Part 2 of 2<\/p>\n
The mayors from Tampa Bay\u2019s three largest cities discussed several salient issues, including unfounded municipal criticism, regionalism, smart growth and artificial intelligence at a recent annual forum.<\/p>\n
State of the Bay began Tuesday night<\/a> with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector providing their thoughts on a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium and immigration enforcement. Joe Hamilton, publisher of the Catalyst and moderator for the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club event, then asked the three to name \u201csomething people regularly blame on the city that you actually have very little control over.\u201d<\/p>\n Castor said county, state and federal issues, and used roads as an example. However, her message to staff is that \u201cif it comes to you, you own it. So, you figure out who is responsible.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch, foreshadowing a visit the following day<\/a> from Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, said property taxes. \u201cWe are the scapegoats<\/a> for some of the Legislature.\u201d<\/p>\n Rector echoed that sentiment. He said residents typically fail to comprehend the costs associated with running a city, particularly with \u201call the emphasis \u2026 in Tallahassee on saving money\u201d by drastically reducing property taxes.<\/p>\n \u201cBut there\u2019s pushback on any government spending<\/a> right now,\u201d Rector added. \u201cWe have big budgets in our three cities, and we can\u2019t turn on a dime. So, what they do and put on the ballot is significant for us. We almost have to be prepared for where we would make some cuts in advance, anticipating what could change. It\u2019s certainly going to have a huge impact on small municipalities in Pinellas County.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we would all agree, whatever gets on the ballot is probably going to pass, because the public just sees the personal advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n Regionalism<\/p>\n Castor said the three represented cities offer unique characteristics that are \u201cattractive, literally, around the world.\u201d She and her two colleagues market the Tampa Bay region when traveling abroad<\/a>, and \u201cwork very closely together.\u201d<\/p>\n Shared support has mitigated a skilled workforce \u201cproblem,\u201d Castor said. Welch noted that area leaders have progressed in their pursuit of a \u201cregional voice on transportation,\u201d which was historically \u201cour Achilles heel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know we\u2019re working on a regional MPO<\/a> (metropolitan planning organization) that will allow us to more effectively compete for funding with the Orlando region and South Florida,\u201d Welch added.<\/p>\n Rector believes the three cities are no longer \u201ccompeting at all.\u201d He also emphasized that everyone shares the \u201csaltwater that surrounds us.\u201d<\/p>\n One wastewater or pollution spill affects all of the surrounding communities, Rector said, and local leaders must collaboratively work to protect the marine environment. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what city you\u2019re in, in Tampa Bay, your lives are all across the region.\u201d<\/p>\n Smart growth<\/p>\n Rector noted that persistent housing affordability challenges continue to plague Tampa Bay and impede economic development. Clearwater is a hotbed for retirees, short-term rentals and corporate investors, which exacerbates the issue, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cDensity is really, I think, our solution,\u201d Rector continued. \u201cIt\u2019s not popular, but I think, at least for most of us, that\u2019s the way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Welch believes local leaders should focus on \u201cthe triad of jobs, housing and transportation\u201d to lower soaring living costs. \u201cDensity is not a bad word,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n St. Petersburg is \u201cgetting the density right where we want it,\u201d in areas along the SunRunner bus-rapid-transit route<\/a>. Welch said younger generations increasingly want to forgo vehicles in favor of multimodal transportation; the goal is \u201cto become, someday, a community where you don\u2019t need a car to get around.\u201d<\/p>\n Castor said Tampa needs 26,000 additional affordable housing units \u201ctoday.\u201d City officials and developers are making progress through smart growth, density and \u201ccreating entire neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSmart growth is incredibly important, because the decisions we make today are going to affect generations to come,\u201d Castor said. \u201cWe are growing very quickly, but we\u2019re doing it very thoughtfully and very intentionally.\u201d<\/p>\n Artificial intelligence (AI)<\/p>\n Welch said AI, and the impact it will have on youth and communities, \u201ckeeps me up at night.\u201d He believes the technology will, eventually, eliminate some current jobs and college degrees.<\/p>\n However, Welch also compared machine learning to this generation\u2019s Industrial Revolution or the proliferation of personal computers. He stressed that people should \u201cunderstand the technology and use it.\u201d<\/p>\n