Last week, city officials announced a new workforce program aimed at increasing community participation in St. Pete’s ongoing redevelopment efforts by hiring residents to help demolish their own neighborhoods. The initiative, titled “Bulldozers for Families,” is being promoted as a way to ensure longtime residents have “a seat at the table” as luxury housing projects…

ST. PETERSBURG — As rents continue to rise across St. Pete, developers say the solution is clear: build luxury condominiums as quickly as possible. While a small number of residents have expressed concern over the city’s ongoing wave of upscale development, planners say most people simply aren’t smart enough to understand how it works. “People…

ST. PETERSBURG — A new local advocacy organization says it has spent the past few days listening to the voices of South St. Pete residents, and they’re ready to help communicate their priorities to city leaders this Thursday. “We’ve spoken directly with the community,” organizer Graham Whitmore explained. “And what we’re hearing is that people…

ST. PETERSBURG — St. Pete’s oldest barbershop is celebrating 100 years in business this month, marking a century of placing branded decals on customers’ vehicles without their permission. According to staff, the practice dates back to the shop’s earliest days and has since become a defining part of the experience. “It’s what we’re known for,”…

Korean pop sensation BTS made a stop in St. Pete last week ahead of their Tampa tour dates, including a visit to a downtown demolition site. The group appeared on-site in safety gear alongside Mayor Ken Welch, as ongoing demolition work was briefly paused to allow for a guided walkthrough of the property. According to…

City leaders are praising the expansion of the St. Petersburg Police Department’s drone program, calling it a major step forward in safety, efficiency, and, perhaps most importantly, privacy. According to officials, the ability to assess situations remotely means fewer unnecessary in-person interactions, allowing residents to go about their lives without feeling like their privacy is…

The City of St. Petersburg is moving forward with the luxury redevelopment of its downtown marina, a long-awaited project now expected to cost approximately $666 million. Under the new plan, the city will retain full ownership and control of the project, allowing city leaders to oversee and direct the distribution of funds. Plans include replacing…

With several major projects rising across the city, officials have announced the formation of a new commission aimed at addressing what they describe as “persistent public misinformation” surrounding development in St. Petersburg. According to city leadership, the commission will focus on improving the community’s understanding of ongoing projects, ensuring residents have access to “clear, persuasive…

Former President Joe Biden has entered the race for mayor of Tampa in a move that caught many off guard. Biden, who bears a striking resemblance to former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, delivered paperwork in person last week and was greeted by a large group of reporters. “I’m looking forward to a third term and…

Every Saturday this month, local T-shirt and ’zine maker, Valentín Esparza, has been setting up a folding table along U.S. 19 near the former site of the Rand Motel, selling self-designed merchandise to fund what he describes as a “culturally significant restoration project.” His goal, he says, is simple: raise enough money to bring the…