>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, GOVERNOR DESANTIS PROMISES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TACKLE FLORIDA'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE AS RENTS CONTINUE TO RISE.

PLANS FOR FLORIDA TO TAKE ITS OWN STEPS ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT SPUR CONTROVERSY.

AND OUR PANEL LOOKS BACK AT THE BIGGEST STORIES OF THE YEAR IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

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

AND WE DO THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK, MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE, ALEXA LORENZO, AND STEVE LEMONGELLO FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, A LONG TIME CONTRIBUTOR TO NEWSNIGHT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE IN THE STUDIO WITH US TODAY.

STEVE, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, FIRST TONIGHT, AS WE DISCUSSED LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW, GOVERNOR DESANTIS LAID OUT HIS BUDGET RECENTLY FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>>FLORIDA IS CLICKING ON ALL CYLINDERS WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMY AND BUDGET.

OUR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR CLOCKS IN AT $99.7 BILLION, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES RECORD FUNDING FOR KEY PRIORITIES LIKE EDUCATION, OUR ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

ALL WHILE MAINTAINING A HISTORIC AMOUNT OF RESERVES OF MORE THAN $15 BILLION.

SO THIS IS A REALLY STRONG PICTURE OF A STATE THAT'S PERFORMING VERY, VERY WELL AND A STATE THAT'S CONTINUED TO DEFY EXPECTATIONS IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC VITALITY.

I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE SOME OF THE INFLATION THAT WE'RE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY.

THERE'S A LOT THAT I WISH WOULD BE DONE TO MAYBE GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION NATIONALLY, BUT THAT'S JUST WHERE WE'RE AT.

SO DOING THAT WITH THE GAS TAX RELIEF, WITH THE OTHER SALES TAX HOLIDAYS, I THINK WILL BE A VERY WELCOME THING FOR A LOT OF FLORIDIANS.

AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO KEEP ON GOING.

WE PROMISED WE WOULD DO THESE THINGS.

WHEN I BECAME GOVERNOR, WE PROMISED WE TACKLE ENVIRONMENT.

WE PROMISED WE'D BE SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION.

WE PROMISED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE PROMISED TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

AND WE'RE DELIVERING TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

SO FREEDOM FIRST BUDGET, FREEDOM WORKS IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE PROUD OF THAT.

WE'RE PROUD OF BEING VIEWED AS THE FREE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT THE ECONOMIC RESULTS ARE SOMETHING THAT HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY POSITIVE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO WE DO WANT TO DRILL DOWN ON TWO OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED AREAS OF SPENDING.

HE WANTS MORE THAN $355 MILLION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND 8 MILLION TO REMOVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM FLORIDA.

WELL, WE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR.

SO BEFORE WE DISCUSS THOSE ISSUES, LET'S GET THE PERSPECTIVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE.

MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT THIS WEEK SPOKE WITH ORLANDO STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNA ESKAMANI AND STARTED BY ASKING HER ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>>THE REALITY IS THAT IT SHOULD BE TWICE AS MUCH.

LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, FLORIDA REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY PERMANENTLY RAIDED THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS BY DIVIDING THE FUNDS BETWEEN HOUSING FOR AFFORDABLE NEEDS AND RESILIENCE PROJECTS.

BUT I'LL ADD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST DOLLARS, THESE ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT FOR ANOTHER FIVE TO 10 YEARS.

THE REALITY IS THAT BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS IMPORTANT, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE CURRENT CRISIS.

SO ONE OF OUR CONCERNS OF THIS PROPOSED BUDGET IS THAT IT LOOKS DECENTLY GOOD ON PAPER IN THE WORLD OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING RIGHT NOW, AS WE SEE RENT GOING UP 20 TO 30% IN COUNTIES AND CITIES ACROSS FLORIDA.

THE NEED FOR RESPONSE IS NOW NOT DOWN THE ROAD.

>>SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE SADOWSKI TRUST FUND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RIGHT, THAT'S BEEN USED OVER THE YEARS FOR OTHER PRIORITIES, BUT THOSE RESILIENCE PROJECTS ARE IMPORTANT, AREN'T THEY?

>>THEY'RE IMPORTANT PROJECTS, BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RAID WHAT IS A ESSENTIAL FUNDING SOURCE THAT WAS CREATED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PAY FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OTHER PROJECTS.

AND THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, DUE TO THE HOUSING MARKET, WE SHOULD SEE TWICE AS MANY FUNDS GOING INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT BECAUSE LEGISLATURE PERMANENTLY CUT THIS FUND, NOW WE'RE SEEING IT SPLIT BETWEEN OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT BUT CAN BE PAID FOR WITH AMERICAN RESCUE PLANS, CAN BE PAID FOR BY CLOSING CORPORATE TAX LOOP HOLES.

THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER WAYS TO COVER THE COST OF RESILIENCY PROJECTS.

TO RAID AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOES NOT MAKE SENSE, AND AGAIN, AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS ARE IMPORTANT BUT LIKE I SAID, IT DOESN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

>>LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT IMMIGRATION NOW.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS THIS WEEK TO PAY CONTRACTORS TO REMOVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM FLORIDA?

>>HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024.

HE'S ACTING IN HIS OWN POLITICAL AMBITIONS.

AND THOUGH HE CAN'T MOVE THE BORDER CRISIS TO FLORIDA, LIKE HE WISHES HE COULD, HE DOES WANT TO TRY TO MONOPOLIZE THE ANTI-IMMIGRANT FERVOR IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HIS OWN POLITICAL GAIN BY ACTING AS IF THERE IS A CRISIS HERE IN FLORIDA.

THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER AND ORDER FROM DEPARTMENT CHILDREN OF FAMILIES IS ACTUALLY GOING AFTER UNDOCUMENTED, NOT JUST MINORS WHO ARE UNACCOMPANIED, BUT REFUGEES, SAYING THAT THAT FLORIDA WILL NOT WELCOME MIGRANT CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING THROUGH THE JUDICIAL PROCESS TO SEE WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE WITH VISAS, PURELY DUE TO THE DISINFORMATION THAT THEY'RE DANGEROUS.

>>WELL, I THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD SAY HE'S TARGETING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS THAT HE BELIEVES ARE BEING WRONGLY TAKEN TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHEN HE THINKS THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE COUNTRY INSTEAD.

WHY SHOULD FLORIDA NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMOVE THEM FROM THIS STATE?

>>THE GOVERNOR IS LYING.

HE CONSTANTLY REFERS TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AS ILLEGAL WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT IT IS 100% LEGAL TO SEEK ASYLUM, IT IS 100% LEGAL TO BE A REFUGEE, AND WE'RE HERE TO CALL HIM OUT ON IT AND OF COURSE AMPLIFY THE IMPORTANCE OF LIVING OUR AMERICAN VALUES, OF WELCOMING THE IMMIGRANT, OF WELCOMING THE SICK AND TIRED AND HUNGRY, AND THOSE YEARNING TO BE FREE.

>>I SHOULD ASK YOU ABOUT OMICRON.

AS WE CAST OUR EYES OVER TO EUROPE, THE PICTURE DOESN'T LOOK PROMISING THERE.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING HERE IN FLORIDA THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY NOT?

>>I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT NO ONE PANIC.

WE KNOW THAT VACCINATION CAN HELP WITH ANY TYPE OF VARIANT AS WE'RE LEARNING MORE RESEARCH ABOUT THE IMPACT OF CORONA VACCINES ON THIS NEW VARIANT, IT STILL RINGS TRUE THAT GETTING VACCINATED, WEARING A MASK, WASHING YOUR HANDS, ALL THESE ARE MITIGATION TACTICS THAT CAN AT THE VERY LEAST REDUCE THE SPREAD AND OF COURSE REDUCE THE SYMPTOMS, IF YOU DO TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID 19.

AND SO BE THOUGHTFUL WITH YOUR HOLIDAY PLANS.

OF COURSE, WE WANT FOLKS TO CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE.

WE WANT FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO STILL WORK.

BUT THESE ARE WHERE THOSE SAFETY STANDARDS CAN REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN KEEPING YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY SAFE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO ALEXA, LET'S START WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WFTV HAS REPORTED ON THE RENT SITUATION IN CENTRAL FLORIDA EXTENSIVELY.

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY OF SAYING IT.

HOW HAS THE RENTAL MARKET SHIFTED LOCALLY SINCE JUST THE START OF THIS YEAR?

>>SO AT THE START OF THIS YEAR, THE AVERAGE RENTAL PRICE FOR A ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT WAS AROUND $1,200.

NOW IT'S $1700, THAT'S $500 MORE A MONTH THAT PEOPLE NOW HAVE TO SHELL OUT JUST TO HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEAD.

AND YOU HEARD ANNA ESKAMANI THERE SAY IT'S GONE UP 20%, 30%.

IN POCKETS HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, WE'RE SEEING 40 AND 50%.

AND THIS IS JUST UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO CONTINUE, SOME EXPERTS ARE SAYING.

