TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Issues of crime and homelessness made it to local government leaders after complaints from businesses on North Monroe Street.
It's one of the busiest streets in the Capital City, and, for many, it's the street offers their first introduction to Tallahassee.
Now there's a push to make the area a lot more welcoming.
Leon County Commission chair Rick Minor is continuing his effort to clean up North Monroe Street, cracking down on crime, blight, and reducing homelessness.
"A lot of people are very concerned about the businesses and the neighbors that live in nearby neighborhoods the perception that the front door of Tallahassee is in decline," Minor explained.
The area of focus is from North Monroe to John Knox Road. Minor is looking to law enforcement to increase patrol to keep crime down.
The county is also addressing coronavirus vaccinations.
"The first phase will be used to prioritize residents and staff of long-term care facilities and the highest risk health care workers," said Claudia Blackburn, the director of the Leon County Department of Health.
Every long-term health facility in Leon is enrolled in the vaccine program, with CVS and Walgreens administering the vaccine to them.
"The plan is for the vaccine to be shipped directly to the hospital when available for the highest risk health care workers," Blackburn said.
The Department of Health continues to urge safety first while waiting for the vaccine to reach the county.
"It's imperative that we take an effective fact-based approach by doing things like wearing face masks and social distancing," said Blackburn.
Minor will bring the creation of the North Monroe task force to the board in January. The task force may look at regulating adult entertainment stores on the busy street.
As for COVID-19, the county DOH says they are also working on sites to hold community vaccinations if needed.
