32805 Spotlight

Girl gets body slammed, now cops want to arrest her

2021-01-30T19:55:00.003-05:00

Believe it or not, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is considering filing criminal charges against the teen-age black girl shown in a viral video being body slammed by a deputy last Tuesday (Jan. 26).

During a news conference on Saturday (Jan. 30) civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson revealed that sheriff’s office detectives called Taylor Bracey’s home and asked her parents to let them interview her as they considered filing assault and resisting arrest charges against the girl. This tactic is intended to take legal heat off the deputy who hurt Taylor.

Ms. Jackson said they advised their client to exercise her 5^th Amendment right not to answer questions because the responses could be used against her in a criminal court.

Crump, who is known for representing black people and families who have been victimized by racism and police violence, said the deputy should be facing criminal charges for brutally assaulting 16-year-old Taylor.

Taylor was knocked unconscious during the deputy’s attacked and awoke in the principal’s office at Liberty High School. She is still suffering headaches, blurred vision, trouble sleeping and depression.

Earlier this week Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez said Deputy Ethan Fournier body slammed Taylor because she “went after” another student. After knocking Taylor unconscious, the video shows the deputy straddle the girl and handcuffed her as though he was roping a steer at the rodeo.

During Saturday’s news conference, Taylor’s mother explained what led up to the shocking incident.

It turns out that Taylor was a victim in more ways than one.

The mom told reporters that earlier the day of the incident Taylor called her to say other girls at the school threatened to beat her up after school. The mother told her daughter to inform the dean, which she did. Later the dean told the mom she could pick up Taylor in an office at the school.

A short time later the school called back requesting permission for an emergency medical technician to examine Taylor. The mother said the school and officials kept her in the dark and downplayed any injuries Taylor suffered.

See Taylor’s mother explain what happened by clicking here.

Taylor’s family needs help with medical expenses, counseling for the traumatized girl, and possibly for a legal defense if the sheriff’s office describes to charge her. With the approval of the family and lawyers a Go Fund Me account has been established. You can contribute by clicking here.

Help wanted: 'citizen scientists' in Orlando

2020-12-09T08:37:00.004-05:00

Do you know anyone who ever wanted to be a scientist?

Now they have a chance to make that dream reality right here in Orlando.

The Coalition of 100 Black Women – Central Florida is looking for “citizen scientist” candidates to work under the $120,000 federal grant the organization received recently from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to study air pollution in the Parramore, Holden Heights and Mercy Drive communities. (For more information on this grant, and the project, click here.)

That’s right…WORK!

The people selected as citizen scientists will be paid a stipend.

To be a citizen scientist you don’t need a fancy degree.

“We’re looking for people who are reliable, motivated and intellectually curious,” said Project Manager Lawanna Gelzer.

This could be a great opportunity for a student, a retired person, an activist, or anyone who wants to work on a project that can help protect the health of thousands of people who live in and near downtown Orlando.

The team on this project -- conducted under the grant received by 100 Women -- will work in collaboration with researchers at the University of Central Florida, the University of Massachusetts – Lowell, and Arizona State University.

The citizen scientists in this project will play an essential role gathering data about air pollutants and traffic counts in the study areas. They will learn how to calibrate their measuring instruments and keep accurate scientific records. Those skills would be especially valuable to students planning to major in science, or work in the environmental science field.

Dr. Wanda Jones will train and supervise the Citizen Science Team.

To apply for one of these paid positions, or for more information, please send an email to LawannaGelzer@aol.com

Orlando's neglect of environmental racism resulted in $120,000 federal grant

2020-12-01T15:20:00.003-05:00

Orlando responded to requests to study pollution and the health of residents in Parramore and other historically black neighborhoods by dragging its feet for years.

That’s why the Coalition of Black Women – Central Florida applied for and received a $120,000 federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to study these long-standing problems.

“People’s health and lives were at risk,” said Project Manager Lawanna Gelzer. “We were tired waiting on the city. We had to act.”

The grant work begins this Thursday (Dec. 3) 6:30 p.m. when the Coalition of 100 Black Women holds an online community forum to begin the fact-finding process.

Residents are encouraged to attend this forum by clicking:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqceippjIiGtHDymQPlxPKN5asozf1qXCV

(After you click, check your email for access to the meeting.)

The dangerous pollution in Orlando’s historically black Parramore community was spotlighted almost 2 years ago in a national article published by the Huffington Post, a respected news source.

That article (which you can read by clicking here) focused on Latoya Lee, a longtime Parramore resident, whose respiratory problems worsened after she and her family moved across from one of the 2 Superfund sites in the neighborhood. Superfund sites contain the most toxic and dangerous waste dumps in the nation. They typically cost tens of millions of dollars to clean.

Mrs. Lee died before the article published.

Under this grant, the Coalition of 100 Black Women will study the health of residents in Parramore, Holden Heights and Mercy Drive. Those communities are bracketed by heavily traveled Interstate 4, SR 408, Colonial Drive, and John Young Parkway. There are pollution-producing industrial businesses spread through those neighborhoods.

Across the nation many black and low-income communities are "cancer clusters" where many residents developed cancer because governments allowed pollution-producing businesses and landfills to operate nearby. (Read more about cancer clusters by clicking here.)

“When we say Black Lives Matter, we’re not just talking about police,” Ms. Gelzer said. “This is environmental justice, that’s Black Lives Matter, too. Black Lives Matter is all about social justice and ending all forms of systemic
racism.”

Federal grant focuses on Parramore health

2020-11-13T14:43:00.000-05:00

The Coalition of 100 Black Women – Central Florida just received a grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to address pollution problems in Orlando’s Parramore community.

The grant, which will be managed by Lawanna Gelzer, is designed to reduce the impact of air pollution on the people who live in the historically black community, whose health and well-being have been largely overlooked by local government and leaders..

The grant will provide the resources to study the prevalence of asthma and other respiratory diseases on the residents of the community that is bracted by Interstate 4 and State Road 408 and filled with industrial businesses that use toxic chemicals.

The project will also share its findings with residents to ensure they are getting the proper health care.

This project will be kicked off with an online meeting that will be open to the community on Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.

People can join that meet on the computer or by phone.