SO WHILE THE HOUSING MARKET IS COOLING DOWN, BUYING A HOME, RENTING AN APARTMENT, RENTING A HOME, CONTINUES TO TICK UP.

>>AND STEVE, ON THE FUNDING SIDE OF THIS, THIS IS THE LARGEST CHUNK OF PROPOSED SPENDING ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A DECADE, FINALLY.

I FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN COVERING THIS FOREVER.

AND THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S FULLY FUNDING THE SADOWSKI FUND NOW.

SO WHY ARE DEMOCRATS NOT HAPPY WITH THAT?

>>IT'S ONE THING TO FULLY FUND IT.

IT'S ANOTHER TO ACTUALLY SPEND THE MONEY IN IT, AS ESKIMANI SAID, AND AS CARLOS SMITH ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE FROM ORLANDO HAS LONG SAID.

IT CONTINUES TO GET RAIDED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I THINK ONLY 200 OF $400 MILLION WAS USED LAST YEAR.

SO THE DEMOCRATS ARE WORRIED THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FULL FUND, AND PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT IT AS A BIG POT OF MONEY TO TAKE OTHER THINGS FROM, AND JUST THE MONEY WON'T BE SPENT ON ACTUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

>>SO, ALEXA, MANY OF THE SAFETY NETS PROVIDED TO RENTERS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE NOW BEEN ELIMINATED, AS WE KNOW.

IS THERE ANY HELP THAT PEOPLE WHO REMAIN COST BURDENED WITH RENT CAN STILL GET?

WHAT'S STILL OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE?

>>YEAH.

SOME OF THE CITIES AND COUNTIES STILL HAVE THAT POT OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT THEY RECEIVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLOCATE TO EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

AND JUST LAST WEEK WE SAW ORANGE COUNTY OPEN UP THEIR PORTAL AGAIN FOR CITY OF ORLANDO RESIDENTS.

SO THAT IS, AGAIN, MORE MONEY THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP CAN GO GET.

THIS IS INCOME BASED.

IF YOU CAN PROVE THAT YOU'VE HAD FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS BROUGHT ON BY COVID, YOU CAN GET THAT MONEY.

AND ORANGE COUNTY SAID, SO FAR, THEY'VE HELPED MORE THAN 3000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES STAY IN THEIR HOUSES, IN THEIR APARTMENTS, WITH THIS PROGRAM.

>>STEVE, WE HEARD REPRESENTATIVE ESKAMANI THERE CREDIT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR FLORIDA'S FISCAL HEALTH.

HOW MUCH OF A ROLE DOES FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY PLAY IN ALL THIS?

>>IT PLAYS A BIG ROLE, BUT OF COURSE, DESANTIS REALLY HAS NOT CREDITED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, OR ANY OF THE BILLS PASSED BY DEMOCRATS THIS YEAR, WHEN IT COMES TO ANYTHING.

HE TOUTS THE VARIOUS BONUSES GIVEN TO TEACHERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT COME OUT OF THESE FUNDS, BUT NEVER REALLY MENTIONS IT.

AND THAT'S ALSO ANNOYS DEMOCRATS IS THAT REPUBLICANS MOSTLY VOTED AGAINST THESE THINGS, THE ONE THIS YEAR, AT LEAST, AND SIMPLY DESANTIS DOES NOT GIVE THEM THE CREDIT FOR IT.

>>RIGHT.

TO BE SURE THIS CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE, NO DOUBT.

AND WE CONTINUE IT HERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

SO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN FIND US THERE AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SWITCH GEARS NOW AND TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT WANTS TO, "PROTECT FLORIDIANS FROM THE BIDEN BORDER CRISIS."

THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED A DRAFT OF LEGISLATION INCLUDING STATE PENALTIES FOR PRIVATE ENTITIES THAT FLY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO FLORIDA ON BEHALF OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND HE WANTS TO STRENGTHEN RECENT LAWS ON SANCTUARY CITIES AND E-VERIFY.

>>WELL, GOOD MORNING.

>>IN JACKSONVILLE, THE GOVERNOR OPENED UP A NEW FRONT IN HIS BATTLE WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON IMMIGRATION.

>>WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP FOR THE RULE OF LAW.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STAND UP AGAINST AN ADMINISTRATION THAT HAS JUST DECIDED THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE A SECURE BORDER.

YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

THE LAWS OF OUR COUNTRY REQUIRE US TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

>>THE GOVERNOR, WHO'S DESCRIBED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BORDER POLICIES AS RECKLESS, WANTS $8 MILLION TO PAY PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO REMOVE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS FROM FLORIDA.

