Citizen Beach This Week

In the News This Week

I’ve captured all the key news impacting our beach communities this week, so you don’t miss anything important!

After staying at The Plaza Beach Resort on St Pete Beach for months, FEMA says those no longer eligible must go. (Tampa Bay 10)

Pinellas County Commissioner Kathleen Peters led a delegation of local officials to Washington, D.C., this week to fight for beach nourishment needed after a devastating 2024 hurricane season. (Florida Politics)

Slow recovery frustrates St. Pete Beach business owners ahead of spring break (WFLA) The city has received more than 3,100 storm-specific permit requests and issued more than 2,100 permits for home and business owners.

In Treasure Island, the parking crunch is hurting local businesses. “It’s impacted us tremendously. We have all kinds of foot traffic that walk across the street (and) patronize our retail store. And with this being closed off, all of a sudden, we have absolutely zero foot traffic,” said Richie Mahoney of Suncoast Sailing (Wild 94.1)

New City Clerk hired in Treasure Island — Lisa-Marie Kennedy, formerly the records director of the Hillsborough County Clerk’s Office. Mayor Doctor suggested a starting salary of “$105,000, as a number we’d like to work with.” (TBNWeekly)

Pinellas County moves toward tougher regulations on short-term rentals. County commissioners supported more code enforcement oversight and enhanced registration requirements for unincorporated areas. One County Commissioner said: “Since I’ve been elected, this is the No. 1 concern that I get from constituents,” he said. “The No. 1 touch point that I get from my constituents is, ‘What are you going to do about the short-term rental that is destroying the sense of community in my neighborhood.’” Under the new ordinance, software will track short-term rental advertising to ensure they register with the county. (Tampa Bay Times)

North Redington Beach Mayor Phones It In — Bill Queen served as mayor of the small town for over 20 years, resigns by telephone from his new home in Seminole. (Tampa Bay Times)

Back to the Beach Festival at Treasure Island brings a sense of normalcy to Treasure Island (ABC Action News story, with a 2-minute video)

The Travel, a digital publication, has a feature article on St. Pete Beach’s Don Cesar, calling it one of the most haunted places on the beach. There’s a link to the Gabber story of the Lost Love of Thomas Rowe. In a related story, The Travel calls St. Pete Beach one of America's seven most haunted beaches.

Reader Feedback

Larry W: Thank you for your efforts in compiling and sharing accurate information with our community. There is so much shared from other sources that is incorrect. You are very appreciated.

Thank you for your kind words—I truly appreciate your support! I’m passionate about compiling and sharing accurate information with our community. It’s a privilege to connect with neighbors and friends in our cherished beach towns, and I find great joy in delivering news that empowers us to collaborate and enhance our little cities together. Your encouragement means the world to me! - The Tortuga (Carlos)

Local Elections

Empowering our local communities through informed and active engagement to address local challenges and foster self-reliance.

Local Voters Champion Transparency and Resident-First Leadership in Elections

March 12, 2025 – Yesterday’s municipal elections across Florida delivered a resounding message: voters in our local communities overwhelmingly embrace leaders who prioritize transparency and put residents first. The results in St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Gulfport reflect a clear mandate for change, as newly elected officials pledged to strengthen community ties and ensure government accountability.

In St. Pete Beach, Lisa Robinson secured her position as District 2 Commissioner, building on her victory in the August 2024 special election, while Joe Mullholland won the District 4 seat unopposed. Both campaigned on platforms emphasizing resident input and transparent decision-making, resonating with a community eager for leaders who listen. Robinson, in particular, highlighted her commitment to keeping residents informed about local legislative impacts, a promise that struck a chord with voters tired of the city’s opaque processes.

Over on Treasure Island, the results were even more decisive. John Doctor emerged victorious as Mayor, joined by Tammy Vasquez (District 1), Chris Clark (District 2), and Arthur Czyszczon (District 3) as City Commissioners. Each winner ran on a platform of putting residents at the forefront, with Mayor Doctor vowing to enhance public access to city government proceedings and Vasquez pledging to tackle local issues with clarity and community involvement. Posts on X from Treasure Island’s official channels celebrated the outcome, noting the winners’ dedication to fostering an engaged and informed electorate. This sweep signals a unified push for policies that prioritize the island’s residents over outside interests.

Meanwhile, in Gulfport, the election buzz underscored a historic milestone: for the first time, the city boasts an all-female City Council following the Ward II and mayoral races. Political newcomer Karen Love has defeated Gulfport’s longtime Mayor, Sam Henderson, who has served since 2013. His term will now end, with Love earning more than 55% of the vote to Henderson’s 39%. While this is Love’s first foray into elected politics, she’s no stranger to Gulfport’s civic process, speaking frequently at City Council meetings. The newly elected mayor ran on a platform based on transparency, open communication, and problem solving. She emphasized the need for robust permitting and restoration efforts. Gulfport’s winners campaigned on transparency and resident empowerment.

This shift aligns with a broader trend across South Pinellas, where voters are rewarding candidates who pledge to lift the veil on city hall and champion community-driven solutions. The victories in these municipalities are no accident. From St. Pete Beach’s focus on accessible governance to Treasure Island’s commitment to resident-first policies and Gulfport’s groundbreaking council, voters sent a clear signal on March 11, 2025. They’re tired of backroom deals and disconnected leadership. Instead, they’re backing candidates who promise to keep them in the loop—whether through open reporting on legislative activity or encouraging active participation in city decisions.