To connect by computer; go to Zoom.com

The Meeting ID: 85761189805

Pass code: 577663

Or you can call in by phone at 1-929-205-6099

Setting the record straight on black man found hanging in the park

2020-10-14T13:11:00.004-04:00

News that a black man was found hanging from a tree in Orlando is alarming to most black people in America given this nation’s ugly history of racist lynchings, which is why we reported this story.

A report like that can grow and become more frightening as time passes, which is what happened in the case of Nevan Baker, 22.

On Oct. 5^th 32805OrlNews and Orlando Urban News published a video interview with one of Mr. Baker’s relatives who spoke to us with the blessing of Mr. Baker’s mother.

The relative insisted there was no way Mr. Baker would kill himself. That relative also told us that when Mr. Baker’s body was found there were signs that he had been beaten, there were injuries to his face and a tooth was missing.

The grief-stricken family disputed the police conclusion that Mr. Baker killed himself. Black people have good reasons not to trust the police because of false and misleading information law enforcement have presented in other instances. We also questioned the investigative procedures police used to arrive at the conclusion that Mr. Baker killed himself.

The family believed that Mr. Baker was the victim of foul play. No one can fault the family’s opinion as Mr. Baker was their loved one. They knew him in life. We did not.

In addition, there were reports on social media that not only was Mr. Baker beaten, but he was found with his hands tied. We never reported that his hands were tied, but many others did.

Since then we have learned compelling information about this case. We have an obligation to share that information with our audience. Here it is:

· Mr. Baker’s hands were not tied. We’ve seen photos taken at the scene of his death. Mr. Baker’s hands were not tied. He was not wearing a shirt when he was found.

· There are no signs of injury on Mr. Baker’s face or body, contrary to what the relative told us in the video interview that we published. If he had been beaten those injuries would be apparent after his death. We don’t know if there was a missing tooth, but a loose tooth could have popped out at the time of his death.

· We questioned the origin of the rope Mr. Baker was hanging from. Photos of Mr. Baker’s body shows that “rope” appears to be nylon line that is common in boating. The tree Mr. Baker was hanging from is a few feet from a boat launching area at Barker Park.

· There was no hangman’s noose. It appears the nylon line was tied in a simple slipknot.

· Body cam video shows that the police officers who found Mr. Baker hanging from the tree acted quickly and professionally to cut him down and try to revive him. Those officers should be commended. That reality is contrary to some of the social media chatter.

· There’s no evidence that any hate group had a hand in Mr. Baker’s death, despite some of the social media speculation, according to a trusted source that monitors hate group social media.

· Information has been uncovered that Mr. Baker may have tried to harm himself in the past.

So what happened to Mr. Baker?

We don’t know.

Whatever happened is a tragedy. A loved son and brother is gone too soon. Mr. Baker never reached his potential. We should all mourn that loss.

In journalism we always strive to get right. But sometimes we miss, or could have done better. When that happens, we have an obligation to set the record straight.

If you, or someone you know, feels suicidal don’t hesitate, or be ashamed to reach out for help. Call the 24-hour hotline at 800-273-8255.

Orlando's Lockheed Martin plant may be poisoning Tangelo Park

2020-10-07T12:10:00.001-04:00

Environmental racism is endangering the health and safety of people who live and work in Orlando’s predominantly black Tangelo Park community.

Lawyers representing people who live and work in Tangelo Park accused the Lockheed Martin company of poisoning the soil and groundwater in Tangelo Park. Lockheed Martin’s main Orlando plant on Sand Lake Road is adjacent to Tangelo Park.

Lockheed Martin, formerly known as Martin Marietta, has been manufacturing aircraft, aerospace and defense products at that sprawling Sand Lake Road plant for decades. Lockheed Martin is one of Orlando’s major employers.

Powerhouse Orlando law firm Morgan & Morgan accused Lockheed of mishandling dangerous toxic chemicals used it its products and those substances have caused a range of severe sicknesses in people living and working in the area.

It’s noteworthy that some people working at NBC’s Golf Channel broadcast network, based in Tangelo Park, have also complained about illnesses that are believed linked to chemicals used by Lockheed.

Throughout the nation millions of black people live in communities that have been polluted with toxic waste and that has resulted in a variety of deaths, cancers and other sicknesses. Frequently this happens because many black communities lack the political juice to keep companies with dangerous products out of their neighborhood. This is problem, known as environmental racism, has been widely reported in the news media and is the subject of a report you can read by clicking here.

There are two federally designated Super Fund sites downtown in Orlando historically black Parramore community. Super Fund sites are the location of the most toxic and dangerous locations in the country. It usually requires tens of millions of dollars to remove pollutants from those sites.

Black TV network opening in Orlando

2020-10-04T15:00:00.003-04:00

A global African television studio is weeks away from opening in Orlando.

Afrotainment is putting the finishing touches on its multi-million-dollar studios and production facility in the heart of Orlando’s tourist district next to the Titanic attraction in the 7300 block of International Drive, near Carrier Drive.

Led by Yves Bollanga, a former IBM software engineer and Cameroon native, the network produces and broadcasts films, talk shows and comedies. Mr. Bollanga anticipates the studio will be open for business by the end of this month.

The production complex includes huge studios with stadium seating to accommodate live audiences. It contains the latest technology, including robotic cameras, editing bays for production teams, control rooms and meeting space. The studio is staffed with experienced professional teams.

The Afrotainment TV content can be found on Dish Network, DirectTV, Verizon FiOS, Haiti HD, Xfinity, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. However, it is difficult to receive this content most cable systems in Orlando, but Mr. Bollanga and his team are in negotiations to make it easier for Orlando residents to enjoy the programming.

Why won't OPD release video showing how they killed another black man?

2020-09-15T21:13:00.001-04:00

How long can Orlando police delay releasing body cam video showing the fatal shooting of a black man earlier this year?

Orlando police shot and killed 22-year-old Kevin Adolphe Feb. 18^th at an apartment complex on Kirkman Road.

Seven months later Mr. Adolphe’s family and the lawyers representing them are still waiting to see body cam video and other investigative files involved in the case. The officers who opened fire were identified by OPD as Ben Chisari and Jeffrey Madison. MappingPoliceViolence.org ranks Metro Orlando as having one of the worst records for police brutality.

