Mayor Jane Castor says now is ‘Tampa's moment'
During her State of the City address at the Tampa River Center Monday, Mayor Jane Castor touted the city's work in building back from last year's brutal storms, developing neighborhoods and addressing aging infrastructure.
With this year's hurricane season beginning in just over a month, Castor emphasized the city's mission to become more resilient: The city has spent $94 million on waste water updates, which includes 28 pump stations, and $350 million in stormwater system maintenance.
The city is also adding back-up generators to pump stations, which move residential wastewater to the city's sewer system. An audit earlier this year showed that some of Tampa's pumps haven't been maintained properly, and city officials have said the failure of infrastructure contributed to flooding in neighborhoods that did not expect any.
Castor acknowledged neighborhoods that were hit especially hard, including Davis Islands, Forest Hills and Palmetto Beach. When asked after her address what residents in these neighborhoods can expect moving forward, she said the city is anticipating the results of Hillsborough County's report on how cities faired during the storms last year.
'There is no system in America, or the world, that could handle the amount of water that came into some of these neighborhoods,' she said. 'We're working to make our city as resilient as possible.'
Castor said the city is working with state, federal and local partners to continue supporting residents in neighborhoods that are building back. She said the county is set to receive more than $700 million in disaster assistance, with a portion going toward the city.
Under Castor, the Tampa City Council passed the Progressive Infrastructure Plan to Ensure Sustainability program in 2019 to invest in sewer and water systems. She has also focused on other infrastructure needs, such as roads, sidewalks and public transit. Castor thanked U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents the Tampa Bay and is not related to the mayor, for securing federal funding for the city.
'This is all disruptive,' she said. 'But temporary inconvenience in one block means long-term protection for the entire neighborhood.'
Housing demand has also been a key issue affecting residents in Tampa. The city's director of housing, among other city leadership, resigned last year, and in 2023, the Tampa Bay Times reported the mayor had inflated progress on affordable housing.
But Castor on Monday said the city has built 20,000 residential units, thousands of which are affordable, and rental rates are back to 2021 levels.
'While we welcome new neighbors to Tampa, we will not price our residents out of the city that they built,' she said, which was met with applause.
Former Mayor Bob Buckhorn attended Monday's speech and addressed speculation he may run for mayor. He spoke to a class of students at Saint Leo University Thursday, and said he was making a bid for the seat, according to the school.
But after Castor's address he said he couldn't confirm his decision yet because the race is still two years out and there are 'a lot of things to figure out.'
'I'm really, really looking hard at it,' said Buckhorn, who was Tampa mayor from 2011 to 2019. 'I think the chances are probably pretty good that I will.'
Overall, Castor's message was that Tampa is 'strong,' and she gave nods to the communities integral to the city's history, and, of course, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, who grew up in Tampa.
'This is Tampa's moment,' she said. 'We used to have to fight to get on the map. Now, we are shaping that map.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Former Stockton mayor launches rematch bid against Rep. Josh Harder in 2026 congressional race
Former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln has announced he will challenge U.S. Rep. Josh Harder in California's 9th Congressional District once again. Lincoln, a Republican who unseated former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs in 2021, lost to Harder in last year's congressional race by fewer than 4 percentage points. District 9 encompasses a large portion of the San Joaquin Valley, including most of San Joaquin County and parts of Contra Costa and Stanislaus counties. The district includes the cities of Stockton, Tracy, Manteca, Lodi, Ripon, Escalon and Mountain House, as well as several census-designated places such as French Camp. The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting the District 9 seat, along with 25 other Democratic-held seats. The goal is for Republicans to flip those seats in the 2026 midterm election to grow the House majority. