LARGO — Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri is proposing proactive cavity searches for residents suspected of criminal behavior, warning that restrictions on routine police procedures could take crime fighting “back to the Stone Age.” The proposed Resident Evidence Assessment and Recovery program would allow deputies to conduct what the Sheriff’s Office calls “comprehensive internal screenings”…
ST. PETERSBURG — A controversial new St. Pete satire page is testing the limits of acceptable comedy with provocative stories about lovebugs, bad drivers and Jimmy Buffett fans. The publication has quickly established itself as the region’s boldest voice, transforming observations normally printed on souvenir T-shirts and novelty coffee mugs into professionally branded satire. The…
ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg residents could soon have a new way to reduce their monthly water bills as the city considers a program offering discounts to homeowners who allow Flock Safety cameras to be installed on their property. Under the proposal, participating residents would receive an 8% reduction on their monthly water bill in…
ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch says his first term in office was complicated by a series of unforeseeable events that made governing St. Petersburg considerably more difficult than anticipated. Speaking after Tuesday’s election, Welch pointed to hurricanes, the collapse of the Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal and an increasingly political environment among the challenges…
ST. PETERSBURG — A new residential development planned for St. Pete’s EDGE District will place security at the center of the resident experience, incorporating Flock Safety cameras throughout the building. The Sentry, a 20-story mixed-use development featuring 310 apartments and ground-floor retail, will use the increasingly popular camera technology to provide what developers describe as…
With Election Day less than a week away, St. Pete voters appear increasingly ready for change. Recent polling shows former Gov. Charlie Crist leading the field, with Council member Brandi Gabbard continuing to gain ground. Meanwhile, Mayor Ken Welch has struggled to retain support as voters increasingly look elsewhere. “People are ready for someone new,”…
CLEARWATER — Pinellas County officials are reportedly considering the sale of Fort De Soto Park as one of several options for reducing expenses if a proposed property tax amendment passes this November. County officials have warned that the amendment would force significant cuts to police, fire and EMS, while making public parks impossible to maintain….
With St. Petersburg once again considering higher utility rates, a new report from the Center for Municipal Innovation suggests residents may be more accepting of future increases if they are given the opportunity to choose between multiple water subscription plans. The $18.6 million study was commissioned following years of complaints about rising utility bills, with…
A newly released urban planning study has concluded that recent flooding across St. Petersburg is being driven less by rainfall and drainage infrastructure than by years of organized opposition to new development. The report, commissioned by the nonprofit Urban Density Institute, found that neighborhoods resisting redevelopment have unintentionally disrupted the city’s “natural stormwater adaptation cycle,”…
A new luxury residential tower planned for downtown St. Pete will require prospective residents to meet minimum beauty standards before signing a lease, developers announced this week. The Aesthetic, a proposed 42-story luxury development in downtown St. Pete, will evaluate applicants using a combination of facial symmetry, physical fitness, wardrobe, and personal hygiene. “We’re not…
