Catalyze 2026: Councilmember Corey Givens Jr.

We’re asking thought leaders, business people and creatives to talk about the upcoming new year and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2026.

Corey Givens Jr. learned the importance of collaboration and patience throughout his first year on the St. Petersburg City Council. His big plans for 2026 will likely require both in heavy doses.

The Federal Aviation Administration was facing an air traffic controller shortage before losing nearly 500 trainees during the recent government shutdown. Givens believes local partnerships can help fill those gaps.

He also hopes to see a revitalized 22nd Street South (Deuces) corridor, the de-annexation of Lincoln Cemetery and officials address soaring utility bills in the new year. However, his most outside-of-the-box idea is to establish an air traffic controller certification program in St. Petersburg.

“I think it’s important for us to step up and be leaders in the field of aviation,” Givens said. “And that also includes us talking about the future of aviation as it relates to electric air taxis. With more things flying in the air, you’re going to need more people on the ground controlling that.”

Givens said “very early” discussions with stakeholders at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, Albert Whitted Airport, Pinellas Technical College and St. Petersburg College have already taken place. Alison Barlow, executive director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, is also on his list.

A similar certification program is “not being offered at all at any school” on Florida’s west coast, Givens said. U.S. needs approximately 4,000 new air traffic controllers, “and we’re going to need to help pipeline some folks into those positions.”

“There are a number of people we want to engage in this,” Givens added, including the FAA. “But again, this is the early stages – literally within the first month.”

He envisions a “stepping stone” certification program that prepares underserved students, particularly those in South St. Petersburg, for further training or education. Ensuring affordability and accessibility is a priority.

Givens represents the culturally significant area known as the Deuces. Many long-planned projects meant to revitalize the historic corridor have encountered delays.

The Deuces Rising Townhomes community will begin welcoming residents in the new year. “We still don’t know the price of those yet,” Givens noted.

“We need to lock in a price point so that we can find prospective applicants,” he continued. “But we also need to make sure we complete that project sooner rather than later, because costs just keep going up.”

Givens also eagerly anticipates the Manhattan Casino reopening in 2026. Givens wants to ensure the city has “the right management organization or right leaders managing that facility, because I think that’s going to be important to the success of that city-owned asset.”

Securing a “reputable grocer” for Tangerine Plaza’s redevelopment is another priority. The local group overseeing the initiative recently received additional time to meet city requirements, despite persistent concerns.

“I also want to work with Positive Impact to relocate them somewhere along the Deuces,” Givens said. “Because that is where they need to be – in the heart of a food-insecure community.”

He stressed the importance of ensuring the Merriwether site, once a cultural landmark, provides affordable housing for residents who earn less than 80% of the area median income. “I want to see people stay in that community,” Givens said.

Issues related to exorbitant municipal water bills reached a fever pitch in 2025. Givens believes the city needs additional personnel to respond to customer complaints.

Residents often “feel dismissed” when disputing charges, he added. A long-awaited new tech platform should “make it easier for us to spot those spikes,” and Givens said officials should also replace antiquated meters.

However, he believes that “there’s more than just mechanical issues causing these abnormal bills.” Givens said the issue is “bigger than that” and requires additional investigation.

“I’m hoping that this audit that we’re doing will bring some things to fruition that we can address. I think having that management evaluation of billing and collection is going to help us, as council members, really find those red flags.”

Givens noted that District 7 also encompasses the Warehouse Arts District and parts of the Grand Central District. He wants to support small businesses, as many “did not revive or recover” following an unprecedented 2024 hurricane season.

Constituents should “gear up and get ready” for a momentous election year, Givens said. St. Petersburg voters will, for the first time, help decide state, federal, mayoral and city council races in November 2026.

“We want to make sure that we have forward-thinking leaders leading not only our country, but this city,” Givens said.