Homeless "Encampments" Popping Up all over the County--Citizens NOT Happy About it

The "shanty-town" (pictured 2-1-23) homeless encampment groing on Mobile Hwy at Michigan Avenue in Escambia County is drawing the ire of citizens that want something done to clean it up......

"Is this what we want visitors to Escambia County to see at the first exit coming off the bridge into our area?"  The caller asked dryly.  And angrily.

He's obviously fed up with what he is seeing in his neighborhood off of Scenic Highway where, right next to the Dairy Queen/Gas station off of the exit and very near dozens of multi-million dollar homes and properties, there is a fledgling pop-up encampment growing right off the side of the road. 

"They are so brazen, they have even brought a couch and placed it right on the side of the road on Scenic Highway--they are sitting on it and eye-balling us as we sit in traffic--it's ridiculous!"

He is heated.  He wants action, he wants this blight to be addressed by the county.  He is not alone, either,  because we have had multiple issues come up over the last year or so, and this issue seems to be growing, not subsiding....

Like issues in my district where we had a massive forest fire erupt that could have taken out an entire subdivision off of Hwy 98 due to a campfire in a homeless camp getting out of control in the adjacent wooded property.

Like what the city dealt with under the I-110 bridge where drug use, crime, theft, prostitution, and other illicit activity was rampant until the city disbursed that campground.

Like what we are seeing on Herman Street....Like what we saw under the bridge on Brent Lane... 

And like what we are now seeing in an area off of Mobile Hwy (Formerly D1, now D3)  Where a group of about 9 homeless individuals have sent up a miniature "shanty-town" right in the FDOT easement of Mobile Hwy------directly in front of the Publix Grocery store there and multiple small businesses.  I have had numerous complaints about this from multiple citizens.

Something has to be done.  This isn't Portland, this isn't Seattle nor is it San Franscisco.  And we don't

What Could Possibly Go Wrong with This Plan?? Marlette Manipulation 33

 

Andy Marlette's cartoon in this morning's PNJ attempts to draw parallels between Republican leadership in Florida and locally with the acceptance of anarchy and lawlessness in Blue cities like Seattle and Portland.  To do this, he pictures the Pensacola I-110 under the bridge homeless encampment and tent city.  Of course, his equivocation on this misses the mark like most of his cartoons do consistently.  Cities like Seattle that allowed entire chunks of downtown areas to be occupied by lawless criminals had nothing at all to do with homeless individuals desperately clinging to existence in Pensacola Florida.  Out west, it was all about ideology and certain quasi-political groups like Antifa flexing their muscle, showing what they could and would do in cities run by like-minded politicians in places like Portland and Seattle.

The homeless encampment in Pensacola under the I-110 bridge, by contrast, is not a political statement being orchestrated by partisan activists---and that's the huge difference between what is happening here and what happens in Seattle and Portland.

Insidiously--Andy conflates the two issues even as he knows they are different.

The issue under the bridge in Pensacola is about folks who are truly down on their luck and are homeless and desperate.  Sure--there is dysfunctional behavior and some criminal activity taking place in the encampment.  Yes, much of it has not been discussed publicly for political expediency as the city desperately tries to make the problem disappear by dispersing it out to the county---which is a disastrous plan nobody supports and for which nobody has even bothered to properly plan for.

But the Seattle "CHAZ" debacle is nothing like what's happening in Pensacola, and Andy knows it.

Nope-- this issue is about the city attempting to move a stubborn eyesore problem out of their viewshed.  And meanwhile--noone has reached out to the county to obtain permits or permission.  The city hasn't attempted to explain this plan to county residents in Bellview who ABSOLUTELY do not want this homeless camp in their neighborhood.

They are just planning on doing it--which I will not support and which I will actively oppose.

So the picture, above, is much more apropos than what Andy presented.  He's making a political attack out of the desperation of the homeless whereas my rendition, above, is a humorous jab at the folks who are naive and believe they can just move this camp next to an existing neighborhood and such a move will not have devastating consequences on the area surrounding such an encampment.

Remember--they are not telling the truth about the dysfunctional activities going on right now around the current site under the I-110.  They don't want you to know about the problems assiciated with this tent city.  This way, they can pat you on the head, tell you everything is alright, and mollify you into accepting this campsite in your neighborhood.  See the way this works?

