THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP IS THE COST OF MAINTAINING AGING COAL PLANTS TAKING A TOLL ON THE ECONOMY.

WE GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHY YOUR UTILITY BILL, THEY SEE A SUDDEN RISE DUE TO A RELIANCE ON POWER SUPPLIED BY FOSSIL FUELS AS THE POPULATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CONTINUES TO BOOM.

MORE DEVELOPERS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS OF BRINGING AN UPSCALE LIVING LIFE STYLE THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND BRINGING THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF LEE COUNTY TO THE MASSES, THE ORGANIZATION THAT'S LOOKING TO BUILD A COMMUNITY CONNECTION THROUGH ART.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE UNITED STATES IS GOING THROUGH A SHIFT IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION AS AN INDUSTRY ONCE DOMINATED BY FOSSIL FUELS IS HEADING TOWARD A GREENER APPROACH, ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION, 219 COAL-FIRED PLANTS OPERATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

NEARLY HALF AS MANY AS DURING KOHL'S PEAK GENERATION YEAR OF 2011.

YET AS SOLAR WIND AND NUCLEAR POWER CONTINUE TO GAIN GROUND COAL, NATURAL GAS AND OTHER FOSSIL FUEL ENERGY SOURCES ARE HAVING ANOTHER POWERFUL IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY BETWEEN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, RISING FUEL COSTS AND AGING FACILITIES.

SOURCES LIKE COAL ARE LEADING TO HIGHER COSTS ON MORE THAN YOUR ENERGY BILL.

>> I'M NOW JOINED BY BRADLEY MARSHALL, SENIOR ATTORNEY FOR EARTHJUSTICE.

>> IT IS A NONPROFIT PUBLIC INTEREST, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ORGANIZATION.

MISTER MARSHALL, THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM TALLAHASSEE.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

NOW.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HAVE SAID THE COST OF FOSSIL FUELS IS DRIVING A NEW KIND OF INFLATION.

THEY'RE LABELING FOSSIL.

FELICIA, AND CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHAT THIS TERM MEANS?

>> WELL, THE IDEA IS THAT FUEL PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE, WHICH CONTRIBUTES, FOR EXAMPLE, TOO, INCREASING ELECTRIC BELTS.

WE SEEM BIG PRI SPIKES AND ELECTRIC BILLS IN FLORIDA OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS FROM RISING NATURAL GAS PRICES.

THIS YEAR, THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE MAIN DRIVER.

THERE'S BEEN UTILITY RATE INCREASES BEING DRIVEN BY UTILITIES, WANTING MORE PROFITS AND OTHER THINGS BUT FEW REMAINS A BIG COMPONENT OF ELECTRIC BILLS AND THE MORE HAVE A LEAD.

OUR GENERATION MIX IS DEPENDENT ON FOSSIL FUELS THAT THE MORE VOLATILE THOSE ELECTRIC BILLS CAN CAN SWING WHEN WHEN FUEL PRICES, FOSSIL FUEL PRICES GO UP.

>> AND HOW WOULD FALL SO FELICIA IMPACT EVERYDAY AMERICANS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S NOT JUST AT THE FUEL PUMP.

>> NOW, I THOUGHT IS THAT THE FUEL PUMP?

IT'S PART OF THE ELECTRIC DOW.

AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE'S STILL OVER EFFECT THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY THAT YOU START TO GO BEYOND MY EXPERTISE.

BUT ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE BUY DEPENDS ON TRANSPORT ALONG SOME PART OF THAT, THAT CHAIN OF OF THE ECONOMY AND SO MUCH OF THAT, IS IT DEPENDENT ON FOSSIL FUEL PRICES?

>> NOW, WE HAD RECENTLY REPORTED THAT SOLAR HAS SURPASSED COLIN GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BUT MANY OF US STILL SEE HIGHER ELECTRIC BILLS.

AND WE EXPECT THOSE BILLS TO KEEP INCREASING.

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

>> WELL, IN FLORIDA, SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE SOME THE HIGHEST ELECTRIC BILLS IN THE NATION.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE INVESTOR OWNED UTILITIES THAT WE HAVE IN FLORIDA, FLORIDA, POWER AND LIGHT.

