Florida visitors told to quarantine by New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

The tables have turned in the dispute between the governors of Florida and New York over their coronavirus responses. Three months after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a 14-day self-quarantine for travelers from the then-ravaged states of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday those three states will now require Floridians to self-quarantine for the same amount of time. The decision comes on a when day Florida set another single-day record for new coronavirus cases with 5,509. More from the Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the AP, and CNBC.

With more than 5,500 cases in a single day, Florida smashes coronavirus record

Florida’s Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed 5,508 additional cases of COVID-19, setting another daily total record high since the start of the pandemic. The state now has a total of 109,014 confirmed cases. Previously, the highest daily total of newly confirmed cases was on Saturday, with 4,049. More from the Miami Herald, the Palm Beach Post, the Orlando Sentinel, and the Tampa Bay Times.

Times Publishing Company names Conan Gallaty President; Executive Editor Mark Katches becomes a Vice-President

The Tampa Bay Times announced today promotions for two senior executives. Conan Gallaty becomes president of Times Publishing Company, and Mark Katches becomes a vice-president. Both men joined the Times in 2018 and have advanced the company’s digital initiatives. In 17 months, the Times has grown its base of digital-only subscribers to almost 20,000. “With enormous pleasure, I congratulate two colleagues who are helping the Times embrace its digital future,” said CEO and chairman Paul Tash. [Source: Florida Trend]

Report: Florida's tax burden 5th-lowest in the U.S.

Florida has the fifth-lowest tax burden in the U.S., according to a new report by the personal finance website WalletHub. The proportion of total personal income a person pays toward state and local taxes is considered his or her tax burden. To determine who has the biggest tax burdens in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states across the three types of state tax burdens – property taxes, individual income taxes and sales and excise taxes – as a share of total personal income in the state. [Source: The Center Square]

Visit Florida approves budget, but more money eyed

The Visit Florida Board of Directors on Wednesday approved more than $42 million for tourism marketing as part of a $108 million operating budget for next fiscal year. However, a lot more money might be needed to offset the coronavirus’ massive damage to the tourism and hospitality industries, according to board member Carol Dover. [Source: WPEC]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› New York developer snaps up former Wynwood Rubell site for apartment/office project [Miami Herald]
The New York firm behind the Sir Norman Foster-designed 425 Park Avenue and Chelsea’s newly approved Terminal Warehouse is coming to Wynwood. L&L Holding is joint-venturing with private equity and development firm Carpe Real Estate Partners to develop a mixed-use office / apartment development.

› Cleveland Clinic Florida CEO resigns to take leadership job with private company [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Amid cost-cutting efforts at Cleveland Clinic, Wael Barsoum, CEO of Cleveland Clinic Florida, is leaving the hospital system he had led for the last six years to become president of a private company. Barsoum, who has been steering the Cleveland Clinic Florida through the coronavirus pandemic, said he has taken a position as president and chief transformation officer of HOPCo, owner of orthopedic practices, specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers as well as medical risk management.

› Disney reservation site issues have been resolved, theme park says [Orlando Sentinel]
Some people trying to use the Disney Park Pass System to make reservations to visit the theme park complained of technical glitches, but a Disney spokesperson said Wednesday that these issues have been resolved. The reservation system debuted Monday for users with bookings at certain hotels.

› Property values, Covid-19 cut vast hole in Miami Beach budget [Miami Today]
The City of Miami Beach has held its first budget meeting for the next fiscal year and the financial outlook is dismal – and not just because of Covid-19. Nearly all commissioners and the mayor participated in the meeting last week, in which Chief Financial Officer John Woodruff walked the elected officials through the outlook for the 2021 fiscal year.

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› North Port approves Tropicare Boulevard improvement [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
North Port city commissioners gave the green-light to the long-awaited widening of Tropicaire Boulevard from Van Camp Street to Toledo Blade Boulevard Tuesday. As part of the $3.95-million project, conduit will be buried to facilitate a potential expansion of internet access to North Port Estates — though no provider has stepped forward to actually run the lines. Work could start within six months and take about two years to complete.

› A 60-Game Sprint: Florida's MLB Teams Get Ready for Shortened Season [WFLA]
The Tampa Bay Rays' general manager says it's like "reprogramming the entire operation" off the field, as the Rays and Miami Marlins get ready to start the regular MLB season in July. Erik Neander told reporters in a Zoom call Wednesday that the team has to "throttle through" a "spring" training that starts July 1st. The regular season is expected to begin July 23rd or 24th.

› Florida Foundation deploys more than $1 million in disaster aid to the Bahamas [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
During the past nine months, The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has deployed more than $1 million in disaster relief aid to the hurricane-ravaged Bahamas. The foundation’s Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund, established last fall with a matching gift of $100,000 from Palm Beach residents J. Ira and Nicki Harris, has distributed a variety of emergency grants through various charitable organizations to help rebuild portions of the island nation that were decimated by Hurricane Dorian in September.

› A court blocked demolition of Coral Gables ranch home in historic preservation battle [Miami Herald]
Coral Gables preservationists’ long-running campaign to save an early and potentially historic ranch-style house took on unexpected new life on Tuesday when a Miami-Dade County court blocked the home’s impending demolition.