>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, CENTRAL FLORIDA'S RAIL NETWORK.

COULD BRIGHTLINE AND SUNRAIL ONE DAY SERVE UNIVERSAL AND I DRIVE?

GOVERNOR DESANTIS PROPOSES STATE CONTROL OF DISNEY'S REEDY CREEK DISTRICT.

AND THE RAPID PACE OF CONSTRUCTION LEADS TO CALLS FOR MORE GREEN SPACE.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

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

JOINING US THIS WEEK, SKYLER SWISHER FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, ALEXA LORENZO FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE, AND RYAN LYNCH FROM THE ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS.

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.

ALL RIGHT, FIRST TONIGHT, WE WANTED TO START BY TALKING ABOUT THE MASS SHOOTING AT A TEXAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIS WEEK.

THE TRAGEDY HAS DRAWN REACTION FROM THOSE IMPACTED BY THE MASSACRES IN FLORIDA, AT PARKLAND AND PULSE.

FOR MASS SHOOTING SURVIVORS AND VICTIM'S FAMILIES IN FLORIDA, ANOTHER PAINFUL REMINDER THAT GUN VIOLENCE REMAINS A NATIONAL SCOURGE.

BRANDON WOLF IS A PULSE SURVIVOR AND GUN CONTROL ACTIVIST.

>>THIS HELL HAS BEEN VISITED ON THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SOCIETY.

PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TASKED WITH PROTECTING.

THE ONES WHO STILL CAN IMAGINE THE BEAUTY OF THE WORLD, THAT SEE ANYTHING POSSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THE FUTURE BETTER AND SAFER, AND EASIER FOR THEM.

NOT THROWING THEM INTO THE CAULDREN AND HOPING THAT THEY MAKE IT OUT.

NOT TEACHING THEM TO HIDE UNDERNEATH THEIR DESKS, NOT SADDLING THEM WITH THIS IDEA THAT SOME DAY IT WILL BE VISITED ON THEIR HEADS.

THEY'RE THE ONES WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE FIGHTING FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY.

>>THE SENSE THAT I GET FROM OTHER SURVIVORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS IS THAT THEY ARE ANGRY.

THEY ARE ANGRY THAT WE ARE HERE AGAIN, THEY'RE ANGRY THAT THERE ARE MOMS HAVING THEIR CHEEKS SWABBED IN SOUTHERN TEXAS BECAUSE THEIR CHILDREN ARE UNRECOGNIZABLE AFTER THE DAMAGE THAT THESE FIREARMS HAVE DONE TO THEM.

I GET THE SENSE THAT PEOPLE ARE ANGRY AND MOTIVATED IN A WAY THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN QUITE SOME TIME AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT THAT TURNS INTO REAL ACTION, THAT IT TURNS INTO DIRECT ACTION, THAT IT TURNS INTO POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THAT THE FOLKS IN POSITIONS OF POWER HEAR FROM THEM IN A WAY THAT THEY HAVEN'T IN QUITE SOME TIME.

>>AS IF THEY'RE IN A BATTLEFIELD, FOR GOD'S SAKE.

>>BUT CALLS FOR ACTION, INCLUDING FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN, DREW CONDEMNATION FROM SOME WHO OPPOSED RESTRICTING ACCESS TO FIREARMS.

BREVARD STATE REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE WROTE ON TWITTER, "I HAVE NEWS FOR THE EMBARRASSMENT THAT CLAIMS TO BE OUR PRESIDENT.

TRY TO TAKE OUR GUNS, AND YOU'LL LEARN WHY THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS WRITTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE."

ALL RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY STRONG REACTIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

ALEXA, LET ME START WITH YOU.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF CALLS AGAIN FOR MORE GUN CONTROLS.

>>YEAH.

THIS IS A CLUB YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN.

>>YEAH.

>>EVERYONE HERE, LIKE YOU JUST HEARD BRANDON WOLF TALK ABOUT PULSE, OTHERS TALK ABOUT PARKLAND, THEY SHARE THIS GRIEF AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN, PEOPLE SAYING ENOUGH WITH THE THOUGHTS, PRAYERS, MOMENTS OF SILENCE.

THEY'RE ONCE AGAIN CALLING FOR MORE REFORM.

THEY WANT UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

THEY WANT DEEPER BACKGROUND CHECKS.

THEY WANT BANS OF ASSAULT WEAPONS.

THEY WANT BANS OF HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES.

AND IT'S THESE CALLS THAT WE'VE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BUT WE ARE SEEING FROM PEOPLE SAYING THEY FEEL MORE MOTIVATED THIS TIME AROUND, AND THAT ANGER FROM BRANDON WOLF THERE JUST SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR RIGHT NOW.

