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

St. Pete Beach: In a video, FOX 13 spoke with business owners along Corey Avenue on St. Pete Beach about the slow start to summer, which has some worried that sales will pick up after back-to-back hurricanes last year.

The iconic Thunderbird Resort in Treasure Island has received preliminary approval for redevelopment as a three-story structure over ground-level parking, featuring 106 hotel rooms, approximately 1,000 square feet of meeting space, and a pool area. Planning and Zoning Board members told Thunderbird officials they can go higher — up to five stories — and suggested adding a restaurant, rooftop bar, spa, or gym, according to TBN Weekly. In a St.  Pete Rising article, Thunderbird owner Gilad Ovaknin (who also owns the Surf Style retail shop across the street) is quoted as saying that they would consider building a total of up to 170 units. PNZ alternate board member Mark Zdrojewski said, “It’s ok to bring us some stuff that’s outside the box. Because if you look around, we need it. We can’t continue to live the way we have for the last 30 years. You can put a Ferris wheel on top, and I’d probably say yes.”

Pinellas County’s Emergency Beach Nourishment Project to restore sand lost to last year’s hurricanes. The initiative will place sand on beaches from Clearwater Beach to Belleair Beach, Indian Rocks Beach to North Redington Beach, Treasure Island, and Upham Beach. Gaps will remain where property owners couldn’t be located or declined easements, with sand placed only seaward of the erosion control line in those areas. Beach nourishment, which is needed every six years or more often after storms, is critical to safeguarding coastal infrastructure, including roads and utilities, vital to our communities’ small-town character and resilience. Three public meetings are scheduled to discuss the project and future beach nourishment plans: July 9, 6–8 p.m.: Treasure Island City Hall, 10451 Gulf Blvd.; July 16, 6–8 p.m.; and Aug. 6, 6–8 p.m.: Location TBD,  Register  online at Pinellas.gov/signforsand. TBN Weekly

St. Pete Beach: As the investigation into the massive fire at a shopping center in St. Pete Beach continues, business owners who rent spaces next to the CVS, Publix, and several shops physically damaged are barely hanging on because the foot traffic is all but gone. WTSP 10

In Treasure Island, the aftermath of hurricane recovery efforts may be coming to a close. Now, following calls for resignations after a sitting City Commissioner admitted to attacking constituents through anonymous social media posts and unfounded allegations accusing residents of harassment, as well as the firing of the former City Manager and dozens of employee resignations, leaders and residents alike want a fresh start. They think that it could come from Charles Van Zant, the new temporary city manager. “He's on top of his game; there's no doubt about it. He has multiple degrees and military experience, and I think maybe we've got the right guy,” Mayor John Doctor said. WTSP 10 and Spectrum News 9.

Hello, I am a Treasure Island resident, and I am interested in getting involved as a volunteer in one of your subgroups that you spoke of in your newsletter. Can you please let me know if you are looking for volunteers? Thank you!

—Kim

The Tortuga Speaks: Hi Kim, thanks for reaching out! I would be happy for you to participate. Is there a subgroup that appeals to you more than others?

Do you remember watching this movie?

This June Marks 50 Years of Jaws—The Film That Made Us Afraid to Go in the Water 50 years ago this month, Jaws exploded into theaters—and nothing about movies, or beach vacations, was ever the same. Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking thriller turned a malfunctioning mechanical shark and a simple summer release into a cultural juggernaut, birthing the modern blockbuster and forever changing how audiences experience suspense.

From Roy Scheider’s quiet intensity as Chief Brody to Robert Shaw’s unforgettable delivery of the U.S.S. Indianapolis monologue, Jaws blended terror, dark humor, and pulse-pounding tension—fueled by John Williams’ legendary two-note score that still chills spines five decades later.

Despite early mixed reviews, the film’s impact was immediate and massive. It shattered box office records, redefined Hollywood marketing, and became part of the American psyche. Its legacy continues to ripple through film, pop culture, and beach-town lore—especially timely now, as a recent shark incident along Florida’s Gulf coast stirs echoes of Amity Island.

On June 11, 2025, nine-year-old Leah Lendel was snorkeling near Fort Myers when a shark attacked her—likely a bull shark. The bite nearly severed her hand. She was rescued, airlifted to Tampa General, and underwent extensive surgery including artery grafts, bone reconstruction, and nerve repair. Thankfully, doctors saved her hand, and by Friday, she had regained movement in her fingers.

Rebuilding After the Storm—Without Losing What Makes Us Unique

What Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, and Gulfport Can Learn from Panama City and Paradise

After last year’s hurricanes, our coastal communities are facing a familiar crossroads: how to rebuild while preserving what makes our towns livable and unique. A recent Wall Street Journal article about post-disaster recovery in Panama City, Florida, and Paradise, California, highlights the risks of unchecked redevelopment—offering lessons that hit close to home.

