Millions wasted: Why Florida’s info tech projects keep failing
When it became clear this month that multiple state agencies shared a single password for their emergency messaging systems — and that the password was posted online — some observers were not surprised. It was just the latest in a series of high-profile information technology failures to roil the Sunshine State. For more than two decades, Florida has struggled when it comes to information technology. Officials have created, abolished, and recreated a state technology office at least three times. Many of the state’s biggest projects have been marred by scandal and incompetence and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Can Florida grow precious vanilla crop? DNA research from UF raises hopes
Natural vanilla is rare and expensive: most of it is produced in Madagascar and demand is always bigger than supply. Flowers bloom only one day per year for just a few hours, and they must be pollinated by hand to produce beans, which happens about every three years. Then the beans are cured in a months-long process that involves wrapping the pods in blankets overnight and sun-drying them during the day. [Source: Miami Herald]
Florida’s minimum wage goes to $8.65 in January
Florida’s minimum wage will inch up to $8.65 on Jan. 1 before jumping to $10 on Sept. 30. The minimum wage has been $8.56 this year but will increase nine cents in January because of a 2004 constitutional amendment that tied increases to cost-of-living changes. The minimum wage for tipped workers will be 5.63 an hour as of Jan. 1. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Sacked data scientist Rebekah Jones sues state over police raid on home
Fired Florida data scientist Rebekah Jones is suing the Florida Department of Law Enforcement over the police raid on her house. Jones’ lawsuit alleges that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement violated her constitutional rights, as well as state law, when officers served a warrant on her home during the early hours of Dec. 7. “The basis of the warrant was a sham to punish plaintiff for her protected speech,” says the lawsuit, which was filed Monday in Leon County civil court. More from the Orlando Sentinel and WFLA.
Silicon Valley exiles are seizing on South Florida. Local techies are holding their breath.
Greater Miami leaders have spent the past decade making the case that the region could become a global tech hub. As COVID-19 hit, a handful of technology professionals looking to exit Silicon Valley and other traditional tech centers began choosing the Magic City as their remote-work destination of choice. Now, many have begun talking about — and in some cases, making — the move permanently. Suddenly, the area’s long-standing goal of transformation seems much closer to reality. [Source: Miami Herald]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Florida and Miami-Dade agree to spend $20 million restoring Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay is getting a new infusion of cash to fund restoration projects for its water, seagrass and coral reef — all of which are suffering under the strain of pollution and climate change. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the new $10 million in funding, which Miami-Dade County will match for a total of $20 million.
› Hillsborough County tells Beer Can Island to shut down the party
The two-year land use debate between Hillsborough County Code Enforcement and the owners of Pine Key — the popular boating and camping destination known by locals as Beer Can Island — might be coming to a conclusion. Code enforcement has levied four violations against the owners including two that could dampen the plan to keep Beer Can Island a party destination.
› Workers left downtown Orlando during COVID-19. Will they ever come back?
For one of Orlando’s barbecue kings, a lunch spot in a downtown tower next to City Hall was an easy sell: the smokey aromas lured crowds of hungry office workers every day from their cubicles to the 4 Rivers’ outpost on the south end of Orange Avenue. When the pandemic hit in March, those office workers disappeared. And the restaurant is gone, too, just one in a string of casualties that signal the shift to working from home will leave a lasting, if not permanent, imprint on the downtown that Orlando has long tried to establish as a business and cultural hub.
› Tampa Bay area electronics company expands in Southwest with deal
Consumer electronics distributor Dow Electronics recently acquired AV Warehouse, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based audio-video warehouse. Terms of the acquisition weren’t disclosed. The acquisition brings Tampa-based Dow new customers and new vendors, according to a statement, and increases territory agreements with current Dow vendors to cover Arizona, New Mexico, Metro Las Vegas and more.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Central Florida Y, Heart of Florida United Way get ‘one-in-a-lifetime’ donations from MacKenzie Scott
Two Central Florida charities are getting what they call “once-in-a-lifetime” grants from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and the company’s first accountant. The Heart of Florida United Way and the YMCA of Central Florida acknowledged Friday they are among the 384 charities and institutions across the nation selected to receive a collective $4.2 billion in pandemic aid from Scott.
› Tropical shirt helps commemorate Venice history
The Venice Museum and Venice Heritage are now selling “Lost Buildings of Venice” tropical shirts. Venice Heritage commissioned a master Hawaiian print artist to design these shirts, which display lost architecture in the city. The shirt includes seven buildings in Venice and one in Nokomis: Venice Beach Casino, Ringling Circus Arena, Gulf Theatre, Hotel Villa Nokomis, Park View Hotel, Horse & Chaise, Venice-Nokomis Presbyterian Church Drive-In, and Venice-Nokomis Bank.
› Pinellas landlord forgives $100 in rent for every hour tenants volunteer for local charities
As the landlord of more than 500 affordable housing units occupied by low-income families, staffers at Contemporary Housing Alternatives of Florida has seen firsthand how the pandemic has hit working families. About 20 percent of its tenants are behind on rent because they have lost either work or hours since March. Many of them worked in the hospitality industry, including as cooks and food servers.
› JWB files plans for adaptive reuse of two Downtown Jacksonville buildings
Developer JWB Real Estate Capital filed civil engineering plans with the city Dec. 18 for review to redevelop the Federal Reserve Bank and Baptist Convention buildings at Hogan and Church streets. Those plans include renovating the two historic structures Downtown and installing underground utilities, clearing, grading and hardscape construction. Connelly & Wicker Inc. is the civil engineer.