ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg is one step nearer to permitting voters to determine on rent management measures this November.
On Thursday, metropolis council members voted to maneuver ahead on crafting a draft decision that might result in rent management being added as a poll measure. City leaders will meet once more on Thursday, August 11th to debate the measure.
It comes as greater than 30 folks wrap up an emergency sleep in the place they spent the evening Wednesday into Thursday morning camped out in entrance of metropolis corridor.
Many of these residents inform ABC Action News they’ve seen rent will increase between $300 and $500 extra a month.
They say with out assist, they fear that rent costs will proceed to spike which is able to power them out of the town they name residence.
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Some metropolis leaders fear it may set St. Pete up for lawsuits as a result of state regulation prohibits rent management.
“I prefer to spend the money we have for affordable housing on actual initiatives that can work and would not draw legal challenge as this is likely to do. I want us to get bolder and find real solutions that work. Beyond affordable housing. Let’s look at our programs. Let’s see how we can pump that up. I want to move forward with things that work and don’t get us sued,” mentioned council member Gina Driscoll.
Dozens of St. Pete renters spoke up throughout Thursday’s assembly.
Janney Karioki can’t consider how a lot her rent has elevated. “It’s become insanely expensive. My rent is double the price it was 2 years ago. It’s impossible to travel from outside the city into the city to work at a job where you work for $7 an hour. Some days I leave with $15 tips because nobody is coming into the restaurant,” she defined.
Karla Correa chimed in, “We’re tired of having to choose between food and rent. We’re tired of getting evicted. If my rent goes up anymore, I will be homeless and thousands of St Pete residents are in the same boat as myself.”