At the time of the shooting, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said Mr. Adolphe was driving a stolen car that cops tried to stop. He said Mr. Adolphe sped away from officers to the Summerfield apartment complex where he jumped out and fled on foot. During that foot chase at least 2 cops fired mortally wounding Mr. Adolphe.

Orlando Police Chief Rolon said Mr. Adolphe threatened the cops with a pistol. The chief also said that Mr. Adolphe attempted to burglarize a residence earlier.

Maybe Chief Rolon’s account is accurate. Maybe it isn’t.

Releasing the body cam video could answer many questions.

Why hasn’t OPD done so?

In a commentary published this summer in the Orlando Sentinel after the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis, Orlando Chief Rolon wrote that OPD was dedicated to “build community trust through transparency.”

Chief Rolon wrote that commentary while OPD was stonewalling on Mr. Adolphe’s video.

Where is the transparency in Mr. Adolphe’s case?

Many people have good reasons not to trust police. On Tuesday, for example it was revealed that police and other officials in Rochester, N.Y. -- right up to the mayor’s office -- schemed and stonewalled for months to keep the public from learning how police brutality led to the March death of Daniel Prude, a black man who suffered a mental health crisis.

On June 11, -- 4 months after Mr. Adolphe’s death -- the Orlando law firm Haynes & Laurent sent OPD a formal letter requesting body cam video and other records associated with the case.

In that letter, attorney Carlus Haynes wrote: “We have conducted preliminary investigation and have discovered that independent witnesses saw Mr. Adolphe running away before he was shot. More importantly, the witnesses also saw that Mr. Adolphe was subsequently shot while on the ground. We are not jumping to any conclusions, and neither is the family, but the family needs answers in order to move past this horrific event.”

David Margolis, chief assistant city attorney for Orlando responded: “As with most of our officer involved shootings, this event is being investigated externally and independently by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. FDLE indicated that they recently submitted their reports and findings to the State Attorney’s Office.”

Three months have passed since the city responded to Mr. Haynes’ request and the video and reports still have not be released.

There is no reason the video could not have been released months ago.

Salaythis Melvin, another 22-year-old black man was shot in the back and killed by Orange County deputies on Aug. 7^th. Some videos of that tragedy were released by OCSO 11 days later.

If the sheriff’s office can release critical videos quickly, why can’t OPD?

As of Sept. 15, Mr. Adolphe’s family and lawyers are still waiting to see video of the OPD shooting that occurred 7 months ago.

Orange County Sheriff insists that deputy didn't call anyone a "nigger"

2020-08-21T01:10:00.003-04:00

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office really must think black people are stupid.

Thursday night the Sheriff’s Office published a statement telling the public that their ears were playing tricks and they did not really hear a racist comment uttered by a plainclothes deputy involved in shooting Salaythis Melvin in the back outside Florida Mall on Aug. 7.

The racist comment was heard while deputies were administering first aid to Mr. Melvin, 22, who was mortally wounded by a jump-out team that was serving an arrest warrant on one of Mr. Melvin’s companions.

Mr. Melvin was black. Based on what can be seen on the body cam videos, all the deputies on the jump-out team were white males.

Hundreds of people who listened to audio on a body cam video released earlier this week agreed one of the deputies uttered: “You’re a bold nigger.”

In the written statement released Thursday night through Twitter, the sheriff’s office said after extensive audio analysis, they concluded that the deputy said: “Is there a blow thing, or no.” The statement said the deputy was referring to a face shield used for CPR.

What do you think? Does “Is there a blow thing or no” sound remotely like “You’re a bold nigger”?

You can review the body cam video by clicking here.

This explanation is almost as far-fetched as one given by law enforcement officials after a team of Orange County jump-out deputies shot James Bauduy to death 2 years ago in front of a crowd of bystanders on South Street in Parramore.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who was Orange County sheriff at that time, said deputies fired because Mr. Bauduy made a “furtive” hand movement that caused them to think he was about to pull a gun.

The sheriff’s office refused to say whether a gun was found at the scene. (For more on that case, click here)

After weeks of stalling the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced that Mr. Bauduy did not have a gun, but that he was holding a 9 mm handgun magazine in his hand. A handgun magazine, sometimes referred to as a clip, holds bullets for a pistol, but it can’t fire bullets.

Why someone being chased by deputies would pull a useless magazine is as difficult to understand as how anyone would mistake “You’re a bold nigger” for “Is there a blow thing, or no.”

Deputies broke many agency rules during Florida Mall racist fatal shooting

2020-08-20T16:20:00.006-04:00

The Orange County deputies who shot a fleeing man in his back killing him can be fired because they violated several agency policies involving racist and abusive language and use-of-force tactics that needlessly endangered the public.

The sheriff’s office said it’s still investigating the incident, but recently released body cam video showing the deputies were racist, cruel and reckless. Click here to see that unedited video.

During the incident Aug. 7 at Florida Mall, which resulted in the death of Salaythis Melvin, 22, a recently released body cam video revealed that one of the deputies referred to the black victim as a “bold nigger.”

Based on what can be seen on the video all the deputies were white. No one admonished the cop who made the racist comment.

Immediately after Mr. Melvin was shot by plainclothes deputies in the shopping mall parking lot, one of the deputies is seen on camera shouting: “Keep your fucking hands out!”

“Get your hand out! You’re going to get fucking shot!” Mr. Melvin was on the ground writhing in pain from a gunshot wound in the back.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office general order for bias-free policing states: “It is the policy of the agency that people having contact with agency personnel shall be treated on a fair, impartial, bias-free, and objective manner in accordance with law and the guidelines set out in this general order. Law enforcement action that is biased is illegal and violates the equal protection clause and the 4^th Amendment of the Constitution. It also alienates the public, fosters distrust, and undermines legitimate law enforcement.”

Rule 8 in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office General Order for standards of conduct states: “Personnel shall be courteous and respectful to their superiors, fellow personnel and members of the public.”

Rule 15 under standards of conduct states: “In the performance of their duties, all personnel shall maintain command of temper, patience and discretion. Employees shall refrain from using improper, obscene, profane on insolent language.”

