Neighborhood activist Nurse sworn in on St. Pete City Council

ST. PETERSBURG -- Karl Nurse, his wife by his side and a rose pinned to his lapel, was sworn in on the City Council this morning.

Nurse, former president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations, was appointed last week to represent the District 6 seat.

Some black community leaders criticized the council for appointing a white man to represent a predominantly African-American district. District 6, which includes parts of downtown, Midtown and Coquina Key, is 54 percent black, according to Pinellas County voter registration records.

At first, there was no hint of the controversy at the council meeting this morning. Nurse posed for a picture with his mother and wife and then went right to work.

But later Midtown activist Theresa "Momma Tee" Lassiter showed up at the council meeting and expressed her disappointment in Nurse's appointment, who she claimed was not active in the city's black community.

Nurse has said he plans to reach out to the community by going door to door and seeking advice.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Karl Nurse joins St. Petersburg council

ST. PETERSBURG-- The City Council appointed businessman and community activist Karl Nurse, 53, to the vacant District 6 seat Thursday.

Nurse, who is white, is the first non African-American person to represent the district in nearly 30 years.

"I feel humbled by the size of the responsibility before me," said Nurse after his victory.

Council Chairman Jamie Bennett said the council made the right decision.

"He has the shortest learning curve," Bennett said.

The controversial vote raised more than a few eyebrows.

Even after Nurse was announced the winner, the only African-American council member, Wengay Newton, voted against approving his appointment and then stormed out of the council chambers.

Black community activist Theresa "Momma Tee" Lassiter said Nurse has no ties to the African-American community.

"He ain't done nothing," she yelled in the council chambers as Nurse embraced his mother in celebration. "Being a part of the Sierra Club ain't it. Where were you when the boys were getting shot on my street?"

Here's how the council voted:

Bennett and Council members James Kennedy, Herb Polson and Jeff Danner picked Nurse.

Newton and Council member Bill Dudley choose Cassandra Jackson, 48, president of the Pinellas Black Republican Club and former Pinellas County Housing Authority board member.

Council member Leslie Curran selected Gwendolyn Reese, 59, chief executive of InFinite Solutions and chairwoman of Close the Gap, an education nonprofit.

The other candidates were former council member David Welch and the Rev. Deborah Green, president of Earth Mission Ministries.

Nurse will be sworn in May 1.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

St. Pete: Housing authority will pay $850,000 to relocate Graham-Rogall residents

ST. PETERSBURG -- A week after the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development approved the sale of the city's largest public housing complex to a condominium developer, the housing authority passed an $850,000 relocation plan this afternoon for the more than 245 occupants at the Graham-Rogall buildings.

"Everyone will be moved to quality housing before we close on the property," said Darrell Irions, executive director of the St. Petersburg Housing Authority, at the board of commissioners meeting.

The Rogall and Graham Park properties, located near Tropicana Field, are being sold because the housing authority says they are obsolete and financially unsustainable. Repairing the complex would cost more than $22-million.

Not everyone on the housing authority's board of commissioners is pleased with the sale of the two buildings, which share a hallway.

"It is a step in the wrong direction to sell this particular property," said Commissioner David Welch, the only board member to vote against the sale.

Welch, a former St. Petersburg City Council member, said he has been against the sale since the housing authority first began discussing alternative uses for the Graham-Rogall complex in 2004.

The relocation plan allots $250,000 toward moving and counseling costs for Graham Park's residents. That's more than $2,600 for each of the building's 95 residents.

About $600,000 will be used to relocate residents in the Rogall building. That comes to about $4,000 for each of the building's 150 residents.

Graham residents affected by a recent fire and subsequent flooding at the building will be moved first. The housing authority will relocate Rogall residents after all Graham residents have found new housing.

Opponents of the sale said the relocation plan does not make up for closing the city's largest public housing complex. Most of the residents at the complex are disabled or elderly.

"We live in St. Petersburg and we know that low-cost housing is limited here," said Betsy Valentine of the Committee to Save Graham-Rogall. "I hope you all think about what it would be like to live under the stress of being moved ... and not knowing where you are going to move and you are elderly and you are disabled and you don't have much money."

At times, discussion of the sale became very heated.

"This is another example of corruption," said Max Linn, a Democratic candidate for congressional District 10. "These developers are going to make money and the people are going to be left out."

Irions contended that the sale would allow the Graham-Rogall residents to relocate to better, newer housing.

"We are in the business of housing people, we are not in the business of making people homeless," he said.

Last Thursday, HUD granted a special exemption to the housing authority that would allow the complex to be redeveloped into condos. The ruling comes despite a 1994 agreement that the Rogall apartments must remain affordable rental housing until 2017.

That's good news for condo developer KEGB, which said it would not buy the complex if it could not redevelop the property sooner.

--Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Feds okay sale of Graham-Rogall buildings

ST. PETERSBURG-- The federal Housing and Urban Development has approved the controversial sale of the city's largest public housing complex to a condominium developer.

HUD granted a special exemption to the St. Petersburg Housing Authority that would allow the Graham-Rogall complex, located near Tropicana Field, to be redeveloped into condos. The ruling comes despite a 1994 agreement that the Rogall apartments must remain affordable rental housing until 2017.

That's good news for condo developer KEGB, which said it would not buy the complex if it could not redevelop the property sooner.

The Rogall and Graham Park properties, which share a hallway, are being sold because the Housing Authority says they are obsolete and financially unsustainable. Repairing the complex would cost more than $22-million.

The Housing Authority began moving residents out last year. About 95 of the Graham building's 336 units are occupied. All of the 150 units in Rogall are full.

All Graham-Rogall residents will be relocated at no cost to them, the Housing Authority says.

KEGB has said it could not make a profit running Graham-Rogall as apartments even if given the property for free.

The housing authority will meet Thursday to discuss how to move forward with the sale.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

St. Petersburg council hopefuls talked about race, stadium

ST. PETERSBURG — No topic was off limits, not even skin color.

The five City Council applicants vying for Earnest Williams' vacant District 6 seat fielded questions from the public Monday night.

More than 50 people showed up at City Hall to pose questions about budget cuts, the Tampa Bay Rays' proposed stadium and whether race matters when representing a predominately black district.

Karl Nurse, the only white applicant, said the district's increasingly diverse population deserves a color-blind leader. More than 55 percent of residents in District 6 are black. The district includes parts of Midtown, uptown, downtown and Coquina Key, are black.

"You need to address issues in a fashion that does not pertain to race," said Nurse.

But others said a shared cultural background make its easier to tackle problems in the black community.

