While all amazing, some of my favorite dishes were actually vegan. The Saag Paneer, a creamy, cheesy spinach dish was absolutely phenomenal. The Channa Masala was fantastic, using chickpeas as a vegan alternative to chicken with delicious success. Even their basmati rice, a base meant to elevate its surroundings, stood tall on its own. Striking flavor was common with each dish, and each dish was surprisingly very unique from each other. By Sullivan Bailey CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Since its inception, residents have raised concerns about the proposal’s impacts on taxpayers, attainable and affordable housing, energy efficiency standards, climate resiliency, natural disaster preparedness, stormwater management, access to open space and planning for future multimodal transportation. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

St. Petersburg City Council’s controversial vote to allow developer Stoneweg to proceed at Coquina Key Plaza without square foot allowances for a grocery store was a disheartening blow for neighborhood activists back in 2022. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

After several hospitalizations over the past two years, Charles pointed to the closing of the Walmart grocery store, inside the city’s Community Redevelopment Area at 18th Avenue and 22nd Street south, as the fast catalyst for his worsening health. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

I see developer money functioning as a great, mindless muscle that only takes and takes and takes. Like an Omnidroid 1000.

It doesn't know how to give. It has never been asked or taught to give. No one with political power requires it to give.

And every time a new mammoth structure is rubberstamped by our DRC and council it communicates an omnipresent message to regular folks:

"You don't matter." "We don't care." "Shut up. Take it and like it." By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

The gardens have existed for years but the teaching kitchen and attached outdoor covered dining pad are a new addition supported and envisioned by social entrepreneur, Mark Hunter. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

The store joins an already swollen grocery store market in northeast St Pete with 6 full-service grocery stores within a 1-mile radius all while large swaths of south St. Pete sit in areas of low income/low access commonly but erroneously referred to as food deserts.

These areas, per the USDA, have tripled over the past decade. Currently, there are no immediate plans in the works for grocery stores at Tangerine Plaza or Coquina Key Plaza despite large resident demand. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Since its inception, the festival — sponsored by Publix and in partnership with the Woodson African American Museum of Florida — has become a must-attend event in Tampa Bay, featuring over 150 vendors with items ranging from jewelry to clothing to food, free fitness and agricultural demonstrations, a collard greens cook-off, service providers and local entertainment. CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Wheeler Bowman’s abrupt resignation September 14 removes a vital vote and voice on the council. Proclamations, food policy councils and failed request for proposals have left district 7 residents with nothing more than subsistence on gas station diets and these residents deserve representation.

During the initial September 8 variance meeting with Stoneweg where Wheeler Bowman was present, numerous residents implored council to reject the developer’s application stating Stoneweg’s paltry offer of 20,000 square feet of replacement retail space could never be enough to attract a grocer. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

With the purchase of 110,500 square foot retail space formerly known as Coquina Key Plaza at 4360 6th Street South, Stoneweg removed a Save a Lot grocery store and, thus, increased nutrition insecurity in south St. Pete. Its flimsy offer of 20,000 square feet of retail space to attract a new one is inadequate and shortsighted.

“20,000 square feet is not enough,” said Bahama Shores Neighborhood Association president, Walter Borden. “We will ask the Community Planning and Preservation Commission to reject Stoneweg’s agreement and seek 40,000 – 50,000 square feet of retail to make it more attractive for a grocer and other kinds of retail like a pharmacy or a hardware store.” By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Please click the link HERE to read Wendy Wesley’s food insecurity articles published since 2019 in the St. Petersburg Catalyst.

Please click HERE to read Wendy Wesley’s food insecurity articles published since 2019 in The Weekly Challenger. CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

After several hospitalizations over the past two years, Charles pointed to the closing of the Walmart grocery store, inside the city’s Community Redevelopment Area at 18th Avenue and 22nd Street south, as the fast catalyst for his worsening health.

“I used to walk there,” he said. “Every other day I got fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, and other stuff that I would store in my room.” By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Our city has had five years to solve this problem. This is not five years with a stubborn property owner who will not budge, but five years of no movement on a property THE CITY OWNS.

Pre-pandemic data shows that 12.5% of Pinellas households are food insecure, which creates a food budget shortfall of more than $73 million. Imagine what that data will show today. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

If the owner’s repair of this sign is any indication of longevity in this neighborhood it does not bode well for the city’s ongoing and long-ignored issues with nutrition insecurity.
Pre-pandemic my patients could not access the foods they needed to manage their chronic diseases of diabetes, congestive heart failure and kidney disease. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

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Data from the latest census show areas of USDA-designated “low income, low access,” or food deserts, have more than tripled in south St. Petersburg. This is evidenced by seven adjacent census tract areas in 2020 compared with two non-adjacent tracts in 2015.

The largest retail space of the city-owned Tangerine Plaza, once the site of full-service grocers Sweetbay and Walmart, has sat empty for more than four years. This spans a mayoral term and the term of district representative, Gina Driscoll. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Lewis decided to challenge the city, bringing his bee crusade to the ongoing movement to loosen urban agriculture regulations in St. Pete. With the support of District 2 Councilmember Brandi Gabbard, the goal of concerned community leaders and residents was to amend the city’s Land Development Regulations to make it easier for residents to sell their homegrown produce and address local food insecurity. Article by Roxanne Hoorn, Published in the St. Pete Catalyst May 15, 2021 CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

The ordinance also gives residents greater leeway in the types of agricultural structures they can have on their property, with hoop houses, cold frames, greenhouse and vertical structures now allowed. Additionally, it expands options for selling produce from vehicles and on vacant land in non-residential areas. Home-based sales of honey are also allowed. By Brian Hartz for St. Pete Catalyst CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Contrary to popular belief there is not a Publix across the street from another Publix in many areas of our city.

As evidenced by what we health equity leaves a lot to be desired in St. Petersburg. While we we focus so intensely on the redevelopment of Tropicana Field our attention is while we ignore Midtown which has gone without a grocery store for four years.

COVID 19, hunger and deep health inequities are a real issue in St. Petersburg and that is the true visual blight in this city. A garden at Allendale is the antithesis of visual blight. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

Pre-pandemic data shows that 12.5% of Pinellas households are food insecure, which creates a food budget shortfall of more than $73 million. Imagine what that data will show today.

Let’s take the foot off the gas of the Tropicana Field redevelopment and dedicate some vital and precious bandwidth on residents of this city who are struggling with chronic disease. Let’s ask for leadership to consider the needs of residents facing the greatest challenges TODAY. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE

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I recently served as a panelist for Churches United for Healthy Congregations and I brought up the concept of “food insecurity” vs. “nutrition insecurity.” The idea resonated with the members who agreed that loading a community with processed calories often from dollar stores and USDA food boxes only treats hunger. By Wendy Wesley, RDN CLICK HEADLINE OR PHOTO TO READ MORE