Renters to host ‘sleep-in’ at city hall tonight
August 3, 2022 - In light of soaring rents displacing St. Petersburg residents, and with the City of Tampa declaring a housing state of emergency last week, tenants will conduct a “sleep-in protest” Wednesday night. Several community organizations, including the St. Petersburg Tenants Union, Faith in Florida, St. Petersburg Tri-Partisan Canvas and PSL Tampa Bay are hosting the event. The protest, which the groups say will feature music, speakers and food, begins at 7 p.m. and lasts until Thursday morning’s city council meeting. During that meeting, participants will demand that the city declare a housing state of emergency and let voters decide if they want rent control in St. Petersburg through a ballot referendum.