>>I MEAN, IT DOES SAY A LOT.

SKYLER, YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THE GUN CONTROL ISSUE HERE IN FLORIDA.

BREVARD STATE REP RANDY FINE SAYING DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION THIS WEEK IN TALLAHASSEE THAT IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE PRESIDENT TO SAY IN HIS ADDRESS, SO EARLY ON IN HIS ADDRESS, TO SORT OF TALK ABOUT THE GUN CONTROL ISSUE.

HE WANTS THE GOVERNOR TO PUSH AHEAD WITH CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY.

HE WANTS IT DONE IN THE NEXT SESSION.

IS THAT BROADLY WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM REPUBLICANS?

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S SUPPORT FOR WHAT SUPPORTERS CALL CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY ALLOW GUN OWNERS TO CARRY WITHOUT A PERMIT.

THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION THAT THIS COULD COME UP DURING A SPECIAL SESSION, MAYBE BEFORE THE ELECTIONS?

>>YEAH.

>>FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IT IS LIKELY, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT IT'LL BE TAKEN UP DURING THE NEXT SESSION.

>>YOU CAN FIND MORE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH BRANDON WOLF, INCLUDING HIS REACTION TO REPRESENTATIVE FINE'S REMARKS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

>>WELL, CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE PULSE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING, WUCF'S MEET THE HELPERS PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HELP FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS DISCUSS DIFFICULT NEWS, SUCH AS THE SHOOTING IN TEXAS, WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

YOU CAN FIND VIDEOS, EMERGENCY PLANS, CONVERSATION STARTERS, AND MORE AT MEETTHEHELPERS.ORG.

>>OKAY.

NEXT TONIGHT, MORE UNCERTAINTY OVER THE FUTURE OF REEDY CREEK AFTER GOVERNOR DESANTIS SUGGESTED THE STATE WOULD LIKELY TAKE OVER CONTROL OF DISNEY'S SPECIAL DISTRICT.

THE LEGISLATURE RECENTLY VOTED TO STRIP DISNEY OF SELF-GOVERNING POWERS BY DISSOLVING THE REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BY JUNE NEXT YEAR.

>>DISSOLVING REEDY CREEK THROWS INTO QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS TO ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT OWED TO BOND HOLDERS?

AND THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES ON DISNEY'S SPRAWLING PROPERTY?

SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL ELIMINATING THE DISTRICT HAD SAID REEDY CREEK'S DEBTS WOULD SIMPLY TRANSFER TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

AND THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS WOULD NOT FACE HIGHER TAX BILLS BECAUSE THOSE GOVERNMENTS WOULD ALSO ASSUME REEDY CREEK'S REVENUES AS WELL.

BUT FOLLOWING WARNINGS FROM LOCAL OFFICIALS, INCLUDING ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS, THAT TAXES WOULD HAVE TO GO UP, GOVERNOR DESANTIS INSISTED DISNEY ITSELF WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR REEDY CREEK'S DEBT.

>>THE SAME PEOPLE WHO CRITICIZED ME FOR SAYING, "YOU'RE PUNISHING DISNEY," ARE ALSO SAYING WE'RE GOING TO RELIEVE DISNEY OF 766 MILLION IN DEBT.

HOW WOULD THAT BE A PUNISH?

I MEAN LIKE, IT MAKES NO SENSE.

>>AND SPEAKING IN SANFORD LAST WEEK, THE GOVERNOR FLOATED A PLAN FOR THE STATE TO ASSUME CONTROL OF THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, SAYING HE DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AN EXCUSE TO RAISE TAXES.

>>AFTER SEEING THEM THREATENING, TO RAISE TAXES ON THEIR CITIZENS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE GIVING THEM LOCALLY CONTROL.

>>CRITICS OF A PROPOSED STATE TAKEOVER SAY THE CHANGING PLANS DEMONSTRATE THAT THE INITIAL MOVE TO TARGET DISNEY'S SPECIAL DISTRICT WAS NOT WELL THOUGHT OUT.

>>THEY CLEARLY ARE MAKING THIS UP AS THEY GO ALONG.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S INCORRECT.

THEY DID NOT THINK THIS THROUGH.

ALL THEY KNEW WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO TAKE AWAY SOMETHING FROM DISNEY TO PUNISH DISNEY.

AND THIS WAS WHAT THEY COULD DO, SO THEY DID IT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

SKYLER, LET ME START WITH YOU.

THIS IS A SUBJECT THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT A LOT IN THE SENTINEL.

IS THERE ACTUALLY A PLAN YET DETAILING HOW THIS DISSOLUTION'S GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK PRACTICALLY?

>>NO, THERE'S NO WRITTEN PLAN.

