Good Monday morning
Shumaker Advisors introduced Monday that former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is becoming a member of the agency as Managing Principal of its U.S. Cities Practice.
At Shumaker, Kriseman will give attention to financial improvement and concrete planning, whereas working with shoppers domestically and nationally. Kriseman may also be a part of the Shumaker regulation agency as of counsel in the Public Policy and Government Affairs service line.
“We are honored to have Rick join Shumaker Advisors. His vision to achieve economic growth while focusing on sustainability and purpose inspires us all,” Shumaker Advisors president and CEO Ron Christaldi mentioned. “It is a compliment to our team that Rick believes in our ability to make a true impact, and we are excited for more success ahead.”
Kriseman served as St. Pete Mayor from 2014 to 2022.
“Tampa Bay has incredible potential. With our top leaders and greatest minds working together, the region’s future is brighter than ever,” Kriseman mentioned. “I am honored to join the prestigious team at Shumaker Advisors and to work with their clients who are committed to ensuring that our communities become better places for all.”
The announcement comes a number of weeks after Shumaker Advisors introduced that former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn had joined the agency to work on financial improvement alternatives and concrete improvement methods throughout the state.
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Franco Ripple is leaving Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s workplace to function vice chairman at Direct Impact, a Washington-based public affairs agency and half of the worldwide BCW Group.
Ripple served in a number of roles on the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services since Fried’s inauguration, together with as Director of Communications and Director of Strategic Initiatives. He additionally consulted on her profitable 2018 marketing campaign.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Franco-Ripple-ART-1-640x377.jpg)
At the division, Ripple oversaw a communications store that constructed Fried’s profile with frequent native TV hits, nationwide cable appearances, and powerful earned media, in addition to rollouts of main initiatives.
Ripple’s entry into public affairs and politics got here 20 years in the past as a White House Intern in the (George W.) Bush administration in 2002, adopted by bipartisan Capitol Hill internships. Part of each marketing campaign cycle since 2004, he has served on gubernatorial, congressional, state legislative, and presidential campaigns, most lately as North Florida Director for the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris marketing campaign.
He additionally spent 5 years on the CATECOMM public relations agency, consulting on advocacy communications, earned and paid media, digital campaigns, and public engagement for company, affiliation, governmental and nonprofit shoppers.
Ripple will proceed to be primarily based in Tallahassee.
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For your radar — Matt Isbell posted late final evening 3,500 phrases on redistricting, particularly what might occur to Florida’s fifth Congressional District. Be certain to present it a read by clicking right here.
— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —
Tweet, tweet:
Border Czar @kamalaharris is in Honduras celebrating socialists.
I spent the day supporting LEOs on the border addressing the disaster @JoeBiden created.
➖Come on, man! Do your job!➖ https://t.co/PaRv8eq1x8 pic.twitter.com/Mzusj4e4fy
— Ashley Moody (@AshleyMoodyFL) January 28, 2022
—@ChrisSpencerFL: If the Biden infrastructure invoice is such a giant deal for you, then why have you learnt so little about it that you simply suppose this CDBG-MIT funding was in it? It was really appropriated after Hurricane Irma.
—@RepValDemings: Yesterday, neo-nazis rallied in Orlando. But America beat their disturbing ideology earlier than, and we’ll do it once more. As a police commander, I noticed comparable rallies, and I additionally noticed that for each nazi, there have been 100 Floridians there to face up for what’s proper
Tweet, tweet:
This is from at the moment. TODAY.
I’ve been looking for the phrases. I’ve none. Just anger. @GovRonDeSantis when are you going to sentence and clarify that hate and anti-semitism is not going to be tolerated. But you received’t try this as a result of these persons are your base. pic.twitter.com/UoVDCphPK5
— Michele Rayner-Goolsby (She/They) (@micheleforfl) January 30, 2022
—@VoteRandyFine: This is crap. @GovRonDeSantis has stood with the Jewish individuals greater than any Gov in America. I hate these ppl greater than anybody. If I noticed it reside, I’d want bail. But these idiots can’t even spell Brandon proper. So let’s put the anger the place it belongs — at these individuals.
—@MarcoRubio: One day, we’ll be taught simply what form of take care of the satan the @NFL made in change for the final two weekends of playoff video games
—@GiancarloSopo: Patrick Mahomes might nonetheless go to the Super Bowl if Mike Pence would simply have the braveness to do what is correct.
—@JoshAllenQB: Pain.
Tweet, tweet:
Post Bengal victory hearth! #WishItWasTheBrowns #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/Ap67n7i3di
— Jenn Ungru (@GennX) January 31, 2022
—@JamesGrantFL: (Tom) Brady’s retirement leaking in the center of Gasparilla is about as Tampa because it will get.
—@Cam_Joseph: Not certain there’s a extra rewarding feeling in journalism than closing all of the tabs after you pub a narrative
— DAYS UNTIL —
XXIV Olympic Winter Games begins — 4; Super Bowl LVI — 13; Will Smith‘s ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ reboot premieres — 13; Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show begins — 16; season 4 of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ begins — 16; Spring Training report dates start — 17; Synapse Florida tech summit begins — 17; ‘The Walking Dead’ ultimate season half two begins — 20; Daytona 500 — 20; Special Election for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3 — 23; Suits For Session — 23; CPAC begins — 24; St. Pete Grand Prix — 25; Biden to present the State of the Union deal with — 29; ‘The Batman’ premieres — 32; the third season of ‘Atlanta’ begins — 51; season two of ‘Bridgerton’ begins — 53; The Oscars — 55; Macbeth with Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga start performances on Broadway — 57; Grammys rescheduled in Las Vegas — 62; federal scholar mortgage funds will resume — 90; ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ premieres — 95; ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ premieres — 116; ‘Platinum Jubilee’ for Queen Elizabeth II — 122; ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ premieres — 159; San Diego Comic-Con 2022 — 172; Michael Mann and Meg Gardiner novel ‘Heat 2’ publishes — 190; ‘The Lord of the Rings’ premieres on Amazon Prime — 214; ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ sequel premieres — 249; ‘Black Panther 2’ premieres — 284; ‘The Flash’ premieres — 287; ‘Avatar 2′ premieres — 319; ‘Captain Marvel 2′ premieres — 382; ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ premieres — 417; ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ premieres — 543; ‘Dune: Part Two’ premieres — 627; Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games — 907.
