Even though the meeting was about Saint Francis House, it was mainly people who live in the area who showed up to dispute their permit to feed the hungry. And now, residents say they have to live with another five years of loitering and drug activity on their street. one by one, residents from Southeast 4th Place came to the podium to plead with the committee. Some opposing St. Francis permits and some were in favor. But all wanted to do their part, help to figure something out.
John Arana, has lived in this house for 7 years. It's directly across the street from Saint Francis House and John says, along with many others, this is what he wakes up to in the morning and goes to bed with at night. John, his parents, who want to move here after retirement, were all at the meeting last night. They showed the committee pictures of what they say neighbors see every day. Nonetheless, St. Francis permits were renewed.
St. Francis is now required to provide paperwork every six months showing it is enforcing the law. Residents from the neighborhood say it is not being done, they will go before the city commission and try to get it to enforce more policing on those streets.