>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, FLORIDA GETS AN INCREASE IN VACCINE DOSES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT IS EVERY MEDICALLY-VULNERABLE PERSON IN THE STATE ABLE TO GET A SHOT?

GOVERNOR DESANTIS THROWS HIS SUPPORT BEHIND STATE LEGISLATION TO PENALIZE BIG TECH COMPANIES FOR STIFLING THE VOICES OF PROMINENT CONSERVATIVES.

AND WHAT WILL THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES MEAN FOR FLORIDA?

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

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

AND WE DO THIS EVERY SINGLE WEEK BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS, THE PEOPLE COVERING THESE STORIES EVERY DAY.

SO JOINING US THIS WEEK, ONCE AGAIN, MATTHEW PEDDIE FROM 90.7 WMFE, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, VERONICA ZARAGOVIA OF WLRN AND HEALTH NEWS, FLORIDA.

MY COLLEAGUE, STEVE MORT IN THE STUDIO WITH US ONCE AGAIN THIS WEEK AS WELL.

NOW FIRST TONIGHT, MOVES TO EXPAND VACCINE ACCESS IN FLORIDA AS VARIANTS OF COVID-19 CONTINUE TO SPREAD HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT WOULD BEGIN SENDING VACCINE DOSES DIRECTLY TO PHARMACIES.

THE FEDERAL RETAIL PHARMACY PROGRAM INCLUDES PUBLIX, WHICH ALREADY HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AS WELL AS CVS, WALGREENS, WALMART, WINN-DIXIE, AND SEVERAL OTHER STORES WITH LOCATIONS IN FLORIDA.

THE FEDERAL ROLLOUT OF VACCINES AT PHARMACIES IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SOON, BUT AT LEAST SOME OF THE CHAINS INVOLVED SAY THEY WILL NOT BE ADMINISTERING VACCINES YET IN OUR STATE.

FLORIDA'S DECISION UNTIL NOW TO FOCUS ITS DISTRIBUTION EFFORTS THROUGH PUBLIX HAS COME UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT IN RECENT DAYS.

REPORTING BY THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL FINDS PUBLIX LOCATIONS MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO REACH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, A KEY GOAL OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS THIS WEEK TALKED ABOUT WORKING WITH ADDITIONAL RETAILERS TO EXPAND VACCINE ACCESS TO MORE PEOPLE, BUT THE GOVERNOR REMAINED STEADFAST IN HIS PRIORITIZATION OF RESIDENTS 65 AND OLDER FOR VACCINATIONS.

>>FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC WE MADE EVIDENCE-BASED DECISIONS THAT TARGETED OUR ELDERLY POPULATION FOR FOCUSED PROTECTION.

FLORIDA'S EARLY ACTIONS TO PROTECT OUR VULNERABLE POPULATION, OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS SUCH AS RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES SET THE STANDARD THAT MANY OTHERS LATER EMULATED.

>>GOVERNOR DESANTIS ON MONDAY ANNOUNCED A PERMANENT DRIVE-THROUGH VACCINATION SITE IN THE VILLAGES RETIREMENT COMMUNITY.

BUT THERE ARE CALLS FOR ADDITIONAL VACCINE DOSES TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE UNDER 65 WHO WERE AT INCREASED RISK FROM COVID-19, SUCH AS THOSE WITH COMORBIDITIES.

THEY CALL HOSPITALS, THEY TRY TO GET ANSWERS AND INFORMATION, AND ALL THEY DO IS REALLY HIT BRICK WALLS.

THEY'RE GETTING NO ANSWER AT ALL ON HOW OR IF THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE AS SOMEONE WHO'S YOUNGER THAN 65 WITH A COMORBIDITY.

AND THAT'S JUST WHY WE'VE BEEN DOING OUR BEST TO ELEVATE THIS ISSUE.

>>IN FLORIDA, ONLY HOSPITALS AND NOT PUBLIX OR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS CAN ADMINISTER VACCINES TO YOUNGER RESIDENTS.

ABOUT 29,000 DOSES FOR MEDICALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE UNDER 65 ARE BEING SHIPPED TO FLORIDA HOSPITALS.