There are also major questions about the justification for the shooting, which resulted in Mr. Melvin’s death. The deputies converged on the parking lot to arrest a man Mr. Melvin was with – not Mr. Melvin. Yet at least one deputy fired and hit Mr. Melvin in the back.

The sheriff’s office use of force policy states: “Members of the agency are not authorized to: use a firearm to arrest or prevent the flight of a person who has committed a misdemeanor or traffic violation.”

At the time of the shooting Mr. Melvin was not wanted for anything. He apparently ran because he was scared.

Even after deputies shot Mr. Melvin they didn’t know who he was. One deputy was heard on the video asking: “What’s your name dude?” At this point Mr. Melvin’s eyes were open, but he was unresponsive, near death.

If deputies didn’t know who Mr. Melvin was, why did they open fire in the parking lot while there were members of the public walking to and from their cars?

Rule 4 in the sheriff’s office use of force policy states: “When determining what level of force to use, deputies shall consider the risk to the public, including but not limited to, whether the deputy’s use of force creates a substantial risk to the safety of the public, exceeding the danger to deputies or the public by allowing the suspect to remain at large.”

Note: Mr. Melvin was not a suspect. The man deputies were seeking to arrest had already been taken into custody.

It is noteworthy that Rule 3 in the sheriff’s office standards of conduct states: “Violation of policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action to include, but not be limited to verbal reprimand, written reprimand, suspension from duty without pay, disciplinary probation, demotion or termination.”

Click here to see the rules at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Orange deputy calls dying man "a bold nigger"

2020-08-19T15:57:00.000-04:00

Newly released bodycam videos reveal that moments after being fatally shot by an Orange County deputy one of the cops refers to the dying man as a “bold nigger.”

The deputy who uttered the racist expression was part of a team that was serving a warrant on a man that was part of a group leaving the Florida Mall on Aug. 7.

The man who was fatally shot was not the target of the warrant.

Apparently frightened by the jump-out team of deputies Salaythis Melvin, 22, fled when a deputy opened fire and shot him in the back.

Following Sheriff’s Office protocols, the plainclothes deputies at the scene started administering first aid to Mr. Melvin, who was moaning and unconscious. That’s when one of the deputies uttered: “You’re a bold nigger man.” Click here to see and hear the racist clip.

Mr. Melvin later died at the hospital.

Mr. Melvin wasn’t wanted for anything, though deputies later claimed that he was armed. No firearm was evident when deputies rolled him over to offer first aid. One of the deputies who was administering first aid admitted Mr. Melvin had been shot in the back.

Police are only supposed to fire when confronted with deadly force. A man running away from cops in a parking lot doesn’t pose a threat to deputies.

The video was released on Tuesday Election Day, too late to impact the re-election of Sheriff John Mina.

Ocoee's racist mayor is up to his old tricks

2020-08-02T16:43:00.001-04:00

The racist mayor of Ocoee is up to his old tricks – insulting black people and trying to ruin the 100^th anniversary memorial of the most infamous racial atrocity in Orange County history.

During the last Ocoee City Commission meeting (July 21) Mayor Rusty Johnson insulted State Sen. Randolph Bracy and called him a liar. Bracy is black and his senate district includes the west Orange County city of Ocoee. (To see that exchange, click here.)

More fireworks on this topic are expected at the next City Commission meeting this coming Tuesday (Aug. 4^th), starting at 6 p.m.

Bracy attended the July 21 meeting to discuss plans to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the Ocoee Massacre when racist whites attacked black residents and killed them or drove them out of town. Whites were jealous that some black residents were becoming prosperous.

During the 1920 rampage several hundred black Ocoee residents were murdered; their homes were burned, property was stolen, black survivors were chased out of the town. July Perry, a prominent black resident – a businessman and a landowner -- was lynched during that bloodbath.

Sen. Bracy attended the city commission meeting to ask city leaders to consult and collaborate with members of July Perry’s family and the July Perry Foundation while planning the anniversary commemoration.

During Bracy’s comments, Mayor Johnson -- who has a history of insulting racist comments -- demanded to know if Bracy lived in Ocoee. Bracy insisted he did, but Johnson accused Bracy of lying. Speakers at city meetings are not required to give the street address of their home.

For more than a year, Mayor Johnson and a city human-relations committee appointed by Johnson, have hijacked plans for the massacre commemoration.

The mayor’s committee has not consulted or collaborated with descendants of the massacre victims. The city’s committee wants to trivialize this solemn commemoration.

Bill Maxwell, a black man who heads that committee, publicly said he didn’t know how to contact descendants even though they were sitting in the same meeting. Maxwell is an ally of Mayor Johnson.

Even though 2 black men have been elected to the Ocoee City Commission, Mayor Johnson has a history of making rude and racist comments to black people during commission meetings.

The 100th anniversary of the massacre is fewer than 3 months from now, but the city has not selected a date for the commemoration, nor has it established a budget for the event. Meanwhile the city blocked a local community group from getting access to city facilities to hold the commemoration.

Meet Orlando's worst cops

2020-07-15T19:12:00.001-04:00

Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala just released a list of local bad cops who can’t be trusted.

Commonly called a Brady List, these officers have been identified as untrustworthy by prosecutors because of internal investigations and other matters. These lists must be provided to defendants and their attorneys.

You should check this list in case you’ve had negative encounters with these cops because it may give you grounds to get charges dropped or clear your name.

The List:

Orlando Police Department

· Samuel B. Cunningham – Terminated

· Laurin Gantt – Terminated

· Roderick D. Johnson -Retired

· Andrew S. Peczinka – Terminated

· Frederick Rolle, Jr. – Terminated

· Frank Sikos – Retired

· Jonathan Mills – Not actively patrolling. Medical Retirement Request

· Gabriel Pagan – Not actively patrolling. Relieved of Duty

In a statement, OPD wrote that the following officers “completed lengthy discipline processes. Some of these officers did go through the arbitration process to refute the discipline imposed by the Orlando Police Department, and as a result of that process, the arbitrator ruled against the Department and reduced discipline or reversed terminations.”

