DeSantis kicks off presidential campaign in early voting states, seaweed containing flesh-eating bacteria, election officials alter guidelines to benefit DeSantis' campaign, and more...
June 4, 2023 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
Welcome to this week’s edition of Floridian Today, a newsletter about all things Florida — from politics, business, real estate, and climate. Reporting from the Sunshine State, these are the most important stories you need to know. To never miss an update, subscribe here:
Here’s the latest from Florida…
DeSantis officially begins presidential campaign with visits to early voting states
Massive seaweed blob landing on Florida beaches may contain flesh-eating bacteria
The massive 5,000-mile wide stretch of seaweed that has made headlines for months for its historic size and unpleasant presence has given beachgoers a new concern: flesh-eating bacteria. As the large mats of Sargassum micro-algae have moved across the Atlantic Ocean towards Florida, it has been trapping plastic pollution floating in the ocean which has created an ideal environment for the Vibrio vulnificus strain of bacteria, known as flesh-eating bacteria, to thrive. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) made the discovery that the presence of plastic trapped in Sargassum serves as breeding ground for the bacteria as it clings to the pollution caught in the seaweed and can attach to it within minutes. This can lead to the growth of more Sargassum and as a result, a greater concentration of Vibrio. "Vibrio bacteria are found in waters around the world and are the dominant cause of death in humans from the marine environment," FAU researchers warned. Officials are advising beach visitors to be careful and avoid swimming in areas where Sargassum seaweed is present if they have any open wounds or a compromised immune system. It is also recommended beachgoers rinse off with fresh water after exiting the water.
Florida election officials change guidelines to benefit Gov. DeSantis’ presidential campaign
State election officials have made it easier for Ron DeSantis to finance his 2024 presidential bid, allowing the candidate to access $80 million raised during his gubernatorial reelection campaign as he runs for national office. Long-standing state election direction previously forbade moving state political dollars to federal super political action committees (PACs), but that guidance quietly vanished in the months leading up to the Republican governor’s latest campaign launch. The move by DeSantis-appointed officials at the Florida State Department allows the five-year-old state-level Friends of Ron DeSantis PAC, which the governor ran, to transfer its $80 million fund balance to his newly-announced Never Back Down federal super PAC supporting his White House bid. The prior restrictions applied to every election cycle since 2016, saying state-to-federal fund transfers were not allowed. “A Florida political committee must use its funds solely for Florida political activities, i.e., depositing contributions and making expenditures, which by definition in Florida law, are for the purposes of influencing only Florida elections,” read the Florida Division of Elections’ handbook. The latest 2024 version of the guidance says such transfers are now permitted, citing the 2010 Citizens United case by the U.S. Supreme Court as support for the new recommendation. This development gives DeSantis a serious fundraising advantage over the entire field of declared and prospective GOP presidential primary challengers.
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The Campaign Legal Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonpartisan watchdog group, has accused Gov. Ron DeSantis of federal campaign finance violations over reports the Republican candidate has transferred $80 million from his state PAC to his federal super PAC. The Center says the alleged fund transfer is “illegal” as it moves campaign dollars raised under state election rules – without being subject to federal regulation or oversight – to a national race, where those federal rules would apply. In a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the group says the transfer violates the Federal Election Campaign Act. The DeSantis campaign has not addressed the accusations.
