Neighborhood News Bureau

Author: April Borjon

  • Pinellas County rebuilds beaches and restores tourism after hurricane season

    Pinellas County rebuilds beaches and restores tourism after hurricane season

    By Victoria Byrd-Harrington

    After Hurricane season came to an end in late November, Pinellas County has worked to rebuild its coastal reputation through campaigns and safety measures, reassuring discouraged tourists that many beaches are now safe. 

    The fall hurricanes caused significant damage to Pinellas County beaches, including erosion, debris and contamination. To bring back tourists and help local businesses flourish, the city aimed to rebuild confidence by sharing safety updates and promoting the area through targeted campaigns. 

    To rebuild visitor confidence, Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, the county’s tourism agency, launched a locally targeted campaign, Still Shining, a project that updated visitors on available beaches and businesses along the coast. 

    VSPC, in partnership with the City of Clearwater, helped organize storm recovery events at Clearwater Beach, including beach cleanups. They also promoted recovery efforts at Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach and participated in a post-hurricane 
    tourism webinar. 

    A volunteer wearing a Visit St. Pete-Clearwater Still Shining pin helps during The Big Cleanup at Clearwater Beach in early November, an event organized after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. (Photo courtesy of Visit St. Pete-Clearwater)

    Jason Latimer, director of public relations at Visit St. Pete-Clearwater, emphasized the importance of encouraging visitors to return once repair and restoration efforts were underway.  

    While media coverage highlighted significant damage, much of it was already addressed, and most beaches are now open and safe for visitors, according to Latimer.

    “We knew it was important to let folks know that they may have seen images on the news, but it didn’t really represent the entirety of the destination,” Latimer said. “Certainly, we’re working with local businesses and municipalities … to have folks come back and enjoy the beautiful award-winning beaches.” 

    Latimer explained that the tourism agency organized media efforts to encourage tourists to return. These efforts included appearances on Tampa Bay’s NewsRadio WFLA, The Ryan Gorman Show, as well as billboard advertisements. 

    Still Shining also attracted beachgoers with a collection of exclusive discounts on dining, hotels, attractions and spas. The discounts not only provided value but also reinforced the message that the beaches were safe and ready for enjoyment, despite ongoing recovery efforts. 

    Christian Wells, an environmental anthropologist with a doctorate in anthropology, explained that tourists shouldn’t be overly concerned about their safety at the beach. He emphasized that the county would not have reopened the beaches if they believed the hurricane’s effects were still a threat. 

    “The very first thing they would do is provide an assessment to see if there is contamination,” Wells said. “The local government would have to rely on environmental consultants to find the beaches safe for any visitors.” 

    In addition to restoring sand and infrastructure, the county’s experts would have carefully looked for contaminants such as sewage water, biological or chemical fungus and red tide, Wells added.  

    He stressed that the county would not intentionally “increase the risk for illness” to attract visitors back to the beaches. 

    Florida’s Healthy Beaches Program conducted weekly water samplings at Pinellas County beaches to test for enterococci, a bacterium that indicates the presence of E. coli, viruses and other harmful microorganisms. If the department found poor water quality, a warning would be posted, and a public service announcement would be issued.  

    Local visitors and tourists can view the state of their nearby beaches online if concerned with any health risks, including water contamination and other environmental factors. 

    Despite the county’s efforts to restore its beaches, some businesses feel tourists are still discouraged. Small business owner Diane Butterfield, who runs Kilwins Ice Cream – Chocolate – Fudge, a franchise in Madeira Beach, expressed her ongoing struggle.  

    After reopening following Hurricane Milton, her business struggled with low customer volume, reaching only 10% of normal operations. 

    “The challenges we’ve faced obviously are financial… making payroll, making rent {and] making inventory payments,” Butterfield said, emphasizing the financial strain of operating with fewer customers. 

    Over time, however, business gradually improved, with customer volume rising to around 25% of its usual levels. While the recovery had been slow, Butterfield remained hopeful, she said.  

    “There is clearly an effort to support businesses who have reopened,” Butterfield said. “We greatly appreciate and depend upon the support of residents and the few tourists who are here.” 

    While challenges remained for small businesses like Kilwins, the steady progress in Pinellas County offered the possibility of making a full recovery. The county’s work to restore its beaches has made the area safer and more inviting, providing a foundation for the revival of local businesses and tourism. 

  • Rising rents threaten artists’ presence in Warehouse Arts District

    Rising rents threaten artists’ presence in Warehouse Arts District

    By Jack Hernandez and Madelyn Siner

    In the eyes of the community, The Warehouse Arts District in St. Petersburg has been a key part of the city’s cultural fabric. Known for its repurposed industrial spaces, the district has provided artists with places to work and opportunities to thrive. However, as property values rise and redevelopment changes the area, local artists are facing new challenges that could impact their ability to continue working in the district. 

