As Florida reopens, some business owners are taking it slow

As the state of Florida surpassed 2,000 coronavirus deaths Tuesday, some cities and businesses were hesitant about reopening to the public, saying they want to take things slow and safe. It's a delicate balance, especially for small business owners who have been closed since mid-March. Some say too many unknowns still exist. Miami Beach and the city of Miami are delaying opening retail, hair salons and barbershops until later this week and restaurants until later this month, but elsewhere, many businesses are allowed to reopen. Some aren't, however. [Source: AP]

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Orlando's mayor: Buddy Dyer

At the turn of the 21st century, downtown Orlando was foundering. At the center of the revitalization is John Hugh “Buddy” Dyer, the 61-year-old Democrat who’s Orlando’s longest-serving mayor. His political acumen — and the ability to serve for more than 17 years — has helped him get a lot done. Orlando is one of a few cities in Florida without term limits for mayors, allowing Dyer to stick around long enough to advance the ball on important civic issues and signature development projects. [Source: Florida Trend]

Data shows no significant drop in Florida's COVID-19 case numbers

As more Florida businesses and services reopen across the state this week, health data has shown that the number of coronavirus cases has continued to rise at a relatively stable rate. Florida restaurants, retail and select businesses, such as gyms, barbershops and nail salons, were allowed to reopen Monday at 50% capacity and with several precautions in place, including social distancing of six feet and temperature checks. Restaurants had begun reopening at the beginning of the month to 25% capacity. [Source: ABC News]

See also:
» Coronavirus may have caused hundreds of additional deaths in Florida

Stock up on hurricane supplies during sales tax holiday

For a week, Floridians can stock up on hurricane supplies without paying sales tax. From May 29 to June 4, a number of items will be exempt from sales tax. The tax holiday does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging or airports, and rental or repair of qualifying items. Forecasts predict this year’s hurricane season, which officially runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, will be above-average. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida lags in paying pandemic unemployment assistance to the self-employed

Florida has struggled to get the benefit to independent contractors and self-employed workers, running far behind many other states. It took weeks for Florida to set up a separate system to distribute the federal money, and even now applicants say the process is difficult to navigate and frustratingly byzantine. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Pensacola's Southern Oaks offering thousands in signing bonuses for nurses, LPNs and CNAs [WEAR]
Southern Oaks Care Center in Pensacola is now offering thousands of dollars in bonuses for registered nurses, LPNs and CNAs joining their team. About three weeks ago, Southern Oaks topped the list of the most COVID-19 cases in Florida's long-term care facilities. Since then, administrator Louis Petty says they've reduced the amount of infections by over 75% -- from 94 to 23.

› All Panhandle counties can reopen vacation rentals [WCTV]
All Panhandle counties can reopen vacation rentals, the Secretary of Florida's Department of Business & Professional Regulation confirmed to WCTV Tuesday afternoon. Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Gulf, Franklin and Bay counties are among the counties that can reopen vacation rentals, according to State Representative Jason Shoaf.

› Darden Restaurants reopens nearly half its dining rooms; employees to return to Orlando headquarters [Orlando Sentinel]
The Orlando-based owner of Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and other chain restaurants has opened back up nearly half of its more than 1,800 dining rooms as coronavirus restrictions across the country have been eased. Darden Restaurants said 49% of its dining rooms had reopened as of Sunday, and it expected more than 65% of them to open with limited capacity by the end of the month.

› St. Pete Records opening new store in Warehouse Arts District [Tampa Bay Times]
St. Pete Records closed its store at 6648 Central Ave. back on March 17, right as the coronavirus was shutting down the retail world. “See ya when we see ya,” owners wrote that day on Facebook. They’re almost ready to see you again — albeit in an entirely new spot.

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› Mayport ship CO fired over ‘loss of confidence’ [Florida Times-Union]
The commanding officer of the Mayport-based USS Philippine Sea was removed from her post Monday “due to a loss of confidence in her ability to command,” the Navy has announced. Capt. Erica Hoffmann had commanded the guided missile cruiser for just over a year. A written statement from the Naval Surface Forces Atlantic public affairs office didn’t elaborate on the decision.

› New Port Richey allows extra open areas for business use [Tampa Bay Times]
To give local businesses and restaurants more room for their patrons while still keeping them safe through social distancing, New Port Richey City Manager Debbie Manns signed two administrative development orders this week allowing expansion for seating and displays.

› Robert Stuart to retire amid Orlando nonprofits’ changing of the guard [Orlando Sentinel]
Longtime Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart is about to retire from his other day job — as executive director of the Christian Service Center for Central Florida — amid a major leadership shake-up for Orlando’s nonprofit safety net that also includes the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and United Against Poverty.

› Former Rays player to open gyms in region [Business Observer]
Matt Joyce now plays for the Miami Marlins but is well known in the Tampa Bay region thanks to his 2009-14 stint with the Tampa Bay Rays. Now the former All-Star outfielder, along with his wife, Brittany Joyce, and business partner Blair Johnson, is embarking on a business career in the region, opening five F45 Training franchises, starting on Saturday, May 23.