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Hurricane Helene flooded the existing homes at 421 15th Ave. S. in St. Petersburg. All images: Screengrabs, city documents. A developer will soon demolish several storm-damaged, 101-year-old apartments to build an environmentally resilient complex in the Bartlett Park neighborhood of South St. Petersburg. ​The city’s Development Review Commission approved the approximately $2 million project at 421 15th Ave. S. on Wednesday. St. Petersburg-based Storyn Studio for Architecture designed the new 11-unit community, which encompasses two buildings around a shared courtyard with a water feature. ​Local developer Jamie Duncan of Cowabungalows, LLC, purchased the .23-acre property in 2022 and subsequently completed multiple improvements. However, Hurricane Helene inundated what is now known as The Burg’ Bungalows in late September 2024. ​Braydon Evans, a principal planner who spoke on the developer’s behalf at the hearing, said the aging, 11-foot-tall structures received five feet of water. “Unfortunately, the buildings weren’t able to be resuscitated after the storm.” ​The developer will elevate residences in the new 32-foot-tall buildings, which remain well below the 48-foot maximum zoning allowance. Several commissioners credited the project for maintaining the surrounding neighborhood’s character while mitigating flood risks. ​“I actually think this project is really a unicorn, and I applaud the development team,” said Commissioner Will Conroy. ​“When you think about the hardening of our housing stock, raising things out of the flood zone … and you’ve pulled parking on-site, which is always a conversation that we have with these types of developments, and you agreed to improve the alley – I think this is an outstanding project.” St. Petersburg-based Storyn Studio for Architecture designed the new buildings. The complex will feature studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments with street-facing balconies. Amenities include a bicycle locker room to promote multimodal transportation and self-storage space. ​A city building official said the developer would eventually install a pool. The development will provide nine parking spaces rather than the eight required by code. ​While current zoning only permits three units, the developer can maintain the previously allowed density and build 11 new apartments. The commission also approved variances to front, side, and rear setbacks – the required distance between a structure and roads or property lines. ​The development team could have met the setback requirements by constructing one significantly taller building than the two they proposed, Evans said. “We weren’t able to design it in a way that was complementary to the existing structures.” A map of the area. ​ Commissioner Sarah Jane Vatelot appreciated the developer’s sensitivity to the surrounding neighborhood, which primarily consists of older homes that remain below the current floodplain. “I think this is a thoughtful application,” she said. ​ Some of her colleagues did not share the same sentiment. Commissioner Michael Kiernan, who passes the site several times weekly, said he felt conflicted due to setback concerns. He also thought, “This is what the area could really use – it will kickstart it, I think,” and ultimately approved the project. Commissioner Charles Flynt, who noted that other new multifamily developments in the area have complied with setback requirements, cast the sole opposing vote. ​“I understand they’re grandfathered – they have the right to build 11 units on the property,” Flynt said of the proposed project. “That doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do it if you can’t meet the setbacks.” ​Commissioners approved the redevelopment in a 6-1 vote. The developers must commence “substantial” construction by April 2029, according to city documents. Another view of the redevelopment. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

On Monday, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor (second from left) and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch (second from right) simultaneously threw out ceremonial first pitches at Tropicana Field, which hasn’t hosted a game since September 2024. All photos by Mark Parker. ​When asked who had the better ceremonial first pitch before Monday’s historic home opener at Tropicana Field, both Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch demurred. ​“Neither one of us have baseball careers,” Castor said. Welch noted that they “should have practiced a little bit more.” ​The rest of the day, however, was a resounding success as the Trop hosted baseball for the first time in 561 days. Over 25,000 fans watched as the Tampa Bay Rays recorded a thrilling 6-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. The Tampa Bay Rays started the 2026 season with a nine-game road trip to ensure a recently repaired Tropicana Field was ready to host baseball. A pre-game video montage provided a sobering reminder of the damage inflicted on the stadium and the surrounding community by Hurricane Milton. Repair workers, first responders, and Rays staff participated in the ceremony. ​Welch opined that Beth Herendeen, managing director of city development for St. Petersburg, should have received on-field recognition for leading an “extraordinary” effort to repair a domed stadium left open to the elements for nearly 15 months. “She just wants to do the work – that speaks to the kind of person she is,” Welch said. ​“It’s a lot to take in, given where we were not even 24 months ago,” Welch said of the buzzing atmosphere. “It’s just amazing, the transformation that has happened here.” ​Platinum-selling country music artist Eric Church performed the national anthem. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Hillsborough County commissioners watched the game from the owner’s suite amid the team’s ongoing quest to open a new stadium in Tampa in time for the 2029 season. ​Welch said the Rays are Tampa Bay’s team, and St. Petersburg has fulfilled its obligation to provide a major league ballpark through 2028. He and Castor did not discuss the future of baseball in the region. Welch said they “talked about trying to get the ball over the plate, and both of us were not successful.” ​The Rays realize his offer to extend the team’s lease remains “on the table,” Welch said. “When the time is right, we’ll talk about that.” Country music star Eric Church performed the National Anthem. St. Petersburg spent approximately $60 million on Trop repairs, and the Rays also unveiled several upgrades. Those included improved premium seating and club areas, a new speakeasy lounge, and a state-of-the-art video board with LED displays. Players have an expanded gym and larger lockers. ​Seven storm-displaced cownose rays from The Florida Aquarium returned to a renovated “Cownose Clubhouse” viewing area at the Trop. Rays CEO Ken Babby expressed his excitement for the homecoming during the game’s broadcast. ​“It’s incredible – what a moment for the community,” Babby said. “We’re back, guys, we’re back. What a day.” ​He called the video montage highlighting Milton’s destruction “emotional.” Babby, like many people, wondered if the Trop would ever host baseball again after touring the stadium during negotiations to buy the team. ​“The city and so many folks have been just so focused on this moment without taking their eye off the ball,” Babby added. “So much of this building was totally destroyed … but that American flag in center field survived two hurricanes without a scratch or a tear.” Rays CEO Ken Babby (right) during the National Anthem. ​Rays players, who received raucous cheers during pre-game introductions, also appreciated a return home to a packed and enclosed Tropicana Field. The team spent the 2025 season without air conditioning or a roof at the New York Yankees’ minor league ballpark in Tampa. “It was just great to feel the fans and have them here,” said Jonathan Aranda, whose two-run home run in the bottom of the 7th inning provided the winning margin over the Cubs. “With everything the stadium went through, obviously, it’s just a great feeling. Just to hear the roar and to have them here and have their support and have their love, it makes things great for us.” The Rays will play at Tropicana Field through Sunday before embarking on another road trip. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos Rays CEO Ken Babby (right) talks with principal owner Patrick Zalupski before the game. A team staffer and mascot Raymond share an embrace. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch (right) said he and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor did not discuss the team’s future before the ceremonial first pitch. The Rays would go on to beat the Cubs 6-4. From left: Rays co-chair Bill Cosgrove, CEO Ken Babby, Gov. Ron DeSantis, and co-chair Patrick Zalupski walk across the street to Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill after the game. The team bought customers a round of beer. Image: Screengrab, Rays. ​

Barry Brown, principal at Gibbs High School, walks through a new weapon detection system. Image: Pinellas County Schools. Two schools in Pinellas County began testing new weapon detection systems on Tuesday. Hyper-responsive settings and rain dampened the launch at one site. ​Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor University High School are participating in a pilot program that runs through May 29. District officials chose the locations “based on the size of their campuses and the number of students and staff at each,” according to the announcement. ​The advanced, walk-through systems typically utilize artificial intelligence to detect weapons while “allowing students to move efficiently through designated entry points.” However, students at Palm Harbor University High reportedly endured long lines in the rain on Tuesday morning as the technology flagged belts, jewelry, and other items they were told didn’t need to be removed. ​Those false alarms necessitated additional screenings, which exacerbated the problem. Isabel Mascarenas, public information officer for Pinellas County Schools (PCS), said in a prepared statement that one of three checkpoints closed earlier than scheduled “due to an operational adjustment and the inclement weather.” ​“However, other checkpoints at the school remained open and continued to process students smoothly,” Mascarenas added. “These challenges are expected during a pilot and will help us refine the process to ensure both efficiency and student safety.” ​The goal is to evaluate how the systems perform in high-traffic environments, including morning arrivals and large school events. District administrators, the PCS police department, and local law enforcement partners at each campus are overseeing implementation. ​Gibbs High avoided any inaugural issues, and both schools will continue testing the technology. Principal Barry Brown, in a PCS video, noted that the systems are increasingly common at many public events and facilities. ​“Unlike traditional metal detectors, individuals do not need to remove most items from their pockets or backpacks before passing through the systems,” Brown said. “However, BLUE items – binders, laptops, umbrellas, and eyeglass cases – may need to be removed from backpacks and handed to staff members to help prevent false alarms.” ​Students should not have to remove their cell phones, keys, coins, jackets, belts, wallets, watches, or jewelry. PCS is testing systems from Evolv and OPENGATE. ​Lee County’s school district reported a 39% decrease in safety incidents after installing OPENGATE systems. No facilities showed an increase. ​However, other districts have also encountered false alarms. An automated weapon detection system triggered a “Code Red” at a middle school near Orlando in December 2025 because a student held a clarinet like a rifle. Pinellas County Schools will continue fine-tuning the technology throughout the pilot program. Image: Pinellas County Schools. ​A PCS website states that vendor representatives and the district’s safety and security team trained administrators and staff. The principals of both pilot schools also visited facilities in Manatee and Sarasota Counties that have implemented similar systems to ensure that “questions from a school perspective were thoroughly addressed.” ​Joe Weisman, chief of schools police for PCS, said the district will “utilize information from this pilot to inform future decisions and implementation.” Sean Jowell, director of safety and security, told the media on Monday that elementary and middle schools could receive the systems if the school board “chooses to move forward in that direction.” ​”Is there some pushback? Of course there is,” Jowell said. “There always is, but that’s a balance. Honestly, I couldn’t tell what it’s going to look like at the end of this, but we’re going to find out.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Multiple city council members want St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch to wait for the results of an Urban Land Institute study before selecting a developer to reimagine the Historic Gas Plant District. His administration prefers to complete the work simultaneously. Photo by Mark Parker. ​St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch plans to select a proposal to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District, currently home to Tropicana Field, in June. Negotiating a term sheet will take another year. ​A city council committee and administrators discussed what some believe is a rushed timeline and the role of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) in the process on Thursday. Welch recently announced a “slight adjustment” to incorporate feedback from ULI, the world’s largest network of land use experts. ​Lee Lowry, executive director of ULI Tampa Bay, said the nonprofit will “fast-track” the study while city officials conduct community engagement and analyze shortlisted proposals. Councilmember Gina Driscoll asked if the administration would select a developer and negotiate terms before receiving a final report. ​While a selected developer would work with the ULI as it completes the study’s second phase, City Administrator James Corbett does not expect a project term sheet until the end of the year or early 2027 – several months after municipal elections in November. He believes the summer of 2027 is a “realistic” target date for the council to approve formal agreements. ​“There are some who say that this is moving very fast, and so that really helps put things in perspective,” said Driscoll. ​While she felt “a little bit better” about the timeline, Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. expressed ongoing concerns regarding a potentially rushed ULI study. He wants to ensure the organization has adequate time to “provide a fleshed-out recommendation for what should be done at this site.” ​“I want to know what the benefits are citywide when we redevelop this site,” Givens added. “How does it help the entire City of St. Pete, not just those 86 acres?” ​The study ​Councilmember Brandi Gabbard requested Thursday’s discussion in October 2025, two weeks after the city received an unsolicited redevelopment proposal from Ark Ellison Horus. Four days later, Welch announced that he would launch the land disposition process and accept additional bids. ​In early February, the council, in a 6-2 vote, approved a nonbinding resolution urging Welch to “pause any action” related to the proposal process and conduct additional planning. He disagreed with “that need.” ​“We’ve been planning for more than a decade,” Welch told Power Broker Magazine in late March. “We’ve done a lot of planning since then.” A graphic outlining the study’s first phase. Image: City documents. ​Councilmember Mike Harting questioned the administration’s current support for the ULI study on Thursday. He asked if city officials are “really going to make this part of the process,” or if they were “just talking about it on the surface to try and find a way for us to get along.” ​City Administrator Rob Gerdes said Welch’s team, through productive conversations with ULI representatives, realized the study could be “very beneficial to developing the term sheet and the overall development.” ​“So, based on those discussions, there appeared to be a path forward where we could cooperate with the resolution and the city council’s request, continue on a reasonable timeline, and make it a positive for the process that we’re doing,” Gerdes concluded. ​The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership is raising funding for the study’s estimated $135,000 first phase. CEO Jason Mathis said multiple other stakeholders have expressed interest in contributing. ​A volunteer group of ULI experts will analyze and aggregate previous redevelopment studies and years of community feedback. The overarching goal is to identify key priorities and provide a conceptual vision, Lowry said. ​The ULI will “bring it all together in a concise report” and ensure there are no “voices missing,” Lowry added. She also emphasized the organization’s focus on transparency and eliminating biases. ​“I’m grateful to see how phase one is laid out,” said Councilmember Richie Floyd. “There’s a lot of questions to be answered around what goes on beyond that, but I think this is a good start.” ​Lowry said the ULI could complete the first phase by the end of May. The second will take three to four months “from the time we sign the contract.” ​City officials have yet to establish a scope for the second phase, and multiple council members expressed concern over the administration selecting a developer before receiving the study’s final recommendations. “I believe we can do both together,” Corbett said. ​“The reason that ULI brings value is because they are an independent third party,” Gabbard said. “They do not have any financial gain in what eventually happens at the site. And I think that is critical, because once we start engaging developers … the scope changes, and the output will change.” ​The city will host a public meeting with shortlisted developers at The Coliseum on April 30, and Gabbard noted that “time is certainly of the essence.” Committee members approved her motion for the administration to provide a draft scope of work for the study’s second phase within two weeks. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Tampa Bay Rays principal owner Patrick Zalupski and CEO Ken Babby at the team’s 2026 home opener in St. Petersburg. The team’s lease at Tropicana Field terminates following the 2028 season. Photo by Mark Parker. ​A proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium financing deal includes $1.065 billion in public funding and a self-imposed deadline of June 1, according to a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU). ​Hillsborough County, which would contribute $750 million, received the document on Thursday. The Rays also seek $251 million from the City of Tampa and an additional $64 million from other public funding sources, including a federal disaster relief grant. ​While the Rays will contribute $1.235 billion and cover all cost overruns, the total highlighted in the draft, obtained by Power Broker Magazine, is $465 million more than what the team previously requested from Pinellas County and St. Petersburg. Rays CEO Ken Babby expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts of the parties listed in the 16-page document: Hillsborough County, Tampa, and the Tampa Sports Authority. ​“This Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step forward and reflects a responsible public-private partnership that can be achieved through open communication and a commitment to getting this right for the community,” Babby said in a prepared statement. A rendering of the $2.3 billion ballpark. Image: Tampa Bay Rays. ​Not so fast ​The MOU provides the first financing framework for a $2.3 billion stadium at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry Campus since negotiations with the county began in early February. It also lacks critical details, including the amount of funding the team would receive from local tourist development taxes, the half-cent Community Investment Tax, and the Drew Park Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). ​“The Parties need to finalize the (funding) sources and uses, which will be completed and agreed upon prior to execution of this Agreement,” states the document. ​In addition, County Attorney Julia Mandell, in an email to commissioners, wrote that “this document is purely the work product of the Rays’ organization; it has not been reviewed or analyzed by any of the government entities … Therefore, none of the governmental entities, including the county administration, have provided any comments to the Rays organization on this document.” ​Mandell added that none of the governmental stakeholders have “discussed the contents of this document with each other.” Time is of the essence, at least for the Rays. ​The MOU states that those parties “shall work together to finalize and approve” project agreements by June 1 to “maintain a schedule that enables timely commencement and completion of the new stadium project by the 2029 Opening Day target date.” ​Commissioner Josh Wostal took issue with multiple aspects of the proposed MOU. He was particularly concerned with a clause that states the county and city, if unable to meet funding contributions, “shall use best efforts” to secure alternative financing, “including, without limitation, state appropriations, infrastructure grants, or other municipal financing mechanisms, such as Capital Improvement Project funds.” ​“It’s riddled with so many poison pills that I believe it’s an intentional attempt to kill the deal,” Wostal said. “And that no elected official could reasonably vote on what was proposed.” ​The MOU also states that the county will use U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) disaster relief funding for infrastructure upgrades at the stadium site. Area stakeholders can, however, use the ballpark during declared emergencies. ​“I told them from the beginning that they’re out of their minds if they ask for our Hurricane Milton funds for families whose lives got devastated, and we haven’t even been able to provide them relief yet,” Wostal said. “And they want us to fix their stormwater issues instead of people’s homes.” An aerial view of the stadium and surrounding $8 billion mixed-use district. Image: Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays also want 85% of all CRA revenues to fund stadium capital expenditures rather than area improvements. Although the redevelopment area is scheduled to terminate in 2034, the MOU proposes an extension until 2056. ​A stadium lease with the county would span 35 years, with the option for up to 15 years in renewals. The Rays will pay $10 annually. ​Benefits ​The Rays will cover all stadium maintenance, capital improvement, repair, and insurance costs. Ownership will agree to a non-relocation agreement. ​Stakeholders will establish a community benefits package “that will address, among other things, local hiring goals, living wage commitments, community access, youth engagement, neighborhood enhancements, and direct community investments,” states the MOU. ​An overview released by the Rays calls the undefined community benefits agreement the “largest in city and county history.” It adds that all parties have agreed to a “do no harm approach as it relates to longstanding public priorities,” particularly police, fire, and emergency management services. ​The Rays reiterated that the ballpark ($10.4 billion) and the privately funded, $8 billion surrounding mixed-use district ($23.6 billion) will generate a $34 billion direct economic impact over 30 years. The team also expects the project to foster 11,900 permanent and 40,000 “full-time equivalent” jobs. Commissioners will discuss the draft MOU at a workshop on April 14. A vote could come on May 6, and Babby said the team looks forward to working with stakeholders “as we refine the plan and move the process ahead.” A graphic highlighting purported project benefits for Hillsborough College and the community. Image: Screengrab. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Maggie Rogers, executive director of Catholic Charities, said Tampa Hope has served nearly 2,000 people in just over four years and will continue expanding. All images: City of Tampa. The Tampa Hope campus began in 2020 with an ambitious vision to temporarily shelter 100 people experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapidly evolving facility can now house over 350 people. ​Mayor Jane Castor and city of Tampa officials joined Maggie Rogers, executive director of Catholic Charities, on April 8 to celebrate the unveiling of 100 new-and-improved Hope Cottages. The tiny homes offer more space than the previous models, high-efficiency heating and cooling, and, perhaps most importantly, privacy for residents. ​The facility at 3704 E. 3rd Ave., in an industrial area of Tampa, now has 215 total cottages, thanks to a $1.2 million grant from the city. Castor noted that Tampa Hope, which also provides holistic wrap-around services to help residents transition into permanent housing, is now a “well-oiled operation that continues to grow.” ​“Tampa Hope treats the whole person,” Castor said. “Everything that is provided here is helpful to the individuals and helps them go from a state of homelessness to becoming productive members of our community.” The new Hope Cottages can withstand a Category 5 hurricane. The new, 70-square-foot cottages feature beds, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, power outlets, shelving, windows, and storage space. Each home can also withstand Category 5 hurricane-force winds. ​Catholic Charities, which operates the shelter, incorporated feedback from clients to ensure the cottages meet their needs. Each tiny home costs approximately $25,000. ​Tampa Hope provides three meals daily, toiletries, clothing, restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Outreach specialists locate homeless individuals and bring them to the shelter. ​Case managers and housing specialists ensure that clients have access to basic health and dental care, mental health and substance abuse counseling, employment skills, financial literacy education, and other resources to help them secure permanent housing. “That’s what we’re looking for – and really, that is what Tampa Hope is all about,” Castor said. ​Castor noted that the city used Pinellas Hope, also operated by Catholic Charities, as a model for the Tampa shelter. “We looked around the nation, and it brought us right back home,” she said. ​The current, permanent facility opened in December 2021. Rogers, whom Castor called “one of the city’s real-life superheroes,” said she and her team established the shelter in roughly a month. ​Tampa Hope has now served nearly 2,000 people. Rogers said approximately 40% have obtained permanent housing, far surpassing the national average of 25% for emergency shelters. Tampa Hope now has 215 total cottages and 116 single-occupancy tents. ​The facility’s 215 cottages represent the “largest pallet village in the country, which is pretty cool,” Rogers said. “And we’re not going to stop there; I plan to add at least another 60. Right now we have about 350 beds on campus, and I will take us to over 400, as promised.” ​Rogers also announced that Tampa Hope plans to add a medical clinic, a welcome center, and new partner and staff offices. She thanked city officials for their support and “believing in us.” ​City Councilmember Lynn Hurtak said she understood the vision for Tampa Hope, but the reality is “more than I really could have ever imagined.” She believes the campus is proof that officials are “focusing on all aspects of housing affordability.” ​The city has provided Tampa Hope with $7.4 million in funding since 2021. Officials budgeted $1 million annually for the shelter, and Hurtak said councilmembers have reallocated an additional $500,000 for the facility this year. ​“We are always looking for creative ways to capitalize on these types of assets and support our program,” Hurtak said. “Tampa Hope has been a huge success story and a model for others nationwide.” Tampa Mayor Jane Castor called Maggie Rogers, executive director of Catholic Charities, “one of the city’s real-life superheroes.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (left) and Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Port Tampa Bay, celebrate the facility receiving $10 million in federal funding on Thursday. Photos: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s office. Florida’s largest port now has $10 million in federal funding to launch an ambitious project that enhances navigational safety, increases cargo capacity, and strengthens Tampa Bay’s economy. ​Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced the grants on Thursday at Port Tampa Bay. She secured $3 million through a Community Priority Project Funding request to advance planning, engineering, and design work to deepen the harbor. ​Castor also announced that the port will receive $7 million in general-use funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, thanks to the efforts of the Florida Congressional Delegation, which she led. Raul Alfonso, vice president of Port Tampa Bay, said the Tampa Harbor Navigation Improvement Project is the largest and most important endeavor in the facility’s history. ​“This investment moves a generational project forward,” Alfonso said. “It’s one that will expand capacity, improve efficiency, and strengthen the supply chains that Florida’s economy depends on.” ​The six-phased, $1.5 billion project will deepen the port’s 42-mile shipping channel to accommodate larger ships carrying additional cargo. Castor noted the amount of fuel, food, construction materials, and other goods needed to support a rapidly growing region. ​Florida’s most cargo-diverse seaport generates $34.6 billion in annual economic value and supports over 192,000 jobs across Tampa Bay. Castor said the Iran war, and the country’s subsequent shuttering of the Strait of Hormuz, has highlighted the importance of “free navigation and free supply chains.” ​Castor said port disruptions would exacerbate the region and nation’s ongoing affordability crisis. “We’re not going to let that happen,” she added. ​“We’re going to continue to uplift this economy and make sure people can survive and thrive.” From left: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor; Raul Alfonso, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Port Tampa Bay; Charles Klug, principal counsel for Port Tampa Bay; Ryan Fierst, vice president of legal affairs for Port Tampa Bay; Brian Giuliani, chief operating officer for Port Tampa Bay; Karl Strauch, vice president of marketing for Port Tampa Bay; and Thomas Hobbs, chief external affairs officer for Port Tampa Bay. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, now eligible for a third term, hopes to regain his title. Photo courtesy of Hannah Webster, Omnicom. Bob Buckhorn, a long-rumored candidate to run for mayor of Tampa in 2027, has made it official. ​The former mayor, who led the city from 2011 to 2019, filed paperwork and launched his campaign on Monday. Buckhorn told the media stationed outside of the downtown County Center that it was “time to come back and finish the job.” ​“It’s time to deal with the challenges that have come with our success, and there are a few,” Buckhorn said of Tampa’s growth. “But I will tell you this: I would much prefer to deal with those challenges and preside over a city that’s growing, that’s alive, that’s vibrant, than preside over a city that’s dying. This city’s best days are yet to come.” ​Buckhorn joins nine other candidates vying to replace Mayor Jane Castor, who is term-limited after serving for eight consecutive years. His political committee has already raised $1.8 million with less than a year until the March 2027 election. ​Buckhorn’s campaign mantra is “A Tampa for all of us.” He is running to “build a city that is the envy of the nation.” ​“We’ve proven we can do it – I’ve already done it,” Buckhorn added. “We’re going to take care of the basics, and we’re going to build a city for everybody.” ​He pledged to create a more efficient construction permitting system “on day one.” Buckhorn also emphasized the importance of maintaining Tampa’s authenticity and celebrating its diversity. ​The city must solve its transportation woes, Buckhorn said, or “we will choke on our growth.” He will advocate for state and federal investments in light rail and mass transit. ​Buckhorn noted that he helped Tampa emerge from a recession, when “jobs were fleeing, and companies were closing, and our best and brightest young people were leaving for other cities.” He said the city’s subsequent evolution has “exceeded our wildest expectations.” ​A crowded field of candidates includes City Councilmember Lynn Hurtak. Her colleague Bill Carlson has said that he will file in the coming months. ​Ryan Edwards, Anthony Gilbert Jr., Gary Hartfield, Alan Henderson, Julie Magill, Tres Rodmon, Taryn Sabia, and Reginald Strachan have also declared their candidacy. The race will head to a runoff election on April 27, 2027, if no candidate receives over 50% of the vote on March 2. ​“Whoever else wants to come out, come on out,” Buckhorn said of his competition on Monday. “I’ll be ready.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Artist and educator Debbie Garrett poses in front of her artwork. Image courtesy of Debbie Garrett.Among community leaders who are making a change in the St. Petersburg area, artist, educator, and mentor Debbie Garrett advocates for creatives and youth while rallying support for environmental progress in the St. Pete area. Among community leaders who are making a change in the St. Petersburg area, artist, educator, and mentor Debbie Garrett advocates for creatives and youth while rallying support for environmental progress in the St. Pete area. “My inspiration comes from wanting to live in a community where I can feel like my community is thriving around me,” said Garrett. Garrett always felt like she was meant to serve and heal those around her. She’s an art teacher at Pinellas County Job Corps, where she’s taught for 15 years; is president and co-founder of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, Inc. (PDAP); and is an award-winning independent filmmaker for her film series SIMI. She also curates the Black Art Film Festival and organizes the upcoming annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival. Garrett will once more organize the Tampa Bay Chalk Festival on the Deuces [22nd Street South between 7th Ave S & 9th Ave S] on Saturday, May 2, 2026, with over 20 community artists creating with the theme “OUR WATERY FUTURES.” Image courtesy of Debbie Garrett “As a teacher, I do ceramics, I paint, I draw, I sew, I crochet, I do so many different things. But most importantly, I try to show young people that art is a tool for distressing, meditation, for love, for beauty,” said Garrett. Arist Myiah Moody Huff has been a regular chalk artist at the annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival on the Deuces, now in its fourth year. Image courtesy of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project and Tampa Bay Chalk Festival. In addition to these roles, she’s also a photographer, cinematographer, Healing Touch Practitioner (level 3), works alongside Dreammakerz Production and the Sunshine City Film Festival, and serves as an event coordinator for Ladies in Film & Entertainment (L.I.F.E), and the list goes on. Ultimately, Garrett is a multifaceted artist who uses her advanced background to educate and open opportunities for those with limited resources in the artistic space. “I cannot let my students come around me and not give them something that they can take away and give to somebody else later. It’s about paying it forward,” Garrett said. Garrett traces her artistic journey back to her collegiate years. She attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and worked as a stagehand at the National Black Theatre in Harlem, where she handled various production work, including backdrops and artwork. She continued her arts studies at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she graduated with a degree in Visual Arts and Business Management, and was awarded the Excellence in Visual Arts Honor. In the 30 years that Garrett has rooted herself in the Sunshine City, she’s helped push artistic boundaries and coax artistic awakenings in those interested in the medium. Since 2025, Garrett has served as PDAP’s president, embodying the nonprofit’s vision to strengthen its community by expanding access to arts, technology, media, and civic exchange. She hopes to build a community in St. Pete where individuals can coexist. “We need an intersection of art mediums so people can just get a better understanding and look through the different lenses of art. I’m trying to strike up conversations to heal the community,” Garrett explained. Through the various events and programs hosted by PDAP, this goal is within reach. On Saturday, May 2nd, the fourth annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival will commence on the sidewalks of 22nd Street South between 7th Ave S & 9th Ave S. This free community event is open to the public to create art: this year’s theme is “Our Watery Futures.” This year will also feature a tea ceremony, group art activity, and environmental discussion at WADA (Warehouse Arts District Association). This event also comes at a critical time, as a historic water shortage is affecting residents in the Tampa Bay area, with officials citing it as one of Florida’s most severe water shortages in 50 years. Effective mid-March and early April of 2026, Tampa was declared a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage due to severe drought. The 16-county region is working on implementing conservation guidelines. It has recently enforced a mandatory one-day-a-week watering restriction — reducing lawn watering during certain days/times based on residents’ addresses, according to Ian Oliver, Fox Weather’s meteorologist and host. “If people will simply follow that restriction of water once a week, you can save up to 2500 gallons of water per day per irrigation cycle,” said the Chief Science Officer for Tampa Bay Water, Warren Hogg. “So we’re asking the public to step up and save water, help us extend the regional water supply, leave water in the environment.” Artists at the 2nd annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival; Image courtesy of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project and Tampa Bay Chalk Festival. Garrett advocates that the artists use the Chalk Festival as an “open art gallery” for the public. While focusing on the vitality of Tampa’s waterways, she urges attendees to take full advantage of the environmental discussion happening at WADA at noon. “We need to start teaching our children how to conserve water,” said Garrett. “My concept is that the artists will be mindful of waterways and incorporate that in their artwork.” Young artists draw on the sidewalk; Image courtesy of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project and Tampa Bay Chalk Festival. The ultimate takeaway of the festival is to create a chain reaction of community. Garrett hopes eventgoers leave with a sense of duty and mindfulness regarding the city’s environment. “Once people leave that community event, it’s up to them to spread that knowledge, to spread that joy, that information,” said Garrett. According to Garrett, “Celebrating our role in caring for our global climate, the festival captures a theme educating our community on how they can be environmentally conscious and proactive stewards of the Earth while also creating a space for the youth to engage in artistic expression.” Image courtesy of Debbie Garrett Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube Artists at the 2nd annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival; image courtesy of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project. Attendees at the 2nd annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival. Image courtesy of Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project An artist works on his chalk drawing at the 2nd annual Tampa Bay Chalk Festival.

