The sidewalk in question is at the Baywalk Midcore Shopping Plaza, located between 1st and 2nd St. North in downtown St. Petersburg, Fla. The venue, once a promising piece of downtown revitalization, went through foreclosure and now has a new owner. About half of the retail space sits vacant. It is a popular hangout for teens, but also for panhandlers. In addition, the public sidewalk in front of BayWalk is the site of frequent picketers that business owners feel hurts business.

The complex is undergoing a $700,000 face lift, including refreshing the streetscape, sidewalks and assuring better security. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker supports privatizing the sidewalk, as does the St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce and St. Pete Downtown Partnership.

The property management believes it vital to own the sidewalk if the revitalization is to succeed.

There is, of course, opposition to the privatization from some residents and supporters of First Amendment rights for giving the owners the legal standing to have people arrested for trespassing.

The St. Pete City Council may vote on the measure in September, and perhaps a final vote by early Oct.