| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Kierra Frazier | |  This aerial view, shows search and rescue personnel working on site after the partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, north of Miami Beach, on June 24, 2021. | Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images | | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Owning a condo has become a stressful, expensive mess for many Floridians. And it’s only getting worse. Older condo buildings face a deadline near the end of the year to have their structures inspected, under state regulations put in place following the partial building collapse in Surfside in 2021. If any safety issues are uncovered, residents have to pitch in to fix them — or decide it’s not worth the cost and try to sell, likely at a discount. Difficulties have been piling up, with reports of repair tabs running up six figures per unit or people learning their buildings are so unsafe that they have no choice but to just get out. Adding to the complications is that condos are becoming unsellable because buyers worry about the unpredictability of monthly fees or lenders won’t approve loans. It doesn’t end there. Climbing property insurance rates make monthly fees higher. Starting next year, buildings will also be required to stock up reserves so that they can afford future fixes. That’ll increase monthly fees even more. The question that often comes up now is whether the Legislature can or will do anything to help. Theoretically, lawmakers could take a look at the issue following the organizational session that’s scheduled for a couple of weeks after the general election, though it’s really a time intended to focus on swearing in members, electing officers and setting rules. Similar to what was done in 2010, lawmakers could gavel in for a special session right after if they wanted to address the issue before the new deadline. Florida Senate President-designate Ben Albritton told Playbook in a statement that he thought the regular session and committee weeks would be the right time to start having discussions, given that the issues would take time to sort out. He said the Surfside tragedy “shook me to my core” and that his “gut” as a father and grandfather was to prioritize safety over affordability. At the same time, he said he was open to ideas, acknowledging he’s heard the cost worries. House Speaker-designate Danny Perez told Playbook in a statement that there has been a “media fixation on a special session with form taking precedence over substance,” stressing that it was important to first understand what to do to balance both affordability and safety before talking about whether to consider changing the existing law. “I will never let a tragedy like Surfside happen again under my watch,” he added, saying he did not want lawmakers to try to take “the easy way out and just letting history repeat itself.” Republican state Rep. Viki Lopez, who’s become the Legislature's go-to condo expert, said one option could be for local governments to help out, like Miami-Dade County did through a loan program. She cited concerns about changing the deadline given that buildings across the state must be assessed to know if they’re safe. Much of the problem, she explained, was that the Legislature ignored regulations for so long. Buildings put off stocking up enough in reserves or making expensive fixes for decades — until the Chaplain Towers collapse killed 98 people and made it “almost as if the Legislature woke up.” Lopez wants to gather data to show legislative leaders what areas of the state are facing the biggest issues. But she said that most buildings have been putting off the structure inspections, despite the deadline. “Without the data I can’t decide how I can be helpful,” she said, echoing similar comments by Perez and Albritton about balancing cost and safety. Gov. Ron DeSantis last month said it was up to the Legislature to propose fixes to the condo laws, as POLITICO’s Gary Fineout reported, and that he’d be open to them coming up with a plan. In May, he said he had “no plans” to call a special session, when all the focus was on immigration. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget in the campaign reporting that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | | | DON’T MISS OUR AI & TECH SUMMIT: Join POLITICO’s AI & Tech Summit for exclusive interviews and conversations with senior tech leaders, lawmakers, officials and stakeholders about where the rising energy around global competition — and the sense of potential around AI and restoring American tech knowhow — is driving tech policy and investment. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | | 