TAMPA ELECTRIC COMPANY THAT CONTINUE TO EARN PROFITS THAT ARE WELL ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

THEY CONTINUE TO SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INCREASING RELIABILITY WELL PAST WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED NATIONAL STANDARDS CONTINUE SPENDING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON GENERATION THAT WE DON'T THINK THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO ADEQUATELY SERVE THEIR CUSTOMERS.

AND SO ALL OF THAT ADDS UP AND THE FORM OF THE ELECTRIC BILLS THAT THAT PEOPLE PAY IN FLORIDA.

IT'S QUITE TELLING THAT YOU DON'T SEE THE SAME INCREASE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS IN FLORIDA FOR BIDEN.

THIS MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITIES, WHICH ARE CONTROLLED BY BY SOME OF THE CITY'S AND THEN ULTIMATELY ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS.

>> WHAT ROLE DO GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES PLAY IN THE FLUCTUATION OF A COST OF FOSSIL FUELS?

>> WELL, FOR >> GOVERNMENT POLICY HAS BEEN TRYING TO PUSH TO INCREASE THE EXPORT CAPACITY OF OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS.

ALMOST ALL OF OUR THE MAJORITY OF POWER IN FLORIDA DEPEND ON NATURAL GASOLINE.

IMPORTANT ALL FROM OUT OF STATE.

AND SO THE MORE WE TY, THE U.S.

NATURAL GAS MARKET INTO THE WORLD MARKET.

FOR NATURAL GAS.

THE MORE THAT THE PRICES OF NATURAL GAS WILL GO UP AS AS THE THE WORLD PRICE FOR NATURAL GAS HAS GONE UP.

AND SO.

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OF OF TRYING TO INCREASE OUR EXPORT CAPACITY AND TIED THE PRICE WE PAY HERE TO THE SAME PRICE THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS PAYING THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE, WE GENERATE MORE NATURAL GAS AND WE NEED IN THE U.S.

THE MORE THAT THAT PRICE IS GOING TO GO UP AND INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING ON THEIR ELECTRIC BILL.

>> AND YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE.

>> ON WHAT EVERYDAY WORKING PEOPLE CAN DO TO TRY TO OFFSET THIS.

>> FOSSIL FLAY SHUN IN THEIR DAILY BUDGET.

WHAT IS IN THEIR CONTROL AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> THEY CONTROL AT THE END OF THE DAY IS HOW MUCH ELECTRICITY THEY USE.

THAT THAT STUFF IN FLORIDA WHERE WE NEED LIKE TRUSTEE TO KEEP THE AIR CONDITIONING ON AND AND TO TO KEEP IT COOL.

THERE ARE VERY, VERY LONG SUMMER.

AND SO THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN CONTROL.

BUT THERE THINGS YOU CAN DO AND SWAPPING OUT LIKE BOB'S THE MARKET FOR HALEIGH TO 5 PUBS.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GOOD INSULATION ON YOUR HOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE USING ENERGY MORE EFFICIENTLY.

SO YOU'RE NOT.

PURCHASING AS MUCH FROM THE UTILITY THAT ULTIMATELY WILL.

THAT WILL MAKE, BUT CONSUMER LESS DEPENDENCE ON ON THE PRICE OF THE WEST, WHICH IS THE YEARS, THE LESS DEPENDENT YOU'LL BE ON ON THE THE PRICE OF FOSSIL FUEL THAT THE UTILITY IS USING THE BURNING THE POWER PLANTS.

>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR.

MARSHALL.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> FOR MORE ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE BUSINESS WORLD.

PLEASE VISIT WGCU DOT ORG.

COMING UP AS THE HEAT INTENSIFIES ACROSS FLORIDA, THE HEALTH OF THOUSANDS OF FARM WORKERS IS AT RISK.

NOW.

NEW PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE ANYONE WORKING IN AGRICULTURE AND OUT IN THE SUN IS STAYING PROPERLY HYDRATED AND HOW IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS ENTERING A LUXURY LIVING BOOM WITH MULTIPLE DEVELOPMENTS POPPING UP THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

THESE MULTIMILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS COMBINED RESIDENCES, RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS.

