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Monday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida counties fighting back on new beach law
Counties across Florida are preparing ordinances to fight a bill signed into law by Governor Rick Scott that separates property from public beach goers and private beach owners on the sand. The line of separation is marked by the mean high water line, but beaches with taxpayer funded nourishment projects are exempt. More from First Coast News and the AP.
New online sales tax levels the playing field for local Florida businesses
Online shopping is all the rave. People are drawn to wide selections, low prices, free shipping, all from the comfort of their home. It's always been a tax-free zone for shoppers, putting local businesses at a disadvantage. But last Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled that internet retailers must collect sales taxes even in states where they have no physical presence. Florida TaxWatch CEO Dominic M. Calabro said the new ruling "will level the playing field for Florida’s brick-and-mortar retailers, and will have a positive impact on Florida jobs. All Florida taxpayers will benefit from today’s ruling, which will bring equity and fairness to Florida’s sales and use tax." See more from Florida TaxWatch, here. Also read more at WTXL.
Why have Florida’s working-age men left the labor market in droves?
A cancer lurks within Florida’s otherwise rosy job numbers, one that’s been called a quiet catastrophe and an intractable time bomb. Too many men between the ages of 25 and 54 have stopped working. They aren’t looking for work and don’t count against the unemployment rate. In economic lingo, they aren’t "participating" in the workforce. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Florida estuaries-fragile buffers against a rising ocean
Estuaries provide a sheltered, nutrient-rich environment for abundant marine life and serve as nurseries for the surrounding oceans. They also generate billions of dollars of economic impact each year from commercial and recreational fishing, boating and bird-watching. And, for much of the state, they provide a buffer against tropical storms and hurricanes. [Source: Daytona Beach News Journal]
From Florida boat makers to midwest farmers, US-led tariff war inflicts pain
A Florida boat builder absorbs $4 million in lost business and expects more pain. An Ohio pork producer is losing access to a vital export market and fears the damage will last years. A motorcycle shop near Cologne, Germany, wonders if it even has a future. A brawl that the United States provoked with its closest trading partners is starting to draw blood. [Source: AP]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› St. Pete Pride brings business boom
As pride weekend festivities arrived in St. Pete, businesses were thankful for the additional foot traffic. Organizers say the annual event brought more than 200,000 people to Tampa Bay for Florida’s largest pride celebration.
› High-speed rail between Tampa and Orlando could soon be a reality
On Friday, Governor Rick Scott announced that the Florida Department of Transportation is taking bids to fund a new high-speed train that would connect Tampa and Orlando.
› Legal Column: Tips for avoiding headlines and legal landmines
Business owners and managers know it's important to have a plan to deal with harassment and discrimination in the workplace. The following actions can help organizations prevent inappropriate conduct.
› Lakeland airport begins project expected to create hundreds of jobs
For years, there has been talk about why the city can’t bring a commercial airline to Lakeland Linder. That discussion may be on the back burner for a bit as focus has shifted toward a $32 million construction project that includes a new international air cargo business and the potential for 400 jobs at a proposed aircraft maintenance facility.
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