Local restaurant owner claims city’s inaction on public camping law is harming her business and threatening community safety.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A downtown St. Petersburg restaurant owner has filed a lawsuit against the City of St. Petersburg, seeking a court order to compel the city to enforce a new state law that prohibits public camping and sleeping.

The lawsuit, filed by Ronicca Whaley, the owner of two Shiso Crispy restaurant locations, alleges that the city’s failure to act has created an unsafe environment and is causing her businesses irreparable harm.

According to the complaint filed in the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Whaley claims that individuals are regularly sleeping and camping in Williams Park and on the sidewalks and alleyways near her restaurants. The lawsuit sta

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