For years, elected officials in Pinellas County have gone before members of FAST (Faith and Action for Strength Together) at their Nehemiah Action Assemblies, where they're asked to commit to proposed solutions to issues.
For as many years, the folks over at HOPE (Hillsborough Organization for Progress and Equality) in Hillsborough County have been doing the same thing, though not as often with elected lawmakers.
On Monday night, HOPE held a Nehemiah Action Agenda at the Mount Calvary 7th Day Adventist Church in East Tampa, with nearly 1,000 people in attendance to discuss unemployment and jobs. Three members of Tampa City Council were present; they were asked whether they would support a proposal requiring companies that receive city contracts or tax incentives to give first hiring priority to unemployed Hillsborough residents.
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2012.
