March 2018 Archives

EDITORIALS


Florida has major problems with affordable housing

March 20, 2018 | Times- Union

Florida has long had a problem with affordable housing.

The private market cannot support housing for many people around the poverty line. As a result, Florida has a large number of people paying about half their income to rent. You can’t survive that way.
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Kudos & Kicks for the 2018 Florida legislative session

March 17, 2018 | Naples Daily News

The 2018 legislative session concluded a week ago. Here are some Kudos & Kicks for Florida lawmakers.
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Revisiting our top 10 priorities for the 2018 legislative session

March 16, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel

Ten weeks ago, when we presented our top 10 priorities for the Florida Legislature’s 2018 session, we didn’t foresee that a single catastrophic event — the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland — would vault another issue to the top of the list. Today we grade lawmakers’ actions on that issue and the other 10 from our legislative preview.
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OP-EDS & LETTERS TO THE EDITOR


Commentary: Fanmail for the wicked and warped

March 31, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel

100 of Central Florida’s most influential people weigh in on current events. Read their thoughts on the biggest stories of the week and see what they think will make headlines next week.
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NEWS ARTICLES


Orlando se acerca a la cima de la lista de lugares con menos alquileres asequibles

March 27, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel

Metro Orlando recientemente ocupó el tercer puesto a nivel nacional por su escasez de alquileres que son lo suficientemente asequibles para los residentes de más bajos ingresos, según muestra un nuevo estudio.
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Orlando near top for lack of affordable rentals

March 27, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel

Metro Orlando recently ranked third nationally for its shortage of rentals that are affordable enough for the region’s lowest-income residents, a new study shows.
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Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz pledges support for social justice group’s homeless-family initiative

March 14, 2018 | News Chief

LAKELAND – Fourteen hundred church congregants cheered when Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz said he would meet their demands to develop housing for homeless children and families in Polk County.
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INTERSECTION: THE SADOWSKI TRUST AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

March 13, 2018 | 90.7 WMFE

Every year since 1992, Florida has set aside money for affordable housing. Now the state is facing an affordable housing crisis, made worse by the impacts of hurricanes Irma and Maria. But this year lawmakers allocated most of the money in the housing trust fund to other projects.

Jaimie Ross, CEO of the Florida Housing Coalition, joins Intersection, to explain how the Sadowski trust fund works
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7 Six months after Hurricane Irma, Florida Keys residents still scrambling for affordable housing

March 9, 2018 | TC Palm

KEY WEST – After Hurricane Irma tore through the Florida Keys, T.J. Reynolds was told he had to leave the house he was renting because of damage from the storm.
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Florida budget is getting bipartisan support

March 9, 2018 | The Ledger

TALLAHASSEE — There was broad, bipartisan support Friday for the election-year spending plan produced by state lawmakers.

The Florida Legislature debated the proposed 2018-19 budget in advance of a Sunday vote.
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State budget headed for vote

March 8, 2018 | Herald- Tribune

Package totals $88.7 billion, includes $400 million for school safety, mental health.
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Hurricane housing programs axed from budget

March 4, 2018 | Florida Politics

State funding is absent for affordable housing programs tailored to those affected by last year’s hurricanes.
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Parkland shooting response siphons state funding from tax cuts, housing

March 1, 2018 | Orlando Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers writing the state budget wanted at least $180 million in tax cuts and plenty of funding for affordable housing and the opioid crisis.
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Affordable housing issues likely headed to budget chairs

March 1, 2018 | Florida Politics

The House and Senate in negotiations have seemingly agreed on funding for job and tourism incentives — but still are significantly apart on spends for hurricane-related affordable housing programs that are now expected to be ironed out by budget chairs Rep. Carlos Trujillo and Sen. Rob Bradley.
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