Bianca Lanoue, a University of South Florida graduate and technology architecture analyst at Accenture, built early momentum in tech through internships, mentorship, and community involvement while still in college. As AI and emerging technology continue to reshape the industry, her journey reflects how hands-on experience, strong guidance, and intentional preparation can help new graduates move from the classroom into competitive career spaces. Photo courtesy Lanoue. As the tech industry continues to expand, and artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into everyday life and workflows, breaking into the field can feel both promising and highly competitive for new graduates. With the industry moving quickly, new tools are emerging, and companies are looking for people who can keep up with that pace. In a field that often demands experience, coming out of college with only a degree is rarely enough to secure a position. Hands-on experience, professional exposure, and strong mentorship can be pivotal – making the difference between wanting a tech career and actually obtaining one. That pressure is backed by the numbers. SignalFire’s 2025 tech talent report found that new grad hiring in tech is down 50 percent from pre-pandemic levels. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that recent college graduates saw unemployment rise to 5.7 percent in late 2025, with underemployment reaching 42.5 percent, the highest level since 2020. Handshake, a career platform that connects college students and recent graduates with employers, found that 57 percent of Class of 2025 students felt pessimistic about starting their careers, with many pointing to stiff competition for jobs and the rise of generative AI. As entry-level opportunities grow harder to secure, the gap between earning a degree and landing a role is becoming harder to close without practical experience. Bianca Lanoue is one example of what it looks like to take steps that propel yourself forward in tech. A recent University of South Florida graduate with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, Lanoue completed internships with Accenture and TD SYNNEX before stepping into a full-time role as a technology architecture analyst at Accenture. She said those experiences gave her something the classroom alone could not. “You’re not going to understand how companies work until you’re in them,” Lanoue said. “Being in school teaches you the concepts and sometimes a lot of the technical skills that you need. But that’s just the foundation.” Lanoue adds that students hoping to enter tech should start studying the industry before they ever reach graduation. As AI and security continue to shape hiring needs, she believes students should be paying attention to what companies are investing in, what tools they are adopting, and what skills they expect employees to build. That kind of awareness can shape everything from internship choices to coursework, certifications, and networking efforts while students are still in school. “If you’re new coming in, you know what tools and what skills you might need to go after and learn to succeed,” Lanoue said. The preparation did not stop at internships. While at USF, Bianca Lanoue stayed active in organizations that helped sharpen the kind of skills employers still look for beyond technical ability. She spoke about leading Women of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow, and paying close attention to what it takes to bring people together, work across teams, and grow as a leader. “The best leaders not only know how to get stuff done and stay on task, but they have this quality of being comfortable with their team members, so that their team members are comfortable with them,” she said. In an industry moving deeper into AI, that kind of collaboration and people-centered leadership remains just as important as learning new tools. During her 2023 to 2024 term as president of Women of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow, Lanoue (Center) helped lead the organization for a year and a half, creating space for connection, growth, and leadership development among young women on campus. This captures the kind of teamwork, responsibility, and people-centered leadership that helped shape skills she now carries into the professional world. Photo courtesy Lanoue. That same mindset continues beyond graduation. Along with her role at Accenture, Lanoue said she is helping rebuild the Tampa Bay professional chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and has also taken an interest in spaces like AI Salon. Those connections matter because for students and new graduates, community can be part of the bridge into the industry. Being in the right rooms, staying connected to alumni and professionals, and learning from people already doing the work can open doors that are otherwise hard to find. Mentorship, she said, is a major part of that process. The value is not just encouragement. It is honest insight from people who understand the industry firsthand. “You’re not going to understand how the company works, or the pros and cons of a company, on the website,” Lanoue said. “You have to find out from other people who already have that experience.” She credited one longtime mentor, Roth Marcelin, with helping her strengthen her resume, prepare for interviews, and better understand the professional world she was stepping into. That guidance does not always have to come through a formal program. Sometimes it comes from alumni, colleagues, or professionals who are simply willing to stay in touch and answer questions with honesty. “You also don’t need a formal mentor to get all your questions answered,” she said. “You can just ask different people within your company, different alumni within your school.” For students trying to break into tech, especially as AI continues to reshape the field, that kind of access can make the path feel less distant and more possible. For the next generation entering tech, her advice is to be intentional, stay teachable, and go after opportunities early. “You have to ask for what you want,” she said. “Don’t wait for people to just give you opportunities.” She encourages young professionals to give themselves room to keep learning once they enter the workforce. “Be okay with being a student again,” she said. In a job market where entry-level roles are harder to secure, that mix of initiative, community, and preparation can make all the difference. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos USF Class of 2025, earned her bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity before stepping into the tech industry through internships, mentorship and early hands-on experience. Photo courtesy Lanoue. Bianca Lanoue officially joined the company full time in March 2026 after first building her experience there as an intern over two summers. The photo captures a full-circle moment in her journey, showing how early exposure, consistency and preparation helped turn an internship opportunity into a career launch. Photo courtesy Lanoue.

City officials closed the application portal in February after receiving exponentially more requests for assistance than planned. Photo by Mark Parker. St. Petersburg is now distributing $61 million in residential storm recovery funding following several months of federal delays. Case managers, who are “just getting started,” have awarded more than $48,000, according to Thursday’s announcement. The social media post called the payments an “important step in helping our community recover from the 2024 hurricanes,” and a priority for Mayor Ken Welch. ​Residents who applied for disaster relief assistance, which includes reimbursements for rent, mortgages, and utility bills, are receiving the program’s first checks. Welch noted that “not that long ago, our landscape looked completely different.” ​“Just think back to the debris, the damage … all the things that really changed our way of life, and how quickly we recovered in most of the city,” Welch told Power Broker Magazine. “And we’re still providing assistance to those who are still in recovery. I think folks realize it takes leadership to do that, not theatrics.” ​The long-awaited federal funding stems from the $160 million Sunrise St. Pete initiative. Thursday’s announcement notes that disaster relief applicants should continue working with their case managers for program updates. ​However, the city stopped accepting applications for residential recovery funding on Feb. 15, two months after the portal opened, due to an influx of requests. The Sunrise St. Pete’s website states that staff are reviewing previous submissions to “see if we can serve more people.” ​“Intake may reopen only if funds remain,” states the website. “Please note that reopening is not guaranteed.” ​City council members approved the $61 million residential recovery program in early October 2025. A historically long government shutdown prevented the opening of applications in November. ​St. Petersburg began accepting funding requests in December. However, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) told Welch’s administration in January that it was amending a grant agreement received in October. ​HUD subsequently issued a new contract that incorporated executive orders related to gender ideology, discrimination, abortion, and immigration. The city council approved it on Jan. 22. ​Welch called the federal delays “crazy.” Pinellas County did not encounter the same issues and began distributing its $813 million People First Hurricane Recovery Program checks in December. ​Sunrise St. Pete awards for home repairs, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and elevation assistance will “follow later in the spring, after damage assessments are complete,” states the website. The city understands the “impact this has on residents” awaiting payments and is “moving as quickly as possible to ensure funds are released promptly.” ​Officials initially expected 784 people to apply for the disaster relief assistance. They received 1,560 applications in less than two months. ​The city also planned to provide 98 households with up to $375,000 for home rehabilitation, reconstruction, and elevation. Residents submitted 747 applications before the portal closed on Feb. 15. ​Another 308 people applied for up to $50,000 to repair their homes, 30 more than expected. The website notes that applicants are not “first-come, first-served.” ​The lowest-earning households, particularly those with age-dependent or disabled members, are first in line for rehabilitation and reconstruction funding. Tenants in those categories receive priority for relief payments. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Dr. Jeffery Johnson, chairman of the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Agency, plans to eventually add “mayor of Tampa” to an already extensive resume. Photo: Facebook. Dr. Jeffery Johnson is a pastor, founder, executive, U.S. Navy lieutenant, global ambassador, and Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He also has unfinished business in the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). ​Johnson was reelected, unopposed, to a second one-year term as chairman of Florida’s largest CRA in November 2025. While navigating notoriously slow city processes presents a hurdle, he is particularly proud of efforts to mitigate the ongoing affordable housing crisis. ​Property taxes collected within CRAs help revitalize surrounding neighborhoods rather than fund citywide initiatives. The agency that oversees East Tampa’s revitalization allocated $4.77 million in fiscal year 2024, according to the City of Tampa’s most recent annual report. ​“If my numbers serve me correctly, we’ve already given over $2 million of down payment assistance in the past year,” Johnson said. “We’ve done $1.5 million in housing rehabs to help people stay in their homes in East Tampa.” A map of the East Tampa Community Redevelopment Area. Image: City of Tampa. Johnson, also chief strategy officer for the Corporation to Develop Communities (CDC) of Tampa, said the CRA has “been a catalyst” for a facade grant program that bolsters struggling businesses. A city website highlights several other ongoing initiatives that improve parks, support entrepreneurs, create additional affordable housing, and enhance security at a 107-year-old cemetery. ​East Tampa encompasses 7.5 miles, and Johnson said its size and geography present both benefits and challenges. The community is “becoming progressive,” and has seen an influx of new residents who “may not know the history.” ​“East Tampa was not always known as East Tampa,” Johnson explained. “It was more or less different neighborhoods – Jackson Heights, Belmont Heights, College Hill, Ponce De Leon – and the residents never changed the name to East Tampa. It was wayfinding through the city that changed it.” ​Area residents were historically longtime homeowners, Johnson said. The CRA is the closest district to Ybor City, and rapidly evolving demographics can create “tensions.” ​However, Johnson believes that a community needs mixed incomes and uses to “keep it thriving.” He said affordable and market-rate developments with commercial space, a CRA priority, create an “economic engine” for residents and business owners. ​“That’s what I’m looking forward to – that our business market is strengthened and stronger in East Tampa,” Johnson added. An East Tampa CRA public art collage. Photo: City of Tampa. Municipal bureaucracy is an ongoing impediment to progress. “Honestly, I see things moving quicker in other CRAs,” Johnson said. Those include areas around downtown, including the Channel District. ​Johnson said that at times, “it seems as if there’s an intentional delay” when requesting city approval for an East Tampa project. “I can’t prove it, but it seems that way.” ​“The rate of development should be faster than what it is,” Johnson said. “It seems as if some items are being slow-walked, and it is limiting the progression.” ​He believes East Tampa needs a “champion” in the private sector to foster public partnerships. Johnson used developer Darryl Shaw, who is behind the six-million-square-foot Gasworx project in Ybor City, as an example. ​Johnson said the CRA needs someone to “put money up” and consider a development as their “beacon of light to make sure that the growth and development of East Tampa is connected to what I do.” ​The community has a public sector champion in Johnson, 43, who plans to run for mayor in 10 years. He wants the city to extend the CRA, currently scheduled to sunset in 2034. ​Johnson noted that the CRA has sought to redevelop what is known as the “Gator Building” since purchasing the property in 2018. The building opened in 1951 at the intersection of East Lake Avenue and North 22nd Street. ​A request for qualifications from developers to transform the “prime” property into a business incubator with a food hall and event plaza was “finally” approved in early March, Johnson said. “And the way that’s going to go, that building would not be developed until probably 2028, 2029.” ​“That’s 10-11 years for one project,” Johnson said. “That’s unacceptable.” ​He believes the city should extend the CRA’s lifespan to compensate for project delays. The agency is also updating its Community Development Plan, which outlines area initiatives and programming over the next decade. ​Johnson said the CRA’s mission should continue until another “champion” realizes “there’s a systemic problem in East Tampa,” and then works to ensure that “these items and projects are completed.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Smith hosted a reading event for her published book at Canguros’ preschool & private school located in St. Petersburg, FL. Photo courtesy of Taylor Smith. Taylor Smith is changing the digital landscape of the St. Petersburg area one website at a time. Taylor Smith is the founder and CEO of TTC Agency (Taylor the Creator Agency), a creative studio and digital strategy partner that designs websites for non-profits, educators, and institutions. Since starting her business in 2020, Smith has single-handedly designed and remastered over 140 websites for organizations. “I started out just building websites, but as my clients’ websites grew, so did their needs. Now, I don’t just build websites — I build digital ecosystems that help my clients and organizations run a lot smoother,” said Smith. As a digital marketing strategist and web systems manager, Smith noted that creating websites is just one aspect of the job. The web developer is also adept at database management, system configuration, mobile optimization, launch support, and more. With her expertise, Smith turns “digital chaos” into clarity. “In a nutshell, a lot of organizations don’t necessarily need more tools; they just need them structured, clarified, and then a system to keep those tools working,” Smith explained. The TTC Agency works with Hypatia Collaborative, a shared service organization that partners vetted contractors to nonprofits, legal services, financial management programs, and more. Recent web design works from the TTC Agency include The Deuces Live, Inc., and St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society, Inc. (SPIFFS). In addition to her partnerships, the web agency is a registered, licensed vendor on Sam.gov, the official US government system for contracting. Smith has a background in education and taught for four years at the Weinberg Early Learning Center at The Temple, based in Atlanta. She worked as an English language arts substitute in the Clearwater school system and received her master’s in professional writing, with a minor in technical writing from Kennesaw State University. Passionate about representation and access, Smith ties her own educational journey into web design in her published book, “Tech is Magic: Tech Tales & Activities for Curious Kids.” This STEM-themed children’s book introduces the world of technology to young minds with vivid illustrations that spark their imaginations. “I want technology to not be intimidating for kids. It’s really about representation, confidence, and showing kids they’re not just users and consumers of technology, but that they can create too,” Smith said. Smith’s book is integrated into both Canguros’ preschool & private school, and Children Read Atlanta. A sequel is in development, but until its release, you can purchase it on her site. Introduction to technology isn’t limited to young children alone. Through its newsletter, Tech Queens Weekly, the TTC Agency provides educational and informational sessions exploring AI. For more information about the TTC Agency’s services and how to book a consultation, you can find her work on her official website. Photo courtesy of Taylor Smith. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Mayor Ken Welch’s campaign is highlighting new endorsements as the 2026 mayoral race heats up in St. Petersburg. Photo by Mark Parker. Mayor Ken Welch has secured a fresh wave of endorsements from local leaders as he seeks a second term in St. Petersburg. ​State Rep. Michele Rayner, former State Sen. Arthenia Joyner, Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers, and City Council members Copley Gerdes and Deborah Figgs-Sanders have joined the St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters and the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association in supporting Welch’s reelection bid. ​Monday’s announcement also highlighted previous endorsements from former County Commissioners Pat Gerard and Susan Latvala, and Gulfport City Councilmember Jennifer Webb, also a former state representative. Welch said on Tuesday that partnerships are a “huge part of our success.” “You don’t get anything accomplished without having significant partners,” Welch told Power Broker Magazine. “So, having those leaders, folks who have done the hard work on the ground, both in times of celebration and in times of challenge, means a lot. And that’s the way we’ll continue to be successful.” The incumbent’s latest backers credited his leadership amid increasing environmental threats, the affordable housing crisis, and the saga surrounding the pivotal redevelopment of the Historic Gas Plant District. ​Flowers said Welch has “faced each challenge with a focus and sheer tenacity required of a change agent leader.” She believes the incumbent is ideally suited to “restore a land forgotten, bring about employment opportunities that move in tandem with the digital age, prepare for a resilient and sustainable coastline, and provide attainable/affordable housing for those most in need.” ​“In moments of crisis, residents need leadership that is calm, capable, and focused on results,” Gerdes said in a prepared statement. “Ken Welch has brought exactly that to St. Petersburg’s storm recovery efforts, working to help neighborhoods recover and ensuring the city comes back stronger.” ​Welch, who grew up in the Gas Plant, became the city’s first Black mayor in 2022. The announcement notes his focus on strengthening neighborhoods and inclusive economic opportunities. ​Some opponents, such as former Shore Acres Neighborhood Association President Kevin Batdorf, have criticized the city’s response to the unprecedented 2024 hurricane season. He and other registered mayoral candidates, including Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, have also questioned Welch’s handling of the Gas Plant proposal process after the Tampa Bay Rays exited an arduously negotiated deal in March 2025. ​“The Historic Gas Plant District calls for a steady hand that understands both the weight of the past and the stakes of the future,” said Figgs-Sanders. “Ken Welch has approached that work with care, accountability, and a real commitment to honoring the community’s legacy.” ​Welch’s challengers also include former St. Petersburg Fire Chief Jim Large. He recently announced on social media that five former presidents of the St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters are supporting his campaign. ​​Maria Scruggs, former president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP, became the first person to officially enter the 2026 mayoral race in August. The longtime community activist noted that former Gov. Charlie Crist – an expected opponent who has yet to file – endorsed Welch in 2020. ​“That doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in the professional political endorsements, which is why I am working hard to secure public endorsements from the people who can vote for me, as opposed to the ones who can write the biggest checks,” Scruggs said. ​A political action committee (PAC) supporting Crist’s potential campaign has, through previous and current donations, raised over $1 million. However, the group has not announced any endorsements, nor have Gabbard, Batdorf, or perennial candidate Paul Congemi. “I am looking forward to the endorsement of the voters when they go to the polls on Aug. 18,” Gabbard said. Welch remains unconcerned with other candidates or their potential supporters, he said on Tuesday. His campaign will highlight several additional endorsements representing “different parts of the community” from “folks who partner with us to build real progress” throughout the coming months. “My focus is the team that we put together, both within the city and throughout the community, that are going to propel our continued progress in the second term,” Welch said. “These are folks who live, work, and play in St. Pete, and have been visible and active in our community over the past 4.5 years. And I think that’s important.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

