>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS RENEWS HIS PUSH FOR A SALES TAX TO FUND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS.

BUT DOES THE PROPOSAL HAVE PUBLIC SUPPORT?

AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WRAPS UP ITS REGULAR SESSION PASSING A SERIES OF CONTROVERSIAL BILLS.

WE'LL TALK WITH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC LAW MAKERS.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT.

WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

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

JOINING US THIS WEEK, ALEXA LORENZO WHO COVERS TRANSPORTATION ISSUES FOR WFTV CHANNEL NINE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND STEVE LEMONGELLO FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

HE COVERS POLITICS FOR THE SENTINEL.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE PASSAGE OF SOME OF THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BILLS PASSED IN TALLAHASSEE THIS YEAR, AMONG THEM PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION, DUBBED BY CRITICS AS THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL, PASSED THE SENATE AFTER HOURS OF EMOTIONAL DEBATE.

IT PREVENTS SCHOOLS FROM INITIATING INSTRUCTION ABOUT SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE OR, "IN A MANNER THAT IS NOT AGE APPROPRIATE OR DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE STANDARDS."

WELL, LET'S START WITH REACTION IN CENTRAL FLORIDA'S LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

I SPOKE WITH THE CEO OF THE CENTER ORLANDO.

>>I WORRY ABOUT SAFE SPACE.

I WORRY THAT KIDS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ WILL NOT HAVE AN OUTLET TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

I KNOW MY FIRST TIME COMING OUT WAS TO A TEACHER, AND I TRUSTED THAT PERSON, AND MY SCHOOL WAS A SAFE SPACE.

AND I'M AFRAID WITH THIS PARTICULAR BILL THAT TEACHERS WILL BE AFRAID TO OPEN THEMSELVES TO TALKING ABOUT LIFE ISSUES WITH THEIR STUDENTS.

>>HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL WHO SAY THAT THIS IS ABOUT SOCIAL ENGINEERING AND THAT SCHOOL SHOULDN'T BE INVOLVED IN SOCIAL ENGINEERING, THEY SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON CORE SUBJECTS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE BEYOND SCHOOL?

>>SURE.

WE'RE HUMAN.

WE HAVE HUMAN EMOTIONS, AND KIDS TRUST THEIR TEACHERS.

THEY TRUST THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

SO YES, READING, WRITING, ALL OF THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

AND THIS ISN'T ABOUT SEX EDUCATION.

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEX.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER EXPRESSION ARE NOT SEX.

>>WELL, THIS WEEK I SPOKE WITH TWO LAWMAKERS AT THE CENTER OF THE BATTLE IN TALLAHASSEE OVER 1557.

FIRST, LET'S HEAR FROM THE SENATE SPONSOR OF THE LEGISLATION, DENNIS BAXLEY, WHO REPRESENTS PARTS OF MARION, LAKE, AND SUMTER COUNTIES, INCLUDING THE VILLAGES.

>>I THINK WE SHOULD BE AWARE THAT WE'RE NOT THERE TO DO SOCIAL ENGINEERING OF THE CHILD.

WE'RE THERE TO TEACH THEM SOME BASIC SKILLS SO THEY CAN SUCCEED RATHER THAN GETTING ABSORBED, AND SPENDING SO MUCH OF THEIR SCHOOL EMPHASIS IN TRYING TO SOCIALIZE THEM OR SET THEIR PERSONALITY OR THEIR BELIEFS.

>>SENATOR, YOU SAID THERE WAS A TREND GOING ON, AND THAT A CHILD COULD COME OUT AS GAY AND BE A CELEBRITY.

AND YOU RAISED THE QUESTION OF WHETHER SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGING CONFUSION AMONG KIDS.

WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>>I WANT US TO DE-EMPHASIZE THIS MATTER OF CREATING A SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY A CELEBRITY RIGHT NOW IF THEY COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND SAY, "I'M THIS OR THAT OR THE OTHER."

AND I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM.

IT'S A SOCIAL DYNAMIC THAT GOES ON IN SCHOOLS, BUT I THINK THERE'S TOO MUCH FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON THAT AND I'D LIKE TO MOVE AWAY FROM IT.

BUT THIS IS THE CURRICULUMS WE'RE SEEING, WHERE THEY BRING IN A CONSULTANT WHO'S REALLY AN ADVOCATE FOR A LIFESTYLE.

