Dali, Mahaffey light up in red to highlight live events industry
September 1, 2020 - Four iconic St. Petersburg structures will be lit in red tonight as part of a national effort to raise public awareness about the economic plight of the live events industry in the Covid-19 pandemic. Jannus Live, the Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College, the Salvador Dali Museum and the Duke Energy Center for the Arts/Mahaffey Theater will be among those participating in #RedAlertRESTART Day of Action. Since all live events were shut down in March, millions of people have been impacted in an industry that generates about $877 billion a year in revenue, a news release said. The goal of tonight's event is to urge Congress to pass the RESTART Act, as well as extend and expand pandemic unemployment assistance for 1099 workers, and federal pandemic unemployment compensation for the unemployed. The local effort is part of a national initiative that will involve more than 1,500 buildings in 50 cities. The buildings will be lit in red from 9 p.m. to midnight.