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Politics

A wealth of ideas for a struggling area

By BILL VARIAN
Published March 2, 2007

TAMPA - Lynette "Tracee" Judge makes an observation that is not much of an exaggeration.

The District 5 Tampa City Council candidate and public school social worker notes that there are few restaurants, beyond those hawking fast food, in the area of town she seeks to represent, mainly east and central Tampa. Residents have to drive miles to find an Applebee's or a Chili's.

"We need to do more to make sure people can live and play in District 5," says Judge, who thinks the city needs to focus on crime in the area to make it a more inviting place for businesses to invest.

Economic development and affordable housing are often top priorities among candidates seeking local office. But in District 5, which has some of the highest concentrations of poor and working-class residents, the goal takes on a more basic hue.

The candidates for District 5 include Judge; Frank Reddick, president of the Sickle Cell Association of Hillsborough County, who was appointed to the seat late last year to fill a vacancy; and Tom Scott, a pastor and former county commissioner.

Each emphasizes economic development and affordable housing. But they don't talk about million-dollar subsidies for bioscience companies. And while growth explodes on the periphery of the district, around Channelside and downtown, they note that much of it is high-end condo projects too pricey for the people in their district.

While residents in other parts of town protest strip malls on their main streets and parking that overflows into their neighborhoods from nearby restaurants, some here would like to have it so bad.

Judge says as a City Council member, she would better market her community. She thinks the city should approach companies about investing in the district.

Reddick says he supports providing subsidies to lure restaurants and other small businesses to the area using money from the growing coffers of the East Tampa special taxing district.

"I do believe the base of customers is there," Reddick said. "We do eat and we do eat well."

He also says he wants to work with the mayor and Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce to attract businesses to East Tampa that offer well-paying jobs, putting buying a home within reach of residents of the district.

Scott said the city made a mistake in redeveloping the Belmont Heights public housing complex before creating a plan for the businesses across from it on 22nd Street.

Those businesses don't serve the community well, he said, and their owners aren't interested in selling the properties, whose value has increased thanks in part to the residential development.

He thinks the city needs to identify properties where commercial construction should be encouraged in the East Tampa special taxing district he helped create as a county commissioner. He said the city also should look for vacant properties or those in disrepair that could be redeveloped together.

"A City Council member can meet with the business community to get them to see what we're trying to do in East Tampa," Scott said. "What this community as a whole has got to recognize is that, when one part of the community suffers, the whole community suffers."

Before leaving the Hillsborough County Commission, Scott helped push for creation of an affordable-housing officer and set aside money to enable working-class people to buy, or at least rent, a decent place to live. Luring businesses with decent-paying jobs is one way, he says.

Reddick, who has spent about four months on the City Council, said the city needs incentives to encourage the building of affordable homes, such as tax breaks for developers who incorporate affordable housing into their projects.

"We're not asking them to set aside 100 units. We're just asking them to set aside some," Reddick said. "If we don't give them that opportunity, we're going to lose lower- and middle-class residents in some of these areas."

Judge said the city has created programs that seek to build nice, affordable homes on lots spread throughout a community. But people are reluctant to invest in those properties if the house next door is in poor shape, she said.

She thinks the city needs to buy large parcels to build whole neighborhoods, so people who live in them have assurance about what their neighbors' houses will look like.

The redevelopment of Belmont Heights is fine, Judge said, but is not the best model because it primarily caters to low-income families. She wants to create neighborhoods where middle-class families feel comfortable living.

"I'm talking about homes - the American dream," Judge said. "Single-family houses with yards and garages."

Bill Varian can be reached at 813 226-3387 or varian@sptimes.com.

The candidates

Lynette "Tracee" Judge

Date of birth: Nov. 5, 1964.

Political experience: None.

Education: Bachelor's degree, University of South Florida; master's degree, Florida State University. Both in social work.

Marital status: Married, no children.

Source of income: Hillsborough County School District.

Net worth: $107,000.

Contact: www.lynettejudgein2007.com; 630-5071.

[Last modified March 1, 2007, 12:07:39]