ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The homeless encampment in front of city hall in downtown St. Louis still remains Tuesday morning despite initial orders from St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones's office to disband the encampment Monday evening.
On Monday evening, officials of Mayor Jones's office announced they were planning to decommission the encampment at 10 p.m.
The decision was a shock to Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier, who introduced legislation to create a homeless bill of rights hours beforehand, which included a requirement of a 30-day notice when an encampment is disbanded.
"I was completely surprised," said Sonnier, "I was not expecting it."
However, the encampment still remains as of Tuesday morning. KMOX has reached out to Mayor Jones's office for comment why the encampment still remains despite decommission orders Monday evening.
According to officials, among the reasons for the initial decision to decommission the encampment included police receiving about 50 calls between Aug. 14 to Sept. 28, ambulances receiving 33 calls in relation to overdoses, seizures and other medical emergencies at the camp, and drug paraphernalia being found on-site.
One of the residents. who was apart of the encampment, previously told KMOX he and his pregnant wife could hear arguments about drugs from camp residents daily.
"Me and my wife have sat around and watched them get high with whatever drug of choice it is. We hear the arguments over the drugs and everything like that," said Gino McCoy, one of the test residents.