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Letter to the editor

NAACP will ponder Midtown secession

The city hasn't brought to Midtown the same prosperity seen elsewhere, supporters say.

By MARCUS FRANKLIN and LAUREN BAYNE ANDERSON
Published June 9, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Local NAACP president Darryl Rouson plans to announce today that he will explore the possibility of the Midtown area seceding from the city of St. Petersburg.

Rouson said city leaders have failed to bring to Midtown the same degree of prosperity and development seen in other parts of St. Petersburg. It's time residents took control of the 5.5-square-mile area located just south of downtown, he said.

"It's ultimately about a community's ability to control its own destiny," said Rouson, who is expected to make the announcement today at a Suncoast Tiger Bay Club luncheon at the Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club.

Rouson acknowledges that the proposal would face several difficult and complex hurdles, involving everything from economics to vital services and police and fire protection.

"It's about a community's opportunity to empower itself, both in the sense of providing services and benefits within the community but also sharing in some of the wealth and prosperity happening around it.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker said he was perplexed by the proposed secession of Midtown, an area of about 22,000 residents bounded by Second Avenue N and 30th Avenue S between Fourth Street and 34th Street S.

"It doesn't make sense to me," Baker said Wednesday. "The objective is to make the city seamless. From an economic development standpoint, Midtown is getting stronger and stronger, and that would be contrary."

The NAACP's executive committee voted 18-2 Tuesday to allow Rouson to explore the possibility of Midtown seceding.

Rouson, who lives in Pinellas Point, has a Midtown law office at 3110 First Avenue N. He also owns property and has a financial interest in the Sweetbay grocery store development deal in Midtown.

Over the years, he's pushed for greater inclusion of black residents in all aspects of development projects.

Rouson offered no timetable, saying his next step will be a campaign to inform residents about his proposal.

Members of the NAACP declined to comment on the proposal, voting to allow only Rouson and first vice president Trenia Byrd Cox to speak about the issue.

Florida statute 171, reversion of property to unincorporated status within a municipality, is known as "contraction."

Officials in the secretary of state's office and others said the process is rare. They couldn't recall the last time it was attempted.

In 1996, Omali Yeshitela, a leader of the National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, advocated the secession of an area around the Jordan Park public housing community after a white St. Petersburg police officer fatally shot a black motorist. That area remains part of the city.

Lynn Tipton, director of membership development at the Florida League of Cities in Tallahassee, said contraction is possible but difficult.

"It is doable under law. There is a mechanism," she said. "Whether the property meets the criteria established in law is what yet has to be determined."

Tipton said an area must be "nonurban" in terms of population density and existing development to qualify for contraction.

"By that definition ... most of Florida does not meet it," she said. "You'd pretty much have to be very rural or very agricultural, almost unused lands."

In addition, a contracted area surrounded by a city would amount to an enclave, which state law prohibits, Tipton said.

State law allows other ways to pursue contraction, Tipton said, but even a successful contraction likely would create challenges in providing services such as a sewage system, garbage collection and police and fire protection.

"It is doable," Rouson insisted. "That's the danger that the larger community - City Hall and other powers - need to worry about."

Some NAACP executive committee members raised similar questions at Tuesday's meeting, Rouson said. How, some wondered, would services be provided? Does Midtown have enough talent to fill key municipal leadership positions?

To the first question, Rouson replied that one option would be contracting with the county or nearby cities with revenue from property taxes. To the second question, he said: "There are talented people who will come and fill these positions - if we get to that point."

Opinion among Midtown residents Wednesday was divided.

William Booher, 61, said seceding from the city could be good for the area . The retired teacher and St. Petersburg native said he's "bitter" because the area is being gentrified. He said he's also disturbed by the heavy police presence.

"They haven't given us any economic development, so why not just try it out ourselves?" he said.

Dennis Savage, 40, who has lived in Midtown most of his life, said the area is in desperate need of revitalization but that seceding would do more harm than good.

"South St. Petersburg is always looked at as the bad side of town and no business wants to come here," he said. "We need to change the mentality of the people."

Elzo Atwater, founder of Atwater's Cafeteria on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, agreed. Secession of the predominantly black area would amount to self-segregation, he said.

Rouson insisted he's not trying to segregate Midtown, which is more than 80 percent black. He acknowledges that development in Midtown since 1996 has included a health clinic, an achievement center and plans for a major grocery store complex. But more is needed, he said.

"Much credit goes to Mayor Baker in his hard efforts," Rouson said. "But he's not been the bully mayor. There are a few other things he could be doing ... "

--Times research Caryn Baird contributed to this report.

--Marcus Franklin can be reached at mfranklin@sptimes.com or 727 893-8488.

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 08:34:55]