ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rising rent and home prices have the St. Pete community speaking out. Now, they’re planning to take that message all the way to St. Pete City Hall.
In a meeting Thursday night, dozens of residents filled the room at the historic Manhattan Casino to discuss affordable housing or the lack of what they consider affordable housing.
The group of community organizers and residents voted unanimously to take their message to the last city council meeting of the year on Dec. 16.
Both renters, homeowners and landlords attended the meeting.
Gloria Boykins was one of those landlords and she’s hoping the meetings with community organizers will lead to some answers for everyone involved.
“If the taxes stayed the same like it was two years ago it would be okay, but the taxes increased so that makes me have to increase my rent and that’s just something I don’t want to do because I see the struggle people are going through right now,” Boykins said.
Community organizers said they’ve already met with some city council members. As for the ones they haven’t met with, they will hear their demands at the next city council meeting.