The business impacts of Florida’s new immigration law
Among the more controversial measures signed by Gov. DeSantis following the 2023 Legislative Session is a new law that aims to crackdown on illegal immigration and is creating unease for Florida businesses. On Thursday, businesses across the country, including in Florida, took part in "Un Día Sin Inmigrantes'' or "A Day Without Immigrants" protest to boycott the DeSantis-signed law that takes effect on July 1. The stringent provisions of SB 1718 tighten restrictions on unauthorized aliens and stiffen penalties on those who assist them, including on employers who violate new mandates. In an effort to block the hiring of undocumented immigrants, businesses with 25 or more employees will be forced to comply with new E-Verify requirements to confirm an individual’s eligibility to work in the U.S. Florida businesses in agriculture, construction, and hospitality sectors that heavily rely on an undocumented workforce are concerned that this will lead to an even greater labor shortage. The Florida Policy Institute estimates that labor-intensive industries could experience a 10% loss of their workforce, leading to a possible $12.6 billion one-year decline in state GDP that would diminish state and local tax revenue. The added E-Verify requirements will likely generate fear among those working on construction sites, farms, in hotels, restaurants, or as truck drivers, professions that have historically high-levels of employed immigrant labor. To avoid the new law, employers may hire people under the table and therefore, outside of the tax system – negatively impacting payroll taxes collected. Additionally, the federal employer verification does not factor in death records, so unauthorized workers can outsmart the system by using Social Security numbers of deceased individuals. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity will be tasked with enforcing the new E-Verify requirement, which could include $1,000 daily fines levied on the business or felony charges for workers who use a false ID. However, the legislation specifies that these sanctions apply only after an employer refuses to use the database on three or more instances within two years. But the bill lacks clear methods of enforcement and similar E-Verify requirements in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, and Mississippi have gone largely ignored. But concerns remain that Florida will be different and businesses fear it will harm their ability to recruit productive workers to do jobs that traditional Americans may refuse to do in important sectors of the economy. At the very least, even if not actively enforced by the state of Florida, the new mandate could have a chilling effect from the threat of surveillance and economic penalties alone. This could drive labor wages up and push grocery prices, hotel rates, construction goods, and transportation services to rise as a result.
DeSantis goes on the offensive against former President Trump
In a sign that the 2024 presidential campaign is heating up, Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized his rival, former President Donald Trump's past comments on the Second Amendment, Dr. Fauci, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, and his administration’s personnel. In a recent interview with conservative media network BlazeTV, the presidential hopeful began by calling Trump’s statements on guns following the 2018 Parkland school shooting “unconstitutional.” people without due process, calling them "unconstitutional." “I like taking the guns early, like in this crazy man’s case that just took place in Florida … to go to court would have taken a long time,” the then-president said. “Take the guns first, go through due process second,” he added. In calling Trump’s comments “unconstitutional,” DeSantis said he believed it would violate the Second and Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The “[federal government] can’t take anything from you without due process,” the governor said. “It’s not just firearms. And so, the idea that you’re seizing people’s property and then promising some due process later, that is wrong.” In another interview, DeSantis turned his attention to Trump’s final year in office, which was marked by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, after praising the former president’s first three years of his term. The Florida governor said Trump’s decision to have NIH Director Dr. Anthony Fauci lead the White House Coronavirus Task Force “destroyed millions of people’s lives” and called the federal government’s overall pandemic response as “catastrophic.” He also criticized Trump's nomination of FBI Director Christopher Wray, saying he would put someone else in the role “on day one.” Despite Trump’s frequent verbal attacks on the Republican governor and his policies, DeSantis’ critical remarks are among his first lobbed at the former president since entering the campaign. This a 180-degree pivot from his initial run for governor in 2018, where the then-candidate imitated the former president and campaigned to show he was the most pro-Trump contender in the race.
DeSantis signs legislation that could protect Elon Musk’s SpaceX from liability over deaths, injuries
Gov. DeSantis has signed a bill into law that could potentially help SpaceX, Blue Origin, and other private space companies avoid lawsuits over deaths and injuries occurring as part of spaceflight. The bill, SB 1318, was passed by the State Senate unanimously and with little opposition in the House. The measure creates a new category of legal immunity for spaceflight entities, which are defined as "any person or entity that provides spaceflight activities, such as any activity involving the “launching, landing, or operation of a spacecraft." Under the new law, spaceflight entities are immune from liability for "an injury or death of a spaceflight participant or crew resulting from a spaceflight activity." This means that spaceflight entities cannot be sued for damages if a passenger or crew member is injured or killed during spaceflight, unless gross negligence or intentional misconduct has occurred. The law does not apply to spaceflight conducted by the federal government and will require crew and passengers to sign a “warning statement” assuming responsibility for the risks. Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to encourage the development of commercial spaceflight and argue that it will help create jobs and boost the state economy.
