The Independent Corridor Plan      

During Small Business Week, Mayor Rick Kriseman announced the city's intention to engage the community about the future of commerce on Central Avenue and Beach Drive.

To watch the video, click the image above or click here.     
Cereal for Summer Campaign     

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this year's Cereal for Summer Food Drive. This campaign collects boxes of cereal, breakfast bars, oatmeal and other breakfast foods to feed our hungry children during the summer months when school is out and they lack access to the meals they receive when school is in session. The City of St. Petersburg does this in concert with Feeding Tampa Bay, WTSP Channel 10, other city and county governments, local businesses, and a number of charitable and faith-based organizations.

This year, our generous City of St. Petersburg employees donated more boxes of cereal and breakfast foods than any other city in the Tampa Bay region!  A huge thank you to everyone who contributed-what a wonderful way to show our love and how much our employees care for every child in our community.    
Free Grocery Shuttle      
Public Highlights for the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Sunshine City
May 13 through May 20, 2017   
Saturday, May 13, 7:00 am   2017 Run for All Children, St. Petersburg
Learn more here.

Saturday, May 13, 2:00 pm  Deputy Mayor Tomalin, Greetings, 5th Annual Fun & Fitness Day, Childs Park Recreation Center

Saturday, May 13, 6:00 pm  13th Annual Puppy Love Benefit,
The Coliseum
Learn more here.

Saturday, May 13, 6:00 pm  Mayor Kriseman & Deputy Mayor Tomalin, Cuban Ambassador Address, American Stage Theatre

Saturday, May 13, 7:30 pm 
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Louisville City FC, Al Lang Stadium
Learn more here
 
Saturday, May 13, 8:00 pm 
TFO Pops: The American Songbook - Then and Now, Mahaffey Theater
Learn more here
 
Sunday, May 14  Mother's Day

Sunday, May 14, 12:00 pm  Mother's Day Brunch at Sundial, Sundial St. Pete
Learn more here.

Monday, May 15, 6:30 pm  Deputy Mayor Tomalin, Citizens Leadership 2017 Graduation, Iberian Rooster

Monday, May 15, 7:00 pm  American Stories, Myths & Legends, American Stage Theatre Company
Learn more here.

Tuesday, May 16, 7:45 pm  Mayor Kriseman & Deputy Mayor Tomalin, St. Petersburg Police Candlelight Vigil Fallen Officers Memorial Service, Demens Landing Park
Learn more here.

Wednesday, May 17, 10:00 am  Mayor Kriseman, St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue Ceremony for Pet Pal & Creative Clay

Wednesday, May 17, 12:15 pm  Mayor Kriseman, First Monthly Food Truck Rally, Williams Park

Wednesday, May 17, 7:30 pm  Thomas Carabasi & the New Jazz Standards Quintet, The Palladium Theater
Learn more here.

Thursday, May 18, 11:30 am  Mayor Kriseman, Pinellas Head Start Advantage Luncheon, The Coliseum

Thursday, May 18, 6:30 pm   The Chopin Project - Pushing the Boundaries of Musical Form, Dali Museum
Learn more here.

Thursday, May 18, 7:00 pm  Mayor Kriseman, TASCO Mayor's Youth Showcase of Achievement, Mahaffey Theater
Learn more here.

Thursday, May 18, 7:00 pm  May Music & Movies in the Park, North Straub Park
Learn more here.

Thursday, May 18, 7:30 pm  TFO on the Go - Florida Orchestra Free Concert Series, Various Locations
Learn more here.

Friday, May 19, 7:00 am  Mayor Kriseman, Bike to Work, Morean Arts Center

Friday, May 19, 1:00 pm  Mayor Kriseman, Opening Remarks, Pinellas County Job Corps Graduation
Job Corps Center   
Friday, May 19, 5:30 pm  Florida Preservation Awards Ceremony & Reception, Downtown St. Petersburg
Learn more here.

