Stories From Nebraska Ave - part 2

For many years residents and business owners in the neighborhoods along Nebraska Avenue have had to deal with the problems of prostitution.

On the way to their church or temple or mosque, school, work or shopping, families have driven by prostitutes dressed in skimpy outfits trying to flag down vehicles. There are times the prostitute will flash their breasts or buttocks to passersby. Street corners have been shared with prostitutes while residents wait for a city or school bus. Many female residents, walking to store, going to visit a neighbor or walking a dog, have been approached by Johns trying solicit sex. Prostitutes have banged on doors in the middle of the night asking for help because they were just robbed or assaulted by a John.

Prostitutes and Johns have been found engaging in sexual activity behind the back of a churches and businesses, on porches of occupied homes, in vehicle driving slowly down a residential roads and other locations on and off Nebraska Avenue.

The trappings of prostitution; used condoms; panties and other articles of clothing; syringes, crack cocaine baggies and other drug paraphernalia; and empty alcohol beverage containers; have been found on business parking lots, sidewalks, yards, alleyways, church daycare playgrounds, porches and even on or in people's vehicles. Prostitutes have urinated and defecated on the side areas of homes and businesses.

Many of local motels on Nebraska Avenue and nearby streets seemed to either ignore the activity or actually cater to the prostitutes. One motel owner has stated "prostitutes are my best customers".

Compounding the problem was the attitude of some of the Tampa Police Department (TPD)police officers that were assigned to the area. Once an officer asked a group of residents who were patrolling Nebraska Avenue when the patrolling was going to be finished, so he could let the prostitutes know when they could return. At times some of these select officers seem to blame the residents. On several occasions officers have told residents who were complaining about prostitution activity "You knew what it was like when you moved here, so why complain?" The poor attitudes of these select officers detracted from the efforts of the Tampa Police Departmant officers who cared.

to be continued....

Previously... Stories From Nebraska Avenue - part 1