DeSantis criticizes deal to raise debt ceiling
Gov. DeSantis, now a 2024 presidential candidate, has criticized Congress’ bipartisan deal to raise the $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, saying the U.S. is still “careening toward bankruptcy” as it does not do enough to change the fiscal trajectory of the country. Following months of tense negotiations, President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced a tentative agreement late last week to raise the debt ceiling for two years with new spending caps. DeSantis is a vocal critic of the deal’s “massive amount of spending,” which narrowly circumvents the U.S. defaulting on its debt obligations before the June 5 deadline. He argued that “in Washington, D.C., they do these cycles to just get them through the next election. And that’s ultimately one of the reasons why they continue to fail.” The agreement increases the debt ceiling while holding spending flat through 2024, then allows for a 1% increase in non-defense spending in 2025. The Republican governor attacked the plan’s lack of significant spending cuts as “totally inadequate” to improve the financial health of the U.S.
DeSantis’ Army: Governor expands Florida State Guard
Gov. DeSantis has signed into law a bill that will make the Florida State Guard (FSG) permanent and dramatically expand its budget and personnel size. The legislation will increase the budget of the new volunteer force more than ten times current levels to $107.6 million, up from $10 million in the 2022-23 budget year. It will also raise the maximum number of volunteers from 400 to 1,500 personnel. The new law allows expenditures of nearly $50 million for aviation equipment, $32.7 million for buildings, and $17 million for training and recruitment. The Florida State Guard was established during World War II to replace the Florida National Guard as its members were deployed overseas. It went inactive in 1947, but was revived last year by Gov. DeSantis after criticizing the federal government’s reluctance to increase the size of the Florida National Guard. The FSG will be placed under the governor’s direction and its members will have arresting powers. The law also expands the scope of the force from being activated during emergencies to “protect[ing] and defend[ing] the people of Florida from threats to public safety.” Opponents of the measure, including ACLU Florida, say the expansion is part of an effort to move Florida closer to becoming a police state and fear it could be used to suppress dissent or peaceful protests.
The impact of Disney’s scrapped $1B campus on the region
Disney’s announcement to cancel its $1 billion corporate campus project in Central Florida’s Lake Nona could have a ripple effect on neighboring developments. The project, which would have included office space, hotels, and retail, was expected to create thousands of high-paying jobs and generate tens of millions of dollars in economic activity for the region per year. Now, the 60-acre parcel of land that Disney purchased in 2021 for $46 million will sit vacant. This empty lot will loom large over adjacent commercial and residential developments that were slated for the Lake Nona community. When Disney first made their relocation plans known in 2021, it spurred a rise in new residential and multifamily construction, but without the company’s investment and the accompanying 2,000 jobs, the Lake Nona area may be a less attractive option. Tech or medical businesses that the region has attracted are likely to be unfazed by the recent news, but other companies in real estate or hospitality may now think twice before relocating here. Importantly, per an agreement made when Disney purchased the property, the company has until 2028 to develop the land or they will be forced to sell it back.
Florida highway renamed “Rush Limbaugh Way” after the late talk radio host
Gov. DeSantis has signed legislation to rename a road in Hernando County after the late conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, a controversial but influential media figure who died in 2021. Beginning on July 1, a portion of U.S. 41 and State Road 50 in Hernando County will be called "Rush Limbaugh Way." Originally, the bill aimed to rename a bridge after astronaut Sally Ride – the first American woman in space – but was later expanded to honor 22 individuals, which included Limbaugh, fallen law enforcement officers, educators, and a Real Housewives of Miami reality star. Several Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill, citing Limbaugh's alleged racism. Despite the objections, the measure was passed by a wide margin in both the State Senate and House.
