BY BRIGITTE TOULON, CLARENCE FORD AND LORIEN MATTIACCI
NNB Reporters
ST. PETERSBURG – Teachers, college students and residents of Midtown are concerned about education issues, neighborhood improvements and the Tampa Bay Rays future as the city election approaches Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Melrose Elementary teachers Kelly Milnes and Ashli Doss are looking for more changes to be made in the community.
Milnes is looking for a face lift for the area. When she first attended her job interview she noticed a house with boarded windows and furniture in a yard nearby.
“It looks better now it has been cleaned up, but if the area around it (the school) doesn’t look nice, it kind of brings it down,” Milnes said. “You know, it takes a village to fix an ‘F’ school.”
Doss said she is hoping for a continued partnership with the city council members so they can come into the school and talk with students about their jobs.
“I would ask the candidates what their plan is to get involved with these schools,” said Doss. “Are you planning to come and have your staff volunteer with these kids, not just when there is a special event, but to be actively involved with these kids as well as in their communities?”
Other members of the Midtown community are more apathetic about the election.
Frank Santiago, a student at St. Petersburg College (SPC) in Midtown, is more concerned with whether or not the results of the election would affect him personally.
“If the issue of boundaries the city council is discussing does not affect tuition, it won’t concern me just because I live in Midtown,” said Santiago. “But if the city council’s decisions about boundary changes affects tuition, then it may concern me.”
Still, the issue of the Tampa Bay Rays future is also a concern. The team’s contract to play at Tropicana Field ends in 2027 and the team has expressed interest in a new stadium.
Paul Wilborn, executive director of the Palladium Theater at SPC, is interested in the Rays future, the redevelopment of Midtown near 22nd Street South and investment in the arts.
“Selfishly, I think the city needs to support the arts in a better way, because I think the arts are driving St. Pete,” said Wilborn.