After moving into the Omni neighborhood about two months ago, I started to feed my daily desire for a breakfast from BurgerKing. Nothing better than a Croissanwich. Plus, Checkers have never been local to me and their spiced up fries are great every now and then.

My first Saturday morning breakfast at BK I nearly got more than I bargained for. Seeing a young gentleman counting pennies on a table, minding his own business, as I left the restaurant, I felt compelled to buy him breakfast, so I approached and presented a $5 bill for breakfast. But that seemingly wasn’t what they really need — they needed their ‘fix’ of heroin for the morning and inquiried if I’d like to ‘do something’ so he could make some additional money to feed his need. Um, sorry.

The Checkers is a great open-air restaurant where they serve from their little building and have a nice area to eat. Nice, aside from the fact that it is hosted by an older homeless man who collects cardboard boxes and plastic “super size” cups in boxes in the Checkers eating area. He is there 24/7, like security on patrol.

Speaking of Security, the general area manager of the local Burger King called me after calling corporate with my concerns. They assured me they were putting a security guard on the premises due to the stream of complaints they continue to receive. Three weeks later - no security guard. Well, except for the homeless who seem to guard both the interior and exterior of the entrances to BK. Yesterday, a man was asking all the people IN LINE to order their food if they could buy him something as well.

And both these restaurants, flank a hotbed for prostitution between the two restaurants by driving though 17th Terrace at Biscayne for your selection of both male and female for anything you could want. They have a ‘fix’ they need - and it comes cheap.

These restaurants, both owned by the corporate owners and are not franchises, have taken seemingly interesting approaches at managing the problem.

Checkers, while they were able to keep the place clean and free from consumer interference for about a week, now seem to have their resident homeless man on staff - just this morning sweeping the Checkers lot with a palm fron while early risers were eating their food at one of the picnic tables before school. This approach takes advantage of his presence since he will not leave and according to the Checkers staff the police are ‘tired of them calling,’ getting labor in exchange for a great concrete picnic table and umbrella - plus a place to get more cardboard boxes and plastic cups for his increasing collection - what a great idea!

Burger King, after a pledge for security officers and noting the local store’s handling as ‘inappropriate,’ now they keep the restrooms locked 24/7 with a “Sorry currently out of order” sign - however it is magically opened for the homeless each day so they can ‘clean up’ and get ready for their day. BK also provides unlimited refills on coffee. Just appear with a cup and there you go! Also, they offer priority service to the homeless over the ‘regular’ customers - this priority treatment may result in your waiting to order for 10 minutes in a line of three people, however it’s well worth the respect they get from providing handfuls of condiments to the homeless. Their dining room is also monitored from no less than 3 - 6 locations by the homeless, including a gentleman placed near the door as you exit asking if you can ’spare a dollar,’ then his backup is outside seeking the same after exiting the restaurant.

While our City approves over a $1 Billion in condo developments underway only a block and a half away, the police can’t even seem to drive past this area, let alone patrol on foot, any time of the day. The homeless sleep in the doorways of the businesses at the corner of 17th Street and Biscayne. They also sleep at the foot of the stairs of the Burger King until they open, ready to receive their morning feeding and a more comfortable place to sleep - inside in a booth!

After speaking with the local police substation, they said they are patrolling the area - but he didn’t mention it was an annual patrol.

WIth the increase of activity at the Performing Arts Center, the influx of students at the Art Insititute of Miami at the Omni and all the development, the City would try to do their small part, perhaps having a every-four hour beat patrol on the block. I’m sure the Marriot wouldn’t mind - instead of keeping most of their clients within their thick concrete walls - barely exposing them to the Biscayne view.

As citizens, we can all try to live in a better place - but we must all work together. Me, you and the business owners and local police departments. Without it - we have nothing.