    Artists and organizations are responding with efforts to maintain the district’s creative focus while adapting to ongoing changes. From securing affordable studio spaces to increasing public awareness, these efforts reflect broader discussions about how to preserve the cultural identity of growing cities. 

    One artist navigating these challenges is Juan Alonso-Rodriguez, who moved to St. Petersburg in 2022. With decades of experience in the art world, Alonso-Rodriguez provides a firsthand perspective on how the changing district is affecting its artists. 

    Surrounded by minimalist contemporary works in his studio, Alonso-Rodriguez reflected on his journey as an artist. His clean, geometric designs and use of bold colors convey a simplicity that belies the thought and emotion behind each piece, he said. 

    Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Alonso-Rodriguez began his career in San Francisco, California, before spending 40 years in Seattle, Washington, where his work gained recognition in galleries and public spaces. 

    “In Seattle, I was able to grow because there were opportunities to show my work and support systems like public funding for the arts,” he said. “It made a big difference for my career and the art community overall.” 

    When Alonso-Rodriguez moved to St. Petersburg in 2022, he was drawn to the Warehouse Arts District for its reputation as a creative hub, he said.

    While he said he appreciates the district’s collaborative spirit, he noted that the lack of large-scale galleries and rising costs can make it challenging for artists to thrive in the area. 

    Like many artists in the district, Alonso-Rodriguez faces increasing expenses. His studio lease includes a 3% annual rent increase—a manageable amount for him, but a potential barrier for others. 

    “I’m lucky because I have galleries in other cities that sell my work,” Alonso-Rodriguez said. “But for artists just starting out, it’s tough to afford the cost of working here.” 

    He also observed differences in public funding for the arts between Florida and Washington. Programs like Seattle’s Percent for Art initiative, which allocates a portion of public construction budgets to art, provided critical support for the local art scene. 

    “Public funding helps artists and enhances the city as a whole,” Alonso-Rodriguez said. “It encourages developers to include art in their projects, which benefits everyone.” 

    Despite these challenges, Alonso-Rodriguez said he values work spaces like the ones provided by ArtsXchange, a project led by the Warehouse Arts District Association that offers affordable studios and collaborative opportunities. 

    “Spaces like this help artists stay in the area,” he said. “They’re essential for keeping the district creative, even as the city grows.” 

    He also stressed the importance of community involvement, encouraging artists to advocate for policies that support the arts. 

    “Engaging with city officials and educating the public about the benefits of art can make a big difference,” he said. “Art isn’t just something extra, it’s an important part of the city’s identity and economy.” 

    The Duncan McClellan Gallery is a local glass gallery that features rotating exhibitions from national and international artists. Irene McClellan is the manager of the gallery and the wife of the creator, Duncan McClellan. 

    Blown glass art pieces are displayed at the Duncan McClellan Gallery. (Photo by Madelyn Siner/NNB)

    “St. Petersburg is an arts destination,” Irene McClellan said. “We have people come in from all over the world for the arts. We represent artists from all over the world and we have their artwork here, but the rents are going up through the roof.” 

    Susan Antoinette, a local abstract and mixed media artist, has been with ArtsXchange since their grand opening in 2017 and in the Warehouse Arts District since 2015. 

    “We had purposely moved to St. Pete for its art community,” Antoinette said. “It was really exciting to be a part of a grassroots organization for artists. I really wanted to find a community of other artists to be able to collaborate with and to be inspired by, and St. Pete definitely offers me that.” 

    WADA offers Antoniette an affordable space to create her art through ArtsXchange, she said. She has also been on the project’s membership committee, events committee and education committee, and she later joined the board as chair for WADA. 

    “I feel very fortunate to have a studio at the ArtsXchange,” Antoniette said. 

    WADA’s mission is to offer affordable and sustainable studio space for artists and support the local art community. According to Antoniette, there are no other art spaces nearby that are “even comparable by price.” 

    However, as the city of St. Petersburg continues to grow, rent prices in the Warehouse Arts District have risen, making the space less accessible to local artists.

    “The city of St. Pete has been coining St. Pete as the city of arts and culture, but the money has not showed up,” Antoniette said. “It’s not getting back to the artists. There are a lot of great wonderful things in St. Pete that could continue if we had the support from the government.” 

  • Local markets expand across St. Petersburg

    Local markets expand across St. Petersburg

    By Riley Benson

    Despite the sweltering Florida heat and sidewalks still in recovery mode from Hurricane season, St. Petersburg locals can be spotted out at a neighborhood market. From handmade candles to taxidermy bugs, there’s an option for every niche. 

