The city alerted businesses this week that the (parklet outdoor seating area) permits, which were extended back in May after the state overruled local governments’ state of emergencies, will expire Oct. 18, 2021. (via TBT).

The city did not ask or poll small businesses or citizens for feedback regarding this measure. This is our chance to let them know how we feel.

To read more: https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/food/food-news/2021/09/21/parking-or-outdoor-seating-st-petersburg-to-end-restaurant-seating-on-parking-spaces/

We're asking city officials to keep the downtown St. Petersburg "parklet" seating areas in place for an additional 6 months in order to assist downtown businesses and citizens, especially due to:

1) the emergence of the Delta variant and its peak of the pandemic in Florida
2) awaiting vaccines to help protect children under 12
3) anticipating an increase of patrons during high season for local businesses (November-April) — many of which are travelers from northern regions, which are anticipated to be affected by another wave of COVID
4) the safety of citizens and their wellbeing, which is far more important than parking

1) As of Sept. 21, 2021 – relatively high percentage (10.3%) of COVID tests were positive, which indicates that testing in Pinellas County, Florida is limited and that most cases may go undetected. Pinellas County, Florida has reported having 332 staffed adult ICU beds. 167 are filled by non-COVID patients and 103 are filled by COVID patients. Overall, 270 out of 332 (81%) are filled. This suggests hospitals may not be well positioned to absorb a wave of new COVID infections without substantial surge capacity. (via covidactnow.org). 

2) Despite the strong results, it will be some time before the general public can see an official rollout of vaccines for children ages 5 to 11. Once analysis of the trial is completed, Pfizer and BioNTech will submit the results "in the near term" to the Food and Drug Administration for review and possible emergency use authorization.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, recently told NPR that parents and caregivers will likely have to wait until the end of 2021 before a COVID-19 vaccine is fully approved for young children ages 5 to 11. (via NPR)

3) Justin Lessler, a University of North Carolina epidemiology professor who assisted in coordinating pandemic forecasts through the COVID-19 Scenario Modeling Hub, said he was “quite concerned. … It worries me that we may have been too optimistic” in projecting lower caseloads into the fall. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/31/when-will-covid-cases-drop/

4. Our neighbors across the bay in Tampa invested $20,000 into their parklet program. If you've been to Downtown Tampa, you know that parking is supremely limited. Most all of it is paid. And yet the City of Tampa still allowed businesses to maintain their parklets. Let's tell St. Pete that we want to see the same on this side of the bay, where parking is much more accessible. If the city wants to improve our outdoor seating areas, excellent, but they shouldn't take it away during a time when we want and need safe places to gather and support small businesses.

We hope you'll consider signing and sharing your thoughts. Thank you!