As these newly elected leaders prepare to take office, their mandate is unmistakable: transparency isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the foundation of trust between residents and their government. Yesterday’s results prove that our local communities are ready to lead the charge, setting a standard for accountability that could ripple far beyond the beach communities of Pinellas County.

Advocacy: Want to help your local government be more responsive, transparent and fiscally responsible? Join Protect St. Pete Beach, or Citizens’ Voice of Treasure Island. Other groups with shared interests: Florida Beaches for All,

Who Are My Elected Representatives?

• CITY: St. Pete Beach; Treasure Island; Madeira Beach; Redington Beach; North Redington Beach; Indian Shores.

• County & State: Florida Senate; Florida House of Representatives: County Commission - Search by Zip Code.

Property Taxes

Property Tax Relief for Retirees: Florida’s New Push Hits Home in Pinellas County

For retirees scraping by on fixed incomes in Pinellas County’s beach towns—St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach—skyrocketing property taxes have turned the dream of coastal retirement into a financial nightmare. Governor Ron DeSantis’s bold proposal to eliminate property taxes offers a lifeline for seniors, particularly those with limited means. Still, immediate relief is critical with a constitutional amendment not slated until 2026. As of March 7, 2025, lawmakers are debating short-term solutions to keep retirees in their homes, while municipalities face a stark reality: the days of abundant property tax revenue may soon end, forcing them to tighten their belts.

A Retiree’s Nightmare: Priced Out of Her Home

Consider Linda Taylor, a 68-year-old retiree from Largo—just 15 miles from St. Pete Beach—who lost her home to rising property taxes in 2023, as the Tampa Bay Times reported. After her husband’s death, Linda depended on a modest $1,600 monthly Social Security check to maintain their paid-off $220,000 condo. But Pinellas County’s property values surged 11.2% from 2022 to 2023, according to the Property Appraiser, ballooning her tax bill from $2,200 in 2018 to $3,800 by 2022—far outpacing inflation’s 3% annual rise. Unable to bridge the gap, Linda fell behind, tax liens mounted, and by late 2023, she was forced to sell her home to avoid foreclosure, relocating to a rental in Pasco County. “I lost everything I worked for,” she told the Times. Her story isn’t unique. On March 3, 2025, a St. Pete Beach resident shared a similar struggle: “Retirees like my neighbor can’t keep up. Taxes increased 20% in five years. She’s gone now.” Eliminating property taxes could be a game-changer for low-income seniors, offering the stability they need to stay in their homes.

DeSantis and Lawmakers Respond: Relief for Retirees

Governor Ron DeSantis is championing retirees like Linda with his push to abolish property taxes, which would especially benefit seniors on tight budgets. On March 4, 2025, he told lawmakers, “You buy a home, you pay off the mortgage, and yet you still have to write a check to the government every year just for the privilege of living on your own private property.” He reiterated on February 13, “We’d need a constitutional amendment (requiring 60% voter approval) to eliminate them—which I would support.” While the amendment is years away, immediate relief options remain. For instance, a proposed 2% assessment cap could have saved Linda. With the cap, her condo’s taxable value, which jumped from $220,000 to $275,000 by 2022, would have risen only to $235,000, keeping her tax bill near $2,400—manageable on her income. Statewide, this cap could shield retirees from market spikes, ensuring they aren’t priced out of their homes.

Pinellas Property Tax Surge: Squeezing Retirees

The tax burden in Pinellas County has been relentless for retirees. Despite a FY 2025 countywide millage rate cut (approved September 18, 2024), taxable values have soared 10-20% annually since 2020, per the Property Appraiser’s 2023 data. In tourism-driven areas like St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach, tax bills have likely climbed 15-25% over five years. For example, a $300,000 home’s tax bill may have risen from $3,000 to $3,750-$4,500, far outstripping Social Security’s modest 2-3% annual adjustments. This gap is a crisis for retirees on fixed incomes, making stories like Linda’s increasingly common and highlighting the urgent need for property tax relief.

Funding Without Property Taxes: Retiree-Friendly Options?

Eliminating property taxes would slash $43 billion statewide—$2,000 per Floridian—including 73% of Pinellas school funds and 17% of municipal budgets. While this would be a boon for retirees, it poses challenges for local governments. Alternatives under consideration include doubling the sales tax from 6% to 12%, which could replace funds but hit retirees at the register; increasing tourist-driven bed taxes in places like St. Pete Beach, though they’re too small to cover schools or police; or implementing user fees for services like trash or water, which could strain seniors on tight budgets. DeSantis has promised no state tax hikes, pointing to his $14.6 billion reserve (March 4 speech), but that’s a temporary fix. “This governor will not sign any tax increases,” he said, leaving retirees to hope for solutions that don’t shift the burden onto them in other ways.

What Happens to Municipalities if the Property Tax Gravy Train Ends?

Florida municipalities like St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach have enjoyed a spending spree in recent years, fueled by soaring property values and the following hefty property tax revenues. But the tide is turning—home values are dipping, and with talk of property taxes potentially vanishing, the lifeblood of local funding for city services is at risk. City governments, long accustomed to fat budgets, now face a reckoning: it’s time to tighten their belts, rethink priorities, and deliver for taxpayers without the cushion of ever-rising revenue. For retirees, ending property taxes could mean the difference between staying in their homes and being forced out.

Yet, it ushers in a new era of fiscal discipline for municipalities, as the once-abundant windfalls of cash pouring into city coffers will begin to dry up. For more information on the efforts to end property taxes, visit endpropertytaxnow.com.