County Commissioner Renee Flowers speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bayou Court Apartments in South St. Petersburg, one of 18 projects to receive Penny IV Pinellas affordable housing funding. The county is evaluating $37 million in requests with just $2.9 million remaining in program coffers. Photo by Mark Parker. ​Pinellas County is closing its landmark affordable housing fund after dedicating over $90 million to 18 income-restricted, multi-family developments over the past eight years. ​The money stems from the 1-cent Penny IV Pinellas sales tax, approved by 83% of voters in November 2017. County officials initially expected the 10-year housing program to net $99.8 million. ​However, the expected accumulation is now $94.1 million after Florida eliminated state and local sales taxes on commercial rents last year. Bruce Bussey, the county’s community development manager, told commissioners on Tuesday that Pinellas has approximately $2.9 million remaining, and “quite a few more applications in the pipeline significantly exceed that amount.” “The people who have applied – there’s not going to be funds for them anyway,” said County Administrator Barry Burton. “Unless [some of] those projects don’t go forward.” ​Bussey recommended closing the program to new applications immediately. Commissioners agreed to extend the portal until Friday, despite little hope that any last-minute requests would receive critical county funding. ​Pinellas is already evaluating eight additional funding requests totaling $37 million, with just $2.9 million remaining in program coffers. “That’s going to be the challenge,” Burton said. ​Bussey said the county would not disregard existing applications, as federal funding remains available. However, that money has “a lot of different restrictions.” ​County guidelines state that Penny IV Funds can strengthen the local economy by providing affordable housing for residents who meet income requirements. The program is open to developments with, but does not support, mixed uses or market-rate units. ​The county typically uses the funding to acquire land, which ensures affordability. Proposed projects often receive the commission’s approval amid the protracted attainable housing crisis. ​Pinellas cannot restart the program until and unless voters approve an extension in November 2028. The county and its 24 municipalities, which receive a percentage of the funding, would begin receiving additional funding in 2029. ​After the meeting, Commissioner Renee Flowers celebrated the program’s success. She said the county “has kept its promise” to voters by dedicating 4% of Penny IV Funds, which also support capital projects, to affordable housing developments. ​“That’s great news.” Flowers told Power Broker Magazine. “However, due to the rising costs of land and supplies, projects were funded at a greater level in order to make the project viable.” ​Flowers also noted that federal, state, and private equity funding remains available to help subsidize income-restricted units. “It is my hope that the commission will join me in allocating an even greater percentage to affordable housing projects – we certainly could use it.” ​Bussey said developers leveraged Penny IV Funds to secure $862 million from other sources. The 18 projects funded through the program total $953.3 million. ​The $91.2 million already committed will help create 2,227 affordable units. Four funded projects have been completed, eight are under construction, and six will soon break ground. While the per-unit cost has significantly increased – the price tag for each apartment in a project approved on Thursday is $441, 470 – the average county subsidy is approximately $41,000. Bussey said those homes will remain affordable “for the next 30 to 100 years.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

The Florida Holocaust Museum’s recent renovation project included installing a Danish fishing boat used to rescue Jews from Nazi atrocities. Additional tech-enabled exhibitions are on the way. Photos by Mark Parker. “It’s hard to be a Jew right now,” Helen Levine told the crowd gathered at the Florida Holocaust Museum on Wednesday. ​However, the former board member and current lobbyist for the museum noted that it represents “all peoples and how they come together” to stand against hatred. She said the St. Petersburg-based institution has emerged “better and stronger” after enduring some “tough times” throughout the years. ​The museum, which reopened in September 2025 at 55 5th St. S. after an $8 million renovation project, hosted the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership’s quarterly event on Wednesday. CEO Eric Stillman, who took the helm in June, shared how previous, new, and forthcoming exhibitions bolster the institution’s mission. ​“I think once we add these additional elements – particularly, the Wiesel Experience – we’re going to really be standing out from the crowd,” Stillman said after the event. ​ The museum was entrusted with the prized Elie Wiesel Collection in early 2024. Wiesel was a Nobel Laureate, advocate, and Holocaust survivor who President Barack Obama called the “moral conscience of our world.” ​Weisel lived in St. Petersburg part-time for 24 years, and the museum is now the “world’s largest holder” of his personal artifacts, Stillman said. While a small portion of the collection is now on display, most remains unseen. ​That will soon change when the Wiesel Experience opens on the museum’s third floor. Stillman said it would feature a recreation, “not a replica,” of the icon’s office – complete with his desk, bookcases, and literature. ​Touch-screen walls will display digitized versions of artifacts. Stillman said visitors can “pull down documents from any aspect” of the collection to learn more about Wiesel’s life journey. ​The interactive space will also have a Dynamic Dialogue Den to facilitate discussions regarding ethical dilemmas. “We all have them in our personal life, our professional life,” Stillman said. Eric Stillman became president and CEO of the Florida Holocaust Museum in June 2025. Dimensions in Testimony is a longstanding core exhibit that enables people to ask questions and receive responses from pre-recorded video interviews with Holocaust survivors. It will move into a new theater. ​The building was formerly a bank, and the museum is transforming a vault room adjacent to the first-floor core exhibit room into a 68-seat interactive theater. Stillman said the space is large enough “for an entire school group, which goes back to part of our mission.” ​He noted that the museum will remain open during construction, which is expected to conclude in 2027. The institution closed for over a year amid the recent renovation project. ​However, Stillman said the museum has seen significantly more visitors and school groups since it reopened. Its mission to “educate everybody on the dignity and worth of every human being” through the “lessons of the Holocaust” is now leadership’s sole focus. ​“We have to solve all of our problems in society together,” Stillman added. “How can we tackle issues and challenges right here in our city? Right here in St. Petersburg.” A railroad boxcar used to transport Jews to Nazi death camps. ​The core exhibition, “History, Heritage, and Hope,” encompasses the entire first floor and features a railroad boxcar used to transport Jews to Nazi death camps. Stillman noted that five million people of all faiths were killed alongside six million Jews in the Holocaust. ​Visitors can also see a new artifact: A 10-ton Danish fishing boat dubbed Thor. The private vessel was part of a massive flotilla that carried over 7,000 Jews – nearly the entire population in Nazi-occupied Denmark, to neutral Sweden in 1943. ​The museum set Thor “into the floor” so visitors can see where “Jews were hidden under the deck and covered with fish” during renovations, Stillman said. “When you have a physical manifestation, a boat, inside of a museum … you get a sense of the power of what one person can do and the difference one person can make.” ​Additional renovations included a new, modernized facade and entrance with enhanced security features. The latter upgrade is critical amid persistent antisemitism and the ongoing war in Iran. ​Stillman said an X-ray machine utilizes artificial intelligence to determine if someone has a disassembled weapon in their bag. “We know that we have to maintain a very secure environment to protect our visitors, our staff, our artifacts – it’s essential.” The museum, with state funding, has exponentially increased its security features. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Two of eight proposals to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District follow the same outline as a previous bid by the Tampa Bay Rays and Hines, which former team owner Stuart Sternberg walked away from in March 2025. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. Mayor Ken Welch is currently considering eight proposals to reimagine the Historic Gas Plant District, currently home to Tropicana Field. His decision will alter St. Petersburg’s socioeconomic fabric. ​The site, once a haven for the city’s African American community during segregation, is steeped in history and long-deferred promises. Hundreds of families and businesses were displaced in the name of economic progress; they received a baseball stadium and a sea of surface parking lots. ​St. Petersburg’s first Black mayor has sought to make amends since taking office in 2021, and arduously negotiated a failed $6.7 billion redevelopment deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. However, his priorities for the 86-acre site remain unchanged – jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, affordable housing, and a new home for the Woodson African American Museum of Florida. ​ ​“This project is about people, history, and long-standing promises – not simply a stadium site or a real estate transaction,” Welch wrote in a recent memo to city council members, who must ultimately approve a redevelopment deal. ​Here are some key components of each proposal: Ark Ellison Horus proposed an elevated park with a “Community Arch” that connects the Historic Gas Plant District and South St. Petersburg neighborhoods. Rendering provided. Ark Ellison Horus ​Ark Investment Management, Ellison Development, and Horus Construction submitted an unsolicited proposal in October 2025, which led Welch to launch the land disposition process. The development team’s $6.8 billion pitch encompasses four phases and 95.5 acres. ​Ark Ellison Horus outlined a “restorative justice and reconciliation” plan with “community-first phasing.” If approved, the group will break ground on a new Woodson African American Museum of Florida, provide 446 affordable housing units with street-level retail space, enhance the 16th Street South corridor, launch a minority-focused business accelerator, and help reconnect neighborhoods within the first 1,000 days. ​The proposal includes a total of 3,701 new homes, with 863 designated for people who earn between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Ark Ellison Horus will also build 618 affordable units for seniors. ​The developers offered $202 million for the land, which includes $50 million in community benefits and demolition of the Trop. Ark Ellison Horus would also create a “Unity Arch” land bridge to Campbell Park, a 200,000-square-foot Innovation Hall, an 80,000-square-foot music venue, and expansive business incubation, academic, and research facilities before the project is completed in 2043. ​Ark Ellison Horus set a small, local, and minority-owned business participation goal of 40%. The developers expect the 20-year, $6.8 billion project to create 14,296 “higher wage” jobs and 5,442 temporary positions. ​Ground-penetrating radar has found 10 potential graves underneath the Trop’s parking lots. Ark Ellison Horus plans to create a “thoughtful memorial” to ensure those buried at the site are “acknowledged with dignity and respect, creating a lasting place of remembrance within the District.” ​“The Gas Plant District can become a magnet for venture capital, entrepreneurs and research talent, seeding the next wave of world-changing companies right here,” said Cathie Wood, founder of ARK Invest, in a prepared statement. ​“By embedding education, culture, and startup opportunities alongside housing and infrastructure, this vision can generate exponential long-term economic impact, create thousands of high-wage jobs, and ensure residents share directly in this prosperity.” To view the proposal, visit the website here. A new Woodson African American Museum of Florida will serve as the “crown jewel” of a “Museum Row” in The Burg Bid’s proposal. Rendering: Wannemacher Jensen Architects and Zyscovich (now Stratus). Blake Investment Partners / The Burg Bid LLC ​St. Petersburg native Thompson Whitney Blake, founder of Blake Investment Partners, has partnered with the Related Group, a Miami-based development firm, and several local organizations on his $8.1 billion proposal. A 13-acre central park and new Woodson Museum would anchor the reimagined district. ​A “museum row” would also feature a public art museum led by local artists Chad Mize and Mark Aeling. The proposal includes the “largest delivery of affordable and workforce housing units in city history” – over 3,600 on and off-site units. ​ St. Petersburg-based Blue Sky Communities will help build 1,800 income-restricted units in the Gas Plant and another 1,800 throughout the city over approximately 15 years. The proposal also features conference facilities, academic and research buildings, childcare space, cultural venues, and “significant contiguous green space featuring Booker Creek and the Pinellas Trail.” ​Community leaders representing over 20 organizations will serve on a permanent advisory committee, the Historic Gas Plant Visionary Panel. Participants will provide ongoing project guidance, feedback, and accountability. ​The developers would purchase 58 acres for $275 million. Additional highlights include a small business success center, “The Collaboratorium,” and space for a potential water and surf park. ​Studies on disparity and structural racism will inform efforts to provide “meaningful economic opportunities,” including jobs and business ownership, to historically underserved communities. A Community Investment Fund, a “wealth-generating special purpose vehicle,” will enable residents to have a financial stake in the generational project. ​The proposal prioritizes reconnecting bifurcated South St. Pete neighborhoods through a multimodal transportation network, continuous workforce development with apprenticeship and placement programs, environmental sustainability, and innovation through smart city technologies. ​“We’re weaving together housing, culture, and commerce, with meaningful community accountability to create everlasting value for the city,” Blake said in a prepared statement. “The Historic Gas Plant District holds deep meaning, and our vision represents a long-term commitment to the people of St. Petersburg.” To view the proposal, visit the website here. Foundation Vision Partners will prepare the site for “shovel-ready vertical development parcels” that the city would then sell, “block-by-block,” to local, regional, and national developers. Rendering provided. Foundation Vision Partners Former members of the Rays and Hines development team submitted a unique proposal that would allow St. Petersburg to retain ownership of the 86 acres surrounding Tropicana Field. Foundation Vision Partners (FVP) is led by Will Conroy, founder of St. Petersburg-based real estate investment firm Backstreets Capital; Alex Schapira, former regional partner for global developer Hines; and Anddrikk Frazier, CEO of Best Source Consulting. ​The group would take a master planning and infrastructure-first approach to transforming the area into a vibrant, mixed-use community. FVP’s announcement stated that the Gas Plant, “a site of profound cultural and historical significance,” remains undeveloped due to “all-or-nothing” models. FVP plans to co-create a master plan with the community before starting the project’s design, permitting, and essential infrastructure phase. That will prepare the area for “shovel-ready vertical development parcels” that the city would then sell, “block-by-block,” to local, regional, and national developers. ​Under the proposal, St. Petersburg would pay an estimated $67 million in upfront infrastructure costs to unlock $510 million in land sales – creating a self-funding mechanism throughout the project’s lifespan. “A generational project deserves to be responsive to multiple generations,” Frazier said in a prepared statement. ​“Our success will be measured by how effectively this district creates opportunity for residents and local businesses, and reflects the full fabric of St. Petersburg.” ​The city would pay a total of $239 million over four development phases. FVP believes its model would foster approximately 4,700 mixed-income housing units, 825,000 square feet of office and medical space, 450,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 350,000 square feet of civic, cultural, and entertainment space, and over 20 acres of park and open space. To view the proposal, visit the website here. ​Freedom Communities Company Sarellyn Hamatani, founder of Freedom Communities Company, submitted a six-page proposal encompassing 1 to 1.5 acres within the Gas Plant. The site would feature an affordable housing-focused mixed-use development, Sanctuary St. Pete ​ The project’s first phase would feature 80 affordable and 20 workforce housing units. FCC would also build ground-level commercial space for a grocer and community amenities. ​Future phases would include an unspecified number of apartments for seniors and additional workforce housing. The project, limited to one seven-story building, would offer a two-year rental-to-homeownership program. ​Hamatani estimated the project’s costs at roughly $300,000 per unit. FCC also hopes to partner with Habitat for Humanity. ​“This development is designed not only to house residents, but to restore opportunity, honor history, and build generational pathways to stability and ownership,” Hamatani wrote. To view the proposal, visit the website here. ​Logical Sites Inc. ​Seminole resident Thomas Rask submitted a vague proposal on behalf of Logical Sites, Inc. & Partners. He wrote that the group could “only provide an outline of its plan for the site” due to legal concerns with the city’s solicitation process. ​“In such an environment, putting exact plans, numbers, figures, and even the name of the development principal into the public record, at this point in time, would be extremely unwise,” Rask added. The proposal’s “starting point is 100% affordable housing.” Rask, his wife, Jennifer, and unnamed partners will also create homes for residents with intellectual and physical disabilities. ​Logical Sites believes its plan will allow the city to “exercise various options” that could include a Woodson Museum, a convention center, hotel rooms, and office, retail, and park space. However, those components would reduce the number of affordable housing units. ​“If we are not selected, we anticipate that there will be a future and legally sufficient invitation for new proposals, an invitation which we will be happy to respond to more fully,” Rask wrote. To view the proposal, visit the website here. The Pinellas County Housing Authority proposed a seven-story affordable senior housing facility. Rendering: City documents. Pinellas County Housing Authority The Pinellas County Housing Authority (PCHA) submitted a proposal with Ascension Real Estate Partners and STORYN Studio for Architecture. It consists of a seven-story affordable senior housing facility at 1659 3rd Ave. S., a city-owned parcel used for overflow parking during Rays games. ​The project would provide 80 affordable housing units, with SPHA prioritizing applications from former residents of the Gas Plant. Apartments would average approximately 700 square feet and cater to “lower-income seniors, with an emphasis on very-low income.” ​The PCHA proposed a land conveyance fee of $1. The facility, designed by STORYN Studios, which was also part of the Rays and Hines development team, will feature ground-level and rooftop community spaces. It will also provide direct access to the Pinellas Trail. ​Ark Ellison Horus selected the PCHA to oversee its affordable housing component. The St. Petersburg Housing Authority has signed non-exclusive letters of intent to partner with both The Burg Bid and Ark Ellison Horus. To view the proposal, visit the website here. ​Reparations Land Trust and Development Authority ​The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement submitted a proposal for the Reparations Land Trust and Development Authority (RLTADA). It does not include a redevelopment or site plan. ​Instead, the group plans to establish a quasi-governmental agency to secure reparations for displaced Black residents by seizing “large tracts of city-owned or corporate-owned land” in South St. Petersburg through eminent domain. The RLTADA would create a Community Empowerment Corridor between 1st Avenue and 54th Avenue South, from 49th Street to 3rd Street South. ​The agency would then own, buy, sell, and develop land within those boundaries. A Black Contractor Consortium would complete the work. Tampa Bay Boom’s proposal highlights new sports facilities, both inside and outside of the Gas Plant District. Rendering: City documents. ​Tampa Bay Boom ​Dr. R. Brian Ligon, a St. Petersburg-based dentist, proposed a mixed-use district with multiple sports-related projects. He plans to purchase the Gas Plant site for an unnamed amount. Ligon also wants to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays and renovate or replace the Trop. Potential development partners include national firms HOK, Populous, AECOM, JE Dunn, and JLL. ​The developers also hope to secure a new NBA franchise, the Tampa Bay Boom, a WNBA franchise dubbed the Tampa Bay Angels, and an NBA G League (developmental) team called the Tampa Bay Palms. Renderings include a 17,000-seat multipurpose arena adjacent to Al Lang Stadium along St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront. ​The proposal outlines an unknown number of affordable and workforce housing units. Ligon’s development model emphasizes “equitable public-private partnerships, minority and women-owned business participation, community-based workforce development, long-term ownership and stewardship, and financial sustainability with shared public benefit.” ​Minority-led Tampa Bay Boom “anticipates engagement” with national financial institutions Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan Chase to “strengthen financial capacity, enhance capital market credibility, and support disciplined execution consistent with the city’s expectations.” However, the proposal states that “no financial commitments are implied.” ​In addition to a “substantial affordable and workforce housing component,” the project would feature retail and small business spaces, cultural, arts, and heritage-focused programming, workforce training, education and innovation spaces, public open space, green infrastructure, and community gathering areas. ​“Our approach mirrors nationally recognized best practices for inclusive development, similar in structure and intent to precedent projects that integrate sports, housing, retail, culture, and workforce pathways into cohesive urban districts,” states the proposal. To view the proposal, visit the website here. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

A community health workshop at The Willa Carson Health & Wellness Center, founded in 1997 by Willa Livingston Carson. Carson worked as a registered nurse and sought to meet the needs of those uninsured in her community. She formed a free, not-for-profit clinic that continues to uphold her legacy almost 30 years later. Image courtesy of the Willa Carson Center. The Willa Carson Wellness and Health Center’s 13th Annual Run/Walk for Willa will be off to the races on March 28, 2026, at Coachman Park. Executive Director, Kimberly Nunn-Crawford is busy preparing for the non-profit’s clinic key event to take off at the end of the month. In her role, Nunn-Crawford oversees the financial operations, coordinates and writes grants, and manages compliance to ensure the clinic meets all regulatory standards. “My role also involves expanding our reach, boosting community awareness, networking, and pursuing new partnerships and resources for the wellness center,” said Nunn-Crawford. The Willa Carson Health & Wellness Center was founded in 1997 in North Greenwood, Clearwater, by Willa Livingston Carson. Carson worked as a registered nurse and sought to meet the needs of those uninsured in her community. She formed a free, not-for-profit clinic that continues to uphold her legacy almost 30 years later. After Carson’s passing in 2006, the “Walk for Willa” was established to honor her legacy. The first run/walk fundraiser started in 2007 as a community-driven event to celebrate her commitment to accessible health care and to raise both funds and awareness for the clinic. Runners from the annual Run/Walk for Willa. Image courtesy of Kimberly Nunn-Crawford. “Today, the Annual Run/Walk for Willa serves as a key fundraiser and a celebration, bringing together supporters from all backgrounds to advance the cause of accessible health and wellness in Pinellas County,” stated Nunn-Crawford. This no-cost medical center is an enormous help to those uninsured and is funded primarily through donations. Funding supports the salaries of nurse practitioners and medical assistants, and has enabled the clinic to expand its mental health services. The wellness center has received generous grants from BayCare, the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the Pinellas Community Foundation, and Allegany Franciscan Foundation, to name a few. “We recently partnered with the Rotary Club of Belleair, which hosted a 50-50 raffle to benefit the clinic; the proceeds were used to purchase much-needed clinic supplies,” Nunn-Crawford said. The clinic operates part-time, three days a week, serving the community Tuesdays through Thursdays. Last year, they served approximately 237 individuals. A mural depicting community health, painted by renowned local artist Zulu Painter, adorns the Willa Carson Health and Wellness Center in North Greenwood, Clearwater.Image courtesy of Kimberly Nunn-Crawford. Last November, Nunn-Crawford attended the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (FAFCC) Annual Conference. A key takeaway that stayed with her was “the importance of prioritizing donor relationships.” “We are now implementing personal touches such as sending hand-written thank-you notes to our donors. This initiative aims to strengthen our connections and show genuine appreciation for their support, which is essential for sustaining our clinic’s mission,” explained Nunn-Crawford. The Willa Carson Health and Wellness Center has achieved several significant milestones to expand its impact on the community. At the start, the center prioritized providing essential medical care for uninsured individuals. As their understanding of “holistic health” evolved, the no-cost medical center broadened its services to address an individual’s physical, mental, and social well-being. It introduced mental health services to support emotional well-being, as well as dietary consultations to help patients make informed nutritional choices. “Recognizing the importance of addressing food insecurity, we recently partnered with Metropolitan Ministries to provide weekly congregate dining,” said Nunn-Crawford. Carson’s vision to bring free and accessible healthcare to the community is evident in the center’s sustained operation and expansion nearly three decades later. “By welcoming a new generation of residents, the clinic demonstrates its commitment to providing essential medical support and fostering wellness for all, regardless of financial barriers,” Nunn-Crawford affirmed. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube Runners from the annual Run/Walk for Willa. Image courtesy of Kimberly Nunn-Crawford.

