Green Bench Monthly Vol. 5, Issue 5, August 2020

VOL. 5, ISSUE 5, AUGUST 2020

Green Bench Monthly* St. Pete’s Community Magazine

PAL ST. PETE: Empowering Youth

Since 1960

Help Reach St. Pete

Support Our Neighbors pg. 8

pg. 16

Celebrating 20 Years

Grand Central District pg. 12

Rainy Days and

St. Pete’s Big Bust pg. 18

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Publishers Ashley & Tony Sica

Editors Marilyn Malara, Mary Jane Park, Cathy Weisberg

Contributors Tina Stewart Brakebill, Vandi Carmella, Erin Cody, Denielle Kennett, Brian Zucker

Photographers Brian Brakebill, Kelly Nash

IN THIS ISSUE

Cover Photo Courtesy of the Police Athletic League

Contact PO BOX 76095 St. Petersburg, FL 33734 (727) 280-5406 hello@greenbenchmonthly.com

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4 From the Bench

14 Millenium Physician Group

6 People of St. Pete: Erica Hardison

16 Police Athletic League (PAL)

8 Help Reach St. Pete

18 St. Pete’s Big Bust

10 Raising Locals: Family Fun

20 Getting to Know the Downtown Neighborhood Associaiton

12 Grand Central District Celebrates 20 Years

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Blue Jay in Williams Park. Photo by Brian Brakebill.

From the Bench A note from the Publishers Hello bench friends. We hope this issue finds you safe and healthy. On our cover this month is the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg. This year marks their sixtieth anniversary “growing great grown-ups”. While it’s not the only solution to our country’s policing problems, we feel it is an important time to highlight this organization and all the ways it helps our community.

This month we’re also getting to know mathematician, mother, educator, robot-builder, doula, community organizer, and President of One Community Grocery Co-op, Erica Hardison (pg.

6). Reach St. Pete shows us how to support our neighbors in need (pg. 8). Sunshine City Kids has family fun ideas to keep the kiddos entertained while physically distancing (pg. 10). Grand Central District Celebrates 20 years (pg. 12). And if there is an up there must be a down: St. Pete’s Big Bust (pg. 18).

We hope you enjoy, wear a mask(!) and stay safe St. Pete.

Till next time,

Tony and Ashley Sica Publishers / Owners

hello@greenbenchmonthly.com

*All are welcome on this bench.

The history of the green benches is layered. For some it is a reminder of a painful period of racism and segregation. To others it is a symbol of welcomeness and hospitality. We carry this name to shine a light on our city’s history, and in celebration of those who work tirelessly towards a more inclusive St. Pete. To read more about our story, and the history of the green benches visit greenbenchmonthly.com/about.

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Face coverings made by local artists will be auctioned off to support the St. Pete Arts Alliance Relief Fund.

St. Pete Artists Create Fantastical Masks for Exhibit and Fundraising Mask-R-Aid Exhibit from August 1-15 Highlights Masks as the new “Chic”’; Raises money for St. Petersburg Arts Alliance Relief Fund Fantastical face masks created by costumers, artists, and sewers from around Tampa Bay are on exhibit through August 14th at the equally fantastical St. Petersburg emporium Zazoo’d located at 351 Central Avenue. The exhibit is part of a project called “Mask-R-Aid”, spearheaded

by St. Petersburg resident, Andre Kupfermunz. When the exhibit is over, masks will be auctioned at Bay Area Auction in Pinellas Park to raise money for the St. Pete Arts Alliance Relief Fund.

“The purpose of our project is to call attention to the need to wear masks during the pandemic to protect yourself and others,” says Kupfermunz. “At the same time St. Petersburg is a hub for artistic talent and many of the artists are financially suffering at this time. Mask-R-Aid aims to offset some of the burden by raising money for the St. Pete Arts Alliance Relief Fund.”

To see the masks, drop by Zazoo’d or view them online at Bay Area Auction. Preview begins at 8 am; Auction at 10 am on August 15th. To bid online for the masks, you must first register at www.BayAreaAuctionServices. com. Follow the instructions online to register and bid online.

For more info about the St. Pete Arts Alliance, visit their website at www.StPeteArtsAlliance.org.

