St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster got candid about his trials and tribulations over the last year at the Suncoast Tiger Bay Club Wednesday afternoon at the St. Pete Yacht Club.
Foster started his talk with the worst chapter of 2011, the deaths of three city police officers in a span of four weeks. A year and a day ago, officers Tom Baitinger and Jeffrey Yaslowitz were killed during a daylong standoff. Then on February 21, officer David Crawford was killed by 16-year-old Nick Lindsey.
"January 24, 2011, that's my 9/11," Foster said."It rocks your world and their worlds have been rocked... low and behold we get punched in the gut again 2/21 when a 16 year old pulls out a gun and shoots into the chest of David Crawford. The night Chief Harmon called, the first words out of his mouth were 'Mayor its happened again.'"
On homelessness, Foster noted the opening of Pinellas Safe Harbor, the temporary shelter located on 49th Street.
"But that was a good start and crime numbers went from 300 every night to at last count we had 20," Foster said. "If you provide these things like a good night's sleep in a safe environment, they can better combat the demons that put them on the street."
It's been a little over two years since the City Council voted to extend drinking hours until 3 a.m. "We have a thriving nightlife, coming from all over," the Mayor said. "I have been up at 3 a.m. on Friday night. I have to go to bed at 10 p.m. and get up at 2 a.m."
During the question and answer portion, former Democratic House Representative for District 51, Janet Long asked Foster about the future of light rail from St. Petersburg to Hillsborough.
"I support it," Foster said.
The Howard Franklin bridge is slated for construction around 2018, Foster said. A light rail component is something to consider during construction.
"The bridge element is the impediment," Foster said. "We're not discouraged by the failed vote in Hillsborough. We've been more thoughtful with process and plan, when referendum comes out you'll have opportunity to support it."
The big question of the afternoon was on the big B-word, baseball. Russ Barlow asked Foster why he hasn't outlined conditions for the Tampa Bay Rays yet. Foster met recently with team owner Stu Sternberg for the first time in months.
"You have an obligation to put a baseball team through 2027. Right now it's 2012, that’s the biggest term," Foster said. He compared the relationship with a team to marriage. "You don’t get a weekend pass to look at greener grass...I want to be the best husband and partner."
If the team left the area and violated that contract, Foster said it would cause "irreparable harm" to taxpayers.
Last October, the Pinellas County Commission voted to stop putting flouride in the county's drinking water.
"The city of St. Pete fluorinates your water," Foster said. "We will not stop putting fluoride in your water...I thought that was a silly move to stop fluoridation of water on the county's part."
Retired attorney Tom Dunn asked what decides whether an project or issue gets a public vote.
"When the stadium was built voters didn’t get a vote on that," Dunn said. "My question, philosophically is, when should taxpayers be allowed to vote on capital expenditures?"
Dunn's question referenced recent opposition to funding construction on a new public safety office for the city's police department.
"If there is going to be any expenditure of your money on construction of stadium, absolutely," Foster said. "There is no difference in building new fire stations and brick and mortar for public safety. As for pier, we had the pier task force, over 50 public hearings and we did listen to public...funding set aside long before I came mayor."
The Tampa Bay Times conducted a poll in December on supporting estimated $60 million in funding for new facility. The poll found that 56 percent of St. Petersburg residents didn't approve of the plan.
After the meeting, Dunn said Foster didn't give him an answer.
"No, he didn't answer the question," Dunn said. "Penny for Pinellas won't pay for the new public safety building. True, the funding is there for the Pier, but we don't need a new pier and we need a public safety office. If you're going to spend money, the public oughta' have a say."
