ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (WFLA) — A restaurant owner is taking legal action against the city of St. Petersburg. She claims the city permits individuals to sleep in public areas, negatively affecting her business.

Photos accompanying the exhibits on the Pinellas County Clerk of Courts website depict people sleeping outdoors in downtown St. Pete. These images will serve as evidence in the lawsuit against the city. The owner of Shiso Crispy, Ronicca Whaley, along with her attorneys, filed the lawsuit on Friday.

They did not want to speak on camera, but sent a statement saying the complain speaks for itself.

People in downtown shared what they thought of those who sleep and camp out in Williams Park, which is steps away from Shiso Crispy.

“I’ve worked in Downtown St. Pete for two months now, and I haven’t observed much change in the homelessness or the situation of unhoused people,” stated one woman.

The complaint said that by letting people sleep in the park, the city permits behaviors like public defecation, urination, and violent threats. Police reports in the file discovery include complaints from a witness who confirmed the people defecated in the Shiso Crispy cafe area.

The filing also said on several occasions the police told Whaley there is nothing that can be done or that they can’t remove the people sleeping in the park or outside her restaurant.

“Their circumstances are probably why they do the crime to start with,” said a St. Pete resident.

The City of St. Pete told 8 On Your Side they do not comment on pending litigation.

The city’s website has a link to its current ordinances regarding homelessness and panhandling. Some residents said they want to see the city step up.

“As much as the businesses and the people that live in downtown and all of that are so important to the city, so are the unhoused people,” said one woman.

The complaint details how they accuse the city of violating state law that prohibits public sleeping and camping, and they are asking that the city be found in violation of the state law and be required to enforce it.

Court filings said the city was summoned on Friday, and they have 20 days to respond.