"I don't like to look at things as black and white because I believe we are all people," said youth minister Deborah Green, adding: "I believe I can resolve some issues in the community because I look like those persons."

The applicants are:

• Green, 45, case manager for Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and president of Earth Mission Ministries.

• Nurse, 53, owner of Bay Tech Label, founder of the Pinellas Living Green Expo and a former mayoral candidate.

• David Welch, 80, former council member, owner of Welch Accounting Services and a St. Petersburg Housing Authority board member.

• Gwendolyn Reese, 59, chief executive of InFinite Solutions; chairwoman of Close the Gap, an education nonprofit; and former co-chairwoman of the city's Community Alliance committee, which advocates for diversity issues.

• Cassandra Jackson, 48, former District 6 candidate, president of the Pinellas Black Republican Club and former Pinellas County Housing Authority board member.

The council hopefuls also addressed mounting concerns involving the Tampa Bay Rays' proposed stadium. The $450-million ballpark would be at the site of Al Lang Field and rely heavily on county and city funding, according to the Rays. The Rays, who also suggest redeveloping Tropicana Field, have offered $150-million to cover construction.

"The Rays are asking us to give much more than they are giving," said Reese. "We need to be concerned about that. On the current Trop site, black people were displaced from their homes, so I think it is very important that the community is very involved in what happens at the Trop site."

"It's going to cost taxpayers quite a bit to build a new stadium," said Green. "There are other ways to address the problem... The Rays need to put up more money than $150-million. It's for them."

Welch, however, said the city is facing more pressing concerns.

"The most important thing we need to dwell on is the unemployment of our youth. It is time we get these young individuals off of the streets," he said. "The stadium will take care of itself."

The council will interview the applicants Thursday before selecting Williams' successor. Williams, who represented District 6 since 2000, resigned last week after an unsuccessful campaign for a state Legislature seat.

-- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer, can be reached at (727) 893-8846 or csilva@sptimes.com.

Bidder offers $65-million for Tropicana redevelopment

ST. PETERSBURG -- One of the developers hoping to purchase and redevelop Tropicana Field said it is willing to pay $65-million for the 86-acre site, but maintained that the city pay for demolishing the dome and any environmental cleanup.

Developer Archstone-Madison's offer came in response to questions posed by the City Council last month. All three developers hoping to win the work provided the city with additional information this week. Among the highlights:

* Hines, which is offering $50-million, said the demolition of the dome would cost $5-million. They suggested creating a new community development district to pay for the work. Hines did not address possible environmental issues.

* Williams Quarter, which is offering $61-milion, says it now wants to add a 500,000-square-foot office building to its mix of 4,000 rental units and 570,000-square-feet of retail space. Williams Quarter is willing to contribute to the demolition of the dome, but the group did not say how much. The developer also said the environmental issues at the site has been "somewhat exaggerated." However, Williams Quarter did not say it would cover the costs.

* Archstone-Madison, which is offering $65-million, said the city would be responsible for the demolition of Tropicana Field and any environmental cleanup. Those costs would be subtracted from Archstone-Madison's offer.

City officials are expected to brief the City Council on the proposals Thursday.

Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

County neighborhood group opposes public stadium financing

The Council of North County Neighborhoods voted last night to oppose public financing of a new waterfront stadium. Read the accompanying letter here.

First vice president John Miolla said the county can find a better use for the $5-million per year now paying off the debt on Tropicana Field. That money is coming from a 1 percent tax on hotel stays and cannot be used to fund general county programs or government services, but can pay for other tourism-related services. Some of the other hotel tax money is being used to pay for spring training baseball stadiums in Clearwater and Dunedin and on beach renourishment.

The 1 percent hotel tax is currently set to expire in 2015.

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

County spokeswoman joins Dali Museum's staff

ST. PETERSBURG-- Marcia Crawley, communications director for Pinellas County government, will soon be using her verbal skills to get people to open their wallets.

Beginning May 1, Crawley will join the staff of the Salvador Dali Museum as director of development. She will lead the museum's multi-million dollar fundraising campaign in support of its new building, set to break ground late this year.

Crawley began working for the county in 2004. As part of her duties, she often appeared on Pinellas County Connection Television. Before that, she was a Newschannel 8 reporter.

The Dali's $34-million new museum is set to open across from the Mahaffey Theater in 2010.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Rep. Kriseman endorses St. Petersburg council candidate

ST. PETERSBURG- State Rep. Rick Kriseman has endorsed former mayoral candidate Karl Nurse in his bid to be appointed to the City Council's vacant District 6 seat.

Kriseman, a former St. Petersburg council member, sent a letter to the council this week highlighting Nurse's accomplishments and professional experience.

"Karl long ago established himself as a leader in our community," Kriseman wrote. "He has been a key cog not only in St. Petersburg's recent renaissance, but in the maturation of our city over the past few decades."

Nurse, 53, owns Bay Tech Label and is the former president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations.

Nurse, who ran unsuccessfully against Mayor Rick Baker in 2001, is one of five applicants vying for Earnest Williams' vacant City Council seat. Williams resigned Monday after an unsuccessful campaign for the  Legislature.

The other applicants are:

David Welch, 80, former council member, owner of Welch Accounting Services and a current St. Petersburg Housing Authority board member.

Gwendolyn Reese, 59, CEO of Infinite Solutions, chairwoman of Close the Gap, an education non-profit, and former co-chairwoman of the city's Community Alliance committee, which advocates for diversity issues.

Cassandra Jackson, 48, former District 6 candidate, president of the Pinellas Black Republican Club and former Pinellas County Housing Authority board member.

Deborah Green, 45, youth minister, case manager for the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and president of Earth Mission Ministries.

The council will meet with the applicants during a public hearing Monday before selecting Williams' replacement May 1. That person would serve the remainder of Williams term, which expires in January 2010.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

New Dali Museum unveiled

City Council members were shown this rendering today. Dali officials said some details of the design will change. [Dali Museum]

ST. PETERSBURG--The City Council approved the initial designs for the Salvador Dali Museum’s new building Thursday.

Dubbed Placa Dali, the avant-garde waterfront structure will feature a cascading river of glass spilling out from the center of an unadorned, three story building.  The glass, which the museum is calling the "Engima," will serve as both entrance and skylight to the main structure, called the "Treasure Box."

The Engima will mimic the shape of a helical staircase that will spiral 28 feet from the ground floor to the museum's main third level gallery. Dali's work was heavily influenced by the discovery of DNA and the double helix in the 1950's.

Placa Dali will also include a 31,000 square foot elevated plaza near the building's entrance that will be used for outdoor dining and museum events.

