DeSantis to announce presidential bid, college DEI programs defunded, transgender care for minors banned, and more...
May 19, 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 to launch campaign for president next week, per reports
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to officially enter the 2024 presidential race by filing formal paperwork with the Federal Election Commission next week – May 24. As the news comes via multiple reports from sources close to DeSantis, the anticipated move will end nearly a year of speculation that the popular two-term Republican governor will make a run for the White House. The filing will coincide with a meeting in Miami with top financial supporters, where DeSantis will raise funds for his campaign in his first official action as a declared candidate. The governor has already set a gubernatorial fundraising record and has a significant amount of cash on hand – $110 million – that could be transferred to the Never Back Down super PAC supporting his presidential bid. Although a formal campaign kickoff event is anticipated after the donor gathering, no details have been made available. DeSantis has made several recent moves indicating a forthcoming campaign launch, including his political operation's relocation to new offices and cutting ties with his longtime political state committee to comply with federal campaign finance regulations. He has been laying the groundwork for an eventual national campaign by visiting early-voting states, including stops in Iowa and New Hampshire within the last ten days, and expanding his political team. The GOP governor told reporters last week that he would decide on whether to jump into the presidential election “relatively soon.” Polls show DeSantis as the leading contender to former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary, but he trails considerably with a double-digit deficit.
Gov. DeSantis signs bill to block DEI programs at colleges
Gov. DeSantis signed legislation on Monday to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at all public colleges and universities in the state. The law prohibits institutions of higher education from spending state or federal funds on programs that "advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or promote or engage in political or social activism." DeSantis said the law is necessary to "reorient our universities back to their traditional mission" and to "treat people as individuals, not to try to divvy them up based on any type of superficial characteristics." This also includes banning funds to be spent on critical race theory (CRT) and social or political activism. The education reforms were signed at New College of Florida in Sarasota, a liberal arts college that has been subject to a conservative overhaul by DeSantis and GOP lawmakers. Moreover, as part of the signing ceremony, DeSantis also approved a new law that prohibits general education courses from “includ[ing] a curriculum that teaches identity politics” based on “theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.” The approval of these bills is part of the governor’s larger work to crack down on what he calls "woke indoctrination" in schools by tightly restricting certain topics from being discussed in the classroom or included in the curriculum. Critics of the new legislation argue that it is an attempt to silence discussions that are important to understanding alternative perspectives and will have a chilling effect on academic freedom.
Governor approves bills banning transgender care for minors, restricts use of restrooms, and pronouns
On Wednesday, Gov. DeSantis signed a number of bills into law that restrict and target care for transgender children, bathroom use, pronouns, and even drag shows. The bills ban gender-affirming care for minors, restrict pronoun use in schools, and mandate individuals use restroom facilities that align with their biological sex. DeSantis’ action forbids transgender youth from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or gender-affirming medical operations, and prohibits state dollars to be used for such purposes. The new law also enacts restrictions on adults who seek such treatments by requiring them to obtain written consent. In addition, DeSantis signed a bill that requires all public restrooms and locker rooms to be used only by men and women based on their biological sex. Another piece of legislation that is now law prohibits school employees from making their preferred pronouns known, or asking students about their preferred pronouns. The last of the bills in a series of new so-called anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, which is titled the “Protecting Children's Innocence Act,” authorizes the state to revoke businesses of their licenses if they allow minors into "adult live performances,” such as drag shows. A signature part of the DeSantis administration’s agenda, the newly-signed bills have been met with widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, who say that they are discriminatory and harmful.
Democrat Donna Deegan wins Jacksonville mayoral race
In a surprising victory for Florida Democrats, Donna Deegan won the Jacksonville mayor's race on Tuesday, defeating Republican Daniel Davis, who was backed by Gov. DeSantis and had outraised the Democrat by a four-to-one margin. She will become the first woman to serve as mayor of Florida’s biggest city and just the second Democrat to serve in more than three decades. Deegan, a former television news anchor, ran a positive campaign focused on a platform of unity and progress that appealed to independents and drew in many Republicans to support her electoral efforts. She promised to address Jacksonville’s most pressing issues, including crime, poverty, homelessness, and aging infrastructure. Davis, a former city councilman, ran on a platform of lower taxes and less government regulation. Deegan’s victory was considered a major upset for a city long considered to favor GOP candidates and gives state Democrats renewed hope following a dismal performance in last year’s midterm election. However, her victory was likely candidate and campaign-specific, with Deegan capitalizing on her local fame as a news anchor and deep connections to the community through her breast cancer foundation that helped underserved women. Her reputation in Jacksonville was largely nonpartisan which allowed her to build campaign messaging centered on inclusiveness such as a push to include more diversity on city boards that reflect the community’s demographics. Deegan will succeed two-term Republican Mayor Lenny Curry when she takes office on July 1.
