Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 18, 2018

Speaking at the 9th Annual Puerto Rico Summit in Orlando Friday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine and Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson ripped the federal response to Puerto Rico’s devastation by hurricanes last fall. Nelson called for statehood for Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló also ripped Washington, but his ire was focused on […]

Scott PowersMay 9, 2018

Airbnb and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló jointly announced new partnership initiatives Wednesday for the vacation rental-home marketing giant to promote tourism returning to the island. The initiatives will include promotions of Puerto Rico through Airbnb, the launch of an “Experiences” program, essentially private package tours to what Airbnb calls authentic Puerto Rican activities, and […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2018

Puerto Rican evacuees from Hurricane Maria’s wrath last fall have been granted another six weeks of federal assistance to live in emergency motel shelters in Florida, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy announced Thursday. The latest extension, through June 30 according to social media posts Thursday afternoon from the Winter Park Democrat, means that families who migrated […]

Ryan NicolMay 2, 2018

State Rep. David Richardson, a candidate for Congress this year, has begun a two-day listening tour in Puerto Rico. The visit will deal in part with the island’s recovery following Hurricane Maria. According to a news release, Richardson is set to meet with San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and other officials to discuss the […]

Scott PowersMay 1, 2018

Former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson is entering the Democratic primary field against his successor U.S. Rep. Darren Soto ready to brawl, already going after the incumbent as someone he said has done nothing meaningful regarding the district, Puerto Rico, or President Donald Trump. In an interview Tuesday morning, Grayson took the fighting stance that recalled […]

Drew WilsonApril 27, 2018

Orlando Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is participating in the 2nd Annual Puerto Rican Parade Saturday and encouraged his supporters to do the same in a Thursday email. “This year’s theme is ‘A New Beginning’ in recognition of the strength and resiliency of the island and its people in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. I’d LOVE […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2018

The U.S. Department of Education will move forward with grants to schools in Florida and other states that took in children evacuees from Hurricanes Irma and Maria and then struggled with unexpected costs, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy‘s office announced Tuesday. Under legislation Congress pushed through and approved in February, with Murphy’s backing, the department will […]

Scott PowersMarch 29, 2018

State Sen. Victor Torres, clergy, and others are joining with Puerto Rican activists in Florida to protest the closures of assistance offices for people displaced by Hurricane Maria last year and to renew attention on their plight. Torres and the others, including organizers from VAMOS4PR FLORIDA, a network of statewide Puerto Rican diaspora organizations, are calling […]

Danny McAuliffeFebruary 28, 2018

As many speculate that Florida’s affordable housing issues will be exacerbated by the influx of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, the state Legislature intends to sweep millions from the Sadowski Trust, which funds the state’s affordable housing programs. Speaking with reporters late Tuesday night following an organizational meeting of the newly announced budget conference, Senate […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2018

The Arecibo Observatory, the huge, iconic radio telescope in Puerto Rico that has starred in movies and in important cosmic and physics discoveries, is coming under new management: of the University of Central Florida. The university announced Thursday it is now negotiating the final terms of a five-year, $20.2 million contract with the National Science […]

Tag: Hurricane Maria
Image via Senate office.

Bill Nelson, Philip Levine rip federal response to Puerto Rico

Airbnb, Puerto Rico, announce partnership initiatives to foster tourism

FEMA extends Puerto Rican transitional housing to June 30

CD 27 hopeful David Richardson launches Puerto Rico listening tour

Alan Grayson comes out ready to brawl

Carlos Guillermo Smith marching in Puerto Rican Parade Saturday

Feds to provide grants to schools enrolling hurricane evacuees

Victor Torres, Puerto Rican groups, urging more help for displaced Puerto Ricans

Budget remarks don’t bode well for Sadowski Trust

UCF gets its ear to the sky: university to take over Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico