ST. PETERSBURG -- New Mayor Ken Welch is working, even though he's isolated after testing positive for COVID.
Welch says he is holding virtual meetings with city staff while following CDC guidelines, which are in flux, as to how many days to stay isolated after a positive test result.
Welch took his oath of office virtually at noon Thursday after the new city council members were sworn in in person. The mayor's inauguration speech referenced Welch's background as a child of the civil rights era who attended the last segregated classes at Melrose Elementary. Current Melrose students got to watch the inauguration in class.
Welch announced several appointments, including Stephanie Owens as Deputy Mayor and Tom Greene as interim City Administrator. But perhaps his most pivotal appointment is the Administrator for Strategic Initiatives, Rob Gerdes, whose first item of business is addressing the city's affordable housing situation.
Welch says affordable housing is being added, but it's being outpaced by luxury housing. He says rents have doubled for some, and he insists that's not "sustainable." Welch says the city is researching whether state law allows it to impose rent controls. Welch says that's only one way the city could tackle the problem. Other ideas he's considering include the city buying up real estate to keep it out of the hands of corporations and property flippers, using community redevelopment money or partnerships.
The new mayor says he'll also ask for a joint meeting between the city council and the Pinellas County Commission on several issues, including the future of the Rays. County tourism tax money will likely be central to any new stadium.
Photo: St Petersburg Mayor's Office-