Welcoming in a New Year

Happy New Year and welcome to 2024.

It seems like just yesterday that I was sitting down to write my column for the January 2023 issue of FLORIDA TREND. Boy oh boy, time continues to pass by at an unbelievable pace. We move in so many directions that sometimes it is hard to see and analyze all that is happening in the world around us, especially right in our own backyard.

The January issue is our annual Economic Outlook edition (p. 54), which allows us to take a step back — or should I say a step forward — to hear from some of Florida’s leading professionals. Their insights and perspectives on the year ahead are enlightening and will surely provide credence to what we can expect in the months ahead.

As Florida has experienced much economic success in the past years, that growth also brought with it challenges. This month’s issue includes our 2024 Legislative Preview in which FLORIDA TREND Associate Editors Mike Brassfield and Michael Fechter, along with South Florida Editor Mike Vogel, take a close look at the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in Florida. These are the 2.7 million Floridian households that are earning above the poverty level but are still struggling to pay for housing, insurance, food and other necessities. As the new legislative session begins in January, we will see if advocates and lawmakers can come together to help provide solutions for these hard-working and critically important employees throughout our state.

I don’t believe there is one of us out there who has not been touched in some way by someone we know who has been diagnosed with cancer. Our Economic Backbone section, starting on page 14, focuses squarely on the topic of cancer care. In the section, we share state-of-the-art treatments and new research that is being done across the field and whole mind-body therapies to help patients’ quality of life. We look into early detection and warning systems to catch cancer at earlier stages or eliminate risks that can come with occupational hazards. The section concludes with our list of cancer centers in Florida.

You will also find in the pages of this month’s FLORIDA TREND our special custom content section focused on Leadership Insights from some of Florida’s top transportation executives. As Florida’s population continues to grow — nearing 23 million individuals — and new daily inbound Floridians averaging 841, according to state estimates, we need to ensure our transportation infrastructure, hubs and centers are running at optimal performance. The section covers Florida’s airports, railways, highways, seaports and more as Florida’s growing transportation sector links the state to the region and the world, creating jobs and driving billions of dollars in economic impact.

As we lean into 2024 — from all of us here at FLORIDA TREND, we wish you all the best and much success in the New Year!

— David G. Denor, Publisher ddenor@floridatrend.com

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