THAT INCLUDES DOWNTOWN NAPLES, WHERE SEVERAL LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS ALL WITHIN A MILE RADIUS ARE TRANSFORMING THE 5TH AVENUE NEIGHBORHOODS.

ONE UPCOMING COMPLEX.

IT IS AT METROPOLITAN NAPLES, A LUXURY 15 STORY HIGH-RISE REPORTEDLY ALMOST HALF OF THE 56 RESIDENCES ARE SOLD.

THEY ARE PRICED BETWEEN 2 7 MILLION DOLLARS.

IT IS PART OF A WALKABLE COMMUNITY THAT INCLUDES RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE MIXED USE ON TREND IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

FOR MORE ON A SNAPSHOT OF THE COMMERCIAL BOOM THAT IS UNDERWAY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

I'M JOINED BY MATT SIMMONS, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE EXPERT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SO MUCH IN THE NEWS ABOUT MIXED RETAIL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE WORKS.

WHY IS THIS A TREND IN OUR AREA?

>> WELL, WHY IT'S A TREND FOR FOR ONE.

LET'S MAKE SURE WE'RE DEFINING IT.

AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT, IT'S WHERE THERE'S 2 OR MORE USES THAT ARE PART OF THE SAME PROJECT.

SO IT OFTEN LOOKS LIKE RETAILER OFFICE SAY ON THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR AND RESIDENTIAL UP ABOVE IT.

BUT THE REASON WHY WE'RE SEEING MORE OF IT, IT'S TWOFOLD.

FOR ONE, IT'S IN DEMAND.

PEOPLE WANT A AREA TO LIVE IT WHERE THEY CAN KIND OF LIVE WORK AND PLAY ON THE SAME LOCATION.

AND THE OTHER REASON THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT MORE, A LOT MORE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT IS OUT OF NECESSITY AS WE'VE GROWN AS A COMMUNITY.

THE EASILY DEVELOPABLE SITES SAY THAT ARE WEST OF I-75.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF THOSE.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS MORE AND MORE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING VERTICAL REDEVELOPMENT OF INFILL PROPERTIES.

THAT'S A WERE DEVELOPED 50 60 YEARS AGO AND ARE NOW READY FOR A REFRESH.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND CAPE CORAL HAS A HALF BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT THAT IS IN THE WORKS.

THAT IS MIXED USE AS YOU'RE DESCRIBING >> TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS.

YEAH.

SO IT'S THE BIMINI EAST PROJECT.

IT WAS RECENTLY IN THE NEWS ROUGHLY A HALF BILLION DOLLARS OF CROWN DEVELOPMENT IS NEGOTIATING WITH CITY OF CAPE CORAL.

THEY'RE WORKING ON A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP THE BIMINI EAST PROPERTY, WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY BE AROUND.

33 34 ACRES NOW CROWN DEVELOPMENT.

IF THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE DEVELOPER OF BIMINI SQUARE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BIMINI BASIN.

BUT THE BIG MONEY EAST PROJECT THAT'S BEEN PUT FORWARD IS A ROBUST DEVELOPMENT ROUND 80900 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, 250 HOTEL ROOMS, A COUPLE 100,000 SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL SPACE ARENA.

YOU KNOW, 4, 5, PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE BUILT AND IT'S A BIG, ROBUST PROJECT.

>> AND IN NAPLES, WE HAVE RECENTLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE AVENUE.

WHY IS THIS CAPTURING SO MUCH ATTENTION?

WHAT MAKES IT UNIQUE?

>> WITH AVENUE RECENTLY STICKER, THEIR CONSTRUCTION FINANCING.

A LITTLE OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS.

THE REASON I THINK WE'RE HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, THE AVENUE IS RIGHT AT 9TH STREET AND 5TH AVENUE SOUTH.

WE HAVEN'T HAD A KIND OF A SITE LIKE THIS THAT IS A LONG THE 5TH AVENUE CORRIDOR THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR LARGE-SCALE DEVELOPMENT IN A LONG TIME IN THIS PROJECT IS A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

AND SO IT'S ANOTHER MIXED USE PROJECT OF RESIDENTIAL ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

IN THIS CASE, 50 LUXURY CONDOMINIUM UNITS ALONG WITH OFFICE IN RETAIL ON THE GROUND LEVEL.