HE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES TO IDENTIFY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TRANSPORTED TO FLORIDA FROM THE US MEXICO BORDER BY FEDERAL AGENTS.

>>CRITICS SAY THE MOVE TEES UP A CONSTITUTIONAL CLASH WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

AND THAT IMMIGRANTS WITH LEGITIMATE ASYLUM CLAIMS COULD BE SWEPT UP IN THE ACTION.

SO STEVE, LET'S BREAK THIS DOWN.

FIRST OF ALL, THE GOVERNOR IS ASKING FOR MONEY TO PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

SO HOW EXACTLY WOULD THAT WORK THOUGH?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>>AND IT'S ONCE AGAIN, LIKE I JUST MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS MONEY IS COMING OUT OF ACCRUED INTEREST FROM THE MONEY THAT THE STATE GETS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DUE TO THE BILL PASSED EARLY THIS YEAR BY DEMOCRATS.

>>RIGHT.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE PENALTIES FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTORS THAT HE'S ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS?

WHAT KIND OF SANCTIONS IS HE PROPOSING?

THAT COULD GET VERY COMPLICATED WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR WORKFORCE?

>>YES.

ESSENTIALLY ANY FEDERAL CONTRACTOR THAT HE OR THE STATE BELIEVES IS TAKING MIGRANTS INTO THE STATE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET STATE OR LOCAL CONTRACTS.

AND THEN HE WOULD ALSO, THE BILL THAT HE'S CALLING FORWARD, WOULD MAKE THESE CONTRACTORS PAY FOR EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF GETTING THEM OUT OF THE STATE, THOUGH, AGAIN, IT'S UNCLEAR HOW MANY ACTUAL MIGRANTS LIKE THIS ARE IN THE STATE.

>>RIGHT.

ALEXA, THE GOVERNOR ALSO WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ACTION ON SANCTUARY CITIES AND E-VERIFY AS WELL, ANOTHER ISSUE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SO REMIND US OF WHAT EXISTING LAWS DO AND HOW THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO TIGHTEN THEM UP.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES THAT HE WANTS TO SEE?

>>SO ESSENTIALLY HE WANTS TO EXPAND A 2020 STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND ALL CONTRACTORS TO CHECK WITH A ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEM, E-VERIFY, TO ENSURE THAT THE PEOPLE THEY ARE HIRING ARE DOCUMENTED, THEY'RE NOT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

SO THE CHANGE WOULD BE TO GIVE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, THE OPPORTUNITY TO IN TURN PENALIZE AND ENFORCE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT USE THAT E-VERIFY SYSTEM WHEN LOOKING TO HIRE PEOPLE.

AS FOR SANCTUARY CITIES, THESE ARE MUNICIPALITIES WHO DO NOT LOOK AT DEPORTING AND PROSECUTING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, OF COURSE, DESPITE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW.

AND THIS HAS HAD A HOST OF LEGAL CHALLENGES SINCE IT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.

AND THIS IS STILL ALL PLAYING OUT.

BUT WHAT HE WANTS TO DO NOW IS HE WANTS TO ENSURE THAT CITIES, COUNTIES, THAT ASSIST ANYBODY IN STAYING HERE IN THE STATE FACE PENALTIES.

SO NOT ONLY DID HE BACK IN 2019 PROHIBIT LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM PROTECTING THESE PEOPLE, NOW HE WANTS TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF POLICE AGENCIES, SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS, PROTECT THESE PEOPLE AND DON'T REPORT THEM TO HIS AGENCY.

>>SO BEFORE WE LOOK BACK AT THE YEAR, WE DID WANT TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON AN EVENT THE GOVERNOR HELD IN WILDWOOD ON WEDNESDAY OF THIS WEEK TO ANNOUNCE WHAT HE'S CALLING THE STOP WOKE ACT.

HE'S DEMANDING LEGISLATURES PASS A BILL IN THE NEXT SESSION TO CRACK DOWN ON CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS.

STEVE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS ALREADY BANNED THE TEACHING OF CRT IN FLORIDA SCHOOLS, SO WHAT WOULD THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BILL ACTUALLY DO?

>>YES, ESSENTIALLY THIS PROPOSED BILL WOULD DO WHAT'S BEEN DONE IN TEXAS WITH THE ABORTION LAW.

IT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO SUE, TO SORT OF, IF THEY BELIEVE THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR ANYTHING RESEMBLING CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS HAPPENING IN THEIR CLASSROOMS.

>>YEAH.

ALEXA, HOW ARE DEMOCRATS REACTING TO THAT?

