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Homeless march to get attention of city officials

By CHRIS TISCH
Published November 25, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - It was a day when most people gorged on leftovers. Or spent too much money at the mall. Or sat around watching football.

But on the day after Thanksgiving, the 4,800 homeless people living in Pinellas County, probably more than half of them in St. Petersburg, remained without homes, heat and full meals.

So on Friday night, some advocates for the homeless decided to feed them at Williams Park, march with them over to Baywalk for a brief protest, then return to Williams Park to bed down for the night - a violation of city ordinances.

Some intended to be cited for the violation so lawyers representing the group could challenge the ordinance as unconstitutional. Others planned to sleep on the sidewalks surrounding the park, which is legal.

Organizers hoped to have up to 50 volunteers join perhaps just as many homeless at the event. They hoped it would bring attention to homeless issues. They hoped both regular citizens and city officials would hear them.

"It's a good time of year to bring attention to this type of thing," said Carol Schiffler, an organizer with Food not Bombs, which feeds the homeless in Williams Park every Friday and participated in the sleep-out event.

Organizers said they want city officials to meet a number of demands they believe would help the homeless, including keeping public restrooms open at all hours, designating an area downtown where the homeless could sleep without fear of being arrested and creating more beds and laundry facilities for the homeless.

Organizers also said police and city officials, along with business owners and residents, harass the homeless.

"As more condos are being built, the harassment has worsened," said the Rev. Bruce Wright of Refuge Ministries/Lionheart Recovery in St. Petersburg.

Wright led about 80 people in a march from Williams Park to outside Baywalk. They chanted "Homelessness is not a crime" and held up signs.

Across the street, several officers watched. Police said they expected no problems as long as the protestors obeyed the laws. In St. Petersburg, people are allowed to sleep on the sidewalks as long as they don't obstruct it.

"They have every right to be out here protesting," said acting St. Petersburg police Sgt. Mike Morgan.

Rhonda Abbott, manager of social services planning for the city, also was present. She said the city is spending about $2.5-million this year to help the homeless population and those at risk of becoming homeless.

She said city officials would be willing to discuss the list of demands, but she thought the protest did more harm than good.

"I just don't know that it gets the right attention," she said.

Wright said he will stage a sleep-out every month until the demands are met.

"This is a great thing that they're doing," said Norm Wagner, 65, who has sometimes been homeless in St. Petersburg over the years. "I hope it helps."

Times staff writer Chris Tisch can be reached at tisch@sptimes.com or 892-2359.

[Last modified November 25, 2006, 00:24:37]