>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, THE FALLOUT FROM DISNEY'S OPPOSITION TO FLORIDA'S PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION LAW.

WE'LL TALK TO THE KEY NEWSMAKERS FROM THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AS INVESTOR PROPERTY OWNERSHIP INCREASES IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, HOW'S IT CHANGING THE FACE OF OUR REGION'S HOUSING AND RENTAL MARKETS?

AND WHAT NEXT FOR ARTEMIS, AS NASA'S MOONSHOT PROGRAM FACES FURTHER DELAYS?

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.

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, KARLA RAY, SHE'S AN ANCHOR AND INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER AT CHANNEL NINE, WFTV.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING IN.

>>GLAD TO BE BACK.

>>AND BRENDAN BYRNE.

HE'S THE HOST OF THE ARE WE THERE YET SPACE PODCAST AT 90.7 WMFE.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR COMING IN TODAY.

APPRECIATE IT.

WELL, GOVERNOR DESANTIS HAS BEEN SIGNING A LOT OF BILLS OF LATE.

>>WE GOT A GOOD ANNOUNCEMENT HERE TODAY.

>>THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR PUT PEN TO PAPER ON AN ELECTION SECURITY BILL THAT BANS BALLOT HARVESTING AND RANK CHOICE VOTING.

IT ALSO CREATES A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO TACKLE VOTER FRAUD.

>>I DON'T THINK WALT WOULD APPRECIATE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS COMPANY RIGHT NOW.

>>LAST WEEK, GOVERNOR DESANTIS SIGNED THE BILLS PASSED IN THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON REDISTRICTING AND ELIMINATING DISNEY'S REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AFTER THE COMPANY'S OPPOSITION TO HB 1557, WHAT OPPONENTS CALL THE DON'T SAY GAY LEGISLATION.

>>THEY DO HAVE SERVICES, UTILITIES.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THAT.

DON'T WORRY.

THIS IS ALL, WE HAVE EVERYTHING THOUGHT OUT.

DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT SOMEHOW DISNEY'S GOING TO GET A TAX CUT OUT OF THIS.

THEY'RE GOING TO PAY MORE TAXES.

>>AT THE SAME TIME, DESANTIS SIGNED HB 7, THE SO-CALLED STOP WOKE ACT, WHICH TAKES ON HOW EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES CAN TALK ABOUT ISSUES OF RACE AND BIAS.

WELL, WE HEARD THE GOVERNOR THERE SAY DISNEY WOULD PAY MORE TAXES, BUT OFFICIALS IN ORANGE COUNTY SAY THEY DISAGREE, AND BELIEVE CENTRAL FLORIDA TAXPAYERS WILL SHOULDER A HEAVIER BURDEN.

TO DEBRIEF ON THIS ISSUE, WE TURN TO TWO KEY NEWS MAKERS FROM THE SPECIAL SESSION.

LET'S START WITH THE HOUSE SPONSOR OF THE BILL TO ELIMINATE SPECIAL DISTRICTS, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE.

>>RIGHT NOW WE ALLOW A PRIVATE COMPANY TO ISSUE TAXPAYER DEBT, THAT IF REEDY CREEK WERE DISSOLVED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS, WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO TAXPAYERS.

IS THAT REALLY A GOOD IDEA?

>>WELL, THE ORANGE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR HAS SAID THAT HE THINKS THAT THERE WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN TAXATION BECAUSE OF THE BOND DEBT.

DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THE TAX COLLECTOR?

>>HE IS SIMPLY WRONG.

THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ESTABLISH THE EXACT SAME TAXES.

DISNEY DOESN'T PAY ANYTHING.

DISNEY IS ASSESSED TAXES TODAY BY THE REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

THEY WILL NOW BE ASSESSED THOSE SAME TAXES BY ORANGE, OSCEOLA, BAY LAKE, AND LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA.

>>DEMOCRATS SAY THAT THEIR CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SIMPLY BEING A POLITICAL RETRIBUTION ISSUE AND THAT IT SORT OF SETS A PRECEDENT FOR PUNISHING COMPANIES FOR EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

THAT'S CORRECT, ISN'T IT?

>>THEY WERE SAYING, "FIRST DISNEY, THEN WHO?"

AND MY ARGUMENT WAS, "THERE'S ONLY ONE COMPANY THAT DOES THIS.

DISNEY."

THERE'S NO OTHER COMPANY IN FLORIDA THAT GETS TO GOVERN THEMSELVES.

THERE'S NO TAXPAYER THAT GETS TO GOVERN THEMSELVES.

AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF FAIRNESS HERE.

BUT I WOULD NOTE THIS.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S 150 COMPANIES THAT SIGNED A LETTER OPPOSING THE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION BILL.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THOSE 150 COMPANIES ARE, LET ALONE AM THINKING ABOUT HOW WE PUNISH THEM FOR OPPOSING OUR BILL.

THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT DISNEY KICKED THE HORNETS NEST AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO USE SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, THAT FLORIDIANS DON'T GET, TO ATTACK A BILL THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED.

>>BUT THAT IS POLITICAL RETRIBUTION, ISN'T IT?

BECAUSE THEY OPPOSED HB 1557 UNDER PRESSURE FROM THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S THEIR RIGHT TO DO THAT, ISN'T IT?

>>IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO DO THAT.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS WHEN THEY KICKED THE HORNETS NEST, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE THESE ISSUES WITH SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE WANTED TO DO WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH REEDY CREEK FOR DECADES.

BUT DISNEY ALWAYS HAD TOO MUCH POLITICAL POWER TO DO IT.

WHAT THEY DID IS THEY DILUTED THEIR POLITICAL POWER BY GETTING AGGRESSIVE ABOUT A BILL THAT BIDEN VOTERS SUPPORT BY A 23 POINT MARGIN.

YOU CAN ARGUE WE'VE DONE SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE ALL ALONG.

WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT BECAUSE OF DISNEY'S LOBBYING POWER.

>>ALL RIGHT.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE THERE.

NOW LET'S HEAR FROM DEMOCRATIC STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH.

WHO CHALLENGED FINE IN THE COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE SPECIAL DISTRICT'S BILL.

>>REPUBLICANS DID NOT THINK THIS PROPOSAL THROUGH.

THERE WAS NO FISCAL ANALYSIS, NO ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS PERFORMED.

NO RESEARCH WAS OFFERED AS TO WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD BE FOR LOCAL TAXPAYERS.

REPUBLICANS SIMPLY RAMMED THE BILL THROUGH.

>>WELL, THE GOVERNOR SAID, AND HE SAID ON THE DAY THAT HE SIGNED THE BILL, NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

DISNEY'S GOING TO PAY MORE TAXES.

THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS ARE NOT GOING TO SHOULDER ANY EXTRA RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE HIM?

>>THE REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT HAS A BILLION DOLLARS, IN BOND ISSUED DEBT, THAT WOULD LAND ON THE LAPS OF ORANGE AND OSCEOLA COUNTY TAXPAYERS IF THE REEDY CREEK DISTRICT IS ABOLISHED.

THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO MAKE A POINT THAT ANYONE WHO SPEAKS OUT AGAINST HIS EXTREME AGENDA WILL BE PUNISHED.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALARMED BY THIS RECKLESS APPROACH TO GOVERNING.

>>REPUBLICANS SAY, THOUGH, THAT IT'S ABOUT SIMPLE CORPORATE FAIRNESS.

I MEAN, DISNEY HAS THIS RIGHT TO GOVERN ITSELF.

OTHER COMPANIES DON'T.

AND THAT BY CREATING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, IT MAKES IT A MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT.

>>ANY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WHO SAYS THAT THIS BILL WAS NOT PASSED TO PUNISH DISNEY IS A LIAR.

THEY MADE DIRECT THREATS, AND EVEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, THE ONLY HOUSE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE WHERE THIS BILL WAS HEARD, THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, REPUBLICAN RANDY FINE, OPENLY ADMITTED THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TARGETING ONE CORPORATION, THE WALT DISNEY WORLD COMPANY.

ON THE RECORD.

HE SAID IT.

>>WELL, RANDY FINE SAYS YOUR SIDE IS LYING BECAUSE THE COUNTIES WILL NOW BE ABLE TO EXTRACT MORE TAXATION FROM DISNEY.

>>THE COUNTIES ARE CAPPED IN THEIR ABILITY TO COLLECT MORE IMPACT FEES AND TO CHARGE DISNEY HIGHER PROPERTY TAXES THAN THEY CHARGE EVERYONE ELSE.

THE REASON THEY'RE RESTRICTED IN THIS WAY IS BECAUSE OF LAWS THAT WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE THAT TIES THE HANDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS THEY ARE HAVING TO BACKTRACK AND SPIN AFTER IT HAS BEEN VERY WELL AND WIDELY REPORTED THAT THERE ARE MAJOR CONSEQUENCES TO THIS RECKLESS LEGISLATION.

AND NOW THEY'RE IN DAMAGE CONTROL MODE ON TRYING TO CONVINCE VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS THAT THEY WON'T BE IMPACTED BY THIS RECKLESS DECISION WHEN THEY WILL BE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

A LOT TO BREAK DOWN HERE.

BRENDAN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

I MEAN, YOUR NEWSROOM AND SEVERAL NEWSROOMS, I THINK, SPOKE WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR, SCOTT RANDOLPH, ABOUT REEDY CREEK AND ITS POSSIBLE DISSOLUTION.

WHAT DID HE TELL YOU GUYS?

