News & Public Affairs

South St. Pete voters: what enthusiasm gap? listen

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Tags: South St. Pete, Midtown, 2010 election, Florida politics, Kendrick Meek, Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio

This year, there’s much talk of an “enthusiasm gap,” even though many admit there’s no way to accurately predict who’s going to show up at the polls. With factors like rainy weather supposedly influencing voter turnout, only time will tell who’s voting today, and for which candidates. Today WMNF spoke with voters at several south St. Petersburg precincts that overwhelmingly supported Obama in 2008, to find out if Democratic support was still there despite this being an off year.

"Everybo...

Memories of the old 22nd Street South listen

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Tags: Midtown, Oral History, 22nd Street South

The economic and cultural renaissance of the historic 22nd Street South in St. Petersburg takes community and city effort. And changes can already be seen.

New mom-and-pop businesses, schools, a bank, and new neighborhoods rise in Midtown. Will this place thrive again?

Many activists fought and fight for the revitalization of this district: Peggy Peterman, Rosalie Peck and Jon Wilson, council member Wengay Newton, and the list goes on.

Back in 1965, Peggy Peterman often wrote abou...

Happy Workers listen

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Tags: happy workers, midtown, st. petersburg

Gertrude Jones has been a teacher at the Happy Workers Children’s Center in midtown St. Petersburg for 34 years. The daycare was founded by Willie Lee McAdams, the wife of Pastor Oscar McAdams in the Trinity Presbyterian Church in 1929.

The center started in the storeroom of the church on 920 19th St. S. and expanded into what it is today, she says. Even though 90 percent of the children are “poor and minority,” 90 percent of them achieve at or above grade level, according to 2008 Histor...