· William Escobar

· Michael Favorit

· Robert Schellhorn

· Phillip Chase Fugate

“The officers on the Brady List who remain employed at OPD are in good standing and maintain their law enforcement officer certification from the State of Florida. Those officers, along with the current 778 members of this agency, will be expected to continue performing their duties in keeping with the Department’s high standards,” OPD wrote in the statement.

Orange County Sheriff’s Office

· David W. Burdick

· Jackson E. Etienne

· Carly L. Friedman

(previously Carly

Hubbard)

· Tonjali Y. Frost-Daniley

· Joseph S. Haddad

· Kevin M. Hutchinson

· Travis D. Mackey

· Tramaine L. McCray

· Wadih Ojeil

· Alexis O’Keefe

· Marco Palacio

· Marc A. Petruccelli

· Harry Reid

Winter Park Police Department

· Franklin “Frank” Cowart

· Marco D. Marcovigi

Ocoee Police Department

· Carlos A. Anglero

Florida Highway Patrol

· Hunter Miles Monn

Orange County Corrections

· Der’Renae Freeman

· William Rodriguez Rivera

Kissimmee Police Department

· Anthony Amada

· Gerardo Bellido

· Felix Echevarria

· Antonio L. Johnson

· Benjamin V. Shroyer

St Cloud Police Department

· Albert V. Kraus Jr.

· Timothy R. Warren

Children marching this Saturday (7/18) to show Black Lives Matter

2020-07-13T17:51:00.003-04:00

The Black Lives Matter movement is calling all children and teens for a special rally at Orlando City Hall this coming Saturday, July 18^th.

“You know how that song goes ‘the children are our future’. They really are,” said Lawanna Gelzer, a leader of The Movement Coalition, which is organizing the event.

Birmingham children march

“Just last week,” Gelzer said, “I participated in a march organized by Cypress Creek High School students and I was so impressed to hear them express their concerns for justice and fairness for all people – especially black lives. They are a lot better informed than what adults give them credit for. These young people don’t like what they see and they’re demanding change. We’re giving them a platform to speak and be heard.”

Orlando’s Children’s March for Justice on Saturday was inspired by the Birmingham Children’s Crusade in 1963 when black students left their schools and flooded the streets where many were attacked by police and jailed. Their efforts publicly shamed local leaders and resulted in the desegregation of public facilities in that Alabama city.

“Saturday’s event is planned to be family-friendly and safe,” said Gelzer who got city permits for the event. She added that during recent civil rights marches local police have cooperated controlling traffic and providing security for marchers.

The event will spotlight speeches by teen activists. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children. The event is open to children of all races and ages.

Protests calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism have been ongoing for more than a month in Orlando and around the world since George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer.

Everyone participating in Saturday’s event is asked to wear a mask. Keeping with the theme of the event, participants are asked to dress in black.

Organizers are also asking participants to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food that can be distributed to help feed families that are struggling during the ongoing pandemic.

Event organizers will provide refreshments to keep participants hydrated during the event that will begin (rain or shine) at 10 a.m. in the plaza in front of Orlando City Hall, 400 S. Orange Ave.

The Movement Coalition includes: The Coalition of 100 Black Women of Central Florida, National Action Network Central Florida Chapter, Let Your Voice Be Heard, Peaceful Orlando, The Arc of Justice, Orlando Freedom Fighters, Equity Council, Orlando Youth in Action Movement and Mask Up by Lawanna.

Experience and documents tell the tale in the Orange County Property Appraiser race

2020-07-08T22:04:00.000-04:00

Longtime real estate broker Khalid Muneer may not be a household name, but he is challenging high-profile two-term Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh in the August Democratic primary.

Muneer, who is known in some real estate and civic circles, said in a recent interview, “It’s important to elect a person who will handle the property taxes and value them in an expert way.”

Muneer's Palm Coast home

The property appraiser is charged with “identifying, locating, and fairly valuing all property, both real and personal, within the county for tax purposes.”, according to the property appraiser’s website.

“I am running.” Muneer said, “because the property appraiser office is a very important office in Orange County. It needs an intimate knowledge of the appraisal process and a technical knowledge of real estate to run it efficiently and effectively.”

On June 14 Muneer posted a message on his campaign Facebook page asserting that he has “23 years of real estate and appraisal experience.”

Questionable Facebook post

However, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation records, Muneer is not a licensed appraiser.

Singh has been a Florida-licensed appraiser for nearly 25 years. Singh is the first licensed appraiser to serve as Orange County Property Appraiser where he oversees more than 60 licensed appraisers.

Muneer admitted during the interview that he was not a licensed appraiser. He insisted that he completed the appraiser education requirements. He went on to explain that the COVID-19 shutdown prevented him from taking the test to become an appraiser.

Becoming an appraiser in Florida is not as simple as passing a test. It is a lengthy process that requires 200 hours of classes to become an “appraiser trainee.” The trainee must get 1,500 hours of experience working under a licensed appraiser and complete 150 appraisal reports over the course of at least 12 months.

Muneer is a licensed Florida real estate broker. His real estate license records raise questions about where he lives and if he’s in compliance with regulations governing real estate brokers.

Muneer said he and his wife live in a 2-bedroom condo they own in Orlando’s MetroWest community.

Property records show that Muneer and his wife also own an attractive and comfortable 4-bedroom home in the Flagler County town of Palm Coast – 100 miles from Orlando. They have a homestead exemption on that Flagler County house.

Muneer is a registered voter at his MetroWest address, but his wife remains a registered voter in Flagler County. That means his wife would not be able to vote for her husband in his first run for elected office.

Both Muneer and his wife called the Palm Coast address their second home.

In addition, Muneer’s real estate license currently lists the Palm Coast home as the address where he receives mail. Regulations at the Florida Real Estate Commission said licensees are supposed to update their records within 10 days of changing their address.

It’s also noteworthy that a required financial disclosure from Muneer could not be found on the state ethics commission website. Singh's form is on the website.

Despite his lack of credentials and questions about his residence, Muneer insists that he’s the best leader for the Property Appraisers Office because of his civic and political connections in Orange County.

Muneer said his temperament is best suited “to work with Orange County’s largest employers.”

Muneer criticized Singh for his high-profile appraisal disagreement with Disney.

