Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Tuesday's Daily Pulse

Florida's governor's race has plenty of candidates and an X factor

For the first time in more than two decades, Floridians have a wide open primary race for governor in the Republican and Democratic parties. Fifty-one weeks from now expect both sides to emerge bloodied and spent. The X factor is Attorney John Morgan, who has not yet decided to run. But, when his name is added to the list of Democratic candidates, he leads them all. [Source: Fort Myers News-Press]

Florida Trend Exclusive
Engineering the law: Marriott Vacations Worldwide's class-action timeshare battle

In the spring of 2016, Marriott Vacations Worldwide, which books more than $600 million a year in timeshare sales, was hit with a class-action lawsuit. The lead plaintiffs were Anthony and Beth Lennen who had bought time at Marriott’s Crystal Shores resort on Marco Island. As the lawsuit wound its way through the courts, Marriott Vacations Worldwide and the timeshare industry tried to undermine the suit by getting the Legislature to change the law that provided the basis for the suit. Full story here.

Realtors: House tax proposal would cut Florida home values by 13%

Realtors harbor “grave concerns” about a Republican proposal to reduce the tax deduction for mortgage interest, end write-offs for property taxes and boost capital-gains taxes on home sales, said Maria Wells, president of Florida Realtors. [Source: Palm Beach Post]

Gov. Scott rolls out final spending proposals Tuesday

For the last time as governor, Rick Scott will roll out a set of budget recommendations Tuesday for the Florida Legislature to consider in its upcoming election-year session that begins Jan. 9. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Earlier:
» Gov. Scott proposes $180 million in tax cuts for Florida families

Florida growers explore new solutions to age-old problems

Ask a farmer about their biggest challenges, and the responses you’re almost guaranteed to hear include labor, pests, and market competition. This has been the case for what seems like eternity. However, the dialogue may be changing sooner than you think – if modern technology and applied research have anything to say about [Source: Growing Produce]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› South Beach is getting its first Target store
Miami-Dade County’s epicenter of the cool and the hip is getting practical: A Target store is coming to South Beach. The new shopping center will occupy the current location of the now-shuttered Ivy nightclub, which will be demolished.

› Florida gas prices spike 13 cents in three days
The average price for a gallon of unleaded regular shot up 13 cents in just three days last week in response to a spike in crude oil prices on the global market. Motorists were paying $2.53 on average in Florida on Monday compared to $2.40 the previous week.

› Orlando tech entrepreneurs come back for the 'thrill'
Gregg Pollack has experience as an entrepreneur. The 40-year-old Orlando resident started his first business just after college and he has since built and sold multiple educational technology companies.

› Gov. Scott announces $178 million investment for Florida's active military, veterans and their families
Governor Rick Scott announced that he will propose $178 million in total funding to support active military, veterans and their families in Florida as part of his 2018-2019 recommended budget.

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› Orlando could require home-sharers to be at home
Orlando could soon allow bed-and-breakfast style room rentals in most residential areas, as the city continues to grapple with how to regulate Airbnb and other similar online services.

› Longboat leader predicts beach nourishment to be next big fight
Outgoing Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock predicts one of the major clashes facing coastal government agencies in the coming years will be over an increasingly rare resource — high-quality beach sand.

› Developer razes most of St. Pete’s historic Union Trust building
It made it through the Great Depression but most of the historic Union Trust Co. building in downtown St. Petersburg won’t survive the pressures of redevelopment.

› VISIT FLORIDA Launches Canada Takeover Campaign
VISIT FLORIDA has launched its Canada Takeover winter campaign to attract Canadian visitors to Florida. Elements of the Canada winter campaign are continuing through the end of December.