This week on NewsNight, vetoed from Florida's record budget a number of flood mitigation projects in central Florida, including in the flood prone Orange County community of Orlo Vista, and coastal communities scramble to finish resiliency efforts as hurricane season ramps up again.

NewsNight starts now.

[MUSIC] Hello, I'm Steve Mort and welcome to NewsNight where we take a closer look at the top stories and issues impacting central Florida and how they affect all of us.

First tonight, Florida's latest blockbuster budget.

It's a new record, 116 and a half billion dollars.

In fact, that's 6% higher than the previous year's budget.

And that's all despite the governor's veto of $511 million worth of spending, including for several projects here in central Florida.

The budget takes effect on July 1st.

Work on Orange County's Orlo Vista flood mitigation program is well underway.

This work was approved in response to devastating flooding following Hurricane Irma in 2017.

It took years to begin.

This community is low lying and is prone to flooding, especially during extreme events, which is why advocates say more funding is needed to make sure residents here are safe.

This project is paid for, but the governor vetoed $2 million requested by State Senator Linda Stewart for a project to allow the use of excess flood water for irrigation and aquifer recharge.

Orange County says it won't impact this ongoing work.

Other projects in Winter Park, Osceola County and $1,000,000 for drainage improvements in the Midway community in Seminole County were also on the chopping block.

But conservation efforts in central Florida were among the winners.

Advocates for Indian River lagoon restoration are welcoming more than $130 million in restoration funding, including for work to prevent wastewater discharging into the waterway during large rain events.

In signing the budget, the governor defended his veto and said his budget makes, quote, historic investments in education, public safety, infrastructure and the environment.

And he took the opportunity to bash Washington.

>>Washington has borrowed, spent and printed trillions and trillions of dollars since March of 2020.

I mean, you can't just do that and think that there's not going to be any ramifications for that kind of mismanagement.

>>The governor's touted Florida's economic strength, born in part, he says, because of the state's relatively laissez faire COVID response.

But Democrats are quick to point out that Florida's benefitted from billions in federal aid during the pandemic.

>>Nearly 40% of Florida state budget is federally funded.

So the federal government also plays a very big part in balancing our state budget as did our constituents.

So I really do encourage folks, as we go back to Tallahassee, starting in September, with sessions scheduled to begin in January, that everyday, citizens get involved in the process because your voice really is important and can help prevent these vetoes from happening in the first place.

>>Anna Eskamani there.

Okay, well, let's bring in our panel now to break it all down.

Joining us in the studio this week, Curtis McCloud, investigative reporter over at Spectrum News 13.

Thanks so much for coming in, Curtis.

>>Thank you for having me.

>>Appreciate your time and expertise, as usual.

And for the first time on the program, Catherine Silver from WKMG, Channel 6.

Thanks so much for coming in, Catherine.

>>Yes, a warm welcome thank you for having me.

>>Really, really appreciate it.

Curtis, let me start with you on this one.

Let's talk about central Florida specifically as it pertains to the budget, if we can.

Let's talk about that Orlo Vista project that the governor vetoed.

How have local leaders responded on that?

>>Its mainly, Steve, what they're doing here is they want to ensure that this project does happen and continue.

And while, you know, we saw we would have saw that $2 million go towards additional, you know, flood mitigation.

Local leaders are saying, hey, we're going to do what we can to make sure this project moves forward.

The project about to over $20 million and it will move forward and is expected to happen, be finished by 2024.

So everything that leaders within Orange County, they are trying to do what they can to put those resources, those funds in the right areas so that this project can get finished.

You know, we may not make it by this this hurricane season, but hopefully for the next we'll have a plan in place and things up and running.

>>And what we've seen there in terms of the mitigation measures that are currently underway, that was as a result of Hurricane Irma, right?

>>Yeah-- >>2017.