In a written statement, Singh expressed no apologies for his appraisal efforts involving Disney: “We are steadfast in our assessments of these parcels and will continue to protect the interests of Orange County’s residents by defending our values to ensure that the Disney organization pays their fair share of property taxes.

“We are confident in our valuation practices and that our expert appraisers have followed professionally accepted appraisal practices,” Singh wrote, adding, “Disney may assert the opposite in their complaint, but the methods used by OCPA are methods practiced throughout the public and private appraisal industry across the country and internationally.”

In an interview, Singh strongly denied misconduct complaints made against him and said they came from spiteful former employees. Both of them now work for Muneer.

"The voters elected me to lead a team that expertly assesses the most unique county in the world," Singh said. "From theme parks to apartment complexes, to waterparks and hotels, we determine a fair and equitable value for more than a half-million properties every year.

"As the first state-certified property appraiser, I can assure you this is not a job for an uninformed rookie," Singh said. "The potential for malpractice is massive. An inexperienced appraiser would be a disaster from the start because they wouldn’t even know what they don’t know."

"On top of that, the next year will be pivotal as we will – hopefully – be recovering from the global pandemic," Singh said. "My predecessors – Bill Donegan and Rich Crotty – proved that experience matters. The only experience they had was as career politicians, and big business loved them because they could pull the wool over their eyes."

"Orange County's market values topped $220 billion this year," Singh added. "The citizens need someone who is trained, certified, experienced, and has a 7-year track record of excellent service. There is only one appraiser on the ballot this August."

In addition to Muneer, Amy Mercado is also running for the property appraiser post. Neither of them is a certified property appraiser. Ms. Mercado’s financial disclosure form is on file with the state. She does not hold a real estate license.

The county appraiser calculates the value of property. However, the tax rate is set by the county commission. The elected tax collector is responsible for collecting the revenues raised by taxes.

How House Negro politics is blocking Orlando police reform

2020-06-30T10:23:00.002-04:00

Remember Stephen, the loyal slave plantation House Negro in the 2012 movie “Django Unchained”?

That role of Stephen the House Negro is being played out in real life by political operative Russell Drake, who is working behind the scenes to block one of Orlando's most outspoken black activists from Orlando City Hall discussions to end police brutality and systemic racism. Drake is the first vice president of the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida.

Monday night in a lengthy Facebook thread, Drake wrote that Lawanna Gelzer should be barred a meeting that Mayor Dyer is planning with some of the activists who organized recent massive street protests held after the police murder of George Floyd.

One of the activists T.J. Legacy Cole posted the message: “I informed @citybeautiful @orlandomayor office I will NOT exclude prominent activist Lawanna Gelzer from our police reform meeting. Black women’s voices are so critical to our movement. She deserves to be heard.”

True to the character of Stephen the House Negro, Drake responded: “Suggestion. Bring a different Black woman.”

“I will. But Lawanna will be one of them,” responded T.J., an activist, journalist and host of “The Soapboxx” podcast.

For more than 20 years Gelzer has been a tireless advocate for west Orlando’s black communities – particularly on income inequality, environmental racism, housing, and police brutality. Often, she’s the only member of the public in attendance at City Commission meetings.

Gelzer, a Rollins College graduate who majored in economics is fiercely critical of Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Other men and women on the Facebook thread wanted to know why Drake insisted Gelzer be excluded from the meeting.

“It appears that the city says they’ll meet with protest leaders, just not Ms. Gelzer. If the insistence is to have a Black woman present, bring another Black woman. Does one person stop the momentum?”

“We are not going to allow our city officials to dictate who are good and respectable black folks to listen to. Black women will be there but she (Gelzer) deserves to be there because of her skill set and extensive research. Buddy needs to get out his feelings. He is a public servant. NOT a king,” T.J. responded on Facebook.

Russell Drake does not work for the Orlando Mayor’s Office.

City Hall pissed on Parramore again

2020-06-22T19:20:00.002-04:00

Orlando City Hall must think people in Parramore don’t need to pee.

What other reason would there be for leaving Parramore out of the DTO Go Public Bathroom Pilot Program?

The bathroom program is a product of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency to improve life in Orlando’s urban core.

The demographics of Parramore -- a historically black, struggling community -- were used to create the CRA, which is roughly bounded by Westmoreland Drive, Colonial Drive, Gore Street, and Summerlin Avenue.

Yet since late last year when this portable bathroom project was launched it has not been stationed in the Parramore community.

It is mainly located and operated to serve the mostly white patrons of downtown’s nightclub and restaurant district east of Interstate 4.

A city fact sheet on the bathroom project explained: “There is an increasing need to provide public restrooms in the downtown core.”

Asked why Parramore was excluded, even though the community played a pivotal role in the establishment of the CRA, a city spokeswoman responded: “Locations were selected based on feedback from downtown stakeholders, the downtown Clean Team’s general findings on incidents of public human waste, the downtown ambassadors’ general findings of human protein and discussions with an internal Exploratory Committee.”

Most people who live in Parramore have a bathroom in their house. However, Parramore has a large population of homeless people and others who don’t have access to a restroom during the day. The quality of life in the community would benefit from inclusion in the bathroom project.

Excluding Parramore from this program is another example of the city’s racially discriminatory policies and practices that shortchange Parramore where residents are being driven out of the community by gentrification.

Orange County requiring people to mask up

2020-06-18T18:38:00.004-04:00

Starting Saturday (6/20) everybody who goes outside on Orange County will be required to wear a face covering to slow the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings signed an executive order requiring everyone to wear a mask starting at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Demings signs mask order

The mask requirement is a big step backward as Orange County and the rest of Florida had relaxed many of the tough measures imposed this spring when officials issued stay-at-home orders as the deadly pandemic ripped across the nation.

After the orders lifted recently and people ventured out to shopping and work, some people ignored warnings to wear masks.

Now the number of Covid-19 cases is starting to soar again with 3,200 new cases reported in Florida. Nearly 86,000 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Florida resulting in more than 3,000 deaths, 48 deaths in Orange County.

Data shows that this deadly disease disproportionally harms black and brown people, especially those with chronic illnesses. Recently there are reports of between a half dozen to 10 children attending summer recreation programs in Parramore had to be sent home because they had been exposed to Covid-19.

