Hurricane response

Communication is the bedrock of effective governance, especially when disaster strikes. A leader is only as good as his or her ability to communicate policies, programs and priorities, for without that communication residents and stakeholders may not be able to take advantage of the many ways their local government works for them.

Right now, the city is failing in its ability to communicate with residents; it lacks a communications budget and often relies on tools for which not everyone has access. For example, during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, city leaders were asking City Council members to communicate with constituents via social media, including through videos online. While social media is a great way to reach residents, many were without power and internet access in the days following the 2024 storms, meaning critical information was not reaching those who needed it most.

There is a better way. As Mayor, I will implement a Text Alert System to better communicate with our residents. Cellular data was and remains the primary way our residents are able to get information in the aftermath of a storm. Cities across the state have utilized such tools, including in Pinellas County. Utilizing cellular data to communicate allows residents to be quickly brought to speed on life-saving information such as evacuation orders, shelter locations and relief distribution locations and processes. Even before a single ballot has been cast, I am already working to identify ways we can bring these communication tools to our city.

It’s possible, because I’ve done it. As Florida’s Attorney General, I established the Attorney General’s Hurricane Task Force, which mobilized criminal and civil investigators statewide to investigate price gouging complaints. I created the Price Gouging Hotline in the wake of Hurricane Charley. The hotline has seen heavy use during multiple storm seasons since then.

My office filed price gouging lawsuits against hotels, generator businesses, tree removal companies, and other bad actors. As a result, the Florida Office of the Attorney General continues to investigate every allegation of price gouging, comparing reported prices during a declared state of emergency to the average price charged in the 30 days prior. Violators face civil penalties of $1,000 per violation and up to $25,000 for multiple violations in a single 24-hour period.

As Governor, the Division of Emergency Management became a direct reporting entity to the Executive Office of the Governor. I oversaw the statewide response to emergency management, and to this day, Florida’s emergency response infrastructure remains widely admired. In fact, the Director of Emergency Management who served in my administration was so acclaimed he later went on to lead federal emergency management.

Additionally as Governor, I presided over the state’s recovery from the tragic Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which led to a declared state of emergency in 26 counties across the state, including here at home in Pinellas County.

I created an Economic Recovery Task Force to help Florida’s businesses recover from lost revenue, secured SBA disaster loan funds for Gulf Coast businesses, and called on former Attorneys General to chair a Legal Advisory Council to explore legal options against BP and advocated for nearly $35 million from the company to fund a tourism marketing campaign to encourage people to return to vacationing on Florida’s beaches after the oil spill was contained and cleaned up.

In talking with many St. Pete residents, flooding is the number one issue, with many feeling as though the city is no better off today than when the current administration took office. I promise to do more and to do better, including by devoting ample resources to addressing issues that make our communities flood prone.

Residents are frustrated by unnecessary delays following storms, especially in permitting, that keep residents from recovering. As Mayor, I will re-engage performance-based measures to hold city departments accountable to best serve the citizens of St. Pete.

What’s more, I will regularly update measures online so residents can hold me accountable to my promises.

The permitting process is currently inefficient. Residents and developers are waiting too long to receive permits, which not only delays recovery efforts but also negatively impacts property tax revenue.

Our city has the opportunity to join others in responsibly using, in a limited capacity, artificial intelligence to review permits and reduce approval time. Neighboring Pasco County is already working on a pilot program, while Hernando County is using SwiftGov.

As Mayor, I will explore all options to increase the efficiency of this department and other City departments, including the use of AI. I’ve heard the complaints about delays in permitting all over the City, and I will not ignore them. Restoring the efficiency of this office will be a priority of my administration.