>>Absolutely it was and we're not even talking about something that happened, you know, here recently when we look back at Ian and Nicole, these problems were already there and, you know, persistent, too, because these things, you know, there was already the issue and then, you know, time wear and tear continuing.

So these flooding, this flooding is nothing new to the Orlo Vista community.

So many people now, even people that I've talked to myself, they're having to prepare for hurricane season because, you know, things aren't ready.

Should a hurricane, you know, another Hurricane Ian or another Hurricane Nicole come their way.

>>What do people tell you?

Are they are they frustrated?

Because if you drive around Orlo Vista, right.

It's very low lying.

>>It is.

And that's one of the things I do.

You know, being in the investigative unit, you know, we have a little more time.

So I just go out and talk to people and people over there tell me they are afraid.

Some moving out of a community that they've been rooted in for four years, some of them even a better part of a more than a decade, a century even.

They're having to leave that history, leave where their families rooted because they just don't feel that it's going to be safe for them there, no pun intended.

They're feeling that everything's going to be washed away.

>>Yeah, I mean, so many times these underserved communities are the ones that suffer the most from these environmental issues.

Catherine, Orange County, and you've been reporting on this, has been trying other strategies as well to try to ease the flooding situation in Orlo Vista.

What are they looking at?

Well, they're really looking into the possibility of maybe buying out some of these homeowners, because as you do meet with people there, a lot of them will tell you, you know, we're tired.

We flooded during Irma and then again during Ian, so this would be through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant program.

And Commissioner Mike Scott, who is in charge of that district, will tell you it's really they're in a fact finding phase right now.

So this is early stages.

They need to actually get out into that community, see if there is interest in this option, and then they could go from there and see if they want to move forward.

>>I mean, what are local people kind of think about that?

I mean, obviously a lot of people, their whole life savings are tied up in their homes right?

>>Absolutely.

And they've chosen that area and they're attached to their community.

It is their home.

But they also have been through this multiple times.

So I think if you say, hey, there's an option to maybe buy you out, a lot of them would jump at that.

But it sounds a lot easier than the process actually is as well.

>>What do you think about that, Curtis?

I mean, this is a place where people are rooted.

>>It is.

And I think it's it's difficult.

I think when you think about people having to go through a change, it's not easy for them.

My grandmother in Georgia has lived in our house for almost 50 years.

And when you talk about, you know, uprooting someone who's used to that, I mean, that's very difficult.

But then to Catherine's point, you know, this may be a way, an alternative to, you know, say, hey, if you are willing to leave, we'll take that.

But when you may consider now a burden off of your hand, give you some money for it so that we can make the the area a little bit more livable for others with with this project proceeding.

>>Now, of course, a lot of those houses built in places where we may not build houses anymore.

>>Right.

That's the thing, too, because even you can kind of feel it when you're over there.

It does kind of seem a little sink ish, you know, especially, you know, in the area.

I mean, I'm not talking below sea level, but, you know, it's down a little bit and you wouldn't ever think that, okay, hey, we're going to build homes and what many would consider a basin almost.

>>You also see those retention ponds are right there.

You know, they're right by those houses.

So I know I spoke to one woman who talked about, you know, her granddaughter's experience, and she says that her granddaughter, who's very young, asks her, grandma, is your house going to flood again?

So this is the reality that they're living with still.

>>The children are aware of it as well.

I mean, Katherine, you've reported on a another flood mitigation project elsewhere in our area that was vetoed in the budget.

Talk about the drainage improvements in Seminole County that were cut.

>>So there was a project in the Midway community, which is a very historic community in Seminole County.

It's right by the airport and they are in a similar situation-- >>Near Sanford right?

>>Near Sanford.

There is this dynamic that newer developments have been built next to these lower lying agricultural areas.

So when there is drainage, it runs right back into those older communities in Midway.

So there was a request for $1 million in the state budget that was vetoed.

But Seminole County will tell you they're still looking at options to move this project forward.