>> AND YOU AND I HAD BEEN SPEAKING EARLIER ABOUT MORE UPSCALE FURNITURE STORES AND RETAIL OUTLETS IN THAT AREA.

AND THOSE ARE NEEDED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY UPSCALE CONDOS, RIGHT?

I NEED TO BE FURNISHED.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THE COMMERCIAL USES ALWAYS FOLLOW RESIDENTIAL.

>> SO WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, A LEVELING UP IN THE RESIDENTIAL MARKET.

IN SOME WAYS.

HURRICANE IAN USHER IN THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF OUR MARKET.

AND ITS LARGER HIGHER IN UNITS.

AND SO AS THOSE ARE DEVELOPING, WE NEED THE COMMERCIALS TO SUPPORT SERVICES BEHIND THEM.

AND SO NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE USES COME INTO OUR MARKET, WHETHER IT'S HIGH-END AUTO DEALERSHIPS, HIGH-END RETAILERS, LIKE THE RESTORATION HARDWARE THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT WATERSIDE SHOPS.

THOSE USES ARE TRYING TO GET PROXIMATE TO THE HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL CONDOS THAT ARE IN OUR MARKET.

>> ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THIS BUSINESS BOOM IN OUR AREA?

YOU'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME IN THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MARKET RIGHT?

>> NOT SURPRISED AT ALL.

AND ULTIMATELY IT'S A FUNCTION OF OUR POPULATION GROWTH.

LEE COUNTY IN PARTICULAR IS CREEPING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE 1 MILLION RESIDENT MARK.

I BELIEVE THE ESTIMATES ARE AROUND 2045 0ST TO HIT THAT MARK, I THINK WE'LL GET THERE FASTER.

BUT OUR REGION IN PARTICULAR, EACH TIME WE HIT A NEW POPULATION THRESHOLD, WE SEE NEW RETAILERS JUMP INTO OUR MARKET.

SO IT SIMPLY A FUNCTION OF THE ACCELERATED GROWTH.

WE'VE SEEN.

>> MATT SIMMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AS THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA REAL ESTATE MARKET CONTINUES TO SHIFT AND GROW, STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH ALL THE HAPPENINGS BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

LEE COUNTY IS TAKING STEPS TO HELP SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE BEAT.

THE HEAT.

THE LEE COUNTY HOMELESS COALITION ESTIMATES BETWEEN 2300 AND 2800 PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.

WGCUS MIKE BRAUN EXPLAINS HOW THE HEAT RELATED ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS HELPING THOSE IN NEED.

>> LEE COUNTY LIBRARY LOCATIONS OFFER A COOL RESPITE DURING DAYTIME TEMPERATURE.

HIGHS UNITED WAY.

RESILIENCY HUBS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FOR PEOPLE SEEKING RELIEF FROM THE HEAT.

THE COUNTY'S HOUSING OUTREACH AND TREATMENT TEAMS WILL CONTINUE.

WORK IS NEEDED TO CONNECT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES AND DISTRIBUTE HOT WEATHER SUPPLIES, INCLUDING DRINKING WATER, INCLUDING REPS IN LEE COUNTY TRANSIT PERIODICALLY ALSO BE PROVIDE STANDBY COOLING BUSES, DEPENDING ON BUS AVAILABILITY AND HEAT FOR A LISTING.

THE BB'S LIBRARY LOCATIONS OPERATING HOURS AND RELATED COOLING INFORMATION GO TO WGCU DOT ORG FOR WGCU NEWS I'M MIKE BRAUN.

>> THE QUEST TO STAY COOL IS A DAILY ONE FOR FARMWORKERS IN FLORIDA.

IT CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

NOW NEW PROTECTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE HYDRATION IS A TOP PRIORITY.

WGCUS EILEEN KELLY REPORTS ON THE LATEST HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS MEASURE FROM THE COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS, SIGNATURE WORKER PROTECTION PROGRAM.

>> HOURS OF REPETITIVE PENDING HEAVY LIFTING, CONSTANT STANDING AND FIGURE US PULLING IS GRUELING ON THE BODY EXPECIALLY UNDER THE RELENTLESS SOME.

