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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida is growing. Can affordable housing keep up?
While Florida is booming in home sales and new construction, the influx of people moving to the state means affordable housing remains an issue, according to a new report from the University of Florida. More than 450,000 people moved to Florida in 2021 and 2022, according to the report. Florida passed the Live Local Act in 2023, which directed $711 million into affordable housing programs and to incentivize investment from developers. [Source: UF News]
Anticipating possible surge of people fleeing Haiti, state deploys forces to South Florida
Anticipating a possible surge in refugees fleeing the gang-fueled lawlessness and chaos in Haiti, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday ordered more than 250 law enforcement officers, Guardsmen and soldiers from several agencies to South Florida and the Keys. It’s not certain what will happen next in Haiti, where people are increasingly desperate as the government continues to flounder and gangs rule the streets, especially in the capital, Port-au-Prince. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
‘Tax advocate’ assistance coming soon to Florida. Here’s what that means
State Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis announced that a federal tax liaison will be named in the coming weeks to help state taxpayers navigate issues as they prepare their federal tax returns. “We’re not going to be attorneys, we’re not going to represent you in court,” Patronis said. “We’re going to help you get an answer and this is exactly what the tax advocate is intended to do.” The tax advocate is expected to be hired from a member of the CFO’s team. [Source: Click Orlando]
Why more Florida Hispanic voters are leaning Republican, and what it means for 2024
Republicans and even some Democrats described a broad realignment in Hispanic voters’ political leanings — one that goes beyond conservative-leaning Cuban Americans and largely favors the GOP and Trump. The rightward shift could have wide-ranging repercussions this fall, when Floridians will vote for president and U.S. Senate, and Miami-Dade voters will cast ballots in races for sheriff and elections supervisor, among other contests. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area takes up 4 million acres. 6 things to know
There's a new conservation area in Florida, and it's huge. The Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area consists of 4 million acres and spreads across southwestern and central Florida from Naples to Lakeland. The Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area is the latest addition to the National Wildlife Refuge System. [Source: Naples Daily News]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Shakeup continues at Disney district a year after takeover
The shakeup of Walt Disney World’s governing district more than a year after it was taken over by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees continued Wednesday with the departure of its board chairman who had been highly critical of Disney. Martin Garcia’s departure as chairman of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District is coming a week after the district’s administrator, Glen Gilzean, left to accept an appointment by DeSantis as interim elections supervisor in Orange County.
› Take a look inside a huge Peru navy ship in Miami. There are blueberries, pisco, tamales
You may not realize it, but your clothes, blueberries, and increasingly your avocados come from this country. If you’re stumped, then you may want to head to downtown Miami and look for a massive ship and see what’s on display. The B.A.P. Unión, a four-masted flagship of the Peruvian navy, docked at Maurice Ferré Park on Wednesday morning after more than nine months at sea stopping at 21 ports in 15 countries around the world.
› Suncoast growers feeling effect of citrus decline
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Sarasota and Manatee counties have seen a drop of nearly 1.5 million total boxes of citrus from the season ending in 2021 to the season ending in 2023, largely because of citrus greening. “It is a $6.8 billion economic generator to the state of Florida, employing 35,000 to 40,000 people every year,” says CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual Matt Joyner.
› Brevard residents urge county commissioners to 'stop the shenanigans' at their meetings
A loose coalition of about 30 county residents from across the political spectrum came to the Brevard County Government Center in Viera on Tuesday afternoon to protest what they felt was bad conduct by county government officials. For an hour, they held a demonstration near the entrance to the complex's parking lot. Then some went inside the County Commission chambers to tell commissioners what they thought during the public comment period at the end of the commission meeting.
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