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Tuesday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida's tax revenue projections improve for 2020-21 and beyond
While they didn’t go as far as the governor’s office wanted, Florida economists Monday shrank a projected revenue reduction lawmakers will confront when they hammer out the next budget. The economists, who met as the Revenue Estimating Conference, pointed to gains being made by businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, outside of the vitally important tourism industry. They added back $1.5 billion to a general revenue projection for the current fiscal year and $623 million for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. More from the News Service of Florida.
Jacksonville-area grocery stores have become 'social oasis' in 2020
While the coronavirus pandemic has inflicted massive losses for many businesses, one area of retail that has surged has been grocery stores and the First Coast has reflected that trend into the holidays. That increase in business isn’t solely because of a slick marketing campaign by grocers. It is due in large part because grocery stores have become essential businesses. Many people who aren’t going many other places see the retail food outlets as more akin to a public service than just places to get food. More from the Florida Times-Union.
Florida likely to end 2020 with more manatee deaths than usual
For four straight years, more manatees were found dead in Florida because they were hit by boats than ever before. That trend will break in 2020, but not on account of any good news for the state’s signature threatened species. To the contrary, researchers were tracking more manatee deaths than usual this year. As of Dec. 11, at least 562 manatees had died in Florida, according to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Miami International Auto Show now slated for May on vaccine hopes
Miami’s 2021 auto show has been rescheduled from February to May, as organizers expressed optimism about a successful vaccine rollout. If that date holds, it will become one of the first major events to be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center since the coronavirus outbreak. “After much consideration and numerous conversations with our participating auto manufacturers, we have realized that there is still much uncertainty on holding the auto show in February,” said Richard A. Baker, president of the South Florida Automobile Dealers Association, the show’s organizer, in a statement. More from the Miami Herald.
Tampa Bay’s older workers among those struggling to stay afloat, save for retirement
Margie Pagano has worked with seniors and their finances every day for nearly 20 years as a retirement specialist with Edward Jones in Trinity. But this year has been unlike any other. The pandemic has been especially rough on older workers, Pagano said. Those who have been laid off find it more difficult to get rehired. “And a lot of them have quit (working) because of COVID,” Pagano said, “because they’re worried they’ll get it.” More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Out of the Box
Surfing Santa sets sights on space but first he needs a ride
Over the past 11 years, the Christmas Eve tradition of locals dressing up as Santa Claus and going surfing evolved from a word-of-mouth activity into a bonafide event drawing thousands of tourists to Cocoa Beach and garnering national media coverage. This year, Surfing Santas is cancelled due to COVID but references to last year's event were viewed online 4.4 billion times, according to the Space Coast Office of Tourism. “We’ve conquered the Earth with Surfing Santas, there’s nowhere else to go but up,” founder George Trosset says. 248 miles up to be exact.
» More from Florida Today.
Innovation
Florida cities experiment with underground waste containers
Three years ago, Kissimmee installed its first underground waste containers behind city hall. Today, the city has 11 such systems around town and recently added four subterranean bins at the Hamilton at Lakeside apartments, making it the first apartment complex in North America to use the underground waste infrastructure, which was developed by an Italian company. Other Florida cities are also experimenting with the method.
» Read more from Florida Trend.
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