Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 13, 2016

The refrigerator magnet reads, “When you live on an island, expect company.” It’s late Friday afternoon and I’m trying to cross Truman aka U.S. Route 1 at Mile Marker 1. Traffic to the left of me. Traffic to the right. No end on either side. Cars are backed up to Duval at one end and […]

Phil AmmannDecember 1, 2015

A Florida Senate committee approved Tuesday a $25 million per year investment, lasting 10 years, for water quality, restoration and protection of the habitat surrounding the Florida Keys. The Senate Committee on Community Affairs passed Senate Bill 770, known as the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, which seeks to protect the water supply in and around […]

Guest AuthorNovember 24, 2015

In the place where folks sport T-shirts proclaiming, “Key West. Where the weird go pro,” the only actual weird about Thanksgiving is that there’s no weird. Here we are, half way between the truly over-the-top weird of Fantasy Fest-Halloween and the run-up to not one, but three jaw-droppingly weird New Year’s Eve celebrations, and there’s […]

Associated PressNovember 19, 2015

County commissioners in the Florida Keys will be asking state transportation officials to help study whether a light rail or monorail system would be feasible for the island chain. The Monroe County Commission agreed Tuesday to work with the Florida Department of Transportation on the study. The Key West Citizen reports that some commissioners and residents […]

Associated PressNovember 11, 2015

Key West hotels are reporting that fewer people came to town for Fantasy Fest, but higher room rates compensated for the dip in occupancy. The Key West Citizen reports that the average nightly cost of a hotel room for the main weekend of the 10-day Fantasy Fest jumped from about $238 last year to $413 […]

Ryan RayJuly 8, 2015

In its vigorous crusade to legalize “ridesharing,” Uber has made some enemies among decision makers. Two days after the firm announced a pointed withdrawal from all operations in Broward County, officials in Key West are now saying they may arrest drivers who run afoul of local ordinances banning electronic ride-hailing. Meanwhile in Paris, French officials recently detained top Uber executives for […]

Phil AmmannMay 10, 2015

America’s oldest city is slowly drowning. St. Augustine’s centuries-old Spanish fortress and other national landmarks sit feet from the encroaching Atlantic, whose waters already flood the city’s narrow, brick-paved streets about 10 times a year — a problem worsening as sea levels rise. The city has long relied on tourism, but visitors to the fortress […]

Associated PressMarch 15, 2015

Miami-based Havana Air is expanding its operations to include Key West. The airline had been flying preapproved passengers between Miami and Havana for the last 18 months. Its first flights from Key West to Havana took off on Friday. CEO David Nesslein tells The Key West Citizen that Havana Air hopes new U.S. rules relaxing […]

Shannon NickinsonOctober 8, 2014

I think I had my last chance to be in a wedding party. Thanks heavens I’m going out on a high note. I went through a period for a couple of years where it seemed like everyone I knew was getting matched or hatched. It was gift registries and strappy shoes for months at a […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 30, 2014

A new AARP poll shows what nearly everyone who lives in Florida has known for some time. There are three basic economic engines in Florida: tourism, agriculture and retirees. Sure, under the umbrella of retirees you can include home building and health care, but if retirees don’t come, the jobs associated with those industries will […]

Tag: Key West
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Linda Cunningham: Give Key West tourists margaritas, but not cars

Senate panel OKs Florida Keys Stewardship Act, funding water quality, protection

Linda Cunningham: There’s nothing weird about a Key West Thanksgiving

Florida Keys will ask state for help studying rail system

Fewer Keys guests, higher hotel rates during Fantasy Fest

Should Uber, like Airbnb, employ lighter touch with regulators?

Sea rise threatens Florida coast, but no statewide plan

Miami-based Havana Air adds flights from Key West to Cuba

Shannon Nickinson: Bondi doesn’t realize the ‘majority’ accept same-sex marriage

Jamie Miller: Florida needs to attract more retirees to help the economy thrive