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Tuesday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today
Florida Keys spiny lobster industry hit by housing crisis, labor shortage
Harvesting spiny lobster — also known as the rock lobster — is a big industry in the Keys, but folks can’t get crews to fully staff their boats. A silver lining on the labor issue is that while older fishers are getting out of the fishery, experts are seeing more younger fishers coming in. The possibility is in the cards that Keys lobster harvesters will have to compete with those in North Carolina. [Source: Florida Politics]
Florida has 3rd largest credit card debt increase in US, study says
As a state, Florida has the third largest amount of total credit card debt in the country, and had the third largest increase in the United States during the past three months. For the second fiscal quarter of 2022, Florida’s credit debt went up a collective $4.61 billion, according to a new debt study by WalletHub. California had the largest increase and retained the largest amount of debt in the second quarter, while Vermont had lowest debt total. Wyoming had the smallest increase in debt for the second quarter of 2022. [Source: WFLA]
As death toll passes 80,000, COVID-19 fades as election issue in Florida
The number of Floridians who have died of COVID-19 passed 80,000 this month, another tragic milestone amid the latest wave that’s still killing as many as 400 state residents a week. But as the race for governor enters its final stretch, the pandemic has barely played any role in the campaigns. “For most voters, it’s just not high on the priority list,” said Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. “If you ask voters, ‘What’s your top five issues?’ maybe you get number five, but it’s just not top-of-mind awareness. Many voters have moved past that issue. And they’re concerned about the economy and other things.” [Source: Orlando Sentinel]
‘Modernization,’ time needed to help more Florida families use WIC
The Sunshine State has used a federal program known as WIC, to help families in need, since 1974 but experts warn, the program has failed to keep up with modern technology and over 200,000 Floridians who qualify for the assistance offered by the program are not receiving the critical help they need. It’s a fully federally funded program, meaning 100% of the money that pays for WIC benefits come from federal tax dollars and budgets. Beneficiaries include pregnant mothers, infants, and children under 5-years-old. [Source: WFLA]
Florida legislators race to find Demotech alternative
A Florida legislative panel last week voted unanimously to find an alternative to the ratings agency Demotech – which originally planned to downgrade the ratings of some 17 insurers in the state. On Friday, the panel voted to spend $1.5 million on consultants to look for alternatives to Demotech. In July, Demotech raised the ire of politicians when it announced its plan to downgrade 17 insurance companies. The downgrade was ultimately postponed, but several insurers were still issued downgrades or had their ratings withdrawn. [Source: Insurance Business Magazine]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Tampa wrestles with affordable housing crunch in budget Tampa wrestles with affordable housing crunch in budget
Mayor Jane Castor, with the help of federal influx of cash, has budgeted $26.4 million for affordable housing in her proposed $1.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. But when staff ran that number by City Council members at the first budget hearing last week the reaction wasn’t favorable. Activists railed against a city leading the nation in rising housing costs dedicating comparatively little to help those struggling to keep a roof over their heads. And some council members started looking for more money in other parts of the budget — water and solid waste — to bolster the city’s housing efforts.
› Miami has three of the country’s best new restaurants, this national publication says
Miami’s restaurants have been getting a lot of national attention in the last year, and this time, it’s Bon Appétit lavishing praise. Three Miami restaurants landed on Bon Appétit’s list of 50 best new restaurants in the country, including a seasonal pop-up that is closed for expansion. The publication highlighted Los Félix in Coconut Grove, Paradis Books & Bread in North Miami and Sunny’s Steakhouse, a pop-up outdoor spot in Little River from the founders of downtown’s Jaguar Sun.
› Jacksonville's Sun-Ray 1 of just 7 remaining Florida drive-ins
If you want a front-row "seat" at the Sun-Ray Cinema drive-in theater, you'd better leave the pickup truck at home. The drive-in — yes, Jacksonville really has a drive-in movie theater — parks vehicles by size, so shorter passenger cars go up front, SUVs, vans and pickups farther back so everyone can see the screen.
› Lake County farmland vanishes as houses, industry move in
Raquel Martin knows first-hand the development pressures farmers face in Lake County. As vice president of Liner Source, an ornamental nursery with about 200 acres, she says some of the offers she’s received for her land have been “insane.” “It’s $100,000 an acre easy,” Martin, 36, said. “Big developers, big bucks.” Martin says she’s committed to her business, but the offers have been tempting in part because of an ongoing fight with her neighbors over housing for migrant workers.
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