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Monday's Afternoon Update
What you need to know about Florida today
'The Great Resignation?' People are not returning to the workforce as expected
To be sure, the coronavirus pandemic has led many to reconsider how they think about life and career. Today, there are nearly 250,000 fewer people in Florida’s labor pool – the total of those employed and those looking for work – than there were when the pandemic struck in March 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More from the St. Augustine Record and the Tallahassee Democrat.
More money, more projects. Miami-Dade governments bouncing back with help from the feds
Heading into 2021, as a COVID-cratered economy undercut government income and forced politicians to slash spending, the possibility of a protracted pandemic looked as if it might also prolong the pain for public institutions. But even as Florida sets new records for COVID cases and hospitalizations this month, local officials are putting the final touches on 2022 spending plans that offer a departure from last year’s cuts. More from the Miami Herald.
JEA crews head to Louisiana to help restore power in the wake of Hurricane Ida
JEA line workers in a convoy of more than 30 utility company trucks hauling equipment left Sunday for Louisiana to help restore electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Jacksonvile Mayor Lenny Curry announced Sunday afternoon that he's authorized city Fire and Rescue Department personnel "to aid our neighbors in Louisiana if necessary." More from the Florida Times-Union.
DeSantis offers bonuses to lure out-of-state cops as Florida struggles to retain troopers
Here in Florida, DeSantis is facing extensive and chronic recruitment and retention problems within his own Florida Highway Patrol, which continues to lose officers to higher-paying local police agencies. The reduced staffing has led to cuts in services. A Sun-Sentinel investigation last year found fewer cops patrol Florida’s roads than 20 years ago, and there has been a 38% decrease in tickets issued over the past five years and a 41% increase in crashes. More from the Orlando Sentinel.
Southwest Florida International Airport breaks 2020 — and 2019 — passenger travel records
The airport passenger surge continues in the region, with a record-breaking 814,471 passengers traveling through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers in July. That’s up 218% over July 2020 and 42.6% over July 2019, according to a statement. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 60% compared to last year, the release adds. The traffic leader in July was Southwest Airlines with 205,598 total passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta (156,658), American (149,918), United (114,151) and Spirit (66,167). More from the Business Observer.
Florida Dining
Ghost kitchens haunt Miami’s dining scene. You may be eating from one and not know it
Ghost kitchens are not as spooky as they might sound. Instead, they’re a new concept designed to reduce restaurants’ operating costs by catering only to delivery and, occasionally, takeout diners. And in Miami’s cutthroat dining world — with real estate and labor costs soaring — they may be poised to become the future of affordable eateries.
» More from the Miami Herald.
Profile
Country singer gets into new business with burger joint
What do you get when you combine an up-and-coming country singer based in Estero with a longtime local restaurateur known for burgers that generate lots of social media buzz? The answer, hopefully, is a successful restaurant and live music venue. That’s the goal behind the recent opening of Ben Allen’s Backyard Grill & Pub on Tamiami Trail East in Naples.
» Read more from the Business Observer.
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