St. Petersburg's Self-destructing Economy Part 1

[TheMarksMediaCo1]

I've actually lived in St. Pete for 4 years or since 07. t was a great place to live in till the economy really crashed. Jobs closed people moved. And this is what happened.

[johnu78]

@TheMarksMediaCo1

I remember visiting St. Pete in the early 90's it was a lot nicer and safer then! Thanks for watching and be careful down there. Sincerely, John

[FrankiethePirate813]

Tampa here, man Fuck S stPete, ill walk my white ass str8 on thru, Need to weed out all the HoodRat Trash in the 813&727...Then it will get better.. u think south stpete is bad? lol come to tampa.. we got more than jus 1 ghetto..lmao

we got the springs/suitcasecity/downtown/­tampa heights/college hill/ponce de leon/GrantPark/jackson heights/ybor city/clairMel even fuck ass brandon has its random shootings now.. we all gotta figure out how to keep the roaches from multiplying. cut off ebt, a start

[johnu78]

@FrankiethePirate813

Thank you for your comment. Take care, John :o)

[Tomsouthrock]

FLORIDA OVER BUILDING TO THE MAX THEY RUINED IT TO BAD

[kostman23]

i live right in the middle of downtown st.pete its unreal how many homeless ppl are covering the sidewalks at night if you are thinking of moving here id suggest you stay where you are this city is a absolute shit hole i cant wait to get out of here so depressing and miserable in short all that you will see in the so call beautiful downtown is old ppl crack heads homeless/bums/beggars and of course the ghetto hood rats that come out from time to time avoid st.pete at all cost nothing good here

[johnu78]

@kostman23

Thank you for your comment. Stay safe and take care. Sincerely, John

[Lisajo1960]

I grew up there in the 70's and it was anything BUT clean and vibrant! We used to call it SALT PETERSBURG when we were growing up and the southside was absolutely off limits to us because of the crime. I'm surprised this guy had the courage to even go over there. I left FLA in 80 and never looked back. Thank god. The only time that city was beautiful was in the 20's and 30's when the mob ran it. LOL

[johnu78]

@Lisajo1960

Thank you for watching the video. Take care, John

[Lisajo1960]

I grew up there in the 70's and it was anything BUT clean and vibrant! We used to call it SALT PETERSBURG when we were growing up and the southside was absolutely off limits to us because of the crime. I'm surprised this guy had the courage to even go over there. I left FLA in 80 and never looked back. Thank god.

[rs4life32]

why would u take time out of your day just to do this? oh i guess people like you will do any thing to get atention.

[johnu78]

@rs4life32

I took the time to shoot this footage because several viewers asked me about how St. Pete was doing. As you can see the city is self-destructing. You're welcome for the video!

[ACLTony]

Heartbreaking in that during the 70s-80s this was a very clean and vibrant area.

[EconCat88]

St Pete at the Gulfport border is ghetto territory.

[johnu78]

@EconCat88

It's very dangerous down there, especially at night!

[youngbourbon]

John--Idea idea what's at 5505 Gulf Blvd. (St Petersburg Beach) now, where a Louis Tussaud Wax museum used to be?

[johnu78]

@youngbourbon

I don't know. I haven't been down to St. Pete in about six months.

[SOUSD40]

Why don't you show the new super Wal-Marts that are built and then show the decay of the smaller stores in the surrounding areas?

Winn Dixie is big trouble everywhere not just ST. Pete likely going to go belly up.

You cannot have a vibrant economy when the retail service sector wages are very low in the first place. You won't be buying to many new front end clothes washer on a part time no benefit Burger King or Wal-mart stocker gig.

[dynomike1964]

Pass the soylent green please

[oneflashoflight]

To be fair, though, the trash there isn't all white. To quote: "This town needs an enema"!

