Editorial: Vagrancy remedies need wide support

From Staff
Published Sunday, September 02, 2007

St. Augustine City Commission will confront the city's popularity with homeless and vagrants in a workshop on Tuesday.

The community's viewpoint is important. "Someone may have an idea that no one else has thought of that might work," said Mayor Joe Boles.

In anticipation of a big crowd, the city has secured the Flagler College auditorium, 14 Granada St., for the 5 p.m. meeting.

Speak out but, check thin skins and tempers at the door, and respect all views.

The workshop's goal is to get people talking about solutions. The city's heritage tourism goldmine is under attack.

The homeless/vagrant camp in the city's Plaza de la Constitucion continues to flourish. From a dozen to nearly two dozen people "camp out" day and night. The Plaza is their social center between free meals and bathroom breaks. It shouldn't be that way.

Why can't the city just move the undesirables from the Plaza, relocate the public restrooms farther away than the bay front or Government House, and bar free feeds on public property?

The police and city officials say they cannot move these bums along unless they find them breaking a law because they have the same constitutional rights as anyone else to be in the Plaza. Their only shelter is St. Francis House, a soup kitchen with limited beds. Unfortunately these people who are down on their luck, scam artists, mentally ill, on the lam, or mobile hermits, as Boles says, don't always want social services. They just want basic (free) needs: food, shelter, rest rooms. They find them in, or a short distance from, the Plaza.

The St. Augustine Historic Inns Association fears, if status quo continues, the city will lose potential visitors and repeats. Association President Jackie Harris-Rude has said guest criticism is escalating. Internet travel sites, considered a boost for tourism, may become the city's worst enemies.

We congratulate the city on its recent moves to make the Plaza less comfortable for camping out: picnic-style benches have replaced the park benches and the gazebo and the old market are closed from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Why not extend that closing to the entire Plaza? Why not post "Keep off the grass" signs?

Boles wants a beat cop in the Plaza. Will city budget cuts leave room to add a cop? Are businesses willing to help pay for one? What about federal community policing grants? Cops aren't cheap. Flagler College pays $127,391 for two positions including salary, benefits and equipment.

Key West, a model for Boles, has a public-private coalition. The Keys Overnight Temporary Shelter, opened by the city, is operated by the Florida Keys Outreach Coalition for the Homeless. It keeps the homeless out of public parks and off the beaches at night. But daytime problems continue. The Key West Citizen newspaper said last week that a daytime service center is needed.

The city has a difficult decision because people are expected to be compassionate to others in time of need. How should that compassion be accomplished? Why should the Plaza be a camp until a full-service center is built?

Short and long-term solutions are needed. The city should initiate a communitywide public/private coalition including the reluctant St. Johns County government, businesses, law enforcement and social service agencies.

The public's turnout Tuesday is vital. The City Commission shelved two plans for where adult entertainment could operate because of public criticism. We believe community voices can stir the city to immediate action on this issue, too.