Already, city leaders are comparing the building's design to the Louvre Museum in Paris.

"It is an excellent addition to our waterfront," said Council Member Jeff Danner.

Others said they were unsure what to make of it, even as they praised the unique design.

"It is exquisite," said Council Chair Jamie Bennett.

"You expect it to be odd," he added later. "It kinda looks like a blob."

Placa Dali will house the museum’s permanent collection, as well as a cafe, gift shop and sculpture garden. It will be able to withstand 165 miles per hour winds.

Construction on the new museum, located across from the Mahaffey Theater, is scheduled to begin in the fall. Placa Dali is slated to open in 2010.

--Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Pinellas Hope likely to stay open

Pinellas Hope, the controversial tent city that has housed more than 400 homeless people since December, most likely will remain open through the summer, organizers said.

In March, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce announced a fundraising drive to save the outdoor shelter, which was slated to close April 30.

Frank Murphy, president of Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, told the St. Petersburg Times on Thursday that the campaign has been a success. He expects to receive a $200,000 check sometime next week that would allow the camp to remain open until at least September.

"We are letting people know that we plan to stay here," Murphy said.

Catholic Charities opened the tent city on a private lot owned by the diocese in unincorporated Pinellas County in December. At the time, the organization said the tent city was a five-month experiment. Opponents criticized the shelter and called for more permanent housing. 

More than 400 homeless people have stayed at the shelter since it opened. At least 90 people were discharged from the shelter because they had found housing. There are still about 220 people living at Pinellas Hope, and dozens of names remain on the shelter's waiting list.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

St. Petersburg neighborhood leaders oppose Rays' stadium

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Council of Neighborhood Associations voted Wednesday against a new waterfront stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

In a 19-3 vote, members of the neighborhood organization approved 12 pages of recommendations advising the city to delay a November referendum on the Rays' plan to build a $450-million stadium at Al Lang Field.

CONA, which represents dozens of neighborhood associations, said the city has failed to explore other potential stadium locations, and that the Rays' financing plan appears flawed. The recommendation comes weeks before the Rays said they would detail how they expect to pay for the stadium.

During a meeting Wednesday night, a handful of CONA members denounced the recommendations. All St. Petersburg residents should be given the opportunity to vote on the Rays' proposal, they said. Some abstained from voting on the recommendations, which were put together by an 11-member CONA committee. 

The CONA recommendations are:

1. The city should not approve a referendum to lease the Al Lang site for construction and use of a new stadium.

2. The city should complete a thorough analysis of alternatives to the waterfront for a new stadium, including Derby Lane, Toy Town and redeveloping part of the Tropicana site with either the current stadium or a new stadium in place there.

3. Even if a new stadium is not pursued at Al Lang, the city should continue to explore the advantages of redeveloping the Tropicana site at some future date, either with the current stadium remaining in place or a new stadium built on or near the Tropicana site, or with the stadium moved to the Toy Town or Derby Lane sites.

4. With respect to pursuing redevelopment of the Tropicana site at some level, the city should reject all bids previously received and issue a new request for proposals. A new RFP should be issued that includes the following components:

• The new RFP should require developers to offer a clear-cut purchase price in their proposal, which cannot be changed at a later date, and directly address whether lease payments will be entertained as an option to an up-front cash payment.

• Tropicana Field should be redeveloped so that there is enough space to accommodate new development with the current stadium remaining on the site.

• Greater emphasis should be given to development that will generate higher wages that also could spark additional development at the nearby Dome Industrial Pilot Project.

• The original affordable housing targets of the city RFP should be met. Retail uses should be geared toward those needed and desired by the future occupants of on-site housing. A new "main street" model that could hurt nearby growing neighborhoods should not be pursued.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

5 apply for St. Petersburg council vacancy

ST. PETERSBURG-- A former city council member, a youth minister and a CEO are among the five applicants vying for Earnest Williams' vacant City Council seat.

Williams, who represented District 6 since 2000, resigned Monday after an unsuccessful campaign for the  Legislature.

District 6 includes part of downtown, Uptown, Midtown and Coquina Key. Council members must reside in the district in order to serve. They are paid $39,330 a year.

The applicants are:

David Welch, 80, former council member, owner of Welch Accounting Services and a current St. Petersburg Housing Authority board member.

Karl Nurse, 53, owner of Bay Tech Label, founder of the Pinellas Living Green Expo and former mayoral candidate.

Gwendolyn Reese, 59, CEO of Infinite Solutions, chairwoman of Close the Gap, an education non-profit, and former co-chairwoman of the city's Community Alliance committee, which advocates for diversity issues.

Cassandra Jackson, 48, former District 6 candidate, president of the Pinellas Black Republican Club and former Pinellas County Housing Authority board member.

Deborah Green, 45, youth minister, case manager for the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast and president of Earth Mission Ministries.

The council will review the applications during a public hearing Monday before selecting Williams' replacement May 1. That person would serve the remainder of Williams term, which expires in January 2010.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Activists demand city reconsider sale of public housing complex

A group of community activists have banded together to stop the controversial sale of the city's largest public housing complex.

Nearly 500 families would be uprooted by the St. Petersburg Housing Authority's plans to sell the Graham-Rogall complex near Tropicana Field to a condominium developer.

The Committee to Save Graham-Rogall wants the housing authority to renovate the deteriorating low-income units instead.

"These people have nowhere to go," said Judith Nelson, 73, chairwoman of the committee.

The housing authority decided to sell the Graham-Rogall buildings after its staff determined repairing the complex would cost more than $22-million. The two separate buildings, which share a hallway, are valued at $5-million.

But Nelson, a retired film distributor and president of the South St. Petersburg Democratic Club, said the housing authority board should at least try to find enough money to cover the repairs.

"This should be a priority," she said. "Who are they doing housing for, the rich or the poor?"

As of now, about 95 of the Graham building's 336 units are occupied. All of the 150 units in Rogall remain full.

The redevelopment has been stalled since June 2007 because of complications involving the sale of the Rogall building to condominium developer KEGB.

Under the terms of a restriction placed on part of the building during a 1994 bond refinancing, the Rogall apartments must remain affordable rental housing until 2017.

The housing authority and KEGB have appealed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for a special exemption to redevelop the property into condos sooner.

"Nothing has changed," said Audra Butler, spokeswoman for the housing authority. "We are still waiting to hear from HUD."

KEGB has said they could not make a profit running Graham-Rogall as apartments even if given the property for free.

The housing authority will meet April 24 to discuss how to move forward with the development.

Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

More fallout from last week's stadium hearing

ST. PETERSBURG -- A review of the approximately 217 people who told City Council members last week they were either for or against a new waterfront stadium bolsters the arguments of both sides, a St. Petersburg Times analysis shows.

The Times reviewed the speakers' cards --- the cards people are required to fill out before they can address City Council --- to get a sense of where each side's support was coming from. The review found:

* Of the 97-or-so people who said they opposed the waterfront stadium proposal last Thursday, 14 lived in the condominium adjacent to the proposed ballpark, Bayfront Tower. Another four who spoke against the proposal listed condominium addresses on Beach Drive.

* Of 120-or-so people who said they were in favor of the stadium proposal, at least 24 listed addresses that were not in St. Petersburg. Many were associated with carpeneter unions. At least two people listed addresses in Jacksonville.

Proponents of the stadium proposal had said that many of the opponents were isolated to Bayfront Tower, while critics countered that support was being "bussed in" from outside the city. A third public hearing is May 22.

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Rays' foes, fans report contributions

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Tampa Bay Rays provided free meeting space to the group supporting their plans for a new waterfront stadium, while the group opposing the $450-million ballpark already has purchased 1,000 yard signs and 3,000 bumper stickers, according to new campaign finance reports filed by both groups.

Pro-stadium group Fans For Waterfront Stadium collected $3,419 in contributions from Jan. 1 through March 31, according to the reports. The group's leader, Kenny Locke, also loaned the group $1,800. Expenditures through the first three months totaled $3,902.36

Anti-stadium group POWW at the same time received $5,606 in contributions. About 36 of the 80 individual contributors have downtown addresses, records show. Expenditures totaled $3,705.18.

Fans For Waterfront Stadium received $774 worth of in-kind services from the Rays, including meeting space at Tropicana Field and a booth during the team's Fan Fest event. The group's largest expenditure, $1,600, paid for setting up a political action committee.

POWW, or Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfront, spent $2,620.28 printing 1,000 yard signs and $1,031.23 on 3,000 bumper stickers.

The campaign reports are required because both groups registered as political action committees ahead of a potential stadium referendum in November.

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

St. Petersburg neighborhood group opposes Rays' plans

ST. PETERSBURG -- The city Council of Neighborhood Organizations issued a 12-page report Wednesday recommending against a November referendum to approve or reject a new waterfront stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The neighborhood group said the city has failed to explore other potential stadium locations, and that the Rays' $450-million financing plan appears flawed.

"We are objecting to the building of the stadium on Al Lang Field," said Will Michaels, chairman of CONA's Historic Resources and Land Development Committee. "But we’re not saying at some future point that a referendum should be held."

Michaels told the Times this morning that CONA feels there could be potentially better offers to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana Field site. Michaels, however, was unable to provide specific details.

He also said the current proposals do not seem to make the Rays' plan viable. The recommendation comes weeks before the Rays said they would detail how they expect to pay for the stadium.

Rays senior vice president Michael Kalt said early Thursday that if Michaels can find someone willing to bid more for the project, bring them to the table. "It makes our job easier," Kalt said.

The CONA recommendations come hours before the City Council is scheduled to hold a public forum on the Tropicana Field redevelopment. The recommendations still must be approved by the entire CONA membership.

The CONA recommendations are:

1. The city should not approve a referendum to lease the Al Lang site for construction and use of a new stadium.

2. The city should complete a thorough analysis of alternatives to the waterfront for a new stadium, including Derby Lane, Toy Town and redeveloping part of the Tropicana site with either the current stadium or a new stadium in place there.

3. Even if a new stadium is not pursued at Al Lang, the city should continue to explore the advantages of redeveloping the Tropicana site at some future date, either with the current stadium remaining in place or a new stadium built on or near the Tropicana site, or with the stadium moved to the Toy Town or Derby Lane sites.

4. With respect to pursuing redevelopment of the Tropicana site at some level, the city should reject all bids previously received and issue a new request for proposals. A new RFP should be issued that includes the following components:

• The new RFP should require developers to offer a clear-cut purchase price in their proposal, which cannot be changed at a later date, and directly address whether lease payments will be entertained as an option to an up-front cash payment.

• A minimum FAR of 2.5 to a maximum of 3.5 should be specified. While the community will not be able to absorb such a large amount of square footage within a time frame conducive to a single phased development of this site, this will make possible more productive dense development at some future date. This will also make it more feasible to develop the Tropicana site with the current stadium remaining on the site.

• Greater emphasis should be given to utilization that will generate higher paying wages. The creation of a “mini Carillon Business Park” at the Tropicana site could spark additional development of the nearby Dome Industrial Pilot Project. Uses that could collaborate with the new CRS, University of South Florida, and medical uses such as the hospital complexes should be considered.

• The original affordable housing targets of the city RFP should be met. Retail uses should be geared toward those needed and desired by the future occupants of on-site housing. A new “main street” node that may hurt nearby areas now seeking to redevelop should not be pursued.

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Judge denies request for new boat slips in Big Bayou

Neighbors of Big Bayou received an unexpected victory last week when a judge denied a developer's request for new boat slips.

An administrative hearing judge said that Prospect-Marathon Coquina should not be able to add new boat slips connected to a condominium development off Coquina Key.

"I never thought we had a chance," said Bonnie Agan, one of the Driftwood residents who fought the more than 60 new slips proposed for Waterside at Coquina Key North, a condominium conversion of an apartment complex on the island. "It's pretty exciting, but I'm afraid to celebrate because I feel we may have aroused the beast."

Last year the developer received permission from the governor and Cabinet to add the 60 boat slips to 30 already there. Activists from Driftwood and other neighborhoods surrounding Big Bayou said the slips would cause environmental harm and the Cabinet's decision was flawed.

After a January hearing, administrative law judge Bram D.E. Canter issued a ruling March 21 that recommended the state deny a permit for the slips and refuse a modification for the submerged land lease needed to build them.

The neighbors' attorney, Dan Schuh, argued that the developer broke the law by separating the boat slips sales from the condominiums and that Big Bayou water quality required greater preservation. The developer later agreed to legally connect the slips and the condos as a condition of its permit to build the slips.

Schuh said the law required the developer to do studies to show no harm to the environment from the project, but no studies were done. He provided environmental experts' depositions on the value of the bayou.

Prospect-Marathon has said it complied with legal requirements to get permits for the boat slips. In a statement, the developer said it is "taking the appropriate next steps in this legal process.”

The decision took longer than expected, which Schuh told neighbors was a positive sign. He said he doesn't expect the developer to appeal but there is still more process left. The issue now goes back to the state and the Cabinet for reconsideration.

