Tropical Storm Debby Floods Florida & Half of Florida Households Struggle to Afford Basics
August 8, 2024 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
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Tropical Storm Debby Brings Rain, Rain, and More Rain
Tropical Storm Debby brought torrential rainfall, gusty winds, and river and coastal flooding along Florida’s Gulf Coast before rapidly intensifying and making landfall near Steinhatchee in the Big Bend region as a Category 1 hurricane. As the tropical cyclone moved northward in the Gulf of Mexico, sustained winds reached 65 mph, triggering voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders as hurricane conditions were expected for northwest Florida residents late Sunday into early Monday morning. Nearly all of Florida’s 67 counties spent the weekend under a state of emergency after Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on August 1 ahead of the storm. The state of emergency activated the Division of Emergency Management to coordinate the response as forecasters expected six to twelve inches of rain, with isolated areas receiving more than a foot of precipitation. Communities throughout the state dealt with damage from storm surge, erosion, and heavy rain, leading to temporary road closures, including the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Howard Franklin Bridge, the latter of which was damaged. On Monday, storm surge along the Gulf Coast remained a threat as communities were inundated with floodwaters. More than 280,000 Floridians lost power, and the storm was blamed for four deaths in the state, including two children. After making landfall, the system moved across northern Florida and southern Georgia before heading eastward toward the Georgia coast and South Carolina, causing catastrophic, record-breaking rainfall.
Half of Florida Households Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Nearly half of Florida's 8.8 million households – approximately 4 million – report struggling to afford basic living costs, per a report by United Way. The study analyzed household finances in 2022 and highlights the financial burdens faced by Floridians, with 13% of households below the federal poverty level. Minorities and low-wage workers are disproportionately affected and the number of those experiencing hardships is rising during a tumultuous period marked by high inflation and the ending of pandemic-era public assistance programs. Escalating housing costs and lack of wage growth also contribute to issues for families as Florida ranks as the 44th worst state in financial need (with 1st representing the lowest financial need). Incoming Florida Senate President Ben Albritton (R-Bartow) acknowledges the issue and notes that legislators are working to address affordability through tax relief, affordable housing, and workforce initiatives. This includes last year’s tax breaks on household goods and toll relief for motorists as well as investments in trade apprenticeships and workforce training initiatives that lead to higher-paying jobs. Lawmakers have also taken recent steps to reduce taxes on insurance policies and have proposed a constitutional amendment on November’s ballot to lower property taxes further. The proposed Amendment 5 aims to adjust the homestead property tax exemption value based on annual inflation adjustments tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). These measures add to the series of tax holidays and permanent tax relief initiatives for Floridians raising children and the elderly population. While Gov. DeSantis places blame on the Biden administration for driving up costs, he has been criticized for passing legislation that bans local governments from passing rent control measures and requiring contractors to pay more than the state’s minimum wage. The Republican governor has also drawn scorn for refusing to expand Medicaid coverage to the working poor. Instead of supporting programs to help individuals and families in financial distress, critics point to the state repeatedly using excess revenue to pay down debt and further adding to the more than $17 billion in reserve funds.
Tampa Imposes Year-Round Water Restrictions
The Tampa City Council has extended once-a-week watering restrictions year-round to manage water use amid ongoing shortages. Initially implemented seasonally due to a severe drought, these restrictions are now permanent as the city's development surge drives daily water demand beyond sustainable limits. The Southwest Florida Water Management District first mandated these emergency restrictions for Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties late last year during drought conditions. Despite increased rainfall recently, water supplies remain low, exacerbated by new construction with high water needs. City data reveals that 18% of households account for 45% of residential water use. Violations can incur fines up to $500, and since December, when the seasonal restrictions went into effect, daily water consumption has decreased from 82 million to 78 million gallons.
Florida Considers New Nuclear Power Plants
State regulators are considering adding more nuclear power plants following a legislative directive included in a sweeping energy bill, House Bill 1645, approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year. The Florida Public Service Commission will hold a workshop on September 5 to explore the feasibility of advanced nuclear technologies to meet the electrical power demands of the state, with a report of findings and recommendations submitted to the governor and lawmakers by April 2025. The directive aligns with the Biden administration's efforts to accelerate the exploration of nuclear energy, including streamlined nuclear permitting and deployment of microreactor projects at military bases by 2030 capable of providing 100 percent of power needs, including forming a working group and streamlining nuclear permitting. Currently, nuclear plants provide 13% of Florida’s electricity, but no new plants have been built since the 1970s and 1980s. The nuclear power study aligns with broader efforts to reduce carbon emissions, pursue cleaner energy alternatives, and capitalize on advanced reactor technology, which features a simpler design, lower maintenance, and improved safety features.
