Who? Tampa native Frank Roder, 55, is vice president of the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association.
Sphere of influence: A longtime civic leader, Roder has worked with city officials on crime and zoning issues for over two decades. He also serves on the city's Human Rights Board, reviewing 70-80 discrimination cases a year. A former special education teacher and current teacher union vice president for Pasco County, Roder frequently lobbies the Florida Legislature on special education needs and anti-bullying laws. He also co-chairs the Tampa chapter of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and is a vocal critic of the Hillsborough County Commission's anti-gay stances.
How he makes a difference: Roder is best known for organizing the infamous "hooker walks" in Seminole Heights from 2000-2003. Since then, he's devoted his time to changing Tampa's antiquated zoning laws along the neighborhood's main corridors. As the chair of the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee, he has gained thousands of dollars in federal funds for Tampa neighborhoods. Currently, Roder is seeking funding for an expanded recycling campaign, a "one-stop" homeless shelter and housing for those aging out of foster care and homeless gay and lesbian youth.
CL: How did you get into neighborhood activism?
Roder: In 1989, [neighborhood residents] took on a bar called Boogie's Lounge, and it was at the corner of Nebraska and Osborne. It was this little hole-in-the-wall bar that had been there forever and ever. Suddenly, this guy turned [the bar] into a big dance bar. It had a 20-car parking lot, and suddenly we had 350 people trying to park in this parking lot. So they were parking all over the neighborhood. And it was the only bar I've ever seen that when people would leave, they would scream and carry on. I mean, when I leave a bar, I walk to my car and hope a cop's not there and kind of sneak out. People were out here hootiin', hollerin', screwin' in people's porches. So Rose Ferlita, who owned the drugstore right on the corner, and I got together, and I went before City Council with a bunch of neighbors and we complained about this bar. … To make a long story short, the bar's wet zoning was revoked. It was the first time in the city of Tampa's history that [a neighborhood] had ever revoked a wet zoning. And it kind of turned me on. I realized one person could impact change. So we organized the Southeast Seminole Heights Civic Association — the first time that had been established — and I was president for the first five years.
How did the prostitution walks begin?
We organized the prostitution walks, the hooker walks, kind of as a joke to start off with, but it got to be so positive. [Before the walks] the Tampa Police Department's comments were, "Well, you chose to live in that neighborhood, what did you expect?" And we didn't buy that. That was unacceptable. That was back when Bennie Holder was chief of police. His quote was, "I don't want to be bothered by it." Well, it really kind of pissed us off. So we found out that dogs have a powerful impact on hookers — they would walk out of the way to get away from [the dogs]. I think we walked 70-something times up and down Nebraska. It's kind of hard to ignore 67 of us walking down the street at 2 a.m. But it changed TPD's perception of how to deal with our neighborhood.
Is prostitution still a problem?
Under Chief Hogue we have a great relationship with TPD. If we see any kind of hooker problems, we call and they are taken care of. You'll see an occasional hooker, but they're few and far between. … It's still Nebraska Avenue. It's going to have that reputation forever and ever, but the good news is we are in control of it.
How has your neighborhood succeeded in convincing city leaders to notice your needs?
I don't take "no" for an answer. Our City Council members know us — even the new ones — because we're there. We talk to them. They're people. They don't intimidate me. You put your pants on one leg at time, I don't care who the hell you are. To me, I'll talk to anybody face to face. In fact, I'll fill you in on a Ronda Storms story later on [laughs]. If they turn me down this year, I'll ask again next year. I may reword it a bit, but I'll stick to it.
Why are you involved in zoning issues?
One of the biggest issues we're facing is if we want to redevelop commercial corridors. When businesses move in, they have to conform to standards on buildings built in the '20s and '30s. When that [new] building doesn't conform, there has to be a way to work with them.
For example, there is a place on Florida Avenue just south of Hillsborough. It's a day spa, and they're opening a restaurant on just part of it. And they just went through so much crap to get approval to be able to stay in that location. Cappy's Pizza is another [example]. I mean, the parking about killed them, because there is no way for them to fit into current code the way the current code is set up.
That's a big issue: to redevelop commercial corridors — whether it be Nebraska Avenue, Hillsborough Avenue or Florida Avenue — in a way that you can take the existing buildings and have them become something new that will fit into the code. Because we don't want these big box stores coming in. We don't want all the cookie-cutter approaches in Carrollwood. We like neighborhood businesses. That's what started these neighborhoods. And I'd like to see us come back to that.
Do you see any gains in human rights for the rest of Hillsborough County?
I talked to Rosa Ferlita at Christmas. … Her frustrations with that County Commission are so evident that I don't think the County Commission is approachable while these good ol' boys are still in there. How do you get rid of Jim Norman? How do you get rid of Brian Blair? Although, I am working with the guy who is running against him [Kevin Beckner].
This article appears in Feb 20-26, 2008.