Wednesday s Daily Pulse | 3/3/2021
Florida Legislature gavels into session with key bills looming
The Florida Legislature opened a 60-day session Tuesday that will take on the business of running the country’s third most populous state while tackling a slate of potentially controversial measures from shielding businesses against COVID-related lawsuits to clamping down on protesters who turn violent. During his State of the State address, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would looking forward to working with lawmakers on the key issues facing their state. [Source: AP]
See also:
New poll shows 53% of Florida voters approve of DeSantis, a big increase from July
Tuesday s Daily Pulse | 3/2/2021
Florida’s unemployment fix could cost $244 million
State officials are asking for up to $244 million over the next five years to overhaul the unemployment system that failed for millions Floridians during the pandemic last year. During a Monday hearing before state senators, Department of Economic Opportunity Director Dane Eagle said the online unemployment system, known as CONNECT, “did a disservice to the people of Florida.” He said the system wasn’t worth saving, comparing it to an iPhone purchased in 2013 that had hardly been updated. The solution, he told senators, was spending up to $73 million on a new system, plus $24 million in maintenance and $146 million over five years in additional costs brought on by the pandemic. More from the Tampa Bay Times, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and the Orlando Sentinel.
Monday s Afternoon Update | 3/1/2021
Fearing COVID-19 surge, Florida officials crack down on spring breakers
Though many colleges have canceled spring break to prevent students from congregating in vacation spots, officials here are expecting a large influx over the coming weeks. Flights and hotels are cheap. Brutal winter storms in much of the country left people yearning for an escape. And Florida’s pandemic rules on bars and nightclubs are more lenient than those in many states. More from the Wall Street Journal and WPLG.
Florida gas prices highest since summer 2019
Gasoline prices continue to grow more expensive as February proved to be the priciest month at Florida pumps since July 2019. Florida gas prices over the month climbed an average of 24 cents per gallon, with the average at $2.61 according to a AAA report. Since Jan. 1, the state average has increased by 41 cents. Nationally, the most expensive prices are in California with an average of $3.69 a gallon. More fro
| 3/1/2021
The Florida housing market is booming. Is a crash ahead?
The market’s sustained, gravity-defying bounce-back while much of the rest of the economy remains in a pandemic recession has caused some to question whether it’s headed for another bust. Despite the rapid sales, the current boom still does not bear many similarities to the lead-up to crisis in 2007, because there isn’t the same proliferation of risky mortgages. From a statistics standpoint, it’s not hard to find some comparisons between the current market and the pre-Great Recession bubble. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Floridians could get tax break to elevate homes under new proposals
| 2/1/2021
More people moving to Florida during the pandemic
Florida is second only to Texas when it comes to the top destinations to relocate. Pew Chartible Trusts reports 241,000 people moved to the sunshine state in the last decade alone, and those numbers are only increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent buyer Susan Jones who moved from California to get more house for a better bargain. “The open concept, the high ceilings, the sunroom, obviously the view is spectacular with the Marsh here. It’s a forever view.” [Source: WJXT]
Some apartment landlords in line to get federal relief
Congress tweaked a provision in the 2017 tax law as part of the latest COVID-19 relief package last month that will give some apartment owners tax relief. Multifamily rental properties especially older communities catering to lower- and middle-income residents have been strained as a result of pandemic-induced layoffs or wage cuts. Under the new law, apartment landlords who either