THE SCORCHING HEAT PUTS FARMERS AT RISK OF DEHYDRATION AND HEAT STROKE FOR DECADES.

THE COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS HAS DEMANDED SHADE AND WATER BREAKS FOR FARMWORKERS.

AND AS OF AUGUST 1ST, HERE IS ANOTHER ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION FOR SOME 25,000 FARM WORKERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO WORK FOR GROWERS PARTICIPATING IN THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM.

THOSE GROWERS MUST NOW PROVIDE ELECTROLYTE BEVERAGES OR SUPPLEMENTS TO WORKERS.

THE NEW REQUIREMENT REFLECTS A GROWING BODY OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SHOWING THAT PROLONGED HEAT EXPOSURE CAN CONTRIBUTE NOT ONLY TO ACUTE HEAT ILLNESSES BUT LONG-TERM KIDNEY DAMAGE AND OTHER CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS.

RESEARCH INCREASINGLY IDENTIFIES ELECTROLYTE REPLACEMENT ALONGSIDE WATER SHADE AND REST AS CRITICAL PREVENTING HEAT RELATED ILLNESS AMONG OUTDOOR WORKERS.

I SPOKE WITH LILLIAN SUPPLE TO SHE'S THE CO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT THE FAIR FOOD STANDARDS COUNCIL, WHICH MONITORS THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM.

SHE TELLS ME THAT THIS NEW REQUIREMENT IS NOT JUST FOR SCORCHING MONTHS LIKE AUGUST ELECTROLYTES MUST NOW BE OFFERED YEAR-ROUND BECAUSE OF THE PHYSICAL DEMAND ON THE BODY CAUSED BY FARM WORK BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE WORK.

>> AGRICULTURALLY WORK PLACES, EXTRAORDINARY, PHYSICALLY DEMANDS ON WORKERS THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

NOT JUST DURING ALL RIGHT, WAY SO THE LIGHTING ELECTROLYTES YOU AROUND THE FLEX, THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM'S COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE STANDARDS, AUS NEW SCIENCE EMERGES.

>> ELECT TO LIE TO LIKE SPARK PLUGS FOR THE BODY CARRYING ELECTRICAL SIGNALS AND MAKING MUSCLES MOVE AND HARD SPEIGHT, HEAVY SWEATING, DEPLETES THE BODY'S OF ESSENTIAL MINERALS.

LIKE SODIUM POTASSIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND CALCIUM.

COMMON SIGNS OF ELECTROLYTE LOSS OR MUSCLE CRAMPS.

SPASMS EXTREME FATIGUE, DIZZINESS, HEADACHES, BRAIN FOG AND NAUSEA OR VOMITING.

SEVERE SYMPTOMS OF ELECTROLYTE LOSS.

IT'S A REGULAR HEARTBEAT, CONFUSION, SEIZURE AND LIFE-THREATENING ORGAN STRESS, THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM WAS CREATED BY THE COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS IN 2011, IT PARTNERS FARMWORKERS AGRICULTURAL GROWERS AND MAJOR RETAIL FOOD COMPANIES TO ENSURE FAIR WAGES, SAFE, WORKING CONDITIONS AND 0 TOLERANCE FOR FORCED LABOR AND ABUSE.

IT IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR FARM WORKER PROTECTION AND RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES ROOTED IN HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> FAIR FOOD PROGRAM DEMONSTRATES THAT PROTECTING WORKERS FROM IS NOT A FEW LITTLE POLICY DEBATE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TODAY.

AND THIS BEING DONE TODAY, SHE SAYS THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM HAS TRANSFORMED CONDITIONS.

>> PARTICIPATING FARMS EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATING FORCED LABOR, VIOLENCE AND OTHER LABOR ABUSES AT PARTICIPATING FARMS.

>> THE FUNDS ARE NOT PART OF THE FAIR FOOD PROGRAM IS.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S IT'S A DIFFERENT POLL OF WORLD WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE HEAT STRESS PROTECTIONS ARE BROADER PROTECTIONS THAT SUPPORT WORKERS, HEALTH, JUST LABOR IN GENERAL.

>> WGCU NEWS.

THIS IS EILEEN KELLY.