Friday, May 19, 6:00 pm  Food Truck Rally - St. Pete Street Food Festival & Night Market, Port of St. Petersburg
Learn more here.

Friday, May 19, 8:00 pm 
Paul Wilborn's American Songbook Series - Forbidden Fruits, American Stage Theatre Company
Learn more here
 
Saturday, May 20, 8:00 am  Rise & Shine Free May Yoga, Sundial St. Pete
Learn more here.

Saturday, May 20, 11:00 am  Hands Across the Sand, TBA
Learn more here
In The Media
Monday, May 8
I Love the Burg: Cuban Ambassador Plans Visit to the Burg  
 
It's long been rumored that St. Pete is in the running to be the home of the Cuban Consulate. Mayor Kriseman announced in a Facebook post that the Cuban Ambassador to the US, José Ramón Cabañas, will visit the Burg this weekend and deliver formal remarks on Saturday. Time and location for the remarks are TBA.

In 2014, the Cuban-American population in the St. Pete-Tampa-Clearwater area was at about 2,819,241. The Tampa Bay region remains a popular hub for travel between the US and Cuba. New direct flights from Southwest Airlines at TPA, and cruises to Havana through Carnival Cruise Lines have helped connect our area to the country. 
               
[Read full article]
Tuesday, May 9
Tampa Bay Reporter: St. Pete to offer free grocery shuttle from Tangerine Plaza  
 
The city of St. Petersburg will offer free transportation from the Tangerine Plaza, where the Walmart Market closed in February, to the Central Plaza area Walmart Supercenter, on Saturdays in May, June, July and August.

Starting Saturday (May 13), the mini-shuttle bus will be able to transport up to 25 passengers from Tangerine Plaza, 1794 22nd St. S,  to the Walmart Supercenter, 201 34th St. N, a distance of about 2.5 miles. For residents who may not have transportation to the nearest grocery store, the 13-week Midtown Grocery Pilot Program is free and will operate between the hours of 9:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. every Saturday.
               
[Read full article]
Tuesday, May 9
Phil Ammann, SPB: St. Pete to provide free grocery shuttle from Midtown to nearby Walmart starting May 13  
 
To address food insecurity in South St. Petersburg, the city will start offering free transportation from Midtown's Tangerine Plaza to the nearest Wal-Mart supercenter at Central Plaza.

In February, Wal-Mart closed its Tangerine Plaza Neighborhood Market, one of the few major grocery stores servicing Midtown. The city will offer the free 13-week Midtown Grocery Pilot Program beginning Saturday, May 13 and continue Saturdays in May, June, July and August. 
               
[Read full article]
Tuesday, May 9
Mitch Perry, SPB: St. Petersburg activists call for more work on safer, 'Complete Streets' 
 
Wednesday is "Bike to School Day," but more work needs to be done to make anyone feel safer riding a bike on St. Petersburg's streets, according to a new report by the Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN).

"The design of our streets have consequences for our health," says FCAN campaign organizer Lisa Frank.
               
[Read full article]
Wednesday, May 10
Tampa Bay Times: St. Petersburg Housing Authority issues first contracts to repair its new property, Jordan Park  
 
Last month the St. Petersburg Housing Authority held a party to celebrate taking back control of Jordan Park.

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, Congressman Charlie Crist and Pinellas County Urban League president Watson Haynes were among those who attended the April 22 festivities at the housing complex near 22nd Street and Ninth Avenue S.

Now begins the work of repairing Jordan Park.
                
[Read full article]
Wednesday, May 10
WFLA: St. Pete Police Dept. detective makes it his mission to honor city's first chief   
 
The year was 1905. The date, Christmas Eve.

Late that evening, St. Petersburg's police chief should have been going home. Instead, Chief James Mitchell was working the downtown streets.

While walking along Central between Second and Third, the history of St. Pete's Police Dept. changed forever.