    Arguably, the most popular markets are the weekly Saturday Morning Market and monthly Mezzo Market. Recently, the November Mezzo Market boasted over 140 vendors at their market with hundreds of attendees, including local influencers.  

    Both Saturday Morning Market and Mezzo Market have almost 20 thousand followers on Instagram, making them the most followed markets in the city. 

    “[The Saturday Morning Market] is a huge source of pride for locals,” said Amy Karol, a resident of Clearwater for almost 20 years. “We love seeing people go down with their bags and baskets to visit their usual Saturday stops. You can hear people chatting with the vendors and get the sense these are relationships that have existed for years.” 

    According to Karol, her family makes plans every month to drive down to the St. Petersburg markets.

    “This year having the market back so quickly after the storms is creating a sense of normalcy for all of us,” she said. 

    November’s Mezzo Market sign paves the entrance of their tent on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (Photo by Riley Benson/NNB)”

    However, after the sun goes down, there’s a more hidden genre of local shops, like New Moon Makers Market and Groovehive Market. 

    New Moon Makers Market was first started in 2021 by Artemis Moon, who said she felt that the more traditional markets in the city lacked diversity in sellers and visitors, especially as a “taxidermy- and insect-centered maker.”  

    That’s when the idea to start her own market, dedicated to all the outcasts of St. Petersburg, began to evolve in her mind. 

    According to Moon, there were about six vendors at the very first New Moon Makers Market, and she was only handing out flyers at select spots in town, like Black Crow Coffee. Even on a small scale, the reaction from the community was enough to grow the market to over 30 vendors. 

    “Although I did give it the little ‘baby push’ of what I wanted the market to be, I always swear that it was not my doing,” Moon said. “It was 100% the queer community, that showed up for us, and really pushed us to keep going.” 

    Similar to New Moon Makers Market, Adriana Catalinotto noticed that all of the most popular markets were missing live music and mostly took place during the day, she said. 

    Wanting to create her own vision for a late-night market, Catalinotto began Groovehive Market, a showcase of local artists, vintage goods and a place to connect with the community. 

    “People tell me that every market feels like such a safe and welcoming environment,” Catalinotto said. “It doesn’t feel judgy, and it doesn’t feel like a hierarchy system, and it feels like everyone is welcome. I also am really happy that I can have different cultures represented and keep it an inclusive space for everybody too.” 

    The diversity and expansion of local markets in St. Petersburg reflect a growing demand for spaces where community members can gather and support small businesses. For vendors at New Moon Makers and Groovehive, these markets provide opportunities to carve out spaces that reflect the city’s evolving culture. 

    “Markets can be competitive, in the sense that the bigger markets won’t really encourage newer vendors to be part of it, because they don’t want to ‘babysit’,” Catalinotto said. “But I want to help nurture these vendors and get them into the community.” 

    For many local market organizers and vendors, despite the chaos that St. Petersburg recently experienced with Hurricanes, all markets, big and small, have shown that these events only strengthen the community. 

    For many, these events remain a vital part of life in St. Petersburg, as it continues to foster community engagement while giving small businesses a platform to thrive. 

  • Pet adoptions surge across Flordia shelters after hurricane season

    Pet adoptions surge across Flordia shelters after hurricane season

    By Cassia Machado

    As Hurricane Helene and Milton charged across Florida, animal shelters became makeshift sanctuaries, filled with anxious pets and restless barks. Volunteers were called to urgently work cataloging each animal and securing safe spaces as cities grappled with back to back hurricanes.

    With each adoption and foster placement, the shelter’s noise levels grew until the storms passed. Not a single bark or meow remained. Every animal found a temporary home, bringing companionship and comfort to those processing the storm’s aftermath. 

    “During times of crisis, people seek out comfort and security and pets fulfill that need in such a meaningful way,” said Jennifer Applebaum, a researcher at the University of Florida who specializes in the human-animal bond.  

    Applebaum spent years studying how pets provide psychological support to their owners, particularly in high-stress situations.  

    “Pets offer unconditional love and a calming presence, which can be an anchor for people when everything else feels uncertain,” Applebaum said.  

    Her findings highlight the growing significance of pets as emotional comfort, providing stability and helping owners cope during traumatic events. 

    The connection between pets and their owners is no secret. According to a study by the American Psychiatric Association, nearly 69% of pet owners reported that their animals helped reduce stress and anxiety, while 66% said their pets provide a calming presence, especially during tough times. 

    The research showed that cat owners are more likely than dog owners to say that their pets ease anxiety, making them ideal companions during storms and other stressful events.  