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Photo by Brian Brakebill

People of St Pete: Erica Hardison

By Tina Stewart Brakebill St. Pete is celebrated for its fabulous weather, beautiful vistas, world-class food scene, and thriving cultural atmosphere but the people of St. Pete truly make this city something special. In appreciation, each month Green Bench Monthly shines a light on one of the many people that make St. Pete unique.

This month our spotlight is on Erica Hardison. It’s difficult to come up with an easy descriptive summary of Hardison’s contributions to our community. She is a mathematician, a mother, an educator, a robotbuilder, a doula, a virtual assistant, a Rotarian, a resource consultant, and a community organizer. And while this list may seem disparate, the commonality running through her choices is her desire to “focus on the interconnectedness of things” and be of service to the community. She understands that we are “stronger together.”

From St. Kitts to St. Pete Hardison was born in the United Kingdom, and her family is from the island of Saint Kitts. Always a stellar student, she attended Florida A&M on a full academic scholarship and earned a degree in mathematics.

Visits with local friends convinced her that St. Petersburg was the place she wanted to be. Soon after, she began her 14-year career with the Pinellas County schools. Among other contributions, she was part of the South County Robotics program, visiting schools to help inspire young people to pursue a future in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). In 2016, she left the school system and segued into a new career as a resource consultant and virtual assistant. Essentially, she manages project-based endeavors for small local businesses and nonprofits so they can thrive in a sea of big corporations.

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Building Community: Mind and Body This career shift allowed flexibility so she could devote more time to her family and opened up space for volunteer projects that aim to build a sustainable and equitable community. As a Midtown Rotarian, she works on programs that emphasize wellness. She’s an integral part of reading and gardening programs for at-risk youth in the Jordan Park community.

The Family Literacy Project (FLiP) provides tablets for families to use as part of a weekly karaoke-style challenge designed to improve reading and vocabulary aptitude. The Jordan Park garden provides the community an opportunity to grow healthy fruits and vegetables while learning about food sustainability. It also dovetails with her involvement in one of South St. Pete’s most ambitious goals: a food co-op.

Feeding Community: One Community Grocery Co-op The idea for a food co-op can be traced back to the union / communitybased People’s Budget Review. In general, a community survey identified the need to strive for greater political and economic democracy. More specifically, residents identified the lack of equitable access to affordable food. From that initial survey, the One Community Grocery Co-op (OCGC) was born. As its president, Hardison promotes its mission “to empower and provide health and economic equity with food to the South St. Petersburg community and its co-op members.” This goal of bringing “food justice” to South St. Pete is squarely in line with the key question Hardison asks when deciding to pursue a project: Will it help to build a sustainable community?

For more information, visit www.ocgc.coop or on Facebook @ OneCommunityGroceryCo-op.

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Help Reach St. Pete: Support our Neighbors in Need

By Erin Cody

From left to right Reach St. Pete: Elizabeth Hobbs, Alexia Morrison, Ashley Williams, Morgan Kevorkian Clay. Photos by Kelly Nash Photography

While many St. Petersburg residents have stepped up to help those in need in the wake of COVID-19, Reach St. Pete has connected people with necessary resources since its inception in 2016. The approach of Executive Director Alexia Morrison and co-founder Mariana Bichette is dynamic. “We are constantly shifting our programs to adjust to the statistics of the needs in our city,” Morrison says. “Our focus has gone from alleviating the burdens of the homeless community to striving to end homelessness in the future.”

Care & Advocacy Build Hope The organization has provided substantial assistance when it is most sorely needed. “We worked with a family who had a 5-year-old child living in a homeless shelter, and they informed us they would be kicked out because it was taking them longer than four weeks to find a job,” Morrison says. “We stepped in and worked alongside them, providing a bus pass for an interview and reaching out to local business owners to see if anyone would give them a chance. Within two days, the husband secured a job, they were able to stay at the shelter, and within two weeks he was moved up to a manager because of how hard he was working.”

This is just one of many stories of Reach St. Pete’s life-changing work. “Just goes to show how we are better together, and that sometimes people just need someone to advocate for them to see their full potential. When you are in a scary and seemingly hopeless situation,

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Reach St. Pete installs portable hand-washing stations.

it’s easy to feel inadequate. We strive to make sure those people feel seen, heard, loved, and valued.”

Adopt A Need Reach St. Pete has jumped into overdrive in the past few months.

