DeSantis leads Trump in latest polls, legislature expected to pass permitless gun carry laws, Florida's feud with Disney cools, and more...
December 30, 2022 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
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Here’s the latest from Florida…
DeSantis leads Trump in latest 2024 Republican primary polls
Despite not having made a formal announcement on his presidential ambitions in 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis decisively leads former President Donald Trump in a hypothetical, one-on-one Republican presidential primary contest. In a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll, the Florida governor leads Trump by five percentage points, eroding the former president’s lead in previous polls conducted over the summer and fall. DeSantis was re-elected as Florida governor last month in a landslide, securing the largest margin of victory in four decades and viewed as the future of the GOP. He is widely anticipated to make a bid for the White House in 2024, pitting him against Donald Trump, who announced his candidacy in mid-November. Another poll by GOP firm Ragnar Research Partners shows the twice-elected governor with 86% favorability among Republican voters in Florida, while Trump sits at an approval rating of 70%. The most recent poll released last week of a potential matchup demonstrates Gov. DeSantis increasing strength, beating out President Trump by 14% among likely GOP primary voters, per The Wall Street Journal. According to the results, 43% of all voters have a favorable view of DeSantis, including 84% of Republicans, whereas Trump trails behind at 36% favorability among general election voters and 71% of GOP voters. However, in a potential general election battle between DeSantis and President Joe Biden the margin is less decisive, showing an even split between the two candidates at 44% each. Meanwhile, Biden leads with 45% over Trump’s 42% across likely voters polled. DeSantis’ ascent and ability to coalesce support among Republicans show party voters are growing weary of Trump. GOP insiders and financial backers lack confidence in the former president’s electability among the broad electorate, especially over prospective Democratic candidates and President Biden himself. When compared to DeSantis’ rising star status, Trump is viewed as a big political risk as he carries a lot of baggage in the wake of indictments and investigations post-presidency.
Florida likely to pass permitless gun carry law in 2023
Currently in the Sunshine State, gun owners are required by law to have a concealed weapons permit to carry a firearm in public, but at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ urging, lawmakers are likely to pass constitutional carry legislation that would do away with that requirement. “Basically, this was something that I’ve always supported," DeSantis said when asked about his position on implementing a constitutional carry law in the state. "The last two years, it was not necessarily a priority for the legislative leadership...and it’ll be something that will be done in the regular session. That puts us in line with the majority of states that have done that...so we'll get that done.” To carry a firearm in public under existing state statutes, gun owners must take an instructional safety course, complete an application with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and successfully pass additional background checks. Proponents of constitutional carry say that those with a legally-owned firearm, shouldn’t be subject to further government interference to obtain a permit or license to concealed carry. They say it should be a personal choice to carry – not dependent upon further courses or licensure mandated by state law. Others against the potential change have expressed concerns about safety due to the waiving of training requirements, creating the possibility of someone who has never fired a gun to concealed carry. Several high-ranking lawmakers have already signaled support for DeSantis’ pledge and Republicans’ supermajority in the legislature makes it a near guarantee of passage. If passed, Florida would join 24 other states that have permitless carry laws.
DeSantis, state legislators are prepared to play nice with Disney
The return of Bob Iger to the role of CEO of The Walt Disney Company appears to have shifted the discussion of the company possibly losing its special tax district status in 2023. Florida lawmakers are open to restoring some of the exclusive privileges Disney has been afforded for decades but saw stripped away by legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in a special session earlier in 2022. State lawmakers voted in April to revoke the company’s special district benefits that allowed Disney to self-govern the land that their 39-square-mile theme park empire sits on in Central Florida. This was in retaliation to the company’s opposition to the “Parental Rights in Education” legislation approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor in March. That law, which took effect on July 1, prohibits public school teachers from engaging in classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3. Lawmakers’ efforts to dissolve the Reedy Creek Improvement District, created in 1967 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, will no longer allow the Walt Disney Co. to collect taxes, issue bonds, or build its own structures without prior approval from a planning commission. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Brevard County), who sponsored the legislation stripping the entertainment company’s self-governing perks, expressed optimism over Disney’s ouster of CEO Bob Chapek, who largely led the fight against what critics dubbed the DeSantis-backed “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Iger has signaled that he will avoid putting the company in difficult political positions. “I think Mr. Iger has already said it probably was a misstep on the company’s part and how they handled it,” Rep. Fine said. “I don’t think we’d be in this situation if Bob Iger had been CEO.” DeSantis was rumored to have reversed course on the law he signed in April, but his spokesman dismissed the allegations, saying the governor will not back down from his previous stance.
