“Most of us do agree, both the homeless and the non-homeless and the Occupy Wall Street people that the (Presidential) candidates really don't represent the people, that they are completely controlled by, I say, the military industrial complex,” he explained from a plastic chair at the security desk of the temporary camp.
Complete with portable toilets and a fully functioning kitchen, Romneyville has become a gathering place for those, like Mr Penley, who wish to voice their opposition to the economic, social and defence policies of both the Republicans and the Democrats.
However the inhabitants of Romneyville's tents are not full time protesters but rather the homeless of Florida, many of whom have been affected by the collapse in the state's housing market which began in 2006.
Corey Willingham, made homeless two months ago when he was evicted from the apartment he was living in, is focussed on trying to convince his local council to give him more support rather than campaigning for national issues.
“There's about 15,000 homeless people here in Tampa,” he explained, “and they can't help everybody but if they came out and saw how we are living and how we are surviving maybe they would be more compassionate toward us and help us more in finding work and a permanent place to stay.”
Grateful of a place to stay that offers amenities which many of them could not access from the state, Tampa's homeless are happy to align with the Occupy movement for now but when the protesters move on to Charlotte in North Carolina for the start of the Democrat National Convention on the 3rd of September its unclear what will happen to Romneyville and those left behind.
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