Tampa Bay Rays reach deal for new $1.3B stadium in St. Petersburg & Florida's 6-week abortion ban awaits Supreme Court ruling
September 22, 2023 — This Week's Top Stories in Florida
Welcome to this week’s edition of Floridian Today, a newsletter about all things Florida — from politics, business, real estate, and climate. Reporting from the Sunshine State, these are the most important stories you need to know. To never miss an update, subscribe here:
Here’s the latest from Florida…
‘Here to Stay:’ Tampa Bay Rays reach deal for a new $1.3B stadium in St. Petersburg
A resounding message echoed throughout St. Petersburg this week as the Tampa Bay Rays made a historic announcement that the team will remain in the city, ending a decade-and-a-half of fraught discussions and unsuccessful negotiations on relocating the 25-year-old baseball club. The Rays have reached an agreement with the city of St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to construct a state-of-the-art, $1.3 billion ballpark within the 86-acre Historic Gas Plant District, the downtown area which surrounds the team’s current home at Tropicana Field and will undergo redevelopment. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the Rays’ quest to secure a long-term home. The proposed 30,000-seat fixed-roof stadium, scheduled for completion in 2028, features an innovative “pavilion” design with operable walls and windows, offering fans a more immersive experience. The climate-controlled stadium will feature three seating levels, as well as a variety of other seating options, including premium clubs and suites, and more flexible areas such as decks and social gathering areas. The Rays, alongside the city and county, will contribute to the funding, underlining their commitment to the Tampa Bay area. The share financed from taxpayers will be approximately $600 million, with the team responsible for the remaining sum and any cost overruns. According to St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, the city’s $300 million portion will be paid through “bonding” multiple revenue streams without “any new taxes or any increase in current taxes” or leveraging property tax revenue. The county is anticipated to pay its share through its 6% tourist development tax on accommodations such as hotels and short-term rentals that can used for economic development or tourism-related investments. Although the project must clear the public approval process by the St. Petersburg City Council and the Pinellas County Commission, which is expected to be completed in early 2024, this development brings the Rays closer to a permanent residence, dispelling long-running rumors of relocation. According to team president Matt Silverman, the $700+ million commitment to this project expresses the generational “confidence” of the Rays being a part of the renewal of downtown St. Petersburg and is an investment in the future of the city. The Historic Gas Plant District will be home to the new ballpark and will be the beneficiary of a proposed $6.5 billion mixed-use redevelopment over the next 20 years, bringing housing, office and retail space, medical space, hotel rooms, senior living apartments, an entertainment venue, conference grounds, and the Woodson African American Museum of Florida to the area. Under the agreement, the Rays will operate on a 30-year lease agreement from the city, with a 40-year extension option. Once final approval is secured and if the plan moves forward smoothly, construction would begin in late 2024 and be completed by late 2027, following the expiration of the team’s current 30-year lease with Tropicana Field, which ends at the conclusion of the 2027 season. The organization anticipates the new ballpark, combined with the district's revitalization, will boost attendance and ensure a bright future for generations in St. Petersburg.
Florida’s six-week abortion ban awaits decision by the Supreme Court
The Florida Supreme Court has heard oral arguments in the state's 15-week abortion ban, a case that could set a significant precedent over when expectant mothers can terminate their pregnancy. Justices probed lawyers from Planned Parenthood and the state of Florida for over an hour earlier this month, raising questions about whether they should uphold or overturn decades of legal precedent on the 15-week abortion ban based on the Florida Constitution's right to privacy. The state Constitution’s right to privacy clause reads, “every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life except as otherwise provided herein.” In 1980, voters approved this language which is at the center of the case, and in 1989, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the privacy clause protected the right to get an abortion. Fast-forward to 2023, Florida Solicitor General Henry Whitaker argued before the Court that the right to privacy protected data and information, not lived experiences like abortion. Some justices challenged this interpretation, noting that the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in Roe v. Wade was based on the right to privacy, and altering that long-standing precedent would have ramifications in other legal cases beyond abortion.
