Today, former Republican lawmaker Jeff Brandes discusses what he calls “the blast radius nobody is talking about” if a property tax cut is approved by Florida voters. Amendment 3, which appears on the November ballot, would dramatically curtail state property tax revenues, which fund most local government services, including police, fire, libraries, maintenance and community events. Brandes, who now runs a nonpartisan research institute and think tank, the Florida Policy Project, says by stripping municipal and county governments of revenue, the tax cut proposal effectively neuters local control and shifts power to the state. Earlier this month, Brandes joined former Northeast Florida Democratic congressman Al Lawson in a bipartisan lawsuit challenging the legality of the ballot language.
Guest: Former Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes, founder and president of the Florida Policy Project
New UNF poll
A new poll takes the pulse of voters ahead of the midterm elections, including their views on candidates seeking office in Florida, AI and President Trump, as well as their biggest affordability concerns. The poll also gets an early look at how state residents might decide the all-important property tax cut amendment, which goes before voters in November. We break down the results with the head of the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab and discuss how pollsters are battling the realities of spam filters, the death of landlines, declining participation and growing voter mistrust.
Guest: Sean Freeder, faculty director, UNF Public Opinion Research Lab
European destination
The choice of a storied local business to fill the role as one of two Riverfront Plaza restaurants wasn’t a given — European Street Cafe won the slot in a competitive bid process — but it has proved gratifying for longtime residents and city officials alike, who say the recognizable, longstanding business will reinforce the plaza’s First Coast identity. We sit down with the owner of the five-decade-old sandwich shop to discuss what customers can expect from the fourth Jacksonville location and what the mini-chain hopes to gain from a partnership with the city and its first Downtown location.
Guest: Andy Zarka, owner, European Street Cafe
Topics and guests subject to change.