Tuesday’s Afternoon Update

Florida Chamber ‘By The Numbers’ highlights job growth, housing trends

Florida’s economy outpaced the nation’s last year with a 1.3% job growth rate, and housing and inflation data indicate continued stability in the Sunshine State in the near term. The data was highlighted in the August edition of “Florida By The Numbers,” a video series hosted by Florida Chamber Senior Research Economist Sheridan Morby that highlights the fast facts and need-to-knows on the state economy. More from Florida Politics.

Miami-Dade sues Hialeah over water debt. Hialeah mayor says city won’t pay.

Even as interim Hialeah Mayor Jacqueline Garcia-Roves campaigns on a promise to lower residents’ soaring water and sewer bills, Miami-Dade County has filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming it owes nearly $18 million in unpaid utility debt. The county complaint says Hialeah “began a practice of short-paying each bill it received from the county and, instead of catching up at the close of each fiscal year, continued to let the balance accumulate.” More from the Miami Herald.

Extortion ring targets Central Florida small businesses with negative Google reviews

Several Central Florida businesses were recently targeted by extortionists who threatened to damage the companies’ reputations with negative Google reviews unless the owners paid for the online comments to be removed. “They start to panic as they see their Google ratings start to plummet that day,” said Kay Dean, a former federal fraud investigator who is the founder of Fake Review Watch “Businesses live or die by these reviews. So bad reviews can cost your business clients.” More from Click Orlando.

National builders impact sales of older homes in Charlotte County

The number of homes for sale in Charlotte County declined in July as some sellers pulled their listings, even while national builders sold properties at little or no profit to clear excess inventory. Real estate agents are advising most clients to wait until prices stabilize unless they must sell now, said Shelton Weeks, Lucas Professor of Real Estate at Florida Gulf Coast University. In that case, Weeks said, sellers should address repairs and updates to compete with national builders, who can sell new, move-in-ready homes without factoring in profit margins. More from Gulfshore Business.

FAA: Starship launches could close Playalinda Beach access for equivalent of 60 days per year

SpaceX's future Starship-Super Heavy launches and landings from NASA's Kennedy Space Center could trigger safety closures of Playalinda Beach totaling the equivalent of 60½ days per year, Federal Aviation Administration officials project as a "most conservative" estimate. But online opposition continues to organically grow over the FAA's proposed Starship licensing plan. More from Florida Today.