[oneflashoflight]

Left this area in 2004 as the signs were apparent then. It's a blanket mentality that creates this effect as the vast majority of "folks" there are typical American sheep. Go to "the walmart" or any big box store any hour any day and it's packed. Buffets and fast-food joints do very well! They don't support the arts, they don't support local shops, they don't support anything other than mainstream American commercialism. SUV's, big screen TV's, Jock envy, Clear Channel - Red State, White Trash.

[freakshow2000]

I dont know if you were in St Pete for the riots. The idiots of St.Pete destroyed their own city. At this point you cant give property away down there, the people of the city will just ruin any improvements made......

[mynamehappy]

The first plaza was most likely bought up by a developer that tanked. If you go down the street a block or 2 you will find mikes mad music. As for the Winn Dixie it's a good thing that shit hole is gone. Old building, shit produce, obnoxious custumors and staff (it's right near child's park what do you expect) I went in there once to grab some soda on the way to the beach and never went back. Good video though.

[Dharma1984]

Could you make a revisit to the "Winn dixie" in Gulfport and to the corner of Central and pasadena again?

There has been development in the areas. it wouldnt be right if you wouldnt show the good parts too. I know that you want to be diffrent from mainstream media who dont show the backside. the problem is that you have become mainstream media and only show your side.

To do this right, you should go back. Film the buildings that you filmed now but also film the area so people get the picture

[iluvfighters]

i luv st pete i live there too hah

ah

[TheTerik]

st.pete dats my city.

[pozzerbob]

DUMB

[fabio363]

EXCELLENT VIDEO !!!

BRAZIL.

[Gulfporter]

I applaud you for wanting to get the message out, but you really can't just make stuff up. Winn Dixie closed when the economy was perking right along. Once again, the culprit was the proximity to Child's Park neighborhood across the street, The people from Gulfport wouldn't shop there because the staff and patrons were so consistently obnoxious. So that left the store with the EBT and shoplifting crowd for customers and a staff that didn't give a damn. Sorry, but that's how it was.

[Gulfporter]

801 49TH St was not a music store, it called itself a studio and was a front for a drug business. The cops used it for a fencing scam. Before that, it was a warehouse. The other building you were talking about has been empty pretty much since 1995. The problem with this row isn't "the economy" per se. It's that Child's Park is across the street and generates repeated burglaries on those buildings and all the others in the area but when the police crack down they get accused of racism.

[Gulfporter]

0:36 That plaza isn't vacant from attrition, it was cleared out because it's going to be torn down for a new building complex.

[stars1861]

There's some vacant stores, so what? Why don't you turn your camera around and show the thriving shopping center across the street? The same for your third part-20th and Central has always had vacancies (it's a crappy part of town) but Haslam's is right across the street and is doing great. It's real easy to drive around and find vacant property, but I know St. Pete and I find it hilarious to see you sensationalize a property and see a successful one reflected in a window.

[DieMoslim]

Quiet a few folks out there doing these documentries by now, like the other californian InflationUS guy; George. At first I thought of it as one heck of a bizarre hoppy crusing around looking at empty shopping centers. Like train spotting or something. It would be funny if the background wasn't so tragic. It's the magnitude of it and that eerie sense of hopelessness that hits home. Where are the people !

And yes, why isn't this reported by the mainstream media? Hello... CNBC where are you !

[thegreendestiny]

It's such a shame that this city, which was named after a glorious imperial capital is decaying like a log. On the other hand, the Russian city is fast thriving but its planned transformation threatens its very heritage. Their proposed giant sky scrapers should be sent there in Florida.

[johnu78]

The mass media isn't reporting this because they want to cover stories like this up.

Stuff like this flies in the face of the "jobless recovery" that the mass media has been touting.

Take care,

John

[DeathNeedsTime]

Great video. I really like these kind of 1st person walkumentaries. The truth of what's happening to our country comes across so clearly it's just indisputable.

[idrobinhood]

ghetto St Petersburg

[johnu78]

I'm going to have part 3 up in a few hours be sure to watch out for it.

