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Ybor Sign Dispute Handed Over To City Board

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN (2008)

Some community leaders and old-timers want to change the signs to "La Septima," which they argue is the proper spelling.

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

cwade@tampatrib.com

Published: January 15, 2009

TAMPA - For several years, a war of words has been raging in Ybor City.

Spanish-speaking visitors have questioned why the signs on Seventh Avenue, the historic district's main thoroughfare, misspelled the word for "seventh."

"La Setima" is a colloquialism from the early 20th century, when waves of immigrants from Spain, Cuba and Italy flocked to Ybor looking for work in the cigar factories.

Some community leaders and old-timers want to change the signs to "La Septima," which they argue is the proper spelling.

Others say leave the signs alone.

In November, the Ybor City Development Corp.'s board of directors voted 12-5, with one abstention, in favor of keeping the spelling.

Now the issue is in the hands of the city's Community Redevelopment Agency, which is composed of Tampa City Council members. The agency will decide today whether to leave the avenue's signs as they are or remove the Spanish wording altogether, which would cost the city $1,300 to $3,000.

Fran Costantino, president of the East Ybor Neighborhood Association, wants the agency to change the wording.

Costantino, also a member of the development corporation's board, said she has spoken to people who grew up in Ybor City and want the signs to read La Septima.

"These are people who have very deep roots in this neighborhood, not outsiders," she said. "And none of them can remember Seventh Avenue being called La Setima."

Residents on both sides are expected to attend the meeting at 9 a.m. at city hall, 315 E. Kennedy Blvd.

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