Politics
Last Call for 9.17.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