>>THEY'RE NOT HOLDING BACK.

THEY'VE USED SOME VERY STRONG WORDS.

THEY SAID THIS IS A DISTRACTION.

AND THAT HE IS CREATING A, "FAKE PROBLEM TO DIVIDE EVERYONE."

THEY BELIEVE HE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON BIGGER ISSUES LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHAT THEY'VE CALLED THE MASS EXODUS OF EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOL.

WE'VE HAD OTHER DEMOCRATS SAYING THAT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE WAS ONE OF THE MOST WILD THINGS THAT THEY'VE EVER SEEN, SAYING THAT IT'S JUST FOOLISH AND THAT WE HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS ON THE TABLE BESIDE THIS.

>>AND REMEMBER, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ON IMMIGRATION.

YOU CAN READ THE WHOLE THING FOR YOURSELF.

IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.

JUST GO TO WUCF.ORG/NEWSIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, NEXT TONIGHT, THIS IS THE FINAL EPISODE OF NEWSNIGHT FOR 2021.

AND WE WANTED TO LOOK BACK AT THE BIG STORIES WE'VE COVERED LOCALLY OVER THE LAST YEAR.

LET'S ALL TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

WHAT A YEAR.

RIGHT?

SO ALEXA, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU COVERED REALLY JUST SOME HEARTBREAKING STORIES, OF COURSE, INCLUDING THE DEATH OF MIYA MARCANO, THE PROTEST BY CUBAN-AMERICANS, AND THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT HAS STOOD OUT FOR YOU IN YOUR YEAR OF REPORTING IN OUR AREA?

>>I THINK I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PASSION, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF POWER.

PEOPLE BELIEVE, "I CAN SPARK CHANGE, AND I'M GOING TO DO THAT."

THEY'VE BEEN REALLY AFFECTED BY SO MUCH, SO MUCH IN GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, SO MUCH WITH HEALTH DISPARITIES, SO MUCH WITH CRIME HERE ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA, THAT THEY'RE SAYING, "WE DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.

AND I'M GOING TO LEAD THIS SPARK OF CHANGE."

AND I'M SEEING A LOT OF PASSION AND POWER, I THINK.

ALEXA, YOU KNOW, WE DO NEED TO JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE AND DEEPER ABOUT THE MIYA MARCANO CASE.

WE GOT TO REVISIT HOW YOU COVERED THAT STORY AND THE TIME YOU SPENT WITH HER FAMILY AND HOW THEY TOLD YOU THAT REALLY NOW ALL THEY CAN DO IS REALLY HOPE THAT THEY CAN CREATE SOME CHANGE.

>>YEAH.

>>AND SOME REALLY IMPACTFUL CHANGE OUT OF THIS TRAGEDY.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO COME OUT OF THIS LAW THE FAMILY'S TRYING TO PUSH.

>>WELL, THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE I REMEMBER TELLING YOU THAT IN OUR SIT DOWN INTERVIEW, THE FAMILY SAID, "ANYTIME THAT THIS WILL BE TALKED ABOUT UP IN TALLAHASSEE, WE WILL BE THERE."

>>YEAH.

>>AND WE SAW THE FULL IMMEDIATE FAMILY UP THERE IN THE CAPITOL ABOUT TWO WEEKS BACK.

AND THEY SHARED THE STORY.

IT'S NOT AN EASY STORY TO TELL.

>>RIGHT.

>>BUT THEY HAVE TO TELL THE STORY TO, LIKE I'VE SAID WITH OTHER STORIES, SPARK CHANGE.

SO THEY WERE ALL THERE WITH STATE SENATOR LINDA STEWART.

AND SOMETHING THAT I DID FIND VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WHEN WE SWITCHED TO LOOKING FROM A POLITICAL LENS, YOU HAD STATE SENATOR KEITH PERRY RIGHT BEHIND STATE SENATOR LINDA STEWART.

THAT'S A REPUBLICAN AND A DEMOCRAT.

THEY WANT THIS TO BE A BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

>>RIGHT.

>>SO THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY THE APARTMENT COMPLEX INDUSTRY REALLY IS ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THEY WANT STRICTER BACKGROUND CHECKS LOOKING AT THE FEDERAL LANDSCAPE OF PEOPLE'S CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THE ABILITY TO DISQUALIFY EMPLOYEES, IF ANY SORT OF CRIMINAL CHARGE WERE TO POP UP.

THEY WANT TO CHANGE THAT MASTER KEY FOB SYSTEM SO THAT THERE IS A TRACKING DOCUMENT TO KNOW WHO THAT WAS USED, WHEN THAT WAS USED, WHY THAT WAS USED.