The Reedy Creek Improvement Act will be repealed in June 2023, unless legislators and Disney leaders come to a compromise on seeking a continuation of the special district status. The Walt Disney Co. is Florida’s largest employer and one of its most powerful, contributing to billions in state tax revenue, an outsized economic impact for Central Florida, and an estimated millions of dollars in campaign contributions to lawmakers.
DeSantis vs. teacher unions
Gov. DeSantis has gone head-to-head with teacher unions during his tenure as governor. Most notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he fought them on their stance against reopening schools and more recently, their opposition to HB 1557, “Parental Rights in Education” law that critics refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay.” DeSantis has now announced his support for a proposal that would eliminate union dues being automatically deducted from teachers’ paychecks. The Republican governor stated he would prioritize “paycheck protection legislation” in the upcoming legislative session that begins in March. The proposal would compel teachers to pay union dues to the Florida Education Association (FEA) separately and likely impact revenue collected by the union. FEA is the state's largest association of professional employees, representing 150,000 teachers and education workers. “It’s more of a guarantee that that money is going to actually go to those teachers,” DeSantis said in a speech announcing the plan. “It’s not going to be frittered away by interest groups who get involved in the school system.” The proposal takes direct aim at FEA and will give teachers greater “freedom to choose” whether they wish to be represented by the union. FEA will likely see their operating budget drop as educators and staff will have to voluntarily pay their dues every paycheck cycle, putting the union as a competing expenditure in their budget. The state legislature has considered such proposals before to no avail, including HB 1197 in 2022 which passed the House but failed to make it through the Senate. DeSantis also signaled his support for setting a membership threshold for the union at 50%, mandating that half of all teachers be active members of FEA or face decertification.
Florida investigates Christmas drag show
A December 26 performance of Drag Fans’ “A Drag Queen Christmas” at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale has come under fire and is subject to a state-led investigation. The state Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced the investigation this week after receiving multiple complaints that the drag show was “sexually explicit” and “marketed to children.” DBPR is in the midst of an investigation into the complaints, investigating video footage and photos from the event. The Department said they would “take action” and refer any evidence collected to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for criminal liability. As a result of the investigation and any finding of wrongdoing, the Broward Center could lose its liquor license and the ability to operate as a business. According to the venue, admission to “A Drag Queen Christmas” was restricted to minors, unless accompanied by a parent, and warnings of adult content were sent via email to ticket buyers in advance of the show on December 26. DBPR also reached out to the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation which was also set to host the drag queen show, warning the venue of the consequences to their license if they permit minors to the performance. This is the latest move in the DeSantis administration’s crackdown on drag queen shows, which critics say are often of a sexual nature and inappropriate for young audiences. In July, the governor filed a complaint against a Miami restaurant that hosted a drag brunch with children present.
UF to join DeSantis-led investigation of COVID-19 vaccines
The University of Florida will collaborate with state efforts to research the adverse effects of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines after Gov. DeSantis announced an investigation into “any and all wrongdoing” related to the inoculations. The governor previously announced his administration’s intention to petition the Florida Supreme Court to convene a statewide grand jury investigation to hold “the federal government and Big Pharma accountable” for possible crimes and wrongdoing on vaccines. A focus of DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo is the connection between cardiac deaths and the COVID-19 vaccine, which follows a released study from October by the Florida Department of Health that drew the conclusion that “vaccination was associated with a modestly increased risk for cardiac-related mortality.” While the investigation is focused on the potentially harmful side effects of vaccination, it will also expand to data held by pharmaceutical companies behind the COVID-19 vaccine that has not been provided to independent researchers.The state will collaborate with the University of Florida to compare research conducted in other countries. “In Florida, it is illegal to mislead and misrepresent, especially when you are talking about the efficacy of a drug,” DeSantis said.
Florida leads the U.S. in population growth
Since the onset of the pandemic, Florida has been a top state for new residents and continues to experience tremendous population growth. In 2022, Florida leads the U.S. as the state with the fastest population growth, returning to the No. 1 spot for the first time in 65 years – since 1957. Between 2021 and 2022, the state population grew to 22.2 million, a one-year increase of 1.9% and the second-largest gain in the number of new residents after Texas. Last year, Idaho led the country in population percent increase. The pandemic accelerated Florida’s ability to draw people from the Northeast and upper midwest for its warm weather, lower taxes, relative affordability, and relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Sunshine State’s growth rate continues to lag behind the 1950s, when the average annual increase was 6.1%.
