Imagine going to work, picking up your kids, and coming home—only to find a notice on your door warning that your water could be shut off, through no fault of your own. That’s the reality for hundreds of families living at The Morgan apartments in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The residents did nothing wrong. They’ve paid their rent. They’ve followed the rules. But their corporate landlord—Lurin Estate Holdings—has failed to pay over $350,000 in water bills to the city. Now, the City of St. Petersburg is weighing a decision that would cut off water to the entire complex, leaving hundreds of people—including children, seniors, and people with disabilities—without a basic human necessity.

This isn’t just a utility issue. It’s a human rights issue. No family should face eviction or forced relocation because their landlord refuses to meet their legal obligations.

We’re calling on the St. Petersburg City Council and Mayor Ken Welch to immediately halt any plans to shut off water at The Morgan and to implement a tenant protection policy that ensures utility services remain active when nonpayment is due to landlord negligence—not tenant fault.

If the city is owed money, it has tools: liens, lawsuits, even eventual property seizure. But turning off the water punishes the very people this city should be protecting. It forces working families into crisis, disrupts children’s schooling, and could lead to a surge in homelessness at a time when affordable housing is already in short supply.

It’s time for our city leaders to take a stand. Keep the water on. Use the legal system to pursue bad landlords—not their tenants. Cities like ours should be setting the example: people come first, especially when basic dignity is on the line.

Sign this petition to demand the City of St. Petersburg protect renters, not punish them.

Photo: DIRK SHADD/Tampa Bay Times