Disney oversight board member abruptly resigns
A member of the controversial Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) Board of Supervisors, tasked with overseeing the 39 square miles of land encompassing Walt Disney World Resort, has resigned less than four months after Board’s creation. Michael Sasso, an Orlando-based attorney, resigned his board position abruptly last week after he was appointed to the CFTOD’s board by Gov. DeSantis in February. He was one of five individuals named to replace the former Reedy Creek Improvement District Board. No reason or explanation for Sasso’s departure was provided, but his wife, Meredith Sasso, a judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal was appointed by Gov. DeSantis to the Florida Supreme Court last week. To avoid conflicts of interest amid ongoing litigation between Disney, the CFTOD, and the State of Florida, of which Gov. DeSantis is named, Sasso likely made the decision to recuse himself from future decisions involving Disney by resigning altogether. His term on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board was set to expire in February 2027
Tourism booms in Florida
Tourists have flocked to Florida in record numbers during the first quarter of 2023, with 37.9 million visitors coming to the Sunshine State between January and March, according to VISIT FLORIDA estimates. These numbers represent the highest visitor volume ever documented within a single quarter in the state. Among the 37.9 million tourists welcomed in Q1 of 2023, 1.8 million were overseas travelers – up 36% from Q1 of 2022 – while a record 34.6 million domestic visitors came to Florida during this period. International tourism numbers are the highest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of the busy summer travel season, 2023 is expected to be a record year for Florida tourism and airports are already seeing the traffic. Passenger numbers at Tampa International Airport (TPA) are trending 5% over the first quarter of 2019, which was a record year for the airport. TPA also experienced its highest-ever passenger counts across several days during spring break this year. Similarly, Orlando International Airport (OIA) is experiencing a record-breaking year as it has seen several days become the airport's top 10 busiest days ever. Miami International Airport (MIA) also joins the ranks as its record-breaking growth from last year has carried over into 2023, after documenting its busiest spring break travel season ever in March. MIA continues to maintain its status as the busiest airport in Florida, breaking passenger records in January and February with travelers passing through the terminals at all-time highs.
USF nears deal on $340 million football stadium
The University of South Florida is getting closer to making their first-ever on-campus football stadium a reality as the school’s Board of Trustees Financial Committee approved $22 million for the design phase of construction. The new stadium is estimated to cost $340 million, with USF financing $200 million of that sum over the next 20 years and raising the other $140 million through fundraising, investment interest, and its capital improvement trust fund. The university’s plan does not include requiring tax dollars or state funding for the project. The state-of-the-art facility will be a tremendous boost for not only the Bulls’ football program but USF athletics overall. It will be part of a more expansive plan to create an athletic district adjacent to existing student housing and Greek village that will bring the university’s sports facilities together across several acres of campus. Currently, the Bulls play their home games 12 miles off-campus at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The future five-tier football stadium will have capacity for 35,000 fans and aims to open by the 2026 season, with construction slated to begin as early as October 2023 if USF’s full Board of Trustees approves the financing plan.
Florida middle school student wins 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee
Dev Shah, a 14-year-old student from Largo has won the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Dev correctly spelled the word “psammophile” to take home the $50,000 grand prize, becoming Florida’s first National Spelling Bee winner in over two decades. Dev was among 11 contestants who advanced to the finals of the three-day contest held in National Harbor, Maryland. He edged out fellow eighth-grader Charlotte Walsh, 14, from Arlington, Virginia, who finished in second place after she misspelled “daviely” in the 14th round. Dev ultimately beat out 229 other spellers to be crowned the 2023 champion. He tied for 51st place in the 2019 edition of the spelling bee and tied for 76th place in 2021.
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