanger Outlets, One Daytona and the Volusia Mall will be the ones financing this incredible Daytona movement.
Opposition doesn’t care And while there are many who support our community and families by voting for this change, there are several business owners and local leaders who are voting against it. Over on the beachside, there are gas stations with signs saying, “No Sales Tax.” The middle class doesn’t want to give up their money – a literal half of a penny per dollar – to invest and sow into Daytona Beach and its future as a whole. They don’t believe Midtown is important enough to invest in and redevelop. So it’s truly up
all 52 weeks of the year – often unlikely because many minimum wage jobs are part-time jobs.
What does she do? The poverty line for a family of three (a working mom and two children) is $16,910. A woman working full-time at the minimum wage is living below the poverty line. She qualifies for SNAP (food stamps), and possibly for federal housing aid if she can get it. Often, public housing and the list for housing subsidies is full, so assistance is not an option. What is a woman earning such a low wage to do, living at the economic periphery? She houseshares, lives with family, or endures homelessness. She lines up to get food at food banks or from other charities. She struggles to make ends meet, while her congressional representative earns $174,000 a year whether they produce or not. Too many of the people who earn the minimum wage, mostly women, are caretakers. They
often have to do and decide not to tolerate such reckless behavior. Hate is destructive to the hater, but it’s also taking the lives of too many good and decent people.
It’s time It’s time for White people to fix their community because that is where so much hate is coming from against people who’re not classified as White. Just as all Black people aren’t to blame for what all Black people do, I’m not blaming all White people. I’m saying if anybody can fix the White community, it’s White people. Look at the New Zealand tragedy. Fifty people are dead because of White Islamophobia. In Tulsa, Okla., many people were massacred by White people and a whole community was destroyed. At Texas A&M, nurses were killed by a White person.
STEVE SACK, THE MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE, MN
to us– the millennials, the leaders, the activists – to educate the community on the half-cent sales tax and why we so desperately need it to happen! This upcoming May, you have a chance to finally allow your voice to be heard. Our city is a hub within itself, and it’s time we truly saw its full potential. The half-cent sales tax would be just the right step we would need to turn our city around. Schools, streets, parks even homes would be positively affected by the money collected by this policy. Your children and your grandchildren will be able to grow up in a positive, clean, safe and respectable community. Don’t get discouraged by the verbiage; this is one of the easiest votes you can make. The ballot is a mail-in ballot, so you don’t have to leave your home. No standing in lines. It’s literally all from the comfort of your couch.
Now is your chance
mind our children and our elders as nannies and home health workers. While we say that our children and elders are precious, we don’t pay the folks who care for them as if they are. Parking lot attendants who care for our automobiles often earn more than the people who care for our children, mothers, and grandmothers. And yet the economy depends on them! How many working women would be hard-pressed to work if their nannies or home health workers stayed home? And how would the economy adjust to the absence of nearly half of the labor force?
raising the visibility of these workers so we can see them and so we can ensure that they are adequately paid. Most Americans will have to interact with the care industry at some point in their life, arranging help for elderly relatives or for children. The movement toward a living wage must include these workers. Kudos to Maryland for taking a step in the right direction. Shame on House Republicans who are enjoying economic recovery but denying its benefits to those at the bottom. Increasing the minimum wage lifts people out of poverty. Shouldn’t we all be able to support that?
Demand vs. pay Ai-jen Poo, the executive director of the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance, recently spoke about workers in the care industry. Eighty-eight percent of these workers are women, mostly women of color. Demand for their services is increasing; pay is not. All don’t make even the minimum wage, though their essential work is too often invisible. Poo and her organization are
In Rosewood, Fla., Black people were massacred for no reason. Thousands of Black people were lynched by Whites simply because of the color of their skin. Thousands of Black people were stolen from their home and enslaved. An untold number of Native Americans were murdered and had their land stolen by White people. Isn’t it time White people take some responsibility for the hateful acts by their people? They must teach their children about respect for others and about love for all of God’s children. They should take a lesson from the superintendent of schools in Charlottesville when she said, “In Charlottesville and around the globe, we stand firmly in stating there’re not ‘very fine people’ standing on both sides of this issue.”