Orlando Sees Reduction in Gun Violence Thanks to Intervention Program
Gun violence has significantly decreased in eight Orlando neighborhoods, including Parramore, Rosemont, and Mercy Drive, thanks to the Advance Peace Orlando gun-violence intervention program. Organized by the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Advance Peace has led to a 43% reduction in shootings, a 36% decrease in gunshot wounds, and a 20% drop in homicides from November 2022 to December 2023, according to a third-party independent analysis. Orlando’s Community Violence Intervention Initiative began in November 2022 in five neighborhoods and expanded to eight in March 2024 following a $1.5 million grant award by the U.S. Department of Justice. The program includes a street outreach team comprised of “Neighborhood Change Associations” who have experienced gun violence and lived in communities plagued by gun violence. Through hands-on mentorship with at-risk individuals who are likely or have been, impacted by gun violence, outreach associates connect individuals with mental health, career readiness, education, and housing services to end the cycle of crime. Residents have noticed fewer shootings and appreciate the change. This community-driven approach is credited with fostering trust and utilizing relationships to reduce violence, with the goal of expanding the program to other nearby cities.
Title IX Showdown: Florida Leads Charge Against Biden Administration's LGBTQ+ Protections
Title IX, a landmark civil rights law passed in 1972 that protects individuals from sex-based discrimination at schools that receive federal funding, has become controversial as the Biden administration revised guidelines that extend discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students. The changes would ban discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation and took effect on August 1 in many states, but legal challenges have fractured efforts and more than half of U.S. states have blocked the updated rules. In Florida, Gov. DeSantis has said schools "will not comply" with the federal government's new Title IX guidelines, and filed suit against the U.S. Department of Education, joined by three other southern states. Last week, a U.S. district judge ruled against the plaintiffs, denying a request for a preliminary injunction that would halt the provisions from taking effect. Florida argues that new rules would force “radical” changes at schools such as allowing transgender students to compete on sports teams or use bathrooms that don’t align with their biological sex. In the federal judge’s ruling, she stated that plaintiffs failed to provide enough substantiation for their assertion that the Biden administration’s actions were unreasonable, impulsive, and overstepped legal authority. Hours after the decision was issued, lawyers for Florida and other Republican-led states hurriedly filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Days later, the appeals court sided with Florida and granted the state’s injunction as litigation continues.
Tampa Electric Buries Power Lines to Mitigate Storm Outages
For select communities in Pinellas, Polk, and Hillsborough counties, Tampa Electric (TECO) is moving power lines underground to enhance storm resilience. As more than 280,000 Floridians experienced power outages this week due to Tropical Storm Debby, this effort aims to prevent electrical disruption during hurricane season by protecting lines from wind damage. The transition, however, involves months of construction and requires residents to grant access to their properties. While initial disruptions occur, such as the permanent installation of equipment in yards, damaged landscaping, and heavy construction equipment in neighborhoods, the long-term benefits include fewer power outages. Currently, about 50% of TECO’s lines are buried underground, largely in new developments, but the company plans to convert up to 100 miles of overhead lines to underground annually. State law mandates that utility companies create a 10-year blueprint to fortify the electrical grid against severe weather conditions, improve service reliability, and expedite power restoration while minimizing associated costs.
Tampa Bay Rays' Trades Linked to Failed Team Sale
The Tampa Bay Rays offloaded several top players ahead of last Tuesday’s MLB trade deadline, following a collapsed deal to sell the team, the New York Post has revealed. According to a source, owner Stuart Sternberg was in discussions to sell the team to Tampa-area investors for $1.6 billion, but the lead investor withdrew, causing the deal to fall apart. This led to a fire sale of several of the team’s best players, including All-Star third baseman Johnny Paredes, All-Star slugger Randy Arozarena, and pitcher Zach Eflin, among others. Sternberg was part of a partnership that purchased the MLB franchise for $200 million in 2004 and has led fundraising efforts to replace St. Petersburg’s aging Tropicana Field. The team has pledged $700 million to build the $1.37 billion ballpark, with the remaining balance funded by city and county tax dollars. The Rays, who have consistently reached the playoffs in recent years, were recently valued at $1.25 billion by Forbes. Tampa Bay’s aggressive trades for largely unknown but promising talent could reap good prospect value that benefits the team in the future. By saving on payroll costs and investing in their farm system via added roster depth, the Rays can develop and retain young talent under their control for years.