Alton Skyway will replace the former St. Petersburg College Allstate Center at 3200 34th St. S. All images: City documents. ​A 17.25-acre property in St. Petersburg’s rapidly evolving Skyway Marina District will soon feature an upscale, 619-unit apartment community, despite ardent opposition to the project. ​The city’s Development Review Commission approved a site plan for Alton Skyway on Wednesday in a 5-1 vote following a lengthy debate. Delray Beach-based developer Kolter Multifamily will build the garden-style complex at 3200 34th Street South, formerly home to St. Petersburg College’s Allstate Center. ​Kolter will demolish multiple existing educational buildings to make way for Alton Skyway. Concerns centered on the two-phased development’s lack of retail space. ​A local developer, district representatives, and commissioners agreed that the project diverges from design standards outlined in the Skyway Marina District Plan. However, attorney Elise Batsel of Stearns Weaver Miller, who represents Kolter, noted that the city never codified what amounts to a development guide. ​“Would I like to see it perhaps integrate more into the vision of the Marina plan? Sure,” said Commissioner Sarah Jane Vatelot. “But can we enforce it? No. And I think that it meets the requirements of the land development regulations as they stand today.” An overhead view of the 17.25-acre site (red). ​Once complete, the project will feature eight five-story buildings, a large stormwater pond with a trail, and 883 parking spaces, another point of contention. Additional amenities include two pools, a dog park, and a clubhouse. ​Kolter will complete the project in two phases, each with four buildings. The first will feature 342 units and 484 parking spaces on the southern half of the site. ​Alton Skyway’s second phase includes an additional 277 apartments and 399 parking spaces. Kolter dedicated a one-acre parcel on the property’s southwest corner for up to 5,000 square feet of commercial space, which the commission will review separately. ​Registered opponent Frank Guerra, founder of Altis Cardinal, believes the retail component is an afterthought that may never materialize. He said the district plan, adopted by the city council in 2014, called for more commercial development, increased walkability, and parking structures rather than sprawling surface lots. ​Guerra’s firm is building Sky Town, a 34.3-acre, $800 million development to the west of Alton Skyway. His project will feature 2,084 apartments, 69,000 square feet of retail space anchored by a recently opened Sprouts Farmers Market, and a 120,000 square-foot self-storage facility. ​The district’s plan “wouldn’t have been adopted by the city council and wouldn’t have been followed by all other developers” of market-rate multifamily projects if it were not applicable, Guerra argued. Alton Skyway will offer one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. ​Chris Isaacson, a Skyway Marina District board member, said there was “no meaningful engagement for this community.” His group met with Kolter’s team twice in the past two months and “clearly outlined our concerns.” ​“Once the plans came back, they were unchanged,” Isaacson added. “We’re seeing that as not really a good faith engagement.” ​One-story bike storage sheds will shield what one commissioner called a “sea of asphalt.” Alton Skyway will also feature an extensive sidewalk network that connects the ungated complex to the surrounding area. ​“There’s a lot I like about the project,” said Commissioner Tim Clemmons. “I think the building is really quite handsome, and there’s a lot of effort to create this sort of internal street that runs through the middle of the project. But I think all of that is to the detriment of 34th Street.” ​However, multiple commissioners said the district needs additional residents with disposable incomes to support the sought-after commercial development. “Today, there is over 47,000 square feet of vacant retail space seeking tenants,” Batsel said. ​The commission ultimately found that the site plan aligned with land-use regulations, with Commissioner Joseph Griner dissenting. Kolter is under contract to purchase the property from St. Petersburg College for $26 million and can now close on the deal. Alton Skyway’s site plan, with potential retail space in the upper left corner (grey). Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Students and young adults participate in a Powerful Young Adults Inc. program session in Clearwater’s North Greenwood community. The organization provides mentorship, job training, and career development opportunities for youth and transitioning adults across the Tampa Bay region. Since 2005, the program has helped hundreds of participants build skills and pursue meaningful career pathways. Image retrieved from PYA Inc website. In Clearwater’s North Greenwood community, opportunity is taking flight in a way few could have imagined two decades ago. Since 2005, Powerful Young Adults Inc. has worked to equip at-risk and underserved youth with mentorship, job training, and access to real career pathways. What began as a community-driven effort to support young adults has grown into a pipeline that has helped more than 800 participants across Clearwater and Tampa Bay step into meaningful careers. Today, its alumni include doctors, nurses, lawyers, fraud investigators, HR analysts, business owners, and community leaders who once sat in the same classrooms the organization now fills. Now, that mission is expanding skyward. Through its Skymaster Drone and Flight Program, Powerful Young Adults Inc. is combining artificial intelligence training, aviation fundamentals, and workforce development to prepare young people and transitioning adults for careers in emerging industries. Meeting at the North Greenwood Aquatic Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the program serves youth ages 14 to 25 and adults up to age 35, including military veterans from across the Tampa Bay region who are transitioning into civilian careers. This initiative is hands-on STEM education where participants train under a licensed pilot using DJI drones and professional-grade flight simulators. The program’s aviation and drone instruction is led by Earl Johnson, who works closely with students as they build both technical skills and confidence in real flight environments. Participants earn their FAA Recreational Drone Certificate and have the opportunity to prepare for and take the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Exam, allowing them to operate drones commercially. Katrina George, program director, says the decision to expand the Skymaster Program into aviation and artificial intelligence was shaped by her own experience growing up in Clearwater’s North Greenwood community. “I understood what it felt like to see opportunity but not have access,” George said. “Aviation, drone systems, and artificial intelligence offer career pathways that are scalable and not limited by geography. By introducing students to drone certification, flight simulation, aviation fundamentals, and AI literacy, we are preparing them not only for current workforce needs but for the next generation of aerospace innovation.” FAA Part 107 certification opens the door to industries that are rapidly growing and increasingly reliant on drone technology. Construction firms use drones for site mapping. Real estate professionals rely on aerial imaging. Agriculture, infrastructure maintenance, law enforcement, and public safety agencies are also expanding their use of unmanned aircraft systems. Entry-level aviation-related careers can range from 50,000 to 80,000 dollars annually, creating tangible economic mobility for participants. While last year’s STEM programming emphasized AI training and computer coding, Powerful Young Adults Inc. has consistently provided job readiness preparation, resume development, and direct employment connections through its Career Expo initiatives. Recently, the organization assisted four students with employment placement. Three secured positions with Publix, and one began working with Home Depot. George states the program is designed to ensure students leave with skills that translate into real opportunity. “Economic empowerment means that students leave the program with skills that translate into real opportunity and income potential,” George said. “Students gain hands-on drone flight experience using DJI equipment and learn how to use artificial intelligence responsibly for business planning, academic advancement, and technical research. These tools give them a competitive advantage in both school and entrepreneurship.” The next Youth Career Expo and Job Fair is scheduled for June 6, with the location to be announced. The event will offer resume writing support and connect youth and job seekers directly with Clearwater area employers. For many, programs like Skymaster offer access, and in North Greenwood, where generational opportunity gaps have shaped outcomes for decades, exposure to AI technology, aviation instruction, and FAA certification pathways proposes a new narrative. It signals that young people from this community can compete in advanced industries and build sustainable careers without leaving home. “Most importantly, I want students to understand that they have the opportunity to overcome any obstacle and become anything they choose to pursue,” George said. “In aviation, we often say the sky is the limit. In this program, we teach them that the sky is truly the beginning.” Enrollment for the current Skymaster session remains open through March 14. The next session will begin on August 29. (Maybe subject to change). Students and transitioning adults across Tampa Bay interested in drone certification, flight simulation training, AI literacy, and workforce development are encouraged to inquire while space remains available. For Powerful Young Adults Inc., the program reflects a continued commitment to ensuring young people in North Greenwood have access to the industries shaping tomorrow’s workforce. Through its Skymaster Drone and Flight Program, Powerful Young Adults Inc. is combining artificial intelligence training, aviation fundamentals, and workforce development to prepare young people and transitioning adults for careers in emerging industries. Instructor Earl Johnson guides a student through the fundamentals of drone flight during a Skymaster Program training session at the North Greenwood Aquatic Center in Clearwater. Participants receive hands-on instruction using industry-standard DJI drones while learning the principles of safe and responsible flight. The program introduces youth and transitioning adults to aviation concepts while preparing them for FAA drone certification and future career opportunities. Image retrieved from PYA Inc website. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokermagazine.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch speaks at a recent Black History Month celebration outside of City Hall. State legislation would ban such ceremonies. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. ​Municipal leaders from across Florida are warning residents and business owners about the unintended consequences of ambiguous legislation that bans any actions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. ​For example, the entire Miami Beach City Commission recently signed a letter stating that the rapidly advancing companion bills could jeopardize cultural heritage celebrations, Jewish and Black film festivals, emergency alert translation services, and health initiatives – such as free mammograms. The proposed legislation would also require businesses that work with local governments to abstain from promoting diversity, equity, or inclusion (DEI). ​St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Tallahassee Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe, and Fernandina Beach Commissioner Genece Minshew participated in a virtual press conference on Wednesday to highlight the potential economic and social consequences of House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 1134. They also noted that the legislation, if approved, will result in taxpayer-funded litigation. ​“It may sound ridiculous, because it is ridiculous,” Welch said of the bills. “Rather than address the real issues of housing affordability, insurance, and resilience – and maybe passing a budget on time – the legislature is wasting time and money on culture wars. ​“Florida can and must do better.” ​Trantalis explained that the legislation would outlaw any local ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, or policies that merely reference historically protected classes, including race, color, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis at a Stonewall Pride Parade. Photo: City of Fort Lauderdale. ​HB 1001, which goes before the House for consideration on Thursday, prohibits municipal participation in and public funding for DEI-related events. Trantalis said an upcoming St. Patrick’s Day parade, along with intended impacts to people of color and the LGBTQ community, would “be a goner.” ​SB 1134, which the Senate subsequently passed on Wednesday, provides “allowances for Black history and federally-recognized patriotic observances,” Williams-Cox said. However, that is “not enough specificity.” ​The legislation enables residents to sue for perceived noncompliance. Williams-Cox noted that local governments cannot recover spent attorney fees, “even if we prevail.” ​Local elected officials also face removal from office for alleged violations. “This is a penalty typically reserved for the worst kinds of public corruption,” Trantalis said. ​“It’s almost getting to the point of absurdity, the extent to which these representatives in Tallahassee are taking their cultural agenda,” he added. “In reality, we’re just trying to run a city.” ​Shunning several demographics in a state that relies on tourism could cause an economic downturn, Trantalis said. Williams-Cox worries that the loss of local government contracts could bankrupt minority and women-owned businesses. ​​Welch called the legislation “dangerous and undemocratic.” The latest attempt to “demonize” DEI efforts also subverts Florida’s constitutional principle of home rule, he said. ​Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning DEI initiatives in public colleges and universities in May 2023. He is also a staunch supporter of the exponentially more vague and sweeping legislation advancing through the legislature. ​Welch believes the bills will impede the ability to address community needs, create operational uncertainty, and “weaken the public’s trust in government.” He said significant unintended consequences could impact programs supporting women and religious communities. ​Residents of the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) should also take notice, although Welch said it was created to reduce poverty rather than uplift a specific demographic. While he hopes the legislation will not affect a funding mechanism that keeps tax dollars in the community, the city has seen “attempts to preempt our use of CRA dollars in the past, as well.” ​“If we’re not able to continue to use small, minority, and women-owned businesses for CRA projects, then there will be an economic impact,” Williams-Cox added. Tallahassee Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox. Photo: City of Tallahassee. ​The legislation, if signed into law, would take effect in June 2027. Welch said he would look at every option, including litigation, to mitigate the impacts. ​He refuses to accept “this new version of DEI as being discriminatory and prejudiced.” Welch and Williams-Cox noted that their cities have conducted exhaustive structural racism studies that highlight the need for socioeconomic equity. ​“I don’t think anyone sent a legislator to Tallahassee to kill DEI – I just don’t believe that,” Williams-Cox said. “Now what I do blame residents for is not keeping up, because everybody’s busy living their life.” ​While time is running out, she encourages residents to “check your folk, and let them know what they’re doing is harming you.” Welch pledged that he would continue to “stand firmly in the defense of local self-governance and the right of our residents to shape our own futures.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Baseball fans entering Tropicana Field have likely walked over human remains. Photo by Mark Parker. St. Petersburg will excavate possible graves found underneath Tropicana Field’s parking lots. However, the next step in a long-overdue process must wait until the baseball season concludes in October. ​City council members unanimously approved a $380,000 architectural and engineering contract on Thursday with Stantec. The firm will provide archaeological ground truthing fieldwork, management services, and a subsequent report. ​Stantec delivered its initial, much-anticipated study to Mayor Ken Welch’s administration in November 2024 after using ground-penetrating radar to uncover 10 possible graves – some just three feet below ground – at the Trop. The findings remained hidden from the public until April 2025. ​While the firm also found 11 areas of interest and nine unidentified disturbances, confirming the results requires exhuming remains. Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz requested a brief update on Thursday after residents reached out with concerns. ​“Once anything as part of this exploratory analysis is identified, the first step is to stop work and contact the state (archaeological) officer,” said Brejesh Prayman, engineering and capital improvements director. “And then that’s a regulated process governed by Florida Statutes.” ​Planning Director Derek Kilborn noted that city research at the site began in early 2020. Ground penetrating radar first identified three likely graves beneath Lots 1 and 2 at the Trop in August 2021. ​The area was once home to Oaklawn Cemetery, established in 1907 between 3rd and 5th Avenues South, west of 16th Street. It predominantly served white residents. ​Evergreen Cemetery, platted in 1900 to serve the Black community, now sits under I-175. Both races were interred at Moffett (St. Petersburg) Cemetery, which opened in 1888 at the intersection of 16th Street and 5th Avenue South Ground penetrating radar first identified three possible graves between Lots 1 and 2 in August 2021. Photo by Mark Parker. ​The city condemned the contiguous burial grounds in 1926 and relocated bodies according to race. African Americans were moved to the embattled Lincoln Cemetery in Gulfport. Their Caucasian counterparts stayed closer to home at Royal Palm Cemetery. ​City research has focused on Oaklawn Cemetery, as it was “the site most ready for that type of work,” Kilborn said. “And it also was the most timely, because of the ongoing discussion at the time with the Tampa Bay Rays.” Kilborn said the previous report helped align potential graves with historical records. He also noted that the city lacks burial information for multiple anomalous areas, including two purchased by a Masonic Lodge. ​“These are some of the challenges we’ll have in working with individuals and individual families and descendants,” Kilborn added. “Sometimes we just won’t know.” ​St. Petersburg is home to several Masonic Lodges, and Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders asked if officials could identify a specific branch. “They may not know, and it would be great for them to have that information,” she said. ​Kilborn could not provide an answer. However, he will “certainly look into it” and share what he finds with the council. Stantec’s previous study area was limited due to roads and redevelopment negotiations. Image: Stantec. ​​Agenda documents state that Stantec will now conduct soft digging up to a maximum of 15 feet, sift material samples, and identify and catalogue any found remains or artifacts. Officials expect onsite ground truthing and excavations to take 10 business days. ​“This task will involve investigation of at least four operation areas through the property with the highest probability of cemetery features, as well as 10 possible graves,” states the agreement. “All 10 graves will be stripped to reveal the outline of the grave shaft, and their locations and dimensions will be mapped. “Of these graves, at least four will be excavated by hand down to the coffin, in order to confirm that human remains are present.” ​The agreement adds that Stantec will complete the work by the 2026 baseball season’s opening day. While the Rays will return to the Trop on April 6, that timeline has changed significantly. ​Stantec will now begin archaeological excavations in late October. “Hopefully, based on the timeline, this work won’t happen until after the conclusion of the World Series,” Kilborn said. ​“Stantec recommends that no ground-truthing or other archaeological work be conducted without first consulting with potential descendants and stakeholder groups connected to Oaklawn Cemetery,” states the previous report. ​“The goal of such work would be to confirm the presence of intact burials and gain a better understanding of the potential for disturbed human remains within the property – and of the distribution of burials and human remains across the property.” ​City officials did not discuss outreach efforts – or current proposals to redevelop the site – during the brief presentation on Thursday. More Photos An outline of possible grave sites. Image: Stantec A graphic highlighting the subject area’s evolution. Image: City documents. A graphic highlighting likely burials and areas of interest. Image: Stantec. A timeline of the city’s involvement. Image: City documents. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Bryan Stern (front), founder of Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue, and his team have already rescued approximately 70 U.S. citizens from war-torn Israel. Photos provided. Over 30 members of two St. Petersburg churches are safely on their way home from Israel after spending three days dodging Iranian missile strikes. ​However, it was not the state or federal government that came to their aid. Tampa-based Grey Bull Rescue pulled off the daring extraction on Tuesday, despite the Iranian conflict shuttering airspace throughout the Middle East. ​Members of the GT Church Assembly of God and Suncoast Church arrived in Israel on Feb. 24 for a tour of the Holy Land. Iran began launching hundreds of retaliatory missiles and drones at the country four days later. ​“We tried everything we knew to try to find a way to get out,” said Dr. Randy Helms, pastor at GT Church. “The airports were closed, and the roads were blocked. We couldn’t find any way. It seems like every time we’d come up with an idea, the sirens would sound and off we’d go to the bomb shelter again.” Dr. Randy Helms (left), pastor at GT Church, said government officials could not help his group. ​Helms said his group was at the Jordan River preparing for baptisms when air raid sirens first rang out. “We didn’t know what was going on, but our guide was aware, and we hunkered down.” ​The U.S. and Israel began conducting coordinated strikes in Iran on Feb. 28. Retaliation was swift, and Iran reportedly fired over 200 missiles at Israel in the war’s first three days. ​Helms and members of his congregation sheltered in place at their hotel as a regional war unfolded. He said they sought refuge in a basement bomb shelter nearly 20 times in the following three days due to incoming attacks. ​“It’s been tough, and the urgency is growing because we have elderly people – medication concerns,” Helms said in a video conference with Grey Bull Rescue. ​”We have children in our group, and the people back home are frantic. But, thanks be to God, we came across your organization. Now we have hope.” ​Grey Bull Rescue specializes in quickly reaching U.S. citizens trapped in conflict and disaster zones. Founder Bryan Stern, a special forces combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient, noted that “all of our missions are dangerous – we don’t do rescues in Sweden.” ​Stern and his apolitical team of special forces and intelligence community veterans have rescued over 8,400 people in distress from 43 countries. Closed airspace throughout the Middle East, combined with continuous attacks, increased the latest mission’s difficulty, he said. ​“The demand signal is high, and the threat is very real,” Stern said. “I think this response that we’re seeing from Iran is a response, but not the response. I think the killing of the Ayatollah (Ali Khamenei) in the middle of Ramadan is like killing the Pope in the middle of Easter.” Grey Bull also rescued roughly 40 college students from Israel. ​Grey Bull successfully transported the church group and approximately 40 U.S. college students out of Israel on Tuesday. Stern, who could not provide an exact route or expected arrival time in Florida due to security concerns, described the process as a “ground pickup to a ground movement to a cross-border movement to another ground movement to an airplane.” ​Helms, now speaking from a bus as the group exited Israel, said he previously toured the country 14 times without incident. “It was always very, very smooth, and I had no idea this would happen.” ​The U.S. Department of State, local representatives, and the St. Petersburg Mayor’s Office were unable to help the group escape Israel. “Their response was to shelter in place,” Helms said. ​A tour member was familiar with Grey Bull and contacted the organization. Stern and his team immediately began formulating an extraction plan. ​“Rescues are not warzone Uber,” Stern said. “If you’re calling us, you’ve had a very bad day.” ​He expects the demand for exfiltrations to persist, and said Grey Bull is already operating in other areas throughout the Middle East. However, the nonprofit is “stretched pretty thin” in terms of manpower and, most importantly, funding. ​Stern said donor support for the current mission is relatively sparse. Grey Bull charters its buses and planes, and federal officials had yet to coordinate rescue efforts. ​U.S. citizens of “all shapes and sizes, from all manners of faiths and backgrounds, of all ages, and of all religions” have requested help, Stern said. He pledged to provide his expertise “until we wring out every last drop” of funding. ​​For more information on Grey Bull Rescue or to support its mission, visit the website here. Grey Bull rescue has received hundreds of requests for assistance from throughout the Middle East. However, funding remains an issue. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Photo credit: Packs of Love Foundation Instagram; donating care bags to the youth Nearly three years after the Packs of Love Foundation became a nonprofit, Sapheria Emani Samuels wears many hats as the organization’s founder and executive director. As the leader of her nonprofit, Samuels oversees daily operations to ensure it runs efficiently and effectively. Samuels started Packs of Love in 2023 after witnessing firsthand how the foster care system failed to provide adequate care for young children while working as a social worker in 2020. Packs of Love focuses on tackling the decline in mental health, instilling confidence, helping youths reach their fullest potential, and providing the necessary resources to allow them to be successful outside of foster care. “We’re here to instill confidence within their capabilities, [and] show them some of the resources that they have to help them be successful in the future,” said Samuels. As a social worker, Samuels saw declining behavioral issues and fragile emotional stability among the youth who lived in the system. Instead of individualistic care and attention, she saw many kids “pushed through the system,” rather than being taken care of as a priority. “I said when I left social work, I wanted to start something of my own. Packs of Love serves an important role in the community because a lot of our kids are overlooked and marginalized,” said Samuels. This year, the non-profit spearheads a new pilot initiative, “The Moments that Matter Project,” to sponsor the Carlton Manor group home. Currently, they oversee nine young girls, including two graduating high school seniors whom the organization will sponsor to attend prom. Samuels understands that many kids in the foster care system do not have a sense of normalcy due to the precarious living situations of foster care. “A lot of our kids miss out on certain milestones because, one, they feel like what’s the point, two, they’re moved around, and depending on the group home, sometimes there’s limited resources,” explained Samuels. Packs of Love will sponsor a hair salon, a hair stylist, and nail tech for the seniors to “provide them that sense of normalcy.” The “Moments that Matter Project” falls under the organization’s Access to Normalcy Program. Partnerships with the foundation include Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg and Ryan Nece Foundation, to name a few. The former partner collaborates with the nonprofit to build the organization’s capacity, while the latter works to raise supplies for care packages for schools in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. Within the three years since its conception, Packs of Love has received three grants totaling $25,000 that have supported its goal and mission to empower and care for youths in the foster system. They received $10,000 from Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, $10,000 from Pinellas Community Foundation, and $5,000 from Allegany; the funds were split among providing mental wellness support for the board & staff, increasing the nonprofit’s internal capacity, and providing supplies for programs. The next upcoming event for the foundation is their second annual “Cheers to Change” on May 16 from 5 PM to 8 PM at Wrigley’s Pizza. “Packs of Love are here to stay. We are growing and thriving,” exclaimed Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube Photo Credit by Packs of Love Foundation Instagram: Sapheria Samuels packing care bags for the youth

