Is opera the answer to move the homeless?

Sarasota, Florida - Business owners and politicians in Sarasota are looking for solutions to the loitering problem. After years of homeless people and panhandlers hanging out in the Five Points Park and along the sidewalks in front of stores, they say they have had enough.

Lieutenant Jeff Karr received an email from Commissioner Kelly Kirschner suggesting that pumping in opera from speakers around the Five Points Park may be the answer to keep people moving. The Sarasota Herald Tribune first broke the story.

Kirschner says it was just an idea. "I did a simple Google search and found an article about how classical and opera had been used in other cities."

Places like Seattle, Washington, and London are among cities that play classical music from speakers in public spaces to keep people from loitering. City officials there say it has been working. The Sarasota Opera sits right across from the park. While the idea may seem like a natural tie-in, Richard Russell, Director of Marketing for the Opera disagrees.

"Frankly in thinking that opera would be bothersome to people is offensive to us and our audience," said Russell.

Paul Hogan, who says he has been homeless for the last six months, says the soothing sound will be a welcome  break from the harsh reality.

"I would hang out a little more often in the park if they played opera. It's soothing," he said.