Mitch Perry
The poverty rate for blacks has never been lower in St. Petersburg, with the decline four times greater than the black poverty rate across Florida.
That’s according to advocates working on that vexing issue, citing the latest U.S. Census data.
Officials with the Agenda 2020 plan say that the black poverty rate has dropped 17.3 percent in St. Pete since 2014, compared with just 4.1 percent across the entire state of Florida. And it’s also dropping more aggressively among St. Petersburg blacks compared to nonblacks, where it’s only been reduced by a little over one percent.
The 2020 plan was announced with great fanfare in 2014. It’s stated goal was to reduce the poverty rate by 30 percent in South St. Petersburg by the 2020 Census, and reduce it by 80 percent by 2045.
The 2020 coalition consists of the Pinellas County Urban League, the City of St. Petersburg, the Pinellas Opportunity Council, and over 100 corporate, government, funding and grassroots community organizations.
“It’s really people making up their minds to do things differently,” said Gypsy Gallardo, chief architect of the 2020 Plan, on how the poverty rate has decreased. Among those who she says who deserve credit is for innovative thinking in tackling the issue include the Pinellas County education community, the United Way, the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce and more corporations working with the city.
Gallardo also cited the rebound of the local job, a surge in college and technical school enrollment, and a rise in poverty reduction programs. In 2013, she said there was only one program in the area with a specific goal to help families exit poverty; now there are 12 different programs.
If the trend continues, it would reverse what a Tampa Bay Times study reported on in August, which said after more than $200 million spent since 1999 in the Midtown/Childs Park neighborhoods, the average household’s income has actually gone down when adjusted for inflation.
Since its inception, the 2020 Plan and its partners have raised $8.1 million through a combination of grants, private investment, and donations. Among those who have invested in the program include the United Way Suncoast, Mt. Zion Progressive, Pinellas Opportunity Council, Florida Blue Foundation, Allegheny Franciscan Ministries, Bon Secours, the Tampa Bay Rays, and Tampa Black Business Investment Corp, among others.
The release of the September U.S. Census numbers comes as St. Petersburg citizens are already voting in the mayoral election. Gallardo stresses that the evolution of the 2020 Plan preceded incumbent Rick Kriseman’s election, going back to 2009 to create a southside Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).
“Both of them have taken proactive steps that now contribute to what we see here,” she says. “Baker did a lot to increase the number of elementary school students who were on track to receive college scholarships, which over the years has borne fruit in increased rates of college enrollment and graduation, ” said Gallardo.
Nevertheless, the plan took effect just as Kriseman was taking power, who had embraced it as one of his top five priorities. He weighed in on the new report on Monday, saying,” This is an incredible milestone for our city and an illustration of the kind of progress that is possible when we work together. However, it is important to note that we still have a lot of work to do. We are up for the job.”
Watson Haynes, CEO of the Urban League, and Carolyn King, Executive Director of Pinellas Opportunity Council, are scheduled to talk about the latest poverty statistics results of the 2020 plan Tuesday night at the Mt. Zion Progressive Baptist Church, followed by a dinner honoring 24 parents currently enrolled in one of the poverty-exit programs.
