A bill recently signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis will pump $711 million into affordable housing — essentially doubling what Florida spent last year. Developers are cheering the move, but others say the bill doesn’t do enough to help most Floridians who are struggling to pay rent.
The Live Local Act will redirect some tax revenue to affordable housing over the next decade and create incentives for developers of affordable housing projects. But the new law also strips local governments of control over some projects, and it outlaws local rent control.
It’s estimated that Florida currently has an affordable housing deficit of more than 440,000 units.
Guests:
- Shannon Nazworth, president and CEO of Ability Housing.
- Bill Lazar of the St. Johns Housing Partnership.
Over-the-counter hearing aids
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently made over-the-counter hearing aids available to purchase without a doctor’s hearing test. Now patients experiencing hearing loss don’t have to see a physician or audiologist before buying an over-the-counter hearing aid.
While that makes hearing aids more accessible, some doctors say not seeking medical advice before buying a hearing aid comes with risks and over-the-counter hearing aids may not be the best choice for everyone.
WJCT Studios will host a special event on over-the-counter hearing aids on April 26.
Guests:
- Dr. J. Douglas Greene, founder and president of the Jacksonville Hearing and Balance Institute.
- Dr. Elizabeth Selle, lead clinical audiologist at the Jacksonville Hearing and Balance Institute.
Extreme heat bill
There’s bipartisan support for a bill that would help protect outdoor workers from extreme heat in Florida, but the proposal still hasn’t been read by a single committee in the House or Senate so far this legislative session.
The Heat Illness Prevention bill would require farmers, construction companies and landscapers who employ outdoor workers to teach them about heat related illnesses. Employers also would be required to provide workers with plenty of water, access to shade and 10-minute recovery breaks in extreme heat.
Extreme heat is the deadliest kind of hazardous weather, and climate change is pushing temperatures up across the country, including in Jacksonville, where the average summertime temperature has already risen by more than 1 degree since 1970. By 2050, the River City is expected to see as many as 80 days a year where heat index values (what the temperature feels like) exceed 100 degrees.
Guest: Danielle Prieur, WMFE reporter.
Sports update
March may be over, but the madness of college basketball continues tonight with the national championship game. Plus, it’s almost opening day for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Guest: Josh Torres, WJCT News sports analyst.
