Wednesday, looking good!

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high of 87 and a low of 71.

Sounds like: "The Beautiful Ordinary," Erik Sigurd.

Today’s newsletter is 1,105 words — a 4-minute read.

With voting underway for the Nov. 3 election, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch and former Gov. Charlie Crist made their final appeals to voters during a debate Tuesday night.

Why it matters: The future of Tropicana Field, water and sewer infrastructure issues laid bare by the 2024 hurricanes, and an upcoming DEI ban were on the list of issues hashed out during the hourlong program, hosted by Spectrum Bay News 9.

• The candidates weren't given questions in advance or allowed to read from prepared materials.

Here are three takeaways from the debate, moderated by anchor Holly Gregory:

A telling exchange

The debate was largely tame, but one tense exchange during the last question illustrated the stakes of the race.

Zoom in: Gregory asked how a law going into effect next year banning cities from supporting programming that references race, gender or sexual orientation would impact St. Pete.

• Crist said it already has, pointing to the state's removal of the Central Avenue rainbow mural, among others.
• "If you're not going to fight for free speech for the citizens of your city, maybe you ought not be the mayor," Crist said of Welch.

The other side: "You weren't here for anything over the last five years," Welch said in his rebuttal, touting his endorsements from Equality Florida and the Stonewall Democrats of Pinellas County.

• "It's easy to speak after the fact … but I didn't hear your voice when this was going down."

Trop top of mind

The future of the Tropicana Field site is one of the biggest questions awaiting the next mayor.

• Welch has already picked redevelopment proposals for the property, while Crist said he would start the evaluation process over again.

Friction point: Welch said his top priority is doing right by the residents of the Historic Gas Plant District, who were displaced by the Trop's construction.

• When asked about his vision for the property, Crist didn't mention the historically Black neighborhood.

As for the Trop's tenant, Crist said he hasn't lost hope that the Rays could stay in the city, invoking the movie "Field of Dreams."

The other side: "We have to be realistic," Welch said. "The goal is not to pay any price to keep baseball here."

Crist flips on tax

After saying he was "probably going to vote for it" in a radio interview last week, Crist said Tuesday he doesn't support the city's ask to levy an additional property tax to accelerate upgrades to the drainage, sewer and water systems.

• Welch defended the measure, saying he's heard overwhelmingly from residents that they want a solution to flooding and hurricane damage.

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Tampa City Council will vote Thursday on a resolution that would allow the city to borrow up to $80 million to help pay for a new Rays ballpark.

Why it matters: The vote would give Tampa more flexibility in paying for its share of the stadium, but borrowing the money could leave taxpayers with a bigger bill.

Driving the news: City Council agreed in August to contribute up to $80 million for the stadium, paid in four annual installments, to be used for roads, sidewalks, parking and other public infrastructure.

• But the agreement did not specify where the money would come from. City staff wrote in an agenda item that Tampa may need to borrow some or all of it to cover its contribution.
• The city's finance department recommends seeking court approval for that potential borrowing alongside its $80 million commitment, giving Tampa legal cover if it decides to issue bonds later.

Between the lines: Thursday's vote would allow Tampa to seek court approval to borrow up to $80 million. It would not, however, commit the city to taking on that debt.

• Even if a judge approves the borrowing, City Council would have to vote again before issuing bonds.

The big picture: Tampa could wind up paying millions more for the stadium if it finances its $80 million contribution through bonds.

• That's on top of the $100 million, plus interest, the city has already agreed to repay the Rays, using future property tax revenue from a new stadium district carved out of Drew Park.

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⚾️ The Rays topped the Cleveland Guardians, 3-1, at the Trop to even the American League Championship Series at one game apiece. (ESPN)

• Game 3 is Thursday in Cleveland. 📺 6pm, TBS and truTV.

🚖 One of Waymo's self-driving taxis drove into oncoming traffic earlier this month while driving University of Tampa students back from a Bucs game. The vehicle ultimately managed to avoid a collision. (WUSF)

🍞 State Flour is leaving South Tampa and moving into a larger storefront in Lutz, where the bakery intends to expand its production and reimagine itself as "a chef-driven Panera Bread." (Tampa Bay Times)

We're halfway to the weekend.

• Here are a few ways to spend it, in and around Tampa.

🍷 Wines of Spain, Ybor City: Sample dozens of carefully selected wines from Spain and the Mediterranean at Centro Asturiano de Tampa, where you'll also find live music, hand-rolled cigars and a silent auction.

• Friday, 6-9pm. | 1913 North Nebraska Avenue | Tickets start at $108.55.

🎸 15th Annual Tampa Pig Jig, Downtown Tampa: Make your way to  Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park for the region's annual philanthropic festival headlined by country music singer-songwriter Thomas Rhett.

• Saturday, 1pm. | 1001 North Boulevard | Tickets start at $140.

🏒 Lightning vs. Vancouver Canucks, Channelside: Watch as the Lightning hit the ice at Benchmark International Arena against the Canucks in this afternoon home game.

• Saturday, 4pm | 401 Channelside Drive | Tickets start at $48.

🍺 Yuengling Oktoberfest, Terrace Park: Stop by the Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen for its annual Oktoberfest celebration, where you'll find live music from The Bearded Brothers, giveaways and themed bites.

• Saturday, 5-10pm. | 11109 N 30th Street | Free to attend!

Thanks to reader Tom Baur for sharing his photos of yesterday's SpaceX launch, taken from Clearwater Beach.

• Hit reply with your favorite photos taken in Tampa Bay, and we may feature them in a future newsletter.

🌊 Kathryn is still grossed out by all the "sea pork" she saw washed up on the beach over the weekend.

📺 Yacob finished the new "Carrie" series on Prime and thought it was great.

This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.