Based on the reaction from the crowd at today’s Tiger Bay Club luncheon at the St. Pete Yacht Club, Rick Kriseman is still enjoying the political honeymoon that began when he defeated incumbent Mayor Bill Foster last fall. In perhaps his biggest speech since he was inaugurated on January 2, Kriseman gave a mini-State of the City address to the club, and he was never taken off guard by the questions thrown his way.
“This is a great job, made only greater by the opportunities that we have in front of us," he began in a five-minute address before fielding questions from the Tiger Bay members, traditionally representing the political elite of Pinellas County.
Kriseman said some of the most positive reactions he’s received since being elected came in response to his re-opening of the Pier head. He mentioned the national search for a new police chief (sidestepping any discussion about the recent controversy within the ranks); boasted about his new hires; and discussed his drive to address inequality on the Southside. He also talked about tightening the police chase policy and sending a message that the city is not a place for gun violence by signing on to the Michael Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns (an organization that Bill Foster shunned).
Kriseman played down the reported $2.3 million deficit that the city may face in September, saying it’s not as large “because of some funds that haven’t been transferred,” adding, “It was a deficit that I unfortunately inherited.”
Regarding his advocacy for getting rid of the red-light cameras that have proven so controversial in the ’Burg in recent years (a move endorsed by the City Council on a 6-2 vote earlier this month), Kriseman was adamant that for him, the cameras were never about money, which has been one of the biggest criticisms of them throughout Florida, if not the country. As citations have fallen and revenue has dropped, he's convinced driving behavior has adapted, for the betterment of the city. "But if we see the [negative] behavior come back, then I'm going to bring it back to Council," while adding that concerns about the timing of lights and other issues need to be addressed if they do come back.
Downtown St. Petersburg has become an exciting and dynamic city in recent years, in part because of the mix of museums, performance centers, restaurants and a thriving Beach Drive. But the annual Grand Prix car race has made life miserable for the Dali Museum and its patrons in recent years because of the barricades that must be installed for the race.
The first question Kriseman was asked was direct: What has a greater economic impact on the city, the arts or the race? In classic politician-speak, the mayor said that both were great elements of the city.
“I’m a huge fan of the Grand Prix. But having said that, I will believe the renaissance that has occurred in the city of St. Petersburg is because of our cultural amenities,” which drew a round of applause.
One of the pointed criticisms that Kriseman made about Bill Foster during last year’s campaign was that the city lacked leadership. He said today that he provides that leadership in part by surrounding himself with talented people whom he listens to, and who aren’t afraid to give him constructive feedback.
Regarding economic development in South St. Pete, Mayor Kriseman mentioned the Trader Joe’s coming soon to 4th Street and then added, “But quite frankly, I would have liked to have seen Trader Joe’s located on 62nd and MLK South. And I say that because that area is in desperate need of having shopping centers and retail and all of the things that we take for granted in other parts of the city.”
Later he was asked how he would cultivate such businesses in that part of town. He said that it begins with education, and said he's been discussing Service Learning with Eckerd College to “try to change the environment of a classroom.”
One of the more idiosyncratic ideas regarding the Tampa Bay Rays stadium situation was floated last May by Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, who suggested that in exchange for the Rays being allowed to find a location for a park in Hillsborough County, the city of St. Petersburg should be awarded the cruise ship business currently in Tampa’s Channelside District.
Crist was looking ahead to the fact that the Sunshine Skyway’s 182.5-foot height is going to prevent Tampa from getting business from mega-sized cruise ships.
“The industry is going to have no choice but to look for alternatives,” Kriseman said, so the question is: Where does it go? “Obviously, I’d like to see it go here. I think it could be a boon to the Skyway Marina District,” while admitting that Port Manatee could be another alternative for the ships.
The mayor never sounded more joyous than when he described how much he enjoyed the 2013 mayoral campaign, saying that he met numerous people who love the city, which gives him the fuel to tackle the job every day.
"You can’t do what I do on a daily basis if you’re not feeling that love, and I’m feeling It. It’s amazing, and it keeps me going every day," adding that he sees the city ready to take its rightful place among America's hippest locales, mentioning Austin, Portland & Seattle. "We can be just as cool, if not cooler."
