Mayor Bill Foster named May Fire Fighters Appreciation month, recognizing the St. Petersburg Association of Fire Fighters for its work in raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. But a city ordinance against street solicitors contributed to a reduction of nearly half the amount of money they raised from the previous year.
Last year the fire fighters raised about $30,000 with the Fill-the-Boot drive, collecting donations for the MDA in intersections around the city, according to council member Wengay Newton. This year, they raised around $14,000, he said at the St. Petersburg City Council meeting on May 12.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2011.