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Newton has been the segragrated area of Sarasota, Fl for decades. Once, a smaller section on the northside of the well-to-do area on the West Coast with the white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.
The kids went to school in "their part" of town. The beaches rarely saw the residents of the slum area share the sunny days near the water's edge, till the changes in the mid-60's.
The area spread out past the borders of Newtown on the side-line of SR 301 over to the older housing area north of town. As the town was renovated and re-born, the area of home to the blacks just became more downtrodden and dirty.
Crime rates soared into a murderous rate, eliminating any chance of "outsiders" taking 27th Street from US 41 to US 301 as a short-cut.
Newtown became the "step child" of the rich northerners that enjoyed their days by the Bay and lingering on the golf courses. Out-of-sight, out-of-mind.
Now, the crime affects the shoppers at the malls. Stopping at a light, in nearby Bradenton can be an opening to being victimized as the car idles at a red light.
Newtown has lots of "bandages", but no clearing. No clean housing developments and few job opportunities. Until, Sarasota citizens address the needs of all the residents in the county there will be a major distinction in those that "have" and those that "want"!