“Since COVID-19,” Morrison says, “we created an online application for our Adopt A Need program that was specific to those in lowincome situations who were now at risk of losing services and housing due to job loss.” Since March, the organization has filled these gaps by giving out more than $22,000 in groceries and rent and bill assistance.

Reach has also adjusted its distribution methods to avoid large group gatherings, instead providing necessary items via drop offs and car lines for those who are able. To protect the street homeless of St. Petersburg, it has installed portable hand-washing stations.

Funding Important Work Applications for support have gone from about 50 a week to more than 100 a day. “Our biggest challenge at the moment is funding,” Morrison says. “As we are a community-driven nonprofit without government funds, we rely heavily on community partners, local foundations, and private donors.”

Want to help support our neighbors in need? Visit www.reachstpete. org to donate, learn more about its Adopt A Need program, or shop its Amazon gift list to have necessities like shampoo and toothpaste shipped straight to Reach. For additional updates, follow Reach St. Pete on Facebook and Instagram.

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“Hello Sunshine” mural by Leo Gomez, in Historic Uptown Neighborhood at 700 7th Ave N⁣⁣. Photos by Vandi Carmella

Raising Locals: Family Fun Reimagined

By Vandi Carmella and Denielle Kennett August is National Family Fun Month and while many of us might feel like the last few months have been anything but, this is the perfect time to turn it around and end your break on a high note. As summer wraps up and school begins — whatever that may look like for your family — it’s important now more than ever to keep the quality time on the calendar.

These St. Pete places offer online or social distancing-friendly ways to break up the boredom and bring a little more safe family fun into your life.

Virtual Tours and Online Programs Explore the expansive collection of surrealist art at the Dali Museum with a 360-degree-view of your surroundings without leaving your couch (thedali.org/virtual-tour/). Experience the Museum of Fine Arts at home through online games and activities, virtual programs, videos and more (mfastpete.org/mfa-from-home/).

Stay engaged with weekly curated content from The James Museum at Home including storytimes and art activities (jamesmuseum.org/ jmfromhome-themes/). Follow the St. Petersburg Museum of History for new episodes of Virtual St. Pete: An Historically Different Virtual Walking Tour to visit the museum from home (spmoh.com).

Creativity at Home Makeme Studio offers step-by-step craft kits for kids and adults in a variety of themes and mediums (shop.makemestudio.com). More DIY to-go kits, including signs, planks, and yard games, can be found at AR Workshop, St. Petersburg (arworkshop.com/stpetersburg).

Local craft kit maker One Kings Dough specializes in custom sensoryfriendly play dough kits that can even incorporate your child’s name (instagram.com/onekingsdough). Find non-fired make-and-take clay projects at Practically Pikasso — a return to the kiln is not required (practicallypikasso.com). Kids are encouraged to think outside of the box with S.T.E.A.M. Kits from Great Explorations Children’s Museum (greatex.org).

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DIY Craft kits available from Makeme, AR Workshop, One King’s, Practically Pikasso, and Great Exploration’s Children Museum.

Books for kids and adults, delivered!

By Tomobolo Books located at 2153 1st Ave S⁣⁣.

For the Book Lovers

Making Music

Cultured Books’ Virtual Summertime Book Club continues into September with stories for kids rooted in Caribbean folklore (culturedbooks.com). Get contact-free delivery or curbside pickup for your children’s - and your - favorite books and puzzles at Tombolo Books (tombolobooks.com). The St. Petersburg Library System brings beloved programs online weekly including virtual music classes and shows (splibraries.org).

Local music school Noisemakers is open for private lessons but also offers online lessons via Skype and Zoom (noise-makers.org). Join Music & Me for a weekly online music program for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers (musicandmellc.com).

The Great Outdoors The trails at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve remain open with 245 acres of protected habitat to explore (stpeteparksrec. org). Bike the Pinellas Trail for 38 miles of room to ride (pinellascountry.org/trailgd/). Turn your smartphone into a “Drive-in Mural Theater” with the PixelStix app (pixelstix.com).

Create your own mural scavenger hunt with the St. Pete Mural Tour (stpetemuraltour.com).

In the Kitchen Cook at home with some of the best chefs in St. Pete! St. Pete Eats: A Cookbook features over 30 healthy recipes sourced from local eateries with proceeds benefiting the City of St. Petersburg’s Fighting Chance Fund (stpeteeats.org). Order a decorate-your-own cookie kit from Eat Your Words Custom Cookies for more fun in the kitchen (eatyourwordscookies.com).

