MIAMI -- The shantytown of sex offenders living along the Julia Tuttle Causeway is no longer "out of sight, out of mind." It's a health and safety hazard that is growing worse by the day.

Local laws require paroled sex offenders to not live within 2,500 feet of where children congregate.

Since that rules out just about everywhere, state corrections officers put these offenders under the bridge and along the bay shore. They live in tents with no running water. They use the bay as their bathroom.

Recently, Gov. Charlie Crist told Local 10 the state would work toward a solution. Weeks later, his people told Miami officials they need to solve the problem.

The finger-pointing needs to stop. The state must immediately stop the placement of paroled sex offenders on public land, and local officials must work together to enact uniform laws that prevent this from happening.

That's our take on things. Let us know what you think.