Armed with reverse image search and aggrieved by St. Petersburg's unaffordable housing market, Marley Price has become a thorn in the side of Airbnb owners across the city.

State of play: Since late February, the 27-year-old resident has flagged more than 100 homes she alleged were illegally operating as short-term rentals.

• She's sent property owners into a frenzy and gained a flock of admirers on social media, where a post about her activity reached more than a million people.

Why it matters: The complaints and reaction underscore the polarizing nature of short-term rentals listed on sites like Airbnb and VRBO — particularly in a city struggling with a housing crisis.

The big picture: How and whether to regulate vacation rentals has come up repeatedly in coastal communities across the state and has been a topic of debate in Tallahassee for years, including during the most recent lawmaking session.

Zoom in: St. Pete's zoning regulations allow property owners to rent out their homes month to month, Housing and Neighborhood Services administrator Amy Foster said in an email. Rental terms shorter than 30 days are allowed only up to three times within a 365-day period.

• Enforcing city codes is triggered by complaints, Foster said.
• Those found to be in violation receive a notice and have 20 days to fix the problem. If that doesn't work, they could face fines.

By the numbers: Of 108 cases stemming from Price's complaints, 88 resulted in violation notices. As of this week, no fines had been issued, Foster said.

Driving the news: Price's crusade began with an Airbnb down the street from her home in Disston Heights. She'd heard the owners were from out of state and listed the home on rental sites as a side hustle.

• She found dozens of similar rentals across the city and started reporting them via St. Pete's SeeClickFix portal, keeping a detailed spreadsheet that she shared with City Council members.

What she's saying: "These were once affordable houses — the starter homes that the city should want to have available," Price told Axios.

The other side: Multiple property owners did not return Axios' request for comment. Two declined to talk on the record, with one citing concerns for her safety in part because of Price's wide-reaching post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

• The post showed screenshots of Airbnb owners criticizing Price with their names blocked out by stickers of guns.
• Price told Axios she blocked their names to shield their identities and that the stickers weren't directed at property owners.

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Streetlight Taco in South Tampa has received Michelin's Bib Gourmand, the organization announced yesterday.

State of play: The restaurant was recently added to Michelin's Tampa guide. Three other Tampa restaurants share the honor, and three others have a coveted star.

• More stars could be in our future after the Michelin Guide hosts its private Florida ceremony on April 18 in Tampa.

What they're saying: The inspector praised Streetlight's contemporary style and the fact that Chef Michael Brannock nixtamalizes (a form of preparation) corn in-house for extra tasty tacos, tostadas, salsas and sides.

Go deeper: Michelin's favs include snack tostada, eggplant taco

🏟️ The University of South Florida plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony in October for its new on-campus stadium, which is expected to open in Fall 2027. (Tampa Bay Times)

Florida's bathroom laws criticized as anti-trans apply only to government buildings, not private businesses. But that hasn't kept civilians from trying to enforce the law where it doesn't apply. (The Daily Beast)

⛈️ After severe storms left thousands without power yesterday, a handful in Tampa Bay still have lights out.

• 1,000 more Duke Energy customers in Tarpon Springs were out this morning after an object hit a power line around 10pm last night.

👋 Selene here! Our only lesbian bar may be dead, but Tampa Bay's "dyke" scene lives on.

Why it matters: After the closing of The Lady's Room in Largo, which claimed to be Florida's only lesbian bar, a new pop up event is offering queer women and LGBTQ community members a new way to celebrate.

State of play: A new pop up, Dyke Nite St. Pete, hosts its second event next Friday at La Sétima Club in Tampa.

Of note: Don't get too comfy using the word "dyke." Dyke nights are popping up all over the country as events fill the lesbian bar gap, but it isn't an acceptable term to call people or toss around.

What they're saying: The event's creators, Lee and Rowan, told Creative Loafing that reclaiming the word was important to them in celebrating a specific part of the queer community.

• "We specifically like and use the word 'dyke' because it does make people feel something. It's important that we don't water anything down or always feel like we have to be palatable," Lee said.

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📅 Upcoming events around the city.

• GuavaFest at Fowler Fields next Saturday: Enjoy live performances, local artists, and small businesses coming together. Experience the collaborative efforts of Small Business Owners at USF and Project Downtown Tampa in supporting the needy and homeless. This event fosters community spirit, empowering people of all faiths and cultures.
• Tampa Riverfest at Curtis Hixon Park starts May 3: Experience the best of Tampa at Riverfest. This free event unites the community, showcases local talent, and celebrates the city's rich culture. Attendees will enjoy a fun-filled weekend with great food, music, and memorable experiences. Riverfest is a must for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in Tampa's vibrant spirit.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

Median property taxes for single-family homes in Florida have swelled about 35% over the last five years.

Why it matters: The state's property tax spike is 10 percentage points higher than the U.S. average, adding to the rising cost of homeownership.

Zoom in: Florida's median property tax increased from $2,226 in 2019 to $3,003 in 2023.

• Property taxes on U.S. single-family homes rose to $2,877 in 2023, up from $2,367 in 2019, according to data CoreLogic shared with Axios.

Between the lines: Property taxes, which are based on a home's assessed value and the local tax rate, typically climb as home values rise, according to Yanling Mayer, an economist and principal with CoreLogic.

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