Billionaire Donor Pours Millions to Oppose Marijuana Legalization
Republican billionaire and major political donor Ken Griffin has pledged $20 million to oppose Florida's Amendment 3, which aims to legalize recreational marijuana. Of this amount, $12 million will directly support Keep Florida Clean, the political committee against the measure. If approved by 60% of voters in November, individuals 21 and older would be permitted to purchase and use up to three ounces of marijuana without a medical card. In a recent op-ed published in the Miami Herald, Griffin criticized Amendment 3, calling it a "terrible plan" that would create a monopoly for large dispensaries and increase public cannabis use, addiction, and crime. Gov. DeSantis has also spoken out in opposition to the recreational marijuana push, arguing that it would harm Floridian’s quality of life and not allow the state to regulate its usage Despite opposition, polls show strong public support, with 64% in favor according to a recent survey. Griffin, a hedge fund manager worth $37 billion according to Forbes, has previously donated over $10 million to support DeSantis and over $100 million to Republican candidates and causes in 2022. The Vote No on 3 opposition campaign said Griffin's donation would be used to aggressively bolster efforts to alert Floridians about the amendment's potential consequences. Meanwhile, the pro-Amendment 3 campaign, Smart & Safe Florida, has raised over $66 million, primarily from Trulieve, a licensed marijuana dispensary.
Computer Error Leaves Medicaid-Eligible Residents Without Coverage
A "computer error" and inaccurate data from third-party vendors resulted in Florida erroneously terminating Medicaid coverage for residents, including new mothers who were denied postpartum care, as disclosed in federal testimony. A Florida Department of Children and Families consultant revealed the issues that led to the state wrongly denying insurance to eligible Floridians. Third-party software that the state operates with Deloitte Consulting LLP to determine Medicaid eligibility was not updated with changes made to expand program criteria. This included women who were eligible for 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage, a benefit the Florida Legislature and Gov. DeSantis extended in 2021, but were deemed ineligible after the computer system was not updated with this expansion. As a result, the state automatically denied coverage without providing cause or instruction needed to challenge the decision. The number of women who lost coverage due to this glitch, which was discovered in April 2023, was not disclosed. The testimony is part of a class-action lawsuit accusing Florida of violating patients’ due process rights by canceling coverage without proper notice. The cancellations followed the expiration of COVID-era federal emergency rules in March 2023 that had mandated continuous Medicaid coverage. Since then, every U.S. state began a redetermination process that terminated Medicaid insurance for millions of Americans. The outcome of the lawsuit could lead to the reinstatement of Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of affected Floridians and revamp the state's eligibility determination system.
DeSantis Memoir Added to Required School Reading List
Gov. Ron DeSantis' memoir, "The Courage to be Free," has been assigned as summer reading for AP Language and Composition students at Lawton Chiles High School in Leon County, Florida. The memoir, released ahead of DeSantis’ unsuccessful 2024 presidential run, is described by the school as a recounting of the governor’s upbringing and his administration's policies and is featured alongside 11 other biographies for students to select. The course requires students to read and annotate the book, making “no fewer than 40 annotations” and focusing on elements such as diction, tone, sentence structure, audience, and appeals. Lawton Chiles High says the course is “designed to match the rigor of a college class in rhetoric, literature studies, and composition.” The assignment aims to prepare students for the AP Language and Composition exam through a close reading assessment and rhetorical analysis.
Jacksonville Jaguars Earn Title as “NFL’s Worst Drivers”
Players for two of the three NFL franchises in Florida have among the worst driving offenses, per a new study by the Dolman Law Group. The analysis, part of August's Traffic Awareness Month, shows the Jacksonville Jaguars lead among teams with the most driving violations by players, with 25 driving-related arrests over the past 20 years, making them the worst in the league. The study highlights this is 99% above the team average. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers follow closely with 18 arrests, ranking fourth overall. These offenses include reckless driving, DUIs, and eluding police. The Miami Dolphins did not make the top 10 list of teams with the most driving violations. The Philadelphia Eagles were distinguished as having the safest driving record among NFL players.
Universal Orlando Unveils Unlimited Pass for Florida Residents
Universal Orlando has launched the "Florida Unlimited Days" pass, offering Florida residents unlimited visits to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios parks through December 18 for $199. The pass includes access to seasonal events like the Holiday Parade and Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular but excludes after-hour events such as Halloween Horror Nights and entry to Volcano Bay water park. With no blackout dates, Florida residents can enjoy unlimited visits with a valid state ID. Parking is not included. This new pass joins Universal's existing annual pass options, providing a more affordable choice for frequent visitors who reside in Florida.
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