28-04-2025
Mayor Jane Castor says now is ‘Tampa's moment'
The city of Tampa is having its moment, the mayor said.
During her State of the City address at the Tampa River Center Monday, Mayor Jane Castor touted the city's work in building back from last year's brutal storms, developing neighborhoods and addressing aging infrastructure.
With this year's hurricane season beginning in just over a month, Castor emphasized the city's mission to become more resilient: The city has spent $94 million on waste water updates, which includes 28 pump stations, and $350 million in stormwater system maintenance.
The city is also adding back-up generators to pump stations, which move residential wastewater to the city's sewer system. An audit earlier this year showed that some of Tampa's pumps haven't been maintained properly, and city officials have said the failure of infrastructure contributed to flooding in neighborhoods that did not expect any.
Castor acknowledged neighborhoods that were hit especially hard, including Davis Islands, Forest Hills and Palmetto Beach. When asked after her address what residents in these neighborhoods can expect moving forward, she said the city is anticipating the results of Hillsborough County's report on how cities faired during the storms last year.
'There is no system in America, or the world, that could handle the amount of water that came into some of these neighborhoods,' she said. 'We're working to make our city as resilient as possible.'
Castor said the city is working with state, federal and local partners to continue supporting residents in neighborhoods that are building back. She said the county is set to receive more than $700 million in disaster assistance, with a portion going toward the city.
Under Castor, the Tampa City Council passed the Progressive Infrastructure Plan to Ensure Sustainability program in 2019 to invest in sewer and water systems. She has also focused on other infrastructure needs, such as roads, sidewalks and public transit. Castor thanked U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents the Tampa Bay and is not related to the mayor, for securing federal funding for the city.
'This is all disruptive,' she said. 'But temporary inconvenience in one block means long-term protection for the entire neighborhood.'
Housing demand has also been a key issue affecting residents in Tampa. The city's director of housing, among other city leadership, resigned last year, and in 2023, the Tampa Bay Times reported the mayor had inflated progress on affordable housing.
But Castor on Monday said the city has built 20,000 residential units, thousands of which are affordable, and rental rates are back to 2021 levels.
'While we welcome new neighbors to Tampa, we will not price our residents out of the city that they built,' she said, which was met with applause.
Former Mayor Bob Buckhorn attended Monday's speech and addressed speculation he may run for mayor. He spoke to a class of students at Saint Leo University Thursday, and said he was making a bid for the seat, according to the school.
But after Castor's address he said he couldn't confirm his decision yet because the race is still two years out and there are 'a lot of things to figure out.'
'I'm really, really looking hard at it,' said Buckhorn, who was Tampa mayor from 2011 to 2019. 'I think the chances are probably pretty good that I will.'
Overall, Castor's message was that Tampa is 'strong,' and she gave nods to the communities integral to the city's history, and, of course, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, who grew up in Tampa.
'This is Tampa's moment,' she said. 'We used to have to fight to get on the map. Now, we are shaping that map.'
