St. Pete Approves Rays Stadium Plan

The St. Petersburg City Council has approved a $6.5 billion redevelopment project, including a $1.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays, with a 5-3 vote. This move ensures the Rays' stay in the city for the next 30 years and promises extensive developments in the Historic Gas Plant District, which formerly housed a Black community displaced by previous constructions. The project, spearheaded by Mayor Ken Welch, includes infrastructure upgrades, affordable housing, business spaces, and a new African American museum, with the council committing $287.5 million in bonds and Pinellas County providing $312.5 million from tourist taxes. The plan still requires a final vote from the Pinellas County Commission. While supporters celebrate the deal's potential to transform the area and address past wrongs, critics argue it falls short on affordable housing and community benefits.