The Court’s decision on the 15-week ban, challenged by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, could determine the fate of Florida's more extreme six-week abortion ban that awaits this highly-anticipated ruling. The six-week ban was passed by state lawmakers during the past Legislative Session and signed by Gov. DeSantis in April. If the Supreme Court rules against the 15-week ban, the six-week law will be nullified, and if they rule otherwise, the six-week ban will take effect within 30 days of that decision. The case involves deeply held beliefs, and anti-abortion supporters outnumbered opponents in the courtroom, including several justices who have previously voiced their pro-life beliefs. Justice Charles Canady is a former Republican state lawmaker who backed anti-abortion legislation during his tenure, and his wife, Jennifer Canady, serves in the Florida House and sponsored the six-week abortion ban. Before the 15-week bill was passed last year, state law permitted abortions until 24 weeks, with exceptions for medical necessity. The Court's decision may take months, leaving the contentious issue to hang in the balance as Floridians eagerly wait for a resolution.
After Hurricane Idalia, Florida’s waterways remain polluted
Hurricane Idalia's impact on Florida went beyond the immediate destruction, with widespread pollution affecting the state's waterways. Heavy rains, strong winds, and storm surge resulted in sewage leaks, chemical dumps, and fuel spills in the Tampa Bay area and along the Gulf Coast. An estimated 26,000 gallons of wastewater, predominately raw sewage, were reported to have leaked into waterways due to flooding. In Tampa Bay and nearby rivers, boats were toppled, resulting in gasoline spilling into the water while flooding was directly responsible for a kerosene leak at a St. Petersburg mobile home park. Following major hurricanes, waterways often collect sewage, fuel, chemicals, and other pollutants that are leaked or spilled over as a result of flooding-induced storm surge. This can lead to red tide blooms as untreated nitrogen-containing sewage mixes with other contaminants and makes its way into waterways that lead to the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic. High concentrations of wastewater or gasoline in an area can cause in fish kills or the death of marine life. Fortunately, the extent of the environmental damage appears less severe than previous hurricanes, such as Ian last year, which sent over 17 million gallons of wastewater into Manatee County waterways alone. But the consequences of polluted waterways from Idalia remain of concern. Punta Gorda was ground zero, with heavy rainfall from Idalia causing the hydraulics at one of the city’s wastewater treatment plants to fail. This failure sent up to 20,000 gallons of wastewater to spill out in the surrounding area, including down a pipe that empties into Peace River, which leads to the Gulf. At the same time, another 6,000 gallons spilled in Punta Gorda when a sewer line broke while the area was flooded. Crystal River was inundated with floodwaters that eventually reached a sewer station, mixing with sewage, and when the storm surge receded, up to 10,000 gallons of contaminated water escaped. Recovery efforts are ongoing, but it may take months to completely assess the environmental impact of Hurricane Idalia.
State immigration law threatens agricultural labor shortages
South Florida's agricultural industry, which heavily relies on migrant labor and faces challenges in finding domestic workers, is concerned that a new state immigration law may worsen labor shortages as the planting season begins. Some smaller farmers are planning to limit the amount of crops they plant in anticipation of a reduced workforce. The law, known as SB1718, took effect on July 1, and it cracks down on undocumented labor and imposes various immigration-related restrictions. One of these new provisions includes requiring private businesses with 25 or more employees to use E-verify to ensure new hires can legally work in the country. Employers who fail to comply or repeatedly violate this provision could face daily fines of $1,000 or business license suspensions. Growers, immigrant workers, and farmworker advocates fear that the law will chase seasonal and migrant workers from Florida and keep them from returning, leading to labor shortages during the critical harvest seasons. Implications of SB1718 could lead to increased reliance on temporary foreign workers through the federal H-2A program for agriculture, which aims to resolve labor shortages affecting farms. Florida already had the highest concentration of certified H-2A positions in the last fiscal year. In Miami-Dade, small, family-owned farms dominate and are likely to face the greatest impact from the state’s immigration law as 86.7% of the county’s agricultural industry utilizes immigrant labor. This includes year-round and seasonal workers as well as those who spend time in other industries such as construction or hospitality. The lack of affordable housing and high living costs in South Florida have also negatively impacted the labor supply.
