January 2018 Archives
EDITORIALS
A bill long overdue, and likely DOA
January 31, 2018 | The St. Augustine Record
If you were looking for legislation this session that deserves to be passed by every ethical and moral standard — but won’t be — consider Senate Bill 874 and House Bill 191.
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State Senate shows concern for housing
January 31, 2018 | Herald-Tribune
Budget recommendations emerging in the Florida Legislature suggest the Senate wants to restore public trust in the state’s housing trust funds.
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Naples election, state session top week in government
January 29, 2018 | Naples Daily News
The campaign for three Naples City Council seats enters its final week and the Florida Legislature inches toward the halfway point of the 2018 session with House and Senate budgets now in hand to reconcile.
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House, Senate draw battle lines on state budget
January 26, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel
TALLAHASSEE – The House and Senate released initial budget plans Friday with more funding for K-12 schools, cuts to hospitals and major differences in spending on higher education and affordable housing.
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OUR VIEW: The dark side of housing surge
January 20, 2018 | Daytona Beach News-Journal
Far too many local workers must spend nearly half their earnings (or more) just to keep roofs over their heads.
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OUR VIEW: The dark side of housing surge
January 20, 2018 | Daytona Beach News-Journal
Far too many local workers must spend nearly half their earnings (or more) just to keep roofs over their heads.
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Protect housing trust funds
January 18, 2018 | Ocala Star Banner
From the “there shouldn’t have to be a law but history shows there is a need for one” file: A Republican state senator and a Democratic representative in the Florida House have filed legislation intended to prevent the Legislature and governor from raiding affordable-housing trust funds.
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Pass law to protect housing trust funds
January 18, 2018 | News-Journal Online
From the “there shouldn’t have to be a law but history shows there is a need for one” file: A Republican state senator and a Democratic representative in the Florida House have filed legislation intended to prevent the Legislature and governor from raiding affordable-housing trust funds.
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Pass law to protect housing trust funds
January 18, 2018 | Sarasota Herald-Tribune
From the “there shouldn’t have to be a law but history shows there is a need for one” file: A Republican state senator and a Democratic representative in the Florida House have filed legislation intended to prevent the Legislature and governor from raiding affordable-housing trust funds.
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A guide to a successful 2018 legislative session
January 7, 2018 | Naples Daily News
The Florida Legislature’s 2018 session begins Tuesday with a warehouse of bills from which to choose and an $87.4 billion budget proposed by Gov. Rick Scott to refine.
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As Florida legislators prepare to convene for their 2018 session, here are 10 of our policy priorities for them
Jan. 5, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel
Florida legislators will convene for their annual 60-day session against the backdrop of a pivotal election year. But politics are not a good excuse for senators and representatives to avoid the hard choices they must make to tackle the state’s biggest challenges. Here are 10 areas where we’re urging legislators to act — or in one case, hold the line against further incursions.
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The Keys need workforce housing for its economic survival
Jan. 2, 2018 | Miami Herald
If Monroe County doesn’t help build housing that restaurant servers, fast-food workers, hotel staffers and supermarket managers, to say nothing of cashiers can afford, it tourism-based foundation will crumble.
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OP-EDS & LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
End the historic sweep of critical affordable housing dollars | Opinion
January 30, 2018 | Sun Sentinel
For many of us, owning a home of our own is the American Dream. Historically, homeownership has been the path to economic security and upward mobility, particularly for low-income and minority families. The American Dream is being shattered, however, by rising home prices, low wages and broken promises by the Florida Legislature, which has failed to fully fund the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund.
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Opinion: Thanks For Helping Century In Tornado Recovery Efforts
Jan. 3, 2018 | NorthEscambia.com
As 2018 begins, it is time to reflect back on the past two years as the Town of Century’s disaster recovery is on its way to completion. As a result of the February 15, 2016, EF-3 tornado that whipped through parts of the town, it is time to thank all the players who have contributed to the recovery process.
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Affordable housing unattainable in Florida | Opinion
Jan. 2, 2017 | Sun Sentinel
Florida is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Unfortunately, our governor and state lawmakers are only making matters worse.
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NEWS ARTICLES
Legislators see preventing raid of housing trust funds as session priority
January 16, 2018 | Politico
TALLAHASSEE — As the need for affordable housing grows in the wake of Hurricane Irma, especially in the devastated Florida Keys, some lawmakers want to see an end to the practice of “sweeping” housing trust funds to boost other areas of the budget.
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Connect with the Chamber: Workforce housing, training top priorities for Chamber
January 16, 2018 | Naples Daily News
When Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session kicked off earlier this month, legislators made the trek to Tallahassee armed with a long to-do list.
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Rick Scott’s Puerto Rico roundtable reaches same concern as others: housing
Jan. 4, 2018 | Florida Politics
Having largely tackled many of the education and jobs challenges arising from the mass migration of Puerto Ricans seeking a place to live in Florida after Hurricane Maria largely shut down their lives on the island, state and local officials gathered in Orlando told Gov. Rick Scott that housing remains a major problem.
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Keys Housing
Jan. 4, 2018 | Miami Herald
Re Jan. 2 article “Keys legislator asks for millions toward hurricane housing.” It seems that State Rep. Holly Raschein wants the state Legislature to allocate funds toward purchasing property for affordable housing.
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Central Florida lawmakers are frustrated over the lack of housing as Puerto Rican evacuees arrive in Orlando daily
Jan. 3, 2018 | Orlando Weekly
No room for your kin.
More than 100 days after Hurricane Maria’s apocalyptic winds tore through Puerto Rico leaving floods, collapsed houses and bodies in its wake, the island remains shrouded in darkness.
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