Nearly 30% of Tampa Bay renters are spending more than half their income on housing, according to new Census data.

Why it matters: An excessive rent burden can make it harder to afford other basic needs, like groceries and transportation — or to save for a down payment to buy a home.

By the numbers: Florida is home to several especially rent-burdened metros, including Port St. Lucie (where 36.6% of renters are spending more than half their income on rent), Cape Coral (35.1%) and Palm Bay (34.3%).

• That could be due to the state's large number of retirees, who may have relatively less current income.
• On the other side are Ogden, Utah (17.9%), Northwest Arkansas (18%) and Wichita, Kansas (18.7%).

Zoom in: Housing affordability is a crisis in Tampa Bay and across Florida, in part because costs are climbing without wages keeping pace.

• According to an analysis by Zillow, rents in the Tampa Metro area climbed by 50% between 2019 and 2023 — while wages rose only about 15%.
• That's the widest gap of any metropolitan area in the country.

Between the lines: Geography is only part of the equation here — race plays a role, too.

• 30.6% of Black renters are spending more than half their income on rent, compared to 23.4% of white renters.

Stunning stat: The real median gross cost of renting — rent plus utility/energy costs — grew faster annually (+3.8%) than real median home values (+1.8%) last year for the first time in a decade, per the Census Bureau.

Spread the word

Residents working to save 14 acres of Pinellas County land from development have more time after reaching a new agreement with county leaders.

Why it matters: The nonprofit WK Preservation Group now has until Dec. 10 to raise the remaining $258,000 needed to buy the land, president Tex Carter told Axios on Monday and a county spokesperson confirmed.

• The initial deadline passed Sunday.

State of play: Since last month, the group has experienced a flurry of support that closed the gap by more than $200,000, Carter said.

• The group that once got 20 donations on a good day was now fielding hundreds.
• He attributes that to news coverage and a trickle-down effect from the widespread public outcry over a now-defunct plan to build athletic courts and hotels in several Florida state parks.

What they're saying: "It was just incredible," Carter said.

• "People realize that green spaces are very important, and it's going to take some work to preserve them, but they're willing to help."

Catch up quick: The nonprofit and the county agreed to split the $3 million asking price for the land off West Klosterman Road, just south of Tarpon Springs.

• The parcel, known as the West Klosterman Preserve, represents less than 1% of original Florida scrub left in Pinellas.
• It's currently owned by Pinellas County Schools, which in 2020 planned to sell the land to developers before residents stepped in.

Share this story

⚖️ The man suspected of attempting to assassinate former President Trump at his West Palm Beach golf club was charged yesterday with two gun crimes in federal court. (Axios)

• Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state will conduct its own investigation into the incident — noting the "same [federal] agencies" prosecuting Trump are "are now going to be investigating this."

🚔 The FBI is contacting families whose money went missing from the Centers for Special Needs Trust Administration, a St. Petersburg nonprofit that administered medical trust funds. (Tampa Bay Times)

• The nonprofit's bankruptcy filings in February revealed that more than $100 million had been loaned to an entity owned by Leo Govoni, its founder, since 2009 — and never repaid.

🥯 H&H Bagels — a famed New York-based chain featured in "Seinfeld," "The Office" and "Sex and the City," among other shows and movies — is opening a location at 1155 South Dale Mabry Highway. (WFTS)

Florida is among 10 states national Democrats are targeting for a $25 million push to expand voter outreach, according to multiple outlets.

Why it matters: New spending from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee shows the party is working to maintain its Senate advantage and sees winning in the Sunshine State as a potential way to do that.

• For years, the party overlooked Florida.
• This year, citing an anticipated boost in progressive interest due to referenda on marijuana and abortion rights, party leaders here have been urging national Democrats to flip the script.

Between the lines: The investment will support efforts to unseat Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who faces Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.

• It will also support hiring more paid field organizers and canvassers, as well as in-person organizing events that target younger generations and nonwhite voters, among others, per the AP.

Keep reading: Scott's spending edge

Our quest to crown Tampa Bay's best Cuban got off to a bad start yesterday, the bracket equivalent of dunking the iconic sandwich in ketchup.

• The link was in the wrong spot, so few of you found it. And we included The Stone Soup Company, which sadly recently closed.

So we're starting over!

• We're replacing a former Ybor mainstay with a Tampa institution, Alessi Bakery.
• If you voted yesterday, please weigh in again. We apologize for the issues and appreciate those who participated.

Click here to vote