Nearly half of university faculty plan to seek employment outside of Florida, per survey
A survey conducted among over 4,250 faculty members across four states, including Florida, has revealed worries about political intervention within higher education and a widespread desire among faculty to seek new employment opportunities outside the state. Almost half of the 642 participants in Florida, or about 46%, expressed their intent to seek employment opportunities in different states within the next year. This survey, administered by faculty organizations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas, underscored the growing trend of faculty contemplating departure from their respective states following the passage of legislation that curtailed tenure, dismantled diversity initiatives, and targeted well-established academic practices. This has statewide faculty unions concerned about the overall trend of a “brain drain” as college and university instructors, stifled by the lack of academic freedom, look to other states for employment. Overall, 31% of respondents from the four states indicated they were actively considering job interviews in other states this year. The top reasons for the faculty's desire to relocate included concerns about academic freedom, compensation, tenure, and diversity programs. About 85% of Florida faculty members said they would not recommend a graduate student or faculty from another state to come to the Sunshine State, with 95% characterizing the higher education political climate as “poor” or “very poor.” Leading destinations being sought by respondents in Florida, Georgia, and Texas, include California, New York, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.
Florida College System temporarily suspends political ideology surveys
The Florida College System has temporarily suspended its controversial statewide “intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity” surveys, mandated under a 2021 law, that required public colleges and universities to annually assess political bias in classrooms. The surveys, which faced widespread criticism, are on hold for 2023 and will be distributed again in the spring. The surveys were part of an effort by Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis and lawmakers to address perceived anti-conservative sentiment on campuses by ordering mandatory surveys of the state’s 2 million college and university students, faculty, and staff. The law specified that the results of the surveys were to be published each year on September 1 of every year. Officials said the reason for the temporary suspension was a new law that revised the annual reporting deadline to December 31, but the new deadline doesn’t take effect until 2024 and the law didn’t excuse reporting requirements for 2023. The annual political surveys were included as part of a law that followed concerns from Gov. DeSantis and Republican lawmakers of student “indoctrination” at public universities, which are a frequent target of criticism for spreading liberal ideology. The Legislature later passed laws to exclude certain subjects from being taught from certain courses, prohibited funds from being spent on diversity programs, and established reviews for tenured professors in certain instances. Critics argued that the surveys were inappropriate and intended to intimidate staff and faculty from expressing political opinions that may differ from the governor's own views. There is no legal requirement for students or faculty to complete the surveys, and the labor union representing professors urged them to ignore the surveys. Just 1% of over 1.7 million students filled out the surveys and about 10% of nearly 120,000 university and college faculty and staff responded. A legal challenge filed in federal court against the surveys on constitutional grounds was dismissed for a lack of standing.
Over 120,000 new students received school vouchers under expanded program
In response to calls for transparency regarding Florida's universal school voucher program, Step Up for Students, an organization overseeing the majority of scholarships, provided data on the program. A coalition of more than 30 research and advocacy organizations, led by the Florida Policy Institute (FPI), has urged the organization to provide more transparency about the expanded school voucher program, which began offering vouchers for private or charter schools to all school-age children on July 1. According to Step Up for Students, out of the 122,895 students enrolled in the program for the first time, 69% were already attending private schools and 13% came from public schools. Furthermore, 27% of these new students came from households earning $120,000 or more annually for a family of four or did not disclose their income. About 29% of voucher students are from four-person households making between $55,000 to $120,000, and another 44% are from families making below $55,000. There are 242,929 total students enrolled in the taxpayer-funded universal school voucher program, each receiving approximately $8,000, which the Florida Policy Insitute estimates will cost the state $4.2 billion. The demand for transparency comes in response to a law passed this year by lawmakers that made the state-funded scholarships available to all school-age children, regardless of income. Step Up for Students said that voucher program enrollments are “trending below” projected numbers and it is unlikely the organization will need to dip into additional reserve funds lawmakers had set aside in the event costs rose above the program’s budget. The budget projected that 261,324 students would receive vouchers, with another 93,357 students expected to enroll in the program specifically for students with special needs. Step Up for Students disputed FPI’s program estimate of $4.2 billion, noting that the total value of all scholarships will add up to $2.8 billion if all current students remain enrolled – about $1.4 billion below their projections. The released data follows reports that the state-funded vouchers could be used for expenses beyond education, such as purchasing TVs, theme park tickets, and trampolines, which we covered last week.