AND IT'S THE INFLUENCE OF TRYING TO MOVE THEM IN DIRECTION OF HOW THEY THINK AND WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THESE TOPICS.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY THE PRIORITY ROLE FOR SCHOOL.

I THINK SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ABOUT LEARNING SKILLS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL NO MATTER WHAT YOU DECIDE ABOUT YOUR LIFESTYLE.

>>WELL, ONE OF THE MOST OUTSPOKEN CRITICS OF THIS LEGISLATION IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH, A DEMOCRAT FROM ORLANDO.

>>IT ERASES CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION, INCLUSION CONVERSATIONS, ABOUT LGBTQ STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND LGBTQ HISTORY AS WELL.

LGBTQ FLORIDIANS ARE A HEALTHY AND NORMAL PART OF EVERY SOCIETY AND OF EVERY SCHOOL.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT US ARE NOT DANGEROUS AND SUGGESTING THAT THEY ARE THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION ACTUALLY SENDS A DANGEROUS MESSAGE IN AND OF ITSELF.

>>THE SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL SAY YOU DON'T NEED TO BE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TARGET LGBTQ PEOPLE.

IT SIMPLY PREVENTS SCHOOL INITIATED INSTRUCTION ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER ENTITY TO KIDS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE.

DOESN'T STOP CONVERSATIONS.

IT JUST STOPS INSTRUCTION.

WHY IS THAT NOT REASONABLE?

>>WELL, IT'S NOT REASONABLE BECAUSE THERE IS NO PROHIBITION IN STATUTE ON ANY OTHER TOPIC THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER TO BE SENSITIVE.

THERE'S NO PROHIBITION IN FLORIDA STATUTE ON CONVERSATIONS WITH THIS AGE OR THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS ON ISSUES RELATED TO LIFE OR DEATH, PORNOGRAPHY, ABORTION.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION THAT IS ALSO NOT PROHIBITED IN FLORIDA STATUTE.

THIS BILL MAKES IT JUST ABOUT US.

AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE SUPPORTERS OF THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL HAVE REPEATEDLY CONFLATED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND INCLUSION OF LGBTQ PEOPLE WITH CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SEXUAL EDUCATION.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THIS BILL ABOUT SEX EDUCATION, ABOUT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AROUND SEXUAL ACTS OR SEXUAL ACTIVITY.

THE BILL IS A PROHIBITION ON CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION ON A GROUP OF PEOPLE, LGBTQ PEOPLE.

IT'S WHY IT SAYS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION IS PROHIBITED ON GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

THAT'S NOT AN ACT.

IT'S NOT A THING.

IT'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT IS BEING CENSORED FROM CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.

>>WELL, I SPOKE WITH SENATOR BAXLEY AND REPRESENTATIVE SMITH ON A RANGE OF ISSUES, INCLUDING ABORTION, AS WELL AS CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND FLORIDA'S NEW VACCINE GUIDANCE, WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS NEXT WEEK.

YOU CAN FIND THOSE FULL INTERVIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, ALEXA, LET'S BREAK ALL THIS DOWN WITH HB 1557.

THIS REALLY SEEMED TO ENERGIZE A LOT OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

AND WE SAW WALKOUTS AT SCHOOLS EVEN LOCALLY HERE.

>>AT EVERY LEVEL THIS WAS AN ENERGIZING MOMENT FROM INTERNATIONAL MEDIA TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEN DOWN TO THE STUDENTS THAT THIS WOULD IMPACT.

WE SAW WALKOUTS ALL ACROSS, NOT JUST CENTRAL FLORIDA, FLORIDA.

WE SAW DOWN IN SOUTH FLORIDA AT CYPRESS HIGH SCHOOL.

WE SAW WALKOUTS HERE LOCALLY AT EDGEWATER.

MONDAY AT WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

>>WINTER PARK, YEAH.

>>AND EVEN UP AT THE COAST, WE SAW WALKOUTS AT FLAGLER PALM COAST HIGH SCHOOL.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY RAMPED UP ABOUT THIS.

STUDENTS WERE OUT PROTESTING WITH THEIR SIGNS WITH POSTERS.

THEY WERE SAYING, "WE SAY GAY."

AND WE DID HEAR FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID THAT WE SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR ABILITY TO PEACEFULLY VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND PROTEST AS LONG AS IT FOLLOWS SCHOOL SAFETY GUIDELINES.

>>WELL, YOU MENTIONED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THERE, AND THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONDEMNED HB 1557 IN A STATEMENT.

AND THEN SECRETARY OF EDUCATION MIGUEL CARDONA TWEETED THIS, "LEADERS IN FLORIDA HAVE DECIDED THAT BILLS BASED ON HATE AND DISCRIMINATION TAKE PRIORITY OVER OUR STUDENTS PANDEMIC RECOVERY.

MY TEAM AND I STAND WITH OUR LGBTQ+ STUDENTS IN FLORIDA, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND URGE FLORIDA LEADERS TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS."

I MEAN, STEVE, IS THERE ANYTHING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN ACTUALLY DO HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF TITLE IX PROTECTIONS?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ANY POWER THAT THEY HAVE?

>>YEAH.

TITLE IX PROTECTIONS PREVENT SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION.

IT'S BEEN USED ON A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THE OVERT BATHROOM BILLS AIMED TO TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND OTHER PLACES.

IT'S STILL A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THIS ONE.

IT'S A BIT TRICKY.

IT'S NOT LIKE OVERTLY GENDER DISCRIMINATION, SPECIFICALLY AGAINST ONE GENDER OR ANOTHER, OR IT'S SO BROADLY WRITTEN THAT IT WILL BE UP TO THE COURTS.

AND OF COURSE, THE SUPREME COURT, BASICALLY CONTROLLED BY CONSERVATIVES THESE DAYS, IF IT EVER GETS UP THERE AS TO WHAT TITLE IX PROTECTIONS STUDENTS AFFECTED BY THIS HAVE DOWN HERE.

>>YEAH.

ALEXA, I MEAN, DISNEY HAS BEEN A FOCUS DURING THIS DEBATE FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGISLATORS SUPPORTIVE OF HB 1557.

IT'S CEO, WE UNDERSTAND, SPOKE WITH GOVERNOR DESANTIS THIS WEEK.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT CALL AND HOW IS DISNEY RESPONDING TO STAFF IN THE COMPANY, INCLUDING HERE IN ORLANDO, THAT ARE AGAINST THE BILL?

>>YEAH.

EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN REALLY RILED UP.

THEY SAY, "YOU ALL PUSH INCLUSION.

YOU ALL SELL THESE LGBTQ+ MERCHANDISE.

WE HAVE CELEBRATIONS AT THE PARK TITLED GAY DAYS THAT ARE COMING UP THIS SUMMER.

YET WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU WITH THIS BILL."

BUT THE BACKLASH THAT IS OBVIOUSLY COMING OUT, AND THE CEO, BOB CHAPEK, SAID HE HAD A CALL WITH GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS RECENTLY.

AND THIS COMES AFTER HE SENT AN INTERNAL MEMO TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND SAID HE WAS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TRYING TO EXPRESS HIS DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS LEGISLATION.

BUT NOW THAT DID NOT WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

FAST FORWARD, HE GAVE GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS A CALL, AND HE IS SAYING THAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE A MEETING WITH HIM NEXT WEEK.

CHRISTINA PUSHAW, THE PRESS SECRETARY OF DESANTIS SAID, "THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HEARD FROM DISNEY, OUR OFFICE IN ITSELF ON THIS LEGISLATION."

THE CEO SAID HE WAS GOING TO GIVE $5 MILLION TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN AND OTHER LGBTQ+ ORGANIZATIONS.

THEY SAID, "KEEP YOUR MONEY.

PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS KIND OF, " AND DENIED THAT FUNDING UNTIL THEY RECEIVE MEANINGFUL ACTION.

>>AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CEO TOLD GOVERNOR DESANTIS THAT HE WAS DISAPPOINTED.

>>DISAPPOINTED, RIGHT.

>>THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYING HIS POSITION, OF COURSE, HASN'T CHANGED.

STEVE, SENATOR ILEANA GARCIA SAID, "GAY IS NOT A PERMANENT THING."

THIS IS A QUOTE.

"LGBTQ IS NOT A PERMANENT THING, " DURING THE SENATE FLOOR DEBATE.

