Genius Central Ribbon Cutting

On Wednesday, September 30, Mayor Kriseman participated in the ribbon cutting for Genius Central, a company that develops online and mobile programs for retailers and suppliers in the natural products, specialty grocery, and independent pharmacy sectors.

Watch the video of the event by clicking the image above, or here.  
Deputy Mayor Tomalin Addresses League of Women Voters Voting Rights Act Event  
On Thursday, September 24, Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin addressed the League of Women Voters event recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

The League of Women Voters is "
a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy."

Said Deputy Mayor Tomalin at the event: "Let's exercise our right [to vote]. Let's encourage and fight for others to be able to do the same, and in so doing we will honor those who came before us and fought so very hard for that right and for each of us." 
Read more in the Weekly Challenger here.  
 
Public Highlights for the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Sunshine City
October 3 through October 10, 2015 
Saturday, October 2 - October 11  American Craft Week in St. Petersburg
Learn more here.

Saturday, October 3, 9:00 am 
Opening Day, Saturday Morning Market, Al Lang Stadium Parking Lot
Learn more here.
 
Saturday, October 3, 10:00 am  St. Pete Fire & Rescue Open House
Learn more here.

Saturday, October 3, 11:00 am    SHINE Mural Trolley Guided Bus Tour, Florida Craft Art
Learn more here.

Saturday, October 3, 6:00 pm   Mayor Kriseman, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
Albert Whitted Park
Learn more here.

Sunday, October 4, 7:00 am  Inaugural Ft. De Soto 15K & 5K,
Ft. De Soto Park
Learn more here.

Monday, October 5 
 
Deadline for Voter Registration  Learn more here.      
Tuesday, October 6
Thursday, October 8 
Mayor Kriseman, Kauffman Mayor's Conference, Albuquerque, NM

Tuesday, October 6, 1:00 pm  
 
Deputy Mayor Tomalin, Juvenile Law Seminar, Stetson College, Gulfport

Tuesday, October 6, 4:30 pm  Deputy Mayor Tomalin, 49th Annual City Beautification Awards Ceremony, Sunken Gardens

Tuesday, October 6, 7:00 pm  Deputy Mayor Tomalin, South Florida Progressive Baptist Association Convention, St. Mark's

Thursday, October 8, 5:30 pm   Deputy Mayor Tomalin, Open House, Bank of Tampa, Central Avenue

Thursday, October 8, 7:00 pm  Deputy Mayor Tomalin, St. Pete Downtown Neighborhood Association, Sunshine Center

Friday, October 9, 11:30 am  Deputy Mayor Tomalin, 2015 USF College of Marine Science Fellowship & Awards Luncheon, Staybridge Suites

Friday, October 9, 6:30 pm 
International Cat Video Festival Pet Walk Kick-Off, Vinoy Park
Learn more here.

Saturday, October 10, 9:00 am 
Free Paper Shredding Event,
Learn more here
 
Saturday, October 10, 6:20 pm 
Deputy Mayor Tomalin, Studio @620 Awards, USF Ballroom

In The Media
Monday, September 28
Tampa Bay Times: In plea to hike minimum wage, Democratic lawmakers to live on $17 a day for a week  
 
State Rep. Dwight Dudley drives an 11-year-old Toyota SUV and shops at Sam's Club and Big Lots.

But his modest standard of living will take a hit on $17 a day as part of the "minimum wage challenge," a campaign by the Service Employees International Union to draw attention to the effort to raise Florida's minimum wage to $15 an hour.
 
Wednesday, September 29
Bay News 9: New bus routes could bring change to Williams Park 
 
Williams Park in downtown St. Petersburg is known to many for being surrounded by a ring of buses and filled with homeless people. But a new PSTA bus route could soon change the public park.
"It's going to change the way people ride the bus," said Mayor Rick Kriseman. 

[Read full article]
Wednesday, September 30
Creative Loafing Tampa: Aimed at easing woes of poverty, "Adopt A Block" takes first steps in St. Pete's Childs Park 
 
The Adopt A Block program took its first step into into its initiative in the Child's Park neighborhood on St. Petersburg's south side on Tuesday night with a session designed to inform potential volunteers of services that could help change the face of a beleaguered neighborhood.
 
Thursday, October 1
St. Petersburg Tribune: St. Pete Council would welcome Cuban consulate 
 
Mayor Rick Kriseman returned from Cuba convinced his city would be an ideal spot for a Cuban consulate.

On Thursday the City Council agreed.

The council voted unanimously in favor of resolutions to bring a potential Cuban consulate to the city, and on another to endorse a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor to end the 55-year trade embargo that has isolated the island country from the United States.
 
Thursday, October 1
Devon Crumpacker, SPB: St. Pete welcomes tech company GeniusCentral to Warehouse Arts District 
 
You want to see first-hand how tech companies in Silicon Vally do business on a daily basis? Check out Genius Central's new headquarters in St. Pete's Warehouse Arts District. Its grand opening was Tuesday.

The 17,000-square-foot warehouse is a hipster fantasy land, with original art and murals all over the walls, a food and juice bar, ping-pong and foosball tables, wide-open work spaces, balconies, wooden bleachers with pillows, and a lounge room that looks like an extra-long silver Airstream trailer from the '60s.
 
School Zone
Thursday, October 1
Tampa Bay Times: St. Petersburg revamps school-zone crossings  
 
St. Petersburg's 70 school-zone crossings are getting a make over  to comply with state law after the City Council voiced displeasure with the perception that the city is creating speed traps in the zones.

Mayor Rick Kriseman said he has directed staff to comply with all state rules and regulations. Interim Public Works Administrator Tom Gibson said the work should be completed by November.

[Read full article] 
Thursday, October 1
FOX 13 News: Stadium money up for grabs in Pinellas County 
 
The Tampa Bay Rays 2015 season ends this weekend.  Meanwhile, the off-season game of finding a path to build a new stadium started today.

"Today we paid off the county's portion of the debt service on Tropicana Field" county commissioner Ken Welch explained.  "That's a resource that we can apply to other investments, be it a new facility for the Rays or other investments."

[Read full article]
Tweet of the Week

 
 
Mayor's Office
City of St. Petersburg
 
175 5th Street North 
St. Petersburg, FL 33701 
Phone: 727-893-7201