>>WE'RE NOT ONLY TRYING TO GET MORE VACCINE SUPPLY FOR THOSE VULNERABLE TO COVID WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 65 BECAUSE OF COMORBIDITIES, BUT WE'VE ALSO BEEN URGING THE HOSPITALS TO PLEASE ISSUE PUBLIC GUIDANCE ON ELIGIBILITY SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW UPFRONT WHETHER THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE FROM A HOSPITAL OR THEY'RE NOT.

>>THE GOVERNOR THIS WEEK ALSO REJECTED THE IDEA OF VACCINATING PRISON INMATES.

AN ORLANDO SENTINEL ANALYSIS SHOWS INMATE DEATHS IN FLORIDA STATE PRISONS ROSE 45% LAST YEAR OVER AN AVERAGE FROM THE FOUR PRIOR YEARS.

THE PAPER SAYS OF THE COVID INMATE DEATHS FOR WHICH THE SENTINEL HAS OBTAINED DETAILS FROM MEDICAL EXAMINERS, ABOUT HALF WERE PEOPLE 65 OR OLDER.

MEANWHILE, FLORIDA HAS RECEIVED A BOOST IN THE NUMBER OF WEEKLY DOSES IT GETS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS THE STATE PRESSURES THE WHITE HOUSE TO INCREASE SUPPLY.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, ADVENTHEALTH SAID THIS WEEK IT VACCINATED 500 PEOPLE UNDER 65 DEEMED EXTREMELY VULNERABLE BY THE HOSPITAL'S CLINICAL LEADERSHIP TEAM.

THIS IS BY INVITATION ONLY AND PEOPLE CANNOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

THE COMPANY HAS ISSUED SOME GUIDANCE ON THE PEOPLE THAT QUALIFY.

THEY INCLUDE SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANT AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT PATIENTS, CANCER PATIENTS UNDERGOING ACTIVE TREATMENT, CYSTIC FIBROSIS PATIENTS, THOSE WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE, AND ADULTS WITH DOWN SYNDROME.

VERONICA, OTHER HOSPITALS IN THE STATE ARE DOING A SIMILAR THING, RIGHT?

BUT THERE ARE STILL SEEMS TO BE CONFUSION OVER WHO CAN QUALIFY AND HOW PEOPLE CAN GET THESE VACCINES.

WHAT DO WE KNOW?

>>THAT'S RIGHT, STEVE, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS LEFT IT UP TO THE HOSPITALS TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS ABOUT WHO COULD QUALIFY AT THEIR HOSPITAL BUILDINGS OR THE VENUES WHERE THEY ARE VACCINATING PEOPLE AND SO THERE IS AN UNEVEN QUALIFICATION.

FOR INSTANCE, SOME HOSPITALS ARE CHOOSING TO REACH OUT TO FORMER PATIENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 65 AND HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS THAT WOULD MAKE THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME ILLNESS FROM COVID-19.

OTHERS ARE OPENING IT UP TO THE PUBLIC BUT THEN THEY RUN OUT OF VACCINATIONS AND SO THEN THERE'S BEEN CANCELLATION, SO IT'S STILL VERY UNEVEN.

>>ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IS THAT THE STATE HAS VERY RECENTLY LAUNCHED A WEB PORTAL AT MYVACCINE.FL.GOV, WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP IN A VIRTUAL WAITING LINE AND IT SAYS THAT AMONG THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY ARE PEOPLE YOUNGER THAN 65 WITH UNDERLYING CONDITIONS, BUT IF YOU PUT YOUR BIRTH DATE AND YOU ARE A YOUNGER THAN 65 YOU ACTUALLY CAN'T GET ON THE WAITING LIST.

SO THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.

>>YEAH, SO MANY LAYERS TO THIS.

