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Florida measure to help businesses sparks fear of lawsuits against local governments
A move to help business owners fight regulations enacted by cities and counties survived a pair of Senate committees, but faces a troubled path forward with lawmakers who were warned it could trigger a cascade of lawsuits hitting local taxpayers hard. The legislation by state Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, was condemned by government representatives who warned that expanding the right of a few companies to sue over ordinances they claim cost them profits would stop city and county officials from taking a host of steps that could improve their communities. [Source: Tallahassee Democrat]
Business Beat - Week of January 21st
Get top news-to-know with Florida Trend's headline-focused video newsbrief, hosted by digital content specialist Aimée Alexander.
Did you lose your COVID vaccination card? How to get a replacement in Florida
The good news is that vaccine cards aren’t part of our daily routine in Florida — you know, the “keys, wallet, mask” routine people go through before leaving their house. Businesses and restaurants can’t deny you service. Some situations require vaccination proof: if your job or private school is mandating COVID shots; if you want to opt out of a testing requirement at certain entertainment venues; or if you want to get a booster or finish the two-dose series of Pfizer and Moderna. [Source: Miami Herald]
Commentary: Florida’s Environmental Regulation Commission hasn’t met in 5 years
Florida is poised to spend $2.2 billion on the environment next year. This state and nation are already spending $23 billion cleaning up the Everglades. If you could solve problems simply by throwing money at them, we would be fine. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. A much better way — cheaper and more effective — is to stop people from damaging our natural resources in the first place. And on that front, Florida is pretty pathetic. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Florida lawmakers creating new ways to keep public records private
The annual assault on Florida’s popular open government laws continues this legislative session — even as the public clamors for greater transparency and access to their elected officials and government as the COVID-19 pandemic enters its third year. Lawmakers have filed more than 50 bills, either adding new exemptions to the state’s public records law or sparking what are known as open government sunset reviews, which make previously public information secret. [Source: Florida Today]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Taco festival with checkered history coming to Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium
Long lines, not enough food or drink. Those complaints have followed Arizona-based AZ Food Festivals at events held across the country in the past year. Though it is the same company that the Tampa Sports Authority announced is bringing the Tampa Taco and Margarita Festival to Raymond James Stadium on March 12, Tampa organizers say they have learned from the past mistakes and are taking measures to control the event.
› How Miami’s Marvelous Mrs. Goldfarb turned Publix and Mark Cuban onto vegan deli
If Amazon Prime’s hit series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” about a housewife turned stand-up comic, needs a sequel set in the vegan food world, let us introduce you to The Marvelous Mrs. Goldfarb. The plucky Jenny Goldfarb parlayed her “Shark Tank” victory in 2019 to now doubling her retail footprint by expanding her Mrs. Goldfarb’s Unreal Deli vegan plant-based corned beef, turkey and steak line of products to nearly every Publix supermarket in the southeastern U.S. in January.
› Family-owned Atlantic Logistics in Jacksonville is growing faster than ever
With trucks transporting goods arriving in ships from abroad and in the U.S., to products moving directly from factories to your doorstep, they’re critical to the nation’s supply chain. And freight brokerage services that connect and manage shipments are vital to the industry. Atlantic Logistics, a 20-year-old Jacksonville business, is thriving as a result. In January of 2020, the family-owned business had 32 employees. Now there’s 46.
› A South Florida vet who stars in TV series takes aim at deadly rabbit disease
A vaccine clinic operated Tuesday in Deerfield Beach, but this one didn’t involve COVID. It involved rabbits. The foe was a lethal, uncurable disease that’s swept the United States, including Florida, called rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. But thanks to the efforts of Dr. Susan Kelleher, a TV star and exotic animals veterinarian, about 40 pet rabbits can stop worrying about it (or at least their owners can).
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