AND WE'VE ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE ONE AND ALL THEY SAY IS, "STAY TUNED."

SO AT THE MOMENT, NO WRITTEN PLAN.

>>YEAH.

ALEXA, STATE STATUTES SAY OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL TAKE ON THE DEBTS AND THE ASSETS OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICT IF IT'S DISBANDED.

LOCAL LEADERS, LIKE JERRY DEMINGS, HAVE WARNED THAT THIS COULD LEAD TO THIS INCREASE IN TAXES FOR RESIDENTS.

REMIND US WHAT THEY'VE SAID.

>>I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE INCREDIBLY SHOCKED WHEN SCOTT RANDOLPH, OUR DEMOCRATIC ORANGE COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR TWEETED OUT THAT THE TAXES WOULD FALL ON PEOPLE HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY AND THAT WE COULD TAKE ON POTENTIALLY A $163 MILLION PER YEAR DEBT OBLIGATION WITH THIS DISSOLUTION.

MAYOR JERRY DEMING SAYS THAT THIS IS AN UNDUE BURDEN, THAT WILL SEE HOW IT ALL SHAKES OUT.

BUT AT THE WAY, THIS STANDS RIGHT NOW THAT ORANGE COUNTY COULD POTENTIALLY FILL THE GAP.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SAYS NO, BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED A BIG PLAN ON HOW THIS ALL, LIKE YOU SAID, IS GOING TO FALL.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, RYAN, I'M INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF SORT OF SHIFT IN TONE, AT LEAST A SHIFT IN TONE THAT I THINK I CAN DETECT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS DISNEY WILL, "NOT CONTROL ITS OWN GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA."

DOES THAT TO YOU SEEM DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HEARD IN THE PREVIOUS SPECIAL SESSION WHERE WE HEARD FROM REPRESENTATIVE FINE, FOR EXAMPLE, SAYING DISNEY WOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO RECONSTITUTE REEDY CREEK, RIGHT?

>>AND THAT DOES SEEM SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY WERE SAYING BEFORE.

AND AGAIN, THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN SO IT'S HARD TO SAY IF THEY'RE GOING TO FLIP FLOP ON THAT AT A CERTAIN POINT AS WELL.

IF WE DON'T HAVE A CERTAIN PLAN, WE DON'T KNOW KIND OF WHAT THEIR NEXT STEPS ARE, HOW THEY MIGHT APPROACH THAT DISSOLUTION, OR IF THEY'LL EVEN GO THROUGH IT FULLY AT ALL.

>>YEAH.

THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN.

SKYLER, I MEAN, GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS THERE'S NO CIRCUMSTANCE UNDER WHICH THE STATE WOULD ASSUME DISNEY'S DEBT.

DO WE KNOW WHETHER THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE TO MAKE DISNEY LIABLE FOR THAT DEBT?

I MEAN, WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND FROM YOUR REPORTING?

>>YEAH, I MEAN, SO A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE SPECULATION BECAUSE AS WE'VE MENTIONED, THERE'S NO WRITTEN PLAN.

IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE STATE COULD TAKE OVER THAT SPECIAL DISTRICT.

THE GOVERNOR COULD APPOINT THE MEMBERS.

THEY COULD CONTINUE TO LEVY THOSE TAXES TO PAY DOWN THAT DEBT.

THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING CALLED A MUNICIPAL TAXING SERVICES UNIT.

THAT'S VERY COMPLEX FRAMEWORK, BUT THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO COLLECT THAT REVENUE TO PAY DOWN REEDY CREEK'S DEBT.

>>I MEAN, DO YOU AGREE WITH AUBREY JEWETT IN OUR PIECE THERE THAT MAYBE THIS WASN'T WELL THOUGHT THROUGH?

IS IT OBJECTIVE TO SAY THAT?

>>I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT HOW THIS WAS APPROVED, I MEAN IT WAS DONE IN THREE DAYS.

>>YEAH.

>>AND COVERING THE LEGISLATURE, NORMALLY A BILL LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH MULTIPLE COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

PEOPLE WOULD COME TO TALLAHASSEE TO GIVE TESTIMONY.

THAT DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN HERE.

I MEAN IT HAPPENED AT LIGHTNING SPEED.

>>YEAH.

AND RANDY FINE TOLD ME WHEN I ASKED HIM WHETHER OR NOT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAYBE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY THAT, NO, THIS IS A RELATIVELY SIMPLE PROCESS.

THESE THINGS WILL JUST TRANSFER ACROSS TO THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT THERE ARE LOCALLY.

IT SEEMS IT'S A BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT.

>>YEAH.

AND WE'VE INTERVIEWED EXPERTS.

I MEAN, I TALKED TO AN EXPERT WHO SPECIALIZES IN SPECIAL DISTRICTS.