>>MY COLLEAGUE, DANIELLE PRIEUR SPOKE WITH SCOTT RANDOLPH AND HE DISAGREES WITH REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE, THAT THE ORANGE COUNTY TAXPAYERS WILL BE ON THE HOOK FOR THIS.

AND SOME NUMBERS THAT HE GAVE OUT.

REEDY CREEK BRINGS IN ABOUT $105 MILLION IN GENERAL REVENUE AND $58 MILLION IN BOND PAYMENTS.

THAT'S SOME $160 MILLION.

NOW THAT TAX LIABILITY IS GOING TO FALL ON SOMEBODY, AND ACCORDING TO SCOTT RANDOLPH'S ESTIMATES, THAT'S THE ORANGE COUNTY TAXPAYER.

WE COULD SEE PROPERTY TAXES INCREASE UP TO 20% BECAUSE OF THIS.

>>OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS SAY, "SURE, A LOT OF THOSE OBLIGATIONS WILL FALL ON TAXPAYERS, BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TAX OUT OF DISNEY."

I MEAN, KARLA, A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS SORT OF TURNED TO THE LIKELIHOOD THAT UNWINDING REEDY CREEK WILL EVER ACTUALLY HAPPEN, LEGALLY OR LOGISTICALLY.

I MEAN, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY COMPLEX PROCESS.

>>YEAH.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY A PORTION OF STATUTE THAT SAYS YOU CANNOT MESS WITH REEDY CREEK.

>>YEAH.

>>UNTIL THE BONDS ARE PAID OFF.

SO THAT'S WHAT ATTORNEYS ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

WE DO EXPECT THIS TO END UP IN COURT AND IT MAY NOT EVEN BE DISNEY THAT WOULD BRING A SUIT AGAINST THE STATE.

IT COULD BE A BOND HOLDER.

SOMEONE WHO OWNS SOME OF THAT STAKE COULD COME AFTER THE STATE BECAUSE IT SAYS IN STATUTE THAT THEY CANNOT DO THIS TO REEDY CREEK WITHOUT TAKING THOSE STEPS FIRST.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, SOME LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE COME UP WITH A FIRST AMENDMENT CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE THAT DISNEY COULD HAVE.

BUT INTERESTINGLY, BRENDAN, ON THIS BOND ISSUE, I MEAN, I THINK WESH FIRST REPORTED THIS, SEVERAL OUTLETS NOW HAVE, THAT DISNEY BELIEVES THE LEGISLATURE MAY BE NOT ON LEGAL SOLID GROUND HERE, THAT THERE ARE REASONS THAT THE BOND HOLDERS COULD HAVE FOR KEEPING REEDY CREEK IN PLACE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S SOMETHING LIKE $1 BILLION IN THESE BONDS.

>>YEAH.

>>AND WHEN THEY TOOK OUT THE BONDS, THE STATE SAID, "LISTEN, REEDY CREEK WILL PAY THIS."

AND IF IT'S DISSOLVED, THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

AND SOME OF THE LEGAL EXPERTS THAT WE'VE TALKED TO, THAT WE'VE SEEN OTHER OUTLETS REPORT ON THIS, SAID THIS WILL PROBABLY BE CHALLENGED IN COURT AND THOSE BONDHOLDERS WILL PROBABLY WIN BECAUSE, AS KARLA MENTIONED, THIS IS IN THE STATUTE.

THIS IS IN LAW.

AND IN THOSE KIND OF CONTRACTS WHEN YOU TAKE OUT THESE BONDS FOR IT TO HAPPEN.

AND ALSO ANOTHER FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE.

THIS IS SURELY TO BE CHALLENGED.

AND YOU TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE, YOU TALK TO ATTORNEYS IN CITY GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT.

THEY SAY THAT THE BILL WAS JUST WRITTEN TO MAKE IT CHAOTIC AT THIS POINT.

THERE'S REALLY NO PLAN FOR THIS TO GO THROUGH JUST, "HEY, GUYS DO THIS."

>>AND IT WAS KIND OF JUST THE SPECULATION THAT THIS WAS DONE FOR HEADLINE PURPOSES, AS WE'RE LEADING INTO AN ELECTION CYCLE.

SO WE'LL SEE IF ANYTHING ACTUALLY COMES OF THIS.

>>CERTAINLY AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION FOR DISNEY, EITHER WAY.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE HEADLINES FOR THIS PARTICULAR REASON, I GUESS.

>>RIGHT.

>>LET ME JUST ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED RECENTLY.

THAT'S THE SO-CALLED STOP WOKE ACT THAT WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT HERE ON THE SHOW.

THAT'S NOW FACING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

SO THIS HAS TO DO WITH BANNING THE DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN CLASSROOMS, AND EVEN IN EMPLOYEE TRAINING.