—TOP STORY —
“Clash over election rules pits civil-rights groups vs. state, national Republicans” by way of Laura Cassels of Florida Phoenix — In a voting-rights case that may have nationwide ramifications, DeSantis, prime members of his administration, and two Republican nationwide committees will convene in federal court docket Monday to defend Florida’s 2021 election reforms in opposition to state, nationwide, and native plaintiffs who say the reforms suppress voting by Black voters, Latino voters, and others. At challenge is Senate Bill 90, adopted by the Legislature and signed into regulation by DeSantis in May, instantly drawing lawsuits. It restricts the use of mail-ballot drop containers extensively used in the 2020 elections to accommodate file voter turnout throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Opponents describe the measures as voter suppression, designed to make voting tougher, particularly amongst sure populations, and are asking a federal court docket to overturn the regulation. The trial begins Monday.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Engage-Miami-Civic-Fdn-2-1024x662-1-640x414.jpg)
— DATELINE TALLY —
“Ron DeSantis vows to stamp out the ‘vicious ideology’ of ‘wokeness’” by way of A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — In a crystallization of his argument for re-election, DeSantis on Friday evening went on the offensive in opposition to “wokeness,” a “vicious ideology” and a variant of what he referred to as “cultural Marxism.” “This wokeness is dangerous, and we have to defeat it on all fronts,” DeSantis informed the Common Sense Society throughout a speech Friday evening. DeSantis mentioned the motion intends to make conservatives “second-class citizens.” DeSantis steered that priorities of Democrats, resembling increasing the Supreme Court, abolishing the Electoral College, and “making D.C. a state, so you get two radical Senators for life,” are usually not points that “many Americans are talking about over their kitchen table.”
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/deSantis-640x426.jpeg)
No migrant flight firms have state contracts, state information present — DeSantis has mentioned he needs firms that transport unaccompanied migrant minors to be ineligible for state contracts, however the state has no contracts with any of the firms concerned. As reported by Matt Dixon of POLITICO Florida, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has compiled an inventory of firms which have contracted with the Office of Refugee Resettlement, however none of the businesses on the listing have any enterprise with the state authorities. However, a handful of names on the listing are usually not instantly identifiable, resembling “World ATL.” Other names, resembling “Elite Air,” are utilized by a number of firms. FDLE mentioned it didn’t have any additional info on the businesses and that the data it did have got here from an unnamed “source.”
“‘Storm-prone state’: DeSantis pledges $80 million for climate adaptation in South Florida” by way of Anna Jean Kaiser and Alex Harris of the Miami Herald — DeSantis introduced the state would award $80 million in grants to South Florida cities and counties to take care of stormwater and flood-control issues, with practically $40 million going to 2 Miami initiatives. “As a storm-prone state, we need to make sure we’re mitigating the effects of these weather events,” DeSantis mentioned at a information convention at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades on Friday morning. Miami will obtain $19.8 million to enhance stormwater infrastructure in the southwest half of Wynwood, and $18.4 million to alleviate continual flooding in East Little Havana.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/DeSantis-2-1.jpg)
“Senators plan overhaul of coastal resiliency measures” by way of Renzo Downey of Florida Politics — Sen. Jason Brodeur has filed an modification fleshing out his invoice to handle rising sea ranges, half of an effort to enhance a 2021 regulation on environmental coverage. During his first week in workplace in 2019, DeSantis signed an government order on the surroundings that established the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection inside the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Brodeur’s invoice (SB 1940) would codify a Statewide Office of Resiliency inside the Governor’s Office and place the Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) as the top of the workplace. But with Brodeur’s proposed modifications to that invoice, the one-paged measure would broaden to greater than 20 pages and embrace tweaks to state processes inside DEP and past. The invoice, together with Brodeur’s modification, is scheduled for a listening to in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. It can be the proposal’s first of three committee hearings.
—TALLY 2 —
“Hurricane Catastrophe Fund reform could save insurance consumers $1 billion a year, backers say” by way of Ron Hurtibise of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Florida house insurance coverage clients might get a considerable break from rising charges, saving about $150 a 12 months, in the event that they not needed to pay into the state’s hurricane insurance coverage reserve fund and if insurance coverage firms might entry these reserves extra simply, with fewer general claims losses. Reforms proposed in the state Legislature by state Sen. Jeff Brandes might save Florida shoppers $750 million to $1 billion a 12 months in insurance coverage prices, he mentioned. The financial savings would come from two main reforms to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Brandes-Large-640x427.jpg)
“Pending bill puts a high price on home rule” by way of Bill Cotterell of the Tallahassee Democrat — A quick-tracked Senate invoice, authorized by a close to party-line vote of 22-14 final week, is an pointless and punitive act of monetary intimidation that defies the idea of house rule. The Republican management on the Capitol’s fourth ground appears intent upon letting enterprise operators sue native governing boards for passing native ordinances that have an effect of 15% or extra on their income. It’s a probably crippling monetary menace, giving enterprise house owners and their legal professionals nothing to lose for harassing native governments and giving mayors and different native officers a weighty incentive to play it protected and never do a lot of something, for concern of getting sued.
“Florida Democrat delivers an emotional critique of ‘anti-woke’ bills: ‘ My opinion matters just as much as your opinion’” by way of Tim Craig of The Washington Post — The anger had been constructing inside Rep. Ramon Alexander for greater than a 12 months as he sat alongside his Republican colleagues in the Florida Legislature. One of the state’s highest-ranking Black legislators, Alexander watched because the state GOP responded to Black Lives Matter protests by making it simpler to cost some demonstrators with felony fees. He watched Republicans impose new restrictions on voting by mail over the objection of Democrats. And he watched some GOP lawmakers downplay the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol, which Alexander considers a violent effort to disenfranchise Black voters.
“Advocate pushing for ‘essential caregiver’ bills takes fight to Legislature” by way of Kent Justice of News4Jax — A Jacksonville girl is pushing to safe rights for each caregiver to see their cherished one, pandemic or not. Mary Daniel is taking her battle to the Florida Legislature, which is shifting into the fourth week of the Legislative Session. At the identical time, Daniel can be combating for change on the federal degree. Daniel and her husband, Steve, have an unbelievable love story, partly as a result of of tragedy. Her husband was recognized with Alzheimer’s illness at simply 59 years previous. Now 68, he’s in a long-term care facility that shut out Daniel and others when the pandemic crashed down on the world in 2020.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/mary-steve-daniel-2000-640x427.jpg)
“Former Sen. Charlie Dean honored with college building name, endowment” by way of Mike Wright of Florida Politics — It was 1962, and a younger Dean was looking for his footing in life. The son of Citrus County’s Sheriff, Dean graduated from Citrus High School and attended Florida State University, but it surely didn’t work out effectively. He joined the Marines and, after fulfilling his dedication, gave larger training one other attempt. This time he attended Central Florida Community College in Ocala, now College of Central Florida, the place he would earn an affiliate diploma. He adopted that with a bachelor’s at Florida State, then a grasp’s at Rollins College. And then, success: schoolteacher, counselor, Citrus County Sheriff, state Representative, state Senator.
— SKED —
Happening at the moment — Democratic Rep. Felicia Robinson will host an internet information convention to oppose a invoice (HB 7) that offers with points resembling race-related instruction, 11:15 a.m. Zoom hyperlink right here. Meeting ID: 85028918609. Call-in code: NoOnHB7.
— The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee meets to contemplate SB 1658, from Sen. Aaron Bean, enabling the Governor to bypass the state Cabinet in appointing the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, 3 p.m., Room 37 of the Senate Office Building.
— The Senate Judiciary Committee meets to contemplate SB 262, from Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, to permit mother and father of grownup kids to pursue psychological ache and struggling damages in wrongful-death lawsuits alleging malpractice, 3 p.m., Room 412 of the Knott Building.
