Since 9/11 the Hillsborough County
Sheriffs Office has had one end of 20th Street (between 9th Ave. and
Palm Ave.) barricaded with no permission granted from the City of Tampa
nor the Barrio Latino Commission. Ybor City is a National Historic
District with a grid pattern streets that allow easy access to and from
local and collector streets and roads. This grid pattern should be
maintained to preserve the historic character of our district. A minute
threat of terrorism is no excuse for closing a street for this long
with no permission by city officials.

Eric Shiller, owner of Gaspar’s Grotto on 7th Ave., has taken the
initiative and is planning to protest the street closure on the 20th of
every month from noon to 12:30 p.m. HYNCA supports the
reopening of 20th Street and encourages all of its members to join the
protest this Wednesday and every 20th of the month.

Mr. Shiller invites the neighborhood to participate in the effort to
reopen 20th street. We hope to see as many of you there as can
participate!

We also encourage each of you to write a letter to the Hillsborough
County Sheriff David Gee asking that 20th St. be reopened. You can
e-mail Sheriff Gee at hcso@hcso.tampa.fl.us.

Thanks for your support!