MIAMI HERALD: Sen. Wilson hosts town hall forum on Obama stimulus

A town hall meeting held Monday at the Joseph Caleb Center caused security to temporarily close all gates after parking spaces filled to capacity. Some parked their cars blocks away only to encounter a line snaked around one side of the building.

Inside, more than 400 people crammed into a standing room only meeting room.

All were there to find out how Florida's share of President Barack Obama's stimulus package would benefit their communities.

State Sen. Frederica Wilson said she did not take into account a large turnout when she was planning the forum.

''I never thought this would create this type of buzz,'' said Wilson, who expected a maximum of 100 people.

Florida's unemployment rate, 9.7 percent in March surpasses the national average of 8.5 percent for that same month. Many who attended Monday's meeting wanted to know how the stimulus would help them.

Cheryl Coakley, 54, a retired correctional officer who suffers from a heart condition, hypertension and diabetes, said she spends six hours a day on the computer looking for a job.

''I can't survive off of my 401k anymore,'' she said. ``I hope I can find a grant so I can create a job for me and start my own business.''

Armando Vilaboy, special assistant to Florida Governor Charlie Crist; Matt Pinzur, special assistant to Miami-Dade County Manager George Burgess; Rip Colvin, executive director of the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations; and Karen Woodall, outreach director of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy Representatives gave PowerPoint presentations and handouts on how the stimulus would be spent on federal, state and local levels.

Joseph Cassamajor, a Broward County resident, wanted to learn more about funding for nonprofit organizations.

''I was wondering how to enhance my business, I hope to get more answers,'' he said.

Several of the organizations provided websites and phone numbers on which businesses, governments and civic groups are eligible for funding and where they can apply.

''They gave us the information on how to access the funds, now all we got to do is go get them,'' said Shelton Altwood, owner of a landscaping company.

Wilson promised future town hall meetings and a bigger space. ''So many people are struggling, everyone has the right to know how the stimulus will affect them,'' she said. Sister Soljar, a community activist, said she would share what she learned with others who did not attend.

``It's imperative we bring this money back into our communities.''

While leaning on a lectern after the forum, Sister Soljar flipped through her notepad filled with notes. Taped to the lectern was the iconic red and blue Obama campaign poster emblazoned with the word `hope.'