Lawmaker proposes electric vehicle fee to recoup lost gas tax revenue
Republican Senator Ed Hooper, representing Tampa Bay, has introduced a bill that proposes an annual registration fee for electric vehicle (EV) owners. This new fee is intended to compensate for the lost gas tax revenue in the state which funds road and bridge construction and maintenance programs. Under the bill, known as SB 28, EV owners would pay an annual registration fee of $200, in addition to regular registration fees. Starting in 2029, this fee would increase to $250 annually. Plug-in hybrid owners would also be subject to a $50 annual fee. The bill is set for consideration during the 2024 Legislative Session, which begins on January 9. A similar measure was unanimously approved by the Senate during the 2023 session but was not taken up by the House. Florida currently relies on gas tax revenues to fund transportation infrastructure projects. However, the increasing use of electric vehicles could result in a drop in motor-fuel-based revenue streams up to 20% by 2040, per a prior Senate staff analysis. Currently, 31 states have some form of registration fee for electric vehicles in place.
Florida leads the nation in solar installations
Florida has emerged as the leading state for solar energy installations in 2023, outpacing California and Texas. According to the Solar Market Insight report from Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association, Florida added 2,499 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in the first half of the year, surpassing California's 1,648 MW and Texas's 1,292 MW. This surge in solar installations during the first six months of 2023 exceeded the entire annual installation capacity of the state in previous years. The report also projects a record 32 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity for the entire United States in 2023, marking a 52% increase over 2022. Florida's growth in solar capacity was attributed to eased supply chain challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic, supportive incentives, and expanding domestic manufacturing investments. Utility-scale solar projects this year contributed significantly to Florida's solar expansion, with Florida Power & Light and Duke Energy leading the way by increasing capacity at 1,769 MW and 389 MW, respectively. However, residential solar capacity in the Sunshine State experienced significant growth, with 332 MW added during the first half of the year – the second-most in the U.S. Since June 2021, the number of Florida customers in a net metering agreement with utility providers has more than doubled in the subsequent two years at 182,239 total customers, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Hillsborough County Schools approve $4.4B budget
The board for Hillsborough County Schools, the third largest school district in the state and seventh largest in the U.S., has approved a $4.4 billion budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The budget is a slight increase from last year’s total spending plan of $4.3 billion despite the school board approving a lowered tax rate due to rising property values. The budget includes $1.7 billion for instruction and an anticipated reserve balance of $336 million in its general fund. Despite rising costs in healthcare, utilities, and state pension contributions, the district expects to maintain a 19% reserve balance by the end of the coming year. This budget approval comes as the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association negotiates for raises, requesting an additional $100 million annually in compensation, with starting teacher salaries at $50,000 and a maximum of $80,000 after 25 years. The district has proposed a salary schedule starting at $47,500 with a cap of $70,750. The budgetary impact of Florida students pursuing homeschooling and private school through the state’s newly expanded voucher program this year remains uncertain as Hillsborough officials brace for losses.