ANOTHER ONE IS THE FEDERAL PHARMACY PROGRAM, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT IT AND WHEN WE MIGHT SEE LOCATIONS IN FLORIDA PARTICIPATING.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE SURPRISING THINGS THAT CAME OUT FOR EVERYONE WHEN WE SAW THIS AS THIS ROLLOUT THAT INCLUDED PLACES LIKE WINN-DIXIE AND WALMART, BUT NOT CVS AND WALGREENS AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY'RE SAYING THAT THOSE TWO PHARMACIES ARE BUSY WITH ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

CORRECT, VERONICA?

>>THAT'S RIGHT.

ALTHOUGH IN SOME OF THE NATIONAL REPORTING I'VE SEEN THAT CVS AND WALGREENS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP SO WE HAVEN'T HEARD VERY MUCH AT THE STATE LEVEL ABOUT HOW IT WILL PLAY OUT HERE OTHER THAN GOVERNOR DESANTIS MENTIONING THIS WEEK THAT IT'S A GREAT NEW POSSIBILITY TO VACCINATE NEW PEOPLE SO IT HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN TERMS OF BOOSTING VACCINATIONS.

BUT AROUND FEBRUARY 11TH IS WHEN IT'S EXPECTED ACCORDING TO THE WHITE HOUSE TO START ROLLING OUT.

SO WE'RE SUPPOSED TO SEE SOMETHING SIMILAR HERE IN FLORIDA AND THE IDEA IS TO PROVIDE MORE ACCESS BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY LIVES CLOSE TO A PUBLIX, WE HAVE A LOT OF RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE WHERE PEOPLE DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO ANY OF THESE BIG RETAIL PHARMACIES.

>>YEAH.

AND MATT, WE JUST HEARD VERONICA MENTION THAT FLORIDA'S AGREEMENT WITH PUBLIX WAS CRITICIZED AS SHE SAID FOR NOT REACHING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

SO HOW IS THE STATE DOING IN TERMS OF VACCINATING MINORITY, LOW-INCOME, RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE PERHAPS TRANSPORTATION IS JUST ONE OF MANY ISSUES THAT PEOPLE FACE?

>>WELL, NOT GREAT IN A WORD.

AND JUST TO PICK UP ON WHAT VERONICA WAS TALKING ABOUT, THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS ATTEMPTED TO QUELL SOME OF THE FUROR OVER ITS IDENTIFICATIONS.

PUBLIX SAYS THAT THE MAIN SUPPLIER OF THESE VACCINES ARE SOME OF THESE FOOD DESERTS.

PEOPLE ARE CALLING THEM, WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE GETTING ACCESS TO THAT.

SO WE DID SEE THE STATE OF FLORIDA ACTUALLY DIVERTING SOME OF THOSE VACCINE SUPPLIES BACK FROM FLORIDA TO COUNTY BRANCHES OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HELP MEET SOME OF THAT NEED THERE.

I'M THINKING OF AN ARTICLE IN THE TAMPA BAY TIMES THAT CAME OUT RECENTLY AND THINKING ABOUT ACCESS TO VACCINES.

ACCORDING TO THIS ANALYSIS WHAT FLORIDIANS WERE TWO AND A HALF TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE SHOT OF THE VACCINE IS BLACK FLORIDIANS AND THAT RATIO IS ABOUT TWO TO ONE WHEN IT CAME TO NON-HISPANIC FLORIDIANS TO HISPANIC FLORIDIANS.

SO BY THAT METRIC ALONE FLORIDA NEEDS TO DO A LOT BETTER.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU HEAR ECHOED AMONG LEADERS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AS WELL ORANGE COUNTY MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS TALKING THIS WEEK DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE AND SAYING THAT HIS BIGGEST CONCERN AROUND THE DISPARITY IN VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IS THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR WERE LAGGING IN VACCINATIONS SO HE SAYS THERE REALLY IS SOME CATCHING UP TO DO THERE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND VERONICA, THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID FURTHER GROUPS MIGHT GET SHOTS AND WE MIGHT SEE IT EXPAND TO SORT OF THAT UNDER 65 GROUP IN BIGGER NUMBERS WHEN MORE VACCINES GET APPROVED, A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THAT JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE, ASTRAZENECA AS WELL.

IS THERE ANY TIMEFRAME ON THAT, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THOSE VACCINES?

