Axios Tampa Bay

June 22, 2026
Monday. Let's get it.
โ๏ธ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 95 and a low of 80.
Sounds like: "Rhiannon," Fleetwood Mac
๐ Happy belated birthday to our Axios Tampa Bay members Stephanie Citron and Mark Heisler!
Today's newsletter is 1,042 words, a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Scoop โย Pinellas Pride recognition falls short
For the first time in several years, Pride Month will go unrecognized by the Pinellas County Commission.
- That's because not enough commissioners agreed to sign the ceremonial document commemorating the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, chair Dave Eggers confirmed to Axios.
Why it matters: Such proclamations "communicate whether LGBTQ+ residents are seen, valued and welcomed in their own communities," PFLAG Safety Harbor/Greater Pinellas president Wendy Vernon told Axios.
The big picture: That's especially relevant as Gov. Ron DeSantis and local government leaders, including all seven Pinellas commissioners, have declared June "Faith and Family Month."
- Several Pinellas commissioners said they understood the proclamation to reflect a broad celebration of families and faith communities.
- But the organization promoting that designation defines marriage as between a man and a woman and denies the existence of transgender people.
- It's in line with a national push by conservatives to make June a celebration of Christianity and heterosexual family structures.
Catch up quick: After an Axios reporter asked this month whether Pinellas would recognize Pride โ as it had for at least eight of the previous nine years โ Eggers circulated a proclamation among his colleagues for their signatures.
- Commissioners initially weren't considering a Pride proclamation because no outside organization had requested one, Eggers said.
- But "for me it was important enough to make that option available," he said. "I don't believe any group should be marginalized, ever."
- Commissioner Chris Latvala introduced the Faith and Family measure and previously told Axios it wasn't linked to a specific organization.
Reality check: Faith and Family Month touts the commission's support on its website, and Latvala told WTSP that he wouldn't sign the Pride proclamation because it would be "counter-messaging ... to sign both."
- He did not return Axios' requests for comment.
State of play: Only Eggers and Commissioners Renรฉ Flowers and Brian Scott told Axios they supported the Pride proclamation. Proclamations typically require a supermajority, meaning at least five commissioners, Eggers said.
- Commissioner Vince Nowicki for the second year declined, telling Axios he took issue with the language. Commissioner Chris Scherer did not return requests for comment.
- Commissioner Kathleen Peters, who has previously supported Pride measures, said she had no issue with the substance but emphasized that no local organizations had requested it.
What they're saying: "Leadership isn't waiting to be asked," PFLAG's Vernon said.
- "It's recognizing what is right and acting on it because you have a responsibility to the people you serve."
2. ๐ซ Inside New College's expansion
The University of South Florida's Board of Trustees approved the transfer of its Sarasota-Manatee Campus to New College of Florida last week โ a shakeup that has rattled alumni, donors and students.
Why it matters: The deal would make New College of Florida an even larger testing ground for Florida's conservative vision of higher education.
Driving the news: State lawmakers passed a bill during last month's budget special session that would hand USF's Sarasota-Manatee campus over to New College, requiring it to assume the campus' debt by Oct. 30.
- Current students at USF Sarasota-Manatee may complete their degrees there if they remain continuously enrolled, with some professors and classrooms temporarily remaining in place to ease the transition.
- If signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has already expressed support for the takeover, USF would begin transferring its buildings on July 1.
Zoom in: Excluded from the transfer are employees, programs, funds and movable educational and research equipment, as well as computers assigned to USF personnel.
- Faculty and staff at the Sarasota-Manatee campus are not expected to lose their jobs as a result of the transfer; instead, they would be relocated to USF's Tampa or St. Petersburg campus.
- The agreement bars New College from making permanent changes to any buildings it takes over and limits rebranding that could confuse remaining USF students and staff.
What they're saying: USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Board chair Rick Piccolo called the plan "difficult to endorse" in comments to WUSF, though he ultimately voted to approve the transfer.
- Piccolo added that many in the community view both institutions as "important to the region" and believe they could have collaborated more efficiently without erasing either school's distinct identity.
- "Obviously, a more collaborative approach was not selected by the governor and the Legislature," he told WUSF.
3. The Pulp: ๐คค Supernatural Food & Wine to expand
๐ฉ Supernatural Food & Wine announced plans to open a West Tampa location, a move that will allow it to boost production of its sourdough doughnuts, which received praise from Guy Fieri. (Creative Loafing)
๐ข Nearly two dozen workers say the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs discriminated against them by ordering them to work in the office against their doctors' medical advice. (Tampa Bay Times)
๐ธ Starting July 1, Polk County Public Schools will charge a fee of $400 to any private school student who participates in district sports. (Tampa Bay 28)
4. ๐คฏ $1 million... starter homes?!

A record 242 American cities โ including 11 in Florida โ now have typical starter homes valued at $1 million or more, according to a new Zillow report.
Why it matters: That's up from 226 cities last year โ and 80 in February 2020, before the pandemic housing boom sent home prices soaring.
The big picture: 26 states had at least one city with million-dollar starter homes in April, up from nine states before the pandemic, Zillow found.
- California leads with 105 cities, followed by New York with 41 and New Jersey with 26.
Zoom in: Anna Maria was the only Tampa Bay city that appeared on the list. The next closest was Boca Grande just north of Cape Coral.
- The other nine Florida cities were in Southeast Florida.
5. โพ๏ธ 1 Tampa Bay-Miami crossover to go
๐ Kathryn here. Winston and I had the great honor over the weekend of introducing Axios Miami's Sommer Brugal to our dome sweet dome.
- While the Rays lost, Sommer said she liked the Trop more than the Marlins' stadium. We'll take it.
๐ Kathryn is sooo proud of her friend Brian's phenomenal performance as Mickey Deans in the Gulfport Players' production of "End of the Rainbow."
โค๏ธ Yacob is hyped for Casa Amor!
This newsletter was edited by Jeff Weiner.
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