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3 arrested trying to reclaim tent city
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published May 4, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG - A small protest against the city's closing of tent city ended Thursday with the arrests of three people who refused to leave the grassy lot, including a prominent advocate for the homeless. Eric Rubin, 52, and two homeless people set up a few tents on the grounds of what had been the city-sanctioned tent city Wednesday afternoon, a day after the last few remaining residents left, and said they would not move despite warnings from police. Rubin said they wanted to make a political statement about the city's treatment of the homeless. "We're going to do civil disobedience, " Rubin said before police moved in. By Thursday morning, a dozen new tents had sprung up on the lot along Fourth Avenue N, and police decided to take action. After warning the handful of people to leave and offering them space in shelters, police arrested three on misdemeanor trespassing charges: Rubin, Stephen Welsh, 51, and Debra Snively, also 51. The arrests were routine, though officers had to carry Rubin out of a tent when he refused to leave, then stand him up and walk him to a van. Deputy Mayor Goliath Davis said he respected the desire of advocates to make a political statement, but said "there's no need for lawlessness." Just minutes after the press conference ended, police began the arrests and then packed up the tents and belongings left on the site to store. Their approach was in stark contrast with actions in January, when the department received widespread criticism after officers slashed tents with box cutters. Rev. Bruce Wright, an advocate for the homeless, said he and Rubin wanted to allow homeless people to move into tent city when others left, but the city opposed that plan. Wright said many who left the tent city are back on the streets. "This has not been a success, " Wright said. "This has been a scam." Times photographer James Borchuk contributed to this report.
[Last modified May 4, 2007, 01:41:54]
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by Willi
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05/09/07 09:15 PM
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Politicians don't care. They have a free ride in government jobs with free health care and a great paycheck to live in a nice house. Citizens should have teh final vote on how much they get paid and see how they feel when they can't afford a thing!
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by Ann
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05/04/07 11:30 PM
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Everyone in City government that is making over $100,000.00 a year should give that to the homeless people. Give them a place to live and not on the streets. Many city in the country are letting the homeless govern themselves and they are well.
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by Ann
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05/04/07 11:23 PM
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Officers slashed tents with box cutters. Doing this to the homeless people is more injust than what Eric Rubin was doing with his civil disobedience. Goliath Davis there was a time I had a lot of respect for what you were doing in the Police Dept.
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by po'd
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05/04/07 07:06 PM
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St. Pete deserves the trouble that they are having, they never should of allowed "Tent City" to begin with. Not to mention the overtime from Police and Code enforcement Officers having to watch it every night. I want free security at my house.
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by Mike
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05/04/07 03:48 PM
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Productive lives require personal resolve - I would say that's what's most lacking amongst this population. Over 40 people moved into tent city all but a dozen or so improved themselves - those still on the street are bums wanting a free ride. SAY NO
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by Chris
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05/04/07 12:40 PM
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In Clearwater a visionary Police Chief names Sid klien in 1996 formed a parnership with St. vincent, Salvation Army and others to build a shelter not to get over bad pub, but to help people get of the streets, work, save money, live productive lives!
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by chris
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05/04/07 12:39 PM
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If St. Pete had a real Mayor and Police Chief they wouldn't have had to go to Miami with 28 others 2 years ago to look at the hnomeless shelters there. They only had to travel 15 miles north to Clearwater. Now 2 years later, STILL NOTHING.
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by Jerry
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05/04/07 10:26 AM
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If Davis can't resolve the situation then it's time for him to GO and hire someone that can correct this situation.
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by Roger
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05/04/07 08:36 AM
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Send in Tricky Rick and the Boxcutter Boys, that'll show them who's boss on this backwater, elitist city.
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by Dan
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05/04/07 05:44 AM
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Why not just cut the tents up again, after all Major Bevan investigated herself and determined it wasnò019t wrong? SPPD and Chief Go Davis have mishandled this entire problem. Fire Davis save 150K and put that money toward to homeless problem.
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