Photo via City of Tampa
Storm surge flooding during Hurricane Idalia in Tampa, Florida on Aug. 30, 2023.
As a large metropolitan area particularly susceptible to climate change, Tampa Bay should be focused on sustainability. Prioritizing public transportation and the walk-and rideability of the city, building with the insight that major storms and flooding will be a part of our future, and working to preserve and expand green spaces, are all important for ensuring that Tampa Bay is a place that anyone would want to live in four years from now. We can collectively, and as individuals, voice our concerns to politicians at the local and state levels, show up to zoning and planning meetings, and vote for change.—Sarah Smith, Florida Antiquarian Book Fair, Manager
Lean into environmental protection & repair in its many forms (ie. solar everywhere, plastics bans, eco-tourism, conservation of what's left of the unspoiled land area, etc). And of course, affordable housing solutions too. Tourism is our no. 1 industry and our environment is our golden goose, so it makes as much economic sense as environmental. Plus the clean energy transition is a huge jobs & business creation opportunity and encourages lots of local investment, which grows a local economy broadly. Let's make Tampa a 21st century city and encourage our innovation economy. We do it by electing pro environment candidates and engaging ourselves, politically and civically.—Dave Sillman
A riverside skate park that mitigates floodwater by redirecting it through a bio-swale to the river. They have one in Denver. Hire the artist that created the one in Denver. Get FEMA grant to fund it, like they did.—Maggie Council
Less development and more green spaces. With the massive development and surge of people in our area everything is unaffordable. We have created a dichotomy—the haves and the have-nots. Also, when there's rain and flooding there are not enough plants to help soak up all the water. Just building, after complex, after housing development. There is no balance and that will lead to a future that I am very worried about.—Kassandra Tatum
To commemorate the leap year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay asked readers and local leaders to chime in on what Tampa Bay needs to be a better place in four years. These are some of the results of the "What Tampa Bay Needs" survey.
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