The Demings order requires employees and customers in businesses to wear face coverings if they come within 6 feet of each other. Customers in a restaurant or bar can remove their mask to eat and drink, but they must wear a mask when they enter, and servers must wear a mask.

Additionally, businesses have been instructed to prevent customers from entering unless they are wearing a face covering.

Celebrate Jumeteenth on Friday

2020-06-18T13:51:00.000-04:00

Orlando’s Juneteenth Celebration Friday (6/19) is coming right on time and in step with nearly daily demonstrations in O-town to end police brutality and systemic racism.

Activities will kick off with a car caravan and a freedom walk with a rally near the bandshell at Lake Eola at 3 p.m., a block party in the 600 block of West Pine Street near the soccer stadium at 4 p.m., and a free screening of the critically acclaimed film “Just Mercy” in the plaza at Orlando City Hall, starting at 8 p.m.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

The Orlando event is one of 40 around the country being held Friday by the Juneteenth Leadership Coalition that includes the Arc of Justice; SEIU/32BJ; Until Freedom; The Gathering For Justice; The Indigenous Peoples Movement; celebrities Yandy Smith and Kristen Scott; public officials and activists including Tamika Mallory; Eric Garner’s mother Gwen Carr; the Rev. Mark Thompson, and others.

Only 5% of arrests are for serious crimes

2020-06-16T18:44:00.003-04:00

When Orlando officials say the police can’t be defunded they either don’t know what they’re talking about, or they have a vested interest in wasting millions of dollars on ineffective and counterproductive police services.

A report by the highly respected Vera Institute of Justice shows that of the 10 million arrests police throughout the U.S. make annually, only about 5% are for serious crimes, such as rape and murder.

OPD arrests protester for disorderly conduct

Most of the other arrests – 80% -- were for drug violations and offenses such as disorderly conduct.

Arrests for trivial reasons make it difficult for people to get jobs and feed the prison pipeline. No wonder the United States has more people in prison – almost 2.5 million – than any other country.

The arrests for trivial offenses disproportionally occur in black, brown, and poor white communities. The war on drugs is a big part of the problem. Between 1980 and 2016 drug arrests soared by 171%.

The Vera Institute study shows that most of the public has little confidence in police because only 40% of the people victimized actually report crimes to police. The public doubt in the police is apparently well-founded because of the crimes reported to police only about 25% are solved by arrest.

For weeks demonstrators in Orlando and around the nation have been calling on city officials to demilitarize the police, diverting money from law enforcement to address the root causes of crime and other problems with more spending on mental health and other human services.

In Orlando, 31% -- or $163 million -- of the city’s annual budget goes to the police. No other city department or program gets that much money.

During last year’s election, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer was endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, and that police association contributed $1,000 – the legal maximum – to get Dyer elected to an unprecedented 5^th term at City Hall.

Mayor Dyer's unholy relationship with Orlando cops

2020-06-13T11:31:00.001-04:00

Here are some handy facts you need at your fingertips the next time someone asks why police need to be defunded.

The Orlando Police Department gobbles up 31 percent of the city’s annual budget.

No other department comes close – not even the Orlando Fire Department which only gets 24 percent of the budget, even though firefighters and EMTs save lives every day.

Other city departments – such as recreation and economic development – only get tiny fractions of the budget. To see this year’s Orlando budget, click here.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and the cops are very tight. During last year’s election the Fraternal Order of Police not only endorsed Dyer’s re-election to a 5^th term, but the police group contributed $1,000 – the maximum allowed – to the campaign.

It’s no surprise that Dyer quickly said he doesn’t plan to consider defunding the police.

The Fraternal Order of Police thanked Dyer and helpfully offered to help “review” the OPD use-of-force policy.

OPD probably has the worst use of force policies in the area. Under that policy, simply walking away from an officer or refusing to answer an officer’s question can result in being pepper-sprayed. They can interpret your refusal to speak as “passive resistance”.

To see the use-of-force policy, click here.

In case you haven’t guessed, OPD has a pretty poor record when it comes to the use of force. For details, click here.

In case you didn’t realize it, Orlando/Orange County is a police state of sorts. Consider this:

· Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings is the former Orange County Sheriff. Before that he was the Orlando Police Chief, selected by Mayor Dyer.

· Congresswoman Val Demings is the wife of Mayor Demings. Before that she was the Orlando police chief, selected by Mayor Dyer.

· Orange County Sheriff John Mina was former Orlando police chief, selected by Mayor Dyer.

· Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz is a former Orlando police officer.

Winter Garden bar proudly sports a racist name

2020-06-12T10:18:00.000-04:00

The owners of a Winter Garden apparently think slavery was fun. Why else would they name their business “MoonCricket Grille”?

MoonCricket Grille is on Plant Street in the heart of West Orange County’s Winter Garden trendy downtown restaurant district.

A quick Google search shows that Moon Cricket is a highly derogatory name referring to the slaves singing like crickets at night after a long day working in the fields.

The restaurant’s website explains the business’s name this way: “We wanted a name that was catchy, whimsical and unique, and conveying the message of being a fun inviting place to enjoy great food and entertainment. After months of brainstorming came up with the name ‘The MoonCricket Grille.’ That was it, a fun hoppin' place. In that same happy whimsical spirit, designed a fun corporate logo with a big smiling Crescent MOON and a CRICKET jumping off the smiling moon's head.”

Joshua Eaton said the name is not whimsical. It’s racist.

Eaton, who is white, started a petition to change the name. On the petition he wrote: “I want to start off by saying Moon Cricket Grille is a great local spot in Winter Garden. Great food, great and friendly staff and a great beer selection. There’s just one problem, the name. I did a little research where they got the name and their site said the just wanted something fun and catchy. I thought cool, but what is a moon cricket, so I googled it. I wasn’t exactly sure what to think once I did that. Moon Cricket is a racial slur used by slave owners to describe slaves that would come out at night and sing slave songs. I don’t want to see anything happen to this bar like what’s been going on currently in our cities, but learning what a moon cricket was I can’t say I’m comfortable with the name or going back there till it’s changed, and I’d like to see some change. This is casual racism, something people have been fighting to end, and changing the name of this place will be a step in the right direction.”