Chef Mika Leon cooks cultivated chicken at a pop-up tasting for "lab-grown" meat produced by California-based UPSIDE Foods on June 27, 2024, in Miami. Florida's ban on "fake meat" went into effect days after this tasting. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP | NEW PUSH TO BLOCK THE BAN — “California company sues over Florida's 'fake meat' ban,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “UPSIDE Foods Inc. of Berkeley argued in its lawsuit, filed Monday in Tallahassee, that the law that was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 1 violates the U. S. Constitution. Paul Sherman — a senior attorney with the libertarian-leaning Institute for Justice, a nonprofit law firm that filed the lawsuit — told reporters on Tuesday that UPSIDE Foods soon will request a preliminary injunction so the company can offer lab-grown meat samples at a Miami Beach art festival later this year.” SOCIAL MEDIA RESTRICTIONS — “Florida officials say state’s social media law needs closer look by judge,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders. “Attorneys for the state, in a document filed Monday at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision requires a more-detailed analysis by a district judge about whether the law should be blocked. The state pushed back against tech-industry groups that contend briefs should be filed, at least initially, at the Atlanta-based appeals court.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ‘SIGNIFICANT ISSUES’ — “Visit Orlando bends rules in spending millions in public money: audit,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak. “A new audit of Visit Orlando, conducted at the urging of Orange County commissioners, found the destination marketing agency again failed to provide details of how it spends millions in public money, engaged in lobbying activities without county permission and did not follow rules as it promised five years ago, according to a memo issued Monday by Comptroller Phil Diamond.” START OVER — “'New leadership is essential': FAMU interim president Beard asks for resignations,” reports Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat. “Florida A&M University interim President Timothy Beard has asked for the immediate resignations of his entire senior leadership team, effective Tuesday. And one administrator is already out the door, according to an email obtained by the Tallahassee Democrat.” TENURE REQUIREMENTS — “USF faculty say morale has 'dropped significantly' after new state law,” reports Nancy Guan of WUSF. “Faculty across the state are feeling the fallout of a law passed last year that, according to opponents, gutted tenure protections and undermines academic freedom. Professors who earn tenure, gain a certain level of job protection. But under the new law, they must undergo more frequent evaluations that are signed off by the university president without the opportunity to appeal through arbitration.” FORMING A UNION — “Brightline workers to unionize, saying the company provides no help for trauma from crashes,” by Palm Beach Post’s Chris Persaud. “Brightline's ‘indifference’ to workers traumatized by fatal train crashes coupled with a ‘draconian’ policy that forces employees to come to work sick have pushed its train attendants say they intend to unionize, one of the nation's biggest transport unions said in an announcement on X.” NEW TRAIN STATION — “Stuart OKs land lease with Brightline, moves closer to bringing train station to the city,” reports Treasure Coast Newspapers Keith Burbank. “City commissioners unanimously approved — with Commissioner Christopher Collins absent — a land lease with Brightline for the previously announced train station on Southeast Flagler Avenue. The lease is conditional upon approval by the Martin County Commission, which may consider it Aug. 27… Construction on the station is expected to begin in the spring, and the station could open in early 2027, according to the latest estimates.” GETTING TO CLASS — “Metal detectors have a smoother second day in Broward schools,” reports South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Scott Travis. “Witnesses said they were told the sensitivity settings were reduced so that they didn’t set off as many metal objects. There were reports Monday that a student’s eyelash curler set the devices off. There were also more security monitors out on school campuses letting students know how to keep the lines moving quickly, parents and school officials said.”
| | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | FLASHBACKS — “As Puerto Ricans wait for Ernesto, memories of Hurricane Maria are present in storm prep,” reports the Miami Herald’s Syra Ortiz Blanes. “Puerto Rico was under a tropical storm warning Tuesday ahead of Ernesto’s arrival during the early morning hours Wednesday, while its island municipalities of Vieques and Culebra off the eastern coast were under a hurricane watch. Over the last couple of days, government officials have emphasized the urgency in preparing for Ernesto and the rest of this year’s Atlantic storm season, which is approaching its peak.”