THE GOP HAD SAID FOR A LONG TIME THAT THIS BILL WAS NOT ABOUT LGBTQ PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY.

I INTERVIEWED REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE WHO MADE THAT VERY POINT TO ME, BUT THAT SEEMED TO CHANGE RIGHT AT THE END, IN THE DEBATE.

>>YEAH.

IN THE LAST FEW DAYS, AND YOU MENTIONED IT IN YOUR INTERVIEW WITH BAXLEY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT MORE OVERT STATEMENTS BY REPUBLICANS IN TALLAHASSEE THAT THIS IS ABOUT GAYS.

THIS IS ABOUT GAYS IN SCHOOL.

BAXLEY SEEMING TO INDICATE THAT SCHOOLS ARE SOMEHOW SHAPING PEOPLE TO BE GAY.

ILEANA GARCIA'S ODD STATEMENT ABOUT GAY IS NOT PERMANENT, WHICH WAS MOCKED BY A LOT OF OLDER, GRAY HAIRED PEOPLE ON BRAVO THE OTHER DAY, I THINK.

SO, YEAH, AND YOU SAW THE BRANDES AMENDMENT ALSO, WHICH WOULD'VE SPECIFICALLY TAKEN OUT MENTIONS ABOUT GENDER IDENTITY SPECIFICALLY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE REMOVED FROM THE BILL.

SO YEAH, A LOT OF WHAT THE REPUBLICANS SAID IT WAS ABOUT SEEMS TO HAVE FALLEN OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WHAT WAS REALLY ABOUT UNDERNEATH ACCORDING TO CRITICS SEEMS TO HAVE COME TO THE FORE.

>>YEAH.

IT WAS CERTAINLY INTERESTING THAT AMENDMENT CAME FROM A REPUBLICAN.

ALEXA, YOU MENTIONED THE PRESS SECRETARY, SOME LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR GOVERNOR DESANTIS' PRESS SECRETARY CHRISTINA PUSHAW TO BE FIRED OVER THIS TWEET, "THE BILL THAT LIBERALS INACCURATELY CALL DON'T SAY GAY WOULD BE MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED AS AN ANTI-GROOMING BILL.

IF YOU ARE AGAINST THE ANTI-GROOMING BILL, YOU ARE PROBABLY A GROOMER, OR AT LEAST YOU DON'T DENOUNCE THE GROOMING OF FOUR TO EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILDREN.

SO SILENCE IS COMPLICITY.

THIS IS HOW IT WORKS DEMOCRATS.

AND I DIDN'T MAKE THE RULES."

ALEXA, HOW WAS THIS RECEIVED?

AND HOW HAS THE PRESS SECRETARY RESPONDED TO THAT CRITICISM OF THAT TWEET?

>>SO EQUALITY FLORIDA IMMEDIATELY PUBLICLY CONDEMNED PRESS SECRETARY PUSHAW, AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH, WHO YOU HAVE ON THE SHOW SAID THAT COMMENT WAS DISGUSTING, IT WAS DANGEROUS AND CALLED FOR HER TO RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

YOU SAW THE WORD IN THERE, PROBABLY.

SO SHE LATER CLARIFIED AND SAID THAT SHE DIDN'T SAY EVERYONE WHO OPPOSES THE BILL IS A GROOMER, BUT THEY APPARENTLY QUOTE, "DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH ADULTS INSTRUCTING VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT SEXUAL TOPICS AND THAT CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE GROOMING CAN HAPPEN."

SHE SAID, VERY BLATANTLY, SHE DOESN'T REGRET RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT CHILD SAFEGUARDING.

AND SHE SAID, THIS WAS TWEETED ON HER PERSONAL ACCOUNT.

>>PERSONAL ACCOUNT, YEAH.

>>AFTER WORK HOURS.

>>AFTER WORK HOURS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

STEVE, YOU WROTE THIS WEEK A FAIRLY INTERESTING PIECE ABOUT THE EVOLUTION THAT THE GOP HAS UNDERGONE IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS?

I MEAN, WE SAW GOVERNOR DESANTIS AT PULSE MEETING LEADERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY NEAR THE START OF HIS TERM.

HOW HAS THAT EVOLUTION TAKEN PLACE?

>>YEAH.

