I ride by there everyday and see drugged out people hanging around. They are a direct result of St Vincent. What happened to the police sub station that was supposed to be up and running by now?
The Sunshine Center does not want them there! The neighborhood does not want them here. These are very sick individuals that should not be roaming the streets.

http://en.seeclickfix.com/st-petersburg

www.stpete.org Action Center Click Fix

Thank you for reporting this issue to us via SeeClickFix St. Pete. We will forward the details you have provided to the appropriate City department so that they may investigate and take any necessary action. We appreciate your help! Sincerely, Mayor's Action Center

Photo of excrement in front of building

Photo of bedding left in front of building

Can you provide any updates on what is happening? The feces have not been removed yet (and now there is more). Employees reported to me that they continue to have to remove items every morning including used condoms and hypodermic needles from the entrance area so that clients do not have to roll their wheelchairs over them to enter the building.

I ALSO COME TO THE SUNRISE DAY PROGRAM AT LEAST 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE PICKED UP CLOTHING, CARDBOARD, BOTTLES (LIQUR AND OTHERWISE) BUTTS,ETC, ONE DAYI APPROACHED A WOMAN WHO WAS CARRYING OFF A LARGE STAGHORN FERN THAT I HAD BROUGHT TO HANG IN THE TREE. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE HAD BAOUGHT IT FROM "SOME GUY" I EXPLAINED TO HER IT WASN'T HIS TO SELL AND SHE WAS OUT THE MONEY, BECAUSE I WAS TAKING IT BACK, WHICH I DID. SHE CALLED ME UGLY!!!!!!!!!! I WAS INSTIGATER IN GETTING PARENTS TO HELP REPLANT AND LANDSCAPE THE FRONT OF THE SUNRISE DAY PROGRAM. IT IS VERY DISHEARTENING TO PUT IN SO MUCH WORK ONLY TO HAVE OTHERS TEAR IT DOWN OR STEAL FROM THE SIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME. IF ST VINCENTS CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH FREE PHONES, FOOD ,ETC. WHY CAN'T THEY TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON KEEPING THEM OFF OUR PROPERTY AND AWAY FROM OUR CLIENTS? PAT STANDER. PRESIDENT OF SUPPORTERS OF SUNRISE

Everyone who lives in this area needs to band together to get the city to put an end to this, you are right I live two houses down from St Vincent's on 15th st. I bought my house, pay taxes and keep my property clean. I have had homeless people steal my plants off my front porch, try to sleep on my porch, come into my fenced in backyard sleep behind my fence, use the alley behind my house for a toilet. There are needles laying around in the alley. There are kids living on this street. This morning there were four homeless people sleeping in backyard of the vacant house next to me. I heard a bunch of screaming and next thing I see is one of them punching and kicking the others. They hand out free phones and food like they are candy. Why can't the city step in here - this looks bad for the whole city. You want to build a new stadium, and a shopping district here, who is going to want to shop around here while some guy is pulling down his pants in public or others laying on the street sleeping. There is no excuse for this to be going.

I am more than willing to band together on this issue. Everything Smiled said is exactly how I feel. What should we do?

Smaller :)

Get the mayor to understand how critical the problem is. But I am not sure how to do that, the only thing I can think of is to get 8 on your side out here (news channel 8) I am betting a service to the handicap would have some pull to get the media involved. Can't imagine the city wants bad press

The police officers are very helpful in coming out to assist the problem, however it is scary to even walk outside in this area with someone with you. A woman was scared in shaking outside because she tried to help a homeless women by giving her a ride and then the homeless women high on spice refused to get out of the car. Luckily we had a nice cop at our location already and he was able to help her. The police have set up a mobile station across from St Vincent's to assist in the problem. The other writers are correct in stating the hundreds of people are sleepy outside of St Vincent's and in this neighborhood reeking havoc on properties. The need a permanent solution like garbage facilities to place their trash and bathrooms to use. What happened to the "NO SLEEPING RULE"? How about the city donates bright censor lights to residents effected by this to deter them from sleeping. How about more alley garbage cans to collect the mountains of trash piled up or increased sanitation days? People do not want to clean up human feces and drug needles, this is unacceptable.

Maybe if everyone adds their comments it might get the mayors attention, that is who we need

Today, new "bedding" is in front of the building on the right side, new feces, toilet paper and dirty clothing and trash on the left side. Hoping the new police presence in the area will help with this daily situation at a non-profit facility that provides care for the disabled.

These people weren't really waiting for a bus. They were there off and on all day today.

This guys doesn't seem to need a bus either....just a place to do drugs in the shade and sleep.

Sitting on private property at 1:00 pm in the afternoon, appearing to be on drugs. These kind of people sit here on the sign off and on all day. There are people waiting to catch a bus just within a few feet.

City, wake up, you are endangering us all if you force us to handle it instead of YOU solving it. You are the one subsidizing the Center For Dope circus. I've had several confrontations with these folks in the alley between 14 and 15th to the South. These are dangerous people. We are prisoners in our own homes.

You are forcing us to shoulder far more of the city's burden than is fair. Straighten it out.

I have complained to PSTA to remove the bench (Not the stop) on 4th ave n across from the shelter but they are REFUSING saying that due to the high volumn of riders that get on/off that stop that it really qualifies for a shelter (oh sure make it worse!) I think that Sunshine should get ride of the seats around the sign and put up fencing around the property. PSTA also needs to step up and remove the benches. Maybe if there are enough complaints that something will be done. Also better signage about private property and getting blanket no tress pass on the properties makes it easier for the police to remove the people from the property. We have had people tap into our power because there is an outside outlet. We have no covered it up and taped it along with a warning that anyone caught they will be prosecuted. Having the cops by the shelter has helped some I do see them patrolling the area problem is now they will go out farther and cause problems in other areas. Sadly most of these people don't want help or off the streets and that can be a problem also. but st vincents needs to step up. They told me that they have bathrooms that are open 24 hours but they clearly are not letting people know (or they have and the people don't care!) and with a head start program right across the street...that is scary!