The judge's order spent some time discussing the "public interest" requirement of the lease modification. Prospect-Marathon had to pay the nominal lease fee as well as $300,000 for a boat ramp in Palm Harbor to satisfy that requirement, but the judge noted that building a new boat ramp would like increase environmental harm, not benefit the public.

-- Paul Swider, Times Staff Writer

President's homeless czar praises Pinellas Hope

Philip Mangano, center, executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, talks with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, far left, Pinellas County Sheriff's deputy Tim Myers, second from left, and Frank Murphy, right, of Catholic Charities, at Pinellas Hope. Mangano toured Pinellas Hope and spoke with the media. [Scott Keeler, Times]

The nation's homelessness czar praised the controversial outdoor shelter Pinellas Hope after touring the tent city this morning.

"Every bit of care that is requested is being given here,'' said Philip Mangano, executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. "Is this ideal? Absolutely not, but it is an incremental step towards a permanent solution.''

Mangano, who has criticized of local governments for spending money on temporary shelters in the past instead of permanent solutions, described Pinellas Hope as "very calm and peaceful."

Along for the tour was St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, Pinellas County Commissioner Ken Welch and a slew of other local dignitaries.

Catholic Charities opened Pinellas Hope in December on 10 acres near 126th Avenue North in unincorporated Pinellas. Since then, the temporary shelter has served 466 people, 95 of which have found permanent housing. The tent city will close April 30.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

District 55 candidates have ties to GOP

ST. PETERSBURG-- Darryl Rouson says he is a lifelong Democrat who registered as a Republican for two years before switching back in January to run for a state House seat.

But a review of Rouson’s voter registration history shows he flirted with the GOP at least once before.

Rouson registered as a Republican with the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in 1989, according to voting records. He then moved to Illinois, where state law does not require voters to register by political party or declare a political party preference. Rouson remained an independent voter until 2005, when he returned to the Republican Party.

Rouson, a St. Petersburg lawyer, says he does not recall registering with the GOP before 2005.

"If I did, it was so long ago that I never really thought about it,'' he said.

Rouson's party affiliation has quickly become a divisive issue in the District 55 race.

His critics have accused of him of being an opportunist who will be disloyal to the Democratic Party if elected to state Legislature. His friendships with powerful Republicans - Gov. Charlie Crist, former Gov. Jeb Bush and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker - have only added fuel to the fire.

Rouson has said that voters should judge him based on his personal merit rather than party labels. He said he became a Democrat in January because party leaders told him he could never win the traditionally Democratic district as a Republican.

Rouson is not the only District 55 Democratic candidate with ties to the GOP.

The Rev. Charles McKenzie, a Meadowlawn Middle School teacher and statewide activist, registered briefly as a Republican before returning to the Democratic Party in 1997, according to Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections records.

McKenzie said he made the switch after moving to Sarasota decades ago to assuage local political leaders and that he has always supported the Democratic Party.

"One of the reasons I became a Republican is because I was told by people that I respected that the only way to do anything in this town was to be a Republican,'' he said. "I switched in name only. I never attended any of their meetings or ran as a Republican or supported any of their candidates.''

Unlike Rouson, McKenzie said he switched parties long before he decided to run for public office.

"My concern is, is he really a Democrat?'' McKenzie said of Rouson.

Rouson said he first volunteered with the Democratic Party as a student at Xavier University in Louisiana and voted as a Democrat in Chicago.

Records show he did not vote in a primary election while registered as a Chicago voter from 1990 to 1995. He did not register with any political party again until 2005, when he became a Republican at the urging of Crist and Bush.

The House District 55 seat has been open since former Rep. Frank Peterman was appointed to head the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice in February. St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams is also running as a Democrat. No Republicans entered the race. The primary is March 25.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Post Office loses 1,100 absentee ballots

CLEARWATER-- The Post Office has lost more than 1,100 absentee ballots for the state house District 55 election nine days before the primary.

Pinellas elections officials said they delivered the 1,117 ballots to the Clearwater Bulk Mail Unit on Monday. U.S. Postal Service officials confirm that the ballots were received, but say they have no record of what happened to the mail after that.

Elections officials sent them to voters who requested absentee ballots. The mishap has alarmed local political leaders, who fear the worst.

"My concern is, if there is something nefarious going on how are we going to fix it?" said Toni Molinaro, chairwoman of the Pinellas County Democratic Executive Committee. "The worst case scenario is that someone took them and is going to do something fraudulent with them."

Elections officials say there is no need to worry. The ballots were remailed through priority mail Friday. As per state law, officials said they will compare signatures on the ballot with signatures on file to prevent fraud.

"If the signature doesn't match the canvassing board will take a look it," said Nancy Whitlock, spokeswoman for the Supervisor of Elections.

If voters receive two ballots, only one ballot should be filled out and returned, Whitlock said. Only the first ballot received by the elections office will be counted.

Ballots for domestic and oversees military and civilians living oversees were mailed separately and were not affected.

The post office is investigating the mishap.

"We have every confidence that we are going to see that mail," said Gary Sawtelle, a spokesman for the U.S. post office in Tampa. "If it is was misdirected for whatever reason it will find its way back here, where it would ultimately be delivered to the addressee or it would be returned to the sender."

The House District 55 seat has been open since former Rep. Frank Peterman was appointed to head the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. The Democrats in the race are attorney Darryl Rouson, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and educator Charles McKenzie.The primary is March 25. No Republicans entered the race.

Completed ballots must be received by the elections office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Meanwhile, Williams, who was not immediately available for comment this afternoon, has filed a complaint with the St. Petersburg Police Department against Rouson, who he claims physically threatened him during a heated candidates forum hosted by the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club Wednesday.

Rouson, who denied the allegations, called it a "desperate" ploy to garner sympathy.

"Clearly, my only intention was to acknowledge that I was going to beat him at the ballot box, I'm going to beat him at the polls...and that's it," Rouson said.

Rouson said he only confronted Williams after the council member threatened him.

"He was challenging me. He wanted to take it outside. He wanted to get physical with me," Rouson said.

"The whole thing is crap," he added. "It detracts from the dignity of us trying to be a representative of the people."

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Gulfport mayor hospitalized with heart condition

GULFPORT -- Mayor Michael Yakes was admitted to Palms of Pasadena Hospital Thursday afternoon with an elevated heart rate.

He had just returned from a trip to Tallahassee to speak with legislators about the Clam Bayou Nature Preserve.