Taking notes Let’s take another lesson from
Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher
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For all the former inmates who have recently restored their rights to vote, why not make your voice truly heard for the first time? We have a chance to vote for better neighborhoods, improved streets, and an overall positive adjustment to our ways of life. If you truly care about Midtown and the children who grow up here, you will do the right thing by securing them a future. Vote FOR the half-cent sales tax and let’s get our city back – by any means necessary!
Rell Black is an award-winning activist, blogger and the founder of Community Healing Project Inc. Click on this commentary at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. Her latest book, “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy,” is available at www.juliannemalveaux.com. Click on this commentary at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
the prime minister of New Zealand when she not only rejected hate verbally, but showed what real leaders do. She began to work with her legislature to try to prevent such a tragedy again. White people need to show America’s White president how to do something about hate other than say, “There are good people on both sides.” Hate is destroying America, and the rest of the world is looking down on us. We’re no longer the leader, and we won’t be the leader again until all of us begin to show some love for all instead of hate.
Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org. Click on this commentary at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.
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M A YNEWS OR
APRIL 4 – APRIL 10, 2019 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006
Commercial space study focus of meeting
Volusia County staff will share the findings of a consultant-led Commercial Space Industry Supply Chain study from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, in the Dennis R. McGee Room at Daytona Beach International Airport, 700 Catalina Drive. The study profiles commercial space companies locating near or aboard the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and then characterizes the expanding goods and service demand they are generating. Reservations are not required. For more information, call Rob Ehrhardt at 386248-8048.
SKYWARN training set for April 29
Volusia County Emergency Management, in cooperation with the National Weather Service in Melbourne, will host a basic and advanced SKYWARN Spotter Training class Monday, April 29, at the Emergency Operations Center, 3825 Tiger Bay Road, Daytona Beach. The basic course is from 10 a.m. to noon, and the advanced course is from 1 to 3 p.m. The program was developed and taught by National Weather Service meteorologists and consists of trained weather spotters who report severe and hazardous weather. The training is free but online preregistration is required. Basic class registration: skywarn-daytona-beachbasic-042919.eventbrite. com. Advanced class registration: skywarn-daytonabeach-advanced-042919. eventbrite.com.
of Art – DeLand and the Seventh Judicial Circuit will conduct tours of the courthouse with emphasis on the artwork, architecture and the original courtroom.
Courthouse history
BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY’S CONCERT CHORALE
Concert Chorale, symphonic band to perform at April 7 concert Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) will present its 44th spring concert at 4 p.m. April 7. The annual performance will feature the university’s Concert Chorale under the direction of Professor Terrance Lane and the symphonic band under the direction of Dr. Donovan Wells. The concert is free and open to the public and will be held at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, 698 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach.
Children and Families Advisory Board to meet April 9 Volusia County’s Children and Families Advisory Board will meet at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, in the third-floor conference room of the Volusia County Lifeguard Headquarters, 515 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach. Members will review and discuss the contingency application, funding criteria and evaluation elements. They will also hear an overview of the board. The Children and Families Advisory Board assesses and evaluates strategies to meet needs, monitors program compliance, advertises funding availability, recommends appropriations for programs serving children and families, and provides recommendations to the Volusia County Council on children and family issues.
MEETING from Page 1 2 (32 miles at over $8.2 million); Zone 3: (27 miles at $8.1 million); Zone 4 (31 miles at over $8.7 million); Zone 5 (24 miles at over $6.5 million); Zone 6 (27 miles at over $7.7 million). Fifty-seven percent of the roads in Daytona are considered to be in fair condition, 33 percent in good condition, 9 percent in poor condition, and 1 percent requires reconstruction. There also are plans to pump millions into improving stormwater drainage and flooding in Midtown and the Wilder Boulevard outfall.
