JOIN THE MAYORS'
MARCH
TOWARD THE DREAM
Sarasota, FL: The City of Sarasota will host
a community march in North Sarasota to rally support for
a holistic community approach to revitalize Newtown and
reduce violent crime in North Sarasota. The Mayors’ March
Toward the Dream will be held Fri., July 20, 2007 at approximately
7pm, immediately following the brick installation ceremony
at Fredd “Gossie” Atkins Park, which starts
at 6pm. The march will begin at Fredd “Glossie” Atkins
Park, located at the southwest corner of U.S. 301 and Martin
Luther King, Jr. Way, and travel west about one mile to
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park, where community leaders will
speak about the increasing need to unite the community
to direct economic and social changes within Newtown.
“It’s extraordinarily important that every
part of the greater Sarasota community participate,” said
Mayor Lou Ann Palmer. “The City Commission alone
cannot invoke the significant changes we’re talking
about, and neither can the Sarasota police department.
The churches, the neighborhood associations, the residents,
the business owners all must unite with the City to work
toward the common goal of revitalizing Newtown. We need
to spend dollars on affordable housing, and economic development
and perhaps more importantly, we need people to mentor
a child, so he or she doesn’t feel the need to join
a gang and participate in violent crime,” said Mayor
Palmer.
As part of its ongoing commitment to spur revitalization
in Newtown, the City Commission earlier this week approved
a Narcotics Exclusionary Zone (NEZ) within North Sarasota,
prohibiting anyone convicted of a drug related offense
and serving probation from entering that geographic area.
The NEZ is bordered by North Tamiami Trail on the west,
the Seminole-Gulf Railway Line to the east, Myrtle Street
to the north and 10th Street to the south.
The public is invited and strongly encouraged
to participate in the Mayors’ March Toward the Dream.
Please wear casual attire, including comfortable walking
shoes, bring
a hat and sunscreen. Transportation will be provided back
to Fredd “Glossie” Atkins Park. Water also
will be provided.
For more information, please contact:
Jan
Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-2613
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com