>> HERE'S ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT FROM THE WGCU NEWSROOM.

ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR MIGRATION STUDIES FLORIDA HAS MORE THAN 100,000 FARM WORKERS OVER THE SPAN OF A YEAR 50 TO 60,000.

OUR H 2, A TEMPORARY VISA HOLDERS.

THE EXACT NUMBER CHANGES ANNUALLY BASED ON SEASONAL NEEDS AND CROP SIZES, YOU CAN FIND MORE FEATURES ON FLORIDA INDUSTRY BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE.

WGCU DOT ORG.

AFTER THE BREAK, BRINGING A SENSE OF BEAUTY AND AN ECONOMIC BOOST.

WE'RE ADDING A SPLASH OF COLOR TO SEE HOW ONE LOCAL GROUP IS HELPING TO BUILD THE COMMUNITY.

ONE MURAL AT A TIME.

>> IN THE PAST DECADE, ABOUT 200 EUR HAVE BEEN PAINTED BY ARTIST WITH THE FORT MYERS MURAL SOCIETY.

THE MURAL PROJECTS SPAN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA FROM BONITA SPRINGS TO A BELL TO SARASOTA, THE FOUNDER OF THE FORT MYERS MURALS SOCIETY SAYS THE NEW RULES BREATHE LIFE INTO EMPTY SPACES WITH ARTWORK THAT CAPTURES HISTORY, NATURE AND CULTURE OF THE REGION.

FOR MORE, I'M JOINED BY SHERRY SHIFFRIN, THE CREATIVE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE FORT MYERS NEURAL SOCIETY.

THANK YOU, CHERI, FOR JOINING US TODAY IN STUDIO.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED.

>> NOW YOU BEGAN THIS ORGANIZATION IN 2015.

WHY IS THERE A NEED FOR THE FORT MYERS NIRO SOCIETY?

>> WELL, THE FORT MYERS, MORAL SOCIETY.

>> CAME ABOUT AS A BOOTH.

>> AS A TOOL, I WOULD SAY BECAUSE WE HAD MOVED INTO A GALLERY IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS THAT WE HAPPENED TO TAKE OVER THE LEASE.

SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

>> WE JUST TOOK IT OVER AND MYSELF AND 2 OTHER ARTISTS.

WE'RE SITTING WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS PLACE?

YOU KNOW, SO WE MADE A LITTLE GALLERY OUT OF IT AND WE HAD WORKING ARTISTS THERE A LOT OF THE TIME.

SO WE DECIDED DOWNTOWN WAS PRETTY BORING.

AND WE PAINTED A MURAL ON OUR BACK DOOR.

THAT JUST SAID, WELCOME BACK TO OUR FRIENDS.

AND IT HAD SOME FLOWERS AND DAISIES AND THAT'S WHAT ONE OF THE IN-HOUSE ARTISTS LIKE TO PAINT TOO.

WE GOT A FINE.

24 HOURS LATER, THERE'S A RED TAG ON THE DOOR THAT SAYS NO MURALS ALLOWED.

KIND THANKS TO UPON INVESTIGATION.

I FOUND THAT MURALS AND MOSAICS WERE PART OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE AND THEY WERE BANNED FROM THE CITY OF FORT MYERS.

SO WE SORT OF ENACTED A PLAN TO OVERTHROW THAT ORDINANCE AND IT TOOK 2 YEARS OF.

GOING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND REALLY MAKING A PRESENCE THAT MURALS ARE UP AND COMING.

I HAD PAINTED MURALS IN CALIFORNIA AND IN NEW YORK AND THEY WERE CONSIDERED, YOU KNOW, OF SORT OF A NEW MEDIUM FOR ARTISTS IN GENERAL.

AND HERE I HAVE A GALLERY IN 2 ARE JUST FRIENDS AND PRINT T-SHIRTS AND MAKING PAINTINGS AND PAINTING MURALS AND PAINT THE WALLS AND EVERYBODY'S PAINTINGS TO JUST WE WERE SO OFFENDED BY THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO PUBLIC ART.

WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT SERIOUSLY.

COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

SO.