"I knew that I was pushing it because my heat rate was very high,'' Yakes said today from his hospital room.

The 64-year-old mayor was hospitalized in December after a small stroke and was later diagnosed with an abnormal heart rhythm. He has been on several medications to regulate his heartbeat since then and expects to be released soon.

Yakes, mayor since 1991, hopes to attend Tuesday's City Council meeting. "I’m a patient that doesn’t have a lot of patience. I'm thinking that I ought to be out of here.''

-- Nick Johnson, Times staff writer

Council Chair did not endorse state house candidate

ST. PETERSBURG-- In his election fliers, State House candidate Earnest Williams boasts of endorsements from a slew of local dignitaries, including Council Chairman Jamie Bennett.

But Bennett, who has sat with Williams on the St. Petersburg council for nearly a decade, said he has not endorsed anyone in the heated District 55 race and that he plans to remain neutral.

"He is a good friend, I think he would make a great legislator," Bennett said of Williams, before adding that he is also good friends with Darryl Rouson, William's rival in the state house election.

"If I could endorse in both races I would," Bennett said.

When asked about the false endorsement during a candidate forum at the Studio@620 Wednesday night, Williams said he could not comment until he had spoken with Bennett.

Rouson and Williams are running against educator Charles McKenzie to replace former state Rep. Frank Peterman Jr. A special primary election is set for March 25. No Republicans filed to run.

-Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

Judge rules in favor of St. Pete Beach pro-development petition items

Circuit Court Judge David A Demers ruled in favor of the St. Pete Beach political group Save Our Little Village today, ordering that the city hold an election for the six pro-development petition items brought by the group last year.

“The time is up!” Demers said in his order, referencing the city’s charter requirement that any petition items be voted on by the residents within 90 days of being certified. 

The city commission refused to put them on a ballot arguing that adoption of the main item, an amended comprehensive plan, without going through the proper channels would be in conflict with the Florida Growth Management Act. Demers ruled that adoption of the comprehensive plan would instead cause that process to be initiated.

“Needless to say we’re quite pleased,” SOLV chairperson Lorraine Huhn said.

The order will be stayed until the next hearing, scheduled for March 24.

-- Nick Johnson

Pinellas group endorses District 55 candidate

The Pinellas County Chapter of Progressive Democrats Of America has endorsed Charles McKenzie for State House District 55 race.

"Charles' passion and commitment to making his community a better place for all citizens makes him by far the best choice for the residents of District 55,"said Acting Chair of Pinellas PDA, Michael Fox, in a statement this week. "In this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, Charles is unquestionably a man with the people's best interests at heart, and will be a fabulous advocate in a system that for too long has been dominated by corporate special interests."

-- Cristina Silva

Stadium foes want face time with neighborhood groups

For months, the Tampa Bay Rays have been making the rounds at area neighborhood meetings to pitch their $1-billion stadium and redevelopment proposal.

Now, opponents of the plan want the same face time.

POWW, or Preserve Our Walls and Waterfront, is looking to give presentations before local community groups on why the stadium and Tropicana Field redevelopment is such a bad idea.

Among their top reasons: Taxpayers could end up footing the bill, and there isn't enough parking downtown to support the stadium.

For more information about POWW or to book a POWW speaker, check out www.stpetepoww.com.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Anti-stadium group accuses Rays of illegal lobbying

ST. PETERSBURG -- The group trying to stop the Tampa Bay Rays from building a new $450-million stadium at Al Lang Field has accused the team of illegally lobbying City Council to support the plan.

Members of St. Pete Preserve Our Wallets and Waterfronts say team executives broke city rules when they handed out T-shirts at a public hearing last month that referenced the Rays' web site for the stadium proposal, www.majorleaguedowntown.com. That site suggests Hines, the developer the Rays are working with on plans for Tropicana Field, already has been awarded the work -- when in fact the city is in the middle of an open and competitive bidding process, said former City Council member, POWW member and attorney Kathleen Ford.

"The ... process has been tainted," Ford wrote in a letter to the city, which also cites as examples the discussion of the Rays' proposal at the Governor's Baseball Dinner last week, and references in trade magazines that discussed the project as if Hines already had won the work. You can read Ford's entire letter here.

Ford and POWW members are asking the city to reject Hines' bid or cancel the entire bidding process. City officials say that's unlikely to happen.

Complete coverage: Ballpark by the bay

-- Aaron Sharockman, Times Staff Writer

Councilman endorses Williams' opponent in House District 55 race

This might make for awkward conversation before the next St. Petersburg City Council meeting.

Council member Wengay Newton has chosen not to support fellow Democrat and council member Earnest Williams in the District 55 race. Instead, Newton has endorsed his opponent, the Rev. Charles McKenzie.

Newton said he has been weighing his options in recent weeks, but McKenzie was the first to ask him for his support.

The Meadowlawn Middle School teacher’s community roots impressed Newton, a former neighborhood activist.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Group starts drive to get local activist on City Council

There will be no election, but the campaign to fill City Council Member Earnest Williams' soon-to-be-vacant seat keeps getting more interesting every week.

A group of well-connected residents have started a petition to convince the council to appoint community activist Karl Nurse to William's District 6 seat.

Nurse, a former mayoral candidate, has said he was considering applying for the seat once Williams leaves the council on April 14.

His friends have apparently taken notice. In recent weeks, more than 200 people have signed the petition asking the council to add Nurse to its inner circle.

"As a small business owner, longtime neighborhood leader, and as a present and past member of numerous boards and commissions, Karl has the experience, knowledge, and passion to bring true leadership to District 6," reads the petition.

Williams, who is running for a state house seat, has already submitted his letter of resignation to the city clerk.

The council will have 45 days to appoint his successor.

Other potential District 6 candidates include Trenia Cox, former president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP; Cassandra Jackson, who ran against Williams in 2005; Ray Tampa, a former principal at Lakewood Elementary School; and Thomas "Jet" Jackson, the city's recreation manager.

-- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Campaign manager prefers to remain out of spotlight

If you had been chosen to manage the campaign of a high-profile community leader who’s running for the state Legislature, wouldn’t you want everyone to know?

Maybe not, if you’re also a savvy magazine publisher who hopes to rake in as much ad revenue as possible from the other candidates.

It appears that Gypsy Gallardo, editor and publisher of Power Broker magazine, is reluctant to admit that she has signed on as attorney Darryl Rouson’s campaign manager. Rouson is vying for the District 55 seat now held by Rep. Frank Peterman Jr., who has been appointed to head the Department of Juvenile Justice.

City Council member Earnest Williams and activist Charles McKenzie also are running for the seat. It’s their ad revenue Gallardo hopes to attract.