It's an extensive project, so they're looking at more than 20 million.

So at the end of the day, $1,000,000 request in the budget is really a drop in the bucket.

>>Yeah.

And Seminole County, of course, got hit so hard during the 2022 hurricane season.

>>It did.

And I wanted to mention to you, because I live literally right around the corner from where all this is happening.

And I've seen it firsthand.

You know, the flooding over in the Midway area, it's less than 10 minutes from my house.

I live right across right off of Lake Mary.

And it is a problem, a problem that has even over time been exacerbated.

And when you look at it and people, you know, wanting this relief and now, you know, the funds may be few and far between, it will just be a wait to see when that project will actually happen.

>>Certainly, the environment is such an important issue in our region and this budget is pretty heavy on the environment.

So it's important to say that a lot of projects did get funded while some of them vetoed.

Yeah.

Well, you can find links to a summary of the budget from the governor's office on our website.

There you'll also find a link to the full veto list as well.

It's all on our website, wucf.org/newsnight.

All right.

Next tonight, resiliency and preparations for this year's hurricane season, which is now well underway.

We wanted to focus on some of the struggles that coastal areas have faced in getting ready this year after suffering damage during hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2022.

Let's start with a piece that Curtis put together about the struggles to get repairs done at a major condo complex in Daytona Beach.

>>And take a look here along the shore at the Grand Coquina's condos in Daytona Beach Shores.

Things almost look back to normal.

But if you look closer, you can see remnants of a storm that nearly washed away Jeff Sussmans retirement dream.

>>So that's what was exposed under the building.

We had to evacuate.

And this is after Nicole.

We had to evacuate the day before Nicole hit because our temporary seawall was already destroyed.

>>Jeff says for about a month, he and others had to stay with friends or in a hotel.

They were not allowed back in the building until it was deemed safe.

His retirement dream of living on the beach now a nightmare.

>>Definitely was not in my retirement plan.

>>Jeff is the treasurer of the five person HOA board at Grand Coquina They represent the people living in the 109 units, the board going back and forth with the State Department of Environmental Protection for permits, something they desperately want done before another hurricane threatens Florida.

But they are hitting a few snags.

>>We had intended to physically start construction on March 1st and we are just getting started now.

>>Jeff and the board at Grand Coquina say they actually started this permit process back in December.

They didn't hear back from the Department of Environmental Protection until the first week of May.

>>Now, DEP was supposed to simplify the permitting process for the permanent seawalls.

>>Has it been simplified?

>>It has been an absolute nightmare from day one.

It seems like every time we make some headway, they come up with another obstacle to slow us down.

>>Initially, the seawall at Grand Coquina was eight feet.

Shortly after construction started, DOP approved a permit for a 12 foot seawall.

Engineers working on the project say a 15 and a half foot or 16 foot wall would be better should a storm as strong as Hurricane Ian come through again.

Still at last check, no approval for a 16 foot wall.

>>Now next door, the condo, the Marbella, their wall is going to be essentially 16 feet high.

We share an adjoining wall, an adjoining seawall.

So common sense would dictate that ours should be the same as theirs.

>>We first reached out to DEP by email and phone on May 11, a spokesperson telling me they would reply to my email, copying the appropriate person who could answer our questions.

We got that email that same day.

Then on May 12th and 15th, we followed up with a phone call.

No answer.

I sent a follow up email on May 16th.

Someone with DEP finally getting back to me asking, when was our story deadline?

What do you think the hold up here is?

>>I honestly don't have a clue what's holding it up.

I really don't.

Is it going to take another condo collapse before someone actually wakes up and starts, you know, responding to our needs here?

>>In Daytona Beach Shores, Curtis McCloud, Spectrum News.

>>Nice piece there, Curtis.

Appreciate you letting us show it to our viewers.

>>Sure.

>>There's been an update on this story, right, since you filed that report.

The Department of Environmental Protection got back to you.

And there's been a development.