I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO REALLY JUST FIGHT THAT ORDINANCE IN ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, IT WAS APPROVED THAT WE COULD PAINT MURALS UNDER SPECIFIC GUIDELINES WITHIN THE CITY OF FORT MYERS, US AND IT GAVE IN AVENUE FOR A LOT OF ARTISTS TO START LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING PART OF THIS.

>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE MURALS IN OUR CITIES?

>> MURALS BRING LIFE TO CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY.

THERE'S I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF ARCHITECTURAL BEAUTY AND THERE'S SCULPTURES.

MURALS TELL A STORY.

IT'S LIKE A PICTURE BOOK IN A WAY AND A LOT OF HIM IN A LOT OF INSTANCES.

A MURAL HAS A STORYBOOK ME MEANING BEHIND IT.

SO IT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO TELL OUR STORY.

WE'RE LOSING SOME OF OUR HISTORY AS BUILDINGS AGENT TOWNS GROW AND THEY'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE OTHER CULTURES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU STILL WANT TO LOSE THE CULTURE OF THE COMMUNITY HAS.

SO IT'S SORT OF A WAY OF WILL WE?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S IT'S A WAY OF SORT OF SAYING THIS IS WHERE WE COME FROM OR THESE ARE OUR VALUES ARE.

THIS IS OUR NET NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ARE TO WAY TO SPEAK FOR THE EXISTING COMMUNITY WITHIN THE CITY BOUNDARIES THAT LET PEOPLE VISITING US IN SOME WAY AND THAT IT JUST SEEMED IMPORTANT TO ADD ART TO CREATE A VIBRANT, I DON'T KNOW OF.

IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS WHAT THE CITY OF FORT MYERS'S LIKED 10 15 GOES TUMBLE WEEDS WERE ROLLING DOWN THE STREETS.

THERE REALLY WASN'T ANYTHING GOING ON.

SO JUST SORT LAKE IGNITED SOME VIBRANT THAT I HELPING TO BRING MORE.

COMMERCE INTO THE, YOU KNOW, INTO THE COMMUNITY.

IT HELPS BRING ECONOMIC DIVERSITY INTO COMMUNITIES.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST STARTS WITH A SPLASH OF COLOR.

EVERYBODY IS JUST SORT OF.

PRETTY HAPPY TO SEE IT.

AND IT'S IT'S THE FIELD OF DREAMS.

I DO.

WE WILL BUILD IT.

THEY WILL COME.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE STILL.

WE STILL FEEL LIKE THAT.

>> HOW MANY MURALS IN ALL SINCE 2015, WE HAVE OVER 214 MURALS.

>> NOT ALL OF THEM ARE LARGE-SCALE.

SOME OF THEM ARE SMALL AND PURPOSEFUL.

BUT WE DO HAVE OVER 214 ALONE AT THIS TIME AND ASK YOU REALLY TOUGH QUESTION.

OKAY.

IF YOU HAD TO PICK SAY THE.

>> THE TOP 5 THAT YOU WOULD LIKE VISITORS OR TOURISTS TO OUR AREA TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY TAKE THE TIME TO GO SEE WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

>> WELL, I TRY TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO TO OUR 3 MURAL PROJECTS.

OKAY, THAT INCORPORATED THE MOST ARTISTS AND THAT WOULD BE MCCOLLUM HALL USED 5 ARTISTS AND IT IT IDENTIFIES TIME PERIOD BETWEEN THE 30'S AND 40'S IN THE HISTORY OF THAT DUNBAR AREA.

AND IT'S EVENT.

ENTERTAINMENT CENTER CALLED MCCOLLUM HALL.

IT WAS PART OF THE CHILLIN CIRCUIT IN THE 30'S AND 40'S WHO IS FEATURED A LOT OF WORLD FAMOUS MUSICIANS OF COLOR.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN STUDIO TODAY.

SHARING.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> TO CHECK OUT MORE ARTWORK AND FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE MURALS UP CLOSE.

PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE.

FORT MYERS MURAL SOCIETY DOT COM.

AND COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM WITH ONLY 2 WEEKS REMAINING BEFORE THE FLORIDA PRIMARY, WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENT VOTER INFORMATION YOU WILL NEED BEFORE CASTING YOUR BALLOT AT THE POLLS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU VISIT WGCU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.