Pictured above: (Left to right) PSTA Operations Data Analyst Olivia Anderson, USF St. Petersburg student Sean Schrader and PSTA Safety, Security, and Training Officer Edward Kester in front of the PSTA Pride Bus at the department’s headquarters in St. Petersburg.
Courtesy of Sean Schrader
By Sean Schrader
A lot has happened since COVID-19 emerged last year. However, it is still a threat today. With safety in mind, it has been exciting and reassuring to see many things return to “normal” as we resume pre-pandemic activities.
Although many people have been able to adapt to COVID-19 and structure their lifestyle based on what they are comfortable with, some haven’t had that luxury.
Many industries across the country took a vital hit when the pandemic began and, in some cases, never recovered.
To learn more about how different industries had been affected by COVID-19 in our community, I toured five organizations to better understand how their operations were impacted, and how they were able to stay open.
I conducted this tour in my personal capacity as a senator in USF Student Government.
Although the primary duties of a member of student government stay within business involving
USF, I thought this would be an enlightening experience to see first-hand how industries that
are relied upon by members of the USF community had been affected by the pandemic.
I focused on five different industries: restaurants, travel, entertainment, law enforcement, and transportation.
The Columbia Restaurant Group is longstanding in the community, with its original location in Ybor City that opened in 1905. The uniqueness of its restaurants are unparalleled as they offer an experience along with a meal, showcasing beautiful photos, tiling and artifacts relating to Hispanic culture.
Columbia has implemented a curbside option so customers can still order from the classic menu and take their food to go. For customers who eat inside, masks are required to be worn by staff and hand sanitizer is available.
With Columbia offering exciting dining experiences, making changes was saddening, however it has ensured the Columbia experience can continue even with different levels of comfortability.
The Fenway Hotel located on Edgewater Drive heading into Dunedin is part of the Marriott hotel chain, however, I would never have assumed that based on its distinct architecture and style. Although the building has remained the same since its inception in 1929, the Fenway has incorporated many new amenities such as an outdoor patio and an in-hotel chophouse.
To navigate COVID-19, adaptations have been made such as sealing room doors for the customer once the room has been sanitized as well as daily use of an electrostatic sprayer which eliminates virus particles.
The Gulfport Casino in historic Gulfport has an interesting title, as it has never been a casino like those in Las Vegas. Built in 1906, it was considered a town hub, allowing for easier transportation access for boats and trolleys and serving as a post office.
Although the building does not have that purpose today, the ballroom is still an important component of the Casino. Along with dance lessons that are offered in the ballroom like swing and tango, which were postponed when the pandemic began but have now resumed for those who feel comfortable.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office plays a critical role in keeping our community safe and conducts operations by vehicle, helicopter and boat.
I visited the sheriff’s main office in Largo. Housed there is the expansive Pinellas County 9-1-1 Regional Communications Center department where dispatchers answer emergency calls. It proved difficult to do this work remotely, so measures such as social distancing and barrier shields have been implemented to ensure that dispatchers can continue working safely.
Another exciting stop was the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) offers transportation services throughout Pinellas County. Its buses are hard to miss, as they cover 40 routes and have over 4,300 stops.
Fortunately, PSTA bus routes were able to continue through COVID-19 with mitigation efforts including face masks requirements for all passengers as well as thorough cleanings of buses. Many residents in Pinellas County depend on PSTA as their only form of transportation, so seeing its operations continue is very encouraging.
Now at the halfway point in my time as a senator, I reflect on my experiences that I’ve been fortunate to have serving the student body. At the same time, I think about the future, and the many possibilities that lie ahead with future student leaders who are committed to bettering the student body and the community.
If you are interested in making a positive difference, not just for USF, but for the Tampa Bay community, I hope you will consider joining student government.
Sean Schrader is a business management senior at USF St. Petersburg.
It was a pleasure to have you visit the Columbia in Ybor City, Sean.
Excellent article! It is great to learn how different facets of Pinellas businesses are coping with the Covid pandemic. Yay for student government and our future leaders.