>>WELL, WHAT WE KNOW NANCY IS THAT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON, FOR INSTANCE, THEY'LL BE APPLYING FOR AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FDA POSSIBLY AS SOON AS THIS WEEK.

AND THAT THEN WOULD TAKE ABOUT SEVEN TO 14 DAYS TO HEAR BACK FROM THE FDA ON THEIR DECISION AND THEN THE ROLLOUT COULD BE AS SOON AS MARCH, BUT IT'LL TAKE AT LEAST A MONTH IF NOT SEVERAL MONTHS FOR US TO SEE THOSE VACCINES HERE IN FLORIDA.

ASTRAZENECA HAS NOT PROVIDED PUBLICLY A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THEY WOULD APPLY FOR FDA EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION SO WE DON'T YET KNOW WHEN THOSE MIGHT COME INTO THE VACCINATION PLANS HERE.

>>YEAH, A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS AT THE MOMENT NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

AND JUST A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

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

WELL, TALKING OF SOCIAL MEDIA DOES FLORIDA HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THE DEBATE OVER BIG TECH AND POLITICS.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR DESANTIS BACKED EFFORTS TO PUNISH COMPANIES FOR WHAT HE CALLS CENSORSHIP, SUCH AS TWITTER'S BLOCKING OF DONALD TRUMP AND OTHERS AND AMAZON, GOOGLE, AND APPLE'S RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS TO PARLER.

THE GOVERNMENT IS SUGGESTING ISSUING FINES OF $100,000 A DAY FOR DEPLATFORMING AND OTHER ACTIONS.

WELL, LET'S HEAR BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT ON THIS.

FIRST, HERE'S GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

>>WE HAVE SEEN THE POWER OF THEIR CENSORSHIP OVER INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING WHAT I BELIEVE IS CLEAR VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION.

AND AS THESE COMPANIES HAVE GROWN AND THEIR INFLUENCE EXPANDED, BIG TECH HAS COME TO LOOK MORE LIKE BIG BROTHER WITH EACH PASSING DAY.

BUT THIS IS 2021 NOT 1984, AND THIS IS REAL LIFE, NOT GEORGE ORWELL'S FICTION.

THESE COMPANIES EXERT MONOPOLY POWER OVER A CENTRALLY IMPORTANT FORUM OF PUBLIC DISCOURSE AND THE ACCESS OF INFORMATION THAT FLORIDIANS RELY ON.

IT USED TO BE THE CONSUMERS WERE TRUSTED TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION TO CONSUME, ABOUT WHICH LEADERS TO "FOLLOW", ABOUT WHAT NEWS TO WATCH.

NOW, THOSE DECISIONS ARE INCREASINGLY MADE BY NAMELESS, FACELESS BOARDS OF SENSORS.

THEY EVEN HAVE A NAME EUPHEMISTICALLY CALLED CONTENT MODERATORS.

>>WELL, I ASKED STATE REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH, A DEMOCRAT, WHAT HE THINKS OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS.

>>I THINK IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING AND SAD THAT AFTER A FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP INCITED VIOLENCE IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL AGAINST THE CAPITOL BUILDING WHILE THEY WERE ENGAGED IN THE VERY SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTES FOR THE ELECTION OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT FLORIDA REPUBLICANS WOULD DO EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT AWAY FROM THE ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY, BY OUR FELLOW AMERICANS WHO WERE INCITED TO VIOLENCE BY THE BIG LIE ABOUT THE ELECTION BEING STOLEN, A LIE THAT HAS BEEN PERPETUATED NOT ONLY BY DONALD TRUMP BUT BY REPUBLICAN LEADERS RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT AND DIVERT ATTENTION OVER TO INTERNET CENSORSHIP.

>>MATT, CONGRESS HAS BEEN GRIDLOCKED AS WE KNOW ON THE REGULATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA BUT OUR GOVERNOR THINKS HE CAN GET IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE HERE IN FLORIDA.

SO DOES THERE REALLY SEEM TO BE A POLITICAL APPETITE FOR IT RIGHT NOW?