Legislature approves $1.4B in tax relief
On the last day of the state’s 60-day annual legislative session, the House and Senate passed a $1.38 billion tax package that includes many of Gov. DeSantis' priorities, such as a permanent sales tax exemption on various products and tax holidays that have been the norm in recent years. Lawmakers have touted the tax relief package as a win for families and businesses. The permanent sales tax exemption on baby and toddler necessities will save families money on the essential items they need to raise their children. The tax holidays will provide breaks for school items purchased during back-to-school season and disaster preparedness supplies during hurricane season. Additional tax savings will be applied to recreational products, tools, and appliances, the latter of which would apply a one-year sales tax exemption on certain ENERGY STAR-certified refrigerators, freezers, water heaters, and washers and dryers. For the only state to charge sales tax on commercial property rentals, the tax bill’s more costly proposal is the 8-month reduction in the business rent tax by 1%. The change would reduce state revenue by more than $300 million and local government revenue by nearly $83 million. As of this writing, Gov. DeSantis has yet to sign the bill.
Florida’s ballooning $117B budget
As the annual 60-day legislative session ended on May 5, House and Senate lawmakers approved a $117 billion budget for the governor’s consideration – the state’s largest in history. The state’s spending plan for the coming fiscal year is about $5 billion larger than the current year and $25 billion more than the budget was just three years ago. For added reference, the state budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year was under $80 billion, and ten years ago, in the 2013-2014 fiscal year, state spending totaled $74.2 billion. The current $117 billion allocated for state appropriations is a far cry from 20 years ago when lawmakers in the 2003-2004 fiscal year spent $53.6 billion. The ballooning budget is due to a number of factors, including increased tax collections, a growing economy boosted by an increasing population, and tens of billions of federal aid in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite historic spending, legislators have touted the state’s sizeable reserves – $11 billion – to weather emergencies or natural disasters. Highlights of this year’s budget include 5% pay increases for state employees, $4 billion for highway projects, $850 million for a statewide wildlife corridor, more than $382 million for Everglades Restoration, $350 million in grants for Hurricanes Ian and Nicole recovery efforts, and $300 million to mitigate sea level rise.
Gov. DeSantis approves delays to school start times
Allowing adolescent students to get more sleep, Gov. DeSantis has signed a bill that requires school districts to set middle school start times no earlier than 8 a.m. and high school classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m. The schedule changes are to be implemented by school districts in the fall of 2026 to allow for logistics and transportation schedules to be coordinated to accommodate the later start times. The bill is supported by a number of organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the National Sleep Foundation. These organizations have all conducted research that shows that adolescents need at least 8-10 hours of sleep per night. When adolescents do not get enough sleep, they are more likely to experience a number of problems, including poor academic performance, increased risk of accidents, and mental health issues. While parents and students have largely praised the changes, some have expressed concerns about the impact of later start times on extracurricular activities, sports, and jobs.
Lee County’s tourist tax revenue drops nearly 50% in one year
Hurricane Ian’s economic impact continues to be felt in Lee County as hotel tax revenue plunged 49.5%, from $11.3 million to a projected $5.7 million from March 2022 to March 2023. A hotel tax, or bed tax, is a 6% fee charged to travelers for each night booked in a hotel, motel, or other lodging accommodation generally under a 30-day period. The decline was expected by officials as Hurricane Ian’s impact last September caused extensive damage to beachfront hotels and other businesses in the tourism industry, forcing many tourists to cancel their trips. Moreover, many hotels along the coast suffered damage that forced them to remove their rooms from the market, reducing the total number of rooms available for occupancy. The multi-million dollar loss of revenue from the bed tax adds to the job losses and decline in sales tax already experienced in Lee County. The revenue gap means less money will be put toward beach restoration efforts, maintaining sports facilities, or marketing the area. The tax decline is the largest in Lee County's history.
