No matter what the cause, the climate is changing. And presenting new and different challenges that we’ve often never encountered in the past or have experienced.
Our disaster and emergency management systems have been tested of late. But it could have been worse. The Tampa Bay region could have taken a direct hit, the worst-case scenario we’ve talked about and feared over the years, but thankfully avoided.
As a city though, we must prepare. Our goal has to be to build scale and depth to these city services and prepare to worst-case scenarios.
My friend was watching news there because he was planning a trip to Europe. Now he’s changing those plans. Will people similarly decide not to vacation here after seeing our news? Will they decide not to retire here, or invest in property? Or start, or re-locate business here?
Before the recent storms, the city had documented $5 billion+ of known sewer and stormwater repairs and upgrades. Were there damages to our existing systems from hurricanes Helene and Milton? What are those costs and what can we do to escalate the fixes?
The bigger question is one of priorities … can we still afford to direct $2.4 billion of the city’s resources to a baseball stadium?
The St. Petersburg City Council has a vote in November to borrow the money – or not.
What matters more? Flooding or a ballpark?
City Council Members… I suggest you ask any of the tens of thousands of people who have lost their home and probably most of their life belongings and savings from the two hurricanes.
