Florida: Texas-Style?
Florida Gov. Rick Scott knows Texas well. He lived there during law school at Southern Methodist University, then as he began his legal career and while founding and leading the company that became hospital giant HCA. All told, Scott lived in the Lone Star State for 10 years more than the eight he's spent in Florida. Scott says his choice to settle in Florida reflects his belief in its advantages over most other places, including Texas. Still, his regard for all things Texas finds expression in his black cowboy boots, hand-stitched by Houston's Rocky Carroll with Florida's state seal and the words "45th Governor." And there's one thing beyond footwear he covets particularly: The Lone Star State's job growth. But a closer look at the dynamics of growth in Texas reveals a much more complicated set of factors behind the state's economic surge. Not all can transfer east to the Florida peninsula. Of those that could, not all should. Florida Trend examines some key points of comparison.
 Texas swagger as a business asset: Gov. Rick Perry is an aggressive corporate recruiter, urging California companies to bail out of a state that causes "undue burden and taxation" and move to "America's new land of opportunity." [Photo: Jon M. Fletcther, left; Office of Gov. Rick Perry, right] |
Florida blasts away at local gun rules
Kate Latorre's law firm, which represents a dozen Central Florida cities and towns, has been scrambling in recent weeks. She and other lawyers at the firm have been working with city officials to hunt down and wipe out references to guns in municipal codes. Such changes are popping up this month on government meeting agendas throughout the county and state. That's because, starting Saturday, county, city and town officials will be personally liable for knowingly having gun-control rules in their ordinances, under a bill approved by the Florida Legislature. The law places new penalties in Florida law that says the state — and not counties, cities and towns — is solely responsible for regulating guns. [Source: Florida Today]
Lenders ignore foreclosures in some neighborhoods
Owners in foreclosure often flee long before the lender takes the home. Lenders aren't legally responsible for homes until the foreclosure is final, so the longer it takes to foreclose, the longer the home could sit in disrepair. As lenders struggle to get foreclosures off their books, experts say they pick and choose which homes they want. Homes with equity or homes more likely to sell will be picked up first by lenders trying to make up for losses. And even though they don't have to, some lenders will take care of homes they believe to have value — even before the foreclosure is final. But that's not typically the case in some working-class neighborhoods. [Source: Tampa Tribune]
Natural gas fuels Florida power rates
A new study says Florida's high electric rates are due to a heavy reliance on relatively expensive natural gas. The University of Florida study released Tuesday found Florida's rates vary widely but on the average they are at least 10 percent higher than surrounding states. That's because Florida's neighbors rely more on coal and nuclear power. The study was commissioned by the Public Service Commission. [Source: AP]
COLUMN: Booming rental market means good things
An investor paid cash last month for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom house with a three-car garage in the Lee Vista area and immediately had a pool of potential renters competing to move in.
"I stuck a sign in the yard, put it on the MLS and had two dozen showings within three days," said real estate agent Bj Edens of Re/Max Town Centre, who handled the property. "Things are crazy out there ... I'm expecting it to continue for a little while until we start to see the loan market loosen up."
Today's rental market has the hallmarks of the frenzied housing market circa 2006, when buyers were willing to ask, "Where do a I sign?" before they even walked through a property. But this is no bubble.
[Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa Taco Bus ready for its close-up on 'Man vs. Food'
Adam Richman must like Tampa Bay. For the Travel Channel's Man vs. Food, the host visited the area in February to pit himself against a 12-inch Cuban sandwich at Aguila Sandwich Shop, a hot wing challenge at Rapscallions in Land O'Lakes and a grouper Reuben and gator ribs at Skipper's Smokehouse.
And now he's back. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, an episode airs starring Tampa's Taco Bus.
› Florida won't inspect Legoland rides
The roller coasters and other rides at Legoland Florida, the theme park scheduled to open in Polk County next month, won't have to undergo any state safety inspections.
State officials agreed last month to spare Legoland from safety oversight because the Winter Haven theme park will qualify — albeit barely — for a 22-year-old exemption that was initially written into Florida law for Walt Disney World and other big theme parks.
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Ice cream shop drops mascot over Klan controversy
A central Florida ice cream shop has had to get rid of its costumed ice cream cone mascot because passers-by kept mistaking him for something less innocent — a hooded Ku Klux Klan protester.
› Act now if you want a seasonal holiday job
If you're in need of extra cash at the holidays, or more working hours to help with the added expenses, now is the time to start applying for seasonal jobs.
With the Christmas holiday nearly three months away, many major retail chains are beginning the hiring process to fill hundreds of temporary positions lasting through the end of the year in South Florida.
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› Hillsborough tax collector worried about customer service
Hillsborough Tax Collector Doug Belden is apologizing — just in case.
"For the past 10 years, 95 percent or more of our customers have rated our service either good or excellent and our wait times have historically averaged below 15 minutes," he wrote in a letter to the Times. "But two new developments threaten our commitment to customer service excellence and I want to let you know what I'm doing about it."
Those threats? Two state laws.
› Desperate need at food bank
Interfaith Emergency Services' food pantry is experiencing its worst crisis to date. A 44 percent rise in the number of families needing food — coupled with fewer donations of canned goods and cash — has combined to push the downtown Ocala charitable group to the brink.
"We are about out of everything," said Karla Grimsley, the group's executive director.
› Goodbye to a ballpark: Looking back at the Marlins' tenure in Sun Life Stadium
Funny, the things you remember, faded but alive, like paging through photographs in an old scrapbook:
Center fielder Chuck Carr, always wearing a leather jacket with his face painted on the back. Second baseman Bret Barberie, talking about why he was still a virgin. Shortstop Walt Weiss, teaching me about Warren Zevon. Manager Rene Lachemann, storming across the clubhouse in his underwear to yell at me. Catcher Benito Santiago, looking through a rich man's catalog, trying to buy a dog that was blue.
› Family vacations buoy cruise ship popularity
Cruising for years has been one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry — the fastest by some measures. Since 1980, the number of people taking a cruise has risen by more than 7 percent per year. What's behind the growth, and can it continue at a similar pace?
› Longboat Key's Colony resort to partner with Colorado firm
Owners of the condominiums at the Colony Beach and Tennis Resort have hired a Colorado luxury club operator to revamp the Longboat Key vacation destination, shuttered for more than a year amid a dispute with its former management.
Club Holdings LLC, a members' club that manages properties in 40 markets worldwide, was selected from four short-listed developers, the Colony's homeowner's association said Tuesday.
› Philanthropist shaped UCF, medical school
The future of higher education and medical research in Central Florida owe much to a get-together back in the 1940's when a young teacher met an equally young entrepreneur in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
That day, Nancy Lee Nordstrom and Al Burnett began a love affair and eventual marriage that lasted more than 60 years until her death last week at their Winter Park home after a short battle with cancer.
"If Al and Nancy hadn't given $10 million, we wouldn't have a medical school or a medical city," Orlando attorney Charles Gray said of the couple's donations to the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine. "Everything they gave, they gave together."