Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
First Shot
Summer heat is on the way, and so are scammers.
Attorney General Ashley Moody on Tuesday warned Floridians that the summer season typically brings with it a rise in HVAC-related scams.
Common scams include repair companies that push consumers to replace functional parts or buy an entirely new air conditioning system at an inflated price. Grifters may also try to sell customers an unnecessary amount of refrigerant or claim that problems with an HVAC system can be solved with a refrigerant “recharge,” a service that HVAC systems do not require.
“Floridians, especially our seniors, could not endure the hot Florida summer without air conditioning. So, when an HVAC unit malfunctions, they rush to have their units fixed. Bad actors may attempt to take advantage of the situation to sell unneeded repairs — or entire new systems,” Moody said.
Tips to avoid falling victim to HVAC scams include getting a second opinion from a separate repair company, being wary of high-pressure sales tactics, and insisting on a written agreement. Consumers should also become familiar with how HVAC systems work, at least at a basic level.
To keep Floridians informed of scammers’ tactics, Moody’s office drafted up a new entry in the Scams at a Glance series titled “Keep Your Cool.” A Spanish language version is also available.
Evening Reads
—“Ron DeSantis rode Donald Trump’s support to the Governor’s mansion. Now he doesn’t need him.” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO Florida
—“DeSantis makes Florida Senate power play with endorsement in Tampa race, others” via Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times
—“Gov. DeSantis invokes ‘Top Gun’ in contending he doesn’t poll test issues” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“How Disney lost Florida” via Christopher Grimes of Financial Times
—“Inside Dems’ plan if Roe falls: A voter turnout blitz” via Elena Schneider of POLITICO
—“10 Democratic House members accused of raising money during Legislative Sessions” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—“A former candidate’s lament: ‘You in the media don’t help us grapple with policy decisions’” via David Catanese of Too Close to Call
—“Charlie Crist, Nikki Fried look for voter turnout help heading into Democratic Primary” via John Kennedy of USA Today-Florida
—“Libre Action endorses DeSantis for re-election” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics
—”U.S. House Florida District 15 GOP Primary: Conservatism contest?” via The Ledger
—“Robert Runcie legacy still a challenge for Broward school district” via Randy Schultz of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony could lose his police certification after Florida panel says there’s probable cause” via Lisa J. Huriash of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“Surfside victims to be honored at private vigil, public event on collapse anniversary” via Martin Vassolo of the Miami Herald
—“AAA predicts busy — but pricy — July 4 travel period” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics
—“Summer road trips to Orlando roll on despite skyrocketing gas prices” via Katie Rice of the Orlando Sentinel
—“Allison Tant may run unopposed after challenger’s qualifying paperwork questioned” via Valerie Crowder of WFSU
—“Meet the candidates vying for Leon County School Board District 1” via Ana Goñi-Lessan of the Tallahassee Democrat
—“Monkeypox infections in Florida in double digits, with cases in five counties in South and Central Florida” via Issac Morgan of the Florida Phoenix
Quote of the Day
“Perhaps the Republican Party of Florida can now correct their intentional canceling of Black representation in Congress and efforts to overthrow our democracy.”
— Rep. Anna Eskamani, after Florida Republicans accused 10 House Democrats of fundraising during Session.
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