THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010
STATEWIDE:
Jobless construction workers wonder what's next
As a few dozen real estate and title insurance agents mingle around a steakhouse's bar at a networking mixer, one shares a sardonic joke: Is it OK to pray for a hurricane?
The storms can devastate, but they also stir up business in real estate and construction:
Today, there are about 407,000 construction jobs in Florida, about 40% fewer than three years ago. The fallout has been less severe among real estate agents and brokers: Only about 8% of their jobs have disappeared, falling to about 124,000 in Florida, state data show. However, agents suggest many of the people remaining in real estate are hanging on at a fraction of their former pay.
[Source: Tampa Tribune]
CAPE CANAVERAL:
Shuttle flights would continue under new proposal
The space shuttle era could get a new lease on life under a bill filed today by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.
The measure would delay the shuttle’s planned retirement in 2010 until NASA is confident that a replacement spacecraft is ready or that the shuttle and its massive payload bay is no longer needed to keep the International Space Station afloat through 2020.
The 37-page bill also authorizes an additional $1.3 billion in NASA spending next year above President Barack Obama’s request of $19 billion.
[Source: Orlando Sentinel]
Related: Space Coast lawmakers lobby for economic aid as 9,000 aerospace jobs disappear this year - Palm Beach Post
Tampa Bay:
HSN posts stellar performance in fourth quarter
Defying a flat retail environment, HSN Inc. clicked on all cylinders through a fourth quarter that included the holiday shopping season. Almost all categories and performance measures rose at the St. Petersburg company, which Wednesday reported an 8% increase in sales and an 18% increase in profit. One hiccup was a small sales decrease at its long-struggling Cornerstone catalog unit.Sales on just the HSN TV network and its Web site leaped 12% from a year ago to $612 million, the most in the company's 32-year history.
[Source: St. Petersburg Times]
TALLAHASSEE:
State economist: School funding down $1 billion for next year
Falling property values and an influx of students displaced by the earthquake in Haiti will contribute to a $1 billion shortfall in state school funding next year, according to state economists who testified before a state Senate panel Wednesday. The bulk of the funding decrease, $778 million, is attributable to declining property values as home prices continue falling and banks foreclose on more mortgages, said Amy Baker, head of the state Office of Economics, Demographics and Research. Property taxes are the main funding source for schools. [Source: Tampa Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› FAU board picks new president
Florida Atlantic University's board of trustees has selected a new president.
The 13-member board unanimously picked Mary Jane Saunders on Wednesday to be FAU's sixth president. She will replace Frank Brogan, who was named chancellor of Florida's State University System.
› More than 24,000 households attended loan marathon
The Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America’s 5-day loan modification event at the Palm Beach County Civic Center attracted 24,331 households and was able to give same-day solutions to 7,547. The marathon, which ran 24-hours-a-day beginning Feb. 25, was the 13th event nationwide sponsored by the non-profit group, which offers free counseling to struggling borrowers.
› Help is available for some under water homeowners
Borrowers with under water home loans will have another year to take advantage of a little used federal refinancing program that tries to prevent foreclosures with lower or fixed interest rates. The Obama administration announced this week that the Home Affordable Refinance Program will continue through June 2011 after helping just 190,180 homeowners in the year since it was announced.
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South Florida bankruptcies rise 17%
South Florida residents filing for bankruptcy rose nearly 17% from January to February, and about 80%compared with February 2009, according to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Miami. In the tri-county area, 2,611 residents filed for bankruptcy compared with 2,237 in January and 1,457 a year ago.
› Pulte revives Polk County development
Seven months after ceasing sales in its La Cresta active-adult community in northeast Polk County, Pulte Homes has renamed the project Del Webb Orlando and resumed operations. Del Webb, a Pulte unit, originally opened the Davenport development in 2006 but suspended operations last July until legal issues with land developer JL Land entities were resolved.
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Tampa Bay auto sales sluggish compared to the national numbers
If only Tampa Bay's auto sales could catch up with the national momentum. U.S. sales of new vehicles rose 6% in January, but the seven-county Tampa Bay area's sales in January (the latest month available for regional data) fell almost 13% compared to January 2009.
Profile of Boca Raton: › A Florida Town Where Turtles, and Even Humans, Can Relax
If Miami is the livelier tourist destination (think of tight white Capri pants), and Palm Beach is the snobbier destination (think of white silk pants and pink silk tops), Boca is khaki shorts and flats.
It is a casual resort that lets visitors relax on its pristine public beaches, check out a rash of restaurants, visit some of the state’s prettiest gardens and drive to Delray or Palm Beach for more action, if one has the craving.
commentary
› Ethics Reform: Tied Up in Tallahassee
In 1866, a New York court began its decision with "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the Legislature is in session." Just a reminder: The Florida Legislature opens today.
But it appears that legislators will be more preoccupied in this 60-day annual session with their own lives, liberties and properties - as well as those of former colleagues and fellow elected officials.
commentary
› Florida's insurance scam
Citizens is selling policies to Floridians at predatorily low rates - rates so low it may not be able to pay claims should a major catastrophe occur. Ironically, however, the scheme under way in Florida is occurring with full knowledge and consent of the state insurance commissioner and key state policymakers.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
Ethics Commission: › Former Crist space advisor violated revolving-door law
The Florida Commission on Ethics has found a former employee in Gov. Charlie Crist’s office likely violated a state ethics law when he helped set up a Panhandle space-tourist program and then left to take a six-figure job there.
› Spring Training underway
Find local news, league coverage, day-by-day schedules.
Also go to this link for more.
› Palm Beach County taxpayers unknowingly owned Boca Raton time-share
For the past eight years, a real estate dispute that slipped through the bureaucratic cracks left Palm Beach County taxpayers the unknowing owners of a one-week stake in a Boca Raton beachside time-share.
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Program to inform Fla. veterans of benefits
A new state program is designed to help inform veterans of their benefits with help from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Officials said Wednesday that starting in July applicants for new or renewed driver licenses or state identification cards will be asked to voluntarily disclose whether they are veterans.
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X-Way leaders cleared on ‘culture of corruption’ ethics allegations
One current and two former leaders of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority who were part of what a local grand jury dubbed a “culture of corruption” involving political fund raising at that toll agency, did not run afoul of Florida’s ethics laws, state officials have ruled.