AND A NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE AT AN EVENT IN 2018 IN ORLANDO FOR THE CONSERVATIVES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF EQUALITY, PUSHING FOR ANTI-DISCRIMINATION LEGISLATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SIGNING UP TO SUPPORT THAT.

FOUR YEARS LATER, EVERYBODY WHO WAS THERE, EVERY REPUBLICAN WHO WAS THERE EXCEPT ONE, DID NOT GET BACK TO ME OR DID NOT RETURN REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.

THE ONE WHO DID FORMER ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONER JENNIFER THOMPSON, SHE OUTRIGHT SAID SHE BELIEVES THE DON'T SAY GAY BILL IS BS AND SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING IT.

BUT, YEAH, THERE SEEMED TO BE, SHE SAID THERE WAS A REAL KUMBAYA MOMENT ABOUT ANTI DISCRIMINATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOUR YEARS AGO AND THAT SEEMS TO HAVE JUST DISAPPEARED.

>>YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING.

MIGHT WE SEE, DO YOU THINK, MORE KINDS OF LEGISLATION LIKE THIS, LIKE WE'RE SEEING IN TEXAS BARRING HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, FOR EXAMPLE, OFFERING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE?

WE'VE SEEN SOME MOVES IN GEORGIA, ON A SIMILAR BILL TO THIS ONE WE PASSED IN FLORIDA.

>>YEAH.

GEORGIA IS ESSENTIALLY DOING A INTRODUCING A SIMILAR DON'T SAY GAY BILL.

IDAHO IS ESSENTIALLY DOING WHAT TEXAS DID ABOUT LIFE AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANS KIDS WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LIFE IN PRISON IF YOU DO IT.

THERE'S SOME TALK IN IDAHO OF NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE TRANS KIDS ACROSS THE STATE LINES, WHICH AGAIN, SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT AGAIN THERE IS A FIVE PERSON REALLY CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY IN THE US SUPREME COURT THESE DAYS.

>>YEAH.

>>SO YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THIS AND THIS JUST MIGHT BE THE BEGINNING.

>>YEAH.

WE'LL PROBABLY SEE A LOT MORE SIMILAR TO THAT MOVING FORWARD.

JUST WANT TO SWITCH GEARS A MOMENT.

ALEXA, WHILE YOU'RE HERE, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT MIYA'S LAW.

THIS WAS THE LAW PASSED IN THE WAKE OF MIYA MARCANO'S DEATH.

THIS WAS SENATOR LINDA STEWERT'S BILL.

THIS DID PASS.

REMIND US WHAT'S IN IT?

>>YEAH.

SO THIS IS, OF COURSE AFTER MIYA MARCANO'S DEATH, SHE PASSED AWAY AT AN ORLANDO APARTMENT COMPLEX AFTER ONE OF THE WORKERS IS ACCUSED OF ABDUCTING HER AND KILLING HER.

SO THIS WAS THE FAMILY'S WAY TO MAKE HER NAME LIVE ON, TO HAVE THAT LASTING LEGACY.

AND IT WILL REQUIRE THESE APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO DO A NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECK, TO HAVE A KEY LOG SYSTEM TO KNOW WHERE THE KEYS ARE AND AT WHAT TIME, BECAUSE THE ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THAT IS WHAT THE SUSPECT USED TO ENTER HER HOUSE.

AND IT CHANGES THE NOTICE FROM 12 HOURS FOR AN EMERGENCY REPAIR TO 24 HOURS.

THE HOUSE BILL'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

THAT WOULDN'T REQUIRE A NATIONAL BACKGROUND CHECK, I SHOULD SAY.

IT JUST MAKES THE APARTMENT COMPLEX TELL THE TENANTS, "WE DO BACKGROUND CHECKS."

WHAT THE POLICY IS THERE.

THE FAMILY'S HAPPY WITH THE PATH THIS IS ON RIGHT NOW.

>>YEAH.

CERTAINLY A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HERE SEEM TO BE HAPPY WITH THAT.

A LOT OF ISSUES COMING OUT OF THE SESSION, INCLUDING THE BUDGET, A GAS TAX BREAK, AND REDISTRICTING, AND YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM.

>>ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS AIMS TO TAKE THE BRAKES OFF A PLAN TO FUND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

>>WE WANT OUR WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE AROUND OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE, MOST EFFICIENT, AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>>ONE OF A SERIES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS CURRENTLY BEING HELD THROUGHOUT ORANGE COUNTY.

