Here are the thoughts of a concerned St. Petersburg resident:
I realize that “I told you so!”, may sound unsympathetic, but in this case, it’s hard to resist! Over the past year, the citizens involved in “No Home Run have repeatedly emphasized the financial risks that St. Petersburg and Pinellas County would accept if they obligated hundreds of millions of dollars to build a new baseball stadium, while serious infrastructure projects remain unfunded. Even after the flooding created by mini-hurricane Idalia, our august city and county representatives agreed to transfer billions of tax dollars over 30 years to two multi-billionaire owners of a private business with scant guarantees of financial return.
Hurricane Helene has decimated St. Pete’s low-lying neighborhoods and gulf beaches – and the storm passed 100 miles west of the city. Imagine the result of a direct hit, with surge levels of 15-20 feet! Consider the chaos that would cause in the insurance industry, the cost of rebuilding, and the need to assist low-income citizens. The gas plant obligations would have effectively overburdened the city’s ability to borrow additional bond funds. Tax revenues from tourism-related businesses will disappear. A direct hit remains a question of “when, not if!”
Pinellas County obligated itself to the project with revenue based on the hotel bed tax, which is largely based on beach-related tourism. Our beaches and related businesses have been destroyed or buried under mountains of sand. Where will the revenue come from to pay for the County’s obligation?
Despite repeated warnings, our elected representatives have placed city and county residents in financial jeopardy. My heart goes out to those whose homes and businesses have been flooded or destroyed. Having lost our home in Hurricane Katrina, I can empathize with their pain. When the next municipal and county elections arrive, I hope they will remember the officials who placed us in this unenviable position.
Don LaGrone,
St. Petersburg, FL