HE SAID THIS IS LIKE THE OLYMPICS FOR HIM.

BUT HE MENTIONED THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX.

THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

>>ALEXA, WHAT HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S DETRACTORS ON THIS ISSUE SAID ABOUT THE SORT OF THE OPTICS HERE OF THE STATE MOVING IN TO TAKE CONTROL OF A SPECIAL DISTRICT BELONGING TO A COMPANY THAT CRITICIZED THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION?

>>A LOT OF HIS CRITICS WERE SURPRISED.

THEY SAY THIS CAME OUT OF THE BLUE.

HIS SUPPORTERS ON THE OTHER HAND SAY, "OH NO, WE'VE WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS."

>>YEAH.

>>SO HIS CRITICS ARE SAYING, "THIS IS OBVIOUS."

MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS TO QUOTE HIM, HE SAID, "THIS IS POLITICAL RETRIBUTION AT PLAY."

HE SAYS, "FAST FORWARD A FEW DAYS AFTER DISNEY VERBALLY OPPOSED THE PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION BILL AND THEN LAW, " THIS KIND OF HAPPENS IN THREE DAYS, LIKE YOU SAID.

SO IF YOU ASK HIS CRITICS, THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS POLITICAL PLAY AND KIND OF THEIR NOW WHAT?

>>AND OF COURSE, PROPONENTS OF THIS SAY THAT IT'S SIMPLY A MATTER OF FAIRNESS AND THAT NO OTHER COMPANY HAS THAT RIGHT.

>>THAT SAME ABILITY, RIGHT.

>>THERE'S NO SHAMU SPECIAL DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD IN THE DEBATE DURING THE- >>SOUNDS GOOD, SHAMU SPECIAL DISTRICT.

>>IN THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

RYAN, I MEAN DISNEY CONTROLS TWO OF THESE DISTRICTS, BAY LAKE AND LAKE BUENA VISTA, THAT WOULD TAKE ON THE DEBTS AND ASSETS.

I MEAN, COULD THAT GIVE THE COMPANY SOME OPTIONS IF IT LOSES REEDY CREEK?

>>YEAH.

THOSE TWO MUNICIPALITIES ARE OBVIOUSLY PART OF THE REEDY CREEK DISTRICT AND THOSE ARE TWO MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUDGET CITIES WITHIN THAT DISTRICT.

AND IF THEY MAINTAIN THAT BOARD, IT WOULD BE LIKELY THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF SAY AND WHO KNOWS WHETHER IN THE FUTURE SOME SORT OF SUCCESSOR BOARD COMES ALONG IF THEY GET RID OF THOSE MUNICIPALITIES, IF THEY HAVE SOME SORT OF GOVERNOR APPOINTED SORT OF BOARD OFFICIALS.

WHO KNOWS THOUGH?

BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE ONCE THEY HAVE THAT PLAN IN PLACE, IF THEY'RE GOING TO DISSOLVE THESE MUNICIPALITIES, IF THEY'RE GOING TO FORM SOME SORT OF BOARD, WE'LL KNOW BY THEN.

>>VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER POLITICAL ISSUE BEFORE WE MOVE ON THAT ALSO AFFECTS DISNEY.

DISNEY ORIGINALLY GOT A CARVE OUT, SKYLER, IN FLORIDA'S BIG TECH CENSORSHIP LAW.

THAT CARVE OUT WAS REMOVED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION, BUT THAT LAW WAS BLOCKED.

AND THIS WEEK THE 11TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED LARGE PARTS OF IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

WHAT DID THE 11TH CIRCUIT RULING SAY?

>>SO WHAT THE 11TH CIRCUIT SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY A SETBACK FOR GOVERNOR DESANTIS AND HIS EFFORTS TO PUNISH BIG TECH AND TO STOP WHAT HE CALLS CENSORSHIP.

ESSENTIALLY WHAT THEY SAID IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT FORCE A PRIVATE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TO PUBLISH SOMETHING.

AND THAT LEGISLATION WOULD'VE HAD PROVISION SUCH AS YOU CAN'T PERMANENTLY BAN A POLITICAL CANDIDATE FROM TWITTER, FOR INSTANCE.

SO THE 11TH CIRCUIT SAID THAT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL TO ESSENTIALLY FORCE A PRIVATE BUSINESS TO HAVE TO PUBLISH SOMEBODY'S SPEECH.

>>CERTAINLY SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE CONTINUE TO PLAY OUT IN THE COURTS.

WELL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPECIAL SESSION NEXT WEEK ON THE PROGRAM AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CHARGES THIS WEEK IN A GHOST CANDIDATE CASE IN SEMINOLE COUNTY.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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

>>NEXT TONIGHT, CENTRAL FLORIDA'S COMPLICATED TRANSPORTATION FUTURE.

