Author: Owen E. Richason IV
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Tampa Bay continues to lead the nation in attracting new residents, according to two recent economic studies. The 2025 Regional Competitiveness Report and the 2025 Tampa Bay E-Insights Report, released on February 14, compare Tampa Bay with 19 similar metropolitan areas. Key findings include: Overall, the Regional Competitiveness Report highlights continued progress, with Tampa Bay…
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A new bill proposed by a Florida lawmaker could prevent condo associations from accessing state-run Citizens Property Insurance if they fail to comply with updated building safety laws. The move comes after the tragic collapse of a 12-story condo building in Surfside, Miami, on June 24, 2021, which resulted in 98 fatalities. In response, Florida…
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U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) has introduced the Rebuild & Save Act, a bill designed to ease the financial burden on homeowners and small businesses rebuilding after hurricanes and other natural disasters. The legislation proposes increasing the Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan mitigation assistance cap from 20% to 30%, potentially providing up to an…
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The St. Petersburg City Council continues to investigate why some residents’ water bills skyrocketed to as much as six times the normal amount following last year’s hurricanes. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton subsided, several St. Petersburg residents were left with astonishingly high water bills. “Imagine my shock when I received my December utility bill for…
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Hernando County Government, Development Services, and Emergency Management are notifying residents that damage assessment teams will be visiting homes affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Assessments are already underway, with additional teams deployed starting Monday, February 24, 2025. These teams, composed of County-hired contractors, will conduct substantial damage evaluations to determine the storms’ impact on…
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St. Petersburg residents, small business owners, and city employees affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton will soon receive aid. Starting in March, officials will distribute over $800,000 from the We Are St. Pete Fund, which was approved unanimously by the city council. The fund allocates $400,000 for resident grants, $200,000 for small businesses, and $200,000…
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Two lawsuits have been filed against the City of St. Petersburg over unexpectedly high water bills, following complaints from thousands of residents who received charges hundreds or even thousands of dollars above their usual amounts. On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council took steps to assist affected homeowners, including eliminating the requirement to hire a…
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U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, along with other senators, has introduced a bill to make daylight saving time permanent. This bipartisan initiative also has the support of President Donald Trump. The Sunshine Protection Act aims to “lock the clock,” ending the biannual time changes and establishing daylight saving time as the national year-round standard. Many people…
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On Thursday morning, the St. Petersburg City Council addressed growing concerns over what many residents are calling exorbitantly high water bills. Some homeowners reported receiving utility bills in the thousands of dollars, even while away on vacation. Frustration is mounting as typical bills of a few hundred dollars have surged to over $1,000. Residents are…
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Driving along the Tampa Bay area coast, the devastation from last year’s hurricanes is unmistakable, with billions of dollars in damages. To better grasp the full extent of this impact, new data reveals over 329,000 residential property insurance claims statewide since the storms hit. However, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (FLOIR) reports that less…
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Officials in Treasure Island are requesting additional information as they deliberate on waiving permit fees for residents looking to elevate or demolish homes post-Hurricane Helene. A workshop was convened Tuesday evening where city commissioners instructed City Manager Chuck Anderson to compile data on the number of permits already issued. The next session is set for…
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Treasure Island leaders could take a step forward on Tuesday in supporting business owners still struggling to rebuild months after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. City officials plan to discuss a proposal that would allow businesses to apply for “special event permits” to set up tents, temporary bars, food trucks, or trailers for an extended period…
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The City of Treasure Island is set to explore the possibility of waiving additional permit fees for residents rebuilding homes damaged by hurricanes. At a workshop scheduled for Tuesday evening, city commissioners will deliberate on the proposal to eliminate permit fees for both elevating existing homes and for new constructions aimed at replacing hurricane-affected properties.…
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A couple in Gulfport, Becky McCoy and Jim Newman, faced a significant setback in their recovery efforts after waiting nearly five months for a permit from city officials to repair their roof and the damage left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Initially, a substantial damage determination letter from November indicated that their home suffered less…
