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Wednesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
The sargassum seaweed belt in the Atlantic is shrinking — good news for Florida beach goers
While sargassum has clogged beaches and annoyed beachgoers across South Florida’s coast this spring — entire Facebook groups are dedicated to monitoring the seaweed — the mass in the Atlantic is still decreasing in size, according to scientists from the University of South Florida. And that should mean cleaner Florida beaches over the next few months. The sargassum belt, which blooms in the Atlantic and then drifts westward, eventually reaching Florida beaches, shrank slightly during the month of June, which is consistent with predictions researchers made in May, after the heap became about 15% smaller than it had been in April. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and WUSF.
New Florida law is ‘death knell for smart growth,’ environmentalists say
Dozens of bills from this year’s Florida legislative session became law on Saturday, but environmental activists say one law in particular has been hiding in the shadow of high-profile bills like permitless carry and new immigration legislation. SB 540, dubbed the “sprawl bill” by opponents, provides for prevailing party attorney fees in challenges to local governments’ comprehensive plan amendments. This means citizens who take issue with their city’s plan change will have to foot the bill if they lose a legal battle to developers and local governments. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Court resumes Florida’s $100 billion in student debt. Now what?
Florida has the nation’s third largest student debt, over $100 billion including outstanding principal and interest payments. Efforts to trim back the amount owed fell flat with the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled against President Joe Biden’s debt relief program, saying Congress needed to approve such an action for it to be legal. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
The impending catastrophe: Florida property owners compelled to reduce insurance coverage
Florida’s property insurance crisis is worsening despite recent legislative efforts. The cost of property insurance with windstorm coverage has significantly increased, and coverage amounts have been reduced. As a result, many property owners are choosing to forgo windstorm coverage, which puts their financial well-being at risk, especially with the 2023 hurricane season now upon us. [Source: Miami's Community News]
What is permanent alimony, and how does Florida's new law change it?
It took four tries and nearly 10 years, but Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a bill to overhaul the state's alimony laws and eliminate permanent alimony. DeSantis’ approval came a year after he vetoed a similar bill, and after former Gov. Rick Scott vetoed similar bills twice. Critics argued the bill will impoverish older ex-spouses who have been homemakers and rely upon alimony payments to live. Proponents of the bill say it adds clarity and stops ex-spouses from having to continue working long past retirement because they had to keep making alimony payments. [Source: Florida Times-Union]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Rising Orlando shopping center rents squeeze small businesses
Sweet by Holly, which made award-winning cupcakes and other desserts, took to social media last month to reveal it was closing in the face of what it said was an anticipated 60% rent spike. The Waterford Lakes business is likely not the only Central Florida restaurant or retailer looking at higher bills coming from their landlords. Shopping center rents in the region are growing faster than they typically have in the past, thanks to high occupancy and demand, said Justin Greider, a senior vice president and Florida retail lead at real estate firm JLL.
› Sarasota seeks to make on-street dining permanent — at hefty cost
Pending Sarasota City Commission approval, a citywide parklet dining policy will be codified to go into effect when the current temporary extension that allows restaurants to set up tables in parking spaces on city streets expires on Sept. 30. Gradually growing across the country for more than a decade, the parklet trend was turbocharged during the pandemic, as restaurants struggled to offer dining space to meet the comfort level of customers hesitant to dine indoors.
› UF seeks design firm for massive, $400 million Swamp makeover
Iconic Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is in need of a facelift after all these years. The University of Florida Athletic Association is in the market for someone to perform the extensive and high-priced makeover of every aspect of a venue constructed more than 90 years ago. On Monday the school announced its search began for an architectural firm to design plans for the largest facility project in the UAA’s history and the climax of widespread athletic facility upgrades already totaling nearly $200 million.
› Need food? Jacksonville, Gainesville food banks merge to help more food-insecure
Two nonprofit food banks in Jacksonville and Gainesville have merged, creating a regional operation that serves 265,000 people across North Florida. Jacksonville-based Feeding Northeast Florida, the region's largest food bank, was established in 2014 and distributes food to the needy in eight counties. The 35-year-old Bread of the Mighty in Gainesville helps ease food insecurity in five counties.
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