    In times of need, simply knowing a furry companion is nearby can bring its owner great relief. For Olivia Gignac, a Pinellas County resident, her cat, Lola, became a lifeline when Hurricane Milton struck. 

    Gignac was forced to evacuate her home for the second time after Hurricane Helene, but having Lola with her helped her cope with the stress, she said. 

    “Lola kept me grounded through it all,” Gignac said, “Feeding her, making sure she felt safe, it gave me something else important to focus on.”  

    She explained how caring for Lola provided a sense of routine and purpose, distracting her from the chaos that surrounded them.  

    The meaningful connection between them provided strength for the two and helped with the anxiety of forced isolation, she said. Her story is one of many others that show how pets serve their owners during natural disasters, providing stability when other forms of support are not accessible. 

    Kimberly Chandler, founder of FLUFF Animal Rescue in Pinellas County, witnessed firsthand the increase in adoptions and fostering around times of disaster. 

    Chandler noted that many families initially took in animals as fosters to help free up shelter space, only to realize they could not imagine life without them.  

    “It warmed my heart to see so many fosters find their forever homes because the bonds that were formed were so deep,” Chandler said, referring to those who chose to give their fostered pets a permanent home after the hurricanes. 

    Applebaum’s research supports these claims, showing adoption rates spike during the aftermath of a natural disaster.  

    Shelters across Florida, including Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control, reported having nearly empty shelters after hurricanes Helene and Milton. This leap in adoptions demonstrates the emotional support individuals received when fostering pets during a crisis.  

    For rescue organizations like FLUFF, the hurricanes reinforced the importance of coming together as a community. Chandler explained how local volunteers and workers played a vital role in helping these animals find homes. She recalled residents lining up to not only take animals, but also provide supplies needed.  

    “It was a reminder of the power of community and how people will come together when it matters the most,” Chandler said. 

  • Sector FM revives St. Petersburg’s music scene

    Sector FM revives St. Petersburg’s music scene

    By Kaylen Ross

    As the beat drops, neon lights reflect off drinks and local DJs spin tracks at a crowded dive bar in St. Petersburg, The Bends. Seen as the heartbeat of Sector FM, a Florida-based radio station, the faces behind the music come from Vonne Parks and Andre “Dre” Gainey, members of the band They Hate Change.  

    The idea to create a radio station was sparked through live broadcasts and community-centered events while touring the U.K. 

    “When we saw how simplified live radio could be, we thought, the Gulf Coast needs this—a radio station,” Gainey said. 

    Their vision was met with enthusiastic support from friends back home, including Zoe Robinson, also known as DJ Fesssi K. According to Gainey, their friends were eager to help turn that vision into reality, turning what started as a side quest into a community movement. 

    Parks and Gainey’s experiences on tour ignited the concept for Sector FM, Gainey said. According to the two artists, they were exposed to a vibrant radio culture in the U.K. and realized the potential for something similar in their hometown.  

    “There’s always something sick going on,” Robinson said. “I get put onto so much new music. A lot of us are really into DJing or singing ourselves, but we also love listening to other stations like NTS and Foundation FM. It made perfect sense to bring that energy to St. Pete, where we knew it could create real influence.” 
     
    Although Sector FM’s studio recordings take place at St. Petersburgs The Factory, The Bends’ atmosphere comes alive during live performances, giving audiences an in-person taste of the magic of radio, Robinson said.  

    A key factor in Sector FM’s success has been its partnership with The Bends, a dive bar that has become the venue for many of the radio station’s live shows. A frequent customer of The Bends emphasized the synergy between the station and the dive bar.

    “Sector FM has brought a unique energy to the space, boosting foot traffic and connecting us with a whole new crowd,” the customer said. 

    The return of live music has revitalized The Bends, making it a central gathering spot for fans of St. Pete’s ever-evolving music scene. 

    For artists like Deja Denice, a singer and DJ who has performed on Sector FM, she said the platform has been a refreshing experience.  

    “In less than a year, I went from being the oddball listener and being scared to get on aux around friends to DJing at a festival,” Denice said. “On Sector FM, there are no oddities, but we are side-eying if you’re moving inauthentically.”  

    Through programming that has an emphasis on community engagement, Sector FM is becoming a cornerstone of St. Pete’s underground music scene.  

    “The goal is to keep growing, feature more artists outside of our friend bubble, and make live radio something so undeniably vital within our city,” Parks said.

  • St. Petersburg residents consider moving after hurricane damage

    St. Petersburg residents consider moving after hurricane damage

    By Christopher Hooker

    Debris continues to litter neighborhoods, with moldy furniture and vegetation still piled along curbsides. Many residents still wear expressions of disbelief, as they grapple with the sudden upheaval of their lives.

