Tampa City Council member Luis Viera (2nd from left) was among those who attended the organizational meeting for the Ashington Estates at Tampa Palms Neighborhood Watch program. (Photos by Charmaine George)
When Tampa Police Dept. (TPD) Chief Lee Bercaw and District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera co-hosted the New Tampa Public Safety Town Hall meeting on July 1, Chief Bercaw told those in attendance that if they want to be an even greater asset to their local law enforcement officials, they should join their community’s Neighborhood Watch program — or start a new one if their neighborhood didn’t already have one.
Ashington Estates at Tampa Palms resident Kevin Kelly took that advice to heart, as he immediately began to organize a new Neighborhood Watch group for his subdivision of about 100 homes. On July 5 — the Friday afternoon of the 4th of July holiday weekend and less than two weeks following the TPD Town Hall — there were ten TPD officers, Viera and several of Kelly’s fellow residents meeting inside the gates of Ashington Estates, only a few weeks after the series of violent crimes that touched New Tampa.
And, although the TPD officers outnumbered the number of Ashington residents who stopped by the organizational meeting while yours truly and photographer Charmaine George were on hand, Kelly said he was encouraged by the turnout and support that day.
“We had about 14-15 residents in attendance overall, including drive-bys,” Kelly said after the meeting. “We currently have 21 in our neighborhood watch group and two of those signed up for our Facebook group since the roll call.”
As his community’s new Neighborhood Watch coordinator, Kelly also said he was, “very pleased with our police turnout. It shows their interest in Neighborhood Watch groups and the synergy those groups bring to the Police Department. I honestly only expected about 10 neighbors for this first roll call, so we surpassed that by a little.”
Those who did attend basically heard the TPD officers recap what happened during New Tampa’s week of three violent events that left four people dead and two others injured, with only one arrest having been made. The officers explained that the incident that occurred on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. on June 17 was being investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), but that TPD always works closely with HCSO and was being updated on that case.
Meanwhile, the Ashington Estates neighbors talked about things like people from other neighborhoods fishing in their pond, as there had never been any actual crime reported in their community, but TPD Major Brett Owen explained that hosting regular Neighborhood Watch meetings and occasional events will help keep the police — and the community — informed about anything that does happen inside those gates.
As to how Kelly hopes to increase participation in the program, he said, “I’m trying to get some work parties together for small jobs in the neighborhood’s common areas (trimming, painting, etc.), which I’ve already suggested to our Homeowners Association’s president.”
Kelly also said that he hopes to see, “more social media interaction within our group. It’s been a bit slow up to this point, so regular interactions should generate interest. Our information mechanisms of choice currently are Facebook and WhatsApp.”
Kelly also said that the Neighborhood Watch’s next meeting has not yet been planned, but that there were now “tentative plans” to do something for National Night Out (Tuesday, August 6), but that nothing specific had yet been planned at our press time.
Whether you prefer chicken or steak fajitas, try them at either Don Julio’s Mexican restaurant locations in the New Tampa area. (Photos By Charmaine George)
When Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant opened in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. (a little west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) six years ago, Jannah and I ate there a few times, but of course, without a full-liquor bar, it was never going to be a top choice for us, even though the Mexican cuisine served there was always tasty — and definitely authentic.
So, when Julio and Ximena Rodriguez opened the second Don Julio’s location — with a full, premium liquor bar — in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms plaza in 2022, we started visiting a little more, but because of all of the other Mexican restaurants closer to where we lived, we never really visited as often as we had some other local Mexican eateries.
But, when Julio began advertising in these pages a couple of months ago and told me he wanted us to come sample as much of the menu as possible for this story, we realized that we truly had been missing out on a somewhat hidden — but award-winning (more on that below) — gem in the New Tampa area.
First, A Little History
According to DonJuliosMexican.com, “Don Julio’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant started as a dream for the Rodriguez-Nambo Family. Julio’s grandparents — the original Don Julio & Esther Rodriguez — migrated to the Tampa Bay area from Mexico in the early 1970s. Esther (or Doña Esther, Julio calls her his “Abuelita”) always had a passion for cooking Mexican food” and she began using those talents in the late 1980s and early ‘90s — by selling her delicious Mexican cuisine from her garage in West Tampa — to put all three of her children through college, as her husband passed away when they were very young.
