SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Concerned residents in Kendall delivered a petition to a commissioner’s office, and they want a sex offenders’ camp out of their neighborhood.
Over 3,000 signatures were on the petition, which was delivered Tuesday to Commissioner Joe Martinez. This comes after Miami-Dade County recently shut down a homeless camp near Hialeah, where nearly 300 sex offenders live.
Some of those who were evicted from that area moved to Kendall, on Southwest 88th Street and Krome Avenue.
“I feel for them in a way,” said resident Ivan Carrandi. “They need help, but they just can’t come in this area.”
After the dismantling of the homeless camp in Northwest Miami-Dade, there was word that another camp would be available in Southwest Miami-Dade near Krome Avenue.
It’s a site where some homeless people have been living for a few years, but community members said they don’t want the camp to grow.
Outside of Commissioner Martinez’s office, residents have voiced their concerns and said they want a quick solution.
“My concern is the fact that we have sexual predators — homeless sexual predators — residing or about to reside in this area,” said Kendall resident Ivan Carrandi.
Martinez’s Chief of Staff Ana Bustamante said they are working with state and local agencies.
“As of yesterday, the police department issued trespass warnings in that property to get them out and we anticipate that they should be out of there by Friday,” said Bustamante.
Bustamante added that as soon as the property is vacated, the property owner has agreed to put up a fence around the area to prevent people from coming back.
However, those who live nearby will continue to make their voices heard.
“We are not going to rest until there are no [more] sexual offenders in our community,” said resident Juanchy Mejia.
“The safety and security and integrity of the community is at stake,” Carrandi said.
Some residents protested over the weekend. Another protest is scheduled to take place in Southwest Miami-Dade around 8 p.m. Tuesday.
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