At around 9:15 pm the other night, I saw a man with a suitcase leaning up against the wall in the front entryway of the Sunrise Building obviously camped out for the night There were MANY others stumbling through the parking lot looking like they are on drugs. Police were very busy across the street with lights flashing and attending to a large group.
The front of the building was very dark and no "No Trespassing" are visible. There are plenty of places for people to "set up camp" for the night and not be disturbed up against the building and behind the plants.The lack of a fence and proper lights is an open invitation for vagrants and they are taking full advantage of it.
The city needs to step up and help out a non-profit center that provides care for the disabled, it is not fair that monies that should be used to support the disabled are needed to defend against this additional burden that would not normally be required if this center was located in another area of town. The city has created this problem, they need to fix it. Peoples lives are in danger.
It seems like it is time to make the community more aware of this issue and maybe with that, the center can get the money for proper lighting, fencing and signage.
I see that Chuck Hensen at Baynews9 is copied on this issue, Chuck, can you help us bring this issue to light and get this area and non-profit some help?

This situation has gone on for to long. I'll bet if this happened around the mayor or councilmen's houses this would be resolved. Not too long ago , we relandscaped the front of Sunrise, at output of money we didn't have. many weekends of lalbor intensive work all to find out now that one of the only ways to keep these vagrants out is to plant catus that they can't cuddle up to. Not acceptable.
We have few resources and less help than the city. why can't they put up "no trespassing" signs?Staff and parents are approached regularly for money and handouts. They steal off the property in broad daylight. Please help us.

sunrie

Daily in front of my house at 615 15th Street N, there are arguments, fights and people loitering around. There are two houses on this street that are selling drugs. They have regular customers that show up to make their purchases. I have told the police and called the police multiple times but nothing happens. This problems ill NEVER go away as long as St Vincents makes it so easy, free food, free phones, free meals.

Drug addicts and prostitutes hang out in the alley between 535 &541.1/2 15 th St n everyday openly doing their business. Vagrants from Saint Vincent stroll the alley over and over throughout the day. A man was so high he passed out face up in the alley. When police arrived they told him to move along and told me there is nothing that can be done. We brought up this very issue at the HUNA meeting only to be quickly shut down by the president of the association. He claimed these vagrants were members of the community and we should not speak out of them. He was of course informed that they are not members of the community. So as far as I can ascertain absolutely nothing is going to be done regarding this issue. Saint Vincent will still be tax exempt still make hundreds of thousands from their thrift stores and other donations while their neighbors must suffer in silence.

I will tell you how you get something done, you get the media involved, get someone out here with a video camera and let them walk down the alley behind 15th and 14th and video all the trash, blankets, beer cans, dirty clothes and needles sitting on the ground and while they are at it they can film all of the bums hanging out in front of peoples homes and businesses. If they get enough negative press maybe they will go back to the strict rules about homeless people they have a couple of years ago. What they need to do is take some one of those abandoned schools and transport all the homeless population there. These people want to be homeless, they don't want jobs, all they want is handouts

I think Click Fix is owned by Channel 8 news, so maybe someone who has some time on their hands can get them involved. The city hates bad press

Yes, I see everything you are reporting, Smilier and Keisten. The city has turned their back on this area and it is time to get the local news involved. This seeclickfix issue has been completely useless except for connecting with you and the others that have made comments. That is the only reason I continue to make updates. I will initiate contact with the news and get this going, you are right, the city does not like bad press and when people see who the folks at Sunrise Community are and what the vagrants have done to them, maybe something will change. I will keep you all updated.

OK, 8 on your side has been notified via their online entry form. Fingers crossed.

why not video tape it yourself and post it on Facebook?

That is a fantastic idea CEM! I am going to do just that.

City council meeting this Thursday at 1:30 pm I hope you all can attend. I hope anyone will attend. it is time for action!!!!

Thanks, kierstin!

(posted on behalf of Assistant Chief Luke Williams, SPPD)

Thank you for the information you provided regarding disorderly activity occurring around 1401 5th Avenue North. This is an area the Police Department has been actively addressing in the recent past. The information was forwarded to the SPPD Special Operations Division for follow-up investigation.

Please be advised that both Patrol and Community Service Officers, as well as Downtown Deployment Team (DDT) personnel maintain an active presence around St. Vincent DePaul, and the surrounding geographic area. Their efforts are focused mainly on addressing the sale and possession of synthetic narcotics (spice). Recently, Special Operations Major Dede Carron and District 2 Major Joe Dente arranged for additional high visibility patrol from officers on all three work shifts to supplement the efforts already being undertaken. The following police activity has occurred since July 18, 2016:

• Thirty (30) instances where officers checked out with subjects, or checked the area
• Three (3) instances where a Park, Walk and Talk was conducted
• Eight (8) ordinance violation or synthetic narcotics possession arrests
• Two (2) persons arrested for trespassing

In addition, Community Service Officer Courtney Parker met with representatives from the Sunrise Adult Community Center and completed a Blanket Trespass Authorization. This will assist officers who work the area with addressing persons illegally loitering on the property.

Please contact the Police Department's Non-Emergency line (727) 893-7780 if you require any further assistance. We will continue to address your concerns utilizing a community policing oriented response model, working in partnership with the various stakeholders.

Thank you for bringing this concern to our attention.

Sincerely,

Luke C. Williams
Assistant Chief
Uniform Services Bureau

Thank you!