Julio & Ximena Rodriguez invite you to check out either of their authentic Mexican locations.
“Many of (her customers) recommended she open a Mexican restaurant, as her authentic flavors were unmatched by any existing restaurant in the Tampa Bay area,” the website continues. “Don Julio’s opened their doors (in the Palms Connection in) 2018, making the family’s dream come true of sharing Doña Esther’s authentic Mexican flavors with the entire Tampa Bay area and to keep alive her recipes for generations to come. The name was chosen in honor of the late Don Julio, who would be proud to see how his family has come together to make a legacy.”
Julio adds, “Don Julio’s is truly a family affair. In addition to Ximena and me, we have several cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews working in both of our locations and we pride ourselves on outstanding service, as well as delicious food.”
And, Speaking Of Food…
When Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I visited the beautiful Tampa Palms location of Don Julio’s shortly before this issue went to press, we wanted Julio and Ximena to pick “a couple” of their favorite dishes, to go along with a couple we chose.
The Queso Fundido is another tasty starter.
OK, sure. Instead of a “couple of” dishes, we were treated to a feast of epic proportions. We started with the house-made chips and perfect salsa, “with very small chunks of tomato and lots of cilantro,” Julio said.
Then, came the starters (called “Antojitos” or “Cravings” on the menu) and beverages. Jannah loved the Queso Fundido (melted Oaxaca cheese with Mexican chorizo sausage served with handmade chips). And, even though it isn’t made tableside, the house-made fresh guacamole was definitely a true treat, too.
“Everything we make here is from scratch,” Julio said. “We are always proud to serve our food.”
The Coctel de Camarones (shrimp cocktail) is made with three kinds of tomato sauce. The new birria tacos are among our editor’s favorites at Don Julio’s.
Whether you call them taquitos or flautas, you should try them at Don Julio’s!
Charmaine raved about the one starter I couldn’t sample, the Coctel de Camarones (shrimp cocktail with Grandma’s homemade proprietary tomato sauce and spices). Julio said, “It’s actually a blend of three different sauces.” But, Charmaine and I agreed that our favorites were the new birria beef tacos, wrapped in handmade soft corn tortillas and served with a delicate dipping broth made from the birria drippings. So delicate and delicious!
The peach margarita is just one of many available flavors.
We all also enjoyed the Taquitos Dorados Don Julio, which Julio says also are called “flautas.” They are rolled and deep-fried and available with your choice of meats — from chorizo to shrimp or fish, carne asada steak or even just veggie (we had the chicken). The taquitos are topped with lettuce, onions and the lightest sour cream sauce ever.
As for the beverages…wow! While all I had a was a Pacifico draft (available with a spicy tahine-salted rim), Jannah loved both the traditional and peach margaritas. Charmaine enjoyed the Cantarito, which is tequila, orange, lemon and lime juices served in a “jarrito de barro,” or clay cup, to help keep it cold and that same tahine-salted rim. Speaking of tequilas, the Tampa Palms Don Julio’s serves many upscale brands, as well as a variety of mezcals, plus other premium liquors and a large variety of Mexican and domestic beers on tap and in bottles.
The menu includes a variety of other craft cocktails, as well as flights of house margaritas in a number of flavors, Yave Tequilas and cervezas.
Moving On To The Entrées…
The feasting did not stop with the starters. We sampled both tender steak and perfectly seasoned chicken fajitas, both served on sizzling plates with crisp, sautéed onions, red and green peppers, with creamy refried beans and Mexican rice.
We also were served a tasty trio of enchiladas — one shredded chicken, one with ground beef and the third with Mexican cheese, although any combination is allowed.
“Our enchilada sauce is unlike any other you’ll find in this area,” Julio said. “My Abuelita’s recipe definitely lives on here!”
We also were treated to another of Julio’s favorites (and now, mine) — the pork carnitas, which are first slow-cooked and then deep-fried until they are crispy outside, but moist and tender inside. The enchiladas and carnitas also are served with the Mexican rice and refried beans.
Despite everything we got to try, the huge menu at Don Julio’s also has pollo ranchero (sautéed chicken cooked with tomatoes, onions and Serrano peppers), breaded Milanesa chicken or steak, carne asada or bistec ranchero steak, a Mexican bowl called Tazon and a variety of shrimp dishes I can’t sample.