— The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee meets to contemplate SB 1928, from Chair Ed Hooper, to replace laws for family shifting providers, 3 p.m., Room 110 of the Senate Office Building.
— The House Appropriations Committee meets to contemplate HB 3, from Rep. Tom Leek, to assist recruit and practice law-enforcement officers, 3 p.m., Room 212 Knott Building.
— The House Ways and Means Committee meets to contemplate HJR 1 and HB 1563, from Rep. Josie Tomkow, to extend the homestead property-tax exemptions to classroom academics, regulation enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, child-welfare providers professionals, members of the U.S. armed forces, or the Florida National Guard, 3 p.m., Room 404 of the House Office Building.
—STATEWIDE —
“Judge rules former Sen. Frank Artiles must release more documents in election fraud case” by way of Bianca Padró-Ocasio and Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald — Former Florida Sen. Artiles must flip over some financial institution information, credit score stories, cellphone communications, and different digital paperwork for use as proof in a high-profile corruption case in opposition to him, a Miami-Dade circuit decide dominated on Friday. But the recordsdata, that are half of the invention in a wide-ranging prison case involving darkish cash and a “ghost’ candidate in a Miami election, will probably be restricted to something produced between Jan. 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. That interval expands past when investigators have alleged Artiles paid a no-party candidate greater than $40,000 to run and sway the result of the state Senate District 37 election.
“State Ethics Commission clears former JEA board member who later became privatization consultant” by way of Nate Monroe of The Florida Times-Union — The Florida Commission on Ethics determined a former member of the JEA board of administrators and vocal privatization advocate didn’t violate the regulation when, throughout his time period on the board, he mentioned turning into a paid marketing consultant to assist the utility get acquired by a non-public firm. That board member, Alan Howard, ultimately did grow to be a privatization marketing consultant to JEA by a $75,000 contract together with his regulation agency after his time period on the board had expired. The discovering of no wrongdoing closes the guide on one of a number of controversies that arose throughout the contentious JEA privatization marketing campaign greater than two years in the past.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Alan-Howard-640x427.jpeg)
“New phone, who dis? Florida cracking down on anonymous political text messages” by way of Fresh Take Florida — Ever obtain one of these irritating political texts throughout an election, praising or criticizing a candidate and surprise who was behind it? The Florida Election Commission is cracking down on political texts that don’t explicitly say who paid for them, with new guidelines meant to enhance transparency for voters and stem the unfold of misinformation. Under the proposed new laws, it can fantastic teams that break the brand new guidelines $200 to $250 for every textual content, quantities that might add as much as tens of 1000’s of {dollars} for wayward texts blasted throughout a marketing campaign. Even for trustworthy campaigns, one marketing consultant estimated that complying with the brand new guidelines might double their prices by including characters to texts with restricted lengths. The Election Commission disputed that estimate.
What Shannon Shepp is studying — “The next big squeeze: Florida orange juice could skyrocket in price” by way of Laura Reiley of The Washington Post — The subsequent grocery merchandise households might see skyrocketing in worth: Florida orange juice. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report earlier this month, the state’s orange crop would be the smallest since World War II. And the threats to Florida’s “liquid gold” proceed: Weather forecasters predict this weekend’s freezing temperatures in Florida will additional harm the season’s crop. Florida is the nation’s largest producer of juice oranges, at its peak producing 244 million containers of oranges yearly. The USDA predicts that it’ll fall to solely 44.5 million this 12 months. Demand for orange juice had cooled in current years as shoppers turned involved about sugar in fruit juices. But COVID-19 introduced it again.
— CORONA FLORIDA —
“Florida logs more than 1,000 new COVID-19 deaths for first time since delta variant wave” by way of Chris Persaud of The Palm Beach Post — As the omicron wave of the coronavirus recedes throughout Florida, the scope of its deadliness has begun to take form. For the primary time since mid-October, Florida logged greater than 1,000 COVID-19 deaths in every week, state well being officers reported Friday. Viral fatalities rose by 1,192 since Jan. 21, knowledge from the state Health Department exhibits. That’s practically twice as many new victims reported final week, and greater than seven occasions as many 4 weeks in the past. And the omicron dying wave seems to be rising as quick because the delta variant surge from final summer season. During delta, it took six weeks for seven-day dying totals to skyrocket from a low of lower than 200 to greater than 1,000. During this current swing, well being officers counted simply 122 new deaths throughout the week ending Dec. 24, however in the six weeks since then, below omicron, that tally has grown, breaking 1,000 this week.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/covid-florida.jpeg)
“Sunday Florida COVID-19 update: Hospitalizations down by another 171 people” by way of David J. Neal of the Miami Herald — Continuing a pattern that started over every week in the past, the quantity of Florida hospital sufferers with COVID-19 fell by 171. There had been 9,440 hospital sufferers who examined optimistic with COVID-19 in Florida in knowledge reported to HHS from 261 hospitals. That’s the identical quantity of hospitals in Saturday’s report. In the most recent report, sufferers with COVID-19 take up 16.22% of all inpatient beds, in comparison with 16.47% amongst Saturday’s reporting hospitals. Of the individuals hospitalized in Florida, 1,445 had been in intensive care models, a lower of 4 from Saturday. That represents about 22.70% of the state’s ICU beds, in comparison with 22.75% yesterday.
“Pandemic tensions deepen in Florida as DeSantis digs in” by way of Alexander Nazaryan of Yahoo News — The omicron wave seems to have crested in Florida, however you wouldn’t understand it from the acrimonious battles Florida politicians have been combating over the pandemic. DeSantis this week lashed out at Washington, and Democratic lawmakers protested the affirmation of Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who has expressed skepticism over vaccines and masks. Few states have acquired as a lot scrutiny all through the pandemic as Florida, the place DeSantis has rejected many of the protection measures advisable by well being officers whereas additionally downplaying the efficacy of vaccines. DeSantis has spent the week charging the Biden administration with withholding monoclonal antibody therapies developed by Regeneron.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/DeSantis-2-640x344.jpg)
“DeSantis enlists Dwight Eisenhower in his war against Dr. Anthony Fauci” by way of A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Warning in opposition to “COVID authoritarianism” in a speech to the Common Sense Society, DeSantis invoked Eisenhower in his newest cautionary story. In his Presidential farewell speech, Eisenhower warned of the military-industrial complicated having an outsized position. DeSantis needed to spotlight a secondary message, nonetheless. “Eisenhower talked about how government was more involved with funding scientific research and how there was a danger that public policy could be hijacked by a scientific and technological elite,” DeSantis mentioned. The Governor’s remarks had been half of the right-of-center Common Sense Society‘s gala occasion Friday evening on the Breakers Resort in Palm Beach.