AND YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE IT IN YOUR POCKET AT ALL TIMES, YOU GOT TO DEPOSIT IT.

AND IT HAS TO BE VERY, VERY KIND OF KEEP THAT KEY UNDER LOCK AND KEY.

SO THEY WANT A LOT OF CHANGE BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY DON'T WANT ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN TO ANOTHER FAMILY BECAUSE MIYA HAD SO MUCH LIFE AHEAD OF HER.

>>OH, GOSH.

>>A VALENCIA COLLEGE STUDENT, 19 YEARS OLD.

AND IN OUR IN DEPTH INTERVIEW, THEY KNEW HOW HARD THE HOLIDAYS WAS GOING TO BE.

I FOLLOW HER FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY'VE BEEN POSTING THAT THEY DON'T EVEN WANT TO DECORATE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO CELEBRATE FAMILY'S BIRTHDAYS BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS SUCH A BIG PART OF IT.

SO WHERE THIS LEGISLATION STANDS, IT'LL BE IN FRONT OF THE FULL STATE SENATE IN FEBRUARY.

AND IN A FEW WEEKS LIKELY AFTER THE HOLIDAY STRETCH, IT WILL BE PRESENTED IN COMMITTEES.

>>THERE ARE STORIES AND FAMILIES AND PEOPLE THAT YOU NEVER FORGET, NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS WE DO THIS JOB.

AND I KNOW THAT FAMILY WILL BE THAT FOR YOU, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SUCH AN IMPACTFUL INTERVIEW.

AND YOU CAN'T EVEN USE THE WORD CLOSURE REALLY, EVER, BUT PERHAPS THIS LAW AND THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON PEOPLE'S LIVES COULD BE THE COMFORT, FOR THEM.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

>>IN THE YEARS AHEAD, AS THEY GRIEVE AND THEY RELEARN LIFE WITHOUT HER.

>>YEAH.

>>AND STEVE, THE SENTINEL HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND EXTENSIVE POLITICAL COVERAGE THIS YEAR.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STORIES FOR YOU OUT OF ALL THAT WORK?

>>YEAH, JUST SOME GREAT STUFF FROM SOME OF OUR REPORTERS AT THE SENTINEL.

JASON GARCIA AND ANNIE MARTIN DID SOME GREAT STORIES ON THE GHOST CANDIDATES THAT HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND IN SOUTH FLORIDA, A RECENT STORY ABOUT THE AMAZING POWER OF FLORIDA POWER AND LIGHT, WHO APPARENTLY ARE INVOLVED IN THE FUNDING OF SOME OF THESE GHOST CANDIDATES.

AND JUST A SHOUT OUT TO MARTIN COMAS OUR SEMINOLE COUNTY REPORTER WHO HAS BEEN COVERING JOEL GREENBERG FOR YEARS AND GOT TO WRITE ABOUT HIM A BIT A LOT THIS YEAR.

>>QUITE A BIT, YEAH.

QUITE A BIT ON JOEL GREENBERG.

YEAH.

GOOD WORK THERE AT THE SENTINEL AS WELL.

AND ALEXA, LET'S LOOK TO THE YEAR AHEAD.

YOU'VE BEEN COVERING THE EMERGENCE OF COURSE NOW OF THE OMICRON VARIANT AND DR. RAUL PINO AND MAYOR DEMINGS ADDRESSED THAT THIS WEEK.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO BE A MAJOR STORY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AS WE LOOK TO THE NEW YEAR?

>>THE BLANKET STATEMENT RIGHT NOW IS, DON'T PANIC, BUT PREPARE.

>>RIGHT.

>>THEY DON'T WANT ANYONE TO LET THEIR GUARD DOWN.

THEY WANT EVERYONE TO CONTINUE GETTING THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS, IF THEY HAVEN'T.

WEAR THEIR MASKS, WASH THEIR HANDS, AS WE'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BUT RIGHT NOW, TO BE CLEAR, THE OMICRON VARIANT HAS BEEN DETECTED IN THE WASTEWATER.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN A POSITIVE TEST THAT HAS THEN GONE TO GET GENOMIC SEQUENCING TO SAY, "HEY, THIS TEST IS OMICRON."

SO RIGHT NOW, 99.99% OF CASES CONTINUE TO BE THE DELTA VARIANT.

SO WHILE WE DO SEE ALL THESE OMICRON HEADLINES AND DR. RAUL PINO SAYS AFTER THE HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON HE DOES EXPECT WE WILL SEE CONFIRMED OMICRON TESTS, WE HAVE DELTA, AND WE HAVE THE TOOLS RIGHT NOW TO FIGHT WHATEVER VARIANT COMES OUR WAY.

