Activists take on the drug dealers in march

ST. PETERSBURG -- Energized by reports of rising drug activity, neighborhood activists plan to confront dealers and their customers Tuesday in a show of pride.

The city's Neighborhood Partnership will help train volunteers in a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S. They will learn how to assert themselves through bullhorns by chanting, "Up with hope! Down with dope!" without crossing over into aggression, City Council member Earnest Williams told members of the Council of Neighborhood Associations. Williams said the drug problem was citywide and spoke against what he called "sectionalism" in popular perception.

The city has hosted several antidrug marches since 1995, when international activist Herman Wrice included St. Petersburg on one of his "take-back-your-neighborhood" tours. Wrice died in 2000, but marchers still wear the yellow T-shirts and white hard hats that marked his protests. Their visits to locations identified by police as known drug spots are thought to have caused at least a couple of dealers to change houses.

"It's bad for business," Williams said. "Drug dealing is a business."

Williams said he hopes a march planned for Tuesday will be the first in a series that will involve neighborhoods throughout the city, if necessary. "We'll have them on the north side, the west side, wherever we need to have them. Wherever those activities persist, that's where we'll be."

Partnership director Susan Ajoc, who keeps a scrapbook commemorating the marches, has faced taunts, threats and even gunfire in the past.

Ajoc told CONA members that the marches are "not for everyone."

"You're head to head with the drug dealers," she said.

Hearing on Lealman Intermediate School

The fate of Lealman Intermediate School gets a public hearing Wednesday. Mayor Rick Baker will speak at a symposium hosted by the Council of Neighborhood Associations. Investigators appointed by the School Board favor moving the school to the Pinellas Technical Education Center's St. Petersburg campus in 2005-2006. The building, which officials say is in disrepair, probably would be torn down to make room for a school bus compound.

Jungle Terrace association president Steve Plice and others who oppose the move argue that the 1926 structure at 4100 35th St. N has historic value. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the school auditorium. For information, call 570-5155.

Leaders examine code violations

The Council of Neighborhood Associations will examine the city's current standard of code enforcement, following the lead of Old Southeast president Karl Nurse. The task force represents six neighborhoods: Charles Paine (Bartlett Park); Cathryn Wilson (Greater Woodlawn); Theresa McEachern (Harbordale); Kai Warren (Roser Park); Wayne Agee (Tropical Shores); and Ingrid Comberg (Uptown). Nurse suggested that 80 percent of codes violations are caused by the 30 percent of properties that are rentals, and urged a crackdown on negligent landlords.

Neighborhood associations studied

During a pause in the action in a recent Five Points meeting, a tall stranger stood to introduce himself. By now, Tom Killian performs the ritual automatically. The Jungle Terrace vice president has expanded his survey of neighborhood associations to 22 in five months. His only purpose, he said, is to answer one question: "What do they do?"

A home health care provider and student in the Council of Neighborhood Associations leadership program, Killian will present his findings to other students and faculty later this month.

Differences in meeting locations and styles, including the spacious versatility of the Snell Isle Woman's Club, and the "spotless" condition of Wildwood Recreation Center, impressed him. Wildwood Heights, Killian noted, was the only association he visited to begin meetings with a prayer.

"I thought it was real nice," he said.

Meetings

BAYOU HIGHLANDS: 7 p.m. Thursday. Coquina Key Resource Center, 435 45th Ave. S. City Council member James Bennett to swear in officers, Neighborhood planner Therese Hilliard.

EUCLID HEIGHTS: 7 p.m. Tuesday. First Alliance Church, 1001 50th Ave. N. Financial analyst Steve Paich, on estate planning, tax relief.

LAKE MAGGIORE SHORES: 7 p.m. Thursday. Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Ave. S. Deputy Mayor Mike Dove.

LAKEWOOD CIVIC: 7 p.m. Tuesday. Lakewood United Church of Christ, 2601 54th Ave. S. Representative from the Consumer Protection Agency.

UPTOWN: 7 p.m. Wednesday. The Sunshine Center, 330 Fifth St. N.

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