Unfortunately I see right through them and their plan.  Others do, too.

Neighbors Are Frustrated, Concerned, and Angry

 

Neighbors are concerned that more homeless allowed to camp near existing neighborhoods will create more blight, lowered property values, more crime, and more trash including shopping carts full of feces and trash dumped in yards...How does such a plan make neighborhoods and communities better?

My phone has been blowing up about the city's proposed homeless campsite in the County, in District 1 on Houston Avenue.

Anger, frustration, concern.  Those are the adjectives I'd use to describe what I am hearing.  I'd also add hopeless and dejected to those three words.

They don't want the camp 15 feet from their homes.

In short, they feel that if this happens, they are being used to shoulder a problem the city has right now under the  I-110 bridge.  

Thankfully--the city council put this plan on the back burner by a 5-2 vote last night.  That was a smart vote.  And they all know I am vocally and actively opposing any such plan.

Some individuals who are familiar with the issues of the existing camp in the city say a lot of the problems of the existing camp are not being shared with the public.  According to one source who is intimately familiar:  "The PPD have been called out to the camp dozens and dozens of times.  There are drug users, there have been sexual assaults, and all kind of other criminal activities in this camp.  If they get put in the county--all those calls for service will now fall on the Escambia County Sheriff's Office to handle.  Do we really need to do this?  was the rhetorical question this individual asked.

The answer is NO we don't have to.  Take them to the woods--not to suburbia.

Meanwhile--the residents in the general area of the proposed county site, with whom I have communicated, express real concern for the homeless who are down on their luck.  I've not heard one of them say anything disparaging about these folks.  They simply don't believe putting this camp right next to their neighborhood is prudent.  The below email sums up the feelings of these neighbors, perfectly.

"Commissioner Bergosh,

 My name is XXXXXXXX  XXXXXXXX and my family and I live at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, Pensacola, FL 32526 on the corner of XXXXXXXX  and  XXXXXXXXXX Avenues.

 Our property is across Houston Avenue and a few dozen feet from the proposed location to set up a homeless camp. We have serious concerns with this proposal.

 In the four years we have lived here, we have seen several unnerving activities on Houston Ave., including an abandoned car set on fire, a motorist driving on the grass attempting to run over her significant other, homeless individuals smoking what appeared to be illegal narcotics, intoxicated individuals screaming obscenities at the top of their lungs while dancing down the middle of Houston Ave., and countless tons of littering. All of these instances occured with 15 feet of our property.

 Since several homeless individuals already live at times in the proposed camp location off Houston, we have found needles and drug baggies in our lawn and have had a shopping cart full of human feces, rotten food, clothes, and trash dumped in our yard. This has occurred with only a few people living there, let alone hundreds of individuals.

 Since purchasing the house, we have worked hard to improve the neighborhood and build strong

Where Should the Homeless Base Camp Go? Part II: How About to a BASE Camp in the Woods--Away from Existing Neighborhoods?

Some have suggested relocating the city's homeless encampment out into the woods, deep in the woods, away from established neighborhoods with the provision of services to be "brought-out" to the camp as necessary.  Interesting idea......

Ever since the issue of the relocation of homeless individuals to the county from the city erupted like Mount Vesuvius last Tuesday----many folks have expressed opposition.  Loudly.  Forcefully.

Not surprisingly--not ONE of the folks I have spoken with has expressed any hatred, disdain, or contempt for these homeless folks camped out in the city under the bridge.  To the contrary and to a person--I have heard just the opposite.  County constituents truly have compassion and sympathy for these homeless folks.  But the sympathy, compassion, and concern by citizens in my district for these folks who are down on their luck does not equate to support for relocation of such homeless folks to areas near their neighborhoods.  And I agree.  I share this sentiment.

Now, cynics will say---They're just a bunch of NIMBY's!   

Perhaps some might look it this issue that way--but I disagree.  Allow me provide the following distinction(s):

 

As a county commissioner, I have to make tough votes for projects that follow all laws, codes, and ordinances and that provide enhancements to communities (retail stores, apartments, houses).  Even when a person, company, or entity has followed all national, state, and local ordinances to lawfully construct a "(fill in the blank)"  There are still some nearby residents who not only disapprove--but who want to rip out my throat for having the audacity to APPROVE the "(Fill in the blank)"  Even when lawful--even if BENEFICIAL.  

