ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. – Residents, enterprise homeowners, bartenders and musicians in St. Pete Seaside are voicing robust opposition to a proposed metropolis ordinance that might restrict reside music within the space.
The proposed ordinance seeks to “prohibit extreme noise clearly audible at a residential property positioned 200 ft from the noise between 10 p.m. and seven a.m.” Many concern this could silence late night time reside music at widespread native bars, together with Jimmy B’s, The Toasted Monkey, and Bangos, after 10 p.m.
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“It is ridiculous,” mentioned Invoice Pruitt, a bartender of greater than 20 years at Jimmy B’s. “We’re making an attempt to place a cease to it, as a result of that may’t occur. Too many residents need reside music, and other people keep in our lodges due to the reside music. To not point out all the employees and musicians who’re going to be unemployed due to it.”
Longtime native musician Ronnie Dee echoed Pruitt’s issues.
“I’ve been a neighborhood musician because the Nineties, and I’ve performed on this very neighborhood for many years… it’s feeding my kids and paying my payments,” Dee mentioned. “If this ordinance goes into impact, it’ll have an effect on lots of people’s paychecks.”
At Tuesday’s metropolis fee assembly, St. Pete Seaside Mayor Adrian Petrila acknowledged the issues of residents and enterprise homeowners, saying he needs an answer that may assist everybody.
“The purpose is solely, we’ve heard you … I would really like so that you can assist us give you an answer,” mentioned Petrila. “The issue is actual … Assist me hear how I can even assist the individuals sending me 50 emails a couple of state of affairs that’s making their life depressing, the place they will’t sleep, the place their home windows are shaking at night time.”
“With this a lot ardour, there needs to be a option to discover a answer,” added Commissioner Lisa Robinson.
When requested concerning the protest outdoors of metropolis corridor earlier than the assembly, Petrila mentioned he was completely satisfied to see it.
“That is democracy in motion,” mentioned Petrila. “Metropolis governments ought to hear from our constituents. I really like seeing this many individuals right here. The extra individuals we hear from, the higher we are able to serve our neighborhood.”
Nonetheless, for a lot of residents and enterprise homeowners, reside music is integral to the identification and tradition of St. Pete Seaside.
“Most of those bars, due to reside music, have grown and grown. Lodges are busier, and it’s been an excellent vibe throughout,” Pruitt mentioned.
“There was music right here for thus a few years, it’s a part of Florida and why vacationers come to Florida. Music is loud, and pleasure is loud,” mentioned musician Hannah Zazzaro.
Regardless of the passionate debate, no official choices had been made on the assembly. The fee nonetheless must have a second vote to make any modifications. There won’t be any daytime ordinances on reside music and noise.
The Supply: The knowledge on this story was gathered throughout a St. Pete Seaside fee assembly.
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