No Tent City | St Petersburg | Tampa Bay | FL

I've just been informed that the Board of County Commissioners has shifted the agenda for the April 19 meeting, to enable the PSTA site to be discussed first at 12:30PM. This is at the request of 3 St. Pete City Council members who want to speak but have to be back at City Hall for a City Council meeting at 2:00PM.

The homeless workshop will formally begin around 12:30. You may show at any time and get on the docket to speak or just be there for support. It is IMPORTANT that all who are able to attend do. In addition, reach out to our neighbors outside of St. Petersburg that are effected and realize that this is a COUNTY issue. Yes, St. Petersburg, contrary to media publicity, is a KIND city. We house the majority of homeless and social service agencies within the county, and work diligently to ensure all that need help receive help. However, that does NOT make it a St. Pete problem. It is a county problem and we are supporting the homeless of our neighboring cities and states. It is the counties RESPONSIBILITY to offer relief. Our taxes and our votes say so!!!!

Some of you may or may not know that the proposed PSTA building that was to be completed with in 90 days has come to a stand still. The objective of this site was to provide temporary but immediate relief to the homeless population in Pinellas County. The site was given to us for 3-5 years until the 3 permanent shelter and rehabilitation resource buildings are completed. SPC has volunteered to take care of all the details to get it up and running.

Most of you know that 3 new ordinances preventing camping on right of way and sleeping in residential areas were passed successfully. HOWEVER, these were contingent upon the county having available bed space. With out the space we CAN NOT enforce these ordinances and we all know what that means. The county has stated they will not help monetarily in supporting the PSTA initiative. It has been said that there are zoning issues, however, those are being rectified and should be completed before the meeting on Thursday.

4) DEMAND that the county helps our cities get the PSTA site up and running ASAP with a portion of the funds they have to spend on homeless issues in the county.

Otherwise, tent cities are coming to a city near you if they haven't already!!!! We can all agree this is no more of a solution, temporary or permanent, for us or the homeless.

I think we can all agree that we are obligated to help those that truly need and want help. I think we can all agree that the county needs more affordable housing and a place those in need can go to get help in preventing homelessness and / or be directed to the appropriate social service agencies to fit their needs. But, We can't do this alone and were NOT going to.

I will also be circulating a petition for those that absolutely can not attend. You may circulate this and have it signed by anyone in the county that is a resident or owns a business here. It will be presented to the county on 4/19/07 on your behalf. Even if you attend, you will sign this as well. We need all the signatures, and all the support we can get. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or ideas.

Homeless Decide Not To Follow The Agreement

Here is what one disgruntled citizen said: "These homeless advocates are like Hitler, you give in to their demands, and then they want a little more, first it's Austria, then Czechoslovakia, then Poland......."

It looks like the optimism of two weeks ago is evaporating in a cloud of broken promises.

See the view point of the other side. Why St Pete for Peace is involved, who knows? Haven't they got a war to stop or something? Let's hope they have as much success with this issue as they have had with that.

Hello everyone! Glad we are still staying on this. Just came back from 2:30 televised press release. Talked to Mayor Baker and Goliath Davis. Attached is today's release. After the council meeting tomorrow the City will be moving the Tent City back onto the original location at St. Vincent's lot.(I know it sounds dumb but it is an improvement!) This is supposed to be facilitated by this weekend. This time, the site will have more facilities, police and help. It will be done with a temporary camping permit to expire in 90 days. I have been told they will move the existing tents and not allow any additional tents after that.

Secondly, Tomorrow they will introduce the new ordinances that will prevent the tents to be allowed on public right away in the future. I have been asked to contact each of you and request your presence in support of these changes. The goal is to create a more substantial housing and service area at the PSTA lot in Largo. The City needs our continued support and voice to all Council members that we need this change to happen.

There are a couple of council members sitting on the fence and may vote against this changes. Not Danner or Curran. Mayor Baker is asking to hear from us. We still need to say stop the Reckless feeding, create more services in county not just in St. Pete and put St. Pete on a level playing field with the other cities in Fla. by creating panhandling ordinances also.

Mayor Baker has asked that we organize and spread our attention to the county commission that will ultimately decide on the Largo facility. But first, tomorrow!

St. Petersburg's Neighborhood and Business Summit on Homelessness. Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 a.m. to noon.

The summit will be held at USF St. Petersburg Campus Activities Center and is designed to offer an opportunity for neighborhoods and businesses to provide input on addressing homeless issues in Pinellas County, and how to build relationships between social service providers and those who live and work in surrounding areas.The summit is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. To register call 893-7539.

We don't advocate criminal activity either by or against homeless people.

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No Tent City in St Petersburg

Homeless Decide Not To Follow The Agreement

St. Petersburg's Neighborhood and Business Summit on Homelessness. Saturday, Feb. 24, 8 a.m. to noon.

We don't advocate criminal activity either by or against homeless people.

Tired Of St Pete Tent City?

Tell The Mayor, Rick Baker