A national development firm is under contract to purchase part of the former Home Shopping Network (HSN) campus in St. Petersburg. Photo: CBRE. A proposed redevelopment could bring hundreds of jobs rather than housing units to the former Home Shopping Network (HSN) headquarters in north St. Petersburg. ​Greystar, a prominent national developer, plans to build three industrial warehouses totaling over 400,000 square feet on nearly 41 acres at 2501 118th Ave. N. The approximately 65-acre HSN campus is currently home to nine buildings with 487,021 square feet of office and industrial space. ​Charleston-based Greystar will demolish all existing structures, which were built between 1986 and 1994. The city’s Development Review Commission will consider the proposal, which has received staff approval, on Wednesday. ​City documents note that 48% of the site will remain open space. “The existing wetlands and preservation areas will not be impacted by the proposed redevelopment and will serve as natural buffers to surrounding properties,” states the staff report. ​Greystar is under contract to purchase the eastern 41-acre portion of the property. However, documents do not outline plans for the remaining 24 acres. ​While one of the nation’s most prolific multifamily housing-focused firms could still pitch a residential component on the expansive property, which is typical for most redevelopments in Pinellas County, the current proposal states that the “applicant is excited to bring this job-generating use to the city in an area targeted for manufacturing.” ​“The applicant is not proposing a residential use as part of the project.” An aerial rendering of the proposed redevelopment. Image: City documents. ​Qurate Retail Group (QVC), HSN’s parent company, announced plans to close the campus after 47 years and consolidate operations at its Pennsylvania headquarters in January 2025. At its peak, the facility employed 2,500 people. ​Global real estate services firm CBRE began marketing the property, zoned for industrial or multifamily uses, in March 2025. Later that month, HSN notified the state that it would cut 730 jobs by the end of the year. ​Greystar’s proposal does not outline how many jobs its redevelopment could foster. The developer plans to build three 45-foot-tall concrete warehouses with large windows facing a stormwater pond in one construction phase. ​ ​The industrial park will feature 610 parking spaces, an internal sidewalk system, and a new public sidewalk along 118th Avenue North. ​Greystar is not requesting a future land use change or rezoning for the property, which sits within a Target Employment Center overlay. Development review commissioners must approve the firm’s site plan due to the project’s size. A ground-level rendering of one proposed building. Image: City documents. ​City staff recommended approval with 12 special conditions. Those include incorporating a unified architectural style, screening loading docks with shade trees, submitting a tree removal plan, and restoring and maintaining a preservation area. ​The staff report states that the site is within an Archaeological Sensitivity Area, which requires developers to “be made aware of this fact and be strongly encouraged to have an archaeologist on site during any excavation work.” ​Greystar is completing a similar project in St. Petersburg’s Gateway Area. The firm is part of a joint venture that is redeveloping 93 acres formerly owned by Jabil Inc. ​The 61-acre Gateway Logistics Center development will feature a 622,270-square-foot industrial park at 2690 Gateway Centre Parkway – 2.3 miles south of the HSN campus. Greystar dedicated the remaining land to a 425-unit apartment complex. ​In April 2025, Greystar broke ground on The Henry at Whitney Village, a 325-unit mixed-use redevelopment of the Jim and Heather Gills YMCA property in the Grand Central District. The firm also developed the 36-story Ascent St. Pete residential tower in downtown St. Petersburg. An aerial view of the 65-acre site (blue). Image: CBRE. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

From left: St. Petersburg City Councilmembers Richie Floyd, Deborah Figgs-Sanders, Gina Driscoll, Copley Gerdes, Mayor Ken Welch, Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz, Mike Harting, Brandi Gabbard, Cory Givens Jr. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch sent a letter to state leaders on Thursday denouncing legislation that would effectively ban any actions related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He also asked the city council to sign an identical missive. ​Welch said both were prompted by the “rapid advancement” of House Bill 1001 and Senate Bill 1134. His subsequent prepared statement notes that the legislation, as drafted, would “substantially preempt local authority, invalidate locally adopted policies and expand state power with the ability to discipline local elected officials.” ​While council members agree with that assessment, some bemoaned the timing of Welch’s request to unite in opposition. His memo, sent on Thursday morning, asked that they sign an accompanying letter by the end of the day. ​Multiple council members expressed their frustration during an already contentious discussion on what they perceived as an inadequate response to the state removal of five street murals in late August and early September. All who addressed Welch’s request on Thursday, including those who appreciated the opportunity, said they preferred to issue their own statement. ​“We have a very clear process,” said Councilmember Brandi Gabbard. “That process was not followed, and there was a missed opportunity for real unity to stand together against this type of legislation.” ​Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders was also caught off-guard by the memo, which she hadn’t read until the topic was broached at a Committee of the Whole meeting. Welch wrote that preempting local diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts would “impede our ability to respond to community needs, create operational uncertainty, and weaken public trust in government.” ​Figgs-Sanders said the accompanying letter included “a couple of words that I truly would not have used.” She noted that withholding her signature “doesn’t mean I don’t agree with it.” ​“I’m going to continue with my original plan to do something with the other (unnamed) organization,” Figgs-Sanders added. “But I appreciate it, and I’m glad that we as a city are sending this letter, because it is a bill that would be very detrimental to the culture …” ​HB 1001 and SB 1134 were filed on Jan. 5. Lawmakers have amended both several times, and Assistant City Attorney Ben James said the language could continue to evolve. ​If passed, the legislation would prohibit municipalities from funding or promoting, whether directly or indirectly, any action related to DEI initiatives. The bill would also void current ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, and policies. ​The legislation allows residents to “bring an action in court” against local governments for non-compliance, James said. Councilmember Richie Floyd called the bills an attack on “literally every community.” Floyd said the legislation’s vagueness would make him wary of supporting “any cultural, ethnic, religious event at all, for fear of being removed from office.” ​“I think the letter is fine,” said Floyd, who has already issued his own statement. “It’s not what I think is the most effective message, but I understand that’s been the administration’s messaging, so it’s fine.” ​Welch’s letter – and the one with space for city council signatures – was addressed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate President Ben Albritton, and House Speaker Daniel Perez. It states that the bill provisions “represent an unprecedented intrusion into municipal governance and a direct challenge to Florida’s constitutional principle of home rule.” ​“St. Petersburg’s inclusive policies are not symbolic gestures; they are practical tools of governance,” Welch wrote. “They strengthen public health outcomes, improve workforce recruitment and retention, enhance public safety, and ensure equitable access to city services.” ​Gabbard, who has said she will run against Welch in the upcoming mayoral election, believes the city’s legislative committee should have discussed his letter last week. The full council could have voted on a resolution later that day. ​“I will not be signing on to this letter, and it is not because I do not support opposition to these bills,” Gabbard continued. “I very clearly believe these bills are harmful to local governments and the people we serve.” ​If signed into law in June, the legislation would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Councilmember Gina Driscoll said responses to the erased street art, which included “Black History Matters” and Progressive Pride Flag murals, will likely lack staying power. ​Driscoll advocated for improving communication and closely tracking the legislation as it moves through the House and Senate. Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. believes the city can identify ways to express unity that will not draw the state’s ire. ​He also noted that “time is of the essence.” After the meeting, HB 1001 cleared another state committee. SB 1134 is rapidly approaching a floor vote; DeSantis has lauded the companion bill and would sign it into law if it reaches his desk. In his letter, Welch said he recognized the Legislature’s authority to set statewide standards. However, the bills go “far beyond uniformity.” ​The legislation would “restrict local problem-solving, chill lawful civic engagement, and weaken democratic accountability by shifting power away from voters and toward centralized state control,” Welch wrote. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Pinellas County School Board Chair Caprice Edmond is also president of the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards. Photo: Facebook. Pinellas County school district officials continue grappling with declining enrollment, rising operational costs, funding changes, necessary closures, and political headwinds. ​School Board Chair Caprice Edmond shared her thoughts on the district’s challenges and successes in a recent wide-ranging interview. She and her colleagues approved plans to close and consolidate multiple facilities on Feb. 24. ​Edmond, also president of the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards, noted that districts receive funding for each student. “If the enrollment declines, it’s just a logical conclusion that there’s going to be a financial challenge to maintain and manage the amount of property that we have – as well as pay the bills,” she said. ​“We have to be aware of what we’re facing,” Edmond added. “The times have changed quite drastically.” ​According to Pinellas County Schools (PCS) data, the number of enrolled students decreased by approximately 30,000 – from roughly 110,000 to 80,000 – between 2006 and 2024. Edmond offered several reasons for the decline. ​Those include an expansion of charter school vouchers, which incentivize parents to pull students from public institutions, and the soaring cost of living in Pinellas. “Gentrification is happening, and people are being priced out,” Edmond said. ​She also attributed shrinking enrollment to plunging birthrates and political issues. Edmond said some families “may be more fearful” of sending their children to school due to recent immigration enforcement efforts, although the district does not verify student citizenship. A graphic highlighting school enrollment in Pinellas County. Image: PCS. Florida’s board of education voted to expand the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law in 2023, which prohibits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. “We had some families fear their child wouldn’t be supported, and decided to move out of state,” Edmond said. ​She noted that a bill expanding upon Florida’s “harmful to minors” law is advancing through the Legislature and will “most likely impact school board policy.” Supporters believe the legislation would remove perceived obscene materials from libraries; opponents believe it will unnecessarily ban books with literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. ​Edmond does not support the legislation and said political interference creates additional challenges for school districts. “Parental rights aren’t, in my opinion, parental rights for all,” she said. ​“However, there are lots of great things happening in our schools,” Edmond continued, while mentioning Black History Month celebrations and recent state recognition. “There’s a lot of positivity outside of the political madness.” ​PCS will close Pinellas Park’s Cross Bayou Elementary and Gulfport’s Disston Academy after the academic year ends in late May. The changes are part of the district’s multi-year Planning for Progress initiative. ​Cross Bayou Elementary has received a “C” grade from the state since 2014, and needs over $5.1 million in capital improvements. PCS will reassign students to nearby schools, which, like the district, have earned “A” grades and recently received comprehensive renovations. ​Disston Academy offers an Educational Alternative Services program that serves 52 on-campus students in grades six through 12. PCS will relocate students to alternative school sites in St. Petersburg, Largo, and Clearwater. ​“You have to make these financial decisions that are both logical and student-focused,” Edmond said. “Students and teachers will have other opportunities at other schools.” ​PCS will consolidate Bay Point Elementary and Bay Point Middle into a K-8 school on the latter institution’s South St. Petersburg campus in the fall of 2027. The district will also expand Oldsmar Elementary into a K-8 school beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. Lakewood High in South St. Petersburg is one of several local schools that have recently shown improvement. Photo: Facebook. ​Edmond, whose District 7 encompasses South St. Petersburg, stressed that “all students deserve a high-quality education, regardless of their zip code, socioeconomic status, and race.” In August, Lakewood High School earned its first “B” grade in a decade. ​The district as a whole received its second consecutive “A” grade, despite never reaching that benchmark until 2024. “We still have a long way to go, in my opinion,” Edmond said of closing persistent achievement gaps. “However, there are steps in place.” ​She urges parents and guardians to share both positive and negative feedback with district officials. Edmond also noted that leading the Greater Florida Consortium of School Boards “provides an opportunity to amplify the advocacy that we’re doing legislatively for our district.” ​The consortium represents 12 districts and 52% of Florida students. Edmond became the organization’s first African American president in 2024, and it has since approved a federal legislative program, established task forces for artificial intelligence and natural disasters, and implemented a youth committee. ​“I had no idea this is what I would be doing when I ran for school board – no idea, couldn’t even imagine it,” said Edmond, who is up for reelection in November. “Now more than ever, it is important to have somebody who is going to advocate. Someone who is getting in the weeds and standing up for what’s right.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

The free community event is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Enoch D. Davis Center. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg tenants and homeowners can access a smorgasbord of resources at a Housing and Apartment Fair tonight, Wednesday, March 4, from 5-7 p.m. ​The city and Bay Area Apartment Association partnered to host the free community event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Enoch D. Davis Center. According to its website, the Housing and Apartment Fair supports an ongoing commitment to expand housing opportunities, improve neighborhoods, and “promote healthy homes throughout St. Petersburg.” ​Tenants and homeowners can speak directly with rental housing providers and city staff at the event. The website notes that bringing those groups and resources together under one roof, at 1111 18th Ave. S. in South St. Petersburg, will help ensure residents have safe and affordable homes. ​“This event is about access,” said Avery Slyker, director of housing and community development for the city, in a prepared statement. “Whether you are looking for an apartment or seeking assistance to repair your home, we are bringing resources directly to residents in one convenient location.” ​The city encourages residents to bring any relevant documentation that may assist staff when answering program-specific questions. Here is what attendees can expect at the event: ​Renters ​Apartment complexes from across Tampa Bay will send representatives to help prospective tenants explore currently available units, learn about pricing and eligibility options, and discover housing options that fit their budget. ​Homeowners ​City staff will provide personalized, one-on-one guidance to homeowners on available grants and loan programs. Attendees could receive assistance for lead paint testing and remediation, a rapid roof replacement, housing rehabilitation, and exterior facade improvements. ​Homeowners can also receive help understanding eligibility and application requirements. The website states that the Healthy Homes initiative, funded by the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA), “improves safety, health, and property value.” For more information, visit the website here. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

The Center for Coastal Resilience would replace an underutilized parking lot, which is temporarily housing a yacht, at Port St. Petersburg. USF’s College of Marine Science (background) has advocated for the facility. Photos by Mark Parker. Long-discussed plans to expand on the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub’s success have received the first of three critical approvals. St. Petersburg voters will likely have the final word. ​A city council committee enthusiastically agreed to ballot referendum language on Thursday that would allow 25-year leases at Port St. Petersburg. The city-owned facility’s underutilized surface parking lot, adjacent to the hub, could eventually house a Center for Coastal Resilience. ​Previously known as Hub 2.0, the center would provide critical waterfront space for resiliency, research, and technology-focused government agencies, businesses, and academic institutions in St. Petersburg’s Innovation District, which would operate both facilities. The approximately $30 million project would not require city subsidies. ​However, the city only permits 10-year leases at the port. Alison Barlow, CEO of the Innovation District, and vice president Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, previously requested a 50-year term. ​A longer lease would help the two secure federal funding and raise private capital. Mathis said he and Barlow were “very supportive” of cutting their request in half. ​“I don’t know anyone in the room that doesn’t like the 25-year idea,” Mathis added. “So, we’re very happy with that.” The city-owned Maritime and Defense Technology Hub is at 450 8th Ave. SE in St. Petersburg’s Innovation District. ​Voters, following the full city council’s approval, will ultimately decide if the hub’s long-awaited sister facility comes to fruition. Public and private stakeholders agree that the 50,000-square-foot Center for Coastal Resilience would be a boon to St. Petersburg’s marine-based economy. ​The Innovation District already boasts 1,900 marine science employees and an annual local economic contribution of $540 million. USF’s College of Marine Science anchors an industry cluster with over 30 private companies, research organizations, academic entities, and government agencies. ​Barlow found immediate success when she opened the hub in January 2022. The 32,000-square-foot, at-capacity facility houses 20 tenants and supports 87 full-time and 132 secondary jobs. ​On average, full-time employees at the hub earn $91,500 annually, Barlow said. In addition to attracting new businesses and organizations, the Center for Coastal Resilience would enable current tenants, including Saildrone and the state-sponsored Florida Flood Hub for Applied Research and Innovation, to expand operations. ​Mathis noted that an independent consulting firm completed a feasibility study. The summation, he said, was that “there is indeed a great need for this.” The study was a requirement to receive an estimated $16 million to $18 million in federal funding. Mathis also believes the Florida Ports Council, with the city’s sponsorship A rendering of the 50,000-square-foot Center for Coastal Resilience, which would connect to the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub (left). Image: City documents. Pinellas County’s Employment Sites Program will likely offer $2 million or $3 million, Mathis said. “There should be very significant public sector support to help build this facility.” ​“The facility will be successful,” Mathis pledged. “We believe it will be fully occupied, based on the experience of the existing Maritime and Defense Technology Hub and current office vacancies in downtown St. Pete.” Barlow said the center would provide collaborative workspaces and a rooftop meeting area that could generate additional revenue and feature solar panels. She called waterfront access within a secure port the center’s “unique differentiator.” ​​The city council will now schedule two public hearings on an ordinance amendment that will facilitate a 25-year lease. If approved, the referendum would appear on ballots in November. ​“It’s really exciting to me that we are at this point and moving forward with something that is going to really boost our profile in marine science and resilience,” said Councilmember Gina Driscoll, a longtime proponent. “And create a lot of jobs in the process.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos Renting rooftop space could generate additional revenue. Image: City documents. The Maritime and Defense Technology Hub and Center for Coastal Resilience would share a new parking garage with Albert Whitted Airport (right). Image: City documents. Alison Barlow, CEO of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, said the new facility could feature a sphere created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that uses “high-tech cameras” to display educational programming. Image: City documents. An example of collaborative work spaces. Image: City documents. ​

Photo Credit Isis Climes: Black English Bookstore lobby area Hillsborough County connects local readers to a curated literary treasure in Tampa Heights. Late Tampa City Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson created Black English Bookstore with the vision to “amplify voices” and pay tribute to “the ancestors who were unable to read and write.” Her daughter, Ariel Amirah, continues her legacy today as the owner of the Black-owned bookstore. Black English Bookstore opened in December of 2023 in a 732 sq. ft. storefront with 2,000 books. As of now, the store holds more than 3,000 works, including curated selections from independently published authors. Although the store was founded by Henderson, both mother and daughter co-owned it. Since her mother’s passing, Amirah has carried the torch by giving the gift of book ownership to the local community. “Luckily, I didn’t have to step in suddenly — my involvement in the bookstore was integral to our success from the very beginning. That continuity has made carrying our mission forward feel natural,” said Amirah. Photo Credit Isis Climes: Black English Bookstore Founder Gwendolyn Henderson Title sections range from “Black English: Talk & Testify,” “Set the Table Cookbooks,” and “Mind Ya Business: Health – SelfCare – Career – Finances.” The literary selections offer genres from sci-fi to romance, poetry to essays, memoirsto politics, and more. “Our collection is intentionally curated and centered on Black authors, guided by a selection criterion created by my mother that we still adhere to today,” stated Amirah. Photo Credit Isis Climes: Black English Bookstore reading selections This woman-owned bookstore has added Tampa to the 8% of independently Black-owned bookstores nationwide. Amirah has seen steady sales growth since the shop’s opening two years ago. She notes one of the reasons for the rising sales: the intentionality put behind their selections. “We’ve experienced steady year-over-year growth in book sales, with noticeable spikes tied to community events, curated bundles, and key cultural moments. When representation is authentic, Black books sell consistently across all genres, not just during designated moments,” said the literacy lover. Readers like Leynoree Nelson travel from all over to visit the shop. Nelson was stuck between Charles B. Francher’s Red Clay and The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christorpher Murray – she chose the latter. “I live in Plant City and drive all the way over here for the bookstore,” exclaimed Nelson. Photo Credit Isis Climes: Readers looking at books; Leynoree Nelson (left) Beyond the books, Amirah engages with her community through pop-up events at her store. Most recently, the bookshop held a Valentine-themed event, “Love in Tote-Tality,” a tote-filled bundle that included a shirt, candle, affirmation card deck, and self-love workbook, among other treats. In addition to hosting events, she also strategizes networking to incorporate future partnerships and connections for the local shop. The bookstore owner attended the American Booksellers Association’s 21st Annual Winter Institute this past month. “Attending the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute allowed me to connect with other Black booksellers, discuss the state of Black bookstores on a national level, and sharpen best practices within the industry,” Amirah said. Black English Bookstore is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, 1 PM to 5 PM. If you’re a local self-published author interested in partnering with the store, check out their website for criteria and guidelines to have your book sold in their store! Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos Photo Credit Isis Climes: Patrons walking around the bookstore. Photo Credit Isis Climes: Table showcasing reading selections. Photo Credit Isis Climes: Bookshelf filled with a variety of titles.

