>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE SET TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A CONTROVERSIAL RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE.

WE'LL LOOK AT NEXT STEPS IN PLANS FOR A SUNSHINE CORRIDOR RAIL SERVICE.

AND AFTER YEARS IN THE PLANNING, ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S TERMINAL C IS SET TO OPEN NEXT MONTH.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK, STEVE HUDAK COVERS LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, TALIA BLAKE FROM 90.7 WMFE NEWS, AND RYAN LYNCH FROM THE ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING IN, GUYS.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

OKAY.

FIRST TONIGHT, CENTRAL FLORIDA'S ISSUES WITH SPIRALING RENT.

ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING NEXT WEEK ON A CONTROVERSIAL RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE WHICH WOULD CAP RENT INCREASES FOR A YEAR.

IF THE COUNTY BOARD GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO COMMISSIONER EMILY BONILLA'S MEASURE, IT WOULD GO TO VOTERS FOR APPROVAL IN NOVEMBER.

WELL, LET'S HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES SPEAKING AT A RECENT BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING, STARTING WITH THE OPPONENTS OF THE RENT CONTROL ORDINANCE.

>>ALL THAT'S GOING TO DO IS STOP IT GETTING EVEN HIGHER.

BUT IT'S ALREADY TOO HIGH NOW.

SO TO ME, OUR ENERGY NEEDS TO BE IN HELPING THE ONES AT THE REALLY BOTTOM LEVEL, WHO REALLY NEED IT.

WE DON'T WANT THEM HOMELESS.

AND GOING BACK AND SYSTEMICALLY LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR PROCESSES AND LOBBYING THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THAT BUNCH UP THERE, I'VE DEALT WITH THAT NOW FOR 14 YEARS.

THEY'VE GOT THE POWER AND, WHAT, BY FEBRUARY, THEY COULD PREEMPT ANYTHING THIS GROUP DOES TODAY.

SO WHAT IS THE POINT?

LET'S GO AFTER WHAT'S IN OUR WHEELHOUSE AND LET'S TAKE CARE OF THAT AND NOT GIVE THESE POOR PEOPLE FALSE HOPE.

TO ME, THIS RENT STABILIZATION IS FALSE HOPE.

>>RENT CONTROL NOT ONLY FAILS TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR MORE HOUSING SUPPLY, BUT IT WILL ALSO DETER MUCH NEEDED PRODUCTION OF NEW HOUSING INVENTORY IN ORANGE COUNTY, WHICH WILL NOT ONLY EXASPERATE OUR HOUSING SUPPLY SHORTAGE, BUT ALSO RESULT IN A DECLINE IN THE BUILDING PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE COUNTY.

>>BUT SUPPORTERS SAY A RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE WILL GIVE COST BURDENED RESIDENTS IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND TARGET UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORDS.

>>WHAT THIS DOES IS THAT IT'LL IMMEDIATELY STOP THE PROFITEERING, AS IT HAS SHOWN TO WORK IN CALIFORNIA WHEN THEY HAD THEIRS.

WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

WE HAVE THE DATA, WE HAVE THE PROOF.

AND THAT WILL GIVE US THE CHANCE TO HAVE A YEAR TO TAKE AGGRESSIVE ACTION TO INCREASE OUR AFFORDABLE INVENTORY.

>>WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO WEIGH OUR RISKS IN EITHER FUTURE LITIGATION OR PREEMPTION AGAINST THE RISK OF DOING NOTHING.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY A YEAR UNDER STATE LAW, IT JUST BUYS US TIME.

AND THE REST OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THE REST OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO MAYBE GET DONE IN OUR PROCESSES, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE TIME.

WE HAVE THINGS IN THE PIPELINE NOW.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

SO FOR ME, THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING THAT LITTLE BIT OF TIME BACK FOR OUR RENTERS, I THINK MAKES IT A BENEFIT.

>>WELL, INTERESTINGLY, TAMPA CITY COUNCIL LAST WEEK VOTED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH A SIMILAR RENT CONTROL MEASURE, SO THIS IS A CONCERN STATEWIDE.

STEVE, LET ME COME TO YOU FIRST ON THIS, AND WHAT'S IN THAT ORANGE COUNTY RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE.