>>Yes, there has been.

They have officially said now that they will honor their request of giving them a 15 foot wall.

But here's the thing.

Here's the catch here.

They wanted a 16, but they say we will actually give you 15 beforehand.

It was some back and forth on that.

And they said that the stipulation here is the biggest thing is making sure that the plumbing around the base of the wall is complete.

So there's still a little bit of back and forth on that.

So they're going to essentially get closer to what they want it not exactly what they wanted, but a little bit closer.

>>I mean it sounds like a really long and drawn out process.

I mean, here with that quibbling about a foot, is this sort of case common?

And, you know, we really saw the frustration there.

>>Yes.

>>From the HOA.

>>Yeah.

No.

And it is been common.

I mean, one of the things here is when this happened, you know, some people immediately jumped on it and said we need to go ahead and start making our request to the Department of Environmental Protection and get what we need.

Well, some people waited a bit.

And it seems that that may have been what happened here.

And on top of that, you compounded with everyone else who's trying to, hey, we want ours too.

You got commercial, you got residential.

That made an issue kind of a bottleneck, if you will, where people are trying to submit request.

Yeah, they created a system that was supposed to make it a little bit more seamless and quicker, but that didn't happen when you got, you know, thousands at this point.

The people along the shoreline, they're trying to get request in and they're also they're up against the clock here.

They're trying to get this done.

They were trying to get it done before hurricane season.

Now we're in the throes of hurricane season already having some storm systems developed now down right now in the in the in the tropics.

>>In the tropics.

I mean, this is key work, right, though, because we saw from the Champlain Towers collapsed in Surfside how important it is that these buildings, that the integrity of these buildings is secure.

>>It is very key.

And some of the pictures that we were seeing from the HOA finance, finance member there, he showed us some of the pictures and it was kind of scary.

You're looking at it and it also saw some of the images I've seen from other condos along the coast-- >>Right on the edge of the-- >>Right on the edge.

And it's like, oh, my gosh, this is kind of scary.

So it's very important that this work is done.

And also, you've got to be mindful because of sea turtle nesting season as well.

So that can pose a little bit of issue because you've got to work them, you've got to work around environmental circumstances as well.

>>Yeah.

Catherine, we talked a little bit there about that.

This is not an uncommon case.

There are many other unfinished projects in our region.

What is the extent of the damage that remains unrepaired?

You've done some reporting on this and and how are residents sort of being encouraged to prepare for hurricane season if they haven't managed to do those repairs yet from last year?

>>Well, it's certainly on their mind.

I've spent a lot of time in Daytona Beach Shores and Wilbur by the Sea.

And of course, we saw all that footage right after Nicole of the homes there that had just fallen into the ocean that actually did collapse.

So, you know, speaking to people there and going to the beach yourself, it seems to still be very much a case by case basis.

You look at some condos where they've gone through that dance of the permitting process and work is underway.

A seawall is going up or maybe there's more temporary measures in place and then you walk by some homes or other structures that look very much the same today as they did right after both of those hurricanes moved through.

So knowing that there's a lot of work that still needs to be done on the coast as we are now in this hurricane season.

Volusia County has just encouraged people to reach out and apply for those easements because they have helped.

They've been able to put in some of those trap bags, which are essentially temporary barriers, and in other cases they've put in some loose sand.

So there are options.

They're trying to do whatever they can to bolster our coast, and even that little bit can make quite a bit of.

>>I want to pivot a minute and talk about Seminole County.

We talked recently with Seminole County emergency manager Alan Harris about preparations for the current hurricane season.

Take a listen.

>>I'm planning for a Category five hurricane coming in at the Brevard Volusia County line and going over straight over the metro Orlando area.

And I think that's what my residents want me to do.

My residents want me to prepare my staff to prepare for the worst case scenario.

Because if we can prepare for the worst case scenario, then hopefully we'll have much less.