Alex Palou (right) won the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in dominating fashion. Christian Lundgaard (center) finished third. Photos by Mark Parker. Nikita Johnson climbed another rung up IndyCar’s developmental ladder in thrilling fashion on Sunday by claiming a victory at his hometown Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. ​The St. Petersburg native, 17, took the checkered flag by .69 of a second to secure his first win in the INDY NXT circuit. Max Taylor, 18, finished second. ​Johnson, racing for Cape Motorsports, overtook Taylor on the first turn of the first lap and never relinquished his lead. Sunday morning’s victory was Johson’s third on the streets of St. Petersburg – the Gulfport resident previously won USF2000 (2023) and USF Pro 2000 (2024) at the Grand Prix, and is now another step closer to joining the NTT IndyCar Series ​“I can’t thank the boys from Cape Motorsports enough and everyone from ECR who has been helping us,” Johnson said. “It’s a pretty amazing feeling to get my first win in Indy NXT and Cape’s first win in Indy NXT. I can’t wait to see all my friends and family.” Nikita Johnson at a Grand Prix preview event in February. ​Kim Green, CEO of Grand Prix organizer Green-Savoree Racing Promotions, noted in February that the four-day festival is “more than a race these days.” In 2025, an estimated 165,000 people attended the Sunday finale. ​“It’s amazing to see all the race fans on the weekend and all the tourists come into town, and just watch one of the greatest races on the calendar,” Johnson said at the event in February. ​While Green-Savoree doesn’t release official attendance numbers, the 2026 Grand Prix may have set a new record. For the first time in its history, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series battled on a street course between the IndyCar action on Saturday. ​Mayor Ken Welch has called the Grand Prix a postcard for St. Petersburg. Fox, now in its second year of covering the IndyCar Series, broadcast the event to over 200 countries. NASCAR trucks took to the streets of St. Petersburg for the first time on Saturday. Those who attended the event were treated to sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. They also watched as Alex Palou continued dominating IndyCar. ​Palou picked up his second consecutive win in St. Petersburg on Sunday and his 20th overall in just 99 starts. The Spaniard’s 12.49-second victory for Chip Ganassi Racing set a new Grand Prix record. ​Scott McLaughlin, who secured pole position on Saturday for Team Penske, finished second in the IndyCar series opener. Palou, who started fourth, noted that he “had an amazing car today.” ​“This team keeps on improving, keeps on making new changes, and they just keep on raising the bar,” Palou said. “It’s pretty impressive. It’s a long season in front of us, but what a great way to start the season.” A temporary yacht club between the Mahaffey Theater and Dali Museum. The city and local organizations were also winners. A previous Visit St. Pete-Clearwater study found that the Grand Prix generates an economic impact of over $60 million and more than 15,000 overnight stays. Coming into race week, an annual 5k run on the track, held on Thursday evening, has raised $423,265 for the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg since 2017. Fox’s inaugural broadcast of the 2025 Grand Prix delivered 1.42 million viewers, a 45% spike over the previous year. ​Those who tuned into the 2026 race caught views of the downtown waterfront, a temporary yacht club, and local institutions, including the Dali Museum. Welch, at the track-build event in early February, called the exposure “invaluable, in terms of marketing.” More Photos Fox broadcasted the race to over 200 countries. Pit crews push an IndyCar into the Mahaffey Theater’s parking garage. Fox also broadcasted the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday. Packed viewing areas at the 2026 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Brian Peret, AI Salon St. Pete/ Tampa and Codeboxx Academy Director speaking to attendees at one of the AI Salon gatherings. Photo taken by Aron Bryce, courtesy of Ai salon Facebook Group AI Salon St. Petersburg is a local chapter of a global AI community focused on conversations around how artificial intelligence is shaping work and business. The chapter is led by Nicolas Genest, CEO and founder of CodeBoxx, and Brian Peret, Director of CodeBoxx Academy, with support from CodeBoxx and the Tampa Bay Innovation Center. The goal is to create a consistent space where Tampa Bay leaders can share how AI is being used across industries. While AI Salon highlights how local leaders are coming together around emerging technology, the conversation around artificial intelligence in Tampa Bay extends far beyond a single event, touching workplaces, classrooms, and Tampa Bay’s broader economic trajectory. A Brookings Institution analysis ranks the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater area as 36th overall in AI readiness, and places it in the “Emerging Centers” cluster. The Tampa Bay Area is one of 14 nationwide regions seeing strong growth in AI job postings and innovation, with an 88 percent increase in AI job postings. Brookings also places Tampa Bay in the top 25 percent of metros for AI talent and AI adoption, with innovation capacity in the middle tier nationally. That momentum is reflected in the area’s growing tech economy. Tampa Bay is expected to add more than 3,700 tech jobs by 2027, about 14 percent growth, according to data from Chmura JobsEQ and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. The number of IT-related businesses in the area increased from nearly 13,400 in 2017 to almost 17,000 by 2021. For Peret, AI Salon is designed to move people beyond theory and into application. “We act as a vital access point for the curious to take tangible next steps in their professional careers with artificial intelligence,” he said. “We’re helping our community sort real value from hype and build sustainable businesses locally, instead of watching this market develop elsewhere.” He said those conversations are already changing how companies move. “In just a few meetings, AI Salon has become the place where founders stress-test their ideas,” Peret said. “That kind of friction saves time, capital, and helps create a more competitive local market.” Genest said the urgency around AI adoption is tied to how quickly the technology is reshaping work. “AI is transforming our lives and our workforce faster than ever,” he said. “It’s important that people here have a voice in that global conversation, so they can benefit from these tools rather than fall behind.” With AI increasingly shaping how organizations operate, Genest said the technology presents an opportunity to strengthen the workforce already in place. “AI makes workers more capable and productive,” he said. “When busy work is automated, people have more bandwidth to innovate and improve the quality of what they deliver.” As AI becomes more integrated across industries, Tampa Bay’s expanding role in the AI economy points to new opportunities for businesses and workers alike. What comes next will depend on how intentionally the region builds the skills, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to keep pace with a rapidly changing tech landscape. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos. Brian Peret (center) with guest speakers Nithesh Gudipuri, Associate Director of Technology- Raymond James (left) and John Adams, SVP of AI Architecture-Video Amp, (right) at the February 4 meet up. Photo taken by Aron Bryce, courtesy of Ai salon Facebook Group Nicolas Genest speaking to AI salon attendees. Photo taken by Aron Bryce, courtesy of Ai salon Facebook Group

Photo Credit: Celeste Roberts; Youths at the Skills Center A youth center in Hillsborough County is changing the way after-school programs function with its state-of-the-art sports facility. Co-founder and CEO of The Skills Center, Celeste Roberts, is helping pave the way for students to successfully navigate the workforce through youth development programs. “We are a sports-based youth organization that uses the power of sports to create change around education, health, and the workforce,” stated Roberts. The Skills Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating academic and leadership skills through the power of sports. Founded in 2006 by Roberts, Chris Ward, and John Arroyo, the nonprofit operated without a dedicated center until June 2024, when they opened the now fully functional state of the art facility. In her position, Roberts provides strategic leadership and vision for the organization. The youth center project was originally slated for $13 million, but with inflation and rising costs, it totaled to $25.5 million by the end of production. The Skills Center hosts a combination of educational and sports-related venues, including a basketball court, a culinary kitchen, a college career center, and multiple classrooms. Photo Credit: The Skills Center’s Facebook; youths in a culinary class. The physical center was strategically planned to combine areas for physical activity while providing spaces for educational opportunities, such as college prep. The collaborative space provides a way to connect youth development to the workforce. Its services differ from traditional aftercare in that their programs are offered throughout the day rather than scheduled for the afternoon. The Skills Center is open to students during the day, after school, in the evening, and additionally allows students to schedule workshops that fit their calendars (e.g., ACT/SAT Prep classes). Roberts’ vision was to create a place where multiple organizations could collaborate, expand programming to leverage knowledge and resources, and have a greater impact on youth. “It’s really about helping our kids get on a pathway. Whether they’re going to college, pursuing vocational training, entering full-time employment, or joining the military, kids come in for youth development. Our intention is for them to be able to create a path to lifelong success,” Roberts said. Accessibility to the youth’s sports center was a top priority. The location was purposely built in the middle of Hillsborough’s Area Regional Transit (HART) bus routes. The HART bus line runs from South County to North Tampa, providing students near and far with operational transportation. Through their partnership with Hillsborough County Schools, the location has secured a bus stop in front of the building. In addition to the transit system, the facility secured three passenger vehicles (one 25-passenger and two 15-passenger vehicles). “A part of our work is how we think strategically to eliminate barriers that prevent kids from accessing things, and transportation is just one of those things. Not only for our kids, but for our city,” Roberts said. Photo Credit: The Skills Center’s Facebook; youths stretching. The Skills Center’s department served a total of 3,400 youth through programs and events in 2024. Since its opening, they’ve tripled in staff and more than doubled in contractors and vendors since 2024. The non-profit has also secured two grants ($1.4 million and $1.5 million) through The Collab, a five-core partnership of organizations that contribute to the overall mission of the youth center. The Collab includes Men of Vision, Girls Mentally Empowered for Success (GEMS), G3 Life Applications, and the CDC of Tampa (Corporation to Develop Communities) “We wanted to be creative and strategic and figure out a way to bring in the money that we need to make sure that our kids get the services they need,” said Roberts. Roberts is eager to celebrate their 20th anniversary next year. Beginning January 2027, the Skills Center will host small celebratory events leading up to their annual SNKR Ball in March to celebrate their anniversary. Photo Credit: The Skills Center’s Facebook; youths visit the Lee Chira Family Heisman Plaza. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Professor Judith A.M. Scully has taught at Stetson Law since 2009 and has built her career around racial equity, criminal justice reform, and preparing students to lead with purpose. The Truth Tellers Scholarship Fund was established in her name to continue that work and support future attorneys committed to justice. Photo courtesy of Judith Scully and Steston Law School. Stetson University College of Law has established the Professor Judith Scully Truth Tellers Scholarship Fund, a new initiative recognizing decades of leadership in legal education and advocacy. The scholarship honors Judith Scully’s sustained work advancing racial equity, challenging wrongful incarceration, and promoting human rights, while investing in students prepared to continue that legacy. Inspired by civil rights leader Ida B. Wells, the scholarship was created to introduce students to her life and fearless commitment to truth, while helping close financial gaps that can limit access to legal education for low- and middle-income students. Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862–1931) was an investigative journalist, educator, and early civil rights leader born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, who later became a co-founder of the NAACP. The Truth Tellers Scholarship Fund draws inspiration from her fearless reporting on racial injustice and her lifelong commitment to truth and equality. Image retrieved from usmint.gov Professor Judith A.M. Scully joined Stetson Law in 2009 and teaches criminal law, criminal procedure, trial advocacy, and courses examining race and the legal system. A law professor since 1996, she previously represented civil rights plaintiffs and criminal defendants in private practice. At Stetson, she founded and co-directs the Social Justice Advocacy Certificate of Concentration, has led the Stetson Law Innocence Initiative, and serves as President of the St. Pete Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Center. Prof. Scully with TRHT students and members after a civil rights presentation by Dr. Sybil Hampton. Photo courtesy of Judith Scully. “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them,” Scully said, quoting Ida B. Wells. She said that focus on truth guides her work in legal reform, community engagement, and the training of students who are prepared to challenge injustice both inside and outside the courtroom. Scully traces her commitment to justice back to her time in law school, where she encountered attorneys from the National Conference of Black Lawyers whose work in civil rights and human rights advocacy shaped her understanding of what legal responsibility demands. Through that work, she became involved in international human rights efforts, including advocacy connected to South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy. Those experiences, she said, reinforced her belief that law must be used to confront inequity, not reinforce it, and that students must be prepared to recognize the difference. “My goal is to do my part to dismantle policies, practices, and procedures that embed inequity in our lives and to make sure that my students understand that they too have the power and skills to do the same,” Scully said. Professor Scully at Fannie Lou Hamer statute in Ruleville, Mississippi, with law students Zenea Johnson and Shantanice Vaxter. Photo courtesy of Judith Scully. That philosophy, centered on courage and accountability, is what ultimately shaped the vision for the Truth Tellers Scholarship Fund. That philosophy resonated with Stetson Law alumnus Diriki T. Geuka ’17, who created and funded the scholarship in Professor Scully’s name. Geuka said his decision was influenced both by her impact on his legal education and by recent federal changes limiting how much students can borrow to finance graduate and professional school. “My focus is on supporting fearless attorneys of all disciplines,” Geuka said. “When the weight of the government or an opposing party comes down on you or a loved one, the only friend you truly have is your attorney, and you don’t want that attorney to be hesitant to do what it takes to defend you.” Stetson Law alumnus Diriki T. Geuka ’17 created the Truth Tellers Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing justice-focused legal careers. Image courtesy of Gueka. Geuka credits scholarship support with making law school possible for him and sees this fund as a way to create that same opportunity for future students. “I want to pay it forward and make law school more affordable for current and future students,” he said. “Stetson Law produces the best oral advocates in the world, and this is an effort to keep that world-class education attainable for students who embody the fearlessness of Ida B. Wells-Barnett.” Professor Scully agreed with that focus on access. “Diriki and I are hoping that this scholarship will help low- and middle-income students complete their education,” Scully said. “It is our hope that this scholarship will help close that gap for at least a few students.” Students applying for the scholarship are required to submit an essay identifying a legal practitioner or organization that carries forward Wells-Barnett’s legacy of fearless truth telling. Open to all current Stetson Law students, the award is designed to prompt serious reflection on how the law can be practiced in ways that advance equity rather than reinforce imbalance. To contribute to the Professor Judith Scully Truth Tellers Scholarship Fund, visit the Stetson Law giving page and select “other designation,” entering the scholarship name in the text field. Donate here: https://hubs.ly/Q044fJt50 Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos Dr. Scully officiating wedding of two students. Photo courtesy of Judith Scully. Dr. Scully with civil rights class at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.

The last project to trigger St. Petersburg’s community benefits process was the Historic Gas Plant District’s redevelopment. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. Proposed revisions to St. Petersburg’s community benefits process, created to foster more equitable growth, have elicited concerns from city council members. ​Standing members of the city’s Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC) suggested the changes after the previous two projects they reviewed failed to materialize. The discussion also precedes the Historic Gas Plant District’s impending redevelopment, which Mayor Ken Welch has said will again trigger the process. ​Administrators presented several recommended changes to the CBA ordinance at a city council Economic and Workforce Development Committee meeting on Thursday, including changes to the way CBAC members are appointed, the number of CBAC members, the location and background of members, how projects are qualified as subject to the CBA ordinance, and developer reporting procedures. ​“Some of the benefit changes that you’re proposing – I’m just not there,” said Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders. “Because it’s taking away, for me, a lot of the community input.” ​The history ​St. Petersburg established its Community Benefits Program in 2021, under former Mayor Rick Kriseman’s administration, which collaborated with leaders of the New Deal, One Community Plan, Raise the Bar and other community groups to craft an ordinance unanimously approved by city council. Its overarching goal is to ensure that new developments receiving city subsidies provide positive socioeconomic impacts. ​A project requesting public assistance – typically land – equal to 15% or more of the total construction cost, would trigger application of the ordinance. The Community Benefits Advisory Council (CBAC) helps determine what developers should provide to receive city approval. ​Suggested developer requirements include contracting with small and minority-owned businesses, hiring apprentices and disadvantaged workers, providing affordable or workforce housing, promoting environmental resiliency and sustainability, and supporting public art, health, education, and technology initiatives. ​The process has applied to just two projects. In 2022, Atlanta-based developer TPA Group offered $5 million for the 800 block in downtown St. Petersburg to build a 30-story residential tower with 350 market-rate apartments, a 14-story hotel, and a 75,000-square-foot Moffitt Cancer Center. ​​TPA planned to build 35 affordable and 35 workforce housing units in exchange for a $19 million discount on the land. The CBAC advanced the project. Welch, following unsuccessful negotiations with the developer to increase those numbers, nixed the deal. A second, more monumental community benefits process ensued when the Tampa Bay Rays sought to redevelop the Historic Gas Plant District and build a new stadium to replace Tropicana Field. The CBAC signed off on that package, as well; however, former team owner Stuart Sternberg walked away from the generational project in March 2025. ​“It’s not that the benefits agreement process did not work,” said Councilmember Brandi Gabbard. “It is that other circumstances called those deals not to go through. I just want to be very clear about that – and that is what gives me a lot of pause – because I’m not sold on what’s broken.” A graphic highlighting key proposed changes to the appointment process. Image: City documents. ​The changes ​If the proposed ordinance changes are approved, the number of standing CBAC members would increase from four to six, with the mayor and city council each appointing three; and the number of project-specific community members would be reduced from four to two. The new process would encourage but not require appointees representing all eight districts to have related professional expertise. Figgs-Sanders said the benefits program was meant to align community advocates and professionals. She believes the city should prioritize residents who are “impacted the most” rather than those with experience in the housing, environmental resiliency, art, health, education, or technology industries. “I kind of see an unintentional removal of some of our community advocates in this process,” Figgs-Sanders said. “If there’s something going on in South St. Pete, I think the majority of the feedback needs to come from South St. Pete.” ​Another proposed ordinance change would allow the CBAC and community engagement to begin earlier in the process, once the city “reasonably anticipates” that the project will be subject to the CBA ordinance. Some advocates believe that will come at an unacceptable cost, as the administration also proposed eliminating a Community Impact Report. Developers must currently submit a Community Impact Report summarizing their inclusion strategies and goals, which triggers the CBAC review process. Figgs-Sanders pushed back against the report’s elimination. She also noted that the current program is “50% of what we asked for” in 2021, and the changes would further dilute the process. City staff clarified that eliminating the report would not weaken accountability. “We’re not removing any of the opportunities for public input,” said Andrea Falvey, economic and workforce development manager. City Development Administrator James Corbett stressed that the changes were “simply” recommendations. He also explained that quashing the report would accelerate CBAC participation, and stakeholders would still receive proposed benefit information early in the process. Councilmember Corey Givens, Jr. agreed with Figgs-Sanders. “If there’s a development that impacts South St. Pete, I don’t think we need more influence from neighborhoods outside of South St. Pete,” he said. Givens also sought to ensure the “most impacted” areas have a seat at the CBAC table. He asked if the ordinance could legally enforce equal representation. A city attorney said the council would ultimately decide the board’s makeup, and could request alternative ordinance language. “That is exactly what I’m looking for,” said Givens, who also supported increasing the number of standing CBAC members from four to six. ​​Gabbard noted she had “way too many concerns” to address in the abbreviated meeting. She said administrators “certainly haven’t answered” whether the revisions would foster additional opportunities for “more voices, or is it even more watered down?” Members of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee agreed that the proposal warranted additional discussion. They voted to include the full city council at a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 12. ​Councilmember Gina Driscoll credited standing CBAC members for providing the recommendations. “They know from doing the work what speed bumps they’ve encountered, and what could be made better,” she said. ​“So, I do take these recommendations very seriously,” Driscoll added. “And although we may not ultimately adopt all the recommendations, we’re certainly going to give them the respect that they deserve.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

The Haynes Heroes Scholarship was created to honor the life and work of Reverend Watson Haynes, II, and to support students across Pinellas County as they prepare for their next step after high school. Presented by the Pinellas County Urban League, the scholarship reflects Rev. Haynes’ long-standing commitment to education, access, and community growth across Pinellas County. Rev. Haynes served as President and CEO of the Pinellas County Urban League until his passing in 2022. Throughout his leadership, he pushed for stronger educational pathways, support systems for youth, and community-driven solutions to long-standing inequities. Those values continue through the Haynes Heroes Scholarship, which centers students who have demonstrated leadership, service, and follow-through in their schools and communities. Valerie Haynes, wife of the late Rev. Watson Haynes, II, reflected on how the scholarship has become a living extension of her husband’s work in the community. “My husband dedicated his life to service, uplifting others, opening doors of opportunity, and reminding people, especially young people, that their circumstances did not define their destiny,” she shared. As she continues to see students recognized through the Haynes Heroes Scholarship, she described the experience as both personal and affirming. “It brings me comfort and pride to know that his life’s work still breathes through the lives of these young scholars. His legacy is not just remembered, it is active, transformative, and growing.” Each year, graduating seniors in Pinellas County are selected as “Haynes Heroes” and awarded a minimum of $1,500 to support their next step after high school. The selection process looks beyond grades alone, centering students who have shown consistency in the classroom and made an impact in their schools and or communities. Recipients go on to continue their education at colleges, universities, and vocational or technical programs across the country. Xavier Terrell, a 2025 Haynes Heroes Scholarship recipient, reflected on receiving the award at a moment of transition from high school into college. “Receiving the Haynes Heroes Scholarship at this point in my life meant more than financial support. It was reassurance. It showed me that the hard work I put into school, sports, and serving my community was seen and valued,” Terrell shared. He added that the support not only eased financial pressure but also reinforced his confidence as he stepped into a new chapter. He has since gone on to attend Claflin University as a first-year student in the Alice Carson Tisdale Honors College, where he is studying cybersecurity and staying active through baseball, Rising Kings, and the National Society of Black Engineers. Applicants for the Haynes Heroes Scholarship must be high school seniors residing in Pinellas County with a minimum unweighted GPA of 2.5. Students are asked to submit an essay reflecting on how they plan to show up for their communities while carrying forward Rev. Haynes’ values, along with academic records and documentation of involvement and service. Finalists may be invited to interview as part of the selection process. To be considered, students must submit all application materials by Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 11:45 PM. Incomplete applications, or submissions received after the deadline, will not be reviewed. All awardees will be notified on or before April 16, 2026, and scholarship recipients will be publicly announced by May 1, 2026. Through the Haynes Heroes Scholarship, Rev. Watson Haynes’ legacy continues through students who carry forward his belief in education, service, and giving back to the communities that helped shape them. For students and families interested in learning more about the Haynes Heroes Scholarship or preparing to apply, additional details are available here. Full program information and the application can be accessed directly here Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube 2024 Haynes Heroes Scholarship recipient Shani Grant Jones poses with Tammie Roberson following the scholarship presentation at the Pinellas County Urban League.Image courtesy of Pinellas County Urban League.