>>THERE CERTAINLY IS AN APPETITE FROM SOME LAWMAKERS.

I MEAN, YOU'LL SEE RANDY FINE, A STATE LAW MAKER IN THE CENTRAL FLORIDA AREA PUTTING FORWARD THAT LEGISLATION AND THEN NEXT GETTING PICKED UP BY THE LIKES OF WILTON SIMPSON, THE FLORIDA SENATE PRESIDENT, AND YOU'LL HEAR SENATOR SIMPSON AND OTHERS ECHO THAT LINE THAT YOU HEARD FROM GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

THEY SAY THAT CONSERVATIVES ARE BEING CENSORED ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

ON THE OTHER HAND WE JUST HEARD FROM CARLOS GUILLERMO SMITH, HE THINKS THIS IS A RED HERRING AND NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON.

NIKKI FRIED DEMOCRAT AND THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER SAYS, "THIS IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND ANYTHING HERE SHOULD REALLY BE LIFTED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT."

SO SETTING UP FOR A BIT OF A PARTISAN BATTLE WHEN THE FLORIDA LAWMAKERS CONVENE FOR SESSION.

>>AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S AT STAKE HERE.

I MEAN, THE THIRD BIGGEST STATE GOING UP AGAINST ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL INDUSTRIES IN THE COUNTRY AND WHAT IT COULD MEAN FOR DESANTIS IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF ATTENTION ON HIM.

>>YEAH, IT CERTAINLY IS.

I MEAN, THERE'S SOME MONEY INVOLVED TOO, IT COULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

THE BILL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE WILL COMPEL THE STATE TO SELL STOCKS IN TWITTER, FACEBOOK, APPLE, AND GOOGLE.

THE STATE ACTUALLY HAS QUITE A LOT OF MONEY INVESTED IN THAT, ABOUT $8 BILLION INVESTED IN THESE STOCKS AND IT USES THE PROCEEDS TO PAY RETIREES THROUGH THE FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

I'M NOT SURE THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS WILL BE SO KEEN ON THAT ASPECT OF THE BILL.

AND THEN IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS, I MEAN, DEPLATFORMING, BANNING SOMEBODY LIKE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OR ANOTHER LAWMAKER, THAT'S A $100,000 DAILY FINE UNTIL THE OFFENDING PERSON IS REINSTATED.

AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS OF COURSE WHAT EXACTLY IS THE END GAME HERE, IS THE GOVERNMENT TRYING TO CARRY SOME FAVOR WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, BECAUSE OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT HE WAS ONE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S GREATEST SUPPORTERS.

HE RELIED A LITTLE BIT ON THAT TAILWIND FROM THE PRESIDENT TO HELP HIM WIN THE GOVERNORSHIP, SO IT'S ALL TIED UP IN THE POLITICS THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT WHEN THOSE LAWMAKERS CONVENE AND IF THERE IS SOME BILL PASSED, WHAT EXACTLY THAT END RESULT LOOKS LIKE.

>>YEAH.

AND OF COURSE THERE IS A PRIVACY COMPONENT AS WELL TO THE PROPOSALS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATES HAVE MOVED ON THAT INCLUDING CALIFORNIA SO IT'LL BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THINGS PAN OUT HERE IN FLORIDA AS WELL.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, MATT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS UNVEILED HIS $96.6 BILLION BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDES MONEY FOR TEACHERS' PAY RAISES, ROAD PROJECTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

HOW SURPRISING DO YOU THINK IS THE SIZE OF THE BUDGET GIVEN THIS PANDEMIC?

AND COULD HE GET SUPPORT FROM DEMOCRATS?

I MEAN, PRESUMABLY HE'LL NEED SOME FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LARGESSE HERE, RIGHT?

>>HE CERTAINLY WILL, YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE'S A BIT OF SURPRISE IN THAT BUDGET, $4.3 BILLION MORE THAN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.

AND KEEP IN MIND, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LOOKING AT A $2 BILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL.