May 21 return The half-cent tax ballot will be mailed out by the Volusia County Supervisor of Election Office on May 1 and must be returned by May 21. Volusia County/Daytona Beach NAACP President Cynthia Slater was concerned about Tuesday’s turnout. “I’m always concerned with low turnout or no show in the African-American community when it comes to meeting and forums that informs you on what is going on and what affects your lives,” she said. “I don’t know how the word is getting out or if people are just not interested. Hopefully, it gets better. This was the first meeting.”
‘A matter of informing’ City officials aren’t too concerned about the turnout. “Today just shows that we need to try to find a way to get the information out. We hope to get help from the press like the (Daytona) Times,” said City Manager Jim Chisholm. “We want to show the public what this is about. It’s just a matter of informing.’’ Chisholm noted that funds for the projects spread evenly across each zone within the city. “We’ll still need more money, but we can always partner with other entities such as county, state and federal entities,” he noted. He also responded to concern about jobs for Blacks. “We want to find qualified people to work on these projects. We are looking to partner with those organizations, groups and business that can help us with those. We can do incentives for them to do so as well,’’ Chisholm added.
Mixed views The city is looking to inform the public on the proposed tax as well as get feedback. “Anytime we do something, it is important that the city be informed, especially when it comes to voting on something. They need to make an intelligent decision. This is the first of several meetings. The
For more information, visit www.volusia.org/cfab or call Special Projects Coordinator Corry Brown at 386-736-5955, ext. 12970.
the county’s Parks, Recreation and Culture Division. For more information, call David Hinson at 386736-5953.
Kids can hunt Easter eggs at Gemini Springs Park
Volusia to observe 90th year of courthouse
Gemini Springs Park will be the site of an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 6. It starts at 10 a.m. Children ages 1 to 12 can take part in the activity. They will be separated by age groups, and parents may help children 2 and under. Participants must bring their own baskets for gathering eggs, which will be filled with candy and prizes. Gather in the oak tree area at Gemini Springs Park, 37 Dirksen Drive, DeBary. The event is sponsored by the Volusia Sheriff’s Youth Foundation, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and
The county’s Historic Preservation Board and the Parks, Recreation and Culture Division obtained the markers through the Florida Historical Markers program, which was created in 1960 to increase public awareness of the state’s rich cultural heritage and to enhance the enjoyment of historic sites by residents and tourists. Completed in 1929 for a cost of $500,000, the courthouse was described as “one of the most beautiful county administration buildings in the South.” It featured fluted Corinthian columns, vaulted
arches, marble staircases, a distinctive copper clad dome, and an interior cupola featuring a stained glass dome. Additionally, it had elaborate twin facades containing ornate balustrades and terra cotta entablature. The dedication ceremony on Nov. 18, 1929, was attended by more than 3,000 locals who enjoyed a pork barbecue, concerts from the Stetson University Orchestra and the DeLand Concert Band, and circus performers provided by the Johnny J. Jones Show. In 1987, the Volusia County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the Downtown DeLand Historic District. Volusia County completed a lengthy restoration project in 2005, restoring the popular landmark to its former glory.
SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES
The Volusia County Council will unveil a state historical marker for the Volusia County Historic Courthouse at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, on the Indiana Avenue side of the courthouse. A second, identical marker will be placed at the New York Avenue entrance. Speakers will include Retired Circuit Judge Edwin P.B. Sanders, Volusia County Chair Ed Kelley and Historic Preservation Board Member Zach Zacharias. After the ceremony, volunteers from the Museum
Volusia County Historic Courthouse
IF YOU GO
All of the city meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be held at Daytona Beach sites. The meetings are intended to be informal and residents are invited to stop by at their convenience, anytime between 5:30 and 7 p.m. to review project displays. City staff will be available to answer questions. There will also be an opportunity for citizens and property owners to provide feedback on project priorities. MEETING SCHEDULE All of the meetings start at 5:30 p.m. and are held at sites in Daytona Beach. Thursday, April 4, Midtown Cultural & Educational Center, 925 George W. Engram Blvd. Tuesday, April 9, Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural and Educational Center, 1000 Vine St. Thursday, April 11, Sunnyland Park Activity Building, 825 Washington Ave. Tuesday, April 16, Allen Chapel AME Church, 580 George Engram Blvd. Thursday, April 18, Daytona Beach Fire Station #7, 2545 LPGA Blvd. Tuesday, April 23, Schnebly Recreation Center, 1101 N. Atlantic Ave. Thursday, April 25, Daytona Beach Police Department, 129 Valor Blvd. Tuesday, April 30, Church of Christ, 850 Beville Road county has meetings as well,” noted Daytona Commissioner Paula Reed, who represents Zone 6. Residents who attended the meeting had mixed views. “I came in on the back end of the meeting. I need to be more informed. It would be good, however. We can get some money to fix up the area, especially the flooding in this community,” said Posey Elliott.
Funding concerns Some residents within the city already have made up their minds. “I am voting no for a lot of reasons. I don’t see the accountability and they are not explaining how we got here or why we are here now,” said Linda Smiley. Ann Ruby echoed, “It feels to me that when it comes to sidewalks, roads and storm drainage that these are things that our tax money already pay for. Why are we here? If the same people are in charge with the same philosophy, we’ll get nowhere. “She added, “The city gave Brown & Brown $800,000 to $1 million dollars for their project. That is money that could have been put towards such infrastructure projects.” Ruby was referring to Brown & Brown Insurance headquarters going up in downtown Daytona Beach. More information on the proposal can be found on the City of Daytona Beach website at www.codb.us and the Volusia County website at www.volusia.org.
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR.HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry presents participants with certificates.
Mayor celebrates biggest losers The annual Daytona Beach Mayor’s Fitness Challenge recently wrapped up and a breakfast celebration was held on March 30 at the Midtown Cultural & Educational Center to honor the biggest losers.
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7APRIL 4 – APRIL 10, 2019
YOUR VOTE COUNTS, BUT YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER! Call or visit the Department of Elections at 386-254-4690 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., MondayFriday to obtain a voter registration application. Visit any Volusia County library or city hall to obtain a voter registration application.
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 22, 2019
FOR our roads FOR our waterways FOR our community
An extra half-penny means approximately $45 MILLION EVERY YEAR, for 20 years, to fix Volusia County’s roads, bridges, sidewalks, and flood-prone areas.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE HALF-CENT INFRASTRUCTURE TAX Daytona Beach’s share is expected to be about $3.7 MILLION EVERY YEAR, for 20 years. ALL of it will go to improving local streets, creating new sidewalks, and improving the city’s flood-prone neighborhoods like Woodcliff Estates and Fairway Estates. Future phases address the larger areas like Orange Avenue, Keech Street, South Street and Beville Road including “Soul City,” Palmetto Park and Caroline Village.
TOURISTS AND VISITORS PAY THEIR SHARE. Much of the sales tax will be paid by visitors and tourists, which means everyone who uses our roads, sidewalks, beaches and rivers will help fix and maintain them, not just residents and property owners. If these improvements were made through property taxes, only local property owners would carry the burden.
IT WON’T APPLY TO ALL PURCHASES! You pay NO additional tax on gas, groceries or medicine.
HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE TAX MONEY ISN’T WASTED? FOUR WAYS: • A local citizens oversight committee will monitor progress. • Florida law requires that money can be used only for projects listed. • A city ordinance clearly defines where the money goes and how it is spent. • City commissioners, not state or federal politicians, will make decisions.
MORE QUESTIONS? Attend these city meetings: Tuesday, April 9: Yvonne Scarlett Golden Center, 1000 Vine St., Daytona Beach 32114 Thursday, April 11: Sunnyland Park, 825 Washington St., Daytona Beach 32114
EVEN MORE QUESTIONS? CALL 386-671-8400 On the Web: HTTP://CODB.US/HALFCENT