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Rally opposes tent city

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

jpoltilove@tampatrib.com

Published: August 22, 2009

TAMPA - About 30 people protested a tent city proposal for the homeless today in East Tampa, saying it would be inappropriate to let homeless live at the 12-acre site near Hillsborough Avenue and Harney Road.

"It's not just about the fact that they're putting homeless in our community, it's about the fact that every homeless service in the country talks about housing first," East Lake Park resident Hal Hart said.

Fellow protester Paul Cotter said his biggest concern is that homeless people with mental health issues might move into the neighborhood. Cotter held a sign saying: "WE ARE NOT EXPENDABLE!!"

On Aug. 11, Hillsborough County commissioners voted 5-2 to send the tent city proposal for the homeless back to the land-use hearing officer who previously recommended against it. The public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday and will only consider a set of proposed conditions on how the tent city would operate, if approved. Some of those conditions were not part of public discussion at the initial land-use hearing.

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