March 19, 2013. The Lakeland Ledger.
WINTER HAVEN | Bus stops are coming for two busy Haines City locations, and transit officials will look at the need for stops along Shepherd and Bailey roads in South Lakeland-Mulberry, a grassroots ecumenical group was promised Monday night.
Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment, a multi-congregational organization, also got commitments from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on ways to keep first-time youthful offenders from having criminal records.
Those pledges came at PEACE’s 13th annual Nehemiah Action, held at Winter Haven First Church of the Nazarene, during which PEACE asked for answers to specific questions about transit and juvenile justice in Polk County.
“We are here tonight to do justice on behalf of the vulnerable,” said the Rev. Shirley Hayes of St. James AME Church in Bartow.
“We’re here to do justice on behalf of those who have no voice.”
Giving them answers were Maj. Joe Halman of the Sheriff’s Office and Tom Phillips, executive director of Polk Transit and the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District (Citrus Connection).
Bus stops will be added on Route 416 at the Haines City Health Department and at Parkview Village, which PEACE said has more than 800 residents, many of them in need of public transit.
Phillips also agreed to a 90-day analysis of the need for bus stops along Shepherd and Bailey roads, and to developing a plan for after-hours transportation in Lakeland.
For Phillips, having PEACE adopt transit as a cause was like getting new wind beneath his wings. He and his staff have canvassed the county to hear needs in a “My Ride” initiative, he told 1,000 or so attending the action.
Ridership has increased 27.8 percent within existing routes, translated as 25,000 more rides per month when compared with last year, he said.
The question of juvenile justice alternatives was trickier.
Hayes called it “outrageously appalling” that an 8-year-old boy was charged with domestic violence for throwing something at his brother, one of several examples PEACE leaders gave of why change is needed.
The phrasing of questions asked Halman changed from the time the program was printed as PCSO and PEACE worked for common ground.
Halman agreed that the Sheriff’s Office will work cooperatively with the Department of Juvenile Justice and others to “prevent whenever possible” juveniles who commit first time misdemeanors from having permanent criminal records.
He pledged it will work with the Department of Juvenile Justice and Juvenile Assessment Center to enter those youths in the “Prevention Web,” a non-criminal record data base.
From the 18 PEACE congregations represented, he asked something in return.
“Will you commit to work with your local congregations to ensure after-school programs and mentoring programs are happening in your congregations?” asked Halman, who also is a pastor with Greater Works Ministry in Winter Haven.
The Sheriff’s Office has begun training churches as sites for its Juvenile Alternative Work Program. The program lets juveniles who make a mistake do community service.
“If we work together, I assure you this will be a greater community,” Halman said.
Each “yes” answer he or Phillips gave brought loud applause from the audience.
“Those in power made positive steps to ensure we have a just society,” said the Rev. Ron Clark of Hurst Chapel AME Church in Winter Haven.
Churches and others interested in the alternative work program can call 863-534-6132. PEACE can be reached at 863-802-8757.
