1. High waters might pose some big problems - Hidden docks, wakes risk to boaters, property
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3AORLB%21Orlando%2BSentinel%252C%2BThe%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E63B57E914C4F8
- What is the issue? Orlando is facing historically high rainfall records which is resulting in submerging boating docks. Boaters may run into submerged docks. Increased likelihood of flooding increased potential housing damage.
- Who is effected? Home owners in low elevation, state government financing protection, home insurance companies
2. Tight rental market makes it difficult to find willing landlords
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ACOSB%21State%252C%2BThe%2B%2528Columbia%252C%2BSC%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0910%21September%2B10&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E58E20FB4AFC50
- What is the issue? South Carolina judge institutes subsidized housing through “Housing Choice” Vouchers to homeless, but landlords are not accepting vouchers in favor of self-paying renters because to accept vouchers may harm property value. Vouchers would require housing to be regularly inspected, adds unwanted regulation
- Who is effected? Homeless who cannot afford to pay for housing in NC, landlords who don’t want people to leave because they house homeless people, local courts who have to deal with landlords not accepting the vouchers
3. Shaky dams haven’t been repaired since 2015 flood. Now Florence is coming.
https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article218183890.html
- What is the issue? South Carolina has a weakening dam infrastructure and in the path of some of these dams are major roads, residential complexes and schools. As hurricane Florence approaches, locals worry the dams will collapse. The dams need repairs, but there is an issue finding the $300,000 it would cost to repair. The state has a low number of dam inspectors and minimal dam regulations because of farmer backlash against red tape
- Who is effected? Farmers who don’t want more dam regulations, residents in path of dam water if breaks during hurricane Florence, SC state officials who have to pay for social reparations if houses/roads/schools are destroyed/damaged, insurance companies who may have to pay for damages of people near dams
4. TIME, RED TIDE WAIT FOR NO ONE
https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ASPTB%21Tampa%2BBay%2BTimes%2B%2528FL%2529/year%3A2018%212018/mody%3A0912%21September%2B12&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/16E64CDCE375A300
- What is the issue? Record breaking red tide algal bloom Tampa is killing fish beaches, and the county is looking for business solutions to stop tourism-harming dead fish. Some companies are hauling away and shredding dead fish, others propose to bury them. The county is working with EPA who was given a grant to pay for cleanup costs
- Who is effected? Tourists near western Florida beaches, property owners near west Florida beaches looking to sell, county and state governments losing tourist revenue and allocate Federal government's EPA capital to solutions, runners in the upcoming midterm elections in Florida, environmentalists working to overcome the red tide, people working in real estate and tourism industries near west-Florida beaches.
5. Plenty of rain, plenty of mosquitoes, and more related illness
https://www.gainesville.com/sports/20180911/plenty-of-rain-plenty-of-mosquitoes-and-more-related-illness
- What is the issue? Gainesville is facing higher risks of illness due to wet weather conditions. EEEV spreading to livestock and locals from mosquito bites, paper recommends use of insect repellents to prevent disease transmission
- Who is effected? People bit by mosquitoes in Gainesville, farmers who own livestock which are getting sick with EEEV, people who get EEEV from mosquitoes, bug repellent providers in Gainesville, Bug net providers
It's crazy to think about how beneficial rain can be, and at the same time cause so many issues. As someone who goes fishing often, I know how much damage a submerged dock could cause. That is a pretty bad issue, but nobody wants to spend the money to solve the problem. Also, the mosquito issue is a bit scary. They're constantly spreading diseases and any way we can slow down or stop the spread of diseases I am all for it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jarred! you point out some interesting local trends and I just have a few questions about some of the things you bring up.
ReplyDeletein the case of your first and third trend, what do you think is holding back the local governments from helping out with changing these issues or at least tackling them? you mention it slightly in your third case about farmers against red tape, but is that a truly economical stance that farmers are taking that position or is that a social/political stance that farmers do not want government intervention on private property or diligence of farming expertise? Is there a social/political element that can be solved through the free market or is there any form of leverage that cities have besides taxes to renovate and innovate on these issues, or is strictly using taxpayer dollars to fund construction or repair jobs the only solution that can be offered?
Best of luck keeping your eyes open, there's plenty of challenges out there!
Hi Jarred you particularly interesting topics, considering the fact that I also live in Florida more specifically Orlando it seems like the rain never stops. Although we are in an El Nino year which means flooding should be expected. Back in the 80’s there was one year were the rain was so bad that farmer across Florida had to kill most if not all of there cattle because, the animals were stuck standing in knee deep water. Now that it’s happening again the effects of more mosquito's and the disease they bring along with the property damage caused by flooding are some of the realities of living in Florida.
ReplyDelete