    Following the destruction left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many St. Petersburg residents are weighing whether to rebuild their lives or seek new beginnings elsewhere. 

    “For this business, the slow season is already from summer through October, so it was already quiet,” said Dorian Benash, an associate at Graphi-ko Gallery about local businesses. “With the hurricanes, we noticed even fewer customers coming in. People are more often window shopping. Folks have less spending money because they are focused on cleaning up and getting their lives back together.” 

    When it comes to flood zones, many businesses worry about their potential relocation. 

    “My boss has been here for about 14 years and is pretty set on sticking it out,” Benash said. “Fortunately, this shop is not in a flood zone, but we’ve even discussed getting a second job just to keep up with the bills.” 

    Damaged furniture and personal belongings still sit curbside along multiple neighborhoods, showing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and Milton. (Photo by Christopher Hooker/NNB)

    For many Floridians, frequent hurricanes have become a way of life, with most viewing them as manageable challenges. However, this year’s storms seem to have shifted that perspective, especially in Tampa Bay, which usually escapes severe damage. Now, some residents are beginning to consider moving further inland. 

    “I know quite a few people who have volunteered to help clean up other areas of St. Pete,” Benash said. “It is a great feeling to see neighbors coming together, helping older couples pull out moldy furniture from their homes. It is truly rewarding.”  

    The St. Pete area, known for its tranquil beaches, typically draws in tourists seeking a coastal escape. The beaches are now currently devastated but in recovery, and it is unlikely tourists will be returning soon. 

    Other businesses, like the Rocket Fizz franchise, were not as fortunate. While their St. Pete location was spared, their location on Clearwater Beach suffered a foot of flood water, forcing the owner to close it down. 

    Cynthia Calleia, a Rocket Fizz sales associate, described the hardships she and her family faced.  

    “The last hurricane left me out of work for six days, and I did not qualify for FEMA assistance,” Calleia said. “I am working here now and waiting to go back to my regular job just to stay afloat. The silver lining has been helping others in tougher situations. Just because we made it out okay does not mean we cannot help those with nowhere else to turn.” 

    With what feels like considerable time and effort from the community, some residents see the recovery process as progress. However, others are considering relocating to avoid future weather threats. 

    Streets turn into spots of temporary landfill after the destruction of Hurricane Helene and Milton. (Photo by Christopher Hooker/NNB)

    Lillie Williams of Pinellas County recollects her experience during Hurricane Milton. 

    “I was asleep in the other bedroom during Hurricane Milton, and I heard a huge crashing noise that startled me out my sleep,” Williams said. “The next thing that I knew, a large branch had fallen through my roof.  I am forever grateful to be alive, but the thought of starting over is truly overwhelming and disappointing. I’ve nearly lost everything. Having to contact all my financial institutions and repeat my situation over and over is just the icing on the cake.” 

    Willams noted that once she overcomes this challenge, she is seriously considering moving further inland, away from large bodies of water. 

    “As someone on a fixed income, starting over at my age with nothing is beyond words,” Williams said. “I lost material possessions, but it is the irreplaceable things like pictures of my grandchildren growing up that truly affects me the most.” 

  • AI challenges St. Petersburg’s art scene

    AI challenges St. Petersburg’s art scene

    By Tyler Tran

    Artificial Intelligence, known as technology that allows computers to imitate human intelligence, is reshaping the art world by introducing new opportunities and ethical concerns. 

    As AI-driven creations enter mainstream galleries and artist studios, St. Petersburg’s vibrant art scene may face a significant transformation. Some fear AI’s influence could dilute the authenticity for which the city is known. 

    “As a creative in the modern world, I am neither ‘strongly against’ nor ‘strongly for’ AI in the art world because I see how it can have both a positive and negative effect,” said Hailey Kammerer, an upcoming traditional artist navigating AI’s growing presence in today’s art.

    As AI becomes more prominent, St. Petersburg’s art scene is confronting new challenges. While some artists embrace the creativity that AI can offer, others, like Kammerer, express concerns about ethical issues and the potential loss of authenticity in the city’s creative spaces. 

    “Keeping up with all the AI technological advances nowadays can be challenging,” Kammerer said, emphasizing her openness to learning while not abandoning traditional methods. 

    Kammerer, who recently interned at Evolve & Co., — a team of brand researchers and digital strategists– uses AI for specific design tasks like quick selections and background removals. 

    She believes artists shouldn’t feel pressure to discard established techniques just to adapt to new trends. Instead, she believes artists can balance innovation with tradition by integrating AI tools selectively. 

    One of the ethical concerns surrounding AI in the art world involves the question of originality and the respect owed to human artists. Kammerer criticized AI’s reliance on data that often includes other artists’ works without consent or compensation– a method she finds both disappointing and devaluing. 