MAYOR DEMINGS MAKING HIS PITCH FOR A ONE PENNY IN THE DOLLAR SALES TAX TO PAY FOR TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS, TAKING THE SALES TAX RATE FROM 6.5% TO 7.5%.

>>WE WANT TO THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE ARE PLANNING NOT ONLY FOR TODAY, BUT WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

GENERATIONS THAT ARE NOT YET BORN SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THE DECISIONS THAT THE LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY MAKE TODAY.

>>ORANGE COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE OUTLINED A LAUNDRY LIST OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, INCLUDING EXPANDED SUNRAIL SERVICES TO INCLUDE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS, HIGH FREQUENCY BUS ROUTES WITH ADDITIONAL HOURS, ROAD TECHNOLOGY, AS WELL AS PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING SAFETY PROJECTS.

>>THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO FIX THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CURRENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, IT'S GOING TO COST BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

AND WE REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE GOOD OPTION HERE.

AND IT'S AN OPTION THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

IT WILL CREATE JOBS, AND IT WILL IMPROVE THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE AREA.

>>THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES ROADWAY CAPACITY IMPROVEMENTS.

EXPRESS LANES JUST RECENTLY OPENED ON I-4 BUT MAYOR DEMINGS SAYS THE I-4 ULTIMATE PROJECT CAN ONLY BE A SMALL PART OF CENTRAL FLORIDA'S TRANSPORTATION PUZZLE.

>>THE EXPRESS LANES ONLY WILL BENEFIT THOSE WHO DRIVE AUTOMOBILES.

IF YOU DON'T AFFORD, IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD AN AUTOMOBILE OR OWN A AUTOMOBILE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARILY IMPACTED BY THAT.

WE NEED ADDITIONAL MULTIMODAL OPTIONS FOR RESIDENTS HERE WITHIN ORANGE COUNTY.

>>THE COUNTY SAYS RECENT LEGISLATION MEANS IT DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS NEEDED TO USE TOURIST DEVELOPMENT TAX DOLLARS TO FUND INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT SAYS A SALES TAX WOULD RAISE 600 MILLION ANNUALLY AND WOULD NOT APPLY TO ESSENTIAL GROCERIES, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, AND UTILITIES.

>>I WANT TO SEE SOME LIGHT RAIL THAT GOES EAST AND WEST.

I WANT TO SEE SOME LIGHT RAIL THAT GOES FROM THE AIRPORT INTO OUR TOURIST CORRIDOR RIGHT OUT HERE IN DISTRICT ONE.

I WANT TO SEE SOME OTHER OPTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF PEOPLE WANT TO RIDE THEIR BIKES, THEY'RE SAFE ON OUR ROADS.

>>THE COUNTY SAYS NON-RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS WOULD PAY MORE THAN HALF, BUT SOME RESIDENTS ARE UNSURE ABOUT THE PROPOSALS.

>>I JUST HEARD A LOT OF FLUFF, VERY LITTLE ON SUBSTANCE.

THE ONLY TWO WORDS THAT COME TO MY MIND ARE SLUSH FUND.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

>>I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A PENNY TAX ON ALL OF ORANGE COUNTY.

I CAN'T SEE BUSES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OR TRAINS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

I CHOSE TO LIVE IN SUBURBIA WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO SEE THAT.

AND I LIKE USING MY CAR.

>>MEANWHILE AS DRIVERS NAVIGATE THE NEW EXPRESS LANES ON I-4, CONSTRUCTION WORK CONTINUES AT INTERCHANGES AND TO EXTEND TOLL LANES FURTHER TOWARDS DISNEY.

WELL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT I-4 IN A MOMENT, BUT, STEVE, LET'S FIRST TALK ABOUT MAYOR DEMING'S IDEA FOR THIS PENNY SALES TAX.

DOES HE HAVE SUPPORT FOR IT?

THE SENTINEL'S WRITTEN ABOUT THIS, RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

YOU SAW THE VARIOUS PUBLIC MEETINGS.

I THINK AT ONE WE WROTE ABOUT HOW HE ASKED PEOPLE, "HEY, DO YOU THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE IMPROVEMENTS ON ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION?"

EVERYONE'S HANDS WENT UP.