SO NOW IT'S FACING A FIRST AMENDMENT FREE SPEECH RIGHTS LAWSUIT SAYING THAT THIS WOULD LIMIT FLORIDA TEACHERS AND EMPLOYERS FROM TEACHING OR ENDORSING CONCEPTS THAT POLITICIANS DISAGREE WITH.

SO THAT'S THE CRUX OF IT.

STATE AGRICULTURE, NIKKI FRIED, THE COMMISSIONER, HAS SAID THAT THIS IS STATE SANCTIONED HATE.

SO WE'LL SEE THAT ONE END UP IN COURT AS WELL.

>>YEAH, A LOT OF LITIGATION GOING ON.

BRENDAN, FINALLY, LET'S JUST TALK ABOUT AN IMPORTANT LOCAL POLITICS STORY HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY.

THIS WEEK, THERE WAS SOME DEVELOPMENTS ON THE PENNY SALES TAX THAT MAYOR DEMINGS HAS BEEN PUSHING TO PAY FOR TRANSIT.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>>THAT'S RIGHT.

IT PASSED A CRITICAL HURDLE.

IT PASSED THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION.

SO IT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

SO THIS IS A TAX THAT WILL INCREASE THE COUNTY'S SALES TAX FROM SIX AND A HALF TO SEVEN AND A HALF PERCENT.

THIS WILL GO TOWARDS TRANSPORTATION, COULD RAISE SOME 600 MILLION A YEAR, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH ASK.

WE'VE GOT INFLATION, WE'VE GOT COSTS OF LIVING RISING HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

>>YEAH.

>>A SMALLER INCREASE FAILED IN 2003.

AND WE HAVE UNCERTAINTY WITH REEDY CREEK.

>>RIGHT.

>>I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WANT MY TAXES TO INCREASE IF I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY PROPERTY TAX IS GOING TO BE NEXT YEAR.

>>YEAH.

THAT'S CERTAINLY BEEN ONE OF THE PUSH BACKS ON THIS PENNY SALES TAX IS THAT THE COST OF LIVING AND THE COST OF HOUSING, WHICH WE'LL GET TO SHORTLY, HAS JUST BEEN GOING UP AND UP AND UP.

WELL, WE ALSO ASKED REPRESENTATIVES RANDY FINE, AND CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH ABOUT REDISTRICTING AND OTHER ISSUES.

YOU CAN FIND THE FULL INTERVIEWS ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND A LINK TO THE REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT STATEMENT TO BOND HOLDERS.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT.

MORE DELAYS FOR NASAS ARTEMIS PROGRAM.

>>THE SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM ROLLED BACK TO THE SHOP THIS WEEK.

IT'S THE ROCKET THAT NASA HOPES WILL CARRY ITS ORION CAPSULE AND ASTRONAUTS BACK TO THE MOON.

>>WE HAVE TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP.

>>IT HAD BEEN ON PAD 39B AT THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER FOR WHAT THE AGENCY CALLS A WET DRESS REHEARSAL, WHERE ENGINEERS PRACTICE FUELING THE VEHICLE TO CHECK FOR ISSUES.

AND THERE WERE ISSUES.

MULTIPLE LEAKS LIKELY CAUSED BY FAULTY VALVES.

EXPERTS HAVE A FEW WEEKS BACK AT THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

DURING REHEARSALS OFFICIALS ALSO DISCOVERED ONE OF NASA'S PROVIDERS OF NITROGEN GAS TO KSC THROUGH A PIPELINE WAS UNABLE TO GET ENOUGH SUPPLY TO THE SLS, NECESSITATING UPGRADES TO AIR LIQUIDE'S FACILITIES.

IT ALL MEANS NASA IS NOW TARGETING A JUNE UNCREWED TEST LAUNCH, BUT THE AGENCY SAYS EVEN THAT IS CHALLENGING.

>>WE'RE DOING IT ONE STEP AT A TIME, AND WE'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT STEPS GOING FORWARD.

>>ARTEMIS IS CENTRAL TO NASA'S MISSION NOW THAT PRIVATE COMPANIES LIKE SPACEX ARE DOING MOST OF THE WORK GETTING SUPPLIES INTO LOW EARTH ORBIT.

AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE NASA OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL PRODUCED AN AUDIT, FINDING THE AGENCY WILL LIKELY SPEND MORE THAN 90 BILLION ON ARTEMIS BETWEEN 2011 AND 2025.

THE AMBITIOUS GOAL, FOR NASA TO HAVE HUMANS BACK ON THE LUNAR SURFACE.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THAT OIG REPORT ON ARTEMIS TO READ FOR YOURSELF ON OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THIS WEEK BRENDAN SPOKE WITH NASA ADMINISTRATOR BILL NELSON, ABOUT THE ARTEMIS DELAYS.

