This morning I came across a news story sharing that a six year old little girl almost drowned in an apartment complex pool. She is currently being treated at CRMC. Let that sink in. This apartment complex is in the Bullard region. A FUSD child. According to the CDC drownings are on the rise. The increased number of news stories validate the truth of this in our community. Then you add that yet again, Coach Lopez has been clear this issue substantially affects people of color. WHEN I LOOK AT THE SIDE BY SIDE PHOTOS OF THE MANATEES AND COACH LOPEZ’S TEAM, I WANT TO VOMIT. This situation is just yet another systemic statistic. Affluent adults use their politics to block progress. I can assure you Coach Lopez was not looking to take away from The Manatee’s athlete base. No matter how FUSD spins the facts, the actions are clear and so are the results of those actions. 

Coach Lopez’s primary mission is around drownings and making the ability to be WATER SAFE accessible. She not only put a plan into action but held to her values to carry it out. Her actions matched with her words, a rarity in this situation. SHE RAN INTO SO MANY SYSTEMIC ISSUES THAT ULTIMATELY CAUSED THIS PROGRAM TO BE OPENLY GUTTED, AS IF THEIR ACTIONS WERE JUSTIFIED. 

To be clear - EVERY SINGLE INCIDENT LIKE THIS MAKES THIS CAUSE THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. THE REAL QUESTIONS ARE - ARE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LISTENING? ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION? All of you, not just the soon to be former Trustee Levine. Every single story that comes out gives us another opportunity to invite them to join our cause. We will not stop until this is corrected to our satisfaction. Our kids depend on us to ensure they are properly cared for.