AS CURRENTLY WRITTEN IT WOULD CAP RENT INCREASES AT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, BASICALLY WHAT YOU AND I CALL INFLATION.

WHY DO THE COUNTY'S LEGAL TEAM WANT TO DO THAT?

I MEAN, I THINK EMILY BONILLA HAD WANTED A 5% CAP.

>>RIGHT.

AND I THINK THE LEGAL TEAM THINKS THAT'S ARBITRARY.

AND IF THAT FIGURE'S ARBITRARY, THE 5%, AND IF IT ENDS UP IN COURT, WHICH THE LEGAL TEAM SEEMS TO THINK, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT'S WHAT THE CONSULTANT THAT THEY HIRED THINKS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND WHAT THE CAP IS.

AND IF YOU JUST PICK 5% FIGURE OUT OF THE AIR, WHY 5%?

WHY NOT 7%?

AND WHEREAS THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, THAT'S AN INFLATION RATE, SO OKAY, YOU CAN INCREASE IT, BUT ONLY THIS MUCH.

BUT THAT CAN BE A LOT OF MONEY, THAT COULD BE DOUBLE.

WE'VE HAD 9% INFLATION.

>>YEAH.

INFLATION IS HIGH.

SO 5% WOULD HAVE MUCH MORE IMPACT, I GUESS.

>>RIGHT, BUT I MEAN, I GUESS THE PRICE FOR SOME OF THE APARTMENTS THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THIS, THEY MIGHT BE $1400 OR $1500.

SO IT WOULD GO FROM, IF IT WAS 5%, IT WOULD BE LIKE $75 INCREASE, AND IF IT WAS THE PRICE INDEX, IT IS ALMOST $150.

SO CUT IT IN HALF.

LOOK, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE EXTRA 75 BUCKS.

>>RIGHT.

NO DOUBT.

I MEAN, TALIA, I MEAN, AS STEVE MENTIONED THERE, THE COUNTY COULD FACE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

THERE'S THIS 1977 FLORIDA LAW WHICH SORT OF PREVENTS COUNTIES FROM DOING THIS KIND OF THING UNLESS A GRAVE EMERGENCY IS DECLARED IN HOUSING.

THE LEGISLATURE COULD PREEMPT IT.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF HURDLES THAT HAVE TO BE OVERCOME, EVEN IF VOTERS DID APPROVE IT.

>>THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND THIS ENTIRE THING.

AS STEVE WAS MENTIONING WITH THE LEGAL CHALLENGES, THE COUNTY DID A CONSUMER REPORT AND THEY SAID THAT IT'D BE REALLY HARD TO DEFEND THE LEGAL CHALLENGE WITH HOW IT'S WORDED RIGHT NOW.

>>AND THAT'S WHAT THE ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO BE SORT OF LOOKING AT CLOSELY.

>>YEAH.

>>WHEN IT COMES TO SORT OF TRYING TO DRAFT THE FINAL LANGUAGE ON THIS.

I MEAN, RYAN, A CONCERN AMONG SUPPORTERS OF SORT OF RENT STABILIZATION, THE DRAFT AS IT IS, IS IT OFFERS LANDLORDS TOO MANY WAYS TO KIND OF SKIRT THIS ORDINANCE.

WHAT ARE SORT OF SOME OF THE EXEMPTIONS?

>>I MEAN, THEY HAD TALKED ABOUT DURING THE PRIOR MEETING EXEMPTING NEW DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THE FEAR WAS THAT IF YOU PUT THIS UP AND DEVELOPERS SAW THAT THEY MIGHT DEVELOP LESS HOUSING UNITS, WHICH IS ALSO AN ISSUE BECAUSE THE COUNTY NEEDS MORE HOUSING STOCK.

OTHER WAYS, THERE'S STILL QUESTIONS OVER WHAT THE DEFINITION OF A LUXURY APARTMENT IS.

I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND $250 WHEN THEY FIRST SET IT IN 1977.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S TOO MANY APARTMENTS AT MARKET RATE AT $250 HERE.

>>YEAH.

>>SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ANSWERED JUST IN TERMS OF WHAT UNITS MIGHT BE COVERED BY THIS AND WHAT UNITS MIGHT BE EXCEPTED.

