How about being a better neighbor @TrinityCafe ? pic.twitter.com/R5disGCzyw
— Bob Buckhorn (@BobBuckhorn) November 19, 2018
Bob Buckhorn's Twitter has earned the Tampa Mayor plenty of praise in the past, but he's been on the defensive since firing off a Monday criticism of Tampa nonprofit Trinity Cafe.
Buckhorn, who is nearing the end of his final term as mayor, posted a picture of five people sitting against a wall (and one gone horizontal) outside of the nonprofit's location at 2801 N Nebraska Ave. in the V.M. Ybor neighborhood. The post's accompanying caption read, "How about being a better neighbor @TrinityCafe ?", and that has predictably drawn the ire of Buckhorn critics and homelessness advocates who say the mayor hasn't done enough to combat the issue of homelessness in Tampa.
The cafe is a free restaurant that serves more than 500 hot meals daily across two locations, 365 days a year (Trinity Cafe's other location is at 2202 E. Busch Blvd. in Tampa).
"Anyone who comes to our door is welcome and served with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect," is how Trinity Cafe describes its mission, "without question or qualification."
“Nonprofits providing for the needs of our less fortunate citizens fills a critical need in our community," Burkhorn said in response to the backlash. He said that facilities and the clients they serve need to respect the surrounding neighborhood and "not become a magnet for the types of behaviors that would deteriorate the quality of life for the hardworking homeowners that live there."
In an email to CL, spokespeople for the mayor attached a screenshot that includes a grid of police incidents that have happened at 2801 N. Nebraska Ave since January. The particular spot near the intersection of E. Bryant Street and Nebraska Avenue (where Trinity Cafe is) shows 36 instances of the police being called.
Buckhorn's spokespeople also attached a screenshot of arrests that have happened at nearby Borrell Park, which is a half-mile, 10-minute walk from Trinity Cafe.
The cafe, like many local businesses, has a no trespass affidavit on file and holds its guests to a lawful standard of behavior while on cafe property.
"[Guests] are strongly encouraged to mirror that behavior throughout our neighborhoods," the cafe told CL in response to a request for comment regarding Buckhorn's Twitter post. Trinity Cafe also said that it has been actively engaging with neighbors at every request in an ongoing effort to support a safer community.
"We need to work together for the betterment of our community and all the neighbors that live within it, those with homes or those without. Many of our guests live within walking distance of our locations. Many were once homeless and now have a home," Shannon Hannon Oliviero, Trinity's communications director wrote in an email to CL. "Sometimes being served with dignity and respect can influence a life, for many Trinity Cafe is more than just a meal."
In comments to WFTS, Trinity's neighbors applauded Buckhorn's vocalization, but knocked him on previous inaction on the issue of homelessness.
“I have not yet once heard from his office in probably the thousand emails I sent over the years,” Kelly Grimsdale told the television station. In the same report, Pamela Holmes said she was homeless and ate at Trinity almost every day. She said that new development is pushing homeless people to the area and laments the idea that the innocent are getting lumped into the group committing crimes.
"Everybody are not on drugs, some people are actually homeless, and sleep have nowhere to go,” Holmes said. "I’m not on drugs I just have nowhere to go."
Buckhorn, for his part, thinks the new year will make him happy.
"I am certain that the new leadership that assumes its role in January is committed to working with the neighborhood to make the appropriate changes,” he said.
