TURNING EAST TAMPA AROUND

Anyone who hopes to grasp the dimensions of the problem facing East Tampa
needs to consider the inane comments made recently by members of the African
People's Solidarity Committee. The group blasted Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio for a
successful drug sweep through East Tampa, arguing that the blight, violence
and hopelessness can be traced not to drugs but "poverty and oppression."
Such knee-jerk rhetoric, parading as social conscience, speaks to what's
wrong with blame-game leadership. The first casualty is the truth.

Let there be no doubt: The city's history in in responding to the needs of
East Tampa, which is disproportionately black, is dismal by almost any
account. East Tampa has never received the level of public investment, the
quality of services or the same political attention as other areas of town.
No single mayor can erase that history, but Iorio has, in a few short
months, raised the profile of East Tampa and begun to plan for
redevelopment. Her first major initiative as mayor was to create a new
development arm to attract investment to East Tampa - a first. She has also
promised to shift more resources that way: police, code enforcement, parks
and public works. Improving East Tampa is a citywide priority, and residents
should hold Iorio to it.

But dollars alone won't solve the problem. Parents, property owners and
community leaders need to accept more responsibility for turning East Tampa
around. The community can't wait for the mayor to prevent teenagers from
selling drugs from bikes in the street, burglars from preying on residents,
homes from falling into disrepair and loitering crowds from scaring away
business. It is not "oppression," but neglect and indifference and freely
made wrong choices that underlie much of the challenge of living there.

Civic leaders in East Tampa should be tired of having their community
defined by drugs, crime and blight. East Tampa is far more attractive,
complex and functional than its reputation suggests. It has good (if spotty)
housing stock, is well-served by underused roads and can boast of almost
unparalleled convenience to schools, public services and full-service
shopping. There is also a broad base of active churches, a strong measure of
community spirit.

Improving living standards, and boosting job and educational opportunities
in East Tampa, will make a more well-rounded city, beyond increasing
personal wealth and the tax base. But city aid is only part of the equation.
The missing link has been a vocal commitment by neighborhood leaders and
residents to take more responsibility for their own future.