The infamous 5th Avenue in Florida has become known to residents as a place riddled with public drunkenness, violence, litter, squatting and vulgarity. It is referred to, by locals, as Florida’s biggest drug hot spot and there have been previous reports of illegal ‘fight club’ activities in the street.
There have been numerous community clean-up projects, but to no avail; a few hours later, it is as if the volunteers were never there.
Illegal occupants and lack of maintenance have meant that the condition of the buildings on 5th Avenue and Hull Street are deteriorating at a rapid pace. The illegal activities have led to businesses losing customers, property values decreasing, and residents feeling unsafe in their own homes.
The main issues surrounding these streets come from the Fantasy Club and VIP Lounge. The noise all hours of the night has become unbearable for the residents, and the patrons tend to close off the road, blocking any incoming traffic to the street and its surrounds. Public drinking and intoxication lead to violence and the streets have become riddled with litter.
“We cannot live in a neighbourhood where there is a lack of adherence, if any at all, to the law,” said a statement from the Florida Community Policing Forum.
That is why the Florida CPF and ICE Community Policing have taken the initiative to gather residents and petition to the City of Johannesburg to take control of the situation and deal with the serious issues in the area.
The community policing groups are hoping that, through the petition, the relevant City authorities and the Florida Police will see the effect that these streets are having on the credibility and safety of the neighbourhood and do something to rectify the problems.
The CPF statement continued to describe how these streets are creating fertile ground for the culture of drugs and alcohol abuse to grow, and that it needs to be stopped before the problems escalate.
A petition has been drawn up and all residents who would like to see a change in 5th Avenue, Hull Street and the surrounding areas are asked to sign and fight the cause. A signing will be held on Saturday, 29 February between 9am and 10.30am in the Florida Business Precinct, on 5th Avenue, above Saverite. Everyone who can, is asked to come and sign the petition in a collective effort to return safety and respect to the area.
March marks exactly one year since the CPF and ICE protests relating to the problems on those streets. That is why, after all of the signatures have been collected in February, the community policing groups will present the petition to the relevant authorities in early March.
Electronic support can also be given by emailing mbusonxumalo1978@gmail.com or amys@caxton.co.za.