AS ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS PREPARE TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER ON A SALES TAX INCREASE TO PAY FOR TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS, PLANS ARE EMERGING FOR AN EAST-WEST EXPANSION OF SUNRAIL THAT COULD ALSO SEE FUTURE BRIGHTLINE SERVICES RUNNING TO I DRIVE AND UNIVERSAL, BRIGHTLINE SERVICES FROM ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, INTERMODAL TERMINAL FACILITY TO SOUTH FLORIDA ARE DUE TO START IN 2023, AS LINE CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES.

BUT IT'S WHAT HAPPENS NEXT THAT'S A BONE OF CONTENTION.

BRIGHTLINE'S CURRENT PLAN IS TO EXPAND ITS FUTURE SERVICE TO TAMPA, CONSTRUCTING A RAIL LINE WITH A STATION AT DISNEY SPRINGS.

BUT THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, WHICH HAS COVERED THE STORY EXTENSIVELY SAYS UNIVERSAL, CUT OUT OF THOSE PLANS, OBJECTED.

IT WANTS THE ROUTE TO TAKE IN UNIVERSAL AND THE I DRIVE CORRIDOR, INCLUDING THE CONVENTION CENTER, A ROUTE BRIGHTLINE SAID COULD ADD MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS TO THE PROJECT, MAKING IT PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE.

BUT NOW IT'S REPORTED UNIVERSAL AND OTHERS HAVE PLEDGED 125 MILLION TO BRING THE LINE TO THEM, PLUS 13 ACRES FOR A STATION AND ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR MAINTENANCE.

ORLANDO MAYOR BUDDY DYER SAYS SUNRAIL WOULD ALSO USE THE ROUTE TO OFFER SERVICES TO THE AIRPORT ALONG WHAT'S BEING DUBBED THE SUNSHINE CORRIDOR.

CURRENT SUNRAIL PLANS INCLUDE ONLY A NORTH-SOUTH ROUTE, CURRENTLY RUNNING BETWEEN DEBARY AND VOLUSIA COUNTY AND POINCIANA IN OSCEOLA COUNTY.

ALL RIGHT, ALEXA, YOU COVER TRANSPORTATION OVER THERE AT CHANNEL NINE.

FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, GIVE US A TIMELINE ON BRIGHTLINE'S PLANS FOR THIS SERVICE TO MIAMI FROM OIA.

HOW IS CONSTRUCTION GOING?

>>RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ABOUT 80% COMPLETE WITH CONSTRUCTION AND EVERY HALF PERCENTAGE POINT, EVERY PERCENTAGE POINT, IS LAID OUT SPECIFICALLY.

THEY WENT FROM ABOUT 73 TO 80% IN ABOUT THE LAST TWO MONTHS, SO THEY'RE TREKKING ALONG.

THEY SAY THAT CONSTRUCTION IS GOING TO BE COMPLETE BY THIS YEAR'S END.

SO THAT WOULD BE MIAMI, WEST PALM, OVER TO BREVARD, INCLUDING ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

FINGERS CROSSED THEY HOPE TO BE CARRYING PASSENGERS COME 2023.

LIKE YOU SAID, THE GOAL IS TO MOVE ON TO TAMPA AND NOW POTENTIALLY PASS THROUGH THAT NEW SUNSHINE CORRIDOR.

>>SO THE ATTRACTIONS AREA.

SKYLER, YOUR COLLEAGUES AT THE SENTINEL, PARTICULARLY KEVIN SPEAR, HAS WRITTEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE EXTENSIVELY.

FROM THAT REPORTING, DO WE KNOW WHY UNIVERSAL OBJECTED TO SORT OF BRIGHTLINE'S INITIAL PLAN?

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, IF YOU KIND OF PUT YOURSELF IN THE SHOES OF THE EXECUTIVES AT UNIVERSAL.

THE WAY THAT THIS WAS INITIALLY ENVISIONED, THAT BRIGHTLINE TRAIN WOULD GO FROM MIAMI UP TO ORLANDO AND BYPASS THEIR THEME PARK AND GO TO A COMPETITOR'S THEME PARK AT WALT DISNEY WORLD.

SO YOU'D IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD WANT THOSE TOURISTS TO HAVE A STOP CLOSER TO THEIR THEME PARKS AND PROPERTIES.

>>YEAH.

THEY CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT THEIR BIGGEST COMPETITOR TO GET AN ADVANTAGE.

I MEAN, RYAN, IS THIS SIMPLY A MATTER, DO YOU THINK, OF COST FOR BRIGHTLINE?

>>YEAH.

THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST WHERE THEY ORIGINALLY FAVORED THAT 417 ROUTE BECAUSE IT WAS LESS EXPENSIVE.

A LOT OF LOCAL LEADERS TALKED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO BRING SOME SORT OF DOLLARS FORWARD, WHETHER THAT WAS FEDERAL DOLLARS OR IN THE CASE OF UNIVERSAL BRINGING SOME PRIVATE DOLLARS INTO PLAY.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE HOW THE GRANT PROCESS PLAYS OUT BECAUSE THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS TO COME INTO PLAY AND MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.

>>YEAH, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL DOLLARS IN A MOMENT.

I MEAN, ALEXA, WHAT ABOUT THE IDEA OF SUNRAIL'S SPUR TO THE AIRPORT?

I MEAN THAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT SUNRAIL PLAN, CORRECT?

>>IF YOU'RE FOLLOWING THIS STORY, AS WE ALL ARE, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO KEEP YOUR HEAD ON A SWIVEL BECAUSE FOR SUNRAIL, RIGHT NOW THEY ARE LOOKING TO TRANSITION FROM STATE CONTROL, THEY'RE RUN BY FDOT, TO LOCAL LEADERS.

THAT WAS ALWAYS IN THE PLAN.

SO THEY'VE LAID OUT HOW THAT'S GOING TO WORK, THAT TRANSITION OF POWER, WHILE ALSO TAKING IN NOW THIS $1 BILLION EXPANSION.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT IFS, NOW WHAT, WHAT'S NEXT, GOING ON RIGHT NOW, WHICH LIKE YOU SAID, THE ORIGINAL PLAN, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.

>>COULD MONEY FROM UNIVERSAL, AND YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT IT THERE, RYAN.

COULD MONEY FROM UNIVERSAL HELP SORT OF DRAW IN FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS POSSIBLY TO FUND THIS?

>>YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY A POSSIBILITY.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE OTHER DOLLARS THAT ARE IN PLAY COULD ALSO HELP TALK ABOUT PROBABLY THE SALES TAX FOR ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS, THAT COULD ALSO HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE MATCHING FUNDS OR POTENTIALLY HAVING PROJECTS THAT COULD BE FEDERAL FUND ELIGIBLE.

BUT JUST HAVING THAT MONEY IN PLAY DEFINITELY BRINGS IN SOME OF THAT INVESTMENT.

>>YEAH.

SKYLER, TO SORT OF FURTHER COMPLICATE THIS, I MEAN, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAD BEEN SET TO TAKE OVER SUNRAIL FROM FDOT LAST YEAR.

THAT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK NOW TO 2024.

DO WE KNOW WHY?

>>WELL, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS THAT SUNRAIL IS RUNNING AT ABOUT A 50 MILLION DEFICIT.

>>YEAH.

>>SO THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS, WHO PICKS UP THOSE COSTS?

WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE PLAN IN TERMS OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR SUNRAIL?

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, RYAN, YOU MENTIONED MAYOR DEMINGS HOPES THAT SORT OF VOTERS WILL APPROVE THAT PENNY SALES TAX FOR TRANSPORTATION.

I MEAN, COULD THAT FACTOR INTO HOW SUNRAIL IS GOVERNED?

WHETHER MAYBE IT COMES UNDER LYNX, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>>YEAH.

AND IT COULD ALSO PLAY INTO SOME OF THOSE EXPANSION PLANS WE TALKED ABOUT.

THERE'S BEEN SORT OF CONTEMPLATED THAT EXPANSION TO THE AIRPORT OR A CORRIDOR GOING UP TOWARDS APOPKA AS TWO EXAMPLES OF EXPANSIONS IN THE LONG TERM.

AND OBVIOUSLY THOSE HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY REALIZED YET, BUT THE FUNDING FROM THAT OVER THAT 20 YEAR PERIOD, IF APPROVED, COULD HELP THAT EXPANSION PROCESS AND ALSO SET UP THAT GOVERNANCE, WHETHER THAT'S LYNX OR ANOTHER ORGANIZATION.

>>YEAH.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MORE SKEPTICISM IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, I THINK, ABOUT SUNRAIL, RIGHT, ALEXA?

>>YEAH.

>>I MEAN, LOW RIDERSHIP HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THIS SERVICE SORT OF SINCE THE OUTSET.

DOES IT REMAIN A PROBLEM NOW?

>>WELL, YOU MENTIONED IT ALREADY.

THEY OPERATE AT A $50 MILLION DEFICIT.

WHETHER YOU RIDE SUNRAIL OR NOT, SEE IT WHEN YOU DRIVE TO WORK, YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT.

THE TAXPAYERS ARE REALLY SHOULDERING THIS COST.