Vandi and Denielle are the moms behind Sunshine City Kids, an online resource for all things kid-friendly in St. Petersburg. Follow the Sunshine City Kids at www.sunshinecitykids.com.

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Photos by City of St. Petersburg

Grand Central District Association: Celebrating 20 Years

By Tina Stewart Brakebill Twenty years ago, a small group of concerned volunteers came together with a deceptively simple goal: revitalize the blocks of Central Avenue adjacent to Historic Kenwood and Central Oak Park. Once a thriving business corridor, the area had hit hard times, and neighboring citizens were determined to see it returned to its former glory. Leaning into and learning from the success of the nearby Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association, core members of that group joined other committed citizens to form the 501(c)3 nonprofit Grand Central District Association (GCDA). Twenty years later, their success is undeniable.

Grand Central has become a destination, and its future looks bright.

Transformed by Locals One year after the GCDA incorporated, it achieved a major milestone when the National Trust for Historic Preservation (www.dos. myflorida.com/historical/preservation/florida-main-street/) designated Grand Central as St Petersburg’s first National Main Street Community.

As noted by the Florida Main Street’s strategic plan, success is most likely “in places where community residents have a strong emotional, social, and civic connection and are motivated to get involved and make a difference.” With the enthusiastic support of locals (especially the burgeoning local LGTBQ community) and some help from the city, the GCDA set out “to harness the social, physical and cultural assets” that make the district special. Historic spaces were renovated; streetscape improvements including lights, banners, and pots beautified the neighborhood; and the district began to attract diverse new businesses and residents as it transformed into a thriving, gay-friendly area to work and play.

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LGBT Welcome Center, 2227 Central Ave

Sustained by Locals Now, as the GCDA commemorates its 20th anniversary, it continues to be an eclectic local destination. COVID-19 forced postponement of this summer’s planned congratulatory events, but even a pandemic doesn’t alter the factors that make Grand Central worth celebrating. As Executive Director David Foote explained, it’s all in the attitude. Grand Central welcomes all and has something for everyone. Its boundaries now stretch from 16th Street to 31st Street and include 1st avenues N and S along with Central Avenue. It is a “bike- and pet-friendly destination for personal and professional services, art, shopping, entertainment, and social life. It is uniquely defined by an expanding collection of colorful murals, craft breweries, oak tree-lined sidewalks, outdoor dining in converted gas stations, and its embracing support for the surrounding neighborhoods’ thriving LGBTQ community. Grand Central celebrates diversity and embraces the individuality of everyone.”

Above: Strolling down Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.

Below: Pride Festival 2019

The Future is Local Grand Central’s future is not as clear as it seemed in early 2020 as COVID-19’s effects are sure to be felt for some time. The forced shutdown came just as several new apartment complexes, multiple businesses, and a hotel are set to open. Grand Central welcomes the hotel and its added foot traffic but out-of-towners have never been the lifeblood of the District. Locals have! We may not know the exact shape of Grand Central’s continued transformation, but the GCDA will continue to work to make the district the local destination of choice. For more information, including how to support Grand Central’s many locally owned, operated, and staffed businesses, send email to gcda@grandcentraldistrict.org or visit www.grandcentraldistrict.org.

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Dr. Ryan Baker of St. Pete’s Millenium Physician Group with patient. Photo by Kelly Nash Photography.

Millennium Physician Group: Expansive, Considerate Care

By Erin Cody Dr. Ryan Baker and the staff at St. Pete’s Millennium Physician Group understand the frustrations so many of us have experienced with our doctors and seek to offer all-around better care. “Patients are generally frustrated by the level of interaction and listening that goes on

in a doctor’s office,” states Dr. Baker. “We take the time to get to know you, understand your concerns, and address any issues that may come up. We treat all of you, not just your organs and diseases.”

Individualized care “Patients often feel that doctors just throw medication at them,” says the good doctor. “At Millennium, we focus on preventative care, wellness, and chronic disease management. We strongly encourage regular physicals and wellness visits to make sure all your preventative needs are met. When we discover an issue, we make sure it is addressed immediately. Our goal is to get you and keep you looking and feeling well!”

