Jim's Hot Takes
No scripts. No political spin. Just honest conversations about the issues facing St. Petersburg.
Drawing on more than 50 years of public service, Jim Large shares his perspective on public safety, infrastructure, growth, and the decisions that will shape our city's future. These short videos offer candid insights, practical solutions, and a chance to hear directly from a leader who has spent his career solving problems and serving St. Pete.
Because sometimes the issues facing our city deserve more than a soundbite—they deserve a Hot Take.
HOT TAKE
Infrastructure
Infrastructure should grow with development. In St. Pete, it hasn’t.
As our city continues to grow, we’ve seen increasing pressure on roads, utilities, drainage, and public services without the same level of investment needed to keep up. That imbalance impacts quality of life and long-term sustainability.
If we want smart growth, we have to make sure infrastructure is planned, funded, and built to match it.
HOT TAKE
Flooding
Flooding is a reality in a coastal community like St. Pete. While some flooding can’t be prevented, we can do a better job preparing for it and building a more resilient city.
That means making smart decisions about development, investing in infrastructure, and continuing to explore solutions that help protect homes and neighborhoods. We’ve already seen efforts like elevating homes, but we need to keep looking at additional ways to strengthen our community for the future.
Resilience isn’t about eliminating every challenge, it’s about being prepared to meet them.