Take care,

John

[sickasso72]

@idrobinhood St ghettosburg

[rickster348]

I heard they're tearing down newer buildings out west. (going back to farmland)?, Like Detroit.

[valhala56]

I appreciate your vids John. I have done a couple simliar, I always worry that like when your takeing video of the inside that the cops or somebody might think your up to something fish. Well the story needs to be told.

[johnu78]

Thank you. We need to tell the story because the MSM sure as hell won't!

Take care,

John

[markynj]

I worry about that too cause i would love to video all the stores closed in NJ, from empty mom and pops to the giants like fortunoff dept store, circuit city these are huge vacant buildings all over NJ and yet the news refuses to show it. but i do think police would hassle an innocent person taping them.

[johnu78]

PM me and I can give you some tips on how to shoot footage.

-John

[kthorn612]

This has been planned for over fifteen years.

None of it is by accident.

And it will get much, much, much worse in the next five years.

Got guns?

[johnu78]

Be sure to watch my video book review about "How to survive the end of the world as we know it".

It's a great book that I highly recommend everyone buy.

Take care,

John

[rickster348]

@kthorn612 buy more ammo, NOW.

[johnu78]

Take a look at my AK article which is linked from this article's details section.

Take care,

John

[jenchillada]

That WD is vacent for over a year and the piano key place for about the same. Those places on central were once doing really well and we used to shop for music CD's there. Interesting though how 4th street north in st pete is full of hair/nail salons and doggie salons. There are now 5 starbucks within a 6 mile radius.. and doing great! We're either rich or poor now.

[johnu78]

Thank you for providing that information.

Sincerely,

John

[evoval]

This is what happens when you try and compete with communist slave labor and third world economy's, eventually you 'll be pulled down to there level. Anyone in power that says "there was no way we could of seen this coming" is a bold face liar. The strongest nation in the history of man squandered for a greedy few and there nowhere near finished.

[johnu78]

Free trade kills nations!

Take care,

John

[skyding8962]

@johnu78

I believe the root cause of our economic problems is 30 years of debt and fake illusioned GDP as a result of borrowing money to spend our trade defficts due to our jobs being shipped overseas.

The housing bubble and banking crisis was just a symptom of this larger problem.

[evoval]

It's certainly killed the USA.

[johnu78]

It's been catastrophic to our standard of living.

[evoval]

Absolutely devastating.

[ExposeZionistCrimes]

This is a planned collapse, another scam to allow a few self chosen ones to buy up all our former assets with our own tax money, for pennies on the dollar

[johnu78]

I totally agree with you. Depressions don't happen by accident!

Take care,

John

[pharmacyiii]

This is Jen Cheng - everyone knows me as the sexiest guy on planet Earth!

[Zillaroo]

what is the solution ?

if this continues on, you might see entire American cities become like ghost towns,

......I'm afraid.

[johnu78]

Get the book by James Wesley Rawles called "How to survive the end of the world as we know it".

I read the book and it's a great resource about survivalism.

It should help put your mind at ease.

Take care,

John

[bohemianh]

@ johnu78

I read that book in a few days, it was a good read.

[bohemianh]

@ Zillaroo

Better stock up on ammo, get a good quality AK-47 and at least 1,000 rounds for it. And make sure you shoot it at the range a few times a year to practice with it.

[Hendo1974]

Another 5 star video, keep them coming! Cheers!

[johnu78]

Thanks for watching. Take care. -John

[bohemianh]

@ serbfree

I'll drink to that!

[trad444]

These buildings look like your in the low income side of town so vacancies aren't out of place there. Whats the high end real-estate doing.

[johnu78]

The first plaza I show is in what used to be a well to do area.

You'll see the vacant higher end properties in the next video which I'll have up in a few days.

Please subscribe when you get a chance.

Thank you,

John

[johnu78]

We may see something like that happen at some point.