>>IT'S GOING TO LAUNCH, AND IT'LL LAUNCH WHEN IT'S READY.

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.

AND THIS IS A TEST FLIGHT.

AND WE WANT TO GET EVERYTHING OUT OF A TEST FLIGHT THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE PUT A CREW OF ASTRONAUTS ON TOP OF THAT ROCKET, THAT IT'S AS SAFE AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE.

THE LESSONS THAT WE LEARNED WITH THE LOSS OF CHALLENGER AND ALSO COLUMBIA IS YOU DON'T WANT TO LAUNCH UNTIL IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

AND THERE WERE HUMAN MISTAKES THAT WERE MADE IN BOTH OF THOSE LAUNCHES, EACH OF WHICH WAS CATASTROPHIC FOR A DIFFERENT REASON, BUT IT ALL CAME BACK TO THE LACK OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION.

AND THAT'S WHAT I KEEP REMINDING PEOPLE OF.

>>ALL RIGHT, BRENDAN.

WELL, LET'S TALK A BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT'S CAUSING THESE DELAYS.

IS THIS A FIXABLE PROBLEM AND HOW QUICKLY CAN NASA DO IT?

>>IT IS A FIXABLE PROBLEM.

HOW QUICK IS UP FOR DEBATE.

SO THE PROBLEMS LIE, I'M GOING TO TEST YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CHEMISTRY SKILLS HERE, STEVE.

>>OH, NO.

>>IT COMES DOWN TO HYDROGEN, HELIUM, AND NITROGEN.

SO THERE IS A HYDROGEN LEAK IN THE UMBILICAL, WHICH IS WHAT CONNECTS THE ROCKET TO THE MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM.

THEY DISCOVERED A HELIUM LEAK IN THE UPPER STAGE.

AND THERE'S ALSO AN ISSUE WITH NITROGEN.

NITROGEN IS USED TO KIND OF GET ALL OF THESE THINGS IN AND OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

SO THEY DECIDED THEY NEED SOME TIME TO UPGRADE THE NITROGEN SYSTEM AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER THAT ACTUALLY PUMPS THIS STUFF TO THE LAUNCH PAD, SO THEY'RE GOING TO PULL THE VEHICLE BACK IN AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIX IT THAT WAY.

LUCKILY IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THAT IT'S ON THE ROCKET ITSELF.

SO ALL THESE ISSUES ARE EITHER ON THE UPPER STAGE OR ON THE MOBILE LAUNCH PLATFORM.

WILL WE SEE A LAUNCH IN JUNE?

PROBABLY NOT.

>>I'M CALLING UP THE PERIODIC TABLE IN MY HEAD.

>>JUST SOME CASUAL ROCKET SCIENCE.

>>AS WE SPEAK.

>>JUST SOME CASUAL ROCKET SCIENCE AND CHEMISTRY HERE, YEAH.

>>EXACTLY.

A LITTLE ROCKET SCIENCE GOING ON THERE.

FROM THOSE THAT YOU TALKED TO THOUGH, I MEAN YOU ALLUDED TO THAT THERE, THAT THIS SORT OF JUNE TIMEFRAME, NOT REALLY REALISTIC, RIGHT?

I MEAN, LOOKING AT LATER THAN THAT?

>>PROBABLY.

AND WE'VE ALL COVERED LAUNCH HERE, RIGHT?

>>YEAH.

>>I MEAN, THERE'S VERY SPECIFIC CRITERIA YOU THAT ORBITAL MECHANICS HAVE TO HIT FOR THINGS TO LAUNCH.

THE LAUNCH WINDOWS FOR SLS ARE QUITE WIDE, BUT THEY ARE ALSO NARROW AT THE SAME TIME.

SO THE FIRST LAUNCH WINDOW THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY LAUNCH IN IS THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF JUNE.

THAT LOOKS KIND OF UNLIKELY, IF THE ROCKET JUST GOT BACK TO THE VAB THIS WEEK, HAS TO GO BACK OUT AGAIN, RUN THROUGH THE TEST SUCCESSFULLY, AND THEN COME BACK AGAIN.

THE NEXT ATTEMPT IS JULY.

NASA ADMINISTRATOR NELSON TOLD ME THIS SUMMER.

WE'LL SEE.

>>YEAH.

THAT COULD MEAN A LOT OF THINGS.

>>I STILL THINK THAT'S PRETTY AMBITIOUS, YEAH.

>>YEAH.

AND THAT'S SORT OF A BROAD WINDOW.

I MEAN, KARLA, LET'S TALK ABOUT SORT OF THE BROADLY HOW THINGS ARE GOING OUT ON THE SPACE COAST NOW WITH THE PRIVATE CREWS.

IT'S ALMOST BECOMING ROUTINE NOW.

I MEAN, SPACEX PUT UP A CREWED MISSION TO THE ISS THIS WEEK.

