Palm Coast group honors Times columnist, other leaders SEE PAGE 3
EE FR
REV. JESSE JACKSON: It’s time for a national commission on race and poverty SEE PAGE 4
FIREFIGHTERS SHARE SAFETY TIPS WITH TURIE T. ELEMENTARY STUDENTS SEE PAGE 8
East Central Florida’s Black Voice NOVEMBER 5 - NOVEMBER 11, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 45
www.daytonatimes.com
Huger files EEOC claim against city Widely distributed email supports claim BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES news@daytonatimes.com
In a complaint dated Oct. 7, Thomas Huger - the 63-year old son of Daytona Beach’s first Black city commissioner, James Huger charged the city with race and age discrimination after being passed over for a job as deputy public
works director. Huger’s claim against the city got unexpected support when a memo dated June 8, 2015 – allegedly bearing the signature of Public Works Director Steven T. Richart – surfaced, indicating that the city would save more than $164,000 by hiring Huger and eliminating an unnecessary position. The Daytona Times has learned that on Tuesday, a copy of the memo was e-mailed to every Daytona Beach city employee. The Daytona Times obtained a
copy of the EEOC Charge of Discrimination filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations on Oct. 7. In it, Huger stated the following as the reason for his claim. “I am a 63-year-old Black individual. I have been employed with the City of Daytona Beach since 2006 and most recently held the title of Facilities Construction & Maintenance Manager. During my tenure, I have never had any performance problems and received favorable evaluations.
‘The most qualified’ “In July 2015, I applied for the position of Deputy Public Works Director. I was the most qualified and received an interview. However, I was not selected for the position. On July 29, 2015, I was advised that a younger less qualified white individual (David Waller/ White) was selected. “After my non-selection, I filed an internal complaint of discrimination with the company but nothing was done. Although they
state that they investigated the matter, it was clear from their findings, that this was not the case. “No reasons were given for my non-selection. Other similarly situated employees outside of my classes have been selected for the Deputy Public Works Director,” he continued.
Two strikes Huger stated that he believes he has been discriminated because Please see HUGER, Page 2
Speedway, stadiums apply for millions of state money BY JIM TURNER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTS PHOTOGRAPHY.COM
Thousands of walkers participated in the Oct. 31 event, which started and ended at Riverfront Park.
‘Sea of Pink’ Volusia County raises $375,000 in Breast Cancer Walk
T
he Volusia County “Sea of Pink” walk-a-thon ended October with impressive numbers: 285 teams, 11,000 walkers and over 200 volunteers joined forces to raise money for those who are currently dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis, those who may face a diagnosis in the future, and those who may avoid a diagnosis altogether thanks to education and risk reduction. It is estimated that more than 40,000 African-American women in Florida have breast cancer. The Making Strides event is an affiliate of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and is both a national initiative and culminating event of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Funds raised during the campaign will help ACS do the most. Teams continue to raise funds through Dec. 31, but it is projected that $375,000 was raised. “This was my first year as event chair for the Making Strides Walk. I had been a member of the committee before having served as a survivor chairperson,” said Valencia Robinson, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2006 and has successfully completed chemotherapy and a double mastectomy.
Avoided by House members
Walkers included cancer survivors, their families and advocates.
BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES news@daytonatimes.com
TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s three professional football stadiums and Daytona International Speedway are seeking millions of dollars from the state to help pay for upgrades that in most cases are already underway. The applications have been filed despite continued opposition from House leaders to such funding. Applications submitted Monday – the deadline to file – were from Buccaneers Football Stadium Limited Partnership for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa and from the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars for EverBank Field. The speedway filed its application on Oct. 30, joining an earlier submission from South Florida Stadium LLC, which oversees the Miami Dolphins’ home, Sun Life Stadium. The Department of Economic Opportunity will begin reviewing the applications to determine the potential returns on investment and to rank the proposals for the 2016 stadium funding process. Earlier this year, House leaders turned back attempts to steer state money to Sun Life Stadium, the speedway, EverBank Field and a soccer stadium in downtown Orlando. Lately, House leaders have avoided the topic. “This issue is not before the Legislature at this time,” Michael Williams, a spokesman for House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, said Monday in an email. Proponents of stadium funding say the money goes to projects that create jobs, attract tourists and increase regional trade.
Called ‘corporate welfare’ “I was very familiar with all of the work that goes into making the entire event happen from being there on Friday afternoon to set up the event, to being there Saturday morning at 5 a.m. to organizing what needs to get done the day of the event,” Robinson added.
Painted the town pink Wearing pink hats, signature tshirts, bandanas that donned the pink-ribbon of hope and even pink socks, breast cancer survivors, advocates, family, and community sponsors endured a three-mile trek. Together they began at Riverfront Park in Daytona, crossed over Main Street Bridge and looped around the International Speedway Bridge. Barricades and roads were closed to make room for the crowd of walkers who maintained a steady pace and
ended their marathon right where they began – at Riverfront Park for a celebration of smiles, hugs and balloons. “For three years, the walk was at the Jackie Robinson baseball park. We moved back to Riverfront Park in the open area because we felt that this was the best way to rally the walkers before the walk,” explained Robinson. “Since it also just happened to be on Halloween, we invited everyone to wear their best pink costumes.”
Walking works Taking to the streets in sneakers to combat a deadly disease may seem like a muted point to some or just good ’ol community nostalgia. But according to Robinson, walk-a-thons are still effective. Please see PINK, Page 7
Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said in a release Monday that the speedway continues “to pursue all options to ensure the successful outcome of this process.” “As we move into the future, it is imperative that we continually make improvements to the facility to keep our guests, the majority of whom are visiting from outside the state of Florida, returning year after year,” Chitwood said. Critics, such as the conservative-advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, question the economic return on investment and call stadium funding “corporate welfare.” “Taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars should be kept off the track, the field, or anywhere else that entails profitseeking enterprises guzzling taxpayer gas,” Americans for Prosperity-Florida spokesman Andres Malave said in an email Monday. “These projects are ongoing renovation projects that taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for.” Please see MONEY, Page 2
ALSO INSIDE
EDUCATION: B-CU TO HOST FREE BUSINESS WORKSHOP FOR ENTREPRENEURS | PAGE 2 BUSINESS: NISSAN AND TOYOTA DEFEND THEIR DIVERSITY RECORDS | PAGE 5