— CORONA LOCAL —
“Volusia Clerk of Courts short-staffed partly by COVID-19 asks people to use website” by way of Frank Fernandez of The Daytona Beach News-Journal — The Volusia County Clerk of Courts is experiencing “extreme staffing shortages,” in half on account of COVID-19, and is asking individuals to be affected person and verify the clerk’s web site at clerk.org for info and providers. Volusia County Clerk of Court Laura Roth wrote in an e mail on Thursday that 21 individuals had been out of the workplace on account of COVID-19; both they or a family member had been optimistic for the virus, Roth wrote. She wrote that seven staff are out from one division, hurting the decision facilities. Five of these are COVID-19-related, whereas two are for different causes, she wrote. The clerk’s workplace is already stretched skinny as a result of whereas it has roughly 230 staff, it ought to have about 260, Roth famous.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Roth-640x361.jpg)
—“Polk COVID-19 infections decline for 2nd straight week” by way of Gary White of The Lakeland Ledger
—2022 —
“Soros pours $125M into super PAC ahead of midterms” by way of Elena Schneider of POLITICO — Soros is seeding an excellent PAC with $125 million, an infinite funding that may help Democratic teams and candidates for the 2022 election cycle and past. The group, Democracy PAC, has served as Soros’ marketing campaign spending car since 2019, channeling greater than $80 million to different Democratic teams and candidates throughout the 2020 election cycle. The new, nine-figure funding from Soros goals at supporting pro-democracy “causes and candidates, regardless of political party.” Soros added that the donation to the tremendous PAC is a “long-term investment,” meant to assist political work past this 12 months. Soros’ son, will function the PAC’s president.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Soros2.jpg)
“Petition drive to bring sports betting to Florida folds” by way of Scott Powers of Florida Politics — There will probably be no proposed constitutional modification to legalize on-line sports activities betting on the 2022 General Election poll. One group behind the push in Florida has conceded it can’t get sufficient petition signatures verified in time to qualify by subsequent Tuesday’s deadline. Florida Education Champions, the group funded by the large every day fantasy sports activities platforms DraftKings and FanDuel, introduced Friday it’s reassessing long-term choices, nonetheless hoping at some point to get voter approval for authorized on-line sports activities playing in Florida. The different proposed playing constitutional modification drive, for a North Florida on line casino pushed by the Las Vegas Sands Corp.’s committee Florida Voters In Charge, has not given up its marketing campaign.
“Florida Voters in Charge defends its pro-gambling petition effort after being investigated for fraud” by way of Tom McLaughlin of the Northwest Florida Daily News — Florida Voters in Charge, a political motion committee that has come below hearth as supervisors of elections from all around the state report suspected fraudulent pro-gambling initiative petitions being turned in at their workplaces, has responded to what it says are “careless allegations” made in opposition to it. FVIC authorized counsel Jim McKee mentioned allegations of wrongdoing “in many instances” are being made by individuals and teams motivated to stop a proposal to amend the state structure and broaden on line casino playing in Florida from showing on the poll. In early December, supervisors of elections from six Florida counties notified the Secretary of State’s Office that fraudulent constitutional initiative petitions had been being acquired by their workplaces from signature collectors working for Florida Voters in Charge.
“How 2 Black women conquered Senate primary politics” by way of Maya King of POLITICO — As Black girls operating in two of the nation’s most intently watched Senate races, Rep. Val Demings and former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Cheri Beasley are poised to make historical past in the event that they’re profitable in November. But that’s solely half of what makes their campaigns stand out this 12 months. Demings and Beasley have drawn discover, and a heavy dose of respect inside their social gathering, for carrying out a feat that has all-too-frequently eluded candidates of colour, particularly Black girls: Managing to clear their Senate major fields of heavyweight competitors. Demings and Beasley nonetheless face nominal competitors for the Democratic Senate nomination. But because of their political muscle-flexing, they’re largely free to focus the majority of their consideration and sources on profitable the final election in November.
“She believes: Annette Taddeo launches 67-county campaign for Florida Governor with RV tour” by way of James Call of USA Today Network — With her “I Believe” RV tour, Taddeo mentioned she intends to go to all 67 Florida counties by Memorial Day to introduce herself to voters. State police closed the parking zone to the general public park throughout from the mansion’s entrance gate, stopping Taddeo from utilizing it as a staging space for a information convention. “We’re not going to let them dictate what we talk about,” mentioned Taddeo. The turnout in the 44-degree morning was restricted to a few dozen supporters and marketing campaign workers and a handful of reporters. Taddeo harshly criticized DeSantis and the Republican-dominated Legislature for pushing an agenda she mentioned was centered on inflaming a tradition struggle as an alternative of, amongst many different issues, addressing constructing codes in the wake of the Surfside collapse.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/taddeo-art.jpg)
Not noticed — Florida’s thirteenth Congressional District race is noticeably absent from David Wasserman’s Top 25 Republican House primaries to observe from The Cook Report. Left open after Congressman Charlie Crist mounts one other run for Governor, CD 13 has been thought-about by many a major focus for the GOP to flip in the midterms. Republican Anna Paulina Luna is touting an endorsement from Donald Trump, whereas her opponent, analyst Amanda Makki, boasts a number of prime endorsements and was lately named a “Woman to Watch” by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik’s group E-PAC, which helps the campaigns of Republican girls. Local enterprise proprietor and former prosecutor Kevin Hayslett, a self-described “Trump Republican,” has additionally simply entered the race.
“Vern Buchanan raised $316K in 4Q, $1.7M in election cycle to date” by way of Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Buchanan pulled in one other $316,000 in the fourth quarter of 2021. That means the Longboat Key Republican has constructed up greater than $1.7 million as he prepares to run for a ninth time period in Congress. “I’m humbled by such a strong show of support,” Buchanan mentioned. “People are responding to my positive agenda of recovery and rebuilding, protecting veterans’ benefits and safeguarding Social Security and Medicare.” Notably, the $1,707,712 he has collected contains none of Buchanan’s personal cash. The wealthiest U.S. House member representing Florida has provided self-funding to his campaigns earlier than, however this election cycle has been paying debt down as an alternative. The heavy inflow of {dollars} comes as Buchanan positions himself to be the subsequent U.S. House Ways and Means Committee chair, one of probably the most highly effective positions in Congress.
“Janet Cruz collects nearly $90K in days leading up to Session” by way of Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics — Sen. Cruz raised practically $90,000 forward of this 12 months’s Legislative Session as she continues her re-election marketing campaign for Senate District 18, her marketing campaign introduced this week. Cruz collected $86,416 in the time earlier than Session, cut up between $22,416 raised by her marketing campaign and $64,000 fundraised by her political committee, Building the Bay. “We’re all hands on deck for this race,” Cruz mentioned in a press release. Throughout the 2022 cycle, Cruz has raised $693,409. And Cruz’s most up-to-date haul will probably be her final by March, whereas the Legislature is in Session, sitting lawmakers are barred from fundraising, each for his or her marketing campaign accounts and political committees.
Happening tonight:
“Mike Caruso moving north to newly configured House District 87” by way of Anne Geggis of Florida Politics — Rep. Caruso mentioned redistricting means he’s going to be spending his weekends house-shopping, as he plans to maneuver north to the brand new House District 87. The Delray Beach deal with he’s referred to as house for the reason that Nineteen Eighties is at present in House District 89, and that’s being reconfigured. The redistricting effort has renumbered his district and shifted its boundaries additional west. The district not stretches alongside Palm Beach County’s coastal space. Instead, it’s roughly bounded by Highland Beach and Boynton Beach, extending west principally alongside Military Trail. The Democrat-Republican cut up of his newly reconfigured district he’s referred to as house for many years exhibits it’s getting bluer, and it additionally attracts in Rep. Joe Casello.
