Southpinellas: Homeless advocates rebuild tent city

Eight hours after city officials raided two homeless tent camps and seized and slashed more than 20 tents Friday, a group of homeless advocates from Hudson arrived with fresh supplies: new tents, plus portable toilets and fire extinguishers.

They began setting up the new tents at Fifth Avenue N and 15th Street around midnight Saturday. Dave Metz, deputy mayor for neighborhood services, said the city had no immediate plans to dismantle the camp again.

In setting up the new tents, Metz said, the homeless addressed some of the city's fire safety concerns by placing the tents farther apart and keeping cooking equipment well away. "We're please that they've taken these steps. We'll continue to monitor the situation," Metz said Saturday.

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Comments on this article

by Lisa	06/21/07 12:22 AM
This really hurts my heart when I see how people look at the homeless as being less than a human being. I live is California and I am a founder of a homeless outreach "Crying Out for Help" the community needs to band together and help these people.

by Peter	01/25/07 05:03 AM
While this action may seem justified on one level but disgusting on another, let me ask you all this question. While other crimes were going on in St. Pete that day, where were the officers to answer the call? Answer- 'attacking' the homeless problem

by Oldtimer	01/24/07 10:35 PM
The city officials of St.Petersburg are earning the stain of "Meanest City in the Universe." The homeless advocates are redeaming the city from that name. Good for them! This may be the beginning of a new civil rights movement. MLK would be proud!

by paul	01/23/07 12:26 PM
it is inevitable that the situation will grow for bad or good. once the word gets out "they" will come in droves. mark my words.

by Jay	01/23/07 03:30 AM
Christian Right is neither! The so called men of "Gawd" shout about the "evil" of our private lives. Nothing heard to help the downtrodden. Hinder them instead. Greed and lack of empathy is destroying us. Who would Jesus be for. The rich in charge?

by John	01/22/07 02:04 PM
Heart is what you have for people who are down on their luck - not junkies and drunks who have been chronically homeless for years. Those are bums and that's whose sleeping on the streets. Others who wanted help got it, and got off the streets ASAP.

by Susan	01/22/07 01:00 PM
I am amazed how we find money, shelter and food for those who enter our country...and/or how we provide finances to help those who reside out of our country; however, we find little for those who are within our own communities. I agree with Sean.

by Marc	01/22/07 12:07 PM
To the Dan's and Brooke's of the world-having a little emapthy may change your points of view. Without it (empathy), your ignorance is most prevalent!

by Brooke	01/22/07 08:15 AM
If the people that live in tent city have the time and energy to fight the city and be interviewed by the news, why dont they go look for a job. The advocates should pick up the tents and pitch them at their homes, then everyone is happy.

by Sue Iseli	01/21/07 10:08 PM
Shame on St. Petersburg!!!!! At least the homeless population, had a specific place to be. From there, possibly they could have received the guidance that they need. To scatter people makes it more difficult to find a specific way to help them.

by Paul	01/21/07 05:10 PM
Why don't these "advocates" for the homeless do something to make the homeless no longer homeless? It seems to me that there's an awful lot of grandstanding and do-good-ism going on, but not a whole lot of actual help.

by Dan	01/21/07 04:57 PM
Jenni - Do us a favor, pitch those tents in your backyard and let the homeless move in with you! Or give them a job. Anything but support their living on the streets.

by tom	01/21/07 03:37 PM
Who empowered the police to destroy private property? I think the this action should be investigated by FDLE. If it were you or i, the citizens of St.Pete, we would be charged and prosecuted. Is the police department above the law ? I doubt it.

by Nan	01/21/07 03:05 PM
Where were all the Christians while the tents were being torn down?? practice what you preach, I say. It took out of town people to come in and help. SHAME ON THE MAYOR OF ST. Pete, I am ashame I live here.

by Kurt	01/21/07 02:53 PM
Let keep in mind the buck stops with Mayor Baker. He knew what was going to happen and gave his approval. He sure is quiet about this all of a sudden.

by Sean	01/21/07 11:38 AM
Instead of donating a tent how about the private citizens and government agencies give them guidance and assistance using the public services to get a job, housing, and medical care. If they won't help themselves after that jump start, kick them out.

by Tom	01/21/07 11:20 AM
Thanks to those people who still have a heart, unlike the bureaucratic martinettes of St. Pete who gave the orders to destroy the homes of those who had nothing else. Let's see the world with some compassion. A tent is better than nothing.

by Carol	01/21/07 10:42 AM
Why didn't the city had meet with the homeless to tell them what they needed to fix BEFORE moving in with boxcutters? If you had a code violation at your home, code inspectors don't show up with bulldozers. Why are the homeless any different?

by neal	01/21/07 10:32 AM
Why are you stupid city official's and police harrassing the homeless. It could be you.Leave them alone and get them some help.Would you not want to be helped if in need. yes or no

by Jenni	01/21/07 08:13 AM
Couldn't the city have encouraged compliance with spacing the tents and safety concerns with out destroying the private property of the homeless? They have rights as well as the rest of us. I donated one tent and will be donating another.

by Joan	01/21/07 06:00 AM
I commend the kind people from Hudson who assisted the homeless in meeting codes by providing appropriate equipment. I hope that these measures will appease the City of St. Petersburg until a more permanent resolution can be put into place.

Homeless crisis

Homeless advocates rebuild tent city