FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - A new rule is directly affecting one of the state’s most vulnerable populations: the unhoused. However, city leaders in Fort Lauderdale tasked with enforcing the ordinance and re-homing the homeless population are struggling to find an ideal solution that benefits both parties.
This comes on the heels of the law that prohibits Florida’s homeless from sleeping on sidewalks, parks, and other public premises, which will take effect in October. The law puts the burden on local municipalities to create designated spaces or encampments with bathrooms, security and access to mental health and substance abuse services.
A commission meeting was held Tuesday to address the looming ordinance.
Mayoral candidate Jim Lewis suggested a homeless encampment outside a major sports arena in Fort Lauderdale as a temporary fix.
“You’ve probably heard about it,” Lewis said. “I told my son the other day, my youngest son. He said, ‘Let me get this right dad. You want to take the highest ranking professional soccer team in North America, who has the most famous soccer player in the world playing there, that’s about to start the playoffs, and you want to put a homeless camp in their parking lot?’ And the answer is, ‘It’s got to go somewhere.'”
The site in question is the future location of Lockhart Park, adjacent to Chase Stadium, which is currently being utilized for overflow parking for Inter Miami games.
It was part of the deal with the City of Fort Lauderdale that was made with Inter Miami, but the soccer team has been prolonging the park’s construction.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be a park in 2025, 2026, 2027, but we know in October, we are going to have a homeless crisis problem where these people have to go, and there’s nothing wrong with a big vacant lot,” Lewis said. “We are only going to use a portion of it. It would be out towards Commercial [Boulevard]. We can put some portable showers in there, and we can comply and be compassionate.”
While some blatantly refuse to have a homeless camp at a city park, others suggest utilizing city garages or relocating the homeless out of downtown Fort Lauderdale altogether.
In a rather heated exchange, a commissioner and an attendee weighed the options presented in front of them.
“We have two options, OK? Number one, we take them to the sheriff, who by the way, if you read the newspaper today, says he’s not taking them into jail. Did you read that?,” said City Commissioner John C. Herbst.
“Yes, I read it,” said the attendee.
“So, if the sheriff’s not taking them, we have to take them somewhere,” said Herbst.
“If he wants to go to the newspaper and say he doesn’t enforce certain laws that he doesn’t like, especially ones the governor just signed, he’s probably, maybe, not going to be here for forever,” the attendee replied.
“That may well be, but in the meantime, we can be sued,” Herbst said. “We the city can be sued by individuals and businesses if we don’t remove those people who are camping on public property. So what do we do with them?”
“So you think the middle of our downtown is the place?” said the attendee.
“No, no, don’t ask me a question. I am asking you a question. Where do you want them?” said Herbst.
“City Hall is the middle of our downtown. Protect our downtown. Protect Las Olas,” said an attendee.
The difference of opinion among the commissioners was evident in Tuesday’s meeting as the threat of lawsuits looms.
“There’s going to be a homeless encampment somewhere, and the obvious place is that it’s going to be somewhere in the city of Fort Lauderdale, because that’s where the major problem is,” said Lewis.
With a soon-approaching deadline and no clear solutions on the horizon, discussions are likely to continue until city leaders come to an agreement.
“Maybe my solution isn’t the best one, but there has to be one, and continuing to kick this down the road and to say, ‘It’s county’s problem., it’s not our problem,’ is not responsible,” said Lewis.
“It’s obviously a complex issue, and obviously there’s going to be a lot of opinions on this,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis.
Cities and municipalities said they don’t have the funds to house the homeless people and are searching for suggestions.
7News spoke to some homeless residents, earlier this year who said they do not like the law.
“It’s a horrible law. I think it’s very dehumanizing,” said Hyka. “I know politicians don’t like homelessness, but this is not going to make it go away. I can’t imagine the cops didn’t have a fit when they heard about it, because they’re going to have a really hard time dealing with all of us. I don’t think they’ll be able to enforce it.”
“We’ve had a hard time in life, just like everybody. I think it’s real [expletive] up that they’re kicking us off public property.” said Bryson.
The ordinance is set to take effect Oct 1.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.