Good morning. The median rent in Tampa Bay jumped 50% over five years while wages only rose 30%. Somehow, we're all still surprised when a landlord lets an apartment complex rot into foreclosure. Speaking of things that shouldn't surprise anyone: Florida lawmakers are bringing back mandatory cursive in schools. Your third-grader will finally be able to read Grandma's birthday cards—and sign their own mortgage docs in 2045.
Here's what's happening in St. Pete (its spicy)….
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St. Pete City Council Recap: 10x ROI on Youth Programs, New Housing Rules, and One Apartment Complex Begging for Help
What went down at Wednesday's council meeting
The city council meeting had some actual substance for once. Here's what you need to know:
🏆 Boys & Girls Club Drops Impressive Stats
Freddy Williams and the Boys & Girls Club team came through with receipts. We're talking the third-largest chapter in the entire country (behind only Milwaukee and Phoenix), and the numbers are wild:
100% high school graduation rate for their students
82% of kids reading at grade level
99% staying out of trouble with law enforcement
150 paid internships placed
The real flex? That $250,000 the city invested generated $2.5 million in community impact. That's a 10x return for those keeping score at home.
Their Prosperity Pathways program is getting teens and young adults (up to age 24) actual job skills and certifications - everything from IT help desk certs to healthcare internships with BayCare. Council unanimously approved continued funding.
🏠 Council Gets Serious About Affordable Housing Priority
Vice Chair Richie Floyd pushed through a resolution that basically says: When the city's subsidizing affordable housing, priority goes to households making 80% AMI or below.
There was some nuanced discussion about homeownership projects needing different income blends than rentals to make the economics work, but the resolution passed unanimously. Translation: No more using public dollars to subsidize "affordable" units that are only affordable to people making six figures.
🏢 The Morgan Apartment Drama Continues
Multiple residents and advocates showed up asking the city to purchase The Morgan - that troubled apartment complex that's heading to foreclosure after the landlord (Lurin Real Estate Holdings) completely ghosted maintenance and apparently didn't even respond to the foreclosure lawsuit.
The tenant union's argument? These corporate landlords keep driving buildings into the ground. Why not treat housing like infrastructure and bring it under public control before another slumlord snaps it up at auction?
City staff has been helping with limited resources, but residents want more action.
💼 Gas Plant Development Teams Making Their Pitch
Blake Investment Partners showed up with their entire team (literally had them all stand up) to make their case for the Gas Plant development. They emphasized their 23-year history in St. Pete and promised to "listen and plan first with the community."
The unsolicited bid process is heating up, and February 3rd is apparently when they're submitting their full vision to Mayor Welch.
📋 Other Notable Stuff
Public records drama: Brad Falbo is filing another lawsuit over public records access, says he's being charged fees below the threshold and records are being withheld on questionable grounds
Childcare benefits discussion stays alive: Council Member Driscoll successfully kept the employee childcare benefit proposal on the referral list after it was almost removed
Housing Authority appointments: Three appointments approved, including one new commissioner and two reappointments
The vibe: This was actually a substantive meeting. The Boys & Girls Club presentation was legitimately impressive, the housing priority resolution signals council is done playing games with "affordable" housing that isn't actually affordable, and the Morgan situation is exposing the very real consequences of treating housing purely as an investment vehicle.
Worth watching? The Gas Plant competition and what happens with The Morgan apartments.
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Williams Park is getting the Bryant Park treatment
Remember Bryant Park in Manhattan? The one that went from sketchy to spectacular in the '90s? Well, the guy who made that happen is now working on Williams Park.
St. Petersburg's oldest park—opened in 1888—just landed $800,000 in state funding and brought in urban placemaking guru Dan Biederman as a consultant. Biederman is basically the godfather of park revivals, and he's impressed with what St. Pete has already accomplished. "There's a lot going on here at 11 o'clock at night—you don't see that in many places," he told St. Pete Rising.
The plan includes renovating the historic 1954 bandshell (total cost now at $2.2 million), better lighting, spruced-up entrances, and a whole slate of new programming: yoga classes, movie nights, food truck Fridays, and a concert series. Construction on the bandshell kicks off late spring.
The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership's Jason Mathis kept expectations appropriately Floridian: "We feel like Williams Park is never going to be Bryant Park. We're not Manhattan. We know that." But the goal is clear—turn the park into a daily destination, not just an event venue.
Bottom line: Downtown's historic heart is getting a serious glow-up. If you've been avoiding Williams Park, this might be the year that changes.
Quick Hits
🏠 Housing reality check: The Tampa Bay Partnership dropped a 137-page report this week confirming what we all feel—median rent jumped nearly 50% in five years while wages only rose 30%. The region needs 254,700 new housing units by 2035 to keep up. A webinar for public input happens February 5.
🛢️ Mayor Welch says no to drilling: St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch joined Florida mayors, business owners, and fishing charter captains at Clearwater Beach Friday to oppose the federal government's proposed offshore drilling plan. The public comment period closed at midnight.
🍫 SNAP changes coming: Starting April 20, Florida SNAP recipients won't be able to use benefits for soda, energy drinks, or candy. Sports drinks like Gatorade are still okay. Tea and coffee, too.
📚 Cursive is headed to the House floor: The Florida House is poised to vote on a bill requiring cursive instruction for grades 2-5. Fifth graders would need to prove proficiency before moving on.
☀️ Weekend weather: Saturday looks gorgeous—highs around 79-81°F with minimal rain chance. Sunday cools to the low 70s. Perfect farmers market weather.
Local Events For Today
🥬 Saturday Morning Market – 9 AM to 2 PM at Al Lang Stadium. The Southeast's largest farmers market with 170+ vendors, food from 13 countries, and live music from the Charlie Morris Band.
🍺 Blues & Brews – 1 PM at 3 Daughters Brewing. Live blues music and local craft beer. Exactly what Saturday afternoon was invented for.
🎨 The Dalí Museum – 10 AM to 6 PM at 1 Dalí Blvd. World-class collection plus the Dalí Alive 360° experience. If you haven't been since the new exhibits opened, this is your sign.
🎸 Yacht Rock Revue – 8 PM at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. Smooth hits from the '70s and '80s. Break out the captain's hat.
On This Day In St Pete
January 24, 1989 — Serial killer Ted Bundy was executed at Florida State Prison in Starke after nearly a decade on death row. He was convicted of murdering three people in Florida, including two FSU students. About 2,000 people gathered outside the prison that morning, some in celebration. It remains one of the most covered executions in state history.