>>YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THIS NEW VARIANT WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE TIMING OF IT.

AND IT JUST SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING AS WE'RE ALL SORT OF STARTING TO CREEP BACK INTO LIFE AS NORMAL.

I MEAN, WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER IN THE STUDIO NOW, AND THEN WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS, AND THEN WE GOT TO TALK ABOUT TOURISM.

WE WERE JUST REOPENING TO EVERYONE.

>>YEAH, OF COURSE.

VERY BAD TIMING FOR THIS.

WE JUST HAD THE THANKSGIVING SEASON, WHICH WE STARTED TO SEE A LOT OF THESE OMICRON VARIANT CASES POP UP AROUND THE COUNTRY, PROBABLY DUE TO, ESPECIALLY IN COLLEGES, DUE TO THANKSGIVING RECESS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, NEW YEARS, IT'S VERY BAD AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE TRAVEL SITUATION IS GOING TO BE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS AND WHAT WILL BE DONE WHEN IT TERMS TO WHEN IT COMES TO TRAVEL.

>>YEAH.

ALEXA, WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING?

I MEAN, I KNOW WE WERE EXPECTING A WAVE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE EXCITED TO COME BACK AND GO TO THE PARKS AND THE THEME PARKS AND GET BACK TO TOURISM HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

NOW WHAT?

>>YEAH, WE WERE IN THE AIRPORT WATCHING WHEN UK TRAVEL RETURNED AND THEY WERE ALL WEARING THEIR CROWNS.

>>YEAH.

>>AND THEN BRAZIL TRAVEL RETURNED AND THEY WERE ALL WAVING THE FLAGS.

EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO COME BACK TO CENTRAL FLORIDA.

I MEAN, LOOK AT US, RIGHT?

WE'RE A HUB FOR SO MUCH TOURISM.

BUT I SPOKE WITH DR. ROBERTICO CROES OVER AT UCF'S COLLEGE OF ROSEN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.

AND HE WAS SAYING THAT TRAVELERS DON'T LIKE UNCERTAINTY.

>>RIGHT.

>>WHAT IF YOU COME HERE AND SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT YOU CAN'T GO BACK HOME?

WHAT IF YOU COME HERE AND YOUR ROOM ISN'T AVAILABLE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH STAFF BECAUSE THEY'RE OUT SICK AND THEY CANCEL YOUR ROOM?

>>OR YOU COME HERE AND YOU HAVE TO BE QUARANTINED FOR TWO OR THREE WEEKS WHEN YOU GET HOME AND YOU CAN'T GO WORK.

>>RIGHT.

>>I MEAN, THERE'S JUST SO MANY DISRUPTIONS THAT COULD HAPPEN IF THERE'S ANOTHER OUTBREAK OR A SPIKE IN CASES.

>>EXACTLY.

SO THAT IS THE BIG THING, THAT UNCERTAINTY.

SO HE ANTICIPATES SOME TRAVELERS WILL PUT THEIR TRAVEL PLANS ON THE BACK BURNER FOR A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE OF THAT UP IN THE AIR, SHRUG YOUR SHOULDERS SITUATION, WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW.

HE SAYS IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY, "I NEED TO GO ON THIS VACATION."

>>RIGHT.

>>IT HAS BEEN SO MUCH.

AND WE GET IT.

WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE JUST WANT TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN.

SO HE SAYS YOU HAVE THAT TALE OF TWO SIDES.

IT'S SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO WAIT."

OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO GO."

AND RIGHT NOW ALL INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS COMING TO THE UNITED STATES NEED TO PRESENT A NEGATIVE COVID TEST THAT THEY TOOK WITHIN 24 HOURS OF THAT DEPARTURE DATE.

SO THIS IS JUST IN HOPES OF CURBING ANY SORT OF SPIKE IN CASES THAT WE COULD SEE FROM OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ABROAD.

>>OF COURSE, 2022 IS AN ELECTION YEAR.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP WAS HERE JUST THIS WEEK.

WHAT ARE THE BIG POLITICAL STORIES LIKELY TO BE HERE IN FLORIDA?

>>WELL, OF COURSE, MAJOR CAMPAIGNS NEXT YEAR INCLUDE FOR SENATE, VAL DEMINGS VERSUS MARCO RUBIO.

>>RIGHT.

>>AND THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR, BETWEEN CHARLIE CRIST AND ANNETTE TADDEO AND NIKKI FRIED, ALL WANTING TO FACE RON DESANTIS.