Marijuana proposal heads to Florida Supreme Court
The proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida is headed to the state Supreme Court. A proposed ballot initiative, titled "Adult Personal Use of Marijuana,” would allow people 21 or older "to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise," if approved by voters in 2024. The initiative has garnered significant support, but it is being challenged by Attorney General Ashley Moody, who says it doesn’t meet legal requirements to be included on the 2024 general election ballot. Moody, in a filing with the Supreme Court to seek an opinion, further argued that the initiative was unconstitutional because it violated the state's single-subject rule, which requires ballot initiatives to address a single issue. In 2016, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that allows the use of medical marijuana.
DeSantis’ “woke” war has cost Florida over $16M in legal costs
While waging an aggressive war on perceived “wokeness” and embracing the role of “culture warrior,” Gov. DeSantis has embroiled the state in both controversy and legal fees as he works to boost his national profile ahead of an eventual bid for the White House. As a result of his culture war campaign, Florida taxpayers have paid at least $16.7 million in legal fees to four private law firms to defend the governor’s policies in more than 15 lawsuits. The law firms that have been hired to defend DeSantis are all closely connected to the Republican Party. Cooper & Kirk, the firm that has received the most money ($5.9 million), has long represented and employed GOP lawmakers in D.C. and has experience serving as counsel for Florida in federal court. This included the firm defending the state’s Stop W.O.K.E Act and a 2019 state law that undermined a constitutional amendment passed by voters that would allow felons to vote. Cooper & Kirk was also hired to defend the Florida Department of Health’s ban on COVID-19 “vaccine passport” requirements for cruise ships and to also defend a social media law that was successfully challenged by Big Tech companies, resulting in $3 million of state tax dollars being paid to the firm. A top lawyer there is Adam Laxalt, the former Republican attorney general from Nevada who was a roommate of DeSantis during his time at the Naval Training School. Florida-based law firm GrayRobinson was the second-highest-paid firm, receiving at least $5.2 million for defending the governor’s often-controversial initiatives, including the ouster of Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren. Holzman Vogel LLC, a D.C.-based firm focused on election law, has been paid $3.9 million by Florida taxpayers to represent the state in challenges to the 2020 election reform law that limited vote-by-mail and third-party voter registration. The firm has also defended DeSantis in redistricting cases. Another Florida-based law firm benefiting from the governor’s ability to entrench the state in legal fights is Holland & Knight, which boasts close ties to DeSantis and his staff. The law office was paid $1.7 million to defend against felons accused of illegally voting and revising election rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal charges against Andrew Gillum dropped
Federal prosecutors have dropped all charges against Andrew Gillum, the former mayor of Tallahassee and the once-rising star of the Democratic Party who narrowly lost the 2018 gubernatorial election to now-Gov. DeSantis. Gillum was indicted in June 2022 on 21 felony counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy, and making false statements. The charges stemmed from an investigation into alleged financial impropriety involving Gillum and his longtime political advisor, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, in which they personally profited from political donations. Earlier this month, jurors acquitted Gillum of lying to the FBI but could not reach a verdict on more than a dozen other counts, resulting in a mistrial. Despite initially seeking to retry Gillum on the remaining county, a motion filed Monday by prosecutors said they were dropping the charges "in all together. Gillum, who has maintained his innocence, expressed his gratefulness on social media for the decision to drop the charges.
Giant seaweed bloom has reached Florida
For months, scientists have warned of an impending seaweed blob in the Atlantic Ocean headed for Florida’s famed beaches and now, it has arrived. The record-breaking mass of brown, smelly sargassum seaweed, a type of algae that floats along the surface in a continuous mass, has washed ashore on the beaches of Key West, South Florida, and Southwest Florida in time for the busy tourist season – one of the largest sectors of the economy. The Great Atlantic Sargassum Seaweed Belt, which forms every year and spans 5,000 miles from Africa to the Gulf of Mexico, has reached historic proportions this year and arrives on the beaches in waves. While the seaweed does not pose health risks for humans, it does release hydrogen sulfide when it reaches the shores, causing respiratory irritation and a smell that mimics rotten eggs. By law, sargassum cannot be removed from the water before it hits our beaches because it provides food and shelter for marine life; however, it can also deprive oxygen from the water when it's too abundant. Therefore, the seaweed is left to accumulate on beaches, which is expensive, laborious, and time intensive to remove across 1,350 miles of coastline.
