Vigil at St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker's church in support of tent city
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Jan. 7, 2007
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St.
Petersburg---On Sunday, January 7, 2007, approximately 70 people took
to the street in front of Mayor Rick Baker’s church to protest
the mayor’s decision to shut down “Coming Up” Tent
City. The crowd contained both homeless residents of Tent City,
homeless advocates representing a wide variety of peace and social
justice groups, and numerous unaffiliated concerned citizens.
 Video of Rev. Bruce Wright interview |
“Coming
Up” Tent City was founded on December 29, 2006. Using the model
established by Dignity Village in Portland, Oregon, the site was to be
established by the homeless, for the homeless. Advocates partnered with
residents during the foundational phase in order to secure the land,
solicit donations and liaison with the surrounding community. The
intent was to develop a safe and secure home base for homeless
individuals to build a real community of their own. With access to
basic facilities and services – such as food, restrooms, showers
and shelter from the elements – and without the constant threat
of arrest (primarily, it should be pointed out, for trespassing while
attempting to find a place to sleep), the opportunities for stable
employment and circumstances conducive to getting off the street would
increase. And by empowering and involving the homeless in the
solutions, the project hoped to attack the root of the homeless issue,
not just the symptom.
| Read Tampa Trib editorial "Picketing St. Pete Mayor's Church Does Little To Help The Homeless" |
That all
changed less than a week later when the Mayor’s office stepped in
with threats of fines for code violations. As we understand it, the
code that is being violated is one which makes it illegal to live in a
tent – even in an orderly, well-run community. Ironically, it is
not illegal to live on the street under conditions which virtually
guarantee that it will be impossible to ever live otherwise.
With less
than a week before Tent City must be vacated, activists chose Mayor
Baker’s church to highlight the stark contrast between his stance
toward homelessness and the Christian values he espouses. While the
majority of the activists remained outside the church holding signs
with messages such as “Who would Jesus evict?” and
“Save Tent City,” Rev. Bruce Wright of The Refuge and a
dozen homeless residents of Tent City went inside for the worship
service.
Reactions
from the congregation coming to and from the service were largely
positive, and some church members engaged the activists in conversation
regarding the situation. The mayor himself was in attendance and was
spotted leaving the church in his vehicle, although he neither looked
at the protesters assembled on the sidewalk or attempted to engage any
of the activists or homeless in a dialogue about Tent City. Judging by
the fact that most media stories published since the controversy began
have ended with “The mayor could not be reached for comment and
did not return phone calls” it would seem that Rick Baker’s
current strategy is to deal with the situation via autocratic edicts
delivered by low-level bureaucrats, or to simply deny that the
situation exists at all.
Please
continue to watch this website for further actions. Other activities
will take place this week. If you are able to help circulate petitions
supporting the Tent City, please contact info@stpeteforpeace.org for details.
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E-mail: info@stpeteforpeace.org
