ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete city leaders officially cut the ribbon on the new Benjamin F. Shirley Sr. Sanitation Building at the Joseph E. Savage Sanitation Complex. 

“It gives me great pleasure to share that this modern, solar powered facility brings administrative and operational teams under one roof for better efficiency, and it’s also the city’s first net-zero energy building,” St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch said.

The project broke ground in February 2023. The building and the complex are named in honor of two African American sanitation employees who made history in the city. But it’s the statue in front of the new building that adds even more layers to their legacy.  

“The ring symbolizes the solidarity of the sanitation worker who came together to overcome inequity and poor working conditions,” Abdul Karim Ali said about the 20-foot steel statue.

Those are the words written about the work his late father, Joseph Savage, did as he led the 1968 sanitation strikes.

“They were asking for money, better pay, better improvements, et cetera, and that didn’t quite happen at the end of the strike," he said. "But he said I knew there was some other exciting things that took place because of our efforts.”

“By ending the strike, doors began to open up in all parts of our city," Ali added. "Prior to the strike, no African American was elected to city council. In 1969, the first African American was because of the strikes.”

The strikes sparked changes for racial equality throughout the city. Those are the kind of details he says are just as powerful as the words he says he has heard spoken about his dad.

“One of the supporters was an individual by the name of Ruth Uphouse. A strong supporter of Civil Rights, human rights, peace and justice," Ali said. "And she was a strong supporter of sanitation workers. She stated that night, ‘Joseph Savage was our Martin Luther King of the city of St. Pete.' I was very happy and honored to hear that statement.”

His father's legacy is now honored with a statute in front of a building named after former sanitation department director Ben Shirley Sr. Welch credits Shirley with launching the city’s first curbside recycling program. Ali said Shirley was close friends with his dad — they were co-workers, attended the same church and shared a love of singing.

Artist and sculptor Donald Gialanella welded the 20-foot steel statute of a man holding up a ring-symbolizing oneness. Ali says it represents that and so much more.

“The statue, it says something about my daddy and his role and the role of those who supported him. Who marched behind him,” Ali said. “We certainly applaud the efforts to have the building, and the complex named after two outstanding individuals. But they had help and support and we can’t forget that.”

With plaques on the wall outside of the building detailing their contributions, it’s going to be hard to forget. For Ali, that’s where legacy truly lies.

“I think we take for granted that only certain people can make a difference," he said. "All human beings have the capability of making a difference. They were inspired by something. Ugliness, injustice, etc. inspired them to want to do better."