>>AND LUXURY RESIDENCES, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM BEING BUILT AT THE MOMENT.

>>OH, YEAH.

>>SO THEY MAKE UP A LARGE CHUNK OF THE MARKET.

>>AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO DEFINE WHAT THAT IS.

AND THEY ALREADY, THE COUNTY'S LEGAL TEAM THAT IS, SENT OUT A REQUEST TO THE STATE TO KIND OF GET A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THAT MIGHT COVER AND WHAT THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THAT IS, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES EVER, BESIDES TAMPA YOU MENTIONED, THAT IT'S BEEN CHALLENGED.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, STEVE, THE WAY THAT THESE EXEMPTIONS HAVE BEEN DRAFTED AND THIS SORT OF STABILIZATION ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE HAS REALLY BEEN QUITE CONTROVERSIAL ON THE BOARD ITSELF.

>>YES.

>>THIS HAS BEEN A SOURCE OF TENSIONS BETWEEN COMMISSIONER BONILLA AND THE MAYOR.

>>YES, THAT'S TRUE.

THEY SORT OF SPARRED A LITTLE BIT LAST TIME.

THE MAYOR CHASTISED HER AND SAID SHE NEEDED TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY SHE SPOKE TO STAFF.

AND APPARENTLY COMMISSIONER, THERE'S NO MEMO EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID.

BUT COMMISSIONER BONILLA SAID DURING THE MEETING, SHE SAID, "LOOK, I TOLD THE STAFF, 'LOOK, YOU WORK FOR THE PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T WORK FOR DEVELOPERS.'"

AND PART OF THIS IS RELATED TO THESE EXEMPTIONS THAT RYAN WAS JUST DISCUSSING BECAUSE WHEN THEY GAVE HER THE DRAFT, SHE SAID, "THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SECTION IN HERE.

IT'S CALLED FAIR AND REASONABLE RETURN ON INVESTMENT."

>>RETURN ON INVESTMENT, YEAH.

>>YEAH.

SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S RELATED TO.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, AND WE SAW THAT SORT OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO COMMISSIONER BONILLA SAID SHE FELT DISRESPECTED HERSELF, RIGHT?

>>YES.

YES.

>>SO IT WAS A SORT OF AN INTERESTING, AND KIND OF FAIRLY RARE MOMENT OF CONTENTION THERE ON THE COMMISSION SORT OF IN PUBLIC VIEW.

I MEAN, TALIA, THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS NEEDS TO GET THE LANGUAGE FOR THIS, IF THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT, BY AUGUST 23RD.

GIVEN THAT THEY'RE SORT OF RUNNING OUT THE CLOCK HERE, WE CAN EXPECT A VOTE PRESUMABLY ON TUESDAY.

>>CAN WE EXPECT A VOTE?

I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THAT.

>>YEAH.

>>IT'S PRETTY UP IN THE AIR RIGHT NOW.

I WAS CHECKING IF THERE WAS AN AGENDA FOR THE UPCOMING MEETING AND AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WASN'T EVEN AN AGENDA POSTED.

SO THEY ARE EXPECTED TO WRESTLE WITH THE ISSUE, BUT PRETTY UP IN THE AIR, IT'S KIND OF UNCERTAIN.

>>WHAT DO YOU THINK, STEVE?

>>IF I MAY POP IN HERE ON THIS?

>>YEAH.

>>THAT'S A GOOD POINT, TALIA, BECAUSE I THINK HER ANSWER IS A VERY GOOD ONE.

WILL WE?

>>YEAH.

>>BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN KICKED DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT.

NOW IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THEM TO PUT OUT THEIR AGENDA ON THE THURSDAY, WHICH IS WHEN WE'RE TAPING THIS.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO DISCUSS IT.

I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH EMAILS.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THAT'S THE BIG TOPIC.

>>THEY'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.

>>BUT IF THEY DON'T COME TO A VOTE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO DECIDE YET.

SO THEY HAVE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER SCHEDULED MEETING UNTIL THE 23RD.

AND THAT'S ELECTION DAY.

AND THAT'S WHEN BILL COWLES, THAT'S HIS DROP DEAD DATE FOR FOR THE LANGUAGE FOR BALLOT.

>>YEAH.

ALL KINDS OF MOVING PARTS HERE.

