Parramore Forcefully Speaks Out: No Soccer Stadium

Parramore residents spoke out forcefully last night at a town hall hosted by the Orange County NAACP and the message was clear: NO to a new soccer stadium.

Parramore residents and business owners did not hold back in voicing their concerns about the City of Orlando government and Mayor Buddy Dyer by name. Although this town hall meeting at the Greater St. Paul AME Church was not specifically on the soccer stadium issue which will lead to more gentrification of the historic African-American neighborhood, the issue dominated the night.

Gilbert Dudley delivered the most passionate remark of the night, speaking on behalf of 7 generations of his family who lived in Parramore. “There’s no need for soccer here. This is coming here to destroy Parramore,” said Dudley. “Buddy Dyer is the biggest liar in Orlando. He wants to destroy Parramore to run for Governor.”

“Enough is enough! We don’t need them. No arenas, no stadiums! No more destruction of Parramore,” Dudley continued. He added that he marched many times in his life including with Martin Luther King, Jr. and he will march again should the stadium pass.

Beverly Albert is a 40 year Parramore resident and resides in a Carver Park senior development and her remarks struck the hearts of everyone in attendance. “We need homes,” Albert said. “We are being phased out.”

Betty Gelzer has been a property owner and business owner in Parramore since 1971. She runs a daycare on Hills Street and delivered passionate remarks about the wrong priorities and unfair treatment she has seen in Parramore for years.

“We hear about a billion dollars of work, but not for Parramore. We only get low-paying and temporary jobs,” added Lonnie Canady, who has lived in Parramore for 25 years. “We need permanent jobs with benefits for Parramore.”

Nat Jenkins runs a business on Orange Blossom Trail and has lived in the area for 22 years. He opposed the soccer stadium because of the location in Parramore and for economic reasons. “True economic benefit for black residents here never happens. It won’t help the people of Parramore.”

“When will we be placed first?” asked Lawanna Gelzer. “Even if you put the stadium there, we will continue to fight.” Gelzer also spoke out about the contaminated land in Parramore, shocking many residents when she informed the crowd about city plans to only clean up commercial lots for the soccer stadium and Creative Village. In addition to the contamination, Gelzer called out the city’s exploitation of the demographics in Parramore and delivered a failing report card to every attendee detailing Mayor Dyer’s failure on a multitude of Parramore concerns.

Coronet Scarbourgh is also a homeowner in Parramore who opposed the soccer stadium. “We need new priorities,” she urged. She discussed concerns around affordable housing, education, business and worker support, as well as the deplorable roads in Parramore.

Continuing the chorus of opposition to a new soccer stadium, Pastor Carol Johnson called out the gentrification. Pastor Johnson said he has seen gentrification in Baltimore and Washington DC. “This situation is déjà vu. When I see black folks being displaced – well it’s a steamroller here.”

“Is this a black and white issue? You bet it is,” said Tim Adams. He spoke at length about the city of Orlando’s long history of ignoring the African-American community and taking advantage of minority residents.

Only two speakers at the town hall supported plans to build a soccer stadium in Parramore and both sat with Reggie McGill, an aide to Mayor Dyer. Three candidates were in attendance from what I saw: Regina Hill and Virginia Whittington and Roberta Walton. No elected officials attended the town hall.

The message could not be more clear – but will Orange County Commissioners listen to the people of Parramore?