Warm and friendly as he is wise and knowledgeable, Dr. Baker sees to it that he is always available to his patients. “Call us for anything, and we will make sure your needs are attended to,” he smiles. “We encourage same-day and walk-in visits by setting aside a block of time for them each day. You never have to wait to see your physician. We never want you to have a concern that goes unaddressed!” If that isn’t a departure from the usual doctor’s office experience, I don’t know what is!

One-stop shop In the fashion of old-time Family Medicine, Millennium Physician Group offers their patients 12 years of age and older a medical home.

Their wide range of primary care services include wellness visits, chronic disease management, lifestyle counseling and management, nursing visits, blood work, vaccinations, and even nutrition and aesthetic services.

The calming, spa-like waiting room and warm, friendly staff make the experience refreshingly stress-free, and Dr. Baker takes plenty of time with each patient, ensuring that he really gets to know you and understand your unique history. Patients can also see Dr. Baker for telehealth appointments, which are especially important during these uncertain times.

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Dr. Ryan Baker

Health in the time of COVID Naturally, things have changed in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and Millennium Physician Group has stepped up in a big way. “Our practice has been taking the COVID-19 crisis very seriously,” says Dr. Baker. “We maintain and respect all social distancing, space our appointments to minimize external contact, sanitize the examination rooms between each patient, and each individual you meet will use all protective equipment to make you feel safe and comfortable at your visit. We also responded quickly with COVID testing. If you feel you have symptoms or have been exposed, let us know immediately so we can schedule an appointment and testing.”

“A large and silent side-effect of the COVID crisis has been the anxiety, concern, and fear related to being sick,” he continues. “While the symptoms of the virus have certainly affected families all over the country, still more are experiencing fears and anxieties that can be almost as debilitating as the disease itself! The best thing to do in this instance is to monitor for symptoms, continue with your protective measures, and know that someday it will end. Patients have the full support of our office at their disposal, and are welcome to call with any concerns, sleep issues, or anxiety they may be experiencing due to this crisis. We are here for you!”

Whether in-office or telehealth, Millennium provides medical care the way you’ve always wanted it. The medical practitioners and staff have a genuine desire to maximize your health and wellness with comforting, individualized care. It’s medical practice as it should be!

The office is centrally located at 2299 9th Ave N. Millennium Physician Group is happy to welcome new patients, and accepts many insurance plans. Give them a call at 727-655-9854.

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A St. Petersburg Police Department Officer helps a young boy with his homework. Photos in this story were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photos courtesy of Police Athletic League.

PAL St. Pete: Empowering Youth Since 1960

by Tina Stewart Brakebill Founded in 1960, the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg (PAL) has spent the last six decades bringing together thousands of children, their families, as well as leaders in business, politics and the community “to create opportunities for the young people who have shaped the St. Petersburg we know today.” PAL accomplishes this mission by offering

affordable afterschool and summer programs to children ages 5-14 with an emphasis on literacy intervention, health and wellness, mentoring and career awareness. Simply put, PAL’s programs, which are centered on recreation, education, and athletics, help to empower young people so they can grow into healthy and productive adults.

Growing Great Grownups As PAL’s name suggests, athletics is an important part of their approach, but PAL offers kids a lot more than just basketball. For example, PAL provides young people opportunities to hone fundamental life skills like cooking a healthy meal, managing conflict, and financial literacy while also offering older kids a chance to explore career options.

PAL’s holistic approach to “growing great grownups” also emphasizes the key importance of education in building the necessary foundation for a bright future. Knowing that Black students experience persistently inequitable educational opportunities, PAL is committed to do more to help their kids, 96% of whom are Black. Towards that goal, PAL is collaborating with College of Education professors at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg to launch a new program. As national experts in the field of literacy and diversity education, the professors know that reading is the foundation for learning as well as a crucial marker in

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How You Can Help

projecting life outcomes. They also understand the empowering effects of representation (when children “see” people like themselves on the pages), so they are working to develop and implement an innovative, research-based, multi-tiered children’s literacy program for PAL that uses multicultural literature.

As a 501 (c)(3), PAL depends on support and donations from the community to maintain their programs and facilities. Your past generosity has helped hundreds of children, but like many community organizations, PAL’s ability to work towards their goals as they move forward has been adversely affected by COVID-19. Scheduled (as of this writing) to reopen on August 12th, PAL prides itself on never turning a child away despite the nearly $5000.00 annual cost per child. If they are to continue their work, however, they need your assistance. Luckily, opportunities to help these underserved kids are abundant. Become a volunteer, a mentor, or a sponsor. Donate. Visit www.stpetepal.org to learn more about PAL and how you can help support their mission.