>>YEAH.

>>WELL, LET ME PLAY THIS CLIP A MOMENT FROM ORLANDO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA ESKAMANI ON HOW SHE VIEWS RENT STABILIZATION.

TAKE A LOOK.

>>I DO THINK RENT STABILIZATION, AS A SHORT TERM CUSHION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCE WITH RENT INCREASES, SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT PURSUED TENANTS RIGHTS.

WE HAVE NOT PURSUED ACCESS TO CIVILLY GLADE IN THE FACE OF AN EVICTION.

WE HAVE NOT CONSIDERED WAYS TO REDUCE ZONING RESTRICTIONS, WHICH CAN IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO PURSUE DENSITY, TO INCREASE SUPPLY QUICKLY.

AIRBNB AND VACATION RENTALS, WE'RE SEEING OTHER MUNICIPALITIES LIMIT WHO CAN OPERATE AND OWN THOSE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE REVENUE GENERATORS.

NOT BECAUSE THE BUSINESS MODEL IS ONE WE DON'T LIKE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THE BUSINESS MODEL REMOVES HOUSING STOCK OUT OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE HAVE INVESTORS FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BUYING PROPERTIES IN ORANGE COUNTY AND EITHER KEEPING HOUSES EMPTY OR FLIPPING THEM OR USING THEM AS RENTALS.

AND THAT MIGHT BE PROFITABLE FOR THEM, BUT IT HURTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE AROUND THEM.

AND IT ALSO, LIKE I SAID, TAKES OFF THAT SUPPLY.

>>REPRESENTATIVE ESKAMANI THERE.

RYAN, LET ME COME TO YOU ON THIS ONE.

IS ESKAMANI RIGHT THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT POLICY MAKERS LOCALLY CAN DO.

WHAT KIND OF STUFF CAN THEY DO?

>>AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THE COUNTY HAS RECOGNIZED AS WELL.

I THINK THEY DESCRIBED IT AS, THIS STABILIZATION ORDINANCE, AS NOT BEING A SILVER BULLET FOR THIS.

THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT A TENANT'S BILL OF RIGHTS, WHICH MIGHT INCLUDE SOME PROTECTIONS AND SOME BASIC INFORMATION FOR GETTING HELP IN THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS WHERE A TENANT MIGHT NEED IT.

AS WELL AS ESTABLISHING A SORT OF OFFICE OF HOUSING ADVOCACY AS WELL, WHICH COULD DIRECT PEOPLE TO RESOURCES THAT THEY MIGHT NEED IN THE FUTURE.

THEY MIGHT LOOK AT ZONING LAWS TO BETTER HELP SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE AND GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS THAT MIGHT BE SITTING ON THE SHELF FASTER THROUGH.

>>AND JUST FINALLY, ONE THING THAT THEY DID DO AT THAT LAST MEETING WAS A 60 DAY NOTICE PERIOD, CORRECT, STEVE?

HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK?

>>YES.

SOMETIMES IN LEASES, THE TENANT AND LANDLORD HAVE AN AGREEMENT AS TO WHEN THEY'LL BE NOTIFIED IF THEY'RE GOING TO RE-UP OR IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A RENTAL INCREASE.

BUT IF THERE'S NOT THAT CLAUSE IN A CONTRACT, IN A RENTAL CONTRACT, A TENANT MIGHT FIND OUT LIKE TWO WEEKS OR A WEEK BEFORE AND IN SOME CASES LIKE THE DAY BEFORE THE RENEWAL COMES.

AND WITH THE 60 DAY NOTICE, AT LEAST IT GIVES THE TENANT A CHANCE TO LOOK AROUND, SEE, "CAN I AFFORD THIS?"

IF IT'S GOING TO GO UP 400 BUCKS, OR EVEN $200 BUCKS, OR EVEN 150, LIKE, "OKAY, CAN I AFFORD THIS?

IF NOT, WHAT ARE MY CHOICES?

WHERE CAN I GO?"

SO THAT'S HOW THAT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>>WELL, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING THIS CLOSELY AS THE DEBATE MOVES FORWARD AND YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE TEXTS OF BOTH THE RENTAL NOTICE ORDINANCE AND THE DRAFT RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE ON OUR WEBSITE TO READ FOR YOURSELF.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>WELL, THE COMMISSIONERS SET TO DECIDE WHETHER THE RENT STABILIZATION ORDINANCE WILL GO ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, ONE THING WE KNOW THAT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IS A ONE PENNY SALES TAX TO PAY FOR TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS.