[jimbobubbadj]

John, I think that you do a great job. As far as what you report being on the MSM, I doubt it. They want us Joe Smoes to believe that the economy is rosy. In my view, you should concentrate your efforts on Youtube and perhaps your own web site. Russia Today, as an example in my view, may be willing to pick up your stories. Good luck.

[johnu78]

Thank you for the idea.

I hope RT or some other network will pick up the videos at some point.

I have at least two more videos from my St. Pete footage to upload. Those will be up within the next three weeks.

I'm also planning on doing a few book reviews which our subscribers will find very enlightening and helpful.

Thanks again,

John

[papaboule]

Wow I've never seen a grocery store gone to hell like that. I remember Food Lion that went out of business years ago but most of the Food Lion stores were converted to other use like churches.

But Winn Dixie?--where are the snowbirds? I guess they're all shopping at dollar mart and eating dog food now.

My grandfather built many homes in that area--he moved to Florida chasing the land boom of the 1920's. He would be appalled to see what's happened.

Great vid, John. Keep it comin'

[johnu78]

I'm glad you liked the video.

The Winn Dixie was in Gulfport close to the bridge to Treasure Island/St. Pete Beach.

Gulfport has had a lot of shootings and murders along with a lot of other crimes over the last few years.

It's not the kind of place you can safely raise a family in that much is for sure.

Take care,

John

[papaboule]

That's so sad. I'm afraid this depression will last for decades. The last one did.

The rampant and widespread violent crime is new for this depression, though. Be careful out there.

[johnu78]

I appreciate that. A few months back I wrote an article about the AK-47, I posted the link for it in this video's details section. You should check it out when you have a chance.

-John

[ScottfromTexas]

Last depression we didn't have the problem of "diversity" we do now.

[johnu78]

Get the book Foragers Harvest, it's a great read about wild edibles.

Take care,

John

[slinkycat321]

Maybe the grocery store pulled out because it learned from Detroit that theft by employees and customers is uncontrollable factor when the society goes mad max. I definitely agree with you that people need to get self sufficient. If you told me 10 years ago that Florida with its great weather and beaches would become an economic rathole I would never have believed it. I guess anything can happen.

[johnu78]

I've lived in the Tampa area my entire life and while I'm relatively young I've paid close attention to the gradual economic decline which has sped up considerably over the last few years.

Be sure to read my article on wild edibles that I have linked in this video's detail section.

Thanks for watching and take care.

Sincerely,

John

[1984IcameandIstayed]

All those boarded up business were once jobs for many, many people.

[johnu78]

You're right, and those jobs aren't coming back any time soon.

Thanks for watching.

-John

[thicknecked]

Economy collapsed by design. Post some video of Monrovia, Liberia for comparison. Also, couple hundred of dead White people killed by black savages would be good.

[BootsJordan8]

Welcome to Florida's un-recovery.. and its only going to get worse from here!

[johnu78]

You're absolutely right.

Take care,

John

[BootsJordan8]

Just down here in my area the last of the Albertsons just pulled out, one store that was still turning a profit ( i know one of the former managers) still was closed down, and in the same area the Hollywood video is gone as well, its getting bad everywhere and they think that a magic bullet train that will never come about will solve it all? Its getting to be a cruel joke in this wonderful state.

[johnu78]

Things will get much worse before they get better which is why I suggest to everyone to learn as much as they can about gardening and keeping livestock.

Gaia's Garden is a great book about these subjects. I highly recommend it.

Take care,

John

[skyding8962]

Thats weird that they are closing profitable grocery stores like winn dixie and albertsons.

I suspect they are closing locations to raise cash for their EXISTING DEBT they owe to their creditors. Sort of like how people pawn off their vehicles and goods to raise cash even though they will be shooting themselves in the foot later on.

[johnu78]

It's hard to know what their strategy is, but you could be right.