SO SUNRAIL IS SAYING THAT THEY HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN RIDERSHIP.

SURE, WHEN YOU PUT IT, "WE'VE SEEN A 23% INCREASE WITHIN THE LAST MONTH."

IT WAS JANUARY COMPARED TO FEBRUARY.

THAT DOES SEEM SIGNIFICANT.

BUT WHEN YOU START WITH SUCH A LOW NUMBER, IT'S NOT HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF NEW RIDERS.

SO SURE, WE'RE SEEING SLIGHT INCREASES NOW AS A LOT OF THESE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES REBOUND FROM THE PANDEMIC, BUT IT STILL ISN'T SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FOR THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO SAY, "HEY, LET'S DO THIS NOW."

THEY'RE STILL BALANCING THAT COST AND THE RIDERSHIP.

>>YEAH, JUST SO MUCH TO THE TRANSPORTATION JIGSAW PUZZLE HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, FOR SURE.

WELL, IT'S NOT JUST A NEW RAIL LINE BEING BUILT IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

THE REGION'S CONSTRUCTION BOOM CONTINUES UNABATED.

AND AS NEWSNIGHTS'S KRYSTEL KNOWLES REPORTS, THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT HAS SOME RESIDENTS PUSHING BACK.

>>JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO THE PROPERTY BEHIND ME WAS A 7-11, AND THROUGHOUT THE YEARS DEVELOPERS WANTED TO PURCHASE THAT LAND FOR ABOUT $5 MILLION, BUT INSTEAD SOLD TO TWO LITTLE OLD LADIES FOR $3 MILLION.

HOW THEY GOT THAT MONEY AND THEIR STORY IS QUITE INCREDIBLE.

>>WHAT STARTED AS A SINKHOLE IN THE LATE 1800S HAS BECOME A STAPLE OF CITY BEAUTIFUL.

IN THE MIDDLE OF CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT LAKE EOLA PARK PROVIDES A GETAWAY FROM THE CITY LIFE AND IS HOME TO WILDLIFE.

IN 2015, DEVELOPERS GOT PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FOR A 28 STORY MIXED USED DEVELOPMENT ON THE EDGE OF LAKE EOLA PARK.

>>WE, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE, WENT TO CITY COUNCIL TO OPPOSE THE PROJECT, THINKING THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE ABILITY TO GAIN GREEN SPACE, IF IT'S GONE.

>>THAT PLAN NEVER CAME TO FRUITION, BUT THE THREAT OF MORE DEVELOPMENT BY LAKE EOLA SPARKED LYNN LONG, WHOSE ANCESTORS MOVED TO THE AREA MANY GENERATIONS AGO, TO TAKE ACTION TO PRESERVE THE SITE.

>>SO THERE WASN'T A LOT THAT THE CITY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE THAT IS THE ZONING REQUIREMENT THERE.

AND THERE WAS REALLY NOT MUCH THAT THE CITY COULD DO AT ALL, SO IT HAD TO BE DONE BY LOCAL CITIZENS.

>>BY 2019, SHE JOINED FORCES WITH ANOTHER LONGTIME RESIDENT, EUGENIA SEFCIK, AND OTHER KEY FIGURES TO FORM THE ORLANDO LAND TRUST.

THEIR MISSION?

TO ONCE AND FOR ALL HALT OLD PLANS TO DEVELOP THE SITE ON LAKE EOLA BY TAKING IT OFF THE MARKET.

THE WOMEN SAY THEY MET WITH A PROPERTY OWNER AND HAD A HEART TO HEART.

>>WOULDN'T YOU AND YOUR FAMILY LIKE TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING EVEN BIGGER?

AND SO HIS SISTERS OWNED THE PROPERTY WITH HIM, AND HE TALKED TO HIS SISTERS.

THEY AGREED ON A PRICE.

I TOLD HIM, "SOLD, DONE."

WE DIDN'T HAVE A PENNY TO OUR NAMES.

BUT SOON THEY DID, AND IN RECORD TIME.

THE ORLANDO TRUST WAS ABLE TO BUY THE LAND AND DONATE IT TO THE CITY.

AND IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, IT WILL BECOME A POPUP PARK.

>>THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR ORLANDO.

>>WELL, I SPOKE WITH KRYSTEL EARLIER THIS WEEK AND STARTED BY ASKING HER WHETHER SHE THINKS THE TWO WOMEN IN HER STORY ARE ANTI-DEVELOPMENT.

>>NO, THEY'RE NOT, STEVE.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRO-DEVELOPMENT.

BUT IN BEING PRO-DEVELOPMENT THEY ALSO WANT TO PRESERVE GREEN SPACES LIKE LAKE EOLA.

IT'S BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG.

THEY WANT TO PRESERVE IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S THERE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

>>SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, KRYSTEL?