Interesting — “Dan Gelber calls on Florida Democrats to open their primaries” by way of Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Miami Beach Mayor Gelber is looking upon the Florida Democratic Party to open its Primary elections to impartial voters, a transfer he steered would possibly do a minimum of assist save democracy itself. In a letter to Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz, Gelber expressed robust and foreboding ideas about political divides rising in breadth and depth, dubbing them threats to democracy. Political events should discover methods to deliver impartial voters and their usually extra average views again in, broaden political appeals, and mood divisions, Gelber argued. He means that the best way to do this can be for political events to open their primaries to them. The Democrats ought to go first, simply because they’ll, Gelber urges. The former state Senator doesn’t mince phrases in criticizing the GOP.
— CORONA NATION —
“Most Americans say pandemic will be over when virus becomes comparable to seasonal flu” by way of Amy Cheng and Adela Suliman of The Washington Post — As the coronavirus pandemic enters its third 12 months, a brand new ballot signifies that solely a small minority of Americans want COVID-19 to be largely eradicated earlier than they’ll regard the well being emergency as over. By distinction, 83% of the 1,161 respondents mentioned they’d see the pandemic as a factor of the previous as soon as the virus evolves right into a much less extreme, occasional presence in life, not not like the seasonal flu. That’s a view taken by many public well being specialists and the nations which can be pushing for “living with COVID” insurance policies as soon as the virus turns into endemic, or at “a point at which the infection is no longer unpredictably disruptive.” Seventy-three % of respondents mentioned getting vaccinated was essential to ending the pandemic. Democrats had been nearly 3 times extra possible than Republicans to imagine that widespread immunization is crucial.
“Embattled CDC rethinks pandemic response after criticism of guidelines” by way of Felicia Schwartz of The Wall Street Journal — The CDC is seeking to reassert itself in the nation’s COVID-19 response amid criticism it has sown extra confusion than it has provided solutions. According to the company, the primary orders of enterprise are upgrading knowledge assortment that has hobbled determination making and clearing up messaging that has confused many. Yet the steps is probably not sufficient to repair issues on the nation’s premier public-health company uncovered by the pandemic. And the CDC might not have a lot time, as a brand new variant might emerge after omicron crests. “Moving fast and risk-taking in a setting of ambiguity is not CDC’s strength — it’s not what they do,” mentioned Charity Dean, beforehand a California Department of Health official who resigned throughout the pandemic.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cdc.jpg)
“Boosters exacerbate the Republican-Democrat vaccine gap” by way of Aaron Blake of The Washington Post — In half as a result of of these gaps in outcomes, and since Republicans are considerably much less prone to get vaccinated, the pandemic’s dying toll has registered very disproportionately in purple areas. Now new knowledge counsel the hole in safety between purple and blue is rising considerably. While a lot has been written in regards to the partisan vaccination hole, the hole is now bigger with boosters. To date, the survey exhibits about 9 in 10 Democrats and 6 in 10 Republicans have gotten vaccinated. But in relation to those that are vaccinated and boosted, Democrats are about twice as prone to be in that group, 62% to 32%.
— CORONA ECONOMICS —
“Despite omicron hurdles, strong economic recovery appears on track” by way of Abha Bhattarai of The Washington Post — Even because the U.S. financial system grew at its quickest tempo in many years in 2021, the restoration has extra lately flashed troubling warning indicators, with hovering inflation, whipsawing monetary markets and slowing shopper spending complicating the rebound. The financial system grew at a blockbuster 6.9% annualized charge in the final three months of the 12 months, the Bureau of Economic Analysis mentioned Thursday, as rising enterprise investments, shopper spending, and a rush by firms to bolster inventories helped drive GDP a lot larger in the ultimate months of 2021. That robust studying nonetheless masks strain from the omicron coronavirus variant that started sweeping by the nation late final 12 months. This variant has left a swift and discernible imprint on retail gross sales, inflation, and even new claims for jobless advantages.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/jobs-economy.jpeg)
“Tipping has soared during the pandemic” by way of Nathan Bomey of Axios — From eating places to ride-sharing, Americans are tipping much more than they did earlier than the pandemic. The previous two years have upended how we specific appreciation to the individuals who present us meals and providers. We’re leaving suggestions way more often, in half as a result of much more transactions are prompting us to, generally earlier than the service that we’re tipping for has been accomplished. Immediately earlier than the pandemic, individuals tipped on about 63% of in-person credit-card transactions that offered an choice to tip. By August 2021, they had been tipping on about 66% of such funds. The common tip quantity was about 20%, pre-pandemic. It has risen barely, to about 21%.
— MORE CORONA —
“‘It’s just stressful’: Students feel the weight of pandemic uncertainty” by way of Jacey Fortin and Giulia Heyward of The New York Times — The college shutdowns in the spring of 2020 had been onerous sufficient for college kids. But this winter, because the omicron variant drove a spike in coronavirus case numbers, the disruptions started to really feel like they’d by no means finish. Some college districts prolonged winter break or returned briefly to distant studying. And some colleges, already combating a nationwide labor scarcity, had been compelled to cancel courses after workers members referred to as in sick. Many college students are nonetheless scrambling to catch up academically after months of struggling to be taught on-line, and a few change colleges or dropped out altogether. A way of profound isolation persists. There are emotions of loneliness and angst. Many college students really feel that a complete system has failed them, leaving them to tackle further obligations far past what is often requested of younger individuals.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/school-mask.jpeg)
“In the wake of the omicron wave, single parents are drowning” by way of Caitlin Gibson of The Washington Post — About 3 in 10 households with kids are headed by single mother and father, and 75% of these mother and father are moms. Single-parent households comprise greater than 10 million households in America, but some of these mentioned they typically really feel like outliers, particularly throughout the pandemic, and particularly throughout this stage of the pandemic. Many mother and father say they’ve felt painfully missed: by college techniques who anticipate them to have the ability to accommodate digital studying; by employers who aren’t versatile when a day care closure upends a workweek; by lawmakers who’ve withdrawn monetary security nets; and by well being tips which can be typically not possible for a solo-parent family to observe.
— PRESIDENTIAL —
“Can Joe Biden, Republican Governors work together to implement infrastructure law?” by way of Alex Roarty and Bryan Lowry of the Miami Herald — President Biden and Republican Governors hardly ever see eye to eye on something. Will the brand new infrastructure regulation be any totally different? Federal officers and state governments have begun an formidable partnership this 12 months to implement a trillion-dollar improve to the nation’s infrastructure, cash made out there final 12 months when Biden signed into regulation a brand new spending invoice that Congress handed with bipartisan assist. It’s a course of everybody agrees would require cooperation between the Democratic-led authorities and 28 Republican Governors, many of whom may have broad discretion about the place to spend the cash they obtain from the federal authorities. It’s a troublesome feat to tug off when deep political polarization makes cross-aisle cooperation a rarity. But for Biden’s administration, it’ll be a necessity.
