Anthony Close ☀️

Founder of @StPeteRising. Supporter of @YIMBYStPete. @UF alum.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

I started a new blog, I'll share it in a few days when I finish creating it :)

[St. Pete Rising @StPeteRising]

Y2K boutique Clique Vintage is opening in St. Pete's Grand Central District this month https://t.co/TVssq2yb4t

[Ryan Walker @RyanWalkerFL]

🏀🐊

[NCAA March Madness @MarchMadnessMBB]

GATORS TAKE THE SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN 🐊

No. 1 Florida grabs a win in Tallahassee over rival Florida State 😤

[Josh Barzon @JoshuaBarzon]

The oldest business in every state that is STILL operating today.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@FLDem0crat @VoteHub I think Chaney is termed out so it may be open, which would be interesting!

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

According to @VoteHub, St. Pete was D+32 in 2026 with David Jolly and Byron Donalds getting 65.3% and 33.3% of the vote, respectively.

For comparison, St. Pete was D+20 in 2024 and D+26 in 2020.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@MappingFL @VoteHub I’m not sure but I wondered the same thing. Pinellas usually doesn’t release it until certification. It may be posted somewhere else though

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@FLDem0crat @VoteHub I’d assume Chaney outran the top of the ticket by 2-3% but I haven’t seen the precinct data for that race

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@jsand850 @VoteHub The areas with the biggest swings appear to be places that swung a lot from 2020 to 2024, so it's a snapback to an extent

[R.J. Lehmann @raylehmann]

I was struggling to imagine what a "Y2K boutique" could possibly be, then I hit the word "vintage" and immediately turned to dust.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@ryanbecker @Uncrewed Was it Hispanic swings?

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

Y2K boutique Clique Vintage is opening in St. Pete's Grand Central District this month https://t.co/7ijXdu6Czc

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@SocFLMan @Uncrewed You know it eats Alvarez up too.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@JeffreyBrandes @JeffreyBrandes Is it possible for cities to split out capital projects into one (or more) millage rate-backed bonds and put those before voters for approval? Then use regular prop taxes and other non-ad valorem rev for operations? The idea would be to keep funding levels flat

[KevinBrockwayGators @KevinBrockwayG1]

UF Board of Trustees approves new naming rights deal for O'Connell Center. It's local insurance business company Tower Hill Insurance. #Gators

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@PeterSchorschFL Additional winners: St. Pete’s LGBTQ community for electing two city council members; first LGBTQ representation in five years I think

Additional losers: whoever ran Brian Scott’s campaign, that race was winnable but TV ads were bad and he wasted money on a bus wrap (??)

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@RoosterOnes Having a more efficient government is evil? Ok lmao

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

Post-Amendment 3 implementation, there will be a need for municipality consolidation.

St. Petersburg should explore a consolidation with South Pasadena, Gulfport, St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Lealman (unincorporated but both East and West), Kenneth City, and Maderia Beach.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@Aden_Yacobi @Fla_Pol @CharlieCrist @StPeteFL @Reportographer For perspective, property tax collections in St. Pete have increased from $100m/yr in FY17 to $225m/yr in FY26. Most of that is due to new development/home reassessments at sale since our millage rate has decreased over that span. Inflation eats away at some of this of course.

[Anthony Close ☀️ @AnthonyClose]

@Aden_Yacobi @Fla_Pol @CharlieCrist @StPeteFL @Reportographer I think there’s opportunity for tax cuts and St. Pete has cut its millage several times over the last 5 years.

Unfortunately, we got punished for doing that w A3, but the way values have increased so sharply I think was room for more. Post-A3 environment might change that.