Neither the tender, tasty carnitas (pork chunks) (Above) nor the trio of enchiladas (Above Left) will leave you feeling disappointed…or still hungry!
The only thing we didn’t save room for was dessert, but we will be back to try the fried churros with caramel, chocolate or lechera (sweetened, condensed milk) dip. There also are other favorites like a traditional Mexican flan, fried ice cream, fried choco banana with vanilla ice cream, “Sopapillas” pastries dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar and more.
Julio says Don Julio’s also is the only place you can have Mexican brunch every day — from traditional Huevos Rancheros to a burrito breakfast, Chilaquiles (corn tortilla pieces) & Eggs and Tacos Huevos (eggs) & Chorizo.
Don Julio’s is proud to have won “Best Mexican Restaurant” and “Best Taco” in Tampa for four years in a row from “Lo Mejor de Tampa” (The Best of Tampa Bay), a local Hispanic website.
Let Don Julio’s Entertain You!
The Tampa Palms location of Don Julio’s also offers “Cinco Musical Bingo” every Thursday, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., as well as strolling mariachi bands every Friday and Saturday night.
But of course, the biggest event of the year at both locations will be the Cinco de Mayo party, which will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, and will include outside tables, music, specials and more. Look for additional information about the Cinco de Mayo parties at both locations in the ad in our next issue.
Don Julio’s Authentic Mexican Restaurant (16023 Tampa Palms Blvd. & 2808 E. Bearss Ave.) are both open Sun.-Thur., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For Tampa Palms, call (813) 644-7899. For Bearss Ave., call (813) 898-2860. For reservations and more info about either location, visit DonJuliosMexican.com, visit them on Facebook or Instagram.
Cantarito The churros are just one of many authentic Mexican desserts at Don Julio’s. (Photo provided by Don Julios)
District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera (at podium), with representatives from the Tampa Water Dept. at the Jan. 24 Town Hall meeting Viera hosted at Compton Park in Tampa Palms. (Photos by Charmaine George).
On Jan. 24, at Compton Park in Tampa Palms, District 7 Tampa City Council member and New Tampa resident Luis Viera held what he says is about his 70th Town Hall meeting in the seven years he has served on the Council, and although there were a variety of questions asked, many of his answers referred to the “current political will” in the City of Tampa.
Viera brought along representatives from the City of Tampa Water Department, including director Rory Jones, to this latest Town Hall, to provide updates on and answer questions about the city’s current watering restrictions, the smell and taste of City of Tampa water and more.
But, following short presentations by Viera, Jones and Water Dept. environmental specialist Julia Palaschak, the crowd of about 50 or so people asked a number of questions about parks, sidewalk cracks, funding for mass transit and other transportation projects and what Tampa is doing to bring more affordable housing within the city limits.
In other words, it was a pretty typical Town Hall event for Viera, who started the meeting by going over his recent accomplishments in New Tampa, including getting our area $10 million worth of recreation improvements — the expansion of the New Tampa Recreation Center, the addition of the city’s first-ever All Abilities Park and the recent opening of the new City Park facility located between Freedom High and Liberty Middle School that is a partnership with the Hillsborough School District.
Viera also discussed his intent to put a modular medical-only emergency unit in K-Bar Ranch in order to improve slow response times in the only area of New Tampa that is still growing.
Julia Palaschak of the Tampa Water Dept.
He also talked about his public safety master plan to study the needs and potential cost of adding more police officers and firefighters throughout the city. And, he also mentioned being happy that the resurfacing of Tampa Palms Blvd. was finally finished and that his next 33647 road resurfacing project to get done is New Tampa Blvd, in West Meadows, although he admitted that it will be hard to get that project funded without a proper revenue source.
After his introductory message, Viera turned the floor over to Jones, who basically said he brought his team of water experts, including Palaschak, to the meeting to give a status update on the city’s new outdoor watering restrictions that went into effect on Dec. 1, 2023, which limits home irrigations to one day per week.
Palaschak said, “The great news is that although no one wanted to go into the holiday season with a water shortage, all of you have responded and we can clearly see that our daily water use has come down. That is a very good sign to us that our customers listened to us and have done a good job of protecting the Hillsborough River and all of our water resources. And of course, you’re surrounded by such great water resources here, with all the wetlands and wellfields.”
