The Political Whore

By Lorna Bracewell
PoHo contributor

Hooray for Florida’s very own  Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen! On Wednesday, along with a bipartisan coalition of 100 House members led by Rep. Barney Frank, she introduced a revised (read: trans inclusive) version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). When passed, ENDA will extend existing Federal protections against employment discrimination to also protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

A version of ENDA that did not include protections for transgender people passed the house in 2007 but died in the Senate. In a recent interview with the Washington Blade, Frank was cautiously hopeful about the bill’s prospects in 2009: “Things have gotten better. The transgender community is lobbying hard.  I just need to remind people that when we have trouble doing something in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts, it doesn’t get easier when you have South Carolina, Utah and Nebraska.”

Oprah Winfrey last October, admiring a bronze statue of Mattie and his service dog, Micah. Photo: Ed Tenney

By Matt Wiley
CL intern

We continue our look at some of the best projects in the National Civic League’s 2009 All-America City Awards (the conference convenes in Tampa this week) with Rockville, Md.:

Rockville, Maryland
Rockville’s Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park is a $4.2 million 26-acre regional park that is accessible to all and  honors the life of one of Rockville’s most memorable residents. Mattie J. T. Stepanek was afflicted with a form of muscular dystrophy and died just shy of his 14th birthday. But in his short life, he touched the lives of millions of people through his messages of peace and hope. To further his message, Rockville, along with the state of Maryland, the developer of the King Farm community where the park is located, the community homeowners association and a foundation dedicated to keeping Mattie’s message alive, built the award-winning park. The park includes a life-sized statue of Mattie and his service dog Micah, a “Peace Garden,” lighted playing fields, the city’s first dog park, lighted basketball and tennis courts, playgrounds, a fitness center, picnic area, snack bar, restrooms, lighted pathways, wooded areas, landscaping, open spaces and parking. Stepanek Park includes amenities designed for use by all. There are no steps or rails in the park. The park is fully accessible and meets all ADA requirements, including the playgrounds, picnic tables, paths, fountains, benches and the Bankshot basketball courts.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-19 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.

Photo: Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Department

By Matt Wiley
CL intern

The next featured community in the National Civic League’s 2009 All-America City Awards (the conference convenes in Tampa next week) is Pocomoke City, Md.:

Pocomoke City, Maryland

Pocomoke Volunteer Fire Department Fire Station
The Pocomoke Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD) was originally founded in 1888, in 1939, the City obtained funds to build a new fire station designed to house three fire trucks and 30 volunteers.  However, by 2002, with 60 members and 8 large trucks, the old fire station had become obsolete.  At that point, the PVFD began a six-year collaboration with the community to construct a new fire station.  In 2003, a PVFD planning committee investigated various options for a new fire station and, in 2004, the land was purchased. Working from a construction cost estimate of $2.1 million, the committee set a goal of raising $400,000 from residents and businesses, to be matched with grant assistance from the State. Within a few months, the committee had received donations and pledges in excess of their original goal. Volunteers worked with a local architect to complete the design for the new 16,500 square foot station.  In March 2008, the PVFD ceremoniously marched down Market Street from their former home to their new $2.1 million fire station, the culmination of a six-year community-wide collaborative effort. The new modern fire station will serve the needs of the community for the next several decades.

Thirty cities, towns, neighborhoods and communities are vying for recognition as an All-America City at the June 16-18 conference at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel. Each will give a short presentation on three public-private civic projects they undertook before a panel of judges names the best. Tampa is one of the finalists.

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman is the president of the National Civic League this year and a big proponent of these kinds of partnership projects. During her tenure, in 1990, Tampa was named an All-America City. Creative Loafing CEO Ben Eason is also involved, as a member of the Host Committee.