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Letter to the editor

20th Street roadblocks scrutinized

By ALEXANDRA ZAYAS
Published July 6, 2007

There's a rule of thumb for protecting national historic districts: preserve the street grid.

Historians say Ybor's granite curbs and intersection system are as important to its character as its cigar factories. But there are some roadblocks in that grid - literally.

There have been for almost six years.

Just after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office blocked off 20th Street in two places - Palm Avenue and Ninth Avenue - with concrete barricades.

Sheriff's Office spokesman J.D. Callaway said the streets were blocked because of security issues, adding: "One scenario would be an explosive-laden truck parking nearby."

It's happened in the past, he said. Remember Oklahoma City?

He wouldn't say whether the Sheriff's Office, which is at 2008 E Eighth Ave., has received any specific threats.

But City Council member Linda Saul-Sena is skeptical. She said the request to barricade didn't go before the Barrio Latino Commission, a city board created to make decisions that preserve the historic fabric of the district. The grid is a critical component of that fabric, she said.

She has asked the city legal department to provide a report on the issue to the City Council, due July 19.

The blockage "doesn't pass the smell test, " Saul-Sena said.

Couldn't terrorists just take a different route to blow up the Sheriff's Office? Why isn't Eighth Avenue blocked off, then?

Callaway said Eighth Avenue must remain open to provide access to the public parking lot, and that all scenarios are possible when it comes to terrorism, but that the sheriff could only do so much.

The sheriff wants to do the "wise and prudent thing, " Callaway said.

Callaway said the Sheriff's Office got a permit from the city when the barricades went up. The city is reviewing the status of the permit, he said.

Meanwhile, some neighbors are making noise. Two men stood under the burning sun two weeks ago with protest signs that said Stop the lies! and Free 20th Street.

One was Thomas Knueppel, who lives at 20th Street and Fifth Avenue. He has to take a detour to get to the post office because of the barricades.

The other was Eric Schiller, who owns Gaspar's Grotto. He is angry that the decision was made without a hearing or public input.

They intend to hold these small protests on the 20th of each month until the street is opened.

"The people in charge of enforcing the laws - they're ignoring the law, " Schiller said. "The sheriff belongs in a 100-acre cow pasture where he would better defend himself against truck bombers."

Alexandra Zayas can be reached at 226-3354 or azayas@sptimes.com.

If you go

Hear the report

City staffers will report to the City Council on July 19 at 9 a.m. at City Hall, 315 E Kennedy Blvd.

[Last modified July 5, 2007, 08:07:10]