She added, “And of course, with El Niño being here now, this is a great time to turn your irrigation system off. But, if you’re struggling with that, I just want to tell you that one of our specialties is to come to your house. We do a very thorough job of looking at your water use history, at your property and especially, how to use your seasonal irrigation settings.”
About Parks & Sidewalks
Viera then turned the meeting over to questions from the audience. He mentioned that it was not intentional that all of the recent parks and recreation projects he got the city to build in New Tampa happened to be located in Tampa Palms.
Resident Leslie Morris (in red pants) asks Councilman Viera about sidewalk cracks left behind by the contractor who resurfaced Tampa Palms Blvd.
“I have had people in other parts of New Tampa say to me, ‘Why does Tampa Palms get everything?’ And, I’ve also had people on one side of Tampa Palms asking, ‘Why does everything go on the other side?’ But the truth is, it just happened that way, both the side of Tampa Palms that it’s all on and where all of the projects are located in New Tampa.”
Viera also touted the completion of the Tampa Palms Blvd. resurfacing project, but at least two Tampa Palms residents mentioned that the contractor left behind a number of cracked sidewalks.
One of those was resident Leslie Morris, who said she was told that because the sidewalks were cracked but weren’t “displaced,” there was nothing that could or would be done about the cracks.
Viera responded that, “Unfortunately, a lot of times, contractors do shoddy work,” and although he hadn’t really heard any complaints about the Tampa Palms Blvd. project before, “Sidewalk cracks are usually the type of collateral damage you get with those types of projects.”
On Affordable Housing
Up next was a question about affordable housing in Tampa, to which Viera responded that, “Affordable housing is one of the biggest questions, not just in Tampa but in all of Florida. Inflation is even worse here in Florida because everybody is moving here and increasing that demand, causing an explosion of housing costs. I voted ‘No’ in City Council on rent control. I would love it if I could wave a wand and say, ‘That’s it, you’re not going to put rents up higher than this,’ but it’s not going to work. We’ve seen to it that 30% of our Tampa CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) budget goes to affordable housing. And, I’m working right now to try to get veteran housing in East Tampa and accessible housing for people with disabilities, but we also need market incentives. We never really did anything on affordable housing in the city outside of the CRA but now we’re doing that, which is a big change because we do have an affordability crisis here in Tampa.”
On The ‘Political Will’
When asked about funding for things like light rail and additional police and firefighters and transportation, Viera’s response to many of the questions was that in order to fund those important public safety items, “There has to be a funding source and I don’t think that, with the kind of inflation we’ve got, that the political will is there to raise taxes to fund them.”
One of the funding sources for transportation Viera mentioned was the twice-passed-and-twice-struck-down penny transportation sales tax. He mentioned that there currently is more than $500 million being held in Tallahassee that was raised from the first transportation tax passed by voters countywide in 2018. That tax ultimately was declared to be contrary to Florida law by the state Supreme Court, so the legislature is deciding what to do with that tax money.
“I hope at least a portion of it will go to fund transportation projects,” Viera said. “But I’m sure there’s going to be some kind of compromise where the legislature will want to use a lot of it for tax breaks, too. But, nearly three out of every five voters in the county voted for the tax. How do we get that money back? We probably have to wait until the political climate is right.”
Viera also said he was happy to finally get funding for his public safety master plan in this year’s budget.
“I know we need a significant increase, for example, in the number of police officers in the city. The public safety master plan will show what our needs are for police and fire and what it will cost to fund them. Then, we have to have a very frank talk about that.”
Elected in November, U.S. Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-Dist. 15) already has been actively sponsoring bills. Rep. Lee has a constituent office now open in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. (Photo provided by Rep. Lee’s communications director Grace Bartlinski).
Unbeknownst to many, including yours truly — at least until a couple of months ago — U.S. Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-Brandon), who was elected to serve in the newly redistricted District 15 in the U.S. House of Representatives in November, quietly opened a local office in the Tampa Palms Professional Center.
So, when District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera told me about her new office, I knew I wanted to at least try to speak with the former Florida Secretary of State (who resigned to run for Congress) about a number of important issues. My first question, however, was “How did Rep. Lee decide to open an office in Tampa Palms?”
And, while I didn’t speak directly with the Congresswoman, her communications director Grace Bartlinski was able to send me answers to most of my questions, including to the one above:
“This location is right along 75, allowing constituents from all over the district to have access (to it).”
