On The Passing Of Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson
My Metropolis Council colleague Gwendolyn Henderson (above) has handed on (solely 5 days after attending the kickoff occasion for Viera’s marketing campaign to be the subsequent Dist. 67 State Consultant; see story under). Gwen was many issues — a fighter who was hilarious, impartial and cussed and a lady with a gorgeous coronary heart.
Councilwoman Henderson was raised in Carver Metropolis — a Tampa group created for returning black veterans within the Nineteen Fifties. Her Dad, Asbury Henderson, was a Korean Warfare veteran. Her mom, Gladys Henderson, was a caring girl of religion. Gladys was descended from Sam Hightower — an enslaved man who was emancipated in Georgia in 1865 and would die in 1932.
Gwen owned the Tampa Heights Black English bookstore. If you wish to see the center of Councilwoman Henderson, go to Black English bookstore. It’s a love letter to Black Historical past and folks like Sam Hightower and Asbury and Gladys Henderson.
She was proud to be a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (a sisterhood comprised primarily of Black, college-educated girls with greater than 1,050 chartered chapters worldwide), and a Carver Metropolis girl. She was proud to be a Dragon from Jefferson Excessive College. She was pleased with her Christian religion. She was proud to be a mother. And, she was proud to be a public servant representing the group the place Gladys and Asbury Henderson raised a household.
She was additionally hilarious. I sat subsequent to her [at City Council meetings] and laughed so much. However, she was a tricky girl, too. She endured some imply political assaults and by no means flinched. Public service could be a pleasure — however there are those that take the most cost effective of all pictures from the most cost effective of all seats. Councilwoman Henderson punched again towards these low cost pictures.
I final noticed her at an occasion she placed on for younger folks attending Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities (HBCU). I instructed her: “Have a look at all of those younger folks, you might be doing what you have been meant to do.”
She introduced a ardour to the plight of on a regular basis households just like the one raised by Gladys and Asbury Henderson. She had a gorgeous coronary heart and will probably be missed.
On The Repaving Of New Tampa Blvd.
New Tampa Blvd. — house to God is aware of what number of potholes and damaged tires — is lastly in line to be repaved.
This $2.5-million mobility venture will repave 1.8 miles of the primary street by the West Meadows group — from Meadow Pine Dr. to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. The venture will embody pedestrian accessibility options with security and ADA enhancements.
This work will start in Quarter 2 of 2026 and is about to be completed by the tip of 2026.
I’m glad we’re lastly getting right here. Had the 2018 penny gross sales tax not been struck down in court docket, New Tampa Blvd. would have been repaved way back. Because it stands, I needed to combat laborious to get it within the finances — and I thank Mayor Castor and my fellow Council members for the assist.
I might be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to my long-time good friend, Brad van Rooyen of West Meadows, who has been pushing for this venture for years. If Brad is Captain Ahab, then West Meadows is his Moby Dick.
Not way back, we acquired parts of Tampa Palms Blvd. repaved. We are going to end the remainder of Tampa Palms Blvd., too. Keep in mind of us, just like the Johnny Money music goes: “One piece at a time.” Till we get higher funding sources for mobility, it’ll must be only one piece at a time.
On The Fourth Of July
The Fourth of July is developing and I look ahead to marching in some Independence Day parades. I like the Fourth of July for a lot of causes — for sentimental causes and since I used to be raised within the Nineteen Eighties.
And, I like how it’s a good time to rejoice our nation. A former President as soon as mentioned: “What is correct with America will help heal what’s incorrect with America.” This Fourth of July, take into consideration what is correct with our nation and the way that good will help overcome what’s incorrect with our nation. It has previously and it’ll once more.
Know what an actual pleasure it’s to signify you all in public workplace.
Viera Kicks Off Marketing campaign To Succeed Rep. Driskell
As we instructed you again in April, District 7 Tampa Metropolis Councilman and New Tampa resident Luis Viera has introduced that as an alternative of working for Mayor of Tampa, a citywide Council seat or a spot on the Hillsborough County Fee, he’s as an alternative looking for the place at present held by his long-time good friend and Dist. 67 Florida Rep. (and State Home minority chief) Fentrice Driskell.
Viera formally kicked off his marketing campaign for the seat at a fund-raising occasion held on the Columbia Centennial Museum in Ybor Metropolis on June 5 that was attended by greater than 200 folks, together with Richard Gonzmart (at microphone, left), the chairman of the 1905 Household of Eating places (together with the unique Columbia Restaurant adjoining to the museum), who launched Viera to the gang, in addition to fellow Metropolis Council members Gwendolyn Henderson (who handed away out of the blue just a few days after the occasion) and Charlie Miranda and Dist. 1 Hillsborough Commissioner Harry Cohen.
Unable to attend the marketing campaign occasion was Chief Driskell herself, who was (and is) nonetheless in Tallahassee with the remainder of the State Legislature making an attempt to get a Fiscal 12 months 2026 finances handed.
Viera, who was really the second Democrat to enter the race for Driskell’s seat, now not faces a major election, as retired U.S. Air Power Colonel William “Will” Atkins, the primary candidate to file for the seat, pulled out of the race after studying my profile of Viera (picture, proper) — a minimum of, that’s what Will instructed me once I noticed him on the YMCA groundbreaking in Wesley Chapel final month.
“I come from the center,” Viera instructed the gang on the occasion. “I all the time inform folks I’m the identical man on Saturday evening that I’m on Sunday morning. That implies that I’m the identical man I used to be earlier than I acquired elected, and [I’ll be] the identical man once I go to Tallahassee that I’m now. And by the best way, I’m gonna be the identical man within the major that I’m within the normal election, since you don’t put your finger within the wind in your values. Your values depend when they’re rock-solid. They arrive with you, they usually don’t change primarily based upon what’s taking place. I all the time consider in dignity for all, which is the concept that you’re entitled to dignity and respect — the concept that all of us do higher once we all do higher.”
For extra data or to make a donation, go to VieraforFlorida.com. — GN
