Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Democracy gains from citizen's zeal

By ERNEST HOOPER
Published December 10, 2004

When the Tampa-Hillsborough County Human Rights Council recognizes Rochelle Reback at its annual breakfast this morning, it will likely be a first.

"I have to believe I'm the only recipient in the organization's 31-year history who has ever had the distinction of suing both the mayor and the Hillsborough County Commission in support of human rights and civil rights," she said Thursday.

The statement says a lot about Reback's active involvement in fighting for human and civil rights. As part of Citizens for a Fair Tampa, the longtime Tampa defense lawyer filed a suit in 1995 against Pam Iorio when she was serving as Hillsborough County's supervisor of elections.

Her group challenged putting a referendum on the ballot that would have repealed the city's human rights ordinance. She believes her actions are the reason the ordinance still exists today.

Last year, Reback was lead counsel for Speak Up Tampa Bay - a nonprofit group that runs public access television - when it filed suit against the County Commission. In the course of the settlement, Reback led negotiations that resulted in a three-year contract for Speak Up.

This year, Reback helped organize Tampa: Safe and Free, which seeks to educate the community about the federal Patriot Act. The group successfully promoted passage of a City Council resolution that called on Congress to repeal parts of the Patriot Act.

The organization, along with the League of Women Voters, also promoted a televised town hall forum about the Patriot Act.

"The county commission chambers were overflowing," Reback said. "It was one of the city's finest moments in representative democracy."

Democracy and liberty are what drive Reback.

"It ain't money," Reback said with a laugh. "I really feel that the highest office I can ever hold is that of citizen.

"I take my responsibility ... very seriously. I think the only way representative democracy works is if everyone else does, too."

Joining Reback as the council's 2004 Human Rights Award winner is longtime WTMP-AM 1150 broadcaster and activist Jetie B. Wilds. Other honorees include Fran Davin, a special assistant to Iorio, and Bobby L. Bowden, the city's recently retired director of community affairs.

The season of giving is in full force. Here's a sampling.

If you're searching for some unique holiday arts and crafts, try today's craft show in the Medical Arts Building at St. Joseph's Hospital, 3301 W Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Artisans include St. Joseph's employees and volunteers. Proceeds benefit the hospital's Team Member Emergency Assistance Fund.

On Tuesday, the Gulf Ridge Boy Scouts will have their annual luncheon to raise funds for inner-city troops that often struggle to buy uniforms and supplies. This year's event starts at 11:30 a.m. at Bonefish Grill, 3665 Henderson Blvd. Tickets are $25. For information, call Halvern Johnson at (813) 872-2691.

Thanks to Metropolitan Ministries and Home Banc Mortgage, which staged a unique party on Thursday for kids who live at Metropolitan Ministries. Instead of giving the kids gifts, they gave the kids a chance to buy gifts for their parents. Home Banc employees purchased the gifts, then helped the more than 60 children pick them out for their parents and wrap them.

And cheers to the Bucs, whose donation helped the East Tampa Bandits Jr. Pee Wee football team attend the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Lake Buena Vista. The Bandits needed $12,000 to cover expenses to participate in the national championships. After raising $3,000 from local businesses and individuals, the Bandits received another $5,000 from the NFL Youth Football Fund and the final $4,000 from the Bucs.

After losing in their first game Tuesday, the Bandits play in an elimination game today. Win or lose, hopefully the outpouring of community support will help them realize they are already winners.

That's all I'm saying.

[Last modified December 9, 2004, 23:35:12]