St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has pledged that he fully supports the St. Pete Pride parade but as far as the money the city normally donates, that’s now conditional.

  • Pride Parade in St. Petersburg wants to relocate downtown
  • Mayor says that if they do, funding will be cut
  • RELATED: 2016 Pride Parade

The mayor released this statement on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon in response to the decision to move the St. Pete Pride parade.

As a signature annual event, St. Pete Pride receives $45,000 from the City of St. Petersburg to assist with its parade and festival. Today, Mayor Rick Kriseman has informed St. Pete Pride that he is unwilling to provide this contribution in 2017 if the organization proceeds with relocating the parade from the Historic Kenwood Neighborhood Association and Grand Central District Association to downtown. St. Pete Pride may continue with its plan to relocate the parade, but will not be eligible for city funding.

Regardless of its location, the mayor and the City will continue to embrace this event and help to ensure its growth and success. Pride will always be one of the main reasons we say the 'Sun Shines Here.'

Event organizer, Eric Skains wasn’t too happy to hear the mayor’s response to their plan.

"The mayor kind of pulled a Donald Trump move and announced on Facebook that he is rescinding funding of St. Pete Pride," said Skains, "and it was very disconcerting, because that city funding goes towards barricades and additional police offers and fire and EMS."

Skains said the board for the event voted to move because of security concerns and production costs.

“It’s essentially a stronghold attempt to prevent a private non-profit from deciding what’s best for it’s event, what’s best for its attendees from a security standpoint, from a production standpoint by leveraging this,” he said.

A spokesman for the mayor said they’re just listening to the concerns from the Kenwood Community about how moving the parade will impact them negatively.

Brian Longstreth is the co-owner of Punky’s in the Kenwood Community. He said if the parade moves it would definitely be a blow to the community.

“There will definitely be a business impact if it moves downtown. There will still be a lot of people in town. I’m sure we’ll be busier but it won’t be quite as dramatic if everything is moved downtown on the waterfront,” Lonstreth said.

Even though parade organizers argue the event has gotten so big over the years and should be in the city’s Grand Central District, there are some who attend who say the Kentwood community is still the right fit.

“In my personal opinion," started St. Petersburg resident Bill Kody, "bigger is not better. Bigger comes with a lot of problems. But I think the feeling of St. Pete Pride has changed."

So what’s next? St. Pete Pride officials said they will have to go back and review to see if moving the parade is still an option without that $45,000. For now, the plan is up in the air.