A call for equitable infrastructure in St. Petersburg

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As we work towards achieving more significant equity in our communities, it’s vital to understand that symbolic gestures alone are insufficient. It’s essential to recognize that being “seen” goes beyond these gestures and encompasses the tangible elements of daily life, such as well-maintained roads, clean parks and dependable trash collection.

The absence of these basic amenities in neighborhoods like St. Petersburg’s south side can send a message that their residents’ voices are not being heard, and that their needs are not a priority. While addressing systemic issues like housing and health is crucial, we must prioritize the infrastructure surrounding residents’ homes. Doing so sends a powerful message that every neighborhood matters and that they all deserve equal attention and resources. This fosters a sense of belonging, pride and equal opportunity for all residents and promotes genuine care and inclusivity in our communities.

Over the past 10 months, Uncommon City has been doing deep listening through various means, including 1-1 listening of residents’ lived experiences in St. Petersburg. In this article, we’ll explore the correlation between infrastructure, care, and equity, featuring anecdotes from marginalized residents who often feel unseen in St. Petersburg’s south side.

The small things matter

Equity is about more than policies and programs. It is about ensuring that every neighborhood receives the same level of care and attention from the city regardless of demographics or socioeconomic status. For example, good roads allow residents to commute safely and access essential services. Manicured parks provide leisure, community gathering and children’s play spaces. Reliable trash collection promotes cleanliness and a healthy environment.

When these small things are consistently missing or neglected, it sends residents a powerful message: Their neighborhood is not a priority, and their voices are not being heard. It perpetuates a sense of marginalization and reinforces existing disparities. The absence of equitable infrastructure erodes trust between communities and the city, making it harder to address larger systemic issues.

Anecdotes from the unseen

Consider Maria, a longtime resident of the south side. She recounts how the pothole-ridden roads in her neighborhood have damaged her car and made her commute stressful. She wonders why her community’s concerns about road repairs seem to fall on deaf ears while other areas of the city enjoy smooth and well-maintained streets. It’s as if the city’s care and attention selectively skip over neighborhoods like hers, leaving them feeling invisible and ignored.

Similarly, Tyrone shares his frustration with the lack of accessible and well-maintained parks in his predominantly minority community. He sees neighboring areas benefit from beautifully landscaped parks while his community’s green spaces are often neglected and suffer disrepair. Again, the message is clear: his neighborhood does not deserve the same quality of life and recreational opportunities as others.

Finally, Jadon often watches as “the garbage truck comes through and someone jumps out to get my trash but only takes what’s on top. When I got to pull my can from the street, there is still trash on the inside. I also see trash flying out of that same truck down our street, and the yards get littered by it. And why is it that we don’t have any sidewalks? If I go on the northside, I see sidewalks, but in my neighborhood, nothin.’”

The essence of care

Addressing issues of equity requires more than hiring a Chief Equity Officer or implementing policies from above. While these steps are important, genuine care and inclusivity manifest in the small details of a resident’s daily life. Neighborhoods without equitable infrastructure communicate a lack of care, respect and investment in the community’s well-being.

A person’s home is their world, kingdom, and slice of the pie, and how the city tends to the infrastructure around their homes speaks volumes about its commitment to equity. Investing in equitable roads, parks and trash collection sends a powerful message that every neighborhood matters and deserves attention and resources. In addition, it creates an environment where families can thrive – they can get to work safely, play safely, and be proud of where they live.

A call for change

To build a genuinely equitable St. Petersburg, we must acknowledge and address the disparities in infrastructure that leave marginalized communities feeling unseen. It requires allocating resources, prioritizing maintenance and repairs, and engaging directly with residents to understand their unique needs and concerns.

Through our listening at Uncommon City, residents have identified ways to address these issues:

1. Gathering essential information on infrastructure needs through community surveys can significantly impact residents’ quality of life.
2. Engaging with marginalized community members directly through town hall meetings can lead to positive change and address their concerns.
3. Amplifying resident voices by partnering with local community organizations is crucial to ensure everyone’s concerns are heard and addressed.
4. Prioritizing infrastructure investments in historically marginalized areas is vital to achieving equity and addressing disparities.
5. Creating a task force that monitors progress towards necessary improvements and addresses infrastructure disparities.
6. Targeted outreach efforts can ensure that all residents are aware of and benefit from available resources.
7. Empowering local residents through training and resources can increase participation in decision-making processes and infrastructure planning.
8. Building trust with the community by increasing transparency in infrastructure planning and decision-making is essential.
9. Developing a comprehensive plan to address infrastructure needs in marginalized communities is critical to achieving equitable infrastructure development.
10. Seeking regular feedback from residents and reporting progress can ensure accountability and maintain trust with the community.

Equity is not just about grand gestures; it is about the everyday experiences of residents. By ensuring that every neighborhood receives the same level of care and attention, we can create a city that fosters a sense of belonging, pride, and equal opportunity for all its residents.

Conclusion

Equity in St. Petersburg demands more than lofty promises or surface-level initiatives. It requires a genuine commitment to seeing and valuing every resident, particularly the small things that shape their daily lives. By investing in equitable infrastructure, the city can demonstrate care, and intentionality, and have its equity commitments felt at the street and avenue level where it’s tangible for all. 

Meiko Seymour is the owner of Uncommon City, a vision and consulting community “aimed at finding uncommon solutions to common problems in our uncommon city.”