The petition, which is being sent to Winter Garden leaders, has been signed by more than 2,000 people. You can sign by clicking here.

How does the restaurant respond?

Eaton received a text message from the restaurant that reads in part: “I ask every one offended by our name: Are you truly offended by an obscure whimsical made-up name or being guided by a few malicious troublemakers who get their kicks by causing social unrest instead of civility.”

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, activists throughout the nation have been demanding the removal of Confederate statues and other racist symbols.

Three years ago activists succeeded in persuading Orlando to remove a Confederate statue in downtown’s Lake Eola.

West Orange County has a sinister history of racism that includes the 1920 Ocoee Massacre resulting in the deaths of hundreds of black people and the lynching of July Perry.

You decide, is MoonCricket a racist name?

The petition can be found here.

Orlando Mayor Dyer is reluctant to change police

2020-06-07T20:55:00.000-04:00

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is preparing to slow walk or minimize any significant changes to the way the city is policed.

Last week Dyer tweeted: “Orlando is committed to action. And as a community, we must continue to engage with each other to make change. That's why I'm joining @BarackObama and @MBK_Alliance to review our use of force policies, engage residents in the process and make any changes that must be made.”

Dyer clearly is pulling a sly political move by aligning himself with President Obama and My Brothers Keep Alliance – an Obama foundation.

But if Dyer attended Saturday’s (6/6) massive rally on the steps of Orlando City Hall, or if he cared what anybody had to say, he would know that changing the OPD use-of-force policy does not begin to address the protestors demands.

Demonstrators in Orlando and elsewhere around the nation are calling for sweeping changes to standard policing, which is an outgrowth of 19^th century slave patrols.

As it is Orlando’s police use-of-force policy is bad, especially for black people and poor people. The existing policy allows an officer to pepper spray someone who responded rudely to a question. To see the use of force policy, click here.

Many of the demonstrators were calling for defunding or dismantling the police. Minneapolis has already officially begun the process of reshaping its police services.

Though that sounds extreme, what the really means is re-imagining the way public safety services are provided, with less need for heavily armed officers.

Does it make sense for police officers dressed and armed like robocop to constantly patrol neighborhoods? Folks in some minority communities complain that they are over-policed by officers looking for the smallest infractions to make arrests or issue tickets.

The over-policing doesn’t make those neighborhoods safer. Instead, it creates hostility and sometimes leads to confrontations that can be deadly for officers and the public

The fire department doesn’t patrol neighborhoods looking for fires. They respond to calls for service. Firefighters are focused on safety and helping people, while police are focused on enforcement and locking up people. Cops are seen as warriors or an army of occupation.

For a domestic violence call, what if the police car the responded contained a police officer, a social worker, and an emergency medical technician? That would include all the services likely to be needed in that situation.

Typically, a police department gobbles up 30 percent or more of the local government’s budget. A slimmed-down police department could be less expensive, more user friendly, and efficient.

Defunding a police department would mean reallocating some of the police dollars for education and social services that could help address the root causes of crime. For more information on defunding police, click here.

Mayor Dyer, however, has never demonstrated that he has an open mind. More likely than not he and his staff will tightly limit any citizen participation in discussions of police services and cozy up to the politically powerful police union.

Currently, local activists are promoting a petition to defund the police. If you want to add your name, click here.

Sign a petition to defund the cops

2020-06-06T11:27:00.001-04:00

Activists in Orlando have joined with counterparts throughout the country calling for leaders to defund or abolish police.

You can sign a petition to abolish police by clicking here.

That’s not as crazy as it sounds.

The police are currently organized as a paramilitary force, equipped with weapons to hurt and to kill.

Cops patrol endlessly looking for problems – particularly in black, brown, and poor neighborhoods.

Cops make many arrests for minor issues.

Sometimes when they try to make arrests for minor things those encounters escalate in violence that harms cops and the public.

The police tradition of patrolling reminds us that modern policing grew out of slave patrols.

By contrast, the fire department doesn’t patrol looking for fires. Firefighters wait in a station for people to call when they need help.

Activists want leaders to re-imagine police as helpers – not warriors or an army of occupation.

If you end police patrols you can reduce the number of officers, cut the budget and invest that money into services to make the community better for everybody in every neighborhood.

Typically, the police forces are one of the costliest items in a city's budgets.

Police brutality complaints result in multi-million-dollar payouts to victims.

Those payouts come from taxpayers, too.

Sign the petition to defund or abolish the police by clicking here.

Orlando resorts to racist South African tactics to end police brutality demonstrations

2020-06-03T17:44:00.000-04:00

Orlando has taken a page from the playbook of South Africa’s formerly racist apartheid government to stop police brutality protesters.

The city has imposed a special early curfew on part of downtown and the historically black Parramore community. That curfew starts at 8 p.m. Wednesday (6/3). Curfews were one of the tactics the racist white South African government tried to suppress activists in black townships.

The curfew for the rest of the city and Orange County begins at 10 p.m. The 10 p.m. curfew was re-imposed Sunday by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

The 8 p.m. curfew area is from West Colonial to State Road 408 and Tampa Avenue to Summerlin Avenue. In addition to Parramore, the curfew area includes much of the downtown entertainment and dining area and Eola Heights and Thornton Park.

The new measures were imposed after 4 nights of demonstrations in the wake of the high-profile murder of George Lloyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Demonstrations on Tuesday night that traveled through the Parramore community and ended up at City Hall ended up with tear gas used on the crowd. Those in the multi-racial crowd said the demonstrations were overwhelmingly peaceful. There were a few white males in the crowd suspected to be members of the Boogalu Boys -- provocateurs who stir up trouble so black people will be blamed.

Police said at one point some members of the crowd pelted officers with objects. However, demonstrators said problems really started when police riot squads use barriers, shields and bicycles to trap people trying to leave the events. This controversial tactic is known as “kettling”. Frequently this tactic sweeps up innocent people who weren’t causing trouble. It also violates the 1st Amendment, which guarantees people the right to peacefully assemble to share their concerns with government leaders.

Several demonstration participants – who don’t know each other -- told us that many officers (dressed in riot gear) were needlessly aggressive.