- Times staff writer

Candidate may bow out of District 55 House race

State House candidate Steven Lapinski, a newcomer in the race to replace Rep. Frank Peterman, might be out before the campaign even begins.

Lapinski, a University of South Florida student, said he is not sure he would be able to meet today’s deadline to get on the March 25 ballot. He needs to submit 735 signatures or pay $1,915.92.

Lapinski said he thought he had more than enough signatures, but some were disqualified.

Three other Democrats are running: educator Charles McKenzie, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and lawyer Darryl Rouson. A Republican has not entered the race.

The special election comes on the heels of Peterman's appointment as secretary of the state Department of Juvenile Justice.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Clam Bayou cleanup effort garners tourism award

Zuelsdorf stands amid debris in the Clam Bayou Nature Preserve. [Scott Keeler | Times]

An area waterway isn't the only thing a local environmentalist is cleaning up.

He just raked in a national award.

Kurt Zuelsdorf of Kayak Nature Adventures recently earned Coastal Living Magazine's  2008 Tourism Award for his clean up efforts/eco-tours of Clam Bayou Nature Park.

An estimated 32,000 pounds of trash have been removed from the preserve since Kurt Zuelsdorf started his cleanup program in summer 2006, offering volunteers a free kayak rental in return for collecting a bag of garbage.

The 2008 Eco-Tour exchange program kicks off Saturday (March 1).

See Coastal Living Article Award here; http://www.coastalliving.com/coastal/living/environment/article/0,14587,1706660,00.html

-- Sandra J. Gadsden, Times staff writer

Lehane ties the knot at the St. Pete Yacht Club

Writer Dennis Lehane and New Port Richey optometrist Angela Bernardo are on a honeymoon in Hawaii. The couple were married at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Lehane, who grew up in Dorchester, Mass., is an Eckerd College graduate whose novels include Mystic River and Gone, Baby, Gone. He also has written episodes for HBO's critically acclaimed show, The Wire. Bernardo graduated from the New England College of Optometry in Boston whose practice is Trinity Optical. She specializes in contact lenses and promotes literacy and vision assessment for children.

Friends say the couple met at a Super Bowl party in 2007. Their parents, Rita and Marty Bernardo and Ann and Michael Lehane, were in St. Petersburg for the ceremony, as was Angi’s 85-year-old grandfather John Caruso. Her aunt Connie Southerland, who flew in from Hawaii for the event, brought leis for all the women attending.

- Mary Jane Park, Times staff writer

District 55 House candidate secures key endorsements

The campaign trail is looking bright for state House candidate Darryl Rouson (left).

The St. Petersburg attorney secured a number of endorsements from a group of diverse community leaders recently, including Rep. Bill Heller, a Democrat from St. Petersburg, and Republican Deveron Gibbons, a vice president at  Amscot Financial and a well-known Midtown activist.

A number of St. Petersburg faith leaders also have thrown their support behind Rouson, including Pastor Manuel L. Sykes of Bethel Community Baptist Church and Pastor Louis Murphy of Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.

Rouson is running for the state House District 55 seat. The special election comes on the heels of Rep. Frank Peterman's appointment as secretary of Florida's Department of Juvenile Justice. The primary election is March 25.

Three other Democrats are running against Rouson, a former Republican: educator Charles McKenzie, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and University of South Florida student Steven Lapinski. A Republican has not entered the race.

Rouson's recent endorsements are in addition to Peterman's announcement earlier this month that he would support Rouson.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Anti-stadium rhetoric gains momentum

Add two voices to the anti-stadium side.

The boards of the Downtown Neighborhood Association and the Suncoast Group of the Sierra Club have voted to oppose the proposed Tampa Bay Rays stadium at Al Lang Field.

"Our decision was based in part on a number of unresolved issues including, but not limited to, the appropriateness of a structure of this size in this location given the goals stated in our Comprehensive Plan; traffic and parking issues that could further exacerbate our temporary parking lot concerns; potential infrastructure impact; funding and financial challenges; environmental impact; as well as more general quality of life concerns," wrote Marilyn Olsen, president of the downtown group, in an e-mail.

The Sierra Club also issued a statement.

"Our public waterfront is a finite resource that cannot be replaced. Led by William Straub, our city’s forefathers in the early 1900s had the foresight to create the country’s largest public waterfront,” it read. “Now, nearly 100 years later, is not the time to dismantle that vision."   

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Fourth candidate enters District 55 House race

A fourth Democrat has entered the state House District 55 election to replace Rep. Frank Peterman.

Steven Lapinski, a former University of South Florida student, joined the race last week. 

Lapinski could be in for a tough race. So far he has raised no money.

His opponents, all high-profile community activists, include the Rev. Charles McKenzie, St. Petersburg City Council Member Earnest Williams and civil rights attorney Darryl Rouson.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Former St. Petersburg councilwoman endorses Williams in District 55 race

They sat together on St. Petersburg's City Council for more than eight years. Now, Rene Flowers is throwing her support behind her former council colleague Earnest Williams in his bid for the state Legislature.

Flowers has endorsed Williams, a State Farm agent, for state House District 55. On Saturday, the two went door to door to drum up support before scattered showers persuaded them to return another day.

"When I was looking at the candidates, he is just well-rounded in all areas," said Flowers. "He has served in municipal government and he's worked for municipal government, he is a small business owner...he knows what he is doing."

Two others Democrats are running against Williams: educator Charles McKenzie and lawyer Darryl Rouson.

The District 55 seat was vacated by Frank Peterman, who was appointed secretary of the state Department of Juvenile Justice.

A primary election is March 25.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

An e-mail smackdown over Brooker Creek

Brooker Creek Preserve. Click to enlarge. [Jim Damaske | Times]

An e-mail smack down over a proposed power plant unfolded this week between Pinellas County Commissioner Susan Latvala and a St. Petersburg activist.

The fracas started when Lorraine Margeson, an environmentalist who has fought to protect Brooker Creek Preserve, sent out a widely generated e-mail critical of a proposal to put an electrical transmission line through Brooker Creek and Latvala’s involvement in the matter.

Progress Energy officials say the utility corridor might be necessary if the company decides to build a nuclear power plant in Levy County. In 2007, Latvala served on a committee that reviewed the proposal.

In the e-mail, which was sent to a list serve composed of local officials, Margeson described Latvala as "the woman who spearheaded efforts to pump Brooker Creek Preserve to sprinkle a golf course
AND the idea to put the ballfields in the preserve."