“Biden’s vow of Black justice a nod to his most loyal voters” by way of Nicholas Riccardi of The Associated Press — As he struggled to outlive the 2020 Democratic Primary, Biden made a hanging pledge earlier than voting started in closely African American, must-win South Carolina: His first Supreme Court appointment can be a Black girl. On Thursday, together with his ballot numbers reaching new lows and his social gathering panicking in regards to the midterm elections, Biden turned once more to the Democratic Party’s most steadfast voters and reiterated his vow to interchange retiring Justice Stephen Breyer with the primary Black girl to serve on the Supreme Court. The hanging promise displays Black girls’s essential position in the Democratic Party and the rising affect of Black girls in society. It’s additionally a recognition that Black girls have been marginalized in American politics for hundreds of years.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/biden-supremem-court.jpg)
“A top candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court has roots in Miami” by way of Ariana Figueroa of Florida Phoenix — With the retirement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Breyer by this summer season, Biden has mentioned he’ll fulfill a marketing campaign promise of appointing a Black girl to an open seat on the very best court docket in the land. A prime contender, who was even vetted by the Barack Obama administration in 2016 as a possible nominee to the Supreme Court, is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Born in Washington, D.C., she grew up in Miami, the place she graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School earlier than happening to Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Biden mentioned on Thursday that he plans to announce a nominee by the top of February.
— D.C. MATTERS —
“Republicans relish Biden’s troubles, eyeing a takeover of Congress” by way of Annie Karni of The New York Times — Republicans on Capitol Hill are utilizing Biden’s failures to gas their bid to retake management of Congress, specializing in his collapsing legislative agenda, his unfulfilled promise to “shut down” the coronavirus pandemic and rising voter anxieties over college closures and inflation as they search a profitable message for this 12 months’s elections. Biden’s troubles have annoyed Democrats, prompting requires a serious course correction. At the identical time, they’ve delighted Republicans, who’ve been intent on rehabilitating themselves in the eyes of voters after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol final 12 months. Republicans imagine they’re lastly capable of capitalize on what they view as a traditionally advantageous surroundings. Republicans have spotlighted so-called kitchen-table points like rising fuel and residential heating prices.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Biden-Republicans.jpeg)
“Marco Rubio calls on HUD to address Florida’s section 8 properties with failing REAC scores” by way of Florida Daily — Last week, U.S. Sen. Rubio urged U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sec. Marcia Fudge to instantly deal with a number of of Florida’s Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance properties with failing Real Estate Assessment Center scores that had beforehand skilled inspection delays. “ … failing scores and ongoing delays highlight an urgent need to address the unsafe and unsanitary conditions that many Florida families have been facing on a daily basis,” a letter to Fudge read.
“Federal judge throws out oil lease sale in Gulf of Mexico” by way of Daniel Figueroa of Florida Politics — A federal court docket has rejected a plan to lease thousands and thousands of acres in the Gulf of Mexico for offshore oil drilling, saying the Biden administration didn’t adequately take note of the lease sale’s impact on planet-warming greenhouse fuel emissions, violating a bedrock environmental regulation. The determination by U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras in Washington sends the proposed lease sale again to the Interior Department to determine the subsequent steps. The decide mentioned it was as much as Interior to determine whether or not to go ahead with the sale after a revised evaluate, scrap it, or take different steps. Environmental teams hailed the choice and mentioned the ruling gave Biden an opportunity to observe by on a marketing campaign promise to cease offshore leasing in federal waters.
— CRISIS —
“Committee investigating Jan. 6 attack issues subpoenas to 14 bogus Trump electors in states Biden won” by way of Felicia Sonmez and Beth Reinhard of The Washington Post — The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob has issued subpoenas to 14 people who forged bogus electoral votes for the previous president in seven states received by Biden in 2020. The transfer comes as two Democratic Attorneys General requested federal prosecutors in current days to research whether or not crimes had been dedicated in assembling or submitting the “alternate” Trump slates. This week, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco confirmed prosecutors’ consideration of what she termed the “fraudulent elector certifications.”
“Donald Trump suggests he might pardon some Jan. 6 defendants” by way of Kyle Cheney of POLITICO — Former President Trump steered Saturday that he would possibly pardon individuals related to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol if he had been to win a second time period as president. “Another thing we’ll do — and so many people have been asking me about it — if I run and if I win, we will treat those people from Jan. 6 fairly. We will treat them fairly,” he mentioned at a rally in Conroe, Texas. “And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons. Because they are being treated so unfairly.” The assertion comes amid efforts by Trump and a few of his fiercest supporters to rewrite the historical past of Jan. 6, baselessly claiming the assault on the Capitol was instigated by the FBI and that the roughly 50 pretrial detainees held in reference to the assault are “political prisoners.”
Tweet, tweet:
Trump is actually admitting he tried a coup right here: https://t.co/dFevTdEgIS
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) January 31, 2022
— EPILOGUE TRUMP —
“Trump facing legal, political headwinds as he eyes comeback” by way of Jill Colvin of The Associated Press — As he ready to tee off at one of his Florida golf programs, a fellow participant launched Trump because the “45th President of the United States.” “45th and 47th,” Trump responded matter-of-factly earlier than hitting his drive. The quip was a reminder that the previous President typically has one other presidential run on his thoughts. But the declaration belied the rising challenges he’s confronting as a sequence of complicated authorized investigations ensnare Trump, his household, and plenty of associates. The probes, that are unfolding in a number of jurisdictions and think about all the things from potential fraud and election interference to the position he performed in the Jan. 6 riot, symbolize probably the most severe authorized menace Trump has confronted in many years of an often-litigious public life.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/trump-1.jpeg)
“Books, speeches, hats for sale: Post-presidency, the Trumps try to make money the pre-presidency way” by way of Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post — Trump’s advisers despatched a “breaking” alert a number of weeks earlier than Christmas to his political supporters, informing them of a brand new alternative to indicate their “loyalty” by a guide of pictures. The guide, primarily based largely on pictures in the general public area, and bought unsigned for $75 and over 3 times that with Trump’s signature, has been printed by a brand new firm based by his son, Donald Trump Jr. It paid the previous president a multimillion-dollar advance for signing copies, writing captions and serving to curate pictures.
“Do Republicans love Trump as they once did?” by way of Dan Balz of The Washington Post — No one ought to underestimate Trump’s standing inside the Republican Party, particularly the passionate allegiance of a considerable half of the GOP base. But there are indicators that, for the reason that assault on the Capitol final 12 months, his assist inside the social gathering is probably not fairly as strong because it as soon as was. The suggestion that he has slipped comes with a large caveat. Majorities of Republicans have purchased into Trump’s false claims in regards to the 2020 election. A Washington Post-University of Maryland survey, accomplished on the finish of final 12 months, discovered that greater than 6 in 10 Republicans mentioned there may be stable proof of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Nearly 6 in 10 say Biden’s election was not reputable.
