OUTSIDE DRUG DEALERS POSED THE GREATEST DANGER IN 20TH STREET CAMP

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A brand new request from FDOT will spell the tip of a homeless encampment on twentieth Road in Marathon. ALEX RICKERT/Keys Weekly

I need to take this chance to make clear the state of affairs on twentieth Road and make a transparent distinction between the camp residents and the damaging exercise attributable to exterior people. It is very important perceive the context of the problems that arose in September 2024 and why the world was described as harmful throughout that point, in addition to the considerations raised in January 2025.

In September of final yr, twentieth Road turned a hotspot for exterior drug sellers who had been mentioned to have arrange operations within the space. These people had been alleged to have offered harmful avenue medication, resulting in a number of overdoses and an alarming variety of ambulance calls to the road.

This was a severe and speedy public security difficulty. The assertion made in September about twentieth Road being harmful referred particularly to the alleged drug exercise and violence attributed to those sellers. 

It is very important emphasize that the camp residents weren’t answerable for these issues; in actual fact, they had been amongst these most immediately harmed by the unsafe situations created by these outdoors people. After a number of individuals raised these considerations at a metropolis council assembly, regulation enforcement took swift and thorough motion to handle the issue.

By January, the main target shifted to making sure that the assist supplied to camp residents is useful and well-organized. Donations akin to tents and blankets to assist residents cope with the weather are incredible and much-needed efforts that make a significant distinction.

Nonetheless, the priority lies with uncoordinated duplicate providers already supplied by well-established packages like KAIR and Independence Cay. These packages are working successfully to supply vital sources and help. When uncoordinated duplicate providers are launched, they will unintentionally trigger a state of affairs that could be a detriment to the camp residents and create well being points for the camp residents and the neighboring public. Strengthening and supporting these present efforts is one of the simplest ways to make sure residents obtain the assistance they want in a secure and sustainable method.

We should remember that the vast majority of camp residents are individuals simply in search of a hand out of a troublesome life state of affairs. It’s essential that each one of those efforts are coordinated to maximise the profit to the camp residents, fortify the prevailing established packages, and concentrate on simply doing the subsequent proper factor.

Sincerely,
Lorenzo Chiango
Cudjoe Key

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