    “As a creative who genuinely loves the process of creating, I find it disappointing that typing in a compilation of words to generate a complete design or illustration gives it the potential ability to replace certain jobs and individuals,” Kammerer said. 

    Although she doubts AI can fully replace human artists, she worries that reliance on AI may undervalue the personal touch and experiences that can be seen in human-created art, she said.

    McArthur Freeman, a traditional artist and USF associate professor who has incorporated AI into his work, views technology as a tool with unlimited potential. Freeman’s project, “Imagine Blackness,” expresses representation in AI-generated art. 

    An AI-generated portrait from McArthur Freeman’s “Imagine Blackness” series in early 2023 explores themes of identity and representation. Freeman uses AI to visualize alternate realities, creating a vision that challenges traditional perceptions of Black identity. (Photo Illustration by McArthur Freeman)

    He shared that over the years, as technology has advanced, he now sees the computer differently. He sees the computer as his medium, and he uses AI as one of many tools for tasks like concept development. However, Freeman also acknowledged its ethical concerns.  

    “One significant issue is whether or not AI companies can use the work of others to train models,” he said, noting the lack of consent and compensation in training datasets.  

    Despite these concerns, Freeman sees the technology’s potential to work collaboratively with artists in a way that would elevate creative expression. 

    Freeman also acknowledges that AI could disrupt commercial art jobs, particularly in roles like illustration or video editing where speed and cost may outweigh artistic vision.  

    Fine arts, like gallery and museum pieces, are less likely to be overshadowed by AI given their emphasis on unique perspectives and personal expression, Freeman added. 

    As AI art continues to make its way into the art scene, St. Petersburg may see its artistic landscape shift in many ways. For a city known for its street murals, galleries and art studios, the area thrives on its hands-on community driven approach to art. The rise of AI generated work could allow artists to experiment with new forms, possibly broadening the city’s art appeal.  

    While technology makes it easy to produce art that’s convincing and at a fast pace, there’s a possible risk of ruining the character of St. Pete’s local art community. The individuality of local artists could be in jeopardy and residents like Reece Townsend fear that this could undermine the city’s creative spaces. 

    “St. Pete’s art is about the people, the stories and the creativity that make it unique,” Townsend said. “AI-generated sort of feels lifeless, like it’s taking shortcuts that don’t really end up having that human touch.” 

    Townsend said that pieces like the Vitale Brothers’ mural, a tribute to the Tampa Bay Rays and their new City Connect uniforms, authentically represent the city’s spirit for art. 

    “Look at the City Connect mural by the Vitale Brothers,” Townsend said. “That’s a piece that truly represents our city.”  

    As AI technology continues to evolve, St. Petersburg’s art community faces an uncertain yet intriguing future, with artists and the community debating whether AI is a valuable complement or a disruption to the city’s vibrant culture. 

  • Statewide ban on public homeless encampments spurs controversy  

    Statewide ban on public homeless encampments spurs controversy  

    By Kairo Munoz

    Following two back-to-back hurricanes in October, the city’s law enforcement, shelters and homeless organizations cope with the enactment of House Bill 1365. 

    With the law being touted as a violation against the rights of the unhoused community, critics worry about the negative consequences that come with enforcing it. 

    Signed into law by the state’s governor on March 20 and enacted on Oct. 1, the statewide mandate prohibits local governments from allowing homeless residents to sleep on public property such as sidewalks, streets and parks.

    The other half of the bill will go into effect at the beginning of next year, allowing residents, business owners and even the attorney general to submit an injunction against the city, along with an affidavit as proof that the problem has gone unresolved for more than five business days. 

    In addition, the bill allows counties and municipalities to vote on whether to temporarily allocate public property for camping and sleeping for upward of a year, with exception to “fiscally constrained” counties. The Florida Department of Revenue does not consider Pinellas County to be fiscally constrained.

    Any designated public property will be monitored by the state’s Department of Children and Families, keeping in check that all basic and necessary standards and procedures that ensure safety, sanitation and access to mental health and substance abuse treatment are being followed lest the property be decertified. 

    Factoring in the cost to upkeep the property alongside the cost of its designation alone, among other expenses, has left critics concerned about the amount of money required just for local governments to comply with this mandate. 

    Serving both Pinellas and Pasco County, the Public Defender’s Office, Sixth Judicial Circuit, additionally expressed concern over the criminalization of homeless residents, highlighting a disparity where contributors lack the funds to provide the homeless with resources as taxpayers’ money is being used to comply with HB 1365’s demands. 