Creating Bonds PAL has a plethora of great programs, but when asked what she sees as the most important aspect of PAL’s work, Executive Director Heather Robb didn’t point to any one specific program. Instead, she emphasized “the empathy and concern our PAL officers have for our kids and their families and the meaningful bonds that are created.” Thanks to PAL’s partnership with the St. Petersburg Police Department (SPPD), two officers (currently David Lopez and Michael Yarbrough) are assigned full time to PAL, but the SPPD has committed support beyond that minimum. Believing that children should have positive interactions with the SPPD beginning at a young age, SPPD Chief Holloway allows his other officers to participate while on-duty in PAL’s mentor program that pairs children ages 9 to 14 with a St. Petersburg Police Officer. Meeting one-on-one once a week for an hour, the pair have an opportunity to learn from each other and create bonds that have a positive impact on both the officers and the kids.

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Bird’s eye view of the Princess Martha hotel 1925.

Photos courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida.

Rainy Days and St. Pete’s Big Bust

by Tina Stewart Brakebill In December of 1925, a cold and rainy week cast a rare cloud over the booming Sunshine City, perhaps foreshadowing changing times. In the coming months, the land speculation schemes driving much of that boom collapsed, leaving unfinished projects and rising unemployment in its wake. Still, the sun shone most days and the national economy continued to flourish, so tourism kept the city from falling into a deep economic pit.

Then, in October of 1929, the stock market crashed.

The Great Depression Descends on St. Pete Very quickly St. Pete’s precarious stability was upended and the city dove into a five-year economic descent. Without any viable safety nets, many people suffered - some more than others. Businesses failed and homes were lost. Unemployment skyrocketed and wages nosedived, especially for

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Bank run at Florida National Bank in St. Petersburg on April 17, 1931.

those dependent on the dwindling tourist market. Panicked depositors lined up outside banks to demand their cash and by April of 1931, every bank in town had closed its doors. The city itself was in deep financial trouble. Financing infrastructure improvements seemed smart in the booming 1920’s, but by 1931, St. Pete had defaulted under the weight of the second highest per capita debt load in the nation. Many businesses as well as governmental entities (including the county schools) were forced to pay their employees in scrip (essentially a paper IOU). Meanwhile, the city council counted on the citizen-led “Home Patronage Committee” to reduce (or eliminate) the influx of potentially needy newcomers. Signs on the edge of town announced, in no uncertain terms, “DO NOT COME HERE SEEKING WORK—A CITY’S FIRST DUTY IS TO EMPLOY ITS OWN CITIZENS.”

A New Deal for Some The state of Florida was nearly bankrupt itself. St. Pete looked to the federal government for aid, successfully obtaining one of the few projects meted out by the Hoover administration: a grant to build the Bay Pines VA hospital and office on city-donated land. The construction jobs helped but the crisis was bigger than one project, as a 1932 St. Petersburg Times headline declared “Crippled World Plumbs Its Ills in Search of A Cure.”

Simply put, things were bleak, which explains why many traditionally conservative St. Pete voters shifted course as part of 1932’s “ROOSEVELT LANDSLIDE.” After the election, the city continued to lobby hard (and successfully) for New Deal dollars. Between 1933 and 1941, the federal government pumped over 10 million dollars into the city’s economy in the form of relief payments, public works projects, and military expenditures.

Among other things, New Deal money helped fund mosquito control, road repairs, the beach water system, a Coast Guard station, the Treasure Island Causeway, a new St. Pete Junior College campus, and a new city hall. Funds also helped support cultural endeavors such as orchestras, art clubs, sewing rooms, and theaters as well as sponsoring projects aimed at indexing historical materials and cataloging public records. Undoubtedly, the New Deal helped some but not everyone benefited equally.

Postcard Collection: St. Petersburg City Hall, 1941.