Here’s what we need to watch:

Affordable Bungalows Are Disappearing

In Panama City, historic neighborhoods were replaced with expensive homes after Hurricane Michael, displacing long-time residents. That same pattern is emerging here. Across our towns, storm-damaged bungalows—so often the entry point for young families or fixed-income retirees—are being replaced with costly, modern structures. Without protection for these modest homes, we risk losing a housing mix that has served generations of locals.

What can be done? Implementing local design standards is one way municipalities can protect the character of neighborhoods. These guidelines ensure that any new construction—especially after storm damage—matches the existing scale, rooflines, and setbacks of surrounding homes. By requiring builders to reflect the look and feel of traditional bungalows, cities can preserve visual continuity and prevent out-of-place structures that disrupt the small-town aesthetic.

Seniors and Young Families Are at Risk

As rents rise and insurance and construction costs soar, it’s getting harder for many to stay. This threatens the age and income diversity that gives our towns their vibrant, lived-in character. Recovery should prioritize the people who already call these communities home—not just those who can afford to rebuild big.

Our Infrastructure Has Limits

Even though taller developments are currently limited to commercial areas, increased density can strain outdated sewer, water, and transportation systems—impacting nearby residential neighborhoods. These ripple effects must be considered when planning new construction.

Taller Doesn’t Always Mean Better

High-rises and large-scale commercial development may comply with zoning, but they risk disrupting the low-rise, small-town aesthetic that defines our beach communities. It’s exactly this scale—walkable streets, local businesses, modest homes—that sets us apart from heavily developed areas like Clearwater. While Clearwater has become a destination for high-density tourism, our towns have long offered a quieter, more neighborly alternative—something many of us want to preserve.

Climate Gentrification Is Real

When natural disasters strike, those with greater financial means often benefit most from rebuilding aid and insurance payouts. In Paradise, over $1 billion in assistance helped rebuild upscale properties, while many working-class residents or retired residents with limited incomes were left behind. That same imbalance could take root here if local policies don’t intentionally support inclusive recovery.

What We Can Do Together

We have a rare chance to rebuild with intention—protecting the soul of our communities while planning for the future. That means:

Our small-town environment isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s a defining asset. It’s what makes our cities different from more commercialized areas. If we protect that identity now, we can build stronger, more inclusive communities that stay true to their roots—for current residents and generations to come.

Miami Just Canceled Its 2025 Election. Could It Happen Here?

In a stunning move that’s drawing fire from across Florida, the Miami City Commission voted 3-2 this week to cancel its November 2025 municipal election and push it to 2026—giving its sitting mayor and a controversial commissioner an extra year in office without a public vote.

Yes, you read that right. Miami residents who expected to vote in a mayoral election next November won’t get that chance until next year. The official reason? Cost savings and the hope of boosting voter turnout by combining local elections with bigger state and federal ones.

But here’s the rub: this wasn’t put to a vote of the people. Miami’s own city charter requires voter approval for changes like this. Instead, three city commissioners made the decision behind the dais, overriding public comments, legal warnings, and months of campaign activity already underway.

The move has been called everything from a “power grab” to “voter suppression,” and Florida’s Attorney General and Governor DeSantis have already threatened legal action, calling the decision unconstitutional.

So, why should residents of Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach, or Gulfport care?

Because Miami may just have opened the door to a dangerous precedent.

All four of our beach cities have faced their share of shaky governance in recent years—whether it’s controversial development deals, abrupt leadership shakeups, or chronic communication failures between city halls and residents. If Miami’s move stands, what’s to stop other municipalities from using "turnout" or "cost" as excuses to quietly extend their own political power?

Our coastal towns are small, but our issues are big. Rising sea levels, hurricane readiness, infrastructure funding, tourism management—these are decisions that demand public accountability. The ballot box is one of the few ways residents can hold our local leaders accountable. When elections are delayed, democracy is too.

Commissioner Joe Carollo—one of Miami’s most polarizing figures and a direct beneficiary of the delay—even suggested the decision could wind up before the Florida Supreme Court. Meanwhile, 18 candidates who had already filed to run are effectively benched until 2026.

Supporters of the change, including one Miami commissioner, argue that shifting elections to even-numbered years could boost participation—perhaps from 10% to 60%—by riding the coattails of national races. But critics note that higher turnout shouldn't come at the expense of process and transparency.

For residents of our coastal communities, the message is clear: pay attention to what’s happening both within AND beyond your city limits. Today it’s Miami. Tomorrow, it could be Madeira, Treasure Island, or St. Pete Beach.

The question we should all be asking isn’t whether consolidating elections is a good idea in theory. It’s whether our cities are willing to bypass voters to make it happen.

When the process starts breaking down in places like Miami, it’s not just their democracy at stake. It’s government transparency and accountability in our cities, too.