University of Florida ranks No. 1 among public universities
The University of Florida (UF) has claimed the top spot among U.S. public universities, ranking No. 1 in the Wall Street Journal's 2024 rankings of public schools. Among the nation’s public and private schools evaluated by The Journal, the Gainesville institution ranked 15th overall in the rankings. This recognition follows UF's continued status as a top-five public university in the annual U.S. News & World Report ranking last year. Florida International University (FIU) secured the fourth position among public universities and 29th overall, while Florida State University (FSU) ranked 35th among public universities and 102nd overall. The University of Miami, a private institution, held the 90th spot in the overall rankings. The evaluation criteria primarily weighed student outcomes, which included graduation rates, time taken to repay degree costs, and post-graduation salaries compared to peer institutions. Learning environment and diversity were also factors in the rankings. The top three schools in the Wall Street Journal’s overall rankings were all private schools – Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Yale University.
Tampa’s changing skyline continues
The evolving skyline of Tampa will look much different in the next decade as the metro area continues to be among the hottest destinations for new residents in the U.S., with growth outpacing most major cities. The city’s downtown area is the focal point of development and multiple residential high-rise projects are on the horizon to transform the zone from its reputation as a business district to mixed-use. The growth has been long-awaited, and at least ten projects are planned, each stretching 27 stories or more and poised to add thousands of residential units to Tampa's evolving city center. What sets these projects apart is their residential focus, as the four tallest buildings in Florida’s third-largest city primarily cater to office spaces. The aim is to create a vibrant downtown district that remains active for extended hours each day, bringing to life the "live, work, play" vision championed by former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. Several ambitious projects are underway, such as the One Tampa, a 42-story, 225-unit condominium complex set to be completed by 2026, and the X Tampa, a 28-story apartment complex that will feature 432 units. Additionally, the 31-story Arts and Entertainment Residences will bring 332 apartments downtown and is expected to welcome tenants next year. One of the most anticipated developments is a proposed 48-story, 575-foot mixed-use project at 102 S. Parker St. by the Miami-based Related Group. If realized, it would become one of the tallest buildings in Tampa and the tallest west of the Hillsborough River. However, the quest by developers to reshape the city’s skyline won’t be without challenges which will include clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration, financial hurdles due to higher interest rates and recession concerns, delays caused by supply chain issues and labor shortages, possible litigation, and the bureaucratic permitting process. The growth of residential options is considered a positive sign for Tampa as the city continues to evolve, but infrastructure and transportation changes may be necessary to accommodate an influx of apartment dwellers in the core. A more livable, walkable, and vibrant city center is the end goal, similar to neighboring St. Petersburg, and city leaders are optimistic that will be achieved in the coming decade.
Miami Beach’s iconic Clevelander Hotel to become affordable housing apartments
The owner of the landmark Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach has unveiled plans to replace the South Beach destination with a combination of a high-end restaurant and affordable housing units. The redevelopment proposal, to be submitted to the city of Miami Beach, outlines a project that includes 40% of the units designated as affordable housing, with a maximum building height of 30 stories. The Jesta Group, owner of the Clevelander Hotel, intends to undertake this project, taking advantage of Florida's new Live Local Act, which is designed to increase the availability of affordable housing opportunities by incentivizing such development. In recent years, Miami Beach and much of Florida have experienced significant rent increases, making affordable housing an increasingly pressing issue. The proposed development will preserve the historic Art Deco facades of the existing structures.
USF gets approval for $340M stadium
The University of South Florida (USF) has received approval from the State University System Board of Governors to borrow up to $200 million for its proposed $340 million on-campus football stadium. The unanimous approval clears an important hurdle for USF to fund the 35,000-seat stadium, which is estimated to open in 2026. The project will also be financed through donations, the students' capital improvement trust fund, and other university sources. The expected interest rate on borrowing has risen to 7%, but USF's income projections are expected to cover the increase. The stadium is seen as essential for the Bulls’ future in conference realignment and enhancing student life on campus. The Board of Governors' sign-off on debt financing follows a $25 million contribution from Tampa General Hospital for an athletics operations center that will be adjacent to the future stadium. USF's trustees will approve the final cost next year as the project moves through the design phase.
Thanks for reading this edition of Floridian Today. To never miss an update, subscribe for free:
In the meantime, if you learned something or found this read interesting, please consider sharing it to grow our community!