    “Until all of the stakeholders are properly funded to adequately address the needs of the unhoused community in Pinellas County, and throughout Florida, this bill could potentially put people in the criminal justice system who have never been and should never be there,” said the Public Defender’s Office, Sixth Judicial Circuit, in a statement to the Neighborhood News Bureau. “It will put an immense strain on law enforcement, the jails, as well as taxpayers, as the jails’ costs are directly covered by them.” 

    Despite the distress this law has had on critics, St. Petersburg Police’s Sergeant Todd M. Hancock of the Police Assisting the Homeless unit argued that too many people were misinterpreting the law. 

    “What I’m most worried about is people not fully understanding it [HB 1365], and then thinking that it’s a broad brush for anybody sleeping anywhere in the public view, which is not what it says,” Hancock said. 

    The PATH unit, of which Hancock manages as its third supervisor since its inception in 2019, is composed of six officers, a case manager and a social worker. Hancock said he recognizes the unit as the closest thing St. Pete’s police department will have to a non-enforcement unit. It serves as the go-to dispatch group for matters involving homelessness, portraying a supporting presence in the unhoused community. 

    Before Oct. 1, any unlawful encampments were considered ordinance violations, but as of now it can be a Florida state statute violation. Whether law enforcement relies on one or the other is a matter of jurisdiction. 

    Hancock said he prefers not to put either ordinance or statute into use and has spoken to briefing patrols about the enactment of this law. 

    “We’re not walking around trying to kill mosquitoes with sledgehammers,” Hancock said. “We’re not here to overdo things.” 

    Instead, Hancock opts to offer the homeless a helping hand by providing them with information on nearby shelters where they can receive the care and help they need. 

    Kathleen Beckman, the chair of the executive committee of the Pinellas Continuum of Care, worked alongside the Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas to erect a task force designated to confront foreseeable challenges spurred by the ratification of the bill. 

    Throughout the summer, Beckman’s task force discussed alternatives to expand shelter space, such as the use of portable classrooms and even considered starting their own version of Dignity Bus, a mobile emergency shelter located within eastern Florida that provides sleeping quarters to the homeless. Beckman said that the major problem with these ideas was finding providers willing to fund and staff such projects, along with following through with many code requirements so that they’re up to par. 

    As of now, Pinellas County’s 2024 Point in Time Count report highlighted a 7% decrease in sheltered individuals and a 12% increase of unsheltered persons compared to last year. 

    Beckman said that the number of homeless people is likely to go up thanks to Hurricane Helene and Milton, which she said may have caused city officials to put HB 1365 concerns to the wayside. 

    Frustrated with the likelihood of rising homelessness, Beckman addressed how the problem was further being compounded by the state’s refusal to prioritize mental health and substance abuse, also highlighting the consequences of the Sadowski Fund raids as the contributor to the state’s housing crisis. 

    “There is not enough low- and moderate-income housing in the whole state, and in particular, in Pinellas County,” Beckman said. “We are at a huge deficit of affordable housing for our type of workforce, and our type of workforce is tourism and service industry, and those jobs do not pay high wages.” 

    The next Task Force meeting is pending, and even now, many still worry with the anticipation of the enactment of the bill’s second half on Jan. 1, 2025.  

  • Local arcade hosts niche community gaming scene 

    Local arcade hosts niche community gaming scene 

    By Samuel Talero

    Located in Largo, Neon Dreams Arcade hosts a variety of different arcade-style video games imported from Japan. Rather than serve as just a showcase for overseas games, Neon Dreams specializes in attracting fans to the same spot in St. Petersburg, fostering a community where people with similar taste can meet new friends and play together. 

    While the modern video game world allows people to play with their friends online, the experience can be considered isolating or impersonal. Online gaming requires people to stay at home, and not once do players get a glimpse of the person they are gaming with.  

    Neon Dreams aims to address this isolation by bringing people together to play games in a shared physical space, replicating the online experience in real life. 

    “We just wanted to make a place where everyone could hang out all the time,” said Dallas Huete, one of the owners of Neon Dreams. “We love the people that we have, and we love the current state of it.” 

    Neon Dreams features a variety of games from different eras and genres, most notably fighting and rhythm-based games which have a large online following. The arcade hosts monthly tournaments for these games, allowing fans to gather and socialize.  

    Friends have a quick chat in between songs while playing the arcade game Pump it Up at Neon Dreams Arcade in Largo, Florida. (Photo by Samuel Talero/NNB)

    Cody McIntyre, co-owner of Neon Dreams, described the arcade as a space where people can learn to play fighting and rhythm games directly from others, rather than relying on the internet or online resources. 
     
    According to McIntyre, finding a local community for a game can be difficult, as traditional meeting spaces rarely draw in that kind of audience. This may result in people seeking their gaming communities online, but that can leave an unfulfilled need to socialize. 