[skyding8962]

@johnu78

No one loses money on a grocery store. Food sales haven't gone down in the last 3 years. Im not a business expert so thats the only explanation I can think of. I always hear them talk about closing underperforming stores, but underperforming stores doesn't mean unprofitable stores, I think it means they just aren't as profitable as their top stores.

[johnu78]

What you're saying makes a lot of sense. I know the stores aren't selling their higher margin items like they were.

[johnu78]

The rest of the stores will probably be out of the WD plaza by the end of the year. Small stores have huge traffic problems without an anchor to pull people in.

[judutchinski]

exactly

[bohemianh]

Winn Dixie is a good store, they have a lot of buy one get one free promotions.

I find it really hard to believe they closed this location in Gulfport, but the video doesn't lie. Very scary stuff!

[johnu78]

It's going to be more scary when we see a lot more grocery stores shutting down around the country. Better stock up on food while you still can.

Take care,

John

[skyding8962]

@johnu78

I don't see how a grocery store could close. I keep hearing about some grocery stores closing. I mean how hard could it be to make a profit from selling groceries? If you have less traffic you simply stock up less. Things don't seem bad enough to warrant closing down a grocery store.

[johnu78]

You are right about cutting back inventory, but if the store has a fixed amount of overhead and was having trouble with shoplifting then it could remain operational for so long until it had to close down.

[skyding8962]

@john

As I just said in my other comment I left, I think what is happening is they are closing profitable stores to raise quick cash to pay off the corporate debt they owe. No other explanation I can think of would make sense to explain why many of these corporations are closing grocery stores and other places of business that are still turning a profit.

[johnu78]

Get the book Bicycling Repair and Maintenance by Todd Downs. I read it, it's a great book on how to work on bikes.

The bicycle industry is going to have a huge surge in this country because the number of people riding bikes is only going to increase in the future.

-John

[judutchinski]

Holy cow. Brutal.

Everything in the video looked bad, but single handedly, Winn Dixie is a pretty bad signifier in itself.

[johnu78]

Yes I agree with you.

I hadn't been to that Gulfport plaza in over a year and I have to admit I was surprised when I saw the WD closed there.

Take care,

John

[Maynardsat]

Thanks for the update. I am suprised to see the winn dixie gone. That is not a good indicator of an economy when even food stores have to leave.

[johnu78]

You're absolutely right. Better start stocking up on food.

Take care,

John

[Gunnarsguns]

Sad to think an entire young generation now has no hope whatsoever.Sacrificed by an older generation that has already made it good and doesnt care.People that should have been CEO`S and high level managers will be lucky to get menial jobs and will be lucky to even live in a trailer park and drive a 10 year old car.On the upside at least i can get my lexus washed and waxed cheap now.

[johnu78]

Agriculture is going to make a big comeback!

Read my article about wild edibles in this video's detail section.

Thanks for watching and take care.

-John

[curiouschem]

Great video John. it adds to the reality, and helps people wake up or stay awake.

not to mention a good look at what is happening in the commercial real estate market.

[johnu78]

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for watching.

Take care,

John

[jenchillada]

I used to live behind that piano key place in a house on 9 a/s.. it was actually a pawn shop that was used by the police to do a sting on stolen goods. That WD used to be packed, they said they were gonna put in a savalot but never did.

[johnu78]

Thank you for that information. I had been wondering about that place.

Take care,

John

[skyding8962]

How long has the piano building and the WD been vacant do you think?

[johnu78]

I would guess the WD has been vacant for a good six months. I was riding around with my friend when I shot this footage and he's lived in St. Pete all his life.

I don't know about the piano building.

Take care,

John

[DigitalSkyline]

Now all of America gets to feel what it's like to live in Detroit... Part of me thinks it serves you right for not buying American, but the other knows that's not the full story.

[johnu78]

It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Thanks for watching!

-John

[curiouschem]

A lot of truth in that "not buying American" statement.

I remember the old Detroit montra, "at least we aren't Cleveland"

but, you're right just not buying American is not the whole problem

[combat1856]

Maybe if Detroit built cars that werent shit Americans would have bought them.