The one of the slowest hurricane seasons in the state of Florida history.

Hurricane Andrew happened.

>>Yes.

>>Right.

So in Hurricane Andrew, people didn't even know where their neighborhoods were because it wiped their neighborhood away.

So we have to prepare for something like that.

We haven't seen a category one or higher, a storm in the central Florida area in a long time anyway, you may say that doesn't make sense because Hurricane Ian was well, it was when it was in Fort Myers.

So we haven't seen a hurricane since really Charley.

>>Alan Harris from Seminole County there.

Catherine, you've been reporting recently on a hurricane season drill.

Right, that Seminole County was doing.

What did you learn?

>>That's right.

Well, that drill was really a run through for the first responders.

And when you see them all in that emergency operation center, it really strikes you how intricate and how in-depth this coordination is when you see so many different sectors law enforcement, fire utilities, health departments, so on and so forth.

All of the work that goes into making sure they're ready for when a storm does hit.

But overall in Seminole County and, you know, hearing from Alan Harris, who we just heard from in that in that soundbite there, he'll tell you, you know, they are always trying to think about what they can do before this storm.

So, you know, he's he's talked about preparing for a Category five hurricane.

When I've spoken to him, he's mentioned we really haven't seen the direct impact of a hurricane in Seminole County since Charley, because by the time Ian came through-- >>It weakened.

>>It had weakened to that point.

So we saw the flooding and we saw the impact of that.

But we really don't know what's going to happen until it gets here.

So whatever they can do mitigation wise to make our community more resilient is what they are really focused on.

>>And, you know, as Catherine mentioned, we didn't get a hurricane come right over the top of us, but we saw the damage there in Seminole County, which you're familiar with.

>>Oh, definitely.

So we definitely saw the damage in in Seminole County.

We saw the flooding, especially out in the Geneva area.

Yes, a lot of flooding and a lot of people homes and people's livelihoods impacted by it.

I know we had several pieces on our air where people were riding in boats, in canoes, trying to get to their their belongings and get to their animals and pets that were still maybe trapped and such.

So I think that we have seen those impacts and those impacts, those stark images, just reminders of why it's important to prepare and to, as Catherine said, make sure that communities are are resilient enough to withstand, you know, should such a catastrophic event happen.

>>And the water was in the homes not even for a week after the storm.

Some homes, it was like two months.

They still had water inside.

>>And that house is then seriously compromised.

>>Exactly.

>>That length of time.

>>I'm telling you, I just couldn't imagine.

I'm telling you, you see it, you see the images and it's just like and you put it in perspective.

You say, okay, if this was my home, what would I do?

Its a lot homes are impacted.

And even, you know, you start thinking about insurance is impacted, too, you know.

>>Well, talking about insurance, we've talked about that crisis many times on our show here in our state and and how hurricanes Ian and Nicole worsened that situation.

I mean, how much can the the industry bear in the 2023 season and, you know, do we think that the insurance reforms passed in the previous sessions and special sessions will make a difference?

>>I think a small difference, Steve.

I mean, you know, a lot a lot is still up in the air when it comes to all of this.

I mean, we still got some insurance carriers pulling out of the state.

So I think when you look at that and homeowners saying that, hey, I've been dropped left and right and, you know, they're not covering things even with that condo complex too, I know that's a residential situation or a commercial situation, so to speak, in a sense, residential, commercial, depending on how you look at it.

But, you know, they're having issues with their insurance company right now, too, where, you know, they're saying, hey, we're not going to pay out some of the money that we may have been told that said that we said that we're going to do, but they're not required to because of certain circumstances now and some of them are pulling out.

So to answer your question in short yes, some but not enough where it's going to be a significant impact for homeowners and people with businesses.

>>And former Senator Jeff Brandis, who is who is leading the charge on insurance reform, has told me on the show before he does, he expects it to be about five years before we see sort of some meaningful impacts from these insurance reforms.