On the flip side of this coin is a proposed homeless encampment of 100 or more persons,  sleeping in tents near a residential neighborhood, where apparently proponents of such a "facility" have publicly voiced a plan to establish such a camp regardless and in contravention to what any neighbor might say or think and who have simultaneously NOT yet followed any of the necessary state or local ordinances to establish such an encampment.

I'll leave it to the reader to work out who the NIMBY is and who the concerned residents are in the above two scenarios....

So what should be done about this situation, then? you might ask

Look--I'm not an expert on homelessness.  It's tough and complex.  I've made efforts to help folks from time to time via volunteering time and money and resources to help these folks.  But it's a big problem.

The homeless advocate will tell you it is good to locate these folks near neighborhoods so such neighbors will view the homeless as "humans."  Additionally, the advocates will say having them near established communities will allow them to walk or bike to get groceries and supplies from nearby retail shops and ready access to healhcare, public transportation, and wrap-around services.  Fair enough.

The concerned neighbor might believe that, but might also fear that homeless nearby will engage in trash dumping, illegal drug use, prostitution, panhandling, petty theft of property from homes and stores, and urination/defecation in public.  Such homeowners worry about degredation of property values, safety and security of children and elderly, and neighborhood blight....

Maybe the advocate and the neighbor are both onto some truth.  (hint--They are!)

Regardless--location of a camp near a neighborhood will not help improve a neighborhood.  That is an axiom all can agree upon.  If it did/does--we wouldn't be discussing it right now.

So where do we put them?

Now that the city/state/regional homeless reduction task force has been given lots of taxpayer money ($3 million) to work toward solutions---how about this idea:

Purchase or lease a large parcel of land out in the woods, far away from nearby neighbors.

Set up tent sites, portable showers, portable toilets, and portable office trailers.

Twice a week (or more frequently as the budget and logistics permit), at regular times, bring in the service providers (health, dental, social work, substance abuse counseling, faith-based groups, education, job training, etc.  etc.  etc.   etc...........)

Bus in wholesome fresh fruit, vegetables, and other staples for consumption by the camp residents.

Twice daily, run a bus to the bus transportation hub (so these folks can catch a linked route bus to work or other appointments)

Twice daily, run a bus from the transportation hub back to base camp.

Pay for private security and have a zero tolerance policy for illegal drug use, violation of law, and/ or

Where Should the Homeless Base Camp Go? Part I-- Binary Choice

 

You cannot say you will achieve an unrealistic and un achievable deadline to do something by the book while simultaneously declaring  a deadline for such action that is not doable if it is indeed to be done by the book.  This is a binary choice.  You'll either do it NOT by the book, or you will do it after your stated deadline by the book or NOT by the book.  One way or the other--cannot be both.....and cannot be done in 20 days

So the city has proclaimed that by November 24th, 20 days from now, they will clear the area under I-110 of about 100 homeless men and women encamped there.  

Someone leaked to the press the locations where this group of homeless will be "relocated."

One of those locations was/is outside of the city limits--in the County.  In District 1.

Of course--I was not notified of this before it was leaked to the press and I began getting angry phone calls and emails from nearby residents who are justifiably concerned and understandably opposed to this camp site coming within a stone's throw of where they live and have purchased homes.

And I agree with these residents, and I stand with these residents in opposition.

Everyone at county planning and zoning has told me they have not received an application for the permitting of this site for such use.  Depending upon what is planned to be constructed/erected there--significant coordination and planning would be necessary to obtain the necessary permits, plans, and authorizations---not to mention the construction of the roads necessary for the trucks to service the porta potties that would necessarily be required.

All of which creates the apprehension that this deadline cannot be met utilizing the county's Houston Avenue site---unless somebody facilitates the mass migration (bus caravans, trucks, etc.) from I-110 site to Houston site----without getting the permits first.  This is what has me and my constituents concerned.

You're either: 

---being fallaciously unrealistic by publicly proclaiming you'll have the "area in the city under I-110 cleared out before Thanksgiving"

OR

--you fully intend to make the unachievable deadline and simply take the NIKE approach and (Just DO IT) ----regardless of the status of permits, licensess and authorization.

It's one or the other---can't be both.  Binary choice.

So, task force and city of Pensacola---which is it?