    “A lot of people, like gamers, are not trying to go to a bar or a club,” arcade regular Joshua Fisher said. “Some people want to not be inside all day. They want to go out. They want to communicate with people, they want to make new friends, and there’s not a lot of areas to do that.” 

    While larger-scale arcade businesses are more common, they tend to focus on a general audience rather than the specific niche that Neon Dreams hits. 

    “You’re really not a part of the community, and I don’t feel like I make friends there,” said Katie Lynn Locasto, another regular at Neon Dreams, reflecting on her times at other chain arcades. 

    Arcades that operate under the specific niche of imported Japanese fighting and rhythm games, such as Neon Dreams, aren’t very common in the St. Petersburg area. This can be attributed to several challenges in establishing an arcade, including securing a lease, finding suitable real estate or sourcing the machines themselves 

    “Maintaining [machines] is the hardest part,” Huete said. “Once you replace the parts, you have a good machine, but you have to have the knowledge, the patience and the skill to troubleshoot.” 

    According to its owners, community lies at the heart of what Neon Dreams sets out to accomplish. It’s a place where someone with a specialized interest can meet others and have the opportunity to make unlikely friends while playing unique games. 

    “An arcade without a community isn’t an arcade,” Huete said.

  • Back-to-back hurricanes test St. Petersburg’s resilience

    Back-to-back hurricanes test St. Petersburg’s resilience

    By Riley Benson

    From June to November, Floridians brace for the possible tropical storms that will come their way. After the 2024 hurricane season, St. Petersburg residents know a thing or two about repairing after a storm. 

    Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September. Then, with the city barely beginning the recovery process, Hurricane Milton made landfall a week and a half later. From fallen cranes and blown-off baseball roofs to flooded homes and boil-water warnings, St. Petersburg has seen its share of storms this fall. 

    Richie Floyd, chair of the Health, Energy, Resilience and Sustainability Committee of the St. Petersburg City Council, said surviving back-to-back storms can bring a community closer together. 

    “I think anybody who walked outside after the storm saw that their neighbors were talking to their neighbors, asking people how they’re doing and sharing things,” Floyd said. 

    Along with the committee and city council, Floyd worked to support the city before and after the storm.

    In the immediate aftermath, Floyd helped decide where the city needed to put its major focus, like organizing debris pickup and setting up comfort stations across town. 

    Throughout the city, there’s major clean up needed from fallen trees and pieces from wind-damaged structures. Meanwhile, the comfort stations consist of portable laundry stations and food trucks for all city residents to have easy access. 

    “I’ve seen a lot of the community coming together,” Floyd said. “There’s been a bunch of people who weren’t impacted reaching out and asking how they can join volunteer efforts to help clear people’s lots or clean out people’s houses.” 

    Some residents, like Franklin Alves and Justin Cournoyer, were some of the thousands of people in St. Petersburg who experienced the community efforts of neighbors firsthand. 

    Alves, who’s been a resident of Campbell Park for over a decade, said he witnessed residents come together to help one another. 

    Along with Alves, Cournoyer and other Campbell Park residents call themselves “the remnants of the gas plant” in reference to the Gas Plant District which used to spill into Campbell Park before the development of Interstate 75 and Tropicana Field. 

    Prior to the Rays’ introduction to the city in the 1980s, the area was predominantly home to African Americans who had been living there for almost a century. 

    “The coolest part about Campbell Park is that, like, we have a lot of generational housing and residents that have been here for a really long time,” Alves said. “We can actually see Tropicana Field from our house because we’re so close. And so for Justin and I, we saw the beginnings of the tarp getting [torn] right off. It felt like a pretty powerful impact.” 

    Earlier this year, the city of St. Petersburg announced plans to redevelop the Gas Plant District to bring new housing and a brand-new baseball stadium for the Rays. Due to recent storm damage, including the torn roof of Tropicana Stadium, the stadium’s future is now uncertain. 

    “Seeing the tarp of the dome of Tropicana Field ripped to shreds,” Cournoyer said. “This shows you how fragile things are and how city priorities can change in an instant.” 

    Alves and Cournoyer are both actively involved in the neighborhood and the redevelopment plans the city had proposed for the area. 

    “You’ll probably see us show up to city hall to talk and advocate for ourselves because we’re at the crossroads of a lot of different projects and a lot of different issues that the city is facing,” Cournoyer said.  

    In the early stages of the redevelopment plan coming together, the duo worked with the city to help get benefits for those who lived in the area. Despite the community’s struggles, Campbell Park residents continue to band together and rebuild, post-hurricanes. 

    “We’re very strong together,” said Cournoyer. “We’re a very scrappy, resilient group that helped each other out.”