Downtown residents and businesses press St. Petersburg council for more enforcement, outreach after rise in visible homelessness

A string of public commenters at the St. Petersburg City Council meeting on June 5 urged the city to step up enforcement of a recent ordinance and to expand outreach and policing in the downtown core after repeated safety and quality-of-life complaints.

The speakers — condominium presidents, business managers, nonprofit leaders and residents — described repeated incidents of street-level disorder, threats to employees and customers, and what they said was uneven enforcement of City Bill 13‑65.

“Individuals living on the streets are in temporary hotel housing, exhibiting behaviors that reflect deep unmet needs,” said Karen Carmichael, president of the Sage condominiums and of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. “This is no longer a housing issue. It’s a public safety issue. It’s a public health issue, and it’s a community quality of life issue for residents, for tourists, for business owners, for families, and for those who are in need of essential mental health services.”

Jason Mathis, CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, told the council downtown’s population and visitations have grown rapidly — “In 02/2010 there were 3,000 units in Downtown Saint Pete. In 02/2025 there are almost 20,000 units in Downtown Saint Pete” — and called for a coordinated…