St. Petersburg’s Structural Racism Study Authors Are Eager To See Action

Tampa Bay Times, Published By: Colleen Wright

ST. PETERSBURG — Mayor Ken Welch promised in his inaugural address that he would oversee a city where people from all backgrounds benefit from a booming economy that is leaving many behind.

The city’s first Black mayor was armed with a study completed a month earlier under his predecessor that described how people of his color and their communities have long faced discrimination and neglect. It outlined five steps the city could take immediately to begin righting historic wrongs.

But more than a year after the address, only one of those recommendations has taken shape. Welch said he wants to ensure that whatever is put in place actually benefits Black residents and isn’t just for show, including creating an office to oversee the effort. He also is looking at other communities that have undertaken similar efforts.

“We want it to be successful, we want it to be impactful, and so that’s why we’re doing the work first to be informed about what the office should look like,” he said.

But authors of the study say that was exactly its purpose, to give the city direction. They did not expect quick changes after centuries of racism, but there is concern their recommendations aren’t moving forward while possibly being watered down.

“How much clarity do you need?” said one of the study’s authors, historian Gwendolyn Reese. “Why can’t we be the model?” Read more