AND YOU'RE SEEING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HURTING BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

JUST HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT TAX REVENUES BELTED THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 9/11.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO RECOVER AS TOURISTS START TO RETURN, SO THAT IMPACT BEING FELT HERE.

AND A LOT OF WHAT IS IN THIS BUDGET PROPOSAL FROM GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS COVID RELIEF-RELATED, THERE'S SOME $2.6 BILLION RELATED TO COVID-19 IMPACTS AND INCLUDING MORE PEOPLE ENROLLING IN MEDICAID BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOBS AND THEY NEED AN ASSIST WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTHCARE.

>>WHEN IT ACTUALLY COMES TO GETTING THIS BUDGET PASSED I'M NOT SURE THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR EVERY ASPECT OF IT.

WE'VE ALREADY HEARD FROM SENATE BUDGET CHIEF KELLI STARGEL, LAKELAND LAWMAKER SAYING THE SENATE WILL TAKE A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THE BUDGET.

AND THEN OF COURSE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS TO THE LIKES OF LINDA STEWART, TALKING ABOUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS LEADING UP TO THIS YEAR AND SO THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD BE HAVING TO CUT FROM SPENDING ON THINGS LIKE HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.

SO A LOT OF NEGOTIATION TO GO, IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE JUST HOW MUCH OF THAT PROPOSED BUDGET DESANTIS IS ABLE TO GET LAWMAKERS TO SIGN ONTO.

>>OF COURSE WITH THE PANDEMIC, THE BUDGET PLAYING A REALLY BIG ROLE IN THIS SESSION THIS YEAR.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT NEXT TIME ON NEWSNIGHT, GOVERNOR DESANTIS PROPOSES MORE MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, BUT AS THE PANDEMIC BITES INTO THE STATE BUDGET WILL LAWMAKERS APPROVE?

AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FLORIDA CHILDREN HAVE NOT BEEN IN A CLASSROOM FOR NEARLY A YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

WUCF HAS TEAMED UP WITH PUBLIC MEDIA STATIONS ACROSS STATE TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE CLASS OF COVID-19.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT NEXT TIME ON NEWSNIGHT, FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.WELL, THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDES A RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM TO TACKLE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON OUR STATE, INCLUDING FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE.

IT COMES AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED A SLEW OF EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON CLIMATE CHANGE.

TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR FLORIDA, I SPOKE WITH YOCA ARDITI-ROCHA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLEO INSTITUTE.

>>PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS INHERITED A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND SO WE'RE VERY ENCOURAGED TO SEE HOW THE CLIMATE CRISIS HAVE BECOME CENTRAL TO HIS POLICY PLATFORM.

AND WE REALLY WELCOME THAT WHOLE GOVERNMENT APPROACH AND THAT INTERSECTIONALITY THAT WE NEED TO TACKLE THE ENORMOUS CHALLENGE WE FACE AHEAD.

>>SO HOW DO YOU VIEW THESE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS FROM A PRACTICAL STANDPOINT?

I MEAN, SEA LEVEL RISE IS ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN OUR STATE, HOW DO THEY HELP WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>>WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS TRICKLE DOWN TO HELP SEND RELIEF AND AID TO STATES LIKE FLORIDA.

IN FACT, I THINK THAT'S ALREADY STARTING.

PERHAPS UNINTENTIONALLY GOVERNOR DESANTIS ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A RESILIENCE FLORIDA FUND FOR ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS TO HELP MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES TO BECOME CLIMATE-READY.

SO I BELIEVE THAT WE AS A STATE THAT WE ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS CRISIS WILL BE BENEFIT FROM MANY OF THE ACTIONS TAKEN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

>>OF COURSE EXECUTIVE ACTIONS CAN ONLY GO SO FAR WITHOUT CONGRESS AND WE'VE SEEN SOME PUSHBACK FROM CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS INCLUDING SOME HERE IN FLORIDA.

YOU STILL HAVE SOME CONVINCING TO DO, DON'T YOU?

>>I THINK WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT PARTISAN DIVIDE BEING CLOSED A LITTLE BIT HERE IN FLORIDA.

HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS SPROWLS HAS MENTIONED AND SAID IN MANY OF HIS SPEECHES THAT THIS IS A FOCUS OF THE UPCOMING LEGISLATURE, THAT IT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED TO OUR CITIES TO BATTLE CHRONIC FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE.

IT IS OUR HOPE AND WE CONTINUE TO EXPECT MORE AND MORE LEADERSHIP FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLES.

CERTAINLY AT THE CLEO INSTITUTE, WE'RE WORKING WITH BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE TO TRY TO GET SOME POLICY AROUND SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'RE ALREADY EXPECTING.

>>GOVERNOR DESANTIS GAVE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS HERE IN THE STATE A LOT OF HOPE WHEN HE WAS ELECTED GOVERNOR BY APPOINTING A CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER AND A CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER, BUT OF COURSE THE RESILIENCE OFFICER RESIGNED AFTER ONLY SIX MONTHS IN THE JOB.

HAVE THOSE POSITIONS LIVED UP TO YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

>>WE'RE HOPING THAT THE NEW UPCOMING LEGISLATOR SESSION WILL HAVE AS A PRIORITY NOT ONLY TO FUND THE OFFICE OF RESILIENCE OF THE STATE BUT ALSO WE CAN GET THE POSITION FILLED AGAIN WITH SOMEBODY COMPETENT ENOUGH TO GET THE MUCH DESERVED ATTENTION AND THAT OUR MUNICIPALITIES AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR ALL THE IMPACTS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DIVE INTO THIS ISSUE... VERONICA, YOU'RE PART OF THE STATE.

DOWN THERE IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAS SEEN THE SEA LEVEL RISE ISSUE UP CLOSE, SO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE KINDS OF ISSUES YOU'RE SEEING IN SOUTH FLORIDA ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>>YEAH, ONE OF THE PROBLEMS OF COURSE IS FLOODING WHICH IS THE PROBLEM THAT YOU CAN SEE BECAUSE OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

BUT THE ONE YOU CAN'T SEE THAT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IS THAT MUCH OF FLORIDA DEPENDS ON AQUIFERS TO SOURCE ITS WATER AND THAT'S CERTAINLY THE CASE IN ALL OF MIAMI-DADE, ALL OF BROWARD AND THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF PALM BEACH COUNTY.

WE SOURCE OUR WATER FROM THE BISCAYNE AQUIFER, AND IT'S A SHALLOW AQUIFER CLOSE TO SURFACE LEVEL WHERE THE PROBLEM IS THAT BECAUSE OF DROUGHT PERIODS IT'S NOT FULL OF WATER.

AND BECAUSE OF THE RISING SEA LEVEL THEN SALTWATER, IT'S CALLED SALTWATER INTRUSION, THAT IT MIXES WITH OUR FRESH WATER SUPPLY.

AND AS DEVELOPERS DRAW MORE PEOPLE TO THE STATE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THIS REGION WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE COMPETING FOR SCARCE FRESH WATER SUPPLY.

WE ALSO HAVE ALGAE BLOOMS THAT FORM BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR WATER TO FLOW AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF RUNOFF FROM AGRICULTURE WORK AND THE HEAT.

AND SO THEN THESE ALGAE BLOOMS FORM AND THAT'S TOXIC FOR HUMANS, FOR ANIMALS, FOR THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM.

>>YEAH, HUGE PROBLEMS.

AND MATT, THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE RESILIENCY A PRIORITY.

SINCE THE START OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, HE'S GOTTEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THAT.

SO LET'S TALK MORE ABOUT THIS RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM AND WHAT THE VISION IS HERE WITH THIS.

>>YEAH.

I JUST WANT TO PICK UP ON SOMETHING TOO, WE HEARD IN THAT PACKAGE WHICH IS THINKING ABOUT THAT RESILIENCY OFFICER.

SHE ONLY STAYED IN THE JOB AS YOU SAID A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

BUT BEFORE SHE RESIGNED JULIA NESHEIWAT POINTED OUT THAT FLORIDA'S APPROACH TO RESILIENCY WAS DISJOINTED AND THE APPROACH TO CLIMATE CHANGE NEEDED A TUNE UP.