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Governor Ron DeSantis has thrown his support behind the growing national movement to eliminate property taxes. While Florida’s state budget relies heavily on sales tax, local governments depend on property taxes to fund essential services like police, fire departments, and schools. Governor DeSantis has voiced his support for this initiative on social media, labeling property…
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New state data reveals that sky-high deductibles are a major reason for insurance claim denials. After enduring years of high insurance premiums, the recent hurricane season has tested insurance companies. However, many Tampa Bay area homeowners feel let down by their insurance providers. Local news WFTS is delving deeper into why numerous hurricane claims are…
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In the state of Georgia, Augusta’s storm cleanup efforts have made significant progress over four months, but completing the work quickly has become increasingly urgent for the city’s finances. “We’ve been working every day to clear this debris. Fortunately, FEMA initially extended our deadline from 90 to 120 days,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle. Though…
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As St. Petersburg residents continue rebuilding after last year’s Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many are encountering code enforcement violations for making repairs without the required permits. The city currently has nearly 11,000 open code enforcement cases, primarily focused on homes that may not have obtained proper permits for storm-related repairs. Officials say this effort is…
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Nearly a quarter of all traffic accidents in Florida involve hit-and-run incidents. Over the past three months, the Florida Highway Patrol has repeatedly requested that local news outlets share photos of these crashes in the Tampa Bay Area where individuals were injured or killed. Critics argue that current laws aren’t stringent enough to deter people…
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Some St. Petersburg residents have reported unusually high water bills that are more than double their typical amount. Last week, the city council accelerated discussions on the issue, scheduling it for further examination on Feb. 20. If you’ve received a significantly high water bill, you’re not alone. Residents’ Complaints Many residents have reached out to…
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At a special meeting on Feb. 7, Treasure Island commissioners unanimously approved extending a temporary waiver of permit fees for specific storm-related repairs. However, many residents will need to wait for further discussion in a work session and another regular hearing to see if relief will be expanded to include more costly permits for raising…
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The Florida Division of Emergency Management is currently evaluating the flooding situation in Pasco County, a persistent issue for families since Hurricane Milton struck four months ago. State Senator Danny Burgess, R-Pasco County, informed WTVT that the Division recently visited the Hickory Hills neighborhood in Dade City, where numerous homeowners are still grappling with flooding.…
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Pinellas County has been awarded $512,36 in federal funds to rapidly rehouse residents affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. County commissioners will now approve grant recipients to prevent potential controversies. Initially, staff intended to rank and award applicants without commission oversight. However, Commissioner Vince Nowicki raised concerns about the Homeless Leadership Alliance (HLA) of Pinellas…
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Hurricanes Helene and Milton have left many homeowners grappling with challenges from flooding to extensive cleanups. Now, a federal regulation may add to their financial woes. The FEMA 50% rule, a complex regulation, could cost affected homeowners hundreds of thousands of dollars, catching many off guard. Homeowners in flood zones with substantial damage may not…
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St. Petersburg officials have pledged not to cut off water service or impose additional late fees on residents hit with unexpectedly high utility bills following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During a tense meeting Thursday, city council members pressed administrators for answers but received little clarity on how many customers were affected or why bills had…
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Thousands of homeowners in St. Petersburg are dealing with pending code violation cases, which the city says are not violations yet. The city initiated these cases to ensure that permits for storm damage repairs are in place, that proper inspections occur, and to safeguard potential buyers of homes affected by hurricanes, according to city spokesperson…
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Florida regulators have approved revised insurance rates for Citizens Property Insurance Corp., with homeowners holding the most common type of policy facing an average statewide premium increase of 6.6%. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reduced the rate hikes initially proposed by Citizens last year. However, Governor Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday that many Citizens policyholders…
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Late last year, Florida was battered by not one but two highly destructive hurricanes, Helene and Milton, within a short span, leading to a cascade of damages and financial losses across various sectors, including a notable impact on Disney’s operations. Overview of Hurricanes Helene and Milton Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region…