Legislature approves regulations on kratom
Lawmakers have unanimously passed a bill that would regulate the sale of kratom, an Asian plant that has been growing in popularity in recent years and remains controversial for its potential side effects and risk of addiction. The bill, called the "Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act," would restrict the sale of kratom to people under 21 and defines kratom under state law. Violations could result in second-degree misdemeanor charges, punishable by up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail. Kratom has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for its pain-relieving and energy-boosting properties. In recent years, kratom has become increasingly popular in the U.S. as an alternative to prescription opioids. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that kratom has a risk of addiction, abuse, and dependence. The FDA has also said it can interact with other medications and cause serious health problems, including liver damage and seizures. On the other hand, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) reported a 36% increase in “kratom-involved” deaths over the first half of 2021. The bill now goes to the governor's desk, where it is unclear whether Gov. DeSantis will sign the bill into law.
Disney CEO Bob Iger speaks out on feud with DeSantis
In a recent call with investors, Disney CEO Bob Iger said that the fight between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis is about "one thing and one thing only, and that’s retaliating against us for taking a position about pending legislation." “Iger's comments come after the governor signed a bill into law that would impose new oversight controls on the theme park giant and dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, a special district that allows Disney to self-govern its property in Central Florida. “This is not about special privileges or a level playing field or Disney in any way using its leverage around the state of Florida,” Iger added during the call just weeks after the company sued DeSantis in federal court. This was followed by the governor-appointed, newly-formed Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board to countersue Disney in an Orange County court. “We never wanted, and we certainly never expected, to be in a position of having to defend our business interests in federal court, particularly having such a terrific relationship with the state as we’ve had for more than 50 years,” Iger said before arguing that the state ignored the other 2,000 special districts in Florida and instead targeted Disney. “We all know there was no concerted effort to do anything to dismantle what was once called Reedy Creek special district until we spoke out on the legislation. So this is plainly a matter of retaliation, while the rest of the Florida special districts continue operating basically as they were,” he said. As one of the state’s biggest tourist attractions, largest employers with 75,000 cast members, and the largest taxpayer in Central Florida ($1.1 billion in 2022) with plans to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next decade, Iger asked: "Does the state want us to invest more, employ more people and pay more taxes or not?"
Paving the way for autonomous cars
The Florida Legislature unanimously passed a bill in the final days of the legislative session that would require the Department of Transportation (FDOT) to establish road grading standards to ensure compatibility with the operation of fully autonomous vehicles. The standards would take into account factors such as the width of the road, the presence of traffic signals, and the condition of the road surface. The bill also creates the "Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluating Emerging Technologies Living Lab," or I-STREET, at the University of Florida to advance transportation technology research and development. The Living Lab will be a testbed for new transportation mobility and safety technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and connected vehicles. Finally, the legislation expands the "move-over" law to require drivers to move over a lane when a disabled vehicle is stopped on the roadside. It awaits the governor’s signature.
Trucker boycott threatens Florida over anti-immigration policies
Videos circulating on social media this week purport to show Hispanic truck drivers claiming to boycott Florida after Gov. DeSantis signed into law a strict immigration enforcement bill last Wednesday. The social media posts claim delivery truck drivers are protesting en masse by refusing to deliver goods to the Sunshine State, but the reported threats don’t appear to be happening. The day before Title 42 expired on May 11, DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1718, which aims to crack down on illegal immigration by imposing stiff penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens and individuals transporting groups of illegal migrants or a single undocumented minor. The bill, touted by DeSantis as the “strongest anti-illegal immigration bill in the nation,” also requires certain employers to use E-Verify, bans local governments from issuing ID cards to illegal aliens, requires hospitals to collect and report data on costs of care provided to undocumented immigrants, and reauthorizes migrant relocation flights with $12 million in funding. Despite one TikTok video claiming “thousands” of truckers were participating in the boycott, the Florida Trucking Association stated they were not seeing any issues. Grocery stores across the state have also not reported any supply issues or product shortages.
DeSantis’ press secretary resigns
The DeSantis administration will be searching for another press secretary for the second time in less than a year as Bryan Griffin announced his resignation on Monday. However, Griffin is expected to join DeSantis’ eventual presidential campaign, per a Fox News report. In a letter announcing the move, Griffin said he was "stepping away from this role to pursue other avenues of helping to deliver the governor's success to our country." Former press secretary for the governor's office, Christina Pushaw, left the administration in August 2022 to join DeSantis’ re-election bid for governor.
