An Open Letter to the Citizens of
St. Petersburg

Police Chief Tony Holloway and Mayor Rick Kriseman Photo Credit: Monica Herndon | Times

Like you, I have followed the recent national events around police actions and grand jury decisions in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City, and the subsequent protests and demands for justice. These and other cases have sparked a national conversation about police tactics and race, and specifically about being a black man in America.

That national conversation is also taking place here in St. Petersburg, and I welcome it. So does my police chief, Tony Holloway.

I hired Chief Holloway this year because he and I share a policing philosophy around community-building. Even before Chief Holloway began his important work at the St. Petersburg Police Department, we engaged in this work at City Hall. With Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin and Nikki Capehart, our Director of Urban Affairs, I have directed a series of actions aimed specifically at elevating a community conversation around celebrating diversity and respect for the value it brings. We are in the process of selecting a vendor to:

While we recognize that unrest is a part of St. Petersburg's history, we also recognize that today is a new day. This is a new city. After the grand jury decision in Ferguson, several residents assembled peaceably downtown in protest, and our police officers demonstrated professionalism and respect. This was a welcome and stark contrast to the rioting and disturbances we saw on the news. Still, we will continue working toward our vision of a city of opportunity where the sun shines on all who come to live, work and play. But we can't do it without you.

To that end, Chief Holloway and I will host a Community Forum will be held shortly after the beginning of the new year. We welcome your attendance and your feedback. If you have questions for Chief Holloway, or just want to understand more about the role of the Police Department and our officers in the community, I strongly urge you to attend this important forum.

 Thank you.

 Sincerely,

 Rick Kriseman, Mayor

  Mayor Rick Kriseman

Although not required, interested attendees are encouraged to RSVP to 727-893-7106 or [email protected]. Important materials related to the South St. Petersburg revitalization effort including the Draft Redevelopment Plan are available online at www.stpete.org/SouthsideCRA.  

On his 100th day as the chief of police in Florida's fifth-largest city, Tony Holloway walks along Central Avenue and smiles.

This, he says, is the centerpiece of his tenure so far: the park, walk and talk. He introduced it in September as a way of bolstering community policing. [Read full article]

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Rick Smith, chief negotiator for the Florida Public Services Union, have reached a tentative agreement for a multiyear contract for city workers.

The agreement includes a minimum starting wage of $12.50 for union employees, including full-time workers and part-time workers with at least five full years of service, according to a statement. [Read full article]

City and union negotiators have reached a tentative deal for a multiyear contract covering about 1,300 blue- and white-collar workers, city officials announced Monday.

The breakthrough came after months of talks that appeared to stall last month over a proposal by Mayor Rick Kriseman to eliminate automatic pay increases for union employees. The contract approved Monday keeps the step program in place for at least a year and contains at least a 2 percent raise for union workers.[Read full article]

About 40 business leaders and government officials from across Tampa Bay are on their way to Santiago, Chile, today as part of a three-day trade mission aimed at increasing exports to that country.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, and county commissioners from both sides of the Bay join the Tampa Bay Export Alliance for the trip. The TBEA is a joint effort of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corp. and Pinellas County Economic Development  [Read full article]

The city and its employees' union have agreed to implement a $12.50-per-hour minimum wage that Mayor Rick Kriseman proposed for city workers, with an eye toward reaching $15 per hour.

"It's a pretty big deal," said Rick Smith of the Florida Public Service Union, which represents about 1,280 city employees.  [Read full article]

Former mayoral candidate Deveron Gibbons received City Council's stamp of approval Thursday to build a Circle K gas station and convenience store in Midtown.

The project, part of the Tangerine redevelopment area in Midtown, has been ushered by Mayor Rick Kriseman, who selected Gibbons' proposal over an out-of-state bidder late this summer.  [Read full article]

Pinellas County Commissioner Karen Seel is on a trip to Chile along with other members of the Area Export Alliance.

Seel, Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn are traveling Dec. 1-5, leading a delegation of about 40 Tampa Bay business leaders with the goal of developing commercial relationships and increasing exports to Chile. [Read full article]

Thomas "Jet" Jackson has been a staple in the St. Petersburg community for decades and Saturday he was honored for all of his hard work and dedication to the City of St. Petersburg. 

Wildwood Recreation Center, located at 1000 28th St. S., is now officially named the Thomas "Jet" Jackson Recreation Center. Jackson has worked for the city for more than 50 years and was recognized for his diligent work throughout the community. [Read full article]

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