St. Pete detective Bilbery was so enthralled by this case, he nearly dropped everything to start investigating.
                
[Read full article]
Wednesday, May 10
Tampa Bay Times: Safety advocates unveil "Complete Streets" report to make St. Petersburg safer for biking, walking 
 
The movement to make the city's streets safer unveiled a new report outside Perkins Elementary School on Tuesday aimed at making the city's roads safer, including the troublesome one outside the school, 18th Avenue S.

Two of the 14 pedestrian fatalities that took place in the city last year, advocates said, occurred on 18th Avenue S.
                 
[Read full article]
Wednesday, May 10
St. Pete Patch: Free Grocery Shuttle To Hit The Road In St. Pete 
 
St. Petersburg residents who have had difficulty getting to the grocery store since the Walmart Neighborhood Market in Tangerine Plaza closed earlier this year will soon find a free shuttle available to serve them. The city of St. Petersburg has announced plans to kick off a regular Saturday run for a "free grocery shuttle" that will offer service on a trial basis over the next few months.

The new service kicks off Saturday, May 13. A mini-shuttle bus that can carry up to 25 passengers has been lined up to make stops at Tangerine Plaza, 1794 22nd St. S., and take passengers to the Walmart Supercenter at 201 34th St. N., which is about a 2.5-mile trek.
                   
[Read full article]
Thursday, May 11
Creative Loafing: Free St. Pete grocery shuttle kicks off Saturday morning 
 
Throughout the summer, St. Petersburg residents can hop aboard a grocery shuttle from Tangerine Plaza to the nearest Walmart. The free transportation service from the city, called the Midtown Grocery Pilot Program, kicks off at 9:45 a.m. Saturday and comes after the plaza's Walmart Neighborhood Market closed in February.

Twenty-five passengers at a time will leave Tangerine Plaza on a mini shuttle bus to the Walmart Supercenter at 201 34th St. N., traveling 2.5 or so miles. Every Saturday in May, June, July and August, four plaza pickups are expected at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m., while four Walmart departures are planned for 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.  
               
[Read full article] 
Thursday, May 11
I Love the Burg: Monthly Food Truck Gatherings Planned for Williams Park 
 
The Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association continues to enliven the Burg's downtown area with funky and creative events. The public was delighted by GBFTA's inaugural French Fry Festival in March. The masses are eagerly awaiting April 21 - the date of the Seafood and Sweets Festival at Port St. Pete.

The Association's creative efforts have them expanding beyond the Burg's scenic waterfront area to Williams Park in the heart of downtown. Keep St. Pete Local's Localtopia event serves as a testament to the potential Williams Park holds as a flourishing events venue. Recently, a large battle of the bands events saw visitors and residents of all ages flocking to the downtown park. 
               
[Read full article] 
Thursday, May 11
The Weekly Challenger: City now taking applications for South St. Pete 2017 CRA Grants  
 
The City of St. Petersburg is now accepting applications for the 2017 cycle of its South St. Petersburg CRA Grant Program to help support private investment in the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The deadline to submit a grant application is June 16. 
               
[Read full article]
Friday, May 12
I Love the Burg: Applications Open for South St. Pete CRA Grant Program  
 
The 2017 cycle of the CRA Grant Program is designed to help support private investment in the South St. Pete area. This program was launched in 2015 as part of St. Pete's 30 year revitalization plan. The Community Redevelopment Area is generally located between 4th Street and 49th Street, from 2nd Avenue North to 30th Avenue South.

Ahead of the June 16 grant application deadline, the City is offering workshops and satellite office hours at various locations to assist with preparing the application:
  • Thursday, May 18, 6:30-8pm    
    Enoch Davis Center, 1111 18th Avenue South (Greenhouse Satellite Office)
  • Wednesday, May 24, 5:30-7pm  
    The Greenhouse (City Hall Annex), 440 Second Avenue North
[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