—LOCAL NOTES —
“Feds try to block victims of Surfside condo collapse from accessing crucial evidence” by way of Nicholas Nehamas and Sarah Blaskey of the Miami Herald — After the lethal Surfside apartment collapse, essential items of proof had been trucked away from the catastrophe website and saved in a Miami-Dade police warehouse. The proof is vital for federal investigators and attorneys for victims. But now, NIST and Miami-Dade County are attempting to stop specialists for the attorneys from testing and sampling the supplies. “At this time, NIST will maintain exclusive custody and control of the debris to ensure the integrity of its investigation,” the letter to Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III said. “ Judge Michael Hanzman appeared outraged when knowledgeable of NIST and the county’s actions.
“The towers and the ticking clock” by way of Matthew Shaer of The New York Times — Even in probably the most rigorously constructed buildings, secured to the face of the earth by heavy pylons pushed by yards of shifting sand, the coastal surroundings has inevitably taken its toll. Facades are pitted by the salt and sea air. Balconies are crumbling. Pool decks are spidered with cracks. And water, and rising sea ranges, are a reality of life. Meaningful reform has lengthy been notoriously onerous to enact. Florida has roughly 1.5 million residential apartment models, among the many most of any state, and a extremely profitable apartment and co-op trade.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Surfside.jpeg)
“Criminalizing free speech? Group challenges Miami Beach law used to cuff people filming cops” by way of David Ovalle of the Miami Herald — After final 12 months’s unruly spring break on South Beach, the Miami Beach City Commission handed an ordinance that allowed for the arrest of individuals who “interrupt” and get too near cops doing their job on the streets. The end result: Miami Beach police, over a crowded weekend in July, arrested over a dozen individuals, nearly all Black and in the method of video recording law enforcement officials. Since then, practically each one of these instances has been quietly dropped. But in one of the few remaining instances, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers requested a court docket to dismiss the case in opposition to an Ohio vacationer, saying the ordinance unconstitutionally punished the proper to free speech. Given the chance to defend the regulation in court docket, Miami Beach’s metropolis prosecutor final week backed down, merely dropping the case.
“Jacksonville City Council member gets litigation letter from firm snared in dark-money controversies” by way of Nate Monroe of The Florida Times-Union — Matrix LLC, an Alabama consulting agency that has been drawn into controversies throughout Florida over political darkish cash, despatched a authorized discover to Jacksonville City Council member Garrett Dennis demanding he retain a broad array of information that could be in his possession as a result of they could possibly be related to a contentious authorized battle between Matrix and its former staff. That authorized battle, enjoying out in courtrooms in Alabama and Jacksonville, has reverberated throughout Florida. Matrix proprietor Joe Perkins has accused his former CEO, Jeff Pitts, and different former staff of going “rogue” and dealing on secret initiatives with a Florida consumer whose description in court docket papers matches Florida Power & Light, diverting thousands and thousands in charges from Matrix in the method.
“Citrus County officials want state to build turnpike extension” by way of Mike Wright of Florida Politics — Citrus County’s elected leaders agreed Friday that the “no-build” choice for a attainable Florida Turnpike extension isn’t any choice for them. Instead, members of the County Commission, School Board, and City Councils of Crystal River and Inverness mentioned they’d give attention to making certain no matter route the Florida Department of Transportation chooses has minimal impact on the neighborhood and its residents. “The no-build scenario is no scenario,” Commission Chair Ron Kitchen Jr. mentioned. Kitchen chaired the annual Citrus County elected leaders’ summit, an thought he began seven years in the past as a approach of gathering policymakers collectively not less than annually to debate points of mutual curiosity. Friday’s assembly on the Lecanto Government Building opened with a presentation from turnpike officers in regards to the proposed undertaking, which might hyperlink the turnpike at Interstate 75 in Wildwood with U.S. 19 between Crystal River and Chiefland.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/kitchen-art.jpg)
“2 Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies found dead in St. Augustine” by way of Jacob Langston of Spectrum News 9 — Two Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies had been discovered useless Saturday night at a trip rental house in St. Augustine. The deputies concerned had been in a romantic relationship and had been heard arguing in a bed room by fellow deputies that had been on trip with them, adopted by the sound of gunshots, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned. The preliminary investigation exhibits that the gunshot wound to Det. Daniel Leyden was self-inflicted, and he was the one shooter. Leyden labored in the Criminal Investigations Division, and the opposite deputy discovered useless was assigned to Uniform Patrol District III.
“Woman goes bankrupt after suing Disney” by way of Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Xonia Book sued The Walt Disney Co. 3 times in 9 years. Court information depict what occurred subsequent after Book misplaced twice at trial and fought a 3rd pending lawsuit in her lengthy authorized struggle in opposition to a multibillion-dollar firm: She filed for chapter. In a current interview, Book mentioned the expertise brought on nice stress in her life — from her marriage to her household and her well being. It’s ruined her credit score, too. Book sued over allegations that the corporate discriminated in opposition to her and wouldn’t promote her as a result of she’s Colombian. She additionally accused Disney safety director Melissa Merklinger of sexually harassing her after they took {a photograph} collectively at a Disney occasion.
— TOP OPINION —
“For first time ever, Florida is tackling illiteracy at the doorstep” by way of Chris Sprowls for Florida Politics — Starting final 12 months, the Florida House got down to champion literacy like no different state legislative physique has carried out. Now, it’s essential to speak about these applications so that each Florida mum or dad can know and take benefit of the great issues occurring in our state for kids’s literacy. To establish the challenges in the elementary college system, we established the RAISE program in House Bill 7011. Research additionally exhibits that we now have to achieve kids early in improvement to make sure that they are often ready for fulfillment when it comes time to be taught to read. We created the New Worlds Reading Initiative, the most important state-funded free guide supply program for teenagers in the nation.
— OPINIONS —
“Why Florida is lurching to the right” by way of The Economist — DeSantis lately launched his “Freedom First” annual price range. If that seems like a marketing campaign slogan, it’s no accident. DeSantis is utilizing Florida as a peninsular podium to promote his insurance policies. In his proposed $100bn price range, he’s pushing for a particular police pressure to supervise state elections, which he calls an “election integrity unit,” and needs to make it simpler to penalize firms that “facilitate illegal migration” to Florida. He envisages bonuses for law enforcement officials who transfer to Florida and needs to create a state militia of volunteers that might work with the National Guard in emergencies. What explains Florida’s lurch to the proper? Recently the quantity of voters registered as Republicans exceeded the quantity of registered Democrats for the primary time in trendy historical past. Republicans see momentum on their aspect. Chris Sprowls says individuals shifting to Florida are “realizing that there’s a reason that they chose to come here,” which is, Republican insurance policies.
“When lawmakers get quiet, it’s time to worry” by way of the Orlando Sentinel editorial board — The payments with bland titles and obscure wording that may be impenetrable even to skilled politicos. The payments no one appears to care about, besides the people who find themselves paid to care. A committee took up HB 977. The laws governs the sale of tax certificates, liens in opposition to land and buildings owned by individuals who have didn’t pay their property taxes. Big funding companies flood the auctions with bids, positioned by 1000’s and even tens of 1000’s of shell firms. An investigation uncovered the apply, and a number of other tax collectors took steps to close down the thousand-armed bidders by requiring a deposit from any entity that needed to position a bid. HB 977 would strip these native elected officers of that energy, making it simpler for large firms to swoop in and dominate the auctions as soon as once more.