A group of bicyclists on the 22nd Street South corridor. Over 150 project recommendations will improve connectivity throughout South St. Petersburg. Photo by Mark Parker. ​Once implemented, a new study’s recommendations will create more connected, accessible, and vibrant communities within the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) officials are now concluding the Connecting South St. Pete CRA study’s final phase. Nicole Dufva, director of planning, provided the agency’s governing board with an update on the initiative on Wednesday. ​PSTA, the City of St. Petersburg, and residents worked collaboratively to identify over 150 projects that would improve walking, biking, and transit access in Pinellas County’s largest and densest CRA. The study focused on six commercial corridors and, through community feedback and data, pinpointed areas with persistent mobility issues. ​“We know that all transit riders are also pedestrians, and they are bicyclists,” Dufva said. “So we know that improving mobility, regardless of mode, is a really important part of increasing transit ridership.” Community feedback was critical to the study’s success. Photo: PSTA. ​PSTA received an Areas of Persistent Poverty grant from the Federal Transit Administration in 2023 to fund the study. The city, through CRA tax dollars, and the Florida Department of Transportation provided matching contributions. ​Over 35% of CRA residents met federal poverty criteria in 2023, according to PSTA documents. Nearly 50% of households had one or no vehicle. ​Dufva explained that PSTA incorporated the South St. Pete commercial corridors program, which launched in 2022 to fund infrastructure improvements and economic development initiatives, into the study. She said stakeholders can now leverage new funding to “actually implement” previously recommended projects. ​The study began on a “foundation of robust community engagement,” Dufva said. “We knew it was crucial to listen to our residents and business owners.” ​PSTA and the city reached over 300 people during the initial engagement phase, which included listening sessions where stakeholders shared their concerns and challenges. The second phase included several workshops, where participants provided suggestions for improvements to bus stops, shelters, crosswalks, sidewalks, and safety features. ​“We also hosted a slew of mobile tours – a bus tour, a bike tour, and a walking tour – so we could see on the ground what people were talking about and experiencing,” she added. A map highlighting the study area. Image: PSTA. ​Dufva said “robust participation” in a “critical” survey allowed PSTA to pinpoint problem areas. Compiled data, two additional workshops, and another survey helped inform and prioritize a recommended project list in the third phase. PSTA also integrated previously planned, unfunded projects. Dufva noted that including those in the study ensures eligibility for CRA and commercial corridor funding. ​The commercial corridors studied include 49th Street North and South, 5th Avenue South, 22nd Street South, 16th Street South, 18th Avenue South, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South. Dufva called the latter two “very critical areas where we saw a lot of comments and concerns.” ​“A piece of the last part of this study was to conduct and provide up to 10% of the design and engineering plans for a handful of concepts,” she said. “That way, they could be ready to hand over to the city, to really kick start that funding to get to construction.” ​Cheryl Stacks, parking and transportation manager for St. Petersburg, said the city has $750,000 in the upcoming budget to implement priority projects. The first priority highlighted at the initiative update on Wednesday features curb, crosswalk, and bus shelter improvements around the intersection of 18th Avenue and 21st Street South. ​The second priority project includes a proposed mid-block crosswalk with a “pedestrian refuge,” and new bus stops and boarding platforms along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South, between Jasmine Terrace and 9th Avenue. ​Stacks said the city is awaiting final documents from a consultancy firm, and then “working toward a potential staff referral to one of the city council committees.” Support from council members will help administrators align projects with various funding sources and “make progress toward implementation.” ​“There’s a fair amount of recommendations that we’ll work through our other funding mechanisms in order to get those accomplished,” Stacks added. “We really appreciate the partnership of PSTA … This was a wonderful experience for me, personally and professionally.” More Photos A graphic showing the number of crashes around bus stops (gold) and areas with the most community comments (purple to green). Image: PSTA. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested that the state could provide additional land for a Tampa Bay Rays stadium during a press conference at Hillsborough College earlier this month. Image: Screengrab. ​Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida cabinet approved giving Hillsborough College 22 acres of additional land to accommodate a Tampa Bay Rays stadium on Tuesday. ​The Rays hope to build a reported $2.3 billion ballpark at the college’s 113-acre Dale Mabry campus in Tampa to anchor a massive mixed-use redevelopment. DeSantis believes the 22 acres of state-owned, nonconservation land surrounding the current site lack commercial value outside of the proposed project. ​Hillsborough College (HC), which stands to gain new and renovated buildings from the deal, signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Rays in January. The institution would retain ownership of the land and lease everything outside of the site’s southwest corner to the team for at least 99 years. ​“I think this is appropriate to empower them to be able to negotiate a deal that’s going to allow them to have a reinvigorated and reimagined campus,” DeSantis said. ​Rays CEO Ken Babby expressed gratitude to the state in a subsequent prepared statement. He also reiterated the team’s plan to open a “live, work, play, and learn district” in time for the 2029 baseball season. ​Babby said support from the governor and his cabinet underscores “our belief in this generational project, and the many lasting benefits it will deliver.” He credited the team’s “real and growing” momentum to a “remarkable spirit of community and statewide partnership that our ownership group has been privileged to experience from the start.” ​“This is undoubtedly a big moment for Tampa Bay, and the Rays are fully in this moment to bring this vision to life and serve our region for generations to come,” Babby added. An aerial rendering of a reimagined Dale Mabry campus, anchored by a new ballpark. Image: Tampa Bay Rays. ​The state could rescind the land transfer if HC and the Rays fail to meet construction milestones within five years. DeSantis, who visited the site in early February, said the area has potential but remains underutilized. ​He believes the redevelopment will revitalize an area that is also home to Raymond James Stadium and Steinbrenner Field, a New York Yankees spring training and minor league ballpark. “I think it’s also something that would ensure that baseball remains in Tampa Bay,” DeSantis said. ​​Attorney General James Uthmeier said the proposed redevelopment would transform what is “largely just a bunch of parking lots” into something that provides a “significant economic benefit” for the state. He is also a “big fan of keeping the Rays in Florida,” and is “happy we’ll be able to keep them in Tampa.” “Honestly, I don’t know that it’s worth very much outside of this proposal,” DeSantis said of the 22 acres. “A homebuilder would not put a subdivision there. People wouldn’t do commercial buildings right there now.” ​The Rays became one of Major League Baseball’s most winningest teams after former owner Stuart Stenberg purchased the team in 2008. However, DeSantis said the franchise hasn’t been “super successful, because there’s an economics to this.” ​County Commission Chair Ken Hagan has pegged the project’s price tag at $8 billion to $10 billion. The redevelopment’s 30-year economic impact is an estimated $34 billion, according to real estate consultancy firm RCLCO. ​HC could receive final binding agreements with the Rays by mid-April, according to its legal counsel. President Ken Atwater said in a prepared statement that the partnership “represents a transformational opportunity” for the college and its students. ​“A project of this scale and vision creates new pathways for learning, workforce development, internships, and career-connected education,” he said. While state leaders agree, how the Rays will pay for a new stadium remains a mystery. ​The team has pledged to contribute half of the estimated $2.3 billion cost. That would leave Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa to make up the difference. A rendering of new Hillsborough College facilities. Image: Tampa Bay Rays. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

Dr. Raquel Hairston is St. Petersburg College’s new dean of dual enrollment. Photos: SPC. St. Petersburg College has named a lifelong K-12 educator and administrator as its new dean of dual enrollment, which enables high school students to earn college credits. ​Dr. Raquel Hairston, the former principal of SPC’s collegiate high school, will now shape its dual enrollment strategy and partnerships. Expanding regional access to early college opportunities is her overarching mission. ​Hairston noted that taking college courses in high school reduces financial burdens and prepares students for success after graduation. She said an abundance of research proves that “this model works.” ​“For me, it’s about bridging systems,” Hairston said of her new role. “I understand both sides of that partnership.” ​That understanding stems from over 26 years of experience. Hairston’s teaching career began in her home state of Alabama; she joined Pinellas County Schools in 1999. ​She taught reading, English, and language arts before becoming an administrator. Hairston served as assistant principal of Morgan Fitzgerald Middle, acting assistant principal at Northeast High, and principal at Meadowlawn and Tarpon Springs Middle Schools. ​In 2019, Hairston became principal of St. Petersburg Collegiate High School at SPC’s Gibbs campus. She was appointed principal of St. Petersburg Collegiate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) High School at the Downtown Center in 2022. ​SPC’s announcement states that Hairston “launched initiatives to optimize productivity, elevate leadership performance, and foster continuous improvement across programs and teams.” ​Hairston said her K-12 experience will “really allow me the opportunity to scale what I’ve been doing at the school level.” She added that opening the STEM high school “afforded me the opportunity to really examine things from a systems perspective.” ​In her new role, Hairston plans to align academic systems, remove barriers, and create “coherent pathways for early college success” for students across the region. She called dual enrollment a free “on-ramp to the bachelor’s degree program.” ​“And it’s not just the tuition,” Hairston continued. “It is the textbooks, it is the lab coat, it is the calculators – it is everything we provide, in addition to the academic support. This model provides students with the support they need – and the rigor – to be able to perform at high levels in a post-secondary environment.” She believes educators should begin preparing students for dual enrollment in middle school. Hairston said kids are “accelerating much earlier,” and wants to coordinate with principals to ensure they have a “clear understanding” of college opportunities. ​“We want to make sure students understand that there are options,” she said. “You don’t have to transfer on to a four-year university. You could go directly into the workforce.” ​Hairston also stressed the importance of understanding each student’s unique needs rather than applying a solution without a “clear picture of the answer.” She can then offer academic resources, including free tutoring, or social support. ​“As educators, it’s really our job to help grow a student’s self-efficacy – their belief in their own ability,” Hairston said. “And this program has proven that with the right support, all students can perform at high levels.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Fallout from the We Belong Here music festival, held at Vinoy Park in December, nearly jeopardized other events in downtown St. Petersburg. Photos by Mark Parker. Rhythmic bass from We Belong Here, a self-billed “intimate” concert along St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront, was heard in neighboring Gulfport. Subsequent backlash continues reverberating. ​​The two-day electronic music festival, held Dec. 13-14 at Vinoy Park, could have lasting impacts on future events in St. Petersburg. City council members aired ongoing concerns on Feb. 19, when asked to approve 10 upcoming events from different promoters. ​Mayor Ken Welch, his administration, and council members, who were hesitant to approve new concerts at the meeting, agree that the city must evaluate best practices for hosting major events. However, they have yet to set a date for a Committee of the Whole workshop. ​“I will tell you that there is some time sensitivity to some of these events,” said Mike Jefferis, community enrichment administrator. “I’m guessing, if we don’t get approval today, the events would find another location.” ​“Maybe that’s just the break we need until we can figure this out,” replied Councilmember Gina Driscoll. The city is waiting to process a new application from We Belong Here’s promoters. Council Chair Lisset Hanewicz began addressing festival concerns before those reached a tipping point with We Belong Here. She said the festival’s 2025 application stated it was an intimate event. Several thousand people attended, resulting in police and city officials receiving dozens of noise complaints from residents throughout St. Petersburg.​ “The We Belong Here concert was just outrageous,” Hanewicz said. “And, frankly, you all (administrators) saying it went through the process, and it was okay, indicates that the process does not work. Period.” Jefferis said administrators are now taking a “deep dive” into city protocols and promised a “robust” conversation at the undated workshop. They are also working with peer cities and the legal department to determine best practices. City officials will discuss issues related to event size and duration, nominal city fees, noise, public urination, public park access, and environmental impacts. However, event organizers cannot afford to wait. ​“There are some events that are on this list today that are waiting for this action from city council to start selling tickets and to start promoting their event,” Jefferis said. “I’m also happy to report that we’ve reached out to some of the larger events, and we’ve asked them to get creative with us.” The co-sponsored event applications presented Feb. 19 include a Slightly Stoopid concert, the One of Us Presents music festival, the St. Pete Country Fest, Red Bull Cliff Diving St. Petersburg, and several other recurring events. ​ Jefferis is discerning if all major festival organizers can “reduce the number of days that the parks are pulled offline.” For example, previously approved Reggae Rise Up will take over Vinoy Park from March 12-15, not including the time it takes to set up and take down a massive festival’s infrastructure. Vinoy Park has hosted the Reggae Rise Up music festival since 2015. ​Jefferis said the city is also working with promoters to reposition speakers and the St. Petersburg Police Department to address criminal infractions. The overarching goal is to ensure “we are the best neighbors that we can possibly be,” while retaining a “vibrant, active downtown.” “We are of the opinion that you are not approving more of the same kind of concert that happened in December,” he said. “I can tell you that every one of these events is going to frustrate somebody in the community.” ​“Not like this,” Driscoll said of We Belong Here. Jefferis agreed with that sentiment. We Belong Here’s organizers have filed an application to host their second festival in St. Petersburg. Jefferis said the city has not “moved that forward at this point because we’re wanting to really fine-tune, and make sure we understand what we legally can and can’t do.” Driscoll, who voted against approving the other co-sponsored event applications, would have preferred a moratorium on new concerts “until we get this sorted out.” She said residents “deserve to have some action taken after what they had to deal with.” Councilmember Richie Floyd believes the police department needs to proactively enforce noise ordinances. We Belong Here’s organizers received multiple after-the-fact violations. Hanewicz, like Driscoll, did not want the council’s approval of other events to indicate a business-as-usual approach to major events in the city. “I want the public to understand – it’s not rosy,” she said. “I want the promoters to know that this is not going to be accepted.” ​City Administrator Rob Gerdes said he and his colleagues understand the council’s frustration and look forward to the broader discussion on how events “drive some economic opportunity downtown, and what are the adverse impacts of that.” However, they would also “greatly appreciate it if we could move forward on these” in the meantime. The council acquiesced and voted 7-1 to approve 10 co-sponsored event applications. We Belong Here’s promoters will have to wait. ​ Vinoy Park on a typical day. Photo: City of St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube ​