As to what constituent services are available at the Tampa Palms office, Bartlinski said, “Constituents can call our District Office or visit in person to receive help with any issues they might have. Our office can help those who need help with a federal agency, have questions about VA (Veterans Administration) benefits, getting a passport, or who have questions about open casework. Constituents also can call in to voice their concerns, so the Congresswoman can best represent Florida’s 15th District.”
I also wanted to know how often Rep. Lee would be at the local office and whether or not she would host/attend any meetings in our area.
“When the House is out of session,” Bartlinski said, “the Congresswoman is in the District taking meetings with constituents, local businesses and community leaders throughout the District. (She) is planning (to host) community meetings and more telephone town halls in the future. Be sure to sign up for her newsletter (see info at the end of this story) and follow her on social media to stay up to date on when the next events will be announced.”
As to what bills Rep. Lee has so far authored or co-authored, Bartlinski said:
“The Congresswoman is very busy with committee work and voting on legislation when in D.C. She has introduced several bills and looks forward to them being brought to the House Floor to be voted on.”
She added that, last week, the Congresswoman had the following two bills pass out of committee and they now head to the House Floor for final passage:
• H.R. 4470, the “Protecting & Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2023.” This bill will extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) authority to ensure that regulatory standards dictating the practices of chemical facilities are reauthorized.
• H.R. 4563, the “American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act of 2023.” This legislation will equip states with election integrity tools to ensure all Americans’ First Amendment rights are safe. Additionally, this legislation will prevent non-citizen voting, ensure that the men and women serving our country have their ballots counted, and (will provide) direct federal resources to increase election security measures.
Additionally, Bartlinski said that Rep. Lee has co-sponsored the following bills that have already passed the House:
• H.R. 662, the “Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023.” This bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide as block grants to states and territories certain funding available to assist agricultural producers with losses due to droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos (wind storms), excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freezes, smoke exposure, and excessive moisture occurring in calendar year 2022.
• H.R. 277, the “REINS Act.” This bill revises provisions relating to congressional review of agency rulemaking.
• H.R. 5, the “Parents Bill of Rights.” This bill establishes various rights of parents and guardians regarding the public elementary or secondary school education (including secondary career and technical education) of their children. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools must comply with the requirements of the bill in order to receive federal education funds.
• H.J. Res. 27, which provides for congressional disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5 of the United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army’s Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Revised Definition of ‘Waters of the United States.’”
• H.J. Res. 44, which provides for congressional disapproval under Chapter 8 of Title 5 of the United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives relating to “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached ‘Stabilizing Braces.’”
In addition, Bartlinski said, the following are bills the Congresswoman has introduced or cosponsored, and letters:
• “National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act” (bipartisan and introduced with U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor). This legislation would require entities that contract with the National Human Trafficking Hotline to cooperate with state and local law enforcement when receiving tips through the Hotline. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and 35 other state attorneys general recently contacted House and Senate Leadership to express outrage that the Hotline is not reporting human trafficking tips to law enforcement unless the victim self-reports. This disrupts the federal-state partnership to end human trafficking.
• “OPIOIDS Act” (bipartisan and she introduced). This legislation will increase training for state and local law enforcement officers, update systems used for drug tracing and provide federal grants for training and resources to stop secondary drug exposure to first responders.
• “Saving Our Invaluable Land (SOIL) Act” (bipartisan). This bill would prohibit China, Iran, Russia and North Korea from owning or renting land within 10 miles of a sensitive site (military bases, important research facilities, and other locations containing sensitive/top-secret information or resources).
• Rep. Lee is a member of the Everglades Caucus (bipartisan) and signed a letter to President Biden requesting he include $725 million for Everglades Restoration in his Presidential Budget. This bipartisan caucus advocates for restoration projects in the Everglades and works closely with our state partners to ensure this land is protected.
• The Congresswoman voted in support of an Amendment that would prevent offshore drilling off the coast of Florida.
• She cosponsored H.R. 314, the “Force Act.” This bill would prohibit the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism until Cuba’s communist regime stops terrorizing its citizens.
• She also signed appropriations letters for Israel’s defense.
• Rep. Lee also was the original cosponsor of H.R. 4162, the “Land Grant Research Prioritization Act.”