Well, be sure to join the conversation on social media.

Meanwhile, we're at WUCFTV, on Facebook, Twitter, and also on Instagram.

Okay.

Finally tonight, a check in on politics.

A judge in the federal documents case against Donald Trump announced this week the trial would take place on August 14th in Fort Pierce, moving the case out of Miami.

Meanwhile, on the campaign trail, Governor DeSantis has remained largely silent on the former president's alleged conduct.

DeSantis is instead focusing on his claims of a weaponized justice system and that he'd be better positioned to deliver policy wins than Trump in the White House.

Well, I talked to UCF political scientist Aubrey Jewett last week about the indictment, but I also asked him if Governor DeSantis strategy can work.

>>I do believe eventually he's just going to have to treat this.

If he really wants to win, then DeSantis is just going to have to treat this like a normal primary, which means you take the gloves off and you got to do full frontal attacks on the other person because that's if you're running 20 or 30 points behind.

I mean, that's kind of what you got to do.

>>Aubrey Jewett, there.

Catherine, we come to you on this one.

We'll get to the politics in the second, Curtis.

But let's start with the trial date, August 14th in Fort Pierce.

Is that likely to stick and might there be delays?

>>Well, the judge has asked for both sides to file any pretrial motions by the end of July.

So they're setting forth that speedy timetable.

But legal experts are saying we have to remember how complex this case is.

We're talking about highly classified documents so they're saying it might take longer than August for the lawyers to even go through the discovery process.

>>Yeah, And Jack Smith, the special counsel, has asked for a speedy trial, but who knows whether that'll happen.

Curtis, have we seen any more indication that others in the GOP might be willing to criticize the former president in this documents case now?

>>Yes, we have seen that, especially some of them.

I know we've got you know, we've seen William Barr making the rounds.

>>The former attorney-- >>The former attorney general making the rounds and speaking a little bit, basically saying that, for lack of a better word, that, you know, the former president is is done or toast as he criticized and said, you know, you know, if this probe continues, further investigation is done.

Also, I know John Kelly, former White House chief of staff, speaking out as well.

So you've got some pretty, you know, stalwarts and some heavy hitters in the conservative base who are speaking out here saying that what he did was wrong.

Their words, not mine.

And I think that's, you know, pretty interesting and something that people should pay attention to here.

And then you do have people who are coming to his defense.

He still has a base, much so it's such so that-- >>About 35% that are not going anywhere.

>>They're not going anywhere.

He's still the frontrunner here in this race.

And I mean, I think is it time will tell as we move on and as we go on and as the election election rolls on, how this will go, I mean, it'll it'll be interesting to watch with this.

>>And just finally, what about his GOP challengers for the Republican nomination?

Some of them have been coming out and sort of criticizing this.

I mean, Mike Pence saying he can't defend that conduct if true.

But Ron DeSantis himself has been largely quiet right on on Trump's conduct itself.

>>He is he's being very careful about that.

And mainly not to upset or, you know, anger that that MAGA or that that base that he has that the former president has.

Because, you know, Governor DeSantis is hoping to get some of that percentage in whatever he can do to kind of sway them and turn them.

He doesn't want to turn them against him.

But if he can kind of speak to rather the system, there's a system failure.

There's a system issue here, rather than go on the attack.

He sees that as more beneficial as he makes his way and matriculate throughout the campaign trail.

>>Well, I know all our outlets are going to be watching the governor on the campaign trail closely over the next few months, that's for sure.

As we get deep into politics season, but that is all the time we have for this week.

My thanks to Curtis McCloud.

Spectrum News 13.

Thanks so much for coming in, Curtis.

Really appreciate it.

And Catherine Silver from WKMG, Channel 6, thanks so much for coming in, Catherine.

Really appreciate your time today, guys.

We'll see you next Friday night at 8:30 here on WUCF.

In the meantime, from all of us here at NewsNight, take care and have a great week.