One devastating night in Ybor City, chaos unfolded on Seventh Avenue when a reckless driver tore through a crowd of pedestrians. More than a dozen innocent people were struck in a matter of seconds. Four lives were lost. Five of my friends were among the injured—people who were simply out trying to enjoy their evening, never imagining it could turn into a nightmare.

This was not a one off tragedy. It was the result of a street that has become increasingly unsafe. This most recent mass-casualty incident in Ybor City is proof that Seventh Avenue is no longer equipped to safely handle the overwhelming mix of nightlife crowds and constant vehicle traffic.

Every Friday and Saturday night, Seventh Avenue transforms into one of Tampa’s busiest hotspots. The sidewalks overflow, people cross between venues, rideshare vehicles pile up, and yet cars continue to speed through as if it were any other street. It’s a deadly combination. The latest tragedy is not just another statistic, it is a warning. A warning that the next victim could be anyone.

To protect our community, we must take immediate action. We propose temporarily closing Seventh Avenue to vehicular traffic on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 PM to 3 AM. These are the hours when foot traffic reaches its peak, when thousands of people pack the streets. Converting the avenue into a pedestrian-only zone during these times will save lives. Cities across the country have already adopted similar measures with tremendous success, creating safer, more enjoyable nightlife districts without sacrificing economic vitality.

Ybor City deserves the same. Our friends, families, bartenders, servers, performers, and visitors all deserve to feel safe walking down its streets. We cannot allow another preventable tragedy to shatter this community.

Let us honor those who were killed. Let us stand with those who were injured. And let us refuse to wait until another night ends in bloodshed.

Please sign this petition and urge city officials to act now. Closing Seventh Avenue on weekend nights is not just a good idea, it is a necessary, life-saving decision. Your signature can drive real change.

It is time to prioritize safety. It is time to act before more lives are lost.