The Lack of Nuisance Laws in South Florida Sugarcane Farming

By: Mae Baltz In 2021, the United States produced over 33 million tons of sugarcane, with a majority of the crop harvested in the fields of Belle Glade, Florida. The city has a median household income of $28,028, with the sugar industry as one of its largest employers. As such, many of the Glade’s citizens … Continue reading The Lack of Nuisance Laws in South Florida Sugarcane Farming

DeSantis undermining individual freedom, conservative principles | Opinion

By Shawntia Nicholson The COVID-19 pandemic has placed policymakers in a tricky position, Gov. DeSantis included. He and others are forced to find a balance between protecting public health and safeguarding individual freedom.  One of Gov. DeSantis’ signature initiatives is a ban on agencies and businesses that might want to impose a universal mask requirement … Continue reading DeSantis undermining individual freedom, conservative principles | Opinion

The K-12 Wage Gap in Florida: Economic Implications and Future Outlook

By: Jimmy Mendez K-12 teachers in the United States are tackling a long-term battle with low salary growth rates. According to the data from the Employment Policy Institute, teachers are paid lower relative to similarly situated professional workers.  While the average worker’s salary in Florida has steadily increased over the last decade, the average pay … Continue reading The K-12 Wage Gap in Florida: Economic Implications and Future Outlook

Free Clinic Serves Health Care Needs of Poor and Uninsured

By: Chelsea Gow At the Clearwater Free Clinic (CFC), a 58-year-old cook, William Jordan, sought care for what appeared to be a large blister on the bottom of his foot. Lacking health insurance, William put off seeing a doctor for months as his wound increased in size and severity. “I was terrified of what my … Continue reading Free Clinic Serves Health Care Needs of Poor and Uninsured

Kind Snacks Uses Power of Technology to Impact Classrooms

By Gianni Vasquez Not only is making a profit a part of a company’s business model, but creating methods of positive social impact is equally important. This is characteristic of social enterprises such as Kind Snacks LLC, which was founded in 2004 by Daniel Lubetzky, a Mexican-American entrepreneur, author, and renowned activist. The company is … Continue reading Kind Snacks Uses Power of Technology to Impact Classrooms

Special District Spending Priorities and Political Entrepreneurship

By Matt Kelly and Tyler Worthington Special districts are small local governments created by state statute or local ordinance to fulfill a particular purpose in a specified geographic area. Some special districts control the mosquito population in an area, while others are in charge of things like fire protection, library administration, or utility services. Unlike … Continue reading Special District Spending Priorities and Political Entrepreneurship

Urban gardens face zoning restrictions

By Stephany Bittar Urban gardens are cropping up all over the country, and it’s easy to see why. Growing food inside cities can be cheap, and can provide a new level of control over what  we consume. Urban gardens can also strengthen communities by providing a healthy alternative to impoverished areas with limited access to … Continue reading Urban gardens face zoning restrictions

Health Care and Education Departments Spend the Most of Florida’s State Budget

By: Nick Hyder and Tian Ma With 2015 behind us, it’s worthwhile to take stock of last year’s spending by state government. A state’s spending says a lot about its priorities, and accountability to taxpayers is an important component of a democracy. The Agency for Health Care Administration tops the list of spending by state … Continue reading Health Care and Education Departments Spend the Most of Florida’s State Budget

Regulation of Uber, Lyft Should Be Local, Not Statewide

  By Matt Kelly It seems that everywhere Uber, Lyft, and other transportation network companies (TNCs) set up shop, trouble with local regulators follows. The situation in Florida has been no different. The Uber vs. taxi debate has been so heated that state lawmakers have proposed  legislation (HB 509) to simply regulate all vehicles for … Continue reading Regulation of Uber, Lyft Should Be Local, Not Statewide

Occupational Licensing For Florida’s Barbers Does More Harm Than Good

By Jamaal Gill   The rise of occupational licensing has become a major concern to Florida’s businesses. These regulations affect everyone from doctors to restauranteurs; barbers to financial advisors. The main justifications for occupational licensing are the promotion of consumer welfare, public health, and a higher quality service. However, in many professions, occupational licensing keeps … Continue reading Occupational Licensing For Florida’s Barbers Does More Harm Than Good