The Congresswoman serves on the House Administration, Judiciary, and Homeland Security Committees. Bartlinski said that Rep. Lee looks forward to the National Human Trafficking Hotline Enhancement Act (introduced with Rep. Kathy Castor, D-FL 14) and the OPIOIDS Act (she introduced both) being brought to the House Floor to be considered. Additionally, her bills, H.R. 4470 and H.R. 4563, passed out of committee and now head to the House Floor for final passage.
Priorities & Positions
Bartlinski also said that one of Rep. Lee’s top priorities is securing our southern border and ensuring community safety. In May, the House passed the most comprehensive border security bill to date, H.R. 2, aka the “Secure the Border Act.” Additionally, the Congresswoman is working to stop government overreach and restore Congress’ role to check the regulatory actions of federal agencies. She cosponsored the REINS Act, which will rein in government overreach and ensure government accountability.
“The Congresswoman also is committed to making goods and services more affordable,” Bartlinski said. “Inflation is hurting Americans’ pocketbooks — we have seen prices at the gas pump and grocery stores skyrocket.” Rep. Lee co-sponsored the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which would keep taxes low for small businesses and all Americans: “When we keep taxes low and curb wasteful spending (in) Washington, we put more money back into Americans’ pockets.”
In addition, as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Bartlinski said, “The Congresswoman is working to secure the southern border. (She) believes securing our border, enforcing our laws and taking steps to ensure we stop unchecked illegal immigration is the humanitarian thing to do. The border is not secure and when we fail to enforce our laws, we empower criminals. The House recently passed the most comprehensive border security bill to date (H.R. 2, the “Secure the Border Act,” for which Rep. Lee voted ‘yes’). A few weeks ago, the Homeland Security Committee launched an investigation into Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ dereliction of duty. Through this investigation, the Committee will get answers for the American people.”
In addition, said Bartlinski, “The Congresswoman also believes that the U.S. has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. We cannot keep spending our grandchildren’s money — to get our budget under control, Congress has to cut spending. Rep. Lee looks forward to working to get our fiscal house back in order and put money back into Americans’ pockets.”
Bartlinski also noted that, as a former judge, the Congresswoman respects the law and Constitution and is deeply committed to upholding the law and will support those rights granted to American citizens.
In April, Rep. Lee also became the first Florida member of the U.S. Congress to endorse Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for President in 2024.
The husband-&-wife team of José Ignacio Leon & Samah (“Sam”) Abukhodeir now have six offices of The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm, including one on Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms. (Photos on these pages provided by the firm)
Attorney Samah (“Sam”) T. Abukhodeir is a woman of many talents and interests. She’s the founder and managing partner of The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm, which has its newest of six offices in the Somerset Professional Park in Tampa Palms. She’s an adjunct professor at her law school alma mater, Florida International University (FIU) in Miami, where she currently co-teaches a course on epistemology (a branch of philosophy related to the theory of knowledge).
She also is a passionate advocate for the Arab-American community, as she and her team speak in Arabic, Spanish and English at Arab-American festivals, conventions and online groups about the importance of seeking legal help to a group that may not know or feel comfortable to do so. She’s also a fashionable social media presence and networking pro who attends conferences and classes to stay up to date on legal and business practices.
Wherever Sam goes, she builds connections as strong as family. When she first founded her law firm in South Florida in 2018, it consisted of only two people — Sam and a part-time law clerk, Anwar E. Hadeed. Over time, by word of mouth and reputation, she has been able to bring 24 more people on board, including her husband, José Ignacio Leon, as another partner, and that same law clerk (Anwar) now as an associate attorney. In just five short years, she’s also expanded her firm from one to six Florida offices.
The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm can represent you in legal matters related to family law, guardianship, probate and estate planning. Family law includes adoption, child custody, child support, divorce, domestic violence, elder law, paternity, pre- and post-marital agreements, spousal support or, as Sam simply summarized, “anything relating to family.” Guardianship refers to when an individual is granted legal authority to make decisions or manage interests for another person.
“Probate is the process in court that an individual must go through when a family member or loved one passes away intestate (without a legal will or irrevocable trust) to receive an inheritance,” explained Sam. “For example, if parents pass away, leaving behind a house, their children or loved ones will need to go through probate to get that house in their name if the home’s title is still in the name of the deceased.” Estate planning involves drafting wills, trusts, or other legal documents while an individual is still alive and of sound mind to have control over how their estate (assets and liabilities) will be divided upon death or becoming incapacitated.