Not Really a New Deal Local governments had considerable control over how New Deal funds were meted out; in this case, African Americans frequently were underserved or left out of programs completely. St. Pete’s Black community was hardest hit when jobs dried up. Jim Crow segregation laws also continued to limit or deny access to everything from beaches and green benches to libraries and restaurants. Efforts to expand disenfranchisement escalated as St. Pete adopted a “white primary” strategy meant to reduce Black attempts to vote for change. Often forced by racist policies and unscrupulous landlords to live in substandard and overcrowded homes even before the Depression hit, the city further codified segregation during this period. In 1931, and again in 1936, the city council approved resolutions further defining where Black people could live and do business. In addition, local law enforcement as well as the local Ku Klux Klan continued to use violence in their attempts to enforce Jim Crow laws and racist traditions.

Fighting for Change Despite these challenges, resistance expanded. Beating back fierce opposition from white slumlords, a New Deal housing act helped fund the construction of Jordan Park. This new development did nothing to challenge segregation but it did provide better housing for African Americans during a time when nearly 60% of the Black population had been denied access to electricity, compared to just 2% of the white population. Groups like the NAACP strengthened and individual local Black activists like Reverend John Wesley Carter and Chester Lucas James, Sr. vocally demanded the same things that local whites enjoyed, including decent housing, running water, electricity, paved streets, the right to vote, and access to city services and recreation facilities. As always, Black women, like Fannye A. Ponder, stepped up. Among other efforts, Ponder helped to organize the “City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs” to unite Black women’s efforts to “promote better educational advantages, to further social and civic improvements … and educate the citizenry towards better and higher standards of living.” Foundations for change were being laid.

The Worst is Over?

By 1935, the shining sun, a slowly improving national economy, and a vigorous public relations campaign brought an upsurge in tourism. As this shift helped lift St. Pete above the worst effects of the Depression, two things seemed clear: the crash laid bare St. Pete’s dependence on tourist dollars while it also further exposed the community’s deep racial divide.

These intertwining realities proved critical in shaping the future of the Sunshine City. Sources available upon request.

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St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association Board Members from left to right: Scott Clark, Steve Phillips, Deborah Diaz, Al May, Karen Carmichael, John Waechter, Martha Shibley, Cameron Hill, Grace Steinhauser with dog, Rigatoni, and Andy Davis. Photo by Brian Brakebill

Getting To Know Our Neighborhoods: Downtown Neighborhood Association

By Tina Stewart Brakebill We love our neighborhoods in St. Pete! This appreciation is easy to understand. Distinctive neighborhoods can provide a sense of family, community, and connection that may be hard to find in a large city.

From pink streets to brick avenues, charming bungalows to shiny high rises and everything in-between, St. Pete has a neighborhood that will make you feel at home. From time to time, we will celebrate the vibrancy of these diverse mini-communities by featuring one of the many

Neighborhood Associations (NA) devoted to enhancing the quality of life within their neighborhoods and the city as a whole.

Downtown Unity: St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association The St. Petersburg Downtown Neighborhood Association (SPDNA) emerged in 2004 when three existing neighborhood associations (Mirror Lake, North Downtown, and University Park) joined forces. Since that merge, the SPDNA has grown to encompass 5th Avenue North to 5th Avenue South between the waterfront and MLK Street with the area between 1st Avenues North and South extending to 18th Street. SPDNA’s goal is simple: “maintain and enhance downtown’s quality of life by strengthening the connection and collaboration between government, commerce and residents through advocacy, social interaction and information.”

Advocacy & Information SPDNA devotes considerable resources and volunteer hours in its quest to meet that goal. For example, SPDNA played an active role in shaping and adopting the Waterfront Master Plan. They also initiated programs like the annual Mirror Lake clean-up project and a (newly launched) weekly Lunch Pals partnership program with Midtown

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SPDNA Boundaries stretch from the water to 18th St, and 5th Ave N to 5th Ave S. Photo by the City of St. Petersburg

Elementary School. In their ongoing effort to support positive community interaction of all types, SPDNA’s contributes to signature Downtown events like Shakespeare in the Park and First Night. Plus, in response to the impact of Covid-19, the SPDNA has expanded their donation base to include the St. Pete Rising Fund to feed health care workers and the Fighting Chance Fund to aid locally-owned and independently operated small businesses. They have also partnered with LocalShops1in support of the #MillionDollarMission to pump money into the local economy.

