Commissioners reject tent city plan

Facing more than 100 vocal people holding signs that read either "No" or "Stop Tent City," the Hillsborough County Commission today rejected a proposed encampment for the homeless.

Commissioners voted four to three in denying Catholic Charities' application, which would have allowed temporary housing for 250 people on a piece of land off Hillsborough Avenue— near East Lake neighborhoods.

"It's a scary situation," resident Paul Cotter told the commission.

Cotter pointed to residents of Pinellas Hope, a similar encampment in Pinellas County, and noted numerous crimes committed by its residents. He referred to those people as "inmates".

After the vote to spare his neighborhood, Cotter said he was relieved; however he would not be surprised to see Catholic Charities try again.

Catholic Charities President Frank Murphy has previously said, "It's not the end, no matter what. If this doesn't pass, we'll come up with another plan".

Commissioners Kevin White, Al Higginbotham, Ken Hagan, and Mark Sharpe voted to reject the proposal; Commissioners Rose Ferlita, Jim Norman, and Kevin Beckner voted for approval.

Ferlita said that although the location was not perfect, the county must address the homeless population, which by some estimates is approximately 10,000 in Hillsborough County.

She noted that given the weak economy, homelessness is likely to become worse before it gets better and that the county would be wise to let Catholic Charities move forward with its offer to provide assistance.

Prior to voting, Commissioner Sharpe said he had hoped to find compromise.

"The individuals we are talking about are human beings," he said, before ultimately voting to reject the application.