A Powerhouse Probate Couple
How did Sam decide to focus on these legal areas? While she was studying at the FIU College of Law, her fellow law student and law school sweetheart José was completing a clerkship with the Honorable Maria M. Korvick, an administrative probate judge. With this experience, José developed an interest in probate and told Sam that she should get this experience for herself. After José completed his clerkship, Sam then clerked for Judge Korvick. After they both graduated with their Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees from FIU in 2013, Sam returned to work for Judge Korvick as a case manager and staff attorney.
In 2016, José started his own firm — The Florida Estate Planning Law Firm — and in 2018, Sam founded The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm. While Jose still has his firm, he is increasingly working with his now wife since 2022, by becoming a partner at Sam’s firm.
Even if you’ve never thought of following a lawyer on social media, Sam and José make it so inviting. On Facebook and Instagram, you can find either Sam, or both Sam and Jose together, sharing video clips and words of wisdom about family law and probate. In 30 seconds or less, they discuss topics like four things to know about Florida probate law, the right timing as to when to call a lawyer to write a prenuptial agreement, and more.
The couple’s recent videos about estate planning for blended families were particularly informative. Sam points out that married partners in blended families should look into estate planning, especially if they have children from previous relationships. José added that certain children can get disinherited, depending upon which partner passes away first, so it’s important that estate planning documents have all children included. In fact, in a recent consultation with Sam, that’s exactly what happened. To illustrate how important this is, a couple who remarried and each had children from previous relationships, but no children in common, sadly both passed away in an accident. Because the husband died 10 minutes after the wife, the wife’s children were disinherited completely.
Meet The Team
Brenda Shapiro, a seasoned family law attorney, is the third partner with Sam and José at the firm. Brenda obtained her J.D. degree from University of Miami (FL) School of Law and, after running her own practice for 25 years, she joined The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm as the chair of the family law department. Brenda has earned many accolades over the years, including receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Law & Letters degree from Pine Manor College in Boston and being a founding member of the Collaborative Family Law Institute, a nonprofit association that teaches about a family-focused alternative to litigated divorce.
Valeska Casanova-Chacon, Krizia L. Toledo, Yudislaidys “Yudy” Mallol, and Anwar E. Hadeed are the associate attorneys at The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm. In addition to bringing a variety of legal experiences to the team — including working at an immigration clinic, doing pro bono work with a special prosecutions unit and serving as victim and witness counselors, the four associates also come from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, including Puerto Rican, Cuban, Caribbean and Syrian.
The firm’s diversity in work experience, ethnic and cultural backgrounds continues with the paralegals and client relations, marketing, and operations team members who come from Colombia, Honduras, Venezuela, Mexico and Palestine.
“One factor that distinguishes us is that we are a diverse team of different faiths, cultures, and backgrounds,” says Sam. “I am always proud to say that we can connect with anyone.”
Clients of the firm agree. “Sam and her team were extremely helpful with my estate planning case,” says client Maricarmen Calo. “They were very responsive and made me feel comfortable. They were transparent throughout the whole process, making me feel calm and reassured. Thank you, Sam and team, for bringing me peace of mind!”
What’s Next?
So, what made Sam and her successful team, with five offices in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale metropolitan areas, want to expand into Tampa? Not surprisingly, she says family was a motivating factor.
“I grew up in central Florida, in Lake Wales, and my parents and sister have lived in Tampa for years, so I’m quite familiar with the area,” Sam says. “I can provide dedicated time to clients in this area, as I am already making trips to Tampa every weekend to be closer to family. In addition, we’re actively expanding and looking to add team members from this area.”
Sam adds that she also is acutely aware that you don’t see a lot of Arab-American lawyers in courtrooms these days and that’s something she’d love to help change. She and several other lawyers across the country are working to reactivate the Arab-American Bar Association. Also, maybe the most exciting challenge to date for Sam and José is parenthood, as they just became parents to a precious 3-month-old son named Jibril.
The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm’s newest office is located on 15257 Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms. To contact the firm for a free consultation, call (813) 999-3134, or visit FloridaProbateandFamilyLaw.com. Be sure to follow “The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm” on Facebook or “lawyerladyboss” on Instagram for helpful videos and legal tips.