Universal Orlando, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld unveil new attractions, events, and treats this summer
Florida’s theme parks are gearing up for a busy summer season, with a variety of new attractions and events planned to lure guests to the parks. Universal Orlando continues its decade-long heavy investment in delivering new attractions with the new “Villain-Con Minion Blast,” which replaces Shrek 4D, based on a scene from the popular film “Minions: The Rise of Gru.” While an opening date has yet to be announced, the interactive moving walkway shooting attraction is expected to open soon. “Villain-Con Minion Blast” will join a new Minion-themed gift shop called “Evil Stuff,” the existing “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem” attraction, and a newly-opened Minion Cafe in an area of the park that will be officially unveiled as “Minion Land” this summer. “Universal’s Great Movie Escape” recently opened at CityWalk which is an escape room adventure inspired by “Jurassic World” and the “Back to the Future” films and suitable for up to eight guests. And a new offering coming this summer for vegan Harry Potter fans is the nondairy Butterbeer, the butterscotch and cream soda fan-favorite drink available in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-themed area. The vegan-friendly version is available in cold or frozen varieties.
Busch Gardens in Tampa is also joining the fun by bringing back its Summer Nights that offer extended park hours, new live entertainment, and fireworks on certain nights through August 6. Bier Fest will also return, delivering a wide variety of seasonal beers, cocktails, and pub-inspired bites on Fridays through Sundays from July 21 to September 4. In addition to the summertime events, thrill-seekers will get to experience the new Serengeti Flyer, a swing-style ride that sways backward and forwards, reaching speeds above 65 miles per hour at 135 feet in the air. The ride opened in February and adds to the other thrills that include Falcon’s Fury drop tower, which reopened in April after being closed for nearly a year, and Iron Gwazi, the tallest coaster in North America, which debuted in March 2022.
SeaWorld Orlando continues to be a leading theme park destination in Florida, adding new attractions and rides almost every year. Nearly 15 months after opening the Ice Breaker roller coaster, SeaWorld will launch the first-of-its-kind standing, surf-themed coaster on May 27 – just in time for summer. The experience is designed to mimic riding a surfboard on the ocean by gently bouncing riders up and down at speeds of 60 miles per hour. “Pipeline: The Surf Coaster” will be SeaWorld Orlando’s seventh roller coaster. Like Busch Gardens, the park will host a Craft Beer Festival on weekends beginning July 28, with more than 100 craft beers from breweries across the state and special eats to accompany the brews.
Upcoming Events Across Florida:
May 25-26: Wawa Summer Fun Day at Bok Tower Gardens
Wawa is bringing free admission to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales on the last Thursday and Friday of each month between May and September.
May 25-28: Jacksonville Jazz Festival
The city’s largest free music festival brings together some of the biggest names in the genre for three days of live music in downtown Jacksonville.
May 26-28: Palatka Blue Crab Festival
The weekend festival brings fresh seafood, carnival rides, live music, fireworks, and a Memorial Day parade to the waterfront of this charming small town. Headlining musical performances by Molly Hatchet, the Ying Yang Twins, and the Sugar Hill Gang conclude each day’s festivities.
May 26-28: Orlando Carnival Downtown
Multicultural carnival celebrates Caribbean life and customs in downtown Orlando with colorful costumes, dancing, and music, with island-inspired cuisine and treats.
May 27: 16th Annual Hurricane Party Music Festival in Sanford
Historic downtown Sanford will kick off the start to hurricane season, which begins June 1, with a music festival that includes more than 40 bands across seven stages throughout the area. The event begins at noon on Saturday, May 27.
May 27-28: Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach
The skies and waters off South Beach will be full of sights and sounds as military jets, race boats, and jet skis honor America’s servicemembers and first responders on Memorial Day Weekend. The event will showcase aircraft, vehicles, technology, and equipment from all five branches of the United States armed forces and first responder agencies. In addition to in-air appearances by the Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II, B-52 Bomber, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, and the A-10 Thunderbolt, the celebration will feature offshore powerboat racing and extreme water sports shows. Military aerial parachute demonstration teams will descend from the skies over the two-day event and country music stars Big & Rich will headline a Sunday evening concert that will cap off with fireworks.
May 27-28: Afro Nation Afro Beats Festival at loanDepot Park in Miami
May 28: Mayfest in Downtown Tampa
June 10-11: Riverwalk Smoke on the Water BBQ Feast in Fort Myers
June 17-18: Taco Fiesta Lake Worth Beach in Lake Worth Beach
June 24-25: 4th Annual Bad Bunny Easter Pub Crawl in Cocoa Village
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