[johnu78]

We're all going to be on bicycles soon.

Take care,

John

[skyding8962]

@John u

If were all going to be riding bicycles, maybe Ill have a CHANCE with the ladies for once. hahaha

[johnu78]

Anything's possible :o)

Take care,

John

[ricsibacsi1956]

Hi John, Thanks for making these films available about this new 'bubble'.

Hope you guys are ready for a big fall,we don't have too far to fall over here :)

[johnu78]

You're very welcome.

Thank you for watching.

Take care,

John

[RCinPAWA]

I was just in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex and saw a lot of empty commercial space in high traffic areas that was thriving a few years ago. The commercial bust is coming.

[johnu78]

The commercial real estate market is really falling hard all over the country. It's historical to say the least!

Take care,

John

[RCinPAWA]

And the thing to bear in mind is that we have about two years to go before we begin to bottom out.

[johnu78]

There are a lot of wild cards out there which may change that. Especially if Israel or the US launches airstrikes against Iran.

[bohemianh]

@ johnu78

The Jews have been pushing for a war with Iran for a long time. They're doing everything in their power to make it happen. And it's very likely they'll succeed.

[RCinPAWA]

That's so true. WWIII could ramp up in a New York minute.

[johnu78]

Things can happen at the drop of a hat, that much is for sure!

[Zillaroo]

WWIII has aleady started, I believe we are living through the early stages of it.

[bohemianh]

Jewish interests created it according to Dr. Mohamed who was the former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

I tend to agree with him.

[RCinPAWA]

That's entirely possible. In a few years we'll be able to look back and better assess the cause(s).

[johnu78]

There's going to be a lot of regrets, that much is for sure.

[bohemianh]

I think we'll see real estate prices go down another 80% or more when it's all said and done.

The prices would already have hit the bottom if the banks would have been unloading all the properties they have in their possession.

The banking system and the government are artificially propping up the market. The whole thing is a sham, it just needs to crash!

[johnu78]

I agree with you about it being a sham. It'll be interesting to see what the real estate market does this year.

[RCinPAWA]

"I think we'll see real estate prices go down another 80% or more when it's all said and done."

If Detroit is any indicator, you're right.

[bohemianh]

@ RCinPAWA

Detroit and the areas of St. Pete John shot in this video share the same demography, which is the main reason both cities are self-destructing.

[djgreatski1]

I live in DFW, and was just going to comment about the area. A lot of newly built strip-malls have been sitting vacantly since they were set-up. They're really nice properties and in decent areas, but no one wants to take the chance and assume the lease. It's like a ghost town in many areas that were once vibrant and full of life.

[RCinPAWA]

And it's not just commercial that is showing signs of trouble. I stayed with my friend who lives in the Ridglea area of Fort Worth and there are signs of decay in his neighborhood. One of the things that struck me is that he and his family are completely non self-sufficient. If the SHTF he is in for a rude awakening.

[johnu78]

Tell them about my "World of Wild Edibles" article. They can do a google search on it and the story will come up.

I also have the link for it in this video's detail section.

Personally I think this country is going to get hit with some serious famine and that a lot of people will starve because of it.

Knowledge is power!

[RCinPAWA]

You know, it's interesting but they don't want to contemplate hardship of any kind. I know a lot of people like that. Why? Maybe it's too overwhelming for them to consider or maybe their attitude is that if they don't think about it, it won't come to pass or mayeb they just don't consider it as a possibility. For whatever reason they don't care to discuss taking any measures to provide for themselves in the event of catastrophe.

They will be dependent on the government for every need.

[johnu78]

The whole country is going down!

[bohemianh]

@ johnu78

I read your wild edible article a few weeks ago and I learned a lot from it. I reposted it on my facebook page for you. I hope it helps you out!

[johnu78]

Thank you very much, I appreciate that.

Take care,

John