Peter Schorsch
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shots
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water from Lake Okeechobee in preparation for Hurricane Irma’s expected arrival in the state this weekend.
Spokesman John Campbell said Tuesday the plan is to drain the lake for three days to drop its current level of almost 14 feet.
The corps says Irma could add a foot of water directly to the lake as it passes and then 3 feet of runoff in the coming weeks. The corps tries to keep the lake below 16 feet and worries about the stability of the Hoover Dike, which surrounds the lake, if it exceeds 18 feet.
Most of current dike was built in the 1960s. It averages 30 feet in height. Failures of the original embankments during hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 killed over 3,000 people when waters flooded neighboring towns. About 40,000 people live nearby today.
The dike has been undergoing a $1.7 billion improvement plan that should be finished in the mid-2020s.
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The ‘saints’ are marching in—and the first 100 are likely just the beginning.
Gov. Scott activated 100 members of the Florida Air and Army National Guard to support with “planning, logistics and operations in preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Irma,” he announced Tuesday.
They’ll be stationed across the state. Moreover, Scott ordered all 7,000 National Guard members to report for duty Friday morning.
“With Hurricane Irma now a category 5 storm, we must do all we can to prepare our families and communities for any potential impact from this major weather event,” he said in a statement.
In addition, 13 helicopters and more than 1,000 tactical high wheeled trucks are on standby. And the North Carolina National Guard also has agreed to pitch in if needed, Scott said.
In an abundance of caution, the Guard will “identify approximately 30,000 troops, 4,000 trucks, 100 helicopters, and Aero-Evacuation crews that are standing by for Hurricane Irma support.”
If that ain’t preparation, we don’t know what is. Godspeed, troops.
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In a late-afternoon non-shocker, a unanimous Florida Supreme Court shot down a request for rehearing in a case over whether pari-mutuels can add slot machines in counties that passed referendums allowing them.
The court’s one-sentence order said: “Petitioner’s motion for rehearing is hereby denied.” Six of the seven justices signed the order; Justice Peggy A. Quince was recused.
Earlier this year, the court unanimously ruled against Gretna Racing in north Florida, saying that gambling facilities in counties that passed referendums allowing slots will not be able to offer them.
The opinion, authored by Justice Charles Canady, found that “nothing in (state gambling law) grants any authority to regulate slot machine gaming to any county.” The track’s 12-page motion countered that the justices “misapprehended” case law on counties’ home rule authority.
Evening Reads
“Irma’s damage could be most ever, topping Katrina, Barclays predicts” via Thomas Frank of CNBC
“‘Dreamers’ decision creates dilemma for Republicans” via Dara Kam of the News Service of Florida
“Frank Brogan a contender for job at Trump Ed. Dept., sources say” via Alyson Klein of Education Week
“Sides seek more time in $700M Lottery lawsuit” via Jim Rosica of Florida Politics
“Hurricane Irma could interrupt Florida Legislature’s plans” via Kristen Clark of the Miami Herald
“How House GOP leaders lobbied black Democrats on contentious charter schools bill” via Jessica Bakeman of POLITICO Florida
“Will legislators finally start preserving Florida’s land, as the Constitution requires?” via Manley Fuller of the Tampa Bay Times
“House District 44 special election features intrigue” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics
“Understanding hurricane forecasts: Making sense of spaghetti, cones and categories” via Jason Samenow of the Washington Post
Quote of the Day
“We do not know the exact path of this storm, but weather can change in an instant and while we hope for the best, we must prepare for the worst.” —Gov. Rick Scott, on Hurricane Irma Tuesday afternoon.
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Wake Up Early
The Southwest Florida Water Management District is slated to meet at 9 a.m. in Tampa, 7601 Highway 301 North. It’s a regular monthly meeting to “obtain feedback from interested persons on current pending permit applications.”
The Florida Rural Economic Development Summit is planned to kick off at 1 p.m. in St. Augustine, at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort, 500 South Legacy Trail. It’s sponsored by the North Florida Economic Development Partnership; details are here.
The Florida Public Service Commission is scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Tallahassee, in the Joseph P. Cresse Hearing Room (#148), Betty Easley Conference Center, in the satellite state office complex in Southwood off Capital Circle Southeast. On the docket: “Petition for approval of arrangement to mitigate unfavorable impact of St. Johns River Power Park, by Florida Power & Light Company.”
The State Board of Education holds a General Board Meeting teleconference, scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The call-in number is (888) 670-3525, and the participant passcode is 1242528392#.
