New law prohibits sex offenders from ‘clustering’
Recently, Hillsborough County leaders stepped up to defend the rights of residents throughout the county. Seeing how Our neighborhood has at least two “cluster” homes, possibly more depending on how criteria will be used to determine the definition of “cluster” home. While I applaud their effort, I only hope these leaders, namely Kevin White, will help encourage our city leaders to pass similar legislation. Could this be the help we need?
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From Bay News 9
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http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2008/10/5/388736.html
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) – Hillsborough County leaders recently passed a new law that prohibits groups of sex offenders from clustering in one neighborhood.
Commissioners passed a new law that prohibits sex offenders from living together or “clustering.” And offenders can occupy no more than 10 percent of units in a mobile home park. Landlords will also be punished if they allow it.
The problem of too many sex offenders living in one spot that was too close to children surfaced in Palm River a few months ago.
Carla Bowling who lived near the sexual offenders made issue of the high numbers of sexual offenders living so close.
“We don’t need them around a family park,” Bowling said.
Community activist Michelle Williams pushed for changes so sex offenders aren’t so closely concentrated, and county commissioners listened.
“We needed to do whatever we had to do on the county level on the legislative side of it to keep our community and children safe,” said Commissioner Kevin White.
The new law applies to sexual offenders and predators.
“It should give the sheriff’s office, government officials a better way of tracking and keeping tabs on their locations and keeping them away from our children,” White said.
White says he would like to have sexual offenders housed in a designated commune-like facility in Hillsborough County. The facility would be gated, well marked and a good distance from churches and schools
“Along the perimeter of that facility you could have the postings and the markings that this is a certified sex offender location — please keep children so many feet away and children beware,” White said.