ALL THIS IS HAPPENING WHILE NASA'S STRUGGLING WITH ITS WITH IT'S SLS.

CREW-4 WENT UP THERE.

THE AXIOM FLIGHT JUST CAME BACK.

>>OVER AND OVER.

>>THERE'S JUST A QUICK TURNAROUND.

THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICS THAT THESE COMPANIES HAVE GOT TO FACE, RIGHT.

>>AND THIS WEEK'S SITUATION WAS SORT OF UNPRECEDENTED, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS THE END OF THAT.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO CONTINUE THESE PRIVATE ENDEAVORS AND GET THEM CLOSER TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S MAKING THE SPACE COAST MONEY AND KEEPING THIS PROGRAM GOING.

SO I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THAT.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT SPACEX MISSION A BIT MORE, BRENDAN.

THIS IS CARRYING THE FIRST EVER BLACK WOMAN TO JOIN THE ISS CREW, CORRECT?

HAVE PEOPLE OF COLOR GENERALLY BEEN UNDERREPRESENTED IN SPACE FLIGHT UP TO THIS POINT?

>>UNFORTUNATELY, YES.

>>YOU ASKED THE ADMINISTRATOR ABOUT THIS.

>>I DID, YES.

AND I THINK WHAT'S STRIKING ABOUT JESSICA WATKINS IS NOT ONLY IS SHE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE TO SPEND AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME ON THE STATION, SHE'S THE FIFTH BLACK FEMALE TO FLY SPACE EVER.

THERE'S OVER 600 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TO SPACE THROUGH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND COMMERCIAL COMPANIES.

>>YEAH.

>>AND THERE'S ONLY FIVE BLACK WOMEN THAT HAVE DONE IT.

SO THAT IS AN ISSUE.

DIVERSITY IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE AT NASA.

THEY RECOGNIZE THAT.

>>DO THEY HAVE A PLAN?

>>WELL, THE ARTEMIS MISSION IS, THAT IS GOING TO LAND PEOPLE ON THE MOON.

>>YEAH.

>>AND NASA HAS MADE THE GOAL FOR THAT TO BE A WOMAN AND A PERSON OF COLOR.

SO THEY'RE REALLY PUSHING FOR THAT.

THE NASA ASTRONAUT CORE IS FAR MORE DIVERSE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE, BUT JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THESE PEOPLE TO SPACE, BECAUSE REPRESENTATION IS ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT AT SPACE EXPLORATION.

>>FASCINATING TIME IN SPACE EXPLORATION ALL AROUND, I WOULD SAY.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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

>>ALL RIGHT, NEXT TONIGHT, MORE ON CENTRAL FLORIDA'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PUZZLE.

KARLA AND HER COLLEAGUES AT WFTV HAVE PUT TOGETHER A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF INVESTOR PURCHASES ON RENTS AND HOME PRICES.

IT'S A KEY ISSUE IN OUR AREA.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT IT, TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE STORIES KARLA PREPARED THIS WEEK FOR CHANNEL NINE >>FOR MONTHS, MARCUS SPRINGFIELD HAS BEEN WORKING A STEP AWAY FROM WHERE HE SLEEPS, AND LIVING AWAY FROM HIS FIANCE AND KIDS AS THEY SAVED, SEARCHED, AND TRIED AGAIN AND AGAIN TO BUY A HOME.

>>BUT WE WERE WALKING AWAY JUST KNOWING WE WERE GOING TO GET OUTBIDDED.

>>HE KEPT A FOLDER OF SOME OF THE 30 OR SO HOMES THAT THEY VISITED DURING THEIR SIX MONTH SEARCH FROM WINTER PARK TO CHULUOTA.

>>WERE BEING PRICED OUT BY THE COMMERCIAL CORPORATIONS COMING IN WITH CASH BUYER, CASH, BUYING THESE RESIDENTIAL HOMES.

>>OUTBID BY INVESTORS.

NINE INVESTIGATES WENT OVER DATA COMPILED BY REDFIN, WHICH FOUND ORLANDO WAS AMONG THE TOP 10 METROS IN THE COUNTRY FOR INVESTOR PURCHASES LAST YEAR, WITH AT LEAST 11,740 PROPERTIES IN 2021, ABOUT 22% OF ALL THE HOMES SOLD.

>>WELL, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT INVESTORS ARE LOOKING AT HOMES AS A WAY TO MAKE A PROFIT WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO OWN A HOME BECAUSE IT'S WHERE THEY LIVE.

THEY WANT TO RAISE A FAMILY THERE.

THEY WANT TO FEEL CONNECTED TO THE HOME, NOT JUST BE A RENTER WHERE EVERYTHING ELSE IS HANDLED BY A CORPORATION.

>>DARYL FAIRWEATHER IS REDFIN'S CHIEF ECONOMIST.

