TAMPA, Fla. — In 2020, the city of Tampa passed a resolution called “Racial Reconciliation” with the aim of reducing racial disparities and bringing the community together.

As part of this resolution, an idea was to form a commission that would study and develop proposals for improvement.

However, almost four years have passed since the resolution was passed, and the commission has not been formed yet. Some people are planning to attend Thursday’s city council meeting to find out the reason behind this delay and push the city to follow through on its commitment.

What You Need To Know

  • In 2020, the city of Tampa passed a resolution called “Racial Reconciliation” with the aim of reducing racial disparities and bringing the community together. As part of this resolution, the idea was to form a commission that would study and develop proposals for improvement. 

  • Resolution 568 was the City of Tampa’s attempt to address the injustices experienced by African-American residents.

  • NAACP Hillsborough President Yvette Lewis has expressed concern over the city’s failure to establish the commission and appoint officers to take charge of its operations.

  • The Communications Director of Tampa, Adam Smith says,"The council can create any board it wants with the approval of the Mayor, but no member has taken steps to do so.”

“We were dealing with George Floyd, We were dealing with Covid,” said Daryl Hych of the Hillsborough County Black Chamber of Commerce.

Resolution 568 was the City of Tampa’s attempt to address the injustices experienced by African-American residents.

Chamber of Commerce CEO, Daryl Hych, applauded the city for this act. However, even after three years, he is still attending meetings to ensure that the promises listed in that document are kept.

“Because you just celebrated Martin Luther King’s dream and I’ll be damned if you will not take this commission and get it started,” he said. “Tons of teeth. It’s six bullet points that they said they wanted to do.”

A formal apology to the African American community was issued in a document, in which the city acknowledged its past participation in discriminatory practices. The document proposed the creation of a ‘reconciliation commission’ to make up for the past wrongs.

Yvette Lewis, the president of the NAACP, held a meeting to review the document with community members.

The commission has been proposed to address various concerns, such as investment in low-income areas, police reforms, voting rights, and programs to educate the residents of the city of Tampa about the injustices of slavery and racial discrimination.

However, Lewis has expressed concern over the city’s failure to establish the commission and appoint officers to take charge of its operations.

“It’s time to hold them accountable; it’s time to put the words into action,” said Lewis.

Hych has provided suggestions to the council on how to heal the African-American community.

“This is life-changing,” Hych said.

When it comes to achieving racial equity and social justice, an entire community must come together as one to ensure its success.

The communications director of Tampa, Adam Smith, shared a statement with Spectrum News about the creation of a committee that reads:

“This started with former city council member Orlando Gudes, who apparently wanted a city-county board, but I’m not aware of whether he approached the county about it. The council can create any board it wants with the approval of the Mayor, but no member has taken steps to do so.”

District 4 City Council Member Bill Carlson also responded to Spectrum News with the following statement:

“This resolution was proposed by former City Council Member Orlando Gudes.

After the council passed it, he tried unsuccessfully for months to partner with Mayor Jane Castor and her team to create the committee and move the measure forward.

Then the Mayor and her team persecuted him and ultimately caused him to lose reelection. I assume he will sue the City and the Mayor so I won’t say any more about that.

Since this was Gude’s project, the Council was unaware that no one was following up on this until people came recently to public comment.

To move this forward, someone on Council will need to lead the effort and the Mayor will need to cooperate and dedicate staff and resources to implement it.”