Citizen Beach Newsletter

This Week: Elections Next Month; Corporate Takeover of Housing; Healing Our Communities - New Series! Hot Local News, and more!

Author

Carlos Miro
February 08, 2025

Good morning! Welcome to Citizen Beach, the free local newsletter that highlights the best news and stories in the Gulf Beaches of Pinellas County — focusing on our Gulf beach communities of St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, and Madeira Beach.

What’s Hot This Week? ELECTIONS!

Everyone in our community is well aware of the hardships we've faced since the twin hurricanes devastated our shores just weeks apart. Compounding these challenges is the burdensome permitting process, which has only added to our struggles to recover.

City Elections, Tuesday, March 11

Election day for all three of our municipalities — although there are contested elections in only two of our cities (TI & SPB). Madeira Beach needs Residents-First candidates, but none have stepped up to the plate yet. If you haven’t registered to vote yet, you have until February 27. Call the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections (727-464-8683) or visit https://www.votepinellas.gov/

Treasure Island

Treasure Island is ablaze with citizen engagement, partly due to the community group Citizens’ Voice of TI and because four out of five positions on the TI City Commission are up for election this year. The City will likely have a new, more resident-focused City Commission beginning in March.

Two candidates are running unopposed: Arthur Czyszcson in District 3 (see his profile below) and Tammy Vasquez in District 1 (Isle of Capri). Mayor John Doctor is running for re-election, and Chris Clark is running to represent District 2 (Isle of Palms and Sunrise Beach).

CITY PROFILE: Arthur Czyszczon

Discover how Arthur Czyszczon's journey from Chicago to the beaches of Treasure Island has shaped his vision for District 3. Read about his commitment to integrity and community in his introduction as one of several new City commissioners, starting work on March 18, 2025. Arthur is running unopposed. The current District 3 Commissioner, Bob Mining, is not running for reelection.

St. Pete Beach

Lisa Robinson is looking to win reelection in District 2. Continuing her efforts to put residents first in St. Pete Beach, Lisa is a lifelong local who grew up playing on the Gulf beaches from Pass-A-Grille to Clearwater Beach. She is the daughter of a highly decorated USAF Lt. Colonel who was taught the core values of service before self, honor, and integrity. As a 31-year homeowner in District 2 on St. Pete Beach, Commissioner Robinson has been an active and outspoken advocate for her neighborhood and community. She is honored and excited to represent the residents of District 2.

In the News This Week

Madeira Beach is trying to ramp up storm recovery. Fox 13 News here and here (less than 3 minutes each)

Treasure Island leaders waive permit fees to give homeowners some relief! Treasure Island leaders waive permit fees to give homeowners some relief (ABC News). City Commissioners finally decide to stop adding insult to injury in the permits process by not charging storm-damaged residents hundreds of dollars in permit fees. Kudos to Mayor John Doctor for again putting residents first!

St. Pete Beach attorney calls for an audit into the city’s irregular water bills (Fox 13)

Residents on St. Pete Beach receive energy bills for homes destroyed by storms (ABC News)

Treasure Island police and fire are getting new facilities after Hurricane Helene (Fox 13). The only construction work taking place in downtown Treasure Island is government-funded. A major, central downtown property sits idle as a parking lot because the owner cannot get the appropriate permits from the city.

City Beach

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

From Homes to Holdings: The Corporate Colonization of Our Communities

Housing in Tampa Bay is becoming increasingly corporate-owned, a Tampa Bay Times analysis has found. Large companies have amassed around 27,000 homes across three counties. More than 70% of these properties are linked to institutional investors backed by Wall Street and private equity. With 6,000 homes, Blackstone is the region's largest homeowner. Legislation introduced in the Florida State Legislature aims to tackle this increasingly serious problem. Click Here to Read More.

Make the Gulf Beaches Great Again

Noting the impact the US President has had on the Helene-devastated communities of western North Carolina, the mayors of Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach to reach out to the White House, asking for similar support from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (also known as the Federal Emergency Mismanagement Agency, or FEMA-geddon, or FEMA-tastrophe).

"While we remain unable to repair our homes, our mortgage, taxes, utilities, and insurance are still due," Treasure Island Mayor John Doctor wrote, emphasizing the financial burden on residents. The letter also paints a picture of “ghost towns” where buildings lay abandoned, severely impacting local economies and small business owners.

Similarly, St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila has also been vocal, calling for a unified effort among the barrier island cities to send a collective letter to the US President, seeking to cut through the red tape.

The “Residents-First” mayors of these two cities are requesting federal waivers to expedite the rebuilding process and financial assistance to support the affected families. This plea for help comes amidst ongoing challenges where residents have been waiting for weeks, even months, for the necessary permits to begin repairs, as highlighted in various local reports. The involvement of a high-profile figure like President Trump is seen as a potential catalyst to accelerate federal response and aid distribution, echoing similar past interventions he made in California and North Carolina.

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.

Who Are My Elected Representatives?

Community Beach

Building strong communities empowers individuals, enhances the quality of our lives, and fosters a just society.

Healing Our Communities: A New Series of Stories and Actions

The physical damage to our homes is only part of the story. The emotional and psychological impact on our community cannot be overstated. Living through disaster and then facing additional stress from recovery delays has led to widespread feelings of frustration, anxiety, and PTSD among our residents. Click Here to Read More.

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Thank you for reading! Please send your comments, questions, and article ideas to The Tortuga. Editor: Carlos Miro.

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