"DO YOU THINK THAT LOCAL LEADERS SHOULD DO MORE ABOUT IT?"

EVERYONE'S HANDS STAYED UP.

"HEY, DO YOU THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE PAID FOR?"

AND PEOPLE'S HANDS, YOU KNOW.

"DO YOU WANT TO PAY FOR IT?"

AND PEOPLE'S HANDS WENT DOWN.

IT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION OF DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO PAY MORE TO DO ALL THIS STUFF THAT YOU SAY YOU WANT TO DO?

AND THAT'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION.

>>YEAH.

IT SEEMS TO BE AN AGE OLD PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY HERE IN FLORIDA.

ALEXA, THE MAYOR'S POINTED TO SORT OF RAPID ECONOMIC RECOVERY AFTER THE PANDEMIC AS AN INDICATION THAT SALES TAX IS NOW FEASIBLE.

I MEAN, HE'D PROPOSED THIS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND THEN HAD TO KIND OF SHELVE IT.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF THE RECOVERY LOCALLY?

AND COULD GAS PRICES FACTOR IN HERE?

>>YEAH.

LIKE SO MANY THINGS, THIS TOOK A PANDEMIC PAUSE, AND NOW WE ARE BRINGING IT BACK TO THE TABLE.

THAT'S WHAT THE ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR SAYS.

SO ORANGE COUNTY SAW A 190% INCREASE IN TOURISM MONEY BACK IN JANUARY COMPARED TO THAT SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

SO THAT IS A BIG RECOVERY THERE, RIGHT THERE.

YOU'RE SEEING IT IN THE DATA.

ADVANCED HOTEL BOOKINGS ARE UP.

OCCUPANCY RATES ARE UP.

SO THE RECOVERY IS HAPPENING.

THE DATA SHOWS IT, NO DOUBT.

BUT NOW THE WHOLE GAS PRICES SITUATION THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH HAS A BIG SHOULDER SHRUG.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHAT SPRING BREAK IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE HERE.

AND IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THERE IS SO MUCH PENT UP DEMAND, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY SOME PEOPLE A LOT WHAT THEY HAVE FOR VACATION, AND NOW THAT GAS PRICES ARE GOING UP 10, 15, 20 CENTS A NIGHT, THEY MIGHT NOT COME.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR TO SAY THIS COULD NOT BE GOOD FOR ORANGE COUNTY.

OTHER PEOPLE SAY, "WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE."

>>OF COURSE THE RELIEF PROPOSED BY THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT GOING TO KICK IN UNTIL CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

>>RIGHT.

>>AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS?

DO WE KNOW YET WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED AND WHAT WILL BE FUNDED?

>>WE DON'T KNOW YET WHAT THE PROJECT LIST WILL LOOK LIKE.

THEY TOLD US LAST WEEK THIS IS GOING TO COME OUT IN THREE WEEKS, SO THAT PUTS US RIGHT NOW AT ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

SO WE'RE WAITING TO SEE THAT PROJECT LIST COME OUT.

THE COMMISSIONERS WILL HAVE THAT PROJECT LIST, THE COUNTY SAYS, BEFORE THEY VOTE WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT THAT THIS ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.

THE COMMISSIONERS WILL VOTE ON THIS IN APRIL.

SO TIME IS TICKING.

>>YEAH.

STEVE, HOW DOES THIS WORK NOW?

I MEAN, ALEXA SAYS THAT TIME IS TICKING, BUT WHAT'S GOT TO HAPPEN FOR THE MAYOR'S SURCHARGE TO BE APPROVED?

>>YEAH.

SO THE COMMISSION HAS TO APPROVE PUTTING THIS ON THE BALLOT BY NEXT MONTH.

THEN IT WOULD BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT TO BE APPROVED BY ORANGE COUNTY VOTERS.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THEN.

IT'S WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THEN.

>>WELL, LET'S PIVOT, ALEXA, TO THE I-4 EXPRESS LANES.

MY FAVORITE SUBJECTS.

I LOVE I-4.

AND THEY RECENTLY OPENED, OF COURSE.

>>YES.

>>HOW'S THAT GOING?

I MEAN, ON A SERIOUS NOTE, WE'VE ALREADY SEEN A TRAGEDY IN THOSE LANES.

>>YEAH.

>>AND EFFORTS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

>>YEAH.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN TOUCH ON FOR THIS.