THE INITIATIVE, CHAMPIONED BY MAYOR DEMINGS, IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF LOCAL TAX INITIATIVES TAKING PLACE IN FLORIDA COUNTIES.

IT COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF DEVELOPMENTS IN A MAJOR AREA OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IN OUR REGION, THE SUNSHINE CORRIDOR.

HERE'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES.

>>ON YOUR WAY TO THE MOST MAGICAL PLACE ON EARTH, YOU CAN EXPECT LOTS OF BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC.

>>OUR THEME PARK AREAS, DISNEY, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, INTERNATIONAL DRIVE, GENERATE QUITE A LOT OF TRIPS.

AND THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS FOR THAT.

OF COURSE, OUR VISITORS LOVE TO COME OUT AND VISIT OUR THEME PARKS.

BUT ANOTHER REASON IS BECAUSE THESE ARE MAJOR EMPLOYMENT CENTERS FOR US AS WELL.

>>THE ORLANDO AREA DRAWS ABOUT 70 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY, AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE.

NOW, RAIL SITS AT THE HEART OF POLICY EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON THE ROADS.

THE SUNSHINE CORRIDOR ROUTE IS NOT YET FINALIZED, BUT CITY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING ORLANDO MAYOR BUDDY DYER, SAY THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHERE THE STOPS NEED TO GO TO BENEFIT THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

>>BRIGHTLINE CAME TO US WITH AN UNSOLICITED PROPOSAL TO BUILD A LINE FROM THE AIRPORT TO TAMPA.

AND ORIGINALLY THEIR ROUTE WAS ALONG THE 417.

THERE'S ABOUT 70,000 EMPLOYEES THAT WORK IN THE INTERNATIONAL DRIVE AREA.

SO THE CONSENSUS I THINK IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THERE'S A BETTER ROUTE THAT HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH A LOT OF THE PLANNING PROCESS, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT HIGH SPEED RAIL PREVIOUSLY, THAT HAS A CORRIDOR THAT WOULD GO TOWARD INTERNATIONAL DRIVE.

>>ORANGE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION PLANNING MANAGER RENZO NASTASI SAYS THE BRIGHTLINE EXTENSION TO TAMPA IS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT WITH LOTS OF MOVING PARTS, BOLSTERED BY A RECENT INFUSION OF FEDERAL FUNDING.

>>THE ONLY GRANT THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED IS THE BRIGHTLINE GRANT.

AND THAT'S FOR THE PORTION BETWEEN SOUTH INTERNATIONAL DRIVE TO TAMPA.

SO THE DISCUSSION IS SHOULD THAT GRANT BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE EASTERN SEGMENT FROM SOUTH I DRIVE TO THE AIRPORT.

>>BRIGHTLINE'S SECOND PHASE IS THE PORTION FROM WEST PALM BEACH TO ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

BUT IT'S PHASE THREE FROM ORLANDO TO TAMPA THAT HAS LOCAL LEADERS SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE ORLANDO AREA'S COMMUTER RAIL SERVICES.

>>WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE SUNRAIL COMMISSION TO ALSO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRIGHTLINE AND SUNRAIL TO SHARE TRACKS THAT WOULD ALLOW SUNRAIL TO EXPAND EAST-WEST.

SO THE IDEA FOR BRIGHTLINE, AND THE COMMUNITY HAS COME TOGETHER BEHIND THIS ROUTE, WOULD BE AIRPORT TO INTERNATIONAL DRIVE AREA, SOUTH TO DISNEY AREA.

THE EXACT LOCATIONS OF THOSE STOPS HAVEN'T BEEN FINALIZED.

BUT THEN FROM THERE ON TO TAMPA.

>>DISNEY AND BRIGHTLINE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN DISCUSSING PLANS FOR A DISNEY SPRINGS STATION, BUT DISNEY DROPPED OUT OF THE PROJECT AFTER UNIVERSAL AND THE SO-CALLED RIGHT RAIL PARTNERSHIP OF BUSINESSES OFFERED BRIGHTLINE FINANCING AND GUARANTEED TICKET SALE INCENTIVES TO CHANGE THE ROUTE, WHICH IS HOPED WILL STILL INCLUDE A STATION NEAR DISNEY.