In November 2023, Germany-based Volocopter completed the first electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) test flight at a large U.S. airport, and the first in Florida, in Tampa. Photo: Tampa International Airport. A task force established to help St. Petersburg capitalize on the rapidly evolving advanced air mobility industry has provided its final recommendations to city officials. ​The group of local business and civic leaders began meeting in April 2025, primarily to study Albert Whitted Airport’s role in accommodating electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs). Former City Councilmember Ed Montanari, who led the task force and provided its findings Thursday, implored current officials to “begin advanced air mobility operations as soon as possible.” ​Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is a nascent aerospace sector that typically utilizes eVTOLs to move people and cargo. While often referred to as air taxis, the vehicles can also perform delivery, disaster relief, surveillance, and search and rescue services. ​“This technology is going to transform the way that people get around,” Montanari said. “I don’t know if people are aware that this technology is coming, but it’s going to change the way we do business.” A map highlighting potential areas for vertiports (red box) and aircraft parking (red circle) at Albert Whitted Airport. Image: City documents. St. Petersburg is the birthplace of commercial aviation, and Montanari said it “needs to be a leader” in AAM. However, he also stressed the need to protect traditional aviation uses at Albert Whitted. ​Montanari, appointed by Mayor Ken Welch to oversee the task force in January 2025, advocated for safe and reliable eVTOL services and for officials to integrate plans into regional and state initiatives. The Florida Department of Transportation announced in October that it will build an AAM testing facility in Polk County. ​While a “robust public engagement strategy is essential,” Montanari said that it “does not seem to be happening right now.” When asked when someone could fly the first eVTOL over St. Petersburg, he said, “That could happen any day … They’re flying in California right now.” ​The task force highlighted areas at Albert Whitted that could house vertiports – a specially designed helipad for eVTOLs. Members recommended building associated infrastructure – parking spots for aircraft, electrical charging stations, and fire safety systems – within the next three years. ​Montanari, a former fighter and commercial jet pilot, said existing runways could accommodate eVTOLs as a short-term solution. The task force recommended building dedicated vertiports on the airport’s south side in the future, according to market demand. “We made a determination that the market needs to decide where standalone vertiports are going to be outside of the airport,” Montanari added. “The city needs to create a process to approve new vertiport and heliport sites.” ​He said connecting eVTOL service from Albert Whitted to Tampa International Airport should also be a priority, as multiple manufacturers have partnered with national airlines. The task force also believes that St. Petersburg should help “promote and coordinate” AAM efforts throughout the region. City council members applauded the task force’s proposed Jannus Center for Aviation and Innovation. Image: City Documents. ​Another recommendation highlighted Thursday is to create a Jannus Center for Aviation and Innovation. The facility would support education, workforce and economic development, research and technology, industry partnerships, and manufacturing. ​Montanari said St. Petersburg has been an “innovative city since its founding,” and AAM is a “disruptive industry that is going to change the way the world works.” He believes the Jannus Center could help the city attract manufacturers, “whether it’s components or vehicles.” ​China already allows eVTOLS to carry passengers, Montanari noted, and drone delivery services are expanding throughout the U.S. He said the Federal Aviation Administration could begin certifying AAM aircraft by the end of 2026. ​Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. said St. Petersburg College and Pinellas Technical College have “shown a great deal of interest” in providing related training. “It’s something that’s missing.” ​Montanari has discussed educational aspects, a key component of the Jannus Center, with Pinellas County school district Superintendent Kevin Hendrick. Councilmember Copley Gerdes said he was “super excited” to hear about the proposed facility. ​“This is really what I think sets this apart from just saying, ‘Yes, we want eVTOLs,’ and ‘Yes, eVTOLs are coming,’” Gerdes continued. “This is bringing it to a whole different level.” ​The council agreed to discuss next steps at a future committee meeting, potentially in March. Montanari said those should include an analysis to “identify exactly where” the city should place AAM infrastructure at Albert Whitted, and how that would integrate into current operations. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Attallah Shabazz, daughter of human rights activist Malcolm X. Photo sourced from the LA Times, 1983. Attallah Shabazz, an international human rights advocate and daughter of civil rights leader Malcolm X, will speak at Eckerd College on Friday, Feb. 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. in Fox Hall as part of the EC Classic weekend and CPS Speaker Series. The public lecture will focus on diversity, justice, and global citizenship, followed by a Q&A with students. The event is open to the campus community and the public. Malcolm X remains one of the most influential and debated voices of the civil rights movement, known for challenging America to confront racism, power, and identity. His daughter, Attallah Shabazz, has spent decades extending that work through diplomacy, education, and global human rights advocacy. For Eckerd students, Shabazz’s visit creates a rare opportunity to engage directly with a speaker whose life and career have been shaped by the legacy of the civil rights movement and decades of international public service. While her talk will focus on diversity and human rights, Shabazz brings a background as a diplomat, professor, and global advocate, offering students and community members exposure to perspectives rooted in lived experience and global engagement. Having a speaker of this caliber on a local campus underscores the importance of access to nationally relevant voices within the Tampa Bay region. Major voices in civil rights and human rights discourse are not always accessible to students outside of large metropolitan or elite academic spaces. Hosting Shabazz in St. Petersburg underscores the role of local institutions in creating access to global perspectives and national conversations. Attendees can expect more than historical reflection from the discussion. The event invites them to consider their own roles within ongoing struggles for equity and human dignity. As Malcolm X once said, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today” (speech, 1962). Shabazz’s work and message build on that idea, emphasizing awareness, responsibility, and purposeful action in shaping the world students are inheriting. Ann Sherman-White, director of Equal Access and Campus Community and director of the Unity Center, said the timing of Shabazz’s visit carries particular relevance for Eckerd’s campus and the broader community. “Our community, both Eckerd and beyond, is in a potentially transitional period in time,” Sherman-White said. “So when we have found ourselves in that same transitional realm, we needed someone to motivate, articulate, and show us how to step out of this.” As Eckerd prepares to host Shabazz, the event offers students and community members a chance to engage directly with global perspectives on diversity and human rights in a campus setting. For more information about the event, visit this link. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Photo provided by CULC Photo provided by CULC A brand new mini mall is set to debut this year in the historic North Greenwood area of Clearwater. Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition’s (CULC) Executive Director, Gloria Campbell, is at the helm of launching the new venture and establishing a business incubator for the community. In her position, Campbell oversees strategic planning, policy setting, and implementation for CULC. Her primary goal is to focus on economic development for the Clearwater community, an achievement that will be realized through the storage container mini mall, “The Grove @ 1105.” With plans to establish a rotating three-year lease agreement for vendors, Campbell believes that as the mini mall grows, it can also function as a business incubator for the community. “Our emphasis is about making sure that the community gets what they need and no one is left behind,” said Campbell. Funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which granted the city of Clearwater $18 million. Campbell originally asked for funding in 2023; she initially requested $2 million to jump-start the North Greenwood Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and was granted $5 million. Two million dollars were awarded for grant-funded stakeholder projects developed through community input, as well as projects submitted by nonprofits, along with commercial grant funding for businesses. As CULC made plans for the mall project, $500,000 was set aside as seed money for the project’s development. Currently, Campbell and her team are planning and finalizing permits, and go before the planning and review committee in March, followed by land development in May. This new mini mall will not be built as a traditional brick-and-mortar business. Campbell took design inspiration from reporting on successful malls in India and China that have been wholly fabricated with storage containers. CULC’s director also noted that the containers were more cost-effective than replacing buildings and could fast-track businesses’ start dates from construction to opening. “You talk about a way that we could get businesses and storefronts up and running quickly. This would be the way to do it,” said Campbell. The marketing department of St. Petersburg College (SPC) consulted with CULC to research container projects with similar builds and confirm the project’s feasibility. SPC’s Director of Marketing, Dr. Andy Rojas, and a select group of students embarked on research to establish key metrics needed for the projects to be successful. They referenced projects such as The Krate at the Grove in Wesley Chapel and Sparkman Wharf in Tampa. The Grove @ 1105 will house 10 businesses, with two permanent shops and the remaining eight holding lease obligations. The selected businesses will mainly prioritize food vendors focused on health and wellness. This critical decision was made to reduce the gap in access to healthy, readily available food options in the area’s severe food desert. “We want to make sure that people in the community will have an opportunity to come and shop and buy fresh fruits and vegetables at reasonable prices without having to travel outside the area,” said Campbell. The leased space ranges from their smallest option of 200 square feet to their largest space at 800 square feet. Vendors will have a three-year lease on their designated space with two payment options: pay a discounted, market-rate rent with revenue sharing up to 30% with the development, or opt out of revenue sharing by paying full price for the rental space. Leasing starts around $200, with a max of $700/month. The mall is set to have a soft launch in December with a planned grand opening in early 2027. Campbell’s mission is to build a thriving community by 2030 with support from the CRA. “We will see community pride return,” reaffirmed Campbell. In a pivotal step toward revitalizing North Greenwood, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved an agenda item during its January 13, 2025, meeting to move forward with negotiations with Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition (CULC) for a mini container mall project to be named, The Grove @ 1105. Photo: Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Mayor Ken Welch speaks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an affordable housing development. His administration has opened a program that will provide similar projects with up to $15 million. Photo by Mark Parker. ​St. Petersburg officials have launched a $42 million competitive race for developers to replenish the city’s affordable rental housing stock, which has suffered multiple blows from hurricanes in recent years. ​Funding for the new Affordable Rental Housing Program (ARHP) stems from the $160 million Sunrise St. Pete initiative. The overarching goal is to help turn the tide for low-income renters still reeling from the ongoing effects of storms. ​While recent efforts have focused on direct checks to residents, the city is now shifting its focus toward long-term infrastructure by incentivizing developers to build, rehab, or convert properties into high-quality, affordable homes. At least 51% of units in proposed projects must serve households earning at or below 80% of the area median income (AMI). ​Interested developers must participate in a competitive application process. Mayor Ken Welch’s administration will cap awards at $15 million, unless applicants “can demonstrate that damage due to a qualifying disaster requires additional funding to bring the property back to safety and habitability.” ​The maximum per-unit subsidy is $125,000. Officials emphasize that no funding is available for homes that exceed the 80% AMI threshold, which is $73,400 for a two-person household. ​City documents state that awarded developers “are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a project, from planning through long-term documents.” That includes “accepting legal and financial risk … securing and managing financing, and overseeing construction, procurement, budgeting, inspections, and permitting.” ​The application period opened on Monday and ends on June 12 at 5 p.m. An evaluation committee will then score and select proposals for approval. City council members must approve awards on Sept. 17. ​Developments that do not address a direct or indirect disaster-related impact are ineligible, according to city documents. Rents must remain affordable for at least 30 years. ​Officials will prioritize projects with access to infrastructure, public transportation, community amenities, and employment opportunities. The city will “review all estimated development costs … to evaluate their reasonableness and may, at its option, require applicants to obtain additional quotes, bids, or estimates.” ​Applicants must identify any negative site features, including proximity to industrial facilities or high-voltage power lines, and explain how they plan to mitigate those effects. Developers must also provide monthly construction reports, and the city will retain a portion of the funding until “satisfactory completion” of the project. ​For more information about the program and eligibility requirements, visit the website here. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Pinellas County Commissioner Renee Flowers (left, podium) was among the public speakers who urged the local Juvenile Welfare Board to scrap its current search for a new leader. Image: Screengrab. Five months of infighting over who should lead the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County came to a grinding halt three hours into a tense meeting on Thursday. Members also selected a new interim CEO. ​In a dramatic reversal, the taxpayer-funded agency voted to scrap its current search process entirely, derailing the official appointment of front-runner Glen Gilzean. Chief Operating Officer Karen Boggess will now replace interim CEO Mike Mikurak, also a finalist for the permanent position, on June 1. ​While the board voted 6-5 in April to hire Gilzean, a frequent gubernatorial appointee, his confirmation required a second approval. Later that month, an attorney for Mikurak demanded $100,000 and the permanent position for another year to settle an unfiled lawsuit over an allegedly improper and defamatory selection process. “The best thing for this organization, to get us back on track, to stop the insanity, would be to ask staff to bring back options on June 25 for a professional search firm,” said Board Member Brian Aungst Jr. “Start the process over.” ​Five of his colleagues eventually agreed. The 11-person board, composed of county officials and gubernatorial appointees who oversee a roughly $130 million annual budget, concluded a nearly four-hour meeting by agreeing that Boggess should lead a fresh start. Chief Operating Officer Karen Boggess will replace Mike Mikurak as interim CEO on June 1. Photo: JWB of Pinellas. ‘We should be embarrassed’ ​The meeting began with County Commissioner Chris Latvala sharing text messages from fellow board members, which are public record, that implied improper petitioning on behalf of Gilzean. Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick was the first to suggest restarting the selection process. ​“Number one, I’m not interested in this becoming a political process,” Hendrick said. “I think I said that months ago, and it clearly has. This should be about supporting our kids. The public records we have seen show the nature of how involved this has become behind the scenes. ​“We should be embarrassed for that - for this entire discussion.” ​Hendrick added that he doesn’t want someone with a controversial past to lead the special taxing district’s board. Gilzean, who has received eight gubernatorial appointments throughout his career, was accused of but never found liable for misusing millions as the Orange County Supervisor of Elections. ​Mikurak’s settlement letter noted that at a previous meeting, Board Member Renee Chiea publicly questioned his transparency and ethics, and essentially accused him of participating in Medicare fraud in 2012. Mikurak denied the accusations and threatened to sue. Interim CEO Mike Mikurak (right), 72, agreed to rescind his threat of litigation and settlement offer. ​Circuit Court Judge Patrice Moore apologized to the finalists, staff, stakeholders, and residents on Thursday. “I don’t know where it went wrong,” she said of a process that “did start out great.” ​“It is bad - I’ve been on this board for 10 years, and this is not what I signed up for,” Moore continued. I have never been in any situation that’s been so contentious as it has been for the last few months.” ​The motion to restart the search passed 5-4, with Public Defender Sara Mollo and gubernatorial appointees Chiea, Alicia McShea, and Kristen Gnage dissenting. Aungst, Latvala, Moore, Board Chair Jim Millican, and gubernatorial appointee Melissa Rutland voted in favor, while Hendrick left the meeting for another obligation. State Attorney Bruce Bartlett was out of town. ​Who should serve as interim CEO? ​While he was "disappointed" by Mikurak’s demands, Aungst said he would support the interim CEO maintaining his position during the search for a permanent replacement. Mikurak agreed to suspend any legal actions and drop the settlement offer “as long as we can move forward and put the children first.” ​Aungst motioned to extend Mikurak’s contract, which ends on June 1. It failed in a 4-5 vote. ​Chiea, who disputed the popular assertion that the process was flawed, advocated for Gilzean to serve as interim CEO. However, her colleagues agreed that the placeholder could not apply for the permanent position, which comes with an approximately $250,000 salary, and she relented. Glean Gilzean, 44, has secured eight gubernatorial appointments throughout his career. Mollo then suggested that Boggess should temporarily lead the board. According to a subsequent announcement, Boggess has played a key role in advancing initiatives focused on early learning, community partnerships, and systems improvement throughout her 20 years with the agency. ​“I live in this community. I’m a parent, I’m a taxpayer, I love the work that we get to do here,” an emotional Boggess told the board. “The staff has been through so much, and I am honored to help provide stability for this organization.” The motion passed 8-1. Chiea cast the sole “no” vote. ​The community ​Several stakeholders spoke at the meeting, with most, including County Commissioner Renee Flowers, advocating for a reset. She said that contrary to popular belief, state officials “never got involved in this process.” ​However, Flowers also urged the board to “start this process over so that those who are serving in the community, those who are working under JWB, know exactly what they’re getting.” ​Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, spoke in support of Gilzean and bemoaned what he believed was inaccurate reporting. While his organization does not receive funding from the board, Sutton said he cares “deeply about the families and children in our community.” ​“Contrary to everything that has been published by the Tampa Bay Times and stated publicly, it was me who reached out to Glen Gilzean to apply for the JWB position,” Sutton explained. “I’ll say that one more time to our friends at the Tampa Bay Times so they can properly report on it for their last 12 readers who are still standing. Glenn has been professionally transparent all along the way.” ​The board will discuss additional details regarding the executive search process and a timeline at its next meeting on June 25. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Allen told Breakfast Club co-host Charlamagne tha God in a May 20 interview, the battle has never been about “black or white…It's always been green.” (Image: The Breakfast Club) In a candid interview withThe Breakfast Club, media mogul Byron Allen — worth an estimated $800 million to $1 billion and one of the largest Black media owners in the U.S. — broke down his strategies for media dominance and challenged the nation to recognize that in order to become “one America,” we must achieve economic inclusion. Allen shared behind-the-scenes details on his recent acquisition of a 10.7% stake in Starz, the premium cable and streaming network, and a deal announced on May 11 for Allen Family Digital to acquire BuzzFeed, a digital media company that posted $46.3 million in revenue in quarter 4 of 2025. The latter gave Allen 52% ownership of the company He quietly bought the Starz shares from the former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin for $25 million, making Allen the brand’s second-largest shareholder. He noted that Starz targets the “the underserved” market, which is “code for Black,” and vows to ultimately control the company outright. HIs acquisition of 52% of Buzzfeed cost $120 million, and the deal bundles in HuffPost, the progressive news outlet, and Tasty, BuzzFeed's massive food content platform. Citing a conversation with Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr., Allen urged recognition that economic inclusion is an essential next chapter in our national story. "The greatest trade deficit in America," Allen said, "is the trade deficit between white corporate America and Black America. And until we close that trade deficit, we cannot achieve one America." Allen recalled Scott King describing four major battles on the road to equality for Black Americans: one, ending slavery; two, ending Jim Crow; three, securing civil rights; and four, achieving economic inclusion. “It's our turn [for] this generation to achieve the fourth and final chapter,” said Allen. Click here to listen to a 9-minute excerpt of the interview, and catch the full hour-long session on Netflix. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

First elected to Congress in 2004, Wasserman Schultz's switch to run in Congressional District 20 gives her a stronger chance of winning re-election, but would dilute Black representation in the U.S. House ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA — Florida’s 20th Congressional District has been represented by a Black American for more than 30 years. Whether it will be in future is an open question, now that Wasserman Schultz has entered the chat. Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced today that she will throw her hat in the ring to represent Florida’s 20th Congressional District — a seat that has had Black representation for more than 30 years. Wasserman Schultz currently represents Congressional District 25, which was redrawn in the rushed redistricting approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this month. Her decision to switch districts pits Wasserman Schultz - a 22-year House veteran and former Democratic National Committee chair — against seven Black Democratic candidates in the August 18 primary election, including former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned the district 20 seat in late April under threat of a House investigation for allegedly stealing federal funds. Others in the race include Luke Campell, also known as Uncle Luke of rap group 2 Live Crew; Attorney Mark Douglas; former Broward County Mayor Dale Holness; educator and community organizer Elijah Manley; physician and former flight surgeon Rudolph Moise; and Maisha Williams, a former congressional staffer and stepdaughter of the late U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings. High-profile Black leaders have pushed back against the decision. The Democratic Black Caucus of Broward issued a public statement urging Wasserman Schultz not to run in district 20. POLITICO reports that State Sen. Shevrin Jones “called Wasserman Schultz a “friend” but said he disagreed with her decision.” In a statement on the topic, Jones noted, “My fight is for Black representation, and I am in the business of expanding it, not diminishing it.” Meanwhile, Wasserman Schultz has released a number of endorsements by Black and diverse leaders, and told POLITICO that she has the support of Black leaders in the district. Watch her announcement video here. The Power Broker Magazine will follow this race. District 20 is one of nearly 20 U.S. House races where redistricting efforts across the South put Black representation at risk.

Some storm victims in St. Petersburg will begin receiving funding in March. However, the program is no longer accepting applications. Photo: City of St. Petersburg. St. Petersburg has stopped accepting applications for $61 million in residential storm recovery funding two months after the portal opened due to an influx of applications. ​The long-awaited federal funding stems from the $160 million Sunrise St. Pete program. The first awardees will receive checks in March. ​Administrators paused the intake process at 11:59 a.m. Sunday, according to the Sunrise St. Pete website. The Feb. 12 update notes that “the program is approaching the number of applications we expect to be able to serve.” ​“Pausing intake allows time to review current applications and see if we can serve more people,” states the website. “Intake may reopen only if funds remain. Please note that reopening is not guaranteed.” ​What could become a permanent pause only affects new applications. Staff will continue to process existing requests and accept any required documents. ​City council members approved the $61 million residential recovery program in early October 2025, a year after Hurricanes Helene and Milton decimated the area. A historically long government shutdown negated plans to open applications in November. ​St. Petersburg began accepting funding requests Dec. 15, despite additional government delays. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) told administrators in January that it was amending a grant agreement received in October. ​“I made the decision that it made sense to get resources to our community sooner rather than later, knowing we had funding coming,” said Amy Foster, housing and neighborhood services administrator, at a Jan. 15 meeting. ​“We kept working diligently and opened the program, even without a grant agreement.” ​A few days later, HUD issued a new agreement that incorporated executive orders related to gender ideology, discrimination, abortion, and immigration. The city council approved it on Jan. 22. As of Feb. 11, St. Petersburg had received 678 requests for up to $375,000 in rehabilitation, reconstruction, and elevation funding. Officials initially expected to award 98 households. ​They also planned to provide up to $50,000 to 288 households that had previously completed storm repairs. Residents submitted 271 of those applications. The city forecasted that 784 people would apply for up to $15,000 in relief payments (reimbursement for rent, mortgage, and utility costs). However, staff received over 1,400 of those applications in less than two months. “I just wanted to underscore how many people we have that are hurting,” Foster said in January. “This assistance coming urgently is important.” A heat map highlighting the locations of residents who have applied to the Sunrise St. Pete program. Image: City documents. ​The city, according to HUD guidelines, prioritizes low- to moderate-income families earning up to 80% of the area median income. Some assistance is available for those earning up to 120%. ​Assistance is “not first-come, first-served,” states the website, and tenants receive priority for relief reimbursements. The lowest-earning households, particularly those with age-dependent or disabled members, are first in line for rehabilitation and reconstruction funding. ​​Pinellas County, which avoided federal delays and received $813 million for its disaster relief initiative, began sending checks to residents who live outside of St. Petersburg on Dec. 22. ​Sunrise St. Pete’s website states that “given the timing” of HUD’s final approval, the city anticipates disbursing relief payments in March, and that wards for repairs, reconstruction, and elevation will “follow later in the spring, after damage assessments are complete.” ​“We understand the impact this has on residents awaiting assistance and are moving as quickly as possible to ensure funds are released promptly.” ​In August 2025, city council members approved an $11.7 million agreement with consultancy firm Horne to help manage and administer Sunrise St. Pete. They will now vote on increasing the total amount to $59.7 million, which, according to Thursday’s agenda, includes “direct lease and beneficiary costs associated with construction and reimbursement activities.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube

Flooding around Lake Maggiore following Hurricane Milton. Representatives from several South St. Petersburg neighborhoods are helping refine new technology that mitigates increasing environmental risks. Photo: Heather Davidson, Facebook. Researchers at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg and a group of neighborhood leaders, known as the Storm Squad, are utilizing new technology to help vulnerable communities mitigate the impacts of flooding. ​The CRIS-HAZARD app utilizes crowdsourced data, cameras with computer vision, and artificial intelligence (AI) to measure flood depths, create 3D inundation maps that predict building damage, and improve storm models. Residents can view and upload a wealth of critical information, including photos, in real-time. ​Dr. Barnali Dixon, executive director of USF’s Initiative on Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (iCAR), provided city council members with an update on the evolving platform’s capabilities at a committee meeting on Thursday. Storm Squad executive board member Erica Hall highlighted how primarily South St. Petersburg neighborhoods are helping develop and test the app while supporting their community in the process. ​“CRIS is not just an app – it is a data-driven backbone,” Hall said. “It includes camera installations across neighborhoods, AI-supported flood-depth monitoring, integration of social vulnerability data, and actionable dashboards for you all, decision makers. ​“Dr. Dixon has positioned St. Petersburg as a living laboratory for coastal adaptation, where research, community engagement, and policy intersect. And Storm Squad stands on that foundation.” Dr. Barnali Dixon (left), executive director of USF’s Initiative on Coastal Adaptation and Resilience (iCAR), and Storm Squad executive board member Erica Hall. Photo: Screengrab. ​Dixon, armed with a $1.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, piloted the platform in 2023. The app launched publicly in September 2024, just days before Hurricane Helene’s storm surge inundated the area. ​While the platform encompasses Pinellas County, Dixon said there is a “special emphasis” on St. Petersburg neighborhoods. Representatives from Bartlett Park, Harbordale, Childs Park, Jordan Park, Campbell Park, Palmetto Park, and Lake Maggiore Shores have joined the Storm Squad. ​Dixon noted that increasing environmental threats uniquely affect communities, which creates the need for customized, data-driven solutions. For example, flooding in an area with industrial facilities or a dog park will have “different health implications.” ​The county and city are the only areas nationwide with “such a system,” Dixon said. CRIS-HAZARD’s cameras withstood Helene and Milton, which “speaks for the robustness of the methods we developed.” St. Petersburg is home to 17 of 32 solar-powered flood monitoring cameras, developed at USFSP.. Dixon said her team is installing four additional devices, all with backup power sources and night vision, throughout the city. A graphic highlighting camera locations. Image: City documents. ​The free, operating system-agnostic app helps users prepare for storms, avoid flooded roads, and complete damage assessments. Dixon said it could also assist first responders. ​“I can build a sophisticated flood app, but if nobody is using it, it has no use,” she added. “So, we walked with the community, and that’s when the Storm Squad came in.” ​Hall said the Storm Squad provides real-time flood reporting, community data collection, disaster preparedness education, and a direct connection to relief resources. “This is not a theoretical climate conversation – this is neighborhood-level resilience.” ​Community members interpret the initiative’s survey data and identify local priorities. Hall credited Angel Torres, president of the Harbordale Neighborhood Association, and Bartlett Park representatives for securing hurricane relief supplies from the county’s Office of Emergency Management. ​Some neighborhoods excelled in reporting, and Hall applauded others for community outreach. She also explained how their combined efforts can mitigate economic, health, and social impacts. ​“Residents are not subjects of the research,” Hall continued. “They are co-creators.” The platform paid immediate dividends in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Image: City documents. The Health, Energy, Resilience, and Sustainability Committee unanimously praised iCAR and the Storm Squad’s work. Councilmember Mike Harting called it “revolutionary.” ​Councilmember Gina Driscoll wants administrators to help scale the program. Dixon said a small amount of grant funding remains to offer community leaders a stipend, but she can no longer afford to pay for Wi-Fi services to keep current and future cameras operating. ​Dixon launched the initiative in St. Petersburg’s most socioeconomically vulnerable neighborhoods, and now hopes to expand into other flood-prone, coastal areas. She also needs help with marketing her ground-breaking tool. ​Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, who requested the long-awaited presentation, wants the administration to explore a partnership with Dixon. That could include providing $20,000 for Wi-Fi service, helping to incorporate new features, and highlighting the app in utility bills and other municipal materials. ​“We’re happy to have some follow-up meetings, both on the engineering and technical side, and the marketing side,” said City Administrator Rob Gerdes. “We’re happy to come back at a future meeting.” Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube More Photos The app’s interface. Stakeholders hope to increase awareness of the evolving tool. Image: City documents. A reflective marker posted in front of cameras helps determine flooding levels. Image: City documents. A bridge in west St. Petersburg during a historic rainstorm. The app helps drivers avoid flooded roads. Image: City documents. The platform incorporates a social vulnerability index. Image: City documents.

The railroad segment is visible in a gravel parking lot owned by Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill (background). A parking garage owned by Ellison Development sits to the left. Booker Creek is to the right. Photos by Mark Parker. Decades-long plans to acquire a decommissioned stretch of railroad tracks and create an urban trail extension connecting South St. Petersburg neighborhoods with the EDGE District are finally full steam ahead. ​The Booker Creek Trail extension will snake through the Historic Gas Plant District, currently home to Tropicana Field, and link to the Pinellas Trail before ending at 5th Avenue North. City council members unanimously authorized Mayor Ken Welch’s administration to purchase the .86- mile segment of CSX Transportation rail line on Thursday afternoon. ​Administrators negotiated the acquisition cost down from $87.9 million to $7 million. The city will contribute $1.2 million; adjacent stakeholders, Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill owner Mark Ferguson and Ellison Development, will cover the remaining cost. ​“This is really going to support businesses,” said Councilmember Corey Givens Jr. “This isn’t just something that we’re going to enjoy. This is something that future generations will get to reap the rewards of.” ​Evan Mory, director of transportation and parking management, and his team completed a quest that began over 20 years ago. The rail line was originally part of the Orange Belt Railroad, which led to the city’s establishment in the late 1800s. ​Mory noted the land surrounding the tracks is underutilized. The segment begins at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 1st Avenue South, runs parallel to Tropicana Field, disappears underneath Ferg’s, and reappears across Central Avenue in a gravel parking lot – also owned by Ferguson – along an idyllic stretch of Booker Creek. The trail will run along a stretch of Booker Creek that resembles an urban oasis. ​Thursday’s vote marks the end of a long, litigious saga that began in 2019 when CSX sought to convert the tracks, which encompass 7.8 acres, into a trail. ​Ferguson was one of multiple landowners who sued the company over land easements that bisected their properties; he was eventually awarded $12.9 million, the largest private judgment in rails-to-trails history. ​The city sued CSX for control of the trail in 2020. A court ordered the two parties to negotiate a sale. ​CSX initially valued the land at $87.9 million. While Mory acknowledged the tracks include nearly eight acres of prime downtown real estate, the city could not justify the cost, and the company eventually settled for $7 million. Administrators enlisted the help of private stakeholders, the Trust for Public Land, and the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Mory said the two organizations provided national expertise to navigate a complex process. ​Once the city and CSX agreed upon a price, administrators negotiated 99-year leases with adjacent stakeholders. Ferguson agreed to contribute $4 million. ​Before the vote, Ferguson credited Mory and the city for “finally getting this thing done.” He noted that the Booker Creek Trail extension would support bifurcated neighborhoods, small businesses, and jobs. The trail will connect to an underpass that leads to Tropicana Field. ​Ellison Development, which is building The Central, a mixed-use development across Central Avenue from Fergs, will contribute $2 million to the purchase. Jordan Star, chief development officer, said his firm was “extremely enthusiastic” to join the public-private partnership. ​Star said Ellison Development wants to help enhance the trail and promote Booker Creek as “the amenity it can be” for the EDGE District. The city will pay for its contribution through parking revenue and the Intown West Community Redevelopment Area’s tax-increment financing (TIF). ​“Here we are activating a derelict and dilapidated area,” Givens said. “That’s the purpose – the true intended purpose – of these TIF funds.” ​St. Petersburg will seek grant funding to build the trail, which will connect to an existing path and an underpass between Ferg’s and the Trop. Officials also have the right of first refusal to purchase an additional segment of still-active rail line that continues to 38th Avenue North, if CSX ever decommissions the tracks. A map showing the existing Booker Creek Trail (bottom), the extension (orange), the Pinellas Trail (solid black), and a potential expansion (top). Image: City documents. Share Your News with Us To share news with the Power Broker, connect with reachout@powerbrokermagazine.com. To sign up for our twice-weekly e-newsletter, visit www.powerbrokernews.com; and to join our online conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Power Broker Media Group – YouTube