Florida in Five: Vote.
Five stories to read from the past week in Florida politics.
This is Seeking Rents, a newsletter and podcast devoted to producing original journalism — and lifting up the work of others — about Florida politics, with an emphasis on the ways that big businesses and other special interests influence public policy in the state. Seeking Rents is produced by veteran investigative journalist Jason Garcia, and it is free to all. But please consider a voluntary paid subscription, if you can afford one, to help support our work. And check out our video channel, too.
Welcome to another installment of Florida in Five: Five* stories you need to read from the past week in Florida politics.
Vote.
That’s it. That’s the lead story this week.
Vote.
If you haven’t voted yet, do it today at an early voting location in your county. And if you don’t do it today, you’d better make damn sure you do before 7 pm on Tuesday.
Because that’s it. That’s when all of this will be decided.
If you’ve already voted by mail, make sure to check that your ballot has been counted.
And if you need help finding an early voting location or your Election Day polling station, here’s an easy-to-use site for wherever you are in Florida.
We’ll wrap this up with a roundup of election guides from around the state. Feel free to post others in the comments or send ‘em to me at Garcia.JasonR@gmail.com and I’ll add them to the list.
Creative Loafing (Tampa Bay)
Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)
LkldNow (Lakeland)
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale)
The Tributary (Jacksonville)
VoxPopuli (Winter Garden/West Orange County)
Vote.
*To paraphrase Barbossa, five is more what you’d call a guideline than an actual rule.
The stakes are literally life or death
A Woman Died After Being Told It Would Be a “Crime” to Intervene in Her Miscarriage at a Texas Hospital (ProPublica)
See also: Infants died from birth defects at higher rates after abortion ban was imposed in Florida (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Who cares what voters think?
A Florida school board candidate lost his race. DeSantis appointed him to the board anyway (Associated Press)
See also: DeSantis puts school board ally on state education board after voters reject him (Tampa Bay Times)
See also: Voters ousted judge who denied an abortion to 'C' student. DeSantis promoted him. (Palm Beach Post)
Florida’s weakened ethics laws in action
A lobbyist was cited by the ethics commission; now he's suing and wants to clear his name (Palm Beach Post)
They knew it would hurt farmers
When a Florida Farmer-Legislator Turned Against Immigration, the Consequences Were Severe. But Not for Him. (ProPublica)
He needed the money
DeSantis aligns with companies selling high-potency cannabis while fighting Amendment 3 (Miami Herald)
Wildcard
This Democrat could challenge DeSantis’ campaign against abortion, pot amendments (Tampa Bay Times)
Election news roundup
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's PAC gifts campaign cash to developer-friendly Republicans running for Orange County Commission (Orlando Weekly)
Backers of mega-development in east Orange seek shake-up of county commission (Orlando Sentinel)
In Miami-Dade, Christian Ulvert helps candidates win elections and developers win deals (Miami Herald)
The race for Pasco schools superintendent feels close. Why? (Tampa Bay Times)
Cop support, Warren’s ouster central issues in Hillsborough prosecutor race (Tampa Bay Times
Father of Pine Hills victim criticizes GOP for ads attacking Worrell in Orange-Osceola state attorney race (Orlando Sentinel)
With allegations of influence peddling, candidate denying any wrongdoing and endorsement reversal, State House District 113 race heats up (The Islander News)
Florida Democrats hope this Tampa race helps end a GOP supermajority (Tampa Bay Times)
Trans candidates demand their seat at the table in the Florida legislature (The Advocate)
Perspectives
This Is Why You Don’t Recognize Your State Government (Bloomberg)
When reporting rape/incest to Grady Judd is a crime ... (Public Enemy Number 1)
How our tax dollars became DeSantis’ fund against abortion and marijuana amendments (Miami Herald)
Vote. Appreciate your power as the 2024 campaigning comes to an end. (Palm Beach Post)
Local races matter (Cape Coral Breeze)
We have laws on the books and they have null and voided by endless attacks from lobby groups and millionaires who pretty much own Florida now.
I would still like to see a story about the lasting effects of the 2008 housing crisis.
I'm rather tired of the marketing people's slang. "affordable housing", "food challenged", etc. Let's call it what is in some cases - these people are starving because they lack wages to pay for food. They lack wages to pay for housing. $15 an hour does not and never will pay $2000 for rent. It's called math - not housing challenged.
I like this substack - housing
The VRBO - vacation house empire will collapse all of us again
https://m3melody.substack.com/p/now-what?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1530431&post_id=151103324&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1wfw8e&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email