The mission of the Washington, D.C.-based National Civic Art Society is to promote “public art and architecture worthy of our great republic.” To that end, they have drafted a proposed executive order entitled “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again.” Citing the perceived failures of modern civic architecture, the group espouses a return to the tradition of…
Right now in our Legislature, it’s full speed ahead for them to tell local governments they will decide if the house next door to you will become a short-term vacation rental (CS/SB 1128). Think about that. A group of 160 people in Tallahassee will decide if the homes on your block will rent every week…
A bill preempting short-term zoning for rentals was not heard in the final Rules Committee meeting, after consistent objections from local leaders and a lack of support from the Governor. SB 1128, sponsored by Republican Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., was not heard Monday and likely won’t receive another opportunity to be heard this year. Senate…
TAMPA, Fla. – People driving within the city of Tampa may notice a rather odd-looking van. A 360-degree camera, laser beams hanging off the side — it’s an expensive truck the city hopes will help them cut down on pot holes. Kimberly Morose hit one just last week. “I got a flat tire driving out of the…
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — Plans are in the works to bring more connectivity to a Fort Pierce community. A nearly $1.2 million project will bring free broadband internet access to a low-income area with hopes of improving thousands of people’s lives. The City of Fort Pierce, Fort Pierce Utility Authority, St. Lucie County, and Allegany…
The Mayor’s Diversity Advisory Committee is distancing itself from the man who created it: Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson. Committee chair Peter Ndiang’ui said in a letter obtained by The News-Press that it wanted to maintain its non-partisan focus. But with Henderson now running for Congress, that complicates it. Henderson is one of eight Republican…
What it takes to make at least $100,000 as a government employee. Hint: Consider being a first responder. The local government workers in Florida with the highest average wages are the employees of the 77 governments within Miami-Dade, whose average weekly earnings are $1,180 — about $61,000 a year. Average weekly wages of local government employees…
A dispute over late-night noise in Wynwood has snowballed into a fight over the future of the red-hot district: Can the funky, art-splashed neighborhood, with its buzzy nightclubs and open-air events, retain its character if people start living there? Billionaire developer Moishe Mana, who owns 45 contiguous acres of land in Wynwood, has declared war…
Investigators are looking into whether North Miami Beach Commissioner Michael Joseph abused his power by allegedly seeking opinions from attorneys outside the city about the mayor’s term limits. The Miami-Dade County Ethics Commission is reviewing the allegations and communicating with the county’s State Attorney’s Office on the matter, the Miami Herald confirmed Tuesday. Both agencies…
WEST PALM BEACH — City commissioners Wednesday chose Davie’s former redevelopment chief to head the West Palm Beach agency that directs renewal of downtown and the city’s northern low-income neighborhoods. Giovanni Moss, a senior project manager for Innovative Emergency Management of Tallahassee and former housing and community redevelopment director for the Broward County town of Davie, was selected over…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced additional public workshops and webinar to seek input for the use of more than $735 million in federal funds for long-term recovery efforts for Hurricane Michael-impacted communities. These funds are available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster…
When it comes to the ongoing redevelopment of Riviera Beach, Florida, there are many simultaneous efforts in effect, from helping provide affordable housing and incentivizing growth to funding infrastructure and community beautification. One highly successful spoke in the wheel of progress is the Riviera Beach Homebuyer’s Club Workshop Series. This series of workshops by the…