Homebuyers continue to flood Florida’s housing market
Florida’s warm weather, lack of COVID-19 restrictions, and relative affordability have drawn hundreds of thousands of new residents to the state, becoming a top destination for people to relocate since the height of the pandemic. Despite the high mortgage rates, inflation, and a faltering economy, of those still looking to purchase a home, people continue to see the Sunshine State as a possible place to move, according to a new study by Redfin. Five cities in Florida rank among the top 10 migration destinations for Redfin.com users looking to relocate, including Miami, Tampa, Cape Coral, North Port-Sarasota, and Orlando. The popularity of these metros was determined by net inflow – the number of individuals looking to move into the area minus those looking to leave. This comes as mortgage rates have more than doubled year-over-year, hovering around 7%, and home prices in many markets remain inflated, forcing homebuyers to look elsewhere. Metropolitan markets in Florida remain relatively affordable compared to other areas across the country, despite median home sale prices skyrocketing over 40% since March 2020 – the start of the pandemic. Of those relocating to Florida metros, most people are leaving New York City, and Chicago, Illinois, to settle down and purchase a home here. Hurricane Ian’s impact on the state as one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in U.S. history has not negatively impacted net inflows.
Tampa Bay ranked best place to live in Florida
Apparently the secret is out. Since the onset of the pandemic, Tampa Bay has been a top migration destination, demonstrated through population growth and housing shortage. No stranger to appearing atop lists of best places to live in the U.S., the Bay area has added another accolade to the count, being ranked as the best place to live in Florida, according to Forbes. The beaches, history, culture, sports, public transportation, and job opportunities were listed by Forbes as features that made the area unique. "Tampa offers everything you need for daily life,” the publication added. Jacksonville, Gainesville, Cape Coral, and Orlando rounded out the top five cities ranked by Forbes as the best places in Florida to live.
$38M yacht manufacturing facility approved for Pinellas County
Undeveloped land near St.Pete-Clearwater International Airport in Pinellas County will be the future home of boat retailer MarineMax’s new $38 million yacht manufacturing and storage facility, following unanimous approval by county commissioners. MarineMax entered into a 50-year lease for the 9.5-acre property at $248,987 per year with plans for a 132,000-square-foot building and 400-space garage onsite. The new site will be used to build boats near MarineMax’s subsidiary, Intrepid Powerboats’ existing plant located nearby. Intrepid Boats, a Tampa Bay-based boat manufacturer, was acquired by MarineMax in 2021. According to Intrepid President Ken Clinton, the facility will allow them to act on customer demand and build larger vessels while also bringing 300 new jobs to the area. The project is estimated to be completed in three years.
Tampa Bay features one of the largest Christmas light displays in the U.S.
As the holiday season comes to a close, Tampa Bay was home to one of the nation’s largest Christmas light displays for the third year, featuring more than 4 million lights inside a transformed baseball stadium. From November 25 to January 1, St. Petersburg’s Tropicana Field – home to the Tampa Bay Rays – hosts Enchant Christmas, a dazzling winter wonderland that guides guests through a winding light maze and Christmas village across 10 acres of the ballfield. Enchant returned this year after launching to much success in 2019 and going on hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic. It is one of the world’s largest Christmas walk-through displays in the country and allows visitors to tour vast exhibits, watch live entertainers, and shop a holiday market with crafts, gifts, and holiday drinks and treats. Guests can be amazed by a towering 100-foot Christmas tree, show off their skills on an ice skating track, and of course, meet Santa Claus. If interested in checking out Enchant Christmas in the last remaining days, tickets start at $32 for adults and $20 for children.
Palm Beach’s private island estate hits the market
For $218 million, you could be the owner of the only private island in Palm Beach that comes complete with its very own 21,406-square-foot British Colonial-style mansion. The residence sits on the man-made 2-acre Tarpon Island that was recently listed as the third most expensive home in the world by Robb Report, up from the $210 million asked for the property last year. The residence, with 1,300 feet of waterfront access, features 11 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, seven half-baths, an indoor spa, and a guest house. In addition to being surrounded by water on four sides, the estate features two pools, a five-car garage, two private docks, and even a tennis court.
$13M mansion in St. Petersburg breaks sales record
Demonstrating the continual demand in the Tampa Bay housing market, an 8,324-square-foot mansion in St. Petersburg closed last week for a record sales price of $13 million. The price tag makes it the most expensive home ever sold in the Snell Isle neighborhood of St. Petersburg, one of the city’s most exclusive and expensive areas featuring upscale residential homes on the intercoastal waterways. The five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home overlooks Tampa Bay and comes complete with a private dock and boat lift. Previously, the next most-expensive home on Snell Isle sold for $9 million back in 2011. However, the area is prone to flooding and rain, which can easily flood streets and create serious concerns, especially during high tide.
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