>>WHAT COMES NEXT?

WELL, THEY'RE HOPING TO BUY THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR.

SO THEY'RE PLANNING ON FOLLOWING THE SAME BLUEPRINT AND GAME PLAN.

RAISING MONEY, BUYING THE PROPERTY, DONATING IT TO THE CITY, AND TURNING THAT INTO JUST ANOTHER ADDITION OF GREEN SPACE TO LAKE EOLA.

>>I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY AMAZING, ISN'T IT, HOW THESE TWO RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THIS?

>>THEY WENT DOOR TO DOOR, LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED, ASKING ANYBODY FOR MONEY TO HELP BUY THIS LAND.

NOW THE PROPERTY OWNER ALSO DECIDED TO HELP THEM OUT BY REDUCING THE PRICE TO $3 MILLION.

THEN THE CITY PRICE MATCHED, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO BUY THIS PROPERTY, SOMETHING THAT OTHER CITIES CAN DO.

BUT OF COURSE YOU NEED THE HELP OF CITY OFFICIALS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PACE OF CONSTRUCTION.

THAT'S SOMETHING CERTAINLY YOU GUYS OVER AT THE ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL ARE ALL OVER.

YOU HAVE A, I THINK, A PAGE CALLED CRANE WATCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, HOW DOES THE PACE OF CONSTRUCTION IN CENTRAL FLORIDA RIGHT NOW KIND OF COMPARE TO PREVIOUS BOOMS?

>>OH, IT'S STILL MASSIVE.

I THINK YOU'VE SEEN A RECOVERY SINCE THE START OF COVID-19.

>>YEAH.

>>IN TERMS OF BUILDING LEVELS AND CONSTRUCTION WAS ONE OF THOSE INDUSTRIES THAT DESPITE A PAUSE AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC HAS KIND OF STAYED STRONG, A LOT OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND THINGS OF THE LIKE.

BUT THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT, WHETHER THAT'S COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OR EVEN SEEN A NUMBER OF PARK DEVELOPMENTS COME UP WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE PARKS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

ORLANDO OR IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, SOME PARKS PROPOSED UP THERE.

>>YEAH.

ALEXA, THE CITY OF ORLANDO HAS A MASTER PLAN FOR LAKE EOLA.

I MEAN, JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THE KEY PARTS OF THAT ARE.

>>YEAH.

IT HAS A VERY WIDE LENS MASTER PLAN.

THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT LAKE EOLA TO LOOK LIKE FOR DECADES TO COME.

THEY WANT TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THAT GREEN SPACE.

THEY WANT TO MOVE THE SWAN BOATS WHERE THEY'RE LOCATED, REFURBISH THEM, REFURBISH THE AMPHITHEATER.

WOULD STILL KEEP THE ICONIC BAND SHELL SHAPE, BUT HAVE BETTER SEATING, COVERED SEATING.

SOMETHING EVERYONE'S GOING TO LOVE, NEW RESTROOMS.

THEY WANT TO MAKE EOLA DRIVE WITH WIDER SIDEWALKS, MAKE THE TRAFFIC LANES JUST A LITTLE MORE SQUEEZED IN.

IT WOULDN'T BE A HUGE OVERHAUL WHEN IT COMES TO DRIVERS, BUT JUST ALLOW IT TO BE MORE OF A GREEN SPACE, MORE INCLUSIVE TO PEDESTRIANS AND BIKERS ALIKE.

>>YEAH.

BROADLY SPEAKING, SKYLER, I MEAN, WE'RE SORT OF USED TO WELCOMING CONSTRUCTION AS SORT OF A NECESSARY PART OF AN ECONOMIC GROWTH HERE IN FLORIDA, BUT HAS THERE BEEN A PUSHBACK SORT OF MORE BROADLY BEYOND WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT USED TO BE THE SEVEN-11?

>>YEAH, I MEAN, IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT, I THINK IT'S A STORY AS OLD AS FLORIDA.

YOU MOVE HERE AND THEN YOU KIND OF COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NEW PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING HERE.

>>YEAH.

>>SO, YEAH, I THINK THERE HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A PUSHBACK AGAINST DEVELOPMENT AND WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE ORLANDO SENTINEL AT APOPKA AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADDING SOMEWHERE AROUND 22,000 NEW RESIDENTS JUST IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW THAT COULD CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT THAT BRINGS.

>>WELL, YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE CITY OF ORLANDO'S MASTER PLAN FOR LAKE EOLA.

IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, WHICH IS WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

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

MY THANKS TO SKYLER SWISHER FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL, ALEXA LORENZO FROM WFTV CHANNEL NINE, RYAN LYNCH FROM THE ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL.

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

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