“Why secret searches for Florida university presidents are just a bad idea” by way of Judith Wilde and James Finkelstein for the Tampa Bay Times — The University of South Florida and the University of Florida are two of the 4 Florida public universities in the hunt for brand spanking new Presidents, a course of that ought to be open, each for philosophical and sensible causes. We have but to establish any empirical proof that helps the declare that “secret searches” end result in hiring the very best candidates and we’ve been finding out this for 10 years. The Senate model claims that “if potential applicants fear the possibility of losing their current jobs as a consequence of attempting to progress along their chosen career path … failure to have these safeguards in place could have a chilling effect on the number and quality of applicants.” We doubt that.
“Legislators not putting Jacksonville voters first in state House redistricting” by way of Matt Schellenberg of Florida Phoenix — It is an absolute disappointment that the Florida House Committee on Redistricting has completely embarrassed itself with a district in Duval County that crosses the St. Johns River. Crossing the St. Johns River over a three-mile bridge allows incumbent state Rep. Wyman Duggan to maintain his seat however disfranchises individuals dwelling in Jacksonville’s Southside. Has the committee by no means heard of neighborhood curiosity and having compact districts? The plan being floated in Tallahassee eliminates a compact and community-centered district on the Southside and creates a district particularly designed for the profit of political marketing consultant Tim Baker’s spouse, Jessica.
— TODAY’S SUNRISE —
Gov. DeSantis laid the battle strains forward, and the enemy is obvious — wokeness. In a speech earlier than a right-leaning group assembly in Palm Beach, the Governor referred to as “wokeness” a catastrophe, cultural Marxism, and a hazard to America, notably America’s conservatives.
Also, on at the moment’s Sunrise …
— Is this Legislative Session any totally different from people who got here earlier than? Veteran legislative reporter Gray Rohrer says there’s one thing of a pandemic hangover this 12 months.
It’s Day One on the job for Rep. Daryl Campbell. He received the Special Election to symbolize HD 94, and — after some hiccups — the Secretary of State has licensed his election.
Yeah, it was chilly in Florida Sunday morning — iguana-dropping chilly.
To pay attention, click on on the picture beneath:
— OLYMPICS —
“Sport, politics and COVID-19 collide at the Beijing Winter Olympics” by way of Emma Graham-Harrison and Vincent Ni of The Observer — Hosting the Winter Olympics throughout a pandemic was at all times going to check the Chinese authorities by placing its ever-growing capacity to train political management and virus containment on a collision course with its enthusiasm for worldwide status and standing. The 2022 Winter Games, which open on Friday, are being held at a time of notably intense western criticism of China over human rights abuses, from the mass persecution of Uyghurs in far western Xinjiang, labeled a genocide by the United States, and different teams together with Tibetans. There is so little belief in the host nation that many nations have informed their athletes to take burner telephones, and cybersecurity specialists warned a well being app for Olympians might spy on them and steal well being and different private knowledge.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Beijing-Winter-Olympics-AP-640.jpg)
“Sealed off: Inside the ‘closed loop’ at the Beijing Winter Olympics” by way of France 24 — Media and staff have to remain in authorized resorts inside the “loop,” the organizers’ various title for a coronavirus bubble, designed to guard individuals from the virus and the Chinese inhabitants from the overseas mini-invasion. Wire fences seal off the world containing the Olympic venues and media heart in Beijing from the remainder of the capital, and the one approach in is by shuttle bus or authorized taxi. Security guards bar the best way of anybody who tries to stroll out of the lodge grounds. Bags are scanned as friends depart their resorts. Before boarding the bus, they have to stroll over to 2 cabins the place workers in full protecting gear awkwardly perform mouth swabs from behind a plexiglass display.
“U.S. Olympic bobsled team dealing with COVID-19 ‘nightmare’” by way of Henry Bushnell of Yahoo News — The United States bobsled and skeleton crew has been coping with COVID-19 bother every week earlier than the Olympics, with a number of optimistic checks affecting journey plans in current days. One bobsledder, Josh Williamson, revealed Wednesday that he had examined optimistic. He was not the one crew member affected. Sources mentioned that a number of coaches, assist workers, and not less than one different athlete have examined optimistic. A USA Bobsled and Skeleton official confirmed the crew’s delegation had “had multiple positive COVID-19 tests” however didn’t present additional particulars. Olympic guidelines, nonetheless, current additional hurdles. According to up to date protocols finalized late final week, Williamson will want 4 consecutive days of unfavorable checks, plus a fifth-day buffer, earlier than he can depart.
— ALOE —
“Hundreds of volunteers with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful clean up Gasparilla litter” by way of Malique Rankin of WTSP — Gasparilla is the third-largest parade in the world. That means the litter left behind might in all probability maintain some world information of its personal. After the pirates have cleared out, all that’s left behind are 1000’s of beads scattered throughout the streets, in the timber, and on the sidewalks of downtown Tampa. “Our efforts today are to collect as much trash we can, and also recycle the beads that were collecting,” Debbie Evenson, government director of Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, mentioned. “I want to say in 2020, we collected about 5,000 pounds of litter and debris,” Evenson mentioned.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/KTBB-Gasparilla-Parade-2020.jpg)
“Robocops could be patrolling some Orlando theme parks by end of year” by way of Katie Rice of the Orlando Sentinel — Soon, friends strolling by Orlando’s theme parks would possibly discover themselves strolling alongside an uncommon companion: a robotic safety guard. If the machine is from Robotic Assistance Devices, as CEO Steve Reinharz hopes, it received’t be simply mistaken for an individual. Shaped extra just like the Mars Rover than the humanoid T-800 from “Terminator,” ROAMEO 2.0 stands 6-and-a-half toes tall and gracefully cruises on 4 wheels regardless of its 750-pound mass. But as these machines start patrolling at amusement parks, they elevate questions on employment, safety and ethics. Though specialists say robocops received’t be taking human jobs anytime quickly, they acknowledge their use needs to be intently monitored.
“Elon Musk offers $5K to UCF freshman, asks him to stop tracking his private jet” by way of Nelly Ontiveros of the Orlando Sentinel — A UCF freshman acquired a $5,000 supply from Musk to take down his Twitter account, which tracks the billionaire’s non-public jet. Jack Sweeney, a 19-year-old freshman at UCF, manages @ElonJet, a Twitter account that makes use of a bot to trace Musk’s non-public jet. Sweeney mentioned he created an algorithm that tracks flight knowledge by a aircraft’s transponder, the report mentioned. The account caught the eye of Musk, who messaged Sweeney asking him to take the account down on account of safety dangers, the report mentioned. “Never intended for it to create a security concern,” Sweeney mentioned in their non-public dialog.
— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —
Best needs to Florida Politics rising star, Jason Delgado, in addition to U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, the super-sharp Kelsey Deasy of Bascom Communications and Consulting, former #FlaPol’er Ryan Ray, and Ben Sharpe.
![](https://floridapolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/IMG_6499-640x480.jpeg)
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Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Renzo Downey, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.
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