SO THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE FUNDED, THIS RESILIENT FLORIDA PROGRAM DEBT WILL BE SERVICED BY REVENUE FROM STATE DOCUMENTARY STAMP TAX.

IT'S A BILLION DOLLARS IN BONDS FOR PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ANYTHING FROM TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, SEAWALLS, LAND PRESERVATION, WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND PUBLIC HOUSING.

SO IT REALLY ENCOMPASSES A LOT AND IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE GRANTS TO COASTAL COMMUNITIES.

THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS TO PRIORITIZE MONEY FOR COMMUNITIES WHICH CAN GET MATCHING GRANTS FROM EITHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

SO IT'S LIKE SEED MONEY IF YOU WILL, TO TRY AND SPUR THESE GOVERNMENTS TO PUT MORE INTO BUILDING MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES.

AND AS I SAID, PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE, IT ENCOMPASSES A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND THE HOPE IS IT WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT THE FORMER RESILIENCY OFFICER WAS POINTING OUT THAT FLORIDA HAS SOME PROBLEMS IT NEEDS TO DEAL WITH PRETTY PROMPTLY.

>>YEAH.

AND VERONICA STATE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES ARE GETTING SUPPORT ACROSS PARTY LINES.

WE SEE THAT TIME AND AGAIN, BUT REPUBLICANS IN FLORIDA HAVE PUSHED BACK AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE HERE?

>>WHAT I'M NOTICING IS THAT SOME LAWMAKERS, FOR INSTANCE, REPRESENTATIVE CARLOS GIMENEZ, WHO USED TO BE THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, UP UNTIL RECENTLY HE WAS IN SUPPORT OF EFFORTS TO CURB THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, BUT NOW IN WASHINGTON HE'S STEPPING AWAY FROM SOME OF THOSE.

WHEREAS THEN WE HAVE A NEW REPRESENTATIVE MARIA SALAZAR WHO TOOK OVER DONNA SHALALA'S SEAT AND SHE'S BEEN IN FAVOR OF THE PARIS ACCORDS EVEN THOUGH SHE'S A REPUBLICAN.

SO, NOT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE BUT WE DO SEE SOME BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT AND OTHERS NOT SO MUCH IN FAVOR.

>>AND MATT, THE EVERGLADES COALITION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS MET THIS WEEK.

WHAT ARE THEY ASKING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH WHAT FLORIDA IS ALREADY DOING WHEN IT COMES TO THE EVERGLADES?

>>WELL, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO MORE MONEY.

I MEAN, THEY WANT $2.9 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS THAT WOULD ALLOW CONSTRUCTION ON RESTORATION PROJECTS ALREADY ON THE WAY TO SPEED UP.

IT WOULD BE A SHOT IN THE ARM ESSENTIALLY FOR THIS MASSIVELY COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON SOME 20 YEARS ALREADY.

MY COLLEAGUE AT WFME AMY GREEN REPORTED ON THIS IN A PODCAST SERIES DRAINED, AND AS SHE POINTED OUT THIS HAS REALLY BEEN HOBBLED BY BUREAUCRACY OVER THE YEARS AND A BALLOONING BUDGET.

I MEAN, IT'S BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER WHAT WAS INITIALLY PROJECTED AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT AS WELL.

>>YEAH, THE EVERGLADES REALLY IS A MAJOR ISSUE HERE IN FLORIDA AND HAS BEEN FOR DECADES.

AND YOU CAN SEE MORE NEWSNIGHT CONTENT ON OUR WEBSITE INCLUDING MORE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH YOCA ARDITI-ROCHA OF THE CLEO INSTITUTE IN SPANISH.

IT'S ALL AT WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

NANCY.

>>AND THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK, IT ALWAYS GOES BY FAST AND WE HAVE SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

MY THANKS TO MATTHEW PEDDIE OF 90.7 WMFE, AND VERONICA ZARAGOVIA OF WLRN AND HEALTH NEWS, FLORIDA.

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

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT ONCE AGAIN HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE WEEKEND, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.