>>SO, STEVE, LOOKING INTO THIS BIG ELECTION YEAR, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT ELECTION LAWS AND WHAT HAS CHANGED, WHAT MAY NOT.

TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WHEN WE HEAD TO THE POLLS.

>>YEAH.

MAJOR CHANGES LAST YEAR IN ELECTION LAW HERE IN FLORIDA, DESPITE THE BOASTING OF HOW WELL THE ELECTION WENT IN 2020, THERE WAS A LOT OF TIGHTENING OF ELECTION LAW, DROP BOXES SEVERELY REDUCED IN MOST PLACES, IN EVERY PLACE, ACTUALLY.

A LOT OF CHANGES TO MAIL-IN BALLOTS, A LOT OF CHANGES TO HOW PEOPLE CAN REGISTER VOTERS, MUCH MORE STRICT ON THAT.

THERE'S JUST BEEN A FEW LOCAL ELECTIONS SINCE THAT LAW WAS PASSED SO IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT EFFECT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE HUGE RACES COMING UP IN 2022.

>>IT'S GOING TO BE FUN, GUYS.

IT'S GOING TO BE FUN.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS DISCUSSION THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO ALEXA LORENZO FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE AND STEVE LEMONGELLO FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK HERE ON NEWSNIGHT OVER THE YEARS.

AND BEFORE WE GO, I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

MAYBE YOU HEARD, MAYBE YOU HAVEN'T.

AFTER ABOUT TWO YEARS HERE DOING NEWSNIGHT, 11 YEARS AT CHANNEL NINE, AND 21 YEARS IN A NEWSROOM, I AM MAKING A CAREER CHANGE, TO THE HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY, AND I'LL BE WORKING ON MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE DONE STORIES ON FOR YEARS, SOME THAT WE EVEN SPOKE ABOUT TODAY HERE WITH OUR GUESTS.

AS YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU LIVE, OR HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE.

WE ARE REALLY ALL FACING A COLLECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY.

CHILDREN HAVE FALLEN BEHIND BECAUSE OF DISRUPTIONS AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE HOUSING CRISIS I'VE COVERED FOR YEARS IS STILL A CRISIS, JUST AS WE DISCUSSED TODAY.

SO I'M MAKING A MOVE FROM BEING ON TV TALKING ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS, TO BEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES WORKING TO SOLVE THEM.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, AMAZON CO-FOUNDER AND PHILANTHROPIST MACKENZIE SCOTT CHOSE THE HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY AS THE RECIPIENT OF A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GIFT THAT IS GOING STRAIGHT INTO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT.

WITH A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND MANY STORIES TO TELL, THE UNITED WAY CHOSE ME TO HELP LEAD THE WAY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE GIVEN ME TO SEAT AT THE TABLE AS THE NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND EQUITY IMPACT.

SO THAT LAST PART ABOUT EQUITY IS REALLY EVERYTHING.

THAT'S THE PART WHERE WE COMMIT TO MAKING SURE OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY FEELS SUPPORTED.

THINK OF IT AS A BIG TOWN HALL, AND AT THIS ONE, NO MATTER YOUR BACKGROUND OR WHAT LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK, YOU WILL HAVE A VOICE.

MY PLAN IS TO BRING YOU WITH ME THROUGH CONTENT THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE ON WUCF, AND OF COURSE, SOCIAL MEDIA, WHERE WE'VE SHARED SO MUCH TOGETHER OVER THE YEARS.

I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A SOURCE OF INFORMATION AND OPTIMISM FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I'M ABOUT TO BECOME A BIGGER SOURCE OF HELP AND SUPPORT.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER THIS YEAR AND WHEN THAT HAPPENED, A GOOD FRIEND TOLD ME, "YOU ARE LIVING MORE NOW THAN YOU WERE BEFORE."

SO TO THAT, AND ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER FACED CANCER OR A SUDDEN HEALTH CRISIS, I CAN ONLY SAY, "YOU JUST WAIT, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED."

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY, ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, YOU KNOW WHERE TO FIND ME, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO DO GREAT THINGS TOGETHER AND I INVITE YOU ALL TO BE A PART OF IT.

SO FOR NOW I THANK YOU GUYS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ALLOWING ME INTO YOUR HEARTS AND HOMES ALL OF THESE YEARS.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

MY THANKS AGAIN TO OUR GUESTS AND TO EVERYONE HERE AT NEWSNIGHT WHO HAS MADE THIS JUST A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM.

TAKE CARE, HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY.

AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN HERE ON WUCF.

GOODNIGHT.