When dissecting the cultural make up of a city, one often compares the nature of one metropolitan region to that of another. Economic status, artistic expression, political ideology, and progressive/conservative mentalities are often unique to a certain urban area, while very often expressing itself in a much similar way to a kindred city.
St. Petersburg, Florida is known for its artistic culture, its diversity, progressive social responsibility, and a scenic blending of natural beauty and urban landscape. Many other cities share in a similar cultural consciousness, but most closely seen in that of Seattle, Washington.
Although these two cities may be on opposite ends of the country, both share many of the same cultural staples that make each city home to their diverse citizenry. Seattle has fallen on hard times in the last two decades, and many similar overturns can be drawn between this city and St. Petersburg. Both were considered up and coming cities, experienced a boom in population, had businesses flock to the region, and were prized for their culture and minority protections.
St. Petersburg is closer towards the beginning of a possibly similar trend that was exhibited in Seattle. What happened in Seattle after this large boom was dramatic and tragic, and permanently altered the course of the city’s make up and stability.
As has been attested to by Seattle locals in interviews for this article, once businesses and out of state transplants moved in to the region, rent skyrocketed. A portion of the population’s wages rose as well, while the average citizen’s wages remained stagnant. This phenomenon ballooned the cost of living across the city, and made the city less and less affordable for the average working-class individual. This trend was nary sustainable, and sent Seattle on a crash course towards the current woes that have shaken the city to its core.
Eventually, the rent crisis reached a tipping point where rent and costs of living rose astronomically high. Because of this steep incline, many living within the city became homeless at an alarming rate. Financially speaking, over the next several years, tax revenue suffered, many in the city became homeless or severely impoverished, and crime skyrocketed.
As homelessness and crime rose, taxes were raised on the city’s citizens. Many businesses saw the city as less viable for them as previously seen, and some left the region. Boeing, Amazon, and some of the cruise shipping industry all stopped locating themselves within the city for a variety of reasons, and relocated to cities that were seen as more desirable in some way. This took its toll on the economics of many who worked in these industries.
Crime statistics are typically public record in most urban areas, and these records in this city are easily findable at Seattle.gov. Between 2012 and 2014, crime in the greater Seattle areas rose from 36,178 annual reported crimes to 44,811. The steepest increase was in property crime, rising from 32,598 annual reported crimes to 41,028. Property crime typically is seen to go up as economic disparities deepen. Fear motivation often makes people behave in ways that they would not have if they had their needs assured.
Many socially minded economists would argue that one of the easiest ways to combat crime is to lessen the burden of homelessness. As was seen in Seattle, when homelessness skyrocketed, crime and overdose rates did as well. At a legislative level, something needs to be done in order to remedy the situation itself. Seattle’s city government has taken steps to ease the crisis, but the rolling out of these plans has been rocky, and the disparities have only been worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As stated by Seattle’s mayor Jenny Durkan, “Seattle’s homelessness crisis has been years in the making, and its roots run deep, touching racial inequity, economic disparities, mental health treatment, rising housing costs, mental health, addiction, and so much more. We have a responsibility to be honest that this crisis won’t go away overnight. Lasting, meaningful progress will take years. But we still must act – and are acting – to improve life in Seattle.”
This trend was drastic and damaging to the local environment and culture of Seattle. Many worry if a similar trend is taking place here, in St. Petersburg. At a legislative level, the ability to combat the rising cost of rent and living is still viable. If rent raises enough, many will be seen to be at possible risk of homelessness. St. Petersburg locals being polled have cited huge concerns about how they are going to pay their bills and rent if the situation becomes more unaffordable. St. Petersburg’s current city government is taking steps to begin a dialogue that could remedy some of these concerns, but at the end of the day the issue being combated at its core is human greed, which raises a whole host of issues and roadblocks.
Where this trend will continue is yet to be seen, but the general sentiment with many St. Petersburg locals is clear; people are scared, affordability is becoming less common, and many are looking to our city’s government for steps to be taken to prevent a situation like what happened in Seattle to become the reality for those in St. Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg Forum For Rent Affordability 