| | DATELINE D.C. | | | | 
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol Aug. 1, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images | TODAY — Incumbent GOP Sen. Rick Scott is holding a get out the vote event in Naples. On Monday the senator contributed $725,000 of his own money to his campaign, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission. ALSO TODAY — “Matt Gaetz to embark on 5-day Panhandle campaign tour,” per Florida Politics’ Robert Haughn. He’ll be joined by various House colleagues from different states. BY THE NUMBERS — With less one week to go before the Aug. 20 primary, nearly 1.2 million voters have already cast ballots according to data compiled by the Division of Elections. More than 971,000 voters have mailed in their ballots so far while more than 224,000 voters have voted early in-person. Democrats have a slight edge in mail-in voting over Republicans, while GOP voters are dominating early voting. The latest numbers show that more than 412,000 Democrats mailed in their ballots compared to more than 406,000 Republicans. About 140,000 voters with no party affiliation have also voted by mail. But more than 141,000 GOP voters cast their ballot in person at an early voting location compared to nearly 66,000 Democrats. During the 2022 primary election, 1.74 million voters sent in mail-in ballots and nearly 614,000 people voted early. — Gary Fineout NOW A 2-WAY PRIMARY — “GOP congressional candidate Babits suspends campaign, endorses Hearton over Haridopolos,” reports Dave Berman of Florida Today. “Republican congressional candidate Joe Babits announced Monday evening that he is suspending his campaign, and is endorsing another GOP candidate, John Hearton, in the race for the District 8 seat. Babits and Hearton are running against Mike Haridopolis in the Aug. 20 Republican primary. The seat now is held by Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, who isn't seeking a ninth two-year term.” He’ll remain on the ballot. — “Trump endorsing Florida marijuana legalization initiative would ‘guarantee victory,’ top ally Roger Stone says,” reports Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger. BULKING UP — Florida Future Leaders PAC, which funds the Florida College Democrats and Florida High School Democrats, just created an advisory board that includes Democratic state Sens. Tina Polsky and Lori Berman, state Rep. Marie Woodson and former state Sen. Annette Taddeo. AHEAD OF PRIMARY — “Jesse Jackson endorses Stanley Campbell’s underdog Senate campaign,” reports Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles. “A week ahead of a Democratic Primary, Stanley Campbell landed the endorsement of a major civil rights leader. Rev. Jesse Jackson is endorsing the Liberty City Democrat for U.S. Senate over former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Jackson in a letter recounted a 40-year personal history with Campbell that dates back to the Navy veteran flying the Rainbow PUSH Coalition founder to events with the late John Lewis.” — “Trident Analysis: Two million Florida voters are being disenfranchised by write-in, ghost candidates,” reports Florida Trident’s Valerie Crowder. 10 CANDIDATES, THREE SEATS — “DeSantis appointment, safety, special education big topics in Osceola school board races,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Lauren Brensel. “Ten candidates are vying for three seats on the Osceola County School Board, among them parents, teachers, a school administrator — and one candidate appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fill the last few months of an open seat. In all three races, a candidate must earn more than 50 percent of the vote in August to win the election. If no one does, the top two vote getters face off in November.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | TODAY — Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) is holding a gas price drop event in Ocala with Americans for Prosperity — Florida, which is part of the Koch-backed network of conservative organizations. They’ll be dropping the price of gas at Marathon stations to $1 per gallon and talking about “the failures of ‘Bidenomics.’” The group held a similar event with GOP Rep. Daniel Webster on Monday and will hold other events with GOP Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart and Neal Dunn later this week. — “The US and Cuba are at an impasse over expanding relations,” reports POLITICO’s Eric Bazail-Eimil.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | SHOW BUSINESS — “‘Bad Monkey,’ bad deer, bad weather: The fun of filming in Florida,” reports The New York Times’ Alexis Soloski. “Not a lot of shows shoot in Florida — blame the lack of film infrastructure; blame the absence of tax breaks; blame the deer and the gnats and the 99 percent humidity. Even shows set in the state will typically shoot in North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana or, as in the case of [Bill] Lawrence’s Florida-centric comedy ‘Cougar Town,’ Los Angeles. This is understandable. When you film in Culver City, you rarely need to hire armed alligator wranglers.” BIRTHDAYS: Tim Tebow ... Martin J. Sweet, author and professor ... Sean Miles, principal at the Mayfair Group and a Rick Scott alum. | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
