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Good things came from the homeless 'tent city', 1/21

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published January 21, 2007

On behalf of the board of directors of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, we want to thank all the individuals, agencies and church groups that rallied to assist the men and women who lived in the "tent city" on our property on Fourth Avenue N in St. Petersburg.

It was a stressful time for all caught up in the firestorm that accompanied the establishment of this makeshift haven for the homeless. It was particularly distressing for St. Vincent de Paul. Finding ourselves at the center of the "housing-for-the-homeless" crisis - as well as in violation of the city's land-use codes and the recipient of taunts and jeers on Jan. 12 from those we help 365 days a year - was difficult.

During this trying period, St. Vincent de Paul served the residents of the "tent city" three meals a day in our nearby soup kitchen. We extended our nighttime shelter program, conducted in cooperation with the city, to accommodate an additional 15 people who, along with our regular 25 sleepover clients, could shower and receive clean clothing. Furthermore, the "tent city" guests were guaranteed a reserved mat and blankets to enjoy a restful night's sleep in the safety of our dining room for 30 days.

Although we had no alternative but to obey the law and comply with the deadlines to shut down the area, we believe the negatives of the week were superseded by the positives. The heightened publicity brought a new public awareness to the plight of individuals who live on our streets. We had many offers of help from those moved by what they read and saw.

Moreover, despite the problems, the "tent city" resulted in a unified effort to provide an array of services to the homeless, many of whom have no idea what resources may be available to them. Perhaps it was also a prototype for a program that might be formally organized in the future.

Meanwhile, we want to publicly acknowledge the help provided by the city of St. Petersburg, the Pinellas County Department of Human Services, the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Day Star Life Center, CASA and various church groups that participated in this humanitarian effort.

We especially want to commend the St. Petersburg Police Department for maintaining order with compassion and concern for the safety and well-being of the "tent city" dwellers as well as outreach representatives and the members of St. Vincent de Paul at the site. The officers were professional, proficient, polite and patient. They are a credit to the department and to the city. We were very grateful for their presence.

We all know that the "tent city" was a temporary solution to a large, growing and complex problem. With residents now camped out in other areas of the city, many once again under the overpass across the street from our soup kitchen, we sincerely hope that a more permanent answer will be forthcoming sooner rather than later.

Richard Kubick, president, board of directors, and Sophie Sampson, executive director, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, South Pinellas Inc., St. Petersburg

Where's the outrage?

It is a sad commentary when America's homeless are kicked to the curb by American politicians, who turn a blind eye to the millions of illegal immigrants who sneak into our country and demand entitlements.

Don't these officials know that many of America's homeless are Vietnam veterans? Of course they do, but the homeless do not represent a large voting bloc like the Hispanics.

City officials in Pinellas Park have even tried to order the Haven of Rest Rescue Mission to stop serving hot meals to the county's homeless because it does not have the required number of parking spaces. Everyone knows that homeless people don't usually own cars.

It is time that these shameless politicians be exposed by the press and held accountable for their self-serving insensitivity. Where is the public outrage, or doesn't anybody care?

Dan Huntington, Clearwater

Lazy, drunken bums

There have been so many "boo hoo" stories in the Times recently that I just have to get my anger off my chest.

Bums beg for other people's hard earned money on the corner or U.S. 19 and 54th Avenue S. I then recognize them in the store buying cigarettes ($3 a pack), beer and lottery tickets. The woman on the front page who said she may not be able to buy food for her family obviously had nice salon nails and tattoos. How much do those cost?

Every picture I see of a "homeless" person shows someone smoking with numerous piercings and, again, tattoos. One was even listening to an iPod!

Maybe they could scrape up first and last month's rent if they had the motivation rather than guilting people into giving them money to spend on the aforementioned items.

As a taxpayer and voter, I think the majority of them need to take responsibility and stop expecting something for nothing. At least they could pick up trash instead of creating it. I resent having my tax dollars spent on these lazy, drunken bums.

If they are disabled, give them vouchers. If they are not disabled, then they should work. Anyone who gives them a handout is not helping but enabling. Lack of responsibility is ruining our world.

Valetia Gladding, St. Petersburg

Engines groan; ears ache

My house is next to the interstate. When I moved here 33 years ago, the interstate was just going up. At first, the cars hummed along (back then, everyone wanted their cars' engines to run smoothly and quietly). The trucks were a little noisy, but it was necessary for them to be on the road.

Now we have a new breed! Some of the car jockeys have their engines souped up to sound like a jet. Does this give the drivers a feeling of power? The engines whine, growl and groan as if they are in great pain. Often, one certain idiot gets off the interstate and flies by my house at 1:30 or 2 a.m. I can hear him going down other streets in the neighborhood long after.

We have a noise ordinance here. I think the police should be passing out tickets to these inconsiderate drivers.

Polly Albritton Boyle, St. Petersburg

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[Last modified January 21, 2007, 00:03:26]