Like many other St. Petersburg newcomers, I was surprised to learn this week that the James B. Sanderlin Family Center has serious money problems. In fact, the place has been deteriorating for a long time, forcing the city to cite it for at least a dozen code violations and threaten to shut it down if the problems are not corrected. None of the public grant funds can be used for repairs because the facility is owned by the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, a religious organization. But the diocese has worked out a plan for the center to own the building in 10 years. The center is one of the most important agencies in the black community.
Services are free of charge, delivered by a dedicated staff and volunteers.
During a public meeting on Tuesday, several people suggested ways to raise money. Our donations are small, but they symbolize what is possible. Never before have I lived in a town where black residents do so little for themselves. The Sanderlin Center is emblematic of the Do-nothing Disease afflicting St. Petersburg's black community. As I sat in the crowded room on Tuesday, an older white man walked in.