News & Public Affairs
Tampa City Council weighs options on what more to do about panhandling listen
05/02/13 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Tampa, panhandling, homelessness, Tampa City Council
Thursday Tampa City Council considered further crackdowns on panhandling.
The discussion was still going on when we went to air.
During public comment in the morning nine people asked council to enact an ordinance putting more limits on when and where people can ask for handouts. Shawn Robinson, president of Hillsborough Community College's Ybor City campus, says panhandlers harass students and faculty.
However, two people opposed additional constraints on panhandling. Jon Dengler wo...
Be the first to commentTampa Threatens Panhandle Crackdown
05/01/13 Warren EllyLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: homelessness, Tampa, panhandling ban
LAST CALL FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 1ST 2013
Guests: Officer Dan McDonald Tampa Police Liaison to the Homeless and Pastor Tom Atchison of New Beginnings
GOOD AFTERNOON…. YOU’RE LISTENING TO LAST CALL , A LIVE CALL IN SHOW HERE ON WMNF. I’M WARREN ELLY.
OUR TOPIC – HOMELESSNESS- AS TOMORROW MORNING AT TAMPA CITY HALL WE’RE EXPECTING THE ADMINISTRATION TO MOVE ON COMPLAINTS FROM BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS OVER HOMELESS CAMPING AND AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING. DOWNTOWN TAMPA AND YBOR CITY TOP ...
Be the first to commentArrested activist claims St. Pete Police harass people without homes in Williams Park listen
03/28/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Bruce Wright, poverty, St. Pete Police, homeless, homelessness, Bill Foster, St. Petersburg, Williams Park
A longtime homeless activist in St. Petersburg is claiming that police officers hurt him while he was trying to defend a homeless man in Williams Park Wednesday. Bruce Wright was arrested and charged with obstruction after another man being arrested got away. According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, officers had an arrest warrant for a man in the park. That report quoted Wright as saying “stop harassing that man” and then asking what he had done wrong.
Be the first to comment“You stiffen up a bit...
Tampa banker honored by city council for feeding the less fortunate listen
02/07/13 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Andre Kirwan, Tampa City Council, homeless, charity, homelessness
A Tampa banker and volunteer football coach was honored by city council this morning for his efforts to feed people without homes during the holiday season. But during a commendation ceremony at City Hall, Andre Kirwan asked that Neil Sayers, a local chiropractor and volunteer who passed away in November, also be recognized.
Be the first to comment“He always told me, ‘Andre, we’ve got to go big or go home’ and it’s been hard for me to kind of wrap my brain around the fact that through his passing, his dream wa...
New apartment complex offers housing for Tampa's chronically homeless listen
01/24/13 Ella WindWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Homeless, Housing, Mental Healthcare, Cypress Landing, Steps Forward, Rehabilitation, homelessness, Tampa
Two years ago, Tampa government officials began to investigate options for addressing Tampa's homeless population, which numbered around 18,000 people. On Wednesday, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at Cypress Landing housing complex in North Tampa, the first permanent housing complex for the chronically homeless in Hillsborough County.
The Cypress Landing complex will house the chronically homeless, those who are repeatedly homeless or have been homeles...
2 commentsLunch for veterans without homes opens job opportunities too listen
12/21/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Veterans, jobs, homeless, poverty, Hillsborough County, homelessness
Veterans who don’t have homes this holiday season got a warm meal this afternoon in Tampa. The Hillsborough County Veteran’s Affairs department doled out turkey dinners to about 40 vets, but also took the opportunity to help them get and keep jobs.
Veterans dined ten at a time, starting with this group. Kelly Beaver, a retired sailor in the Navy used to live on the streets. He’s still getting help from the county’s veteran's affairs department, but he said he’s on the road to recovery. ...
Be the first to commentFood Not Bombs volunteers share food in downtown Tampa park despite legal concerns listen
12/18/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Food Not Bombs, homeless, poverty, homelessness, Tampa
Volunteers with the group Food Not Bombs served breakfast to people in Gaslight Square in downtown Tampa Tuesday. The group has been feeding people in the city for years, but this particular routine started last week and will continue every Tuesday through the holidays.
“Well, we have sweet potatoes, oatmeal and bagels.”
That could change next week though. Thích Giác Ngô, a Buddhist monk with Food Not Bombs said the group gets most of their food from places who are about to throw it...
Be the first to commentIncumbent Ken Welch faces challenger Buck Walz in Pinellas County Commission race listen
11/05/12 Samuel JohnsonWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Pinellas County, Pinellas County Commission, Ken Welch, Buck Walz, homelessness, meal-on-wheels, poverty, fluoride
Three incumbent Pinellas County Commissioners face challengers in tomorrow’s election. One of them, Democrat Ken Welch, hopes to be re-elected over his challenger Republican Buck Walz. In the District 7 race Welch is emphasizing community health.
At a town hall meeting last month in Saint Petersburg Welch said although education is the county’s top priority it’s only part of the focus. He said with a limited budget combating systemic poverty will be the commiss...
Be the first to commentPreview of protest against new Clearwater policies affecting people without homes
10/03/12 Seán KinaneLast Call Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Food Not Bombs, homelessness
This summer, the Pinellas county city of Clearwater approved ordinances ranging from strengthening the city’s ban on panhandling, to restricting whether people can sit or lie on sidewalks, docks or piers.
But some homeless advocates aren’t taking the new rules well. This Saturday they’re organizing a demonstration, food sharing and music at Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater to protest To protest what they call an inhumane and unconsti...
Be the first to commentTampa Police evict squatters who took abandoned house before Republican convention listen
09/07/12 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: RNC, Republican National Convention, housing, homelessness, Romneyville
A couple who took over an abandoned house in Tampa just before the Republican convention was evicted this morning by Tampa Police.
Tyler Mitchell is an activist who was there to help the squatters, who did not want to be interviewed.
Mitchell said the police did not have legal standing to evict the residents, but they let the Police into the home.
Be the first to comment“We are at 208 East North Street in Tampa, Florida. This is a site where there was a housing ...
