ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Residents, business owners and neighborhood association leaders told City Council last Thursday the chronically homeless problem in downtown St. Petersburg has gotten worse and that they fear for their safety.
“It’s just aggressive. It’s dangerous. It’s dirty,” said Ronicca Whaley, owner of Shiso Crispy. “The sanitary aspect of it is just awful.”
Last month, Whaley began working to open a fourth location of her restaurant at 225 First Ave. N., on the Jannus Live block. Whaley said during that time, she has witnessed and had many run-ins with the chronically homeless…