WE DRILLED DOWN THE COMPANY'S DATA AND FOUND THE DISPARITY IS EVEN WORSE IN SOME OF OUR PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITIES.

IN 32805, WHICH INCLUDES PARRAMORE AND WASHINGTON SHORES, THE POPULATION IS MORE THAN 70% BLACK, AND LAST YEAR, 45% OF HOMES SOLD WERE PURCHASED BY INVESTORS.

32811, WHICH INCLUDES CARVER SHORES AND RICHMOND HEIGHTS AND IS NEARLY 80% BLACK OR HISPANIC SAW MORE THAN 200 HOMES PURCHASED BY INVESTORS IN 2021, ACCOUNTING FOR NEARLY 40% OF HOMES SOLD.

AND 32839, HOLDEN HEIGHTS AND MILLENNIA, WHERE THREE-QUARTERS OF THE POPULATION IS BLACK OR BROWN, SAW 37% OF HOMES SOLD TO INVESTORS.

THOSE SALES COULD PRICE PEOPLE OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY'VE CALLED HOME.

ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE MORE RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS, GENTRIFICATION IS A RISK IN TERMS OF DISPLACEMENT, IN TERMS OF BEING PEOPLE PRICED OUT OF WHERE THEY CAN LIVE.

>>FOR SPRINGFIELD, AFTER MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES BEING OUTBID, HIS FAMILY FINALLY HAD AN OFFER ACCEPTED IN OVIEDO, AFTER DROPPING THEIR COSMETIC STANDARDS AND AGREEING TO GO WAY ABOVE THE APPRAISED VALUE.

>>IT'S SICKENING WHEN YOU SIT DOWN AND START PUTTING THE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND YOU SEE THE ZEROS ADD UP AND THE COMMAS, AND YOU'RE LIKE, "OH, " BUT STILL TRYING TO BUDGET FOR WORK OR YOU STILL WANT TO HAVE YOUR SAFETY NET, A FEW MONTHS OF MORTGAGE IN YOUR SAVINGS, BUT SOMETIMES YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STRETCH THAT.

>>WELL, A QUICK NOTE ON HOUSING.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL MEET IN ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION IN MAY TO CONSIDER THE AFFORDABILITY OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.

AND WE'LL COVER THAT HERE ON NEWSNIGHT AS WELL.

RIGHT, KARLA, LET'S BREAK SOME OF THIS DOWN.

I MEAN THE NUMBERS OF INVESTOR OWNED PROPERTIES IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF RACIAL MINORITIES REALLY STRUCK ME IN THIS PIECE.

I MEAN, DO WE KNOW WHY THOSE INVESTOR NUMBERS ARE SO HIGH IN THOSE COMMUNITIES?

IS IT JUST PREDATORY BUYING?

>>IT'S SOME OF THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

SO THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I MENTIONED IN THE STORY ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN ORLANDO.

A LOT OF THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO, THERE'S NO SUPPLY.

SO IF THERE ARE ONLY HOMES AVAILABLE IN PARRAMORE, WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, CARVER SHORES, AND THIS IS A MARKET THAT'S RIPE FOR INVESTORS, THAT'S WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK.

AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN DEVELOPMENTS, CREATIVE VILLAGE, THE UCF DOWNTOWN CAMPUS, A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED ON THAT SIDE OF DOWNTOWN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT'S CREATING THIS HOTSPOT FOR INVESTORS.

THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO BUY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT MEANS THAT FAMILIES WHO'VE LIVED THERE FOR A LONG TIME ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO LIVE THERE.

THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

>>I MEAN YOU TALKED ABOUT THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THERE, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT ON THE SHOW HERE.

I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THAT GENTRIFICATION PUZZLE, RIGHT?

>>ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU ARE SEEING INVESTORS COME IN AND BUY PROPERTIES, A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT NECESSARILY LIVING IN THOSE PROPERTIES.

THEY'RE EITHER SELLING THEM FOR A HIGHER PROFIT OR THEY'RE TURNING THEM AROUND AS RENTALS.

AND IF THE RENT IS TOO HIGH FOR SOMEONE TO CONTINUE LIVING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHED OUT.

>>I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS.

AND I KIND OF WONDER WHAT THE REAL LIFE IMPACTS ARE THAT YOU'VE BEEN DISCOVERING AS PART OF YOUR REPORTING.

IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT THIS FROM AN ACADEMIC POINT OF VIEW.

HOUSE PRICES ARE HIGH, RENTS ARE HIGH.

I MEAN, WHAT'S THE IMPACT, THE REAL WORLD IMPACT ON PEOPLE?

>>ANYONE TRYING TO BUY A HOME RIGHT NOW I THINK COULD TELL YOU HOW FRUSTRATING THINGS ARE.

AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SAW BACK WHEN THE BUBBLE BURST, SO TO SPEAK, BACK AFTER THE RECESSION.

AND WE SAW THESE LARGER CORPORATIONS COMING IN BUYING UP PROPERTIES AROUND CENTRAL FLORIDA AND OTHER MARKETS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO BUY A HOME, YOU'RE NOT GOING IN AT ASKING PRICE.

THE FAMILY THAT WE TALKED TO FOR THAT STORY, THEY WENT $18,000 OVER THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE HOME.

AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BANK LOANS, THE BANK'S NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE THAN WHAT THE PROPERTY WAS APPRAISED FOR.

SO THAT'S $18,000 CASH THAT CAME OUT OF THEIR POCKET, AND THAT CAN CREATE SOME FINANCIAL INSECURITY FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE SIMPLY TRYING TO LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM OF OWNING A HOME.

>>AND WHAT ARE PEOPLE TELLING YOU ABOUT THE SORT OF THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS MARKET AT THE MOMENT?

I MEAN, I'M SURE THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN IN CENTRAL FLORIDA A LONG TIME WILL REMEMBER 2007 AND 2008 AND THE BUBBLE AND THEN IT BURST.

CAN WE KEEP GOING LIKE THIS?

>>WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT THE MARKET EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY CAN KEEP GOING LIKE THIS, BUT EXPERTS I'VE TALKED TO SAID THAT CENTRAL FLORIDA IS KIND OF AN ANOMALY.

WE NOW HAVE THE GREAT MIGRATION OF PEOPLE WHO NO LONGER NEED TO LIVE WHERE THEY WORK.

WE'VE GOT NEW YORKERS, CALIFORNIANS, WHO ARE COMPLETELY REMOTE NOW, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MORE AFFORDABLE PLACES TO LIVE, MAYBE WITH A NICER WEATHER PATTERN.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE EYEING FLORIDA.

SO THAT'S GOING TO MEAN MIAMI, TAMPA, ORLANDO, OUR MARKET IS GOING TO STAY HOT.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO ALL THE EXPERTS I'VE TALKED TO.

>>CAN WE EXTRAPOLATE SOME OF THIS INVESTOR BUYING TO HIGHER RENTS?

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT DEPLETES THE STOCK.

PRESUMABLY IF INVESTORS ARE BUYING MORE PROPERTIES, THERE ARE MORE RENTAL PROPERTIES, RIGHT?

>>THERE ARE MORE RENTAL PROPERTIES, BUT BECAUSE THE MARKET IS WHAT IT IS RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN CHARGE WHAT THEY WANT FOR RENT AND SOMEBODY WILL PAY IT BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW PLACES TO LIVE.

SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF TIMES, THESE INVESTORS, NOT ONLY JUST SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, BUT ALSO CONDOS AND THE LIKE, DUPLEXES, THEY'RE BUYING THEM, THEY'RE TURNING THEM AROUND AS RENTAL PROPERTIES, AND THEY'LL SIT ON THAT PROFIT FOR YEARS UNTIL THEY SEE THE MARKET MAYBE GET SOFT AGAIN AND THEY'LL TURN IT AROUND AGAIN.

BUT, YEAH, WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING RENT PRICES GO UP BECAUSE OF THIS.

>>I MEAN, AS AN NEWSROOM, AS AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, WHEN YOU WERE TRYING TO SORT OF DECIDE WHAT YOUR NEXT INVESTIGATION WAS GOING TO BE, WHAT SORT OF LED YOU TO THE HOUSING PART OF IT?

IS IT JUST THAT IT'S SUCH AN OMNIPRESENT ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW?

>>WELL, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

THERE WAS A HOUSE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS LIVED IN BY A FAMILY FOR 20 PLUS YEARS.

AND THEY SOLD LAST YEAR TO SOMEONE THEY THOUGHT WAS GOING TO LIVE IN THE HOME, TURNED OUT TO BE AN INVESTOR.

AND SO NOW WE'VE GOT THE ISSUES WITH THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE HOME NOT BEING ABLE TO BE CONTACTED.

IT'S A CORPORATION.

>>YEAH.

>>YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING AND GOING.

SO THAT KIND OF PIQUED MY INTEREST IN REALIZING JUST HOW PREVALENT IT IS IN OUR MARKET.

REALLY STRUCK ME.

ONE OF THE TOP 10 METROS IN THE COUNTRY.

THE INVESTORS AREN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

AND WE SPOKE TO AN INVESTOR FOR ANOTHER STORY THAT'S GOING TO BE ON WFTV.COM.

>>WELL, YOU CAN CHECK OUT MORE OF KARLA'S REPORTING AT WFTV.COM AS SHE MENTIONED.

AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO KARLA RAY, WFTV CHANNEL NINE, AND BRENDAN BYRNE FROM 90.7 WMFE.

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 WEEKEND.