Kenneth T. Welch

at 28:01And whereas for five years, Call has responded to and diverted approximately 20,000 emergency calls, referrals, and follow-up contacts from police response to mental health professionals, reducing strain on emergency resources, enhancing officer efficiency, and ensuring more compassionate outcomes for our most vulnerable citizens.

at 29:08Now, therefore, I, Kenneth T. Welch, Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, do hereby proclaim Friday, February 2, 2026, as Call Program Appreciation Day in St. Petersburg, and encourage all residents to join in recognizing and celebrating the call team for five years of transformative service, partnership, and care for our community.

at 50:59As we celebrate Black Business Month, we invite minority and women owned businesses to register for our minority and women owned business enterprise programs to take part in our inclusive procurement and contract opportunities, networking and collaboration opportunities, and business development support.

at 59:33So now, therefore, I, Kenneth T. Welch, Mayor of the City of St. Petersburg, Florida, do hereby proclaim August 14th, 2025, as the 90th anniversary of Social Security, and encourage all residents to reflect on its importance and its support efforts that ensure Social Security remains strong and sustainable for generations to come.

at 56:53But, you know, I've thanked her several times for her leadership during a year we'll never forget as public servants.

at 57:29And I just wanted to thank you for having the heart for public service in the midst of the storms, in the midst of, you know, Milton and Helene back-to-back, 13 days apart, devastation like we've never seen.

at 1:22:15Malena is currently ranked number three in the state for shot put, and we're so excited to see what her senior season is going to bring.

at 1:22:22Now, when she's not rocking her athletic skills and collecting gold medals and giving her dad a hard time, Malena works as a lifeguard, and she's headed there, I think, right after this.

at 38:55And whereas the city of St. Petersburg has a robust center of cultural organizations such as the Woodson Museum of Florida, ASALAH, African American Heritage Association, and community oral historians who continue to work to support the intellectual development of our community to collect and preserve black stories, sponsor black history, and literature events.

at 39:21And whereas the late John Lewis's words, quote, do not get lost in a sea of despair, be hopeful, be optimistic, our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.

at 27:30This gives me great honor to present this proclamation to Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Month is Ms. Karen Davis Pritchett who is the Vice President of Hospice and her team if you would please join me at the podium

at 2:02:14And thank you for that, Councilmember Montaneri, and I know we read the proclamation to all the veterans that were here in the room today, but of course we have to say happy Veterans Day to all our veterans.

at 26:20Although this will be a short visit, we hope to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between St. Petersburg and Takamatsu.

at 27:17As I conclude, in the presence of the former mayor of St. Petersburg, I am very moved.