"This just gets uglier and uglier," Margeson wrote of the Progress Energy plan.

Latvala responded with her own e-mail Friday afternoon.

"I was going to just ignore your latest ranting (as I usually do) but this one is just too far over the top. I am really tired of your drama, lies and exaggerations," she wrote to Margeson. "Progress Energy already owns a utility easement thru Brooker Creek, so why wouldn’t that land be looked at?"

The e-mail continued, "I did not spearhead the effort to reactivate the existing wells at the Brooker Creek Preserve. Staff of the Pinellas County Utility Department made the recommendation to the BCC, and it was never even voted on. Nor did I spearhead the ballfields on the Utility Dept. property managed by the Preserve. I did vote over four years ago to lease that land to the East Lake Youth Sports Assoc. for ballfields."

In fact, Latvala has publicly said she supported an idea to convert some of the preserve into a ballfield. In 2006, she also said she was considering a plan that would use water from the preserve to water a golf course. 

No word yet on Margeson's reaction. As of Friday evening, she hadn't responded.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

They're speculating at Atwater's about District 6 seat

Spotted: Mayor Rick Baker (far left) and Council Chairman Jamie Bennett (left) discussing the future of the City Council at Atwater's Cafeteria earlier this month.

The two city leaders were going over potential successors to Council Member Earnest Williams, who is running for a seat in the state Legislature, Bennett said.

“We were having lunch, it came up,” he said. “We were discussing the list of candidates, which is what everyone else is doing, too.”

Indeed, guessing who will take Williams' District 6 seat has become a favorite game among many of the city’s politically minded residents.

Former mayoral candidate Karl Nurse confirmed that he was considering applying for the job earlier this week. Other potential candidates include Trenia Cox, former president of the St. Petersburg branch of the NAACP; Cassandra Jackson, who ran against Williams in 2005; Ray Tampa, a former principal at Lakewood Elementary School; and Thomas "Jet" Jackson, the city's recreation manager.

"There easily could be 10 candidates," Bennett said. "I have been getting calls for all kinds of people. …They say, 'hey, pick me.' ”

Williams will step down from his post on April 14 at 11:59 p.m., exactly one day before the election for the State House District 55 seat. The council then has 45 days to appoint a successor.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Mayor to entertain at Saturday Morning Market

Budget cuts, the slumping real estate market, high property taxes and the uproar from the Tampa Bay Rays' expensive new ballpark can't spoil this party.

It's another rock and roll day in St. Petersburg.

The city's guitar-playing mayor, Rick Baker, will join Sam Stone for a performance during the Saturday Morning Market on Saturday. The two will play their renditions of classic rock tunes from 10 a.m. to noon.

The market is held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Avenue near Second Street. N.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

[Times file photo by Willie J. Allen (2004)]

Two wild dogs captured at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

A pack of wild dogs roaming Boyd Hill Nature Preserve lost two of its canine cronies when Pinellas County Animal Services ensnared the pets at the St. Petersburg park Thursday morning.

At least three wild dogs remain at large, said Linda Britland, field enforcement manager for Animal Services. The dogs could be dangerous, she warned.

The dogs were captured after a park visitor called to report them, Britland said. Animal Services has been in pursuit of the furry offenders since Jan. 8, when the pack was first spotted at the nature preserve.

At the time, the dogs gathered in the parking lot as Animal Services officers tried to corner them. The canine culprits got away.

Then, last week, four of the dogs charged some visitors on a Boyd Hill trail before running away. 

Animals services will try to return the captured dogs to their owners. The dogs could also be put up for adoption if no owner steps forward. If the dogs become too feral, the county will have no choice but to euthanize them.

For more information or to report a wild dog, call Pinellas County Animal Services at (727) 582-2604.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Local activist considers bid for Distict 6 seat

Karl Nurse, left, a longtime activist and former mayoral candidate, is considering a bid for the soon-to-be-vacated District 6 seat of City Council member Earnest Williams.

Williams will leave the council in April to run for a state House seat in a special election. The City Council then will need to appoint someone as Williams' successor.

Nurse, who has lived in District 6 for 18 years, said some community leaders have asked him to apply for the seat.

Nurse has a long history of public service. In 2001, he finished fourth with less than 15 percent of the vote in his bid for mayor. He is on the board of directors of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority, founder of the Pinellas Living Green Expo and a former president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations.

Williams is leaving the council to run for the seat vacated by Frank Peterman, who was recently named to lead the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Neighborhood Housing president forced out

Askia Muhammad Aquil, left, a community activist for more than a decade, is out of a job, and the Midtown nonprofit he ran is struggling to stay afloat.

Aquil, who had served as president of St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services for more than a decade, was let go in January by the financially strapped nonprofit's board of directors.

NHS had been low on money for months, and in December the organization announced it soon would be unable to pay its employees. At the time, Aquil said he was launching a fundraising campaign.

But the organization's finances remained in the gutter, so the board told Aquil he would no longer be needed nearly four weeks ago. A successor has not been named.

NHS, which for nearly 30 years has helped would-be property owners from all financial backgrounds, has been operating in the red since 2004, according to a review of federal tax records. The organization's finances took a hit from the recent housing market slump.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer

Photo: [Times file photo (2003)]

St. Pete Beach faces suit from political action group

St. Pete Beach entered round two in the bout over six pro-development petition items when Save Our Little Village Inc., the political group who drafted the petitions, filed suit Tuesday.

The suit is an attempt to force the city to place the items on a ballot, which would require a special election, since the commission failed to meet the deadline for placing them on the March 11 ballot.

A similar suit was dismissed last month, when Circuit Court Judge David A. Demers determined that according to the city charter, the commission had 90 days to decide what to do with the proposed items, giving them until Feb. 17 to act.

The commission decided to forward the petition items, one of which is a comprehensive plan amendment, to the city’s Planning Board for review last week.

“The city is sending this forward to go through the process that the Florida Growth Management Act requires,” said Attorney Thomas W. Reese, who has been representing the city in the SOLV case.

Reese has argued that the Florida Growth Management Act pre-empts the city charter and that the petitions must go through local and state review agencies before residents vote on them.

The city has until March 10 to respond to the suit.

- Nick Johnson, Times staff writer

Tropicana Field is getting a new hue

Tropicana Field is going blue.

In January, the Tampa Bay Rays redecorated the interior of the stadium with its new color. Earlier this month, painters began taking the blue outdoors. The work should be done by March.

The paint job is part of the Tampa Bay Rays' recent transformation. In November, the team changed its name from the Devil Rays and switched from green to blue uniforms.

- Cristina Silva, Times staff writer