>>NOTHING HAS BEEN FINALIZED, BUT A CONCEPT WOULD BE FOR BRIGHTLINE TO PAY FOR THE TRACK USAGE TO THAT PUBLIC ENTITY.

SO WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING BRIGHTLINE, IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

>>KRYSTEL KNOWLES REPORTING THERE.

RYAN, YOU'VE WRITTEN A LOT ABOUT THIS ONE.

JUST FIRST OF ALL, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTION FROM WEST PALM TO ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?

IS COMPLETION ON TARGET?

>>SO THE EXISTING CONSTRUCTION, THAT SORT OF RAIL LINE FROM WEST PALM BEACH TO ORLANDO, IS CURRENTLY AT 80%.

THEY PUT OUT A RECENT RIDERSHIP REPORT, I BELIEVE FOR JUNE, WHERE THEY HAD MENTIONED A SLIGHT PUSH OF THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE INTO EARLY 2023.

NOT A HUGE CHANGE AND NOT A EXPECTATION YET THAT THAT WOULD DELAY SERVICE STARTING IN 2023, BUT JUST A SLIGHT PUSH OF CONSTRUCTION.

>>I MEAN, SINCE WE LAST TALKED ABOUT THIS ON THE PROGRAM, TALIA, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S AWARDED FLORIDA, I THINK 24 MILLION, FOR RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE.

WHAT'S THAT GOING TO MEAN FOR THE SUNSHINE CORRIDOR?

>>YEAH.

SO ABOUT, I WANT TO SAY 15.9 MILLION'S GOING TO GO TOWARDS THAT EXTENSION IN BETWEEN ORLANDO AND TAMPA.

SO IT'S GOING TO HELP EXTEND THAT ALL THE WAY OUT.

>>SO THEY GET A GOOD CHUNK OF THE MONEY FOR THAT PROJECT.

>>YEAH.

>>I MEAN, STEVE, DISNEY DROPPED OUT AFTER THIS ROUTE CHANGE AND YOUR COLLEAGUE KEVIN SPEAR HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THIS A LOT.

I MEAN, DO COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIALS THINK THAT THERE'S A CHANCE DISNEY COULD STILL BE A PART OF THIS?

>>WELL, THEY'RE CERTAINLY HOPING SO.

>>YEAH.

>>I MEAN, BECAUSE YOU HAVE LOTS OF WORKERS THAT GO THERE, IF THEY COULD SOMEHOW HAVE A EAST-WEST SUNRAIL LINE THAT SHARES THAT, MAYBE YOU TAKE THOSE PEOPLE OFF YOUR HIGHWAYS AND PUT THEM ON THE TRAINS?

SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS THE COUNTY AND CITY CERTAINLY WANT DISNEY INVOLVED.

THEY DON'T WANT THEM LEFT OUT.

>>SUCH A HUGE TRAFFIC GENERATOR, FOR SURE.

I MEAN, TALIA, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THE AIRPORT IN A MOMENT, BUT THE SUNSHINE CORRIDOR PLAN, AS WE MENTIONED, THEY SEE A TRANSFER STATION TO CONNECT BRIGHTLINE AND SUNRAIL.

I MEAN, I WONDER HOW MUCH OF A BIG DEAL THAT IS FOR OUR AREA, GIVEN THE GROWTH IN TRAFFIC WE'RE SEEING AT THE AIRPORT?

>>OH, IT'S HUGE.

AND EVEN IF YOU TAKE OUT THE AIRPORT OUT OF THAT, JUST HAVING THAT RAIL WILL CONNECT SO MANY PEOPLE TO SO MANY MORE JOBS IN THE AREA.

I THINK IT WAS THE ORLANDO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP THAT DID A STUDY THAT LOOKED, WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE TRANSPORTATION, HOW MANY JOBS YOU HAVE ACCESS TO?

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, SAY IT'S LIKE 500, BUT IF YOU DO HAVE TRANSPORTATION, IT'S LIKE 5,000.

>>YEAH.