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The Tampa City Council has unanimously approved $3.2 million in State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program (SHIP) funds to aid homeowners affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This funding will help residents with mortgage payments, home repairs, and insurance deductible costs. Relief Package Details Supporting Homeowners “We have to remember that some residents are still displaced,…
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Following weeks of residents in St. Petersburg receiving unexpectedly high water bills, some amounting to thousands of dollars, an attorney has demanded an audit and hinted at potential legal action against the city. “As our community, my neighborhood, has been working to recover, these bills are just incredibly disheartening,” remarked attorney Matt Weidner. Weidner, whose…
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A new House bill introduced Wednesday seeks to curb corporate and investment firm purchases of single-family homes, aiming to preserve homeownership opportunities for individual buyers. The Strengthening Home Ownership in Florida Act (HB 401), sponsored by Rep. Berny Jacques, would empower local governments to restrict investor-owned housing, allowing counties and cities to designate areas exclusively…
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Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference at Florida International University in Miami on Wednesday, addressing the escalating property insurance costs in Florida. He announced upcoming rate reductions for property insurance policyholders in South Florida, as well as statewide reductions in auto insurance premiums. Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Kevin Guthrie, and…
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As many Bay Area beach communities race to rebuild ahead of the lucrative spring break season, two well-known St. Pete Beach hotels have announced they will remain closed until summer, dealing a blow to both workers and tourists. The Bellwether Beach Resort and The Beachcomber—home to the popular Jimmy B’s Beach Bar—will not reopen until…
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Leaders from the Barrier Islands have reached out to President Donald Trump for assistance in the wake of two devastating hurricanes: Helene and Milton. They are collectively drafting a letter to support their communities’ recovery efforts. “It’s been an incredibly tough four months,” said St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila. Mayor Petrila noted that over…
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Florida’s property insurance landscape is seeing a positive shift as the state’s insurance commissioner announced the approval of ten new insurance companies. This move, following recent legislative reforms, aims to inject nearly $300 million in surplus capital into Florida’s beleaguered property insurance market. These new companies are set to provide coverage across the state, with…
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As the next hurricane season approaches, the City of Tampa is taking proactive steps to address flooding challenges experienced during recent storms. During a recent workshop, city officials outlined a comprehensive plan to improve the city’s stormwater management infrastructure and emergency preparedness. Key Flooding Mitigation Strategies Water Pump Station Upgrades Some water pump stations lost…
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There are visible signs of recovery in Madeira Beach, with live music at the Saltwater Hippie Beach Bar and restaurants bustling on Thursday nights. While some businesses have reopened, others remain closed and boarded up, as do several homes due to extensive hurricane damage. Many residents, like those in nearby areas, are unable to begin…
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Jason Rule and his girlfriend lost nearly everything when Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated their South Pasadena home—except for a few clothes. “It was absolutely heartbreaking,” Rule said. “My girlfriend had just beaten breast cancer, and her garden was her therapy. It was completely wiped out. Nothing was salvageable.” The owners of their rental home…
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U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is calling on FEMA to waive its 50% rule, a regulation she says is forcing residents out of their homes. She first shared her plan with WFLA, outlining efforts to involve President Donald Trump. More than four months have passed since Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton devastated Tampa Bay’s coastal…
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Staff from the Florida Public Service Commission have recommended approving proposals that would increase monthly bills by about $21 for Duke Energy customers and $30 for Tampa Electric Co. (TECO) customers starting in March. Next week, Florida utility regulators could vote to allow Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. to recover over $1.55 billion…
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The Clearwater Marine Aquarium has been forced to furlough staff and cut salaries following significant hurricane damage. CEO Joe Handy explained that the drastic cost-cutting measures stem from the low attendance numbers caused by last year’s storms, which heavily impacted the nonprofit’s primary revenue source: ticket sales. If you’re a Tampa Bay resident, you’ve likely…
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This week, the City of Treasure Island is diligently working to clear a backlog of approximately 320 permits before transitioning to a new system during the first week of February. To focus on this task, the City’s Community Development Department will be closed to the public on Tuesday and Thursday of this week. Currently, over…
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded more than $800 million to Pinellas County for long-term hurricane recovery efforts. This federal grant is aimed at enhancing prolonged hurricane resilience and addressing the unmet needs of residents. St. Petersburg, within Pinellas County, was also granted $159.9 million, making it the only city…
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