WE'LL START FIRST WITH THE SPEEDING PORTION OF IT.

>>YEAH.

>>THESE ARE TOLL LANES IN THERE.

IT'S ABOUT EFFICIENCY, NOT SPEED.

IT'S 60 MILES PER HOUR ON THESE EXPRESS LANES.

PEOPLE ARE GOING 90, 100.

SPEEDING IS AN ISSUE.

SPEEDING IS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE MAJORITY OF OUR CRASHES HERE IN FLORIDA.

SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE, SPEEDING.

THEY'RE WORKING ON THAT.

NUMBER TWO, THESE WRONG WAY CRASHES.

WE HAD THE FIRST ONE, FDOT SAYS, THIS WEEK ON MONDAY OVERNIGHT.

SOMEONE GOT ON, THEY BELIEVE AT ONE OF THE EXIT RAMPS, THEY TOOK IT AS AN ON RAMP.

HEAD ON COLLISION AT I-4 EASTBOUND NEAR FAIRBANKS.

SO I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR, THERE ARE WRONG WAY SIGNS ON THESE RAMPS.

THERE ARE WRONG WAY SIGNS.

THERE ARE PAINTINGS ON THE PAVEMENT, BUT WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE ARE THOSE WRONG WAY VEHICLE DETECTION SYSTEMS.

THOSE ARE HIGH TECH.

THOSE ARE UNIQUE.

THEY LIGHT UP.

VIDEO STARTS ROLLING THAT SENDS IT BACK TO THE COMMUNICATION CENTER.

LAW ENFORCEMENT IS MADE AWARE.

YOU'LL SEE SIGNS IF YOU'RE DRIVING.

"HEY, THERE'S A WRONG WAY REPORTED."

THAT IS NOT ON THE EXPRESS LANES, NOT ON THE RAMPS.

>>IS THAT GOING TO HAPPEN?

>>YEAH.

FDOT SAYS THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE THEM IN PLACE BY 2023, BUT THEY SAY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AND AGGRESSIVELY EXPLORING AVENUES TO KIND OF SPEED UP THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THAT TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

>>YEAH.

IT SEEMS LIKE NEXT YEAR MIGHT BE A LITTLE TIME TO WAIT.

I MEAN, YOU'VE DONE SOME REPORTING ON THIS, HOW THIS PROJECT MOVES FORWARD.

I TOUCHED ON IT MY STORY THERE, BUT JUST TELL US IN A BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AND THE COST.

>>YEAH.

SO STARTING WITH THE I-4 ULTIMATE PROJECT, THIS EXPRESS LANE PROJECT WAS THE LAST MAJOR CONSTRUCTION FOR THE I-4 ULTIMATE, BUT THEY'RE NOT READY TO CHECK THE BOX ON I-4 ULTIMATE JUST YET.

THEY HAVE WHAT THEY'RE CALLING A PUNCH LIST ITEM LEFT, WHICH IS PAINTING, REPAVING, LIGHTING, LANDSCAPING.

SO THEY'RE NOT READY TO SAY WE HAVE COMPLETED I-4.

BUT EVEN WHEN THAT DAY COMES, WHICH I-4 ULTIMATE HAS RUN OVER TIME, HAS RUN OVER THE BUDGET.

IT'S AT 2.4 BILLION RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS WHAT THEY'RE CALLING I-4 BEYOND THE ULTIMATE.

SO THEY'RE WORKING BEYOND THE ULTIMATE, APTLY NAMED.

>>THE ULTIMATE PROJECT.

>>SO IT'S 20 MILES TO THE EAST AND 20 MILES TO THE WEST OF THOSE I-4 ULTIMATE LIMITS, AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO DIVERGING DIAMOND INTERCHANGES, THEY'RE FIXING BRIDGES, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT CAPACITY AND CONGESTION.

THAT'S ALSO GOING TO BE A COSTLY PROJECT.

IT'S LOOKING LIKE $4 BILLION.

>>WOW.

IT'S A BIG PROJECT OVERALL, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

>>YEAH.

>>AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO ORANGE COUNTY'S, TRANSPORTATION FUNDING INITIATIVE ON OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

THERE YOU'LL ALSO FIND A LINK TO A MAP OF THE I-4 EXPRESS LANES.

>>WELL, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

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

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

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

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