Social Interaction & Information The SPDNA also promotes activities and events designed to share the experience of living, working, or playing Downtown. For example, they sponsor informal fun events like their quarterly Urban Porch Parties, which offer friends and neighbors a chance to mingle while also showcasing one of Downtown’s many fabulous restaurants or cultural sites. The Tour of Homes gives people a peek into the Downtown living experience (while also raising money for community service efforts). Their quarterly meetings provide a more formal way for local groups or civic organizations to introduce themselves and provide important information. In addition to live events, the SPDNA also has a quarterly newsletter and a robust online presence, which means the SPDNA has been able to react quickly to our new Covid-19 reality. They swiftly moved their board meetings into a virtual space and, more importantly, they are able to immediately share information about vital safety policies and changing events via their social media sites and email updates.

Want To Know More?

For more information about membership benefits and future events as well as Covid-19 and #MillionDollarMission updates visit SPDNA at www.stpetedna.org. You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/StPeteDNA/, Instagram at www.instagram.com/ stpete_dna/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/StPete_DNA. The SPDNA is also an active member of CONA—the allvolunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that represents over 40 member neighborhoods and civic associations, playing a vital role in strengthening and advocating for them via their many initiatives and activities with an ultimate goal of helping to build a safe, harmonious city in order to meet the current and future needs of our diverse community. For additional information, please visit them at www. stpetecona.org or www.facebook.com/CONA.StPete

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LALA St. Pete coming soon to 2324 Central Avenue

Mockup of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s bus rapid transit

Downtown Developments

By Brian Zucker, Owner of St. Pete Rising It seems like each time we take a stroll through downtown there are new restaurants and galleries opening and more apartment complexes and condo towers being built. We realize it’s difficult to keep track of everything.

Luckily, we’ve done the research, so you don’t have to. Each month we will feature a few of the most exciting new downtown developments that are on the horizon for the Sunshine City.

LALA St Pete is coming soon to 2324 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District. The 4,500 square foot space will feature private karaoke rooms, a two-floor restaurant, a rooftop bar, and a courtyard shared with the Grand Central Brewhouse (also coming soon!).

Instead of singing in a public space, such as a crowded bar, LALA will allow friends to convene in private rooms to belt out their favorite hits.

Start warming up those vocals before their September debut!

Wild Child is coming soon to 2710 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District (formerly home to NuMex). From the owner of The Bends and the former Executive Chef of Noble Crust, Wild Child will be a vibrant neighborhood bistro built on seasonal ingredients and warm hospitality. One menu item we can’t wait to try it the Peach and Heirloom Tomato Salad with burrata, almond-mint pesto, pickled cherries, shaved red onion, crunchy sourdough croutons. Look for Wild Child to open their doors in August.

A new zoning district has been proposed for the Warehouse Arts District. The I-MIX zone would allow also residential, office, and retail development along 22nd Street South while also preserving some industrial zoning. The area is currently zoned “IT” (Industrial

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Mural by Chad Mize for The Saint - coming soon to 49 24th St N.

Traditional), which puts heavy restrictions on the type of businesses allowed to operate in the Warehouse Arts District. Go to 22imix.com to voice your opinion on the new zoning proposal.

Doormét: Gourmet Café, Delivery & Catering is coming soon to 681 Central Avenue in Downtown St. Pete. Doormet is a fastcasual restaurant that aims to serve gourmet food quickly. There is something for everyone, including salads, sandwiches, pizzas, bowls, pastas, and Italian classics. Doormét has been a staple in Tampa for over 10 years and the local owners cannot wait to bring the beloved restaurant to St. Pete!

Never search for another parking spot on the beach again! Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s bus rapid transit project is coming soon and took another step forward in July with the announcement of a name – SunRunner. The stations will feature local art and each bus will include the iconic Mr. Sun character. Once complete the project will take you from Downtown St. Pete to St. Pete Beach (and vice versa) in less than 35 minutes.

The Saint, a sinful speakeasy, is coming soon to 49 24th Street North in the historic Mari Jean Hotel in the Grand Central District.

From the owner of Zazoo’d on the 500 block of Central Avenue, The Saint can hold a “congregation” of 60. That’s plenty of room to indulge in your own devil’s brew, all beneath the wicked gleam of the chandeliers.

And if you’re tired of hunting for a bar where you can actually hear your drinking buddy over the music, rest assured: no tricks here. The Saint promotes an atmosphere suitable for more laid-back occasions and conversations.

St. Pete Rising is an urban development blog covering future retail, restaurants, and real estate in Downtown St. Petersburg, FL. Stay up-to-date, visit StPeteRising.com.

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