BY REV. J.C. PRITCHETT
ST. PETERSBURG — Forty years ago (“Don’t let hopeless bug zap stadium zeal,” Evening Independent 7/17/1986), I wrote about the opportunities I hoped the development of the Gas Plant area would offer our city, especially young residents like me. A few years ago (Tampa Bay Times, 10/3/2023), I wrote another column as a not-so-young resident supporting the Hines/Rays development. Today, I am writing to ask that people “stop playing” in our face, as Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders said recently.
J.C. Pritchett II, Evening Independent
The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida has monitored and advocated for the development of this neighborhood from day one. One of our five initiatives is to continue monitoring this process, and it is important that we no longer delay. When African American families were being displaced in the early 1980’s, IMA was advocating for them and their businesses. To do less now would be a betrayal and abdication of our responsibilities.
It is an arrogant privilege that’s invoked by the powerful and wealthy majority when they declare to the minority population, “You can wait; what is the hurry?” When we must sit and listen to the laments of, “Things are moving too fast.” Unfortunately, these laments are not rooted in authentic concern or facts; rather, they are opportunistic and callous cries to usher the status quo back into its place of prominence in our city. Why are we waiting? Waiting hinders equit
Gas Plant descendant, Deacon Mordecai Walker, died last year, waiting. Many of the descendants who were promised more than an empty parking lot have left the “Sunshine City” for their heavenly rest, never seeing the promises delivered. Waiting is wrong. Waiting is an injustice. Waiting is harsh. Waiting is political. Waiting is calculating. Waiting is discriminatory to an entire community. Waiting is the death of trustworthiness; death to trusting in stakeholders that treat our heritage, hurt, and harm as if it is nonexistent, invisible.
At length, bids and proposals have been exhausted. In his “State of the City,” Mayor Kenneth T. Welch said, “… it seems like all we have been doing is planning.”
He is right, in 2016, the HKS master planning process was conducted. In 2020, the Duke Energy Site Readiness plan was completed, and the Tropicana Field request for proposals was disseminated, along with a detailed development plan. The 2022 Historic Gas Plant RFP included 12 agreements, including a detailed development plan approved by City Council in July 2024, as well as the planning guidelines for Future Land Use and Zoning, and the intown and intown west CRA development plans.
Residents have consistently attended listening sessions and community conversations expressing the desire for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, workforce development-housing, and a new African American history museum at the site. There has been substantial planning for this development. Let’s not pretend that there is a need for more evaluation of this site.
It is offensive that generations of African American descendants should wait another day after 50 years of a black asphalt jungle. It is disheartening that political games are being played while city residents seek workforce-development housing and viable career opportunities. I am concerned about those who seek to “run out the clock,” hoping that the current administration will not be able to select and approve a developer for the Gas Plant.
The Mayor will make his decision, and there will be opportunities for dialogue, public listening sessions, and community conversations, like this city has done before. Hopefully, the Council will approve, and a dream deferred can be actualized. Why? Because that is the honorable action to take.
We can’t wait because the attacks on Black History require a state-of-the-art museum that uses the latest technology and resources to tell the accurate and impactful story of the Africans who were brought to America by force, yet through resilience and intelligence, made substantial accomplishments to our city and country. A museum that will join the Dali, MFA, The James and History museums as a cultural and historical destination.
We can’t wait because the destruction from the recent hurricanes demonstrated the need f
We can’t wait because stable housing represents dignity, and this development positions the city to increase the number of workforce housing un
We can’t wait because “playing in our face” is one of the most painful and disrespectful things that can be done to a person. It means that one’s value, experience, history, or contributions are dismissed, mocked, and devalued based on the other person’s actions, behaviors, voting, and collaborations. It has been decades of inaction. Decades of promises, lies, games and maneuvering. It is immoral to deny progress for the sake of politics. It is immoral to deny progress because one’s bent to bullying and mistreatment is stronger than one’s moral arc to justice, fairness, and respect.
It is easy to become complacent in one’s responsibility when token projects have been offered throughout the decades, and they become the check-the-box and shiny star of advancement. The proclamations of “Hold on. Just wait. And not now” are weak, comfortable refrains. My confidence is shaken by elected officials who initially voted to move forward, yet now there is a chorus of “let’s wait.” Why?
I have reviewed the nine proposals with my family, staff, and team, and I will be supporting the vision of Blake Investment Partners.
We have been asked for decades to hold the weight of ‘wait’; we are tired.
Rev. J.C. Pritchett II is the CEO of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Florida (IMA).