>>JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

SO, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

>>WELL, THAT SORT OF GOES TO WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, RYAN.

I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO COST ABOUT AN EXTRA BILLION OR SO TO TAKE THAT SORT OF NORTHERN JOG UP TO THE SORT OF THE CONVENTION CENTER AREA.

AND I WONDER WHAT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY STUDIES ON THAT?

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY UNIVERSAL AND THOSE OTHERS IN RIGHT RAIL THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

>>AND OBVIOUSLY THEY MADE THAT TICKET GUARANTEE AS WAS MENTIONED BEFORE.

THEY'RE CURRENTLY TALKING ABOUT DOING A RIDERSHIP STUDY.

THERE'S TALK ABOUT BOTH FOR SUNRAIL AND FOR BRIGHTLINE, BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF TWO DIFFERENT SERVICES, ONE KIND OF COMMUTER RAIL AROUND THE AREA AND ONE OBVIOUSLY EVENTUALLY GOING TO TAMPA.

SO THOSE ARE SORT OF GETTING ROLLING AND STARTING TO GET STARTED IN THE FUTURE.

THERE HASN'T BEEN TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF STUDIES, BUT OBVIOUSLY IF YOU PUT A STATION ON DESTINATION PARKWAY NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER, AS WELL AS ONE ON SOUTH INTERNATIONAL DRIVE NEAR DISNEY, THAT'S GOING TO BE HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT BECAUSE YOU'RE TOUCHING ON BOTH THOSE EMPLOYMENT CENTERS AS WELL AS BOTH AREAS WHERE TOURISTS ARE GOING TO WANT TO GO.

>>AND, STEVE, WHAT DOES THE PENNY SALES TAX MEAN FOR ALL OF THIS?

I MEAN THIS IS TO PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

HOW'S THAT GOING TO FACTOR IN HERE?

>>WELL, MAYOR DEMINGS HAS TALKED ABOUT 45% OF THE MONEY GOING TO LYNX AND SUNRAIL.

>>YEAH.

>>45% TO ROADS, 10% TO THE CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES, FOR THEIR PROJECTS.

CLEARLY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MAYOR PITCHING THIS AS A TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE TO THE SYSTEM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE LOTS OF MONEY, AND YOU HAVE TO AFFECT A LOT OF THINGS.

>>WELL, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT STORY AS IT MOVES FORWARD AS WELL.

AND YOU CAN SEE MORE FROM THE INTERVIEWS IN KRYSTEL'S STORY, INCLUDING WITH ORLANDO MAYOR BUDDY DYER ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

>>WELL, WE MENTIONED ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT JUST NOW.

WELL, THE LONG AWAITED TERMINAL C IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN NEXT MONTH AFTER YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION DELAYS.

>>THE GREATER ORLANDO AVIATION AUTHORITY SAYS TERMINAL C WILL HAVE 15 GATES, CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING UP TO 20 AIRCRAFT.

THE TERMINAL WILL BE HOME TO SEVERAL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS, JETBLUE, AER LINGUS, AZUL, BRITISH AIRWAYS, CARIBBEAN, EMIRATES, GOL ICELAND, AIR, LUFTHANSA, AND NORSE.

>>HOLD ONTO HANDRAILS.

>>THE NEW TERMINAL IS CONNECTED TO THE EXISTING TERMINALS A AND B VIA A FOUR MINUTE SHUTTLE RIDE.

THE TERMINAL COMES WITH A MORE THAN $3 BILLION PRICE TAG, ABOUT 40 MILLION MORE THAN THE BUDGET SET OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

9/11, THE GREAT RECESSION, AND MOST RECENTLY THE PANDEMIC HAVE ALL SLOWED THE LONG PLANNED PATH TO THIS MOMENT, AND THE AIRPORT'S BEEN BUOYED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LARGESSE IN THE FORM OF INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY AND PANDEMIC AID.

>>OIA SERVES SOME 50 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR.

AS THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY AND AIRPORTS BUCKLE UNDER THE PRESSURE OF UNRELENTING PASSENGER GROWTH AND STAFF SHORTAGES THE ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PROMISES TERMINAL C WILL PROVIDE A QUOTE, "EXCEPTIONAL PASSENGER EXPERIENCE AND A STATE OF THE ART SYSTEM FOR CHECKED PACKAGE TRACKING AND EXPEDITED DELIVERY."

