The Trinity Cafe's upcoming move into V.M. Ybor has roiled that neighborhood, with dozens of denizens from the community speaking out at recent Tampa City Council meeting against the establishment moving to a new spot on E. 17 Avenue and Nebraska. The residents fear the influx of homeless people will adversely affect the community.
Although most members of the Council have publicly expressed sympathy from the dais, current city law does not permit that they have any control over approving the facility because the cafe has been zoned "commercial-general."
The Trinity Cafe has existed for over a decade serving high quality free lunches every weekday to the homeless and others at their location at the Salvation Army on N. Florida Avenue. But they've wanted to have their own location for years, and are excited about moving into the new facility.
At today's meeting, a few community members pressed the Council to be vigilant regarding loitering and littering issues once the Cafe begins serving meals at the new location.
This article appears in Jun 7-13, 2012.