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee listed Harder's seat as one of the most vulnerable in the midterm election after President Donald Trump's nearly 2-point win in the district last year. Lincoln, a former military police officer and pastor, joins two other Republicans running for the District 9 seat: businessman Jim Shoemaker, who lost to Jerry McNerney in the 2024 race for California's 5th State Senate District, and athletic coach John McBride, who lost to Harder in last year's congressional race. "I'm honored to announce my campaign for Congress," Lincoln wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. "As a Marine, I learned the value of service and sacrifice. As mayor, I challenged the status quo and fought to make our communities safer, more affordable and more prosperous." Harder's campaign responded to Lincoln's announcement the same day. "Kevin Lincoln is a failed mayor and serial candidate who allowed crime and homelessness to soar in Stockton, all while spending millions on perks for himself and aligning with Washington extremists to rip health care away from Valley families," Harder's campaign said. While serving as mayor, Lincoln said crime and homelessness were two of his top priorities. During his final State of the City address in 2024, he said Stockton saw a 1.2% decrease in violent crimes and an 8% drop in homicides in 2023. He also said the city had invested significantly in housing and services for the homeless, including 10 emergency shelter projects, nine permanent supportive housing projects and four affordable housing projects. 'This is not how you treat people': Advocates criticize Stockton homeless encampment sweep The 2022 Point-in-Time count found that there were 893 people living on the streets of Stockton. An updated count in 2024 found that number had risen to 2,996. Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 3, 2026, for the District 9 election. The primary takes place on June 2, with the two candidates receiving the most votes advancing to the general election. Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@ or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at This article originally appeared on The Record: 2026 election: Republican Kevin Lincoln to challenge Josh Harder Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
4 days ago
- Axios
Pinellas schools face for cuts because of Trump's funding freeze
Pinellas County Schools is bracing for cuts now that the Trump administration has frozen nearly $9 million in grant money the district expected to receive, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Why it matters: Students return to classes in a few weeks, but whether there will be enough staff to support them is unclear. The district relies on federal funds for more than 40 jobs, and without them, cuts are expected. Catch up quick: The Trump administration is sitting on billions of dollars in federal grants, which help school districts across the U.S. afford programs such as migrant education and English language instruction. On June 30, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would withhold funds to review compliance with the " president's priorities" — just one day before the scheduled disbursement. Trump released before- and after-school funds under pressure, but funding for migrant education, professional development, English learner services and academic enrichment remains frozen. The latest: The school district will hold a forum on Thursday at 6pm in the Administration Building's conference hall to explain the impact of the funding freeze to "families, staff and stakeholders." "It's important for the public at large to see how these cuts are affecting their schools," Pinellas County Board member Katie Blaxberg told the Times. Attendees will have the chance to voice their concerns during a moderated question-and-answer session. Driving the news: Pinellas won't include the grant money in its budget until it is released, according to the Times. Pinellas County Superintendent Kevin Hendrick told the newspaper that there are ways to fund some of the affected positions, but he didn't offer many specifics. Zoom out: Across the country, $6.8 billion in federal education grants have been frozen, including almost $400 million earmarked for Florida schools.
Axios
6 days ago
- Axios
Johnston's "dream" meets a $250M reckoning
Mayor Mike Johnston's second State of the City address Monday night brimmed with Mile High optimism — invoking the word "dream" a dozen times and pitching Denver as the "capital of the New West." Yes, but: What the mayor largely skipped in his 38-minute speech was the $250 million budget hole that's about to swallow City Hall — and potentially hundreds of jobs with it. He spent barely a minute on the deficit, pledging to "minimize impact" on city workers and core services while delivering a government that will "work better and cost less." The big picture: Two years into his first term, Johnston touted historic drops in street homelessness and violent crime, downtown revitalization efforts, and a newly overhauled building permitting process. Over the next two years, he's setting his sights on tackling long-term support services for unhoused residents, theft and public drug use, stagnant downtown office demand, and a housing market that's pricing teachers and nurses out. Reality check: How the mayor plans to accomplish his ambitious goals under such severe budget constraints and with staffing slashed is the elephant not just in the room — but squarely in his lap. Between the lines: Johnston also doubled down on plans to put an $800 million "Vibrant Denver" infrastructure bond on November's ballot — a tough sell in a city facing cuts. What's next: A formal budget-balancing plan is expected this fall, likely setting off tense negotiations in City Hall. Layoff announcements could start as soon as Aug. 2. The bottom line: Johnston is urging Denverites to rally around a common vision — but with a quarter-billion-dollar shortfall, it's hard to ignore the realities crowding out the hope.