SERVICES ARE EXPECTED TO START FROM TERMINAL C ON SEPTEMBER 19TH.

>>ALL RIGHT, LET'S DIG INTO THIS ONE.

TALIA, I'LL COME TO YOU FIRST ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, GIVE US A PRIMER, IF YOU CAN, ON SORT OF WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

THINGS HAVE REALLY COME BACK SINCE THE PANDEMIC LOWS.

>>OH, YEAH, DEFINITELY COME BACK.

IN MAY, I WANT TO SAY THE AIRPORT REPORTED LIKE 4.4 MILLION PEOPLE COMING THROUGH, AND THAT'S INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC.

AND TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF HOW BUSY MCO IS, I'VE SEEN REPORTS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY OPTING TO FLY IN AND OUT OF THE SMALLER CENTRAL FLORIDA AIRPORTS, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT AS BUSY.

SO SANFORD OR MELBOURNE AIRPORT.

>>DAYTONA.

>>DAYTONA, YEAH.

BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NOT AS BUSY, BECAUSE MCO IS VERY BUSY.

I EVEN JUST WENT RECENTLY TO PICK UP SOMEBODY FROM THE AIRPORT AT 10:00 AT NIGHT.

>>YEAH.

>>AND IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET THROUGH.

SO YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE >>I THINK WE'RE THE SEVENTH BUSIEST AIRPORT IN THE NATION NOW, RIGHT?

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE HAS OIA RECEIVED TO HELP PAY FOR TERMINAL C?

>>WELL, AND THEY JUST GOT THAT $50 MILLION OF FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS TOWARDS THE PROJECT.

AND THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THE SCALE OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECT WAS SORT OF SIZED DOWN A FEW GATES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE POTENTIAL TO BRING THOSE ADDITIONAL GATES BACK ONLINE, WHICH WOULD BE HUGE, BECAUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HAVE MORE FLIGHTS AND THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS ECONOMIC IMPACT.

>>I MEAN, STEVE, AS WE MENTIONED JUST NOW, OIA NOW ONE OF THE BIGGEST AIRPORTS IN THE NATION IN TERMS OF PASSENGER TRAFFIC.

I MEAN, HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO LOCAL LEADERS DESIRE TO SORT OF SEE MORE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER SOURCE OF TRAFFIC?

>>WELL, SUNRAIL DOESN'T RUN RIGHT NOW TO THE AIRPORT AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE PLANS.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANT IN THE PLANS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THE AIRPORT.

SO ALL THESE TRANSIT IDEAS THAT WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH THE PENNY SALES TAX, SOME OF THAT CONNECTS TO THE AIRPORT.

IT'S A IMPORTANT HUB.

>>RYAN, JUST FINALLY, BRIEFLY, IF YOU CAN.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE MERGER TALKS BETWEEN FRONTIER AND SPIRIT, WHICH HAS SORT OF LEFT JETBLUE NOW A MAJOR CARRIER AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO SORT OF TRY TO ACQUIRE SPIRIT.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN FOR SERVICES AT MCO?

>>THERE IS SOME OVERLAP BETWEEN THE SERVICES OF THOSE TWO AIRLINES, SO WE MIGHT SEE SOME CONSOLIDATION, LET'S SAY WHERE THEY HAVE FLIGHTS GOING TO THE SAME DESTINATION.

WHEN THIS SORT OF COMES TOGETHER POTENTIALLY WE MIGHT SEE SOME OF THE HUBS AND OTHER PLACES THAT JETBLUE DOESN'T CURRENTLY GO TO, THEY MIGHT TRAVEL THERE AND JUST KEEP THE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE'S AN OVERLAP AND KEEP THEM UNDER ONE ROOF.

>>WELL, BUSY TIMES AT OIA AND FOR TRANSPORTATION IN GENERAL IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

AND WE'LL FOLLOW ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS HERE ON NEWSNIGHT, BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO STEVE HUDAK FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, TALIA BLAKE, 90.7 WMFE NEWS, AND RYAN LYNCH FROM THE ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL.

THANK YOU FOR COMING IN GUYS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.