Highlights
Since April 4, 2007, Bishop Thomas Masters has a new title: Mayor of Riviera Beach. It follows a long list of titles starting with Senior Pastor of the New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church for 19 years, community activist who fights and often marches to stop violence and drugs, and advocate for juvenile justice and the rights of children, efforts that have gained him some international prestige. He met once with the Pope to discuss juvenile justice issues and addressed the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland on the rights of children. Now, as mayor, the 55-year old Masters carries a new list of issues before him. Masters swept int...
Since April 4, 2007, Bishop Thomas Masters has a new title: Mayor of Riviera Beach. It follows a long list of titles starting with Senior Pastor of the New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church for 19 years, community activist who fights and often marches to stop violence and drugs, and advocate for juvenile justice and the rights of children, efforts that have gained him some international prestige. He met once with the Pope to discuss juvenile justice issues and addressed the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland on the rights of children. Now, as mayor, the 55-year old Masters carries a new list of issues before him. Masters swept into office on the shoulders of a campaign to oust his predecessor Michael Brown over controversial plans to redevelop Riviera Beach. The city, under Brown, adopted a $2.4 billion redevelopment plan that encompassed 400 acres of the city's marina and waterfront neighborhoods on the mainland as well as a plan to redevelop the Ocean Mall on Singer Island, where the city's only public beach is situated. Opponents on Singer Island fought the ocean redevelopment plan and fought Brown to limit the height of a condominium tower and length of the waterfront property lease. Brown also antagonized some on the mainland with his administration's policy of utilizing eminent domain to seize property in the redevelopment zone until that practice was outlawed in early 2006. The conflict defined Brown's second term in office and Masters' campaign was bolstered by support from the group leading the battle against the redevelopment plan on Singer Island. Since taking office, Masters has sought to bring people of the city together and still jump start redevelopment. He brought in the Treasure Coast Regional Development Council to conduct a citywide charrette to put redevelopment back on the table and bring input from all residents. As mayor, he's taken a step back, quiet through most city council meetings where he doesn't have a vote on the 5-member council. He is still pushing his anti-crime agenda. In his first months in office, the city passed a teen curfew, and now Masters is campaigning to get enough signatures on a petition for a proposed referendum to ban saggy pants, an issue that puts him at odds with the American Civil Liberties Union. If it passes, Riviera Beach would be among the first cities in the U.S. with a law on its books allowing fines for people who wear their pants too low. For more information go to www.rivierabch.com or call City Hall at 561-845-4000.
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Through a lens
It goes without saying, though I'll say it anyway, that Charles Osgood is my favorite photographer, but it was nice to see many other great Tribune photographers gathered Tuesday in the Tower, talking about their work in a new book, "Chicago in Season."...Tags: Dining and Drinking, Johnnie Walker, Tom Wolfe, Charlton Heston, Journalism
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Sunday Papers - 1/10/09 - Edition 544
Staff reporterArt Shay will be exhibiting his collection of color photos, True Color, at the Thomas Masters Gallery. More photos. This time of Chicago's folk scene in the book Chicago Folk. Go to the Auditorium Theatre. Robert Lieberman's photo exhibit of Bus... -
Reshuffling the deck
Tribune reporterThe truth is -- and Susan Heller of the north suburbs was not shy about telling it -- "my husband thought I decorated like an old woman." Instead of wincing or retaliating in an unkind way, Heller turned something of a deaf ear and continued her noble...Tags: Painting, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Furniture, Merchandise Mart
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The Rev. Al Sharpton visits Dunbar Village in West Pam Beach
South Florida Sun-SentinelThe Rev. Al Sharpton stood in the troubled public housing complex of Dunbar Village on Monday morning and told residents he supported their efforts to keep the aging complex from being torn down. He also promised to return within the month to hold a town...Tags: Christianity, Riviera Beach, U.S. Supreme Court, Baptist, Rape
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13-year-old charged in shooting death
Sun-Sentinel.comThe 13-year-old middle-school student accused of shooting and killing a former Bear Lakes Middle School classmate over the outcome of a condom-flipping game was arrested and charged with manslaughter Tuesday. Because of his age, the teen will be tried as...Tags: Lawyers, Hospitals and Clinics, Christianity, Prosecution, Murder
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Face to Face: A Conversation with Bishop Thomas Masters
Sun-SentinelThe Palm Beach County religious leader discusses his support of Nate Brazill Jr. and the wider cause of helping juveniles facing adult sentencing. Q. Reverend, how did you get involved in the campaign to stop the practice of prosecuting children as...Tags: Lawyers, Christianity, Punishment, Riviera Beach, Civil Rights
Dec 7, 2010
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Dec 6, 2009
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Jun 24, 2009
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jan 8, 2008
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Mar 17, 2004
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Mar 16, 2003
|Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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