The Brief
- Data Center Pause: Pointing to heavy power and water consumption, Mayor Ken Welch urged caution on courting data centers, emphasizing that local codes currently prohibit them pending full feasibility studies.
- Moffitt Deal Rejection: With the full benefit of hindsight, Welch said he would still reject the proposal, refusing to grant a private developer a $19 million discount on city land.
- Flock Camera Stand: Welch resisted calls to suspend St. Petersburg’s $700,000 Flock camera contract, promising a council discussion on privacy rules while keeping the license plate readers active.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Managing a $1.2 billion operating budget while navigating post-hurricane recovery, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch is defending his record ahead of a runoff election against former Governor Charlie Crist. In a one-on-one interview with Fox 13 Political Editor Craig Patrick, Welch addressed key decisions from his tenure—from his rejection of the Moffitt Cancer Center proposal to conceding the city could have done better turning around home repair permits after recent hurricanes.
Data Centers and the $1.2 Billion Budget
Loudoun County, Virginia, generates $1.2 billion in annual tax revenue from data centers—roughly matching St. Petersburg’s entire operating budget. Asked whether St. Petersburg should court AI data centers for additional tax revenue, Welch urged restraint, noting that current city and Pinellas County codes prohibit data centers.
Welch pointed to energy consumption and water usage as significant feasibility concerns that require thorough study.
“Feasibility is going to be a tough haul given what we’ve heard about energy consumption and water use,” Welch said. “There are a lot of important questions that need to be answered before we rush into saying we’re a data center-welcoming community.”
Public Safety, Surveillance, and Flock Cameras
Under a $730,000 contract, St. Petersburg operates 50 Flock Safety license plate readers. When pressed on whether he would suspend the program pending a review of mass surveillance concerns, Welch declined to pause the contract, committing instead to a future city council discussion on privacy guardrails.…