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Thursday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Report blames attorney fees for state’s property insurance woes
A new report bears out what many observers, professional and otherwise, have been saying for years: The reason Florida taxpayers pay so much for property insurance is attorney fees. According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida homeowners pay, on average, $4,231 in premiums. That’s three times what the average is in the U.S. — $1,544. The report blames the attorney fee structure as the cause. [Source: Business Observer]
Florida Trend Exclusive
Florida Icon: Alicia Cervera
The founder and chair of Cervera Real Estate — known as “the Queen of Brickell” — tells us: "When I arrived in Miami, we came through Mexico. One of the things we did to start our new life is my husband asked for us to be in first-class seats. He said our privileged life was over, but he wanted to arrive in the United States in a very good way. We had caviar and champagne on the plane — and I didn’t have caviar and champagne for many years after that. We arrived penniless." [Source: Florida Trend]
As temperatures rise, industries fight heat safeguards for workers
A heat illness prevention bill has failed three times in Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature in recent years. This year, supporters were feeling hopeful after a Republican state senator from Miami-Dade County agreed to sponsor the legislation, giving it bipartisan credibility. Florida lawmakers have previously supported heat safety legislation. But when asked to extend protections to the state’s outdoor workers, many of whom are Latino immigrants from Central and South America, they let the bill die in committee.[Source: Washington Post]
Florida, other states target mask requirement
State Attorney General Ashley Moody and other Republican politicians from across the country urged an appeals court this week to uphold a Florida federal judge’s ruling that blocked a mask requirement on airplanes and in other transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moody’s office, taking the lead in a brief filed by officials from 23 states, described the mask requirement as “overreach” by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Source: News Service of Florida]
Not your mom’s Tupperware: Company steps up online to offer more than plastic containers
The coronavirus pandemic prodded members of Tupperware’s independent sales force into hosting online parties, but the shift took place around the same time Tupperware Brands, which is based in Osceola County, changed things up in a turnaround from years of declining sales. “We reinvented the food storage category more than 75 years ago, and we’re on a journey now to reinvent the Tupperware of tomorrow,” said Cameron Klaus, Tupperware’s vice president of global communications and public relations. [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Clearwater’s MarineMax buys Florida marina firm in blockbuster $480M deal
In one of the largest deals in its history, Clearwater boat retail company MarineMax has agreed to acquire a Fort Lauderdale marina company for $480 million in cash. The acquisition of IGY Marinas, which owns and operates 23 marinas around the world — including St. Petersburg’s Maximo Marina — would expand MarineMax’s global reach at a time when its revenues are higher than ever.
› School starting earlier this year in St. Johns County and that impacts tourism
If you feel like summer was short-lived, there's a good reason for that. School is starting early in some counties and St. Johns County is one of them. School in St. Johns County starts Aug. 10. Last year the start date was Aug. 16 and in 2020 it was moved to Aug. 31. In a county and state that thrives on tourism, school start dates are a big deal.
› Orlando Boat Show floats into Central Florida this weekend
Boaters of all backgrounds and interests will congregate at the Orange County Convention Center this weekend as the Orlando Boat Show floats into Central Florida once again. Experienced and prospective watercraft enthusiasts can browse a selection of 400 boats from more than 80 manufacturers at the event Aug. 12-14.
› Unique Greater Miami Chamber health plan aims to go statewide
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce small business health insurance, Greater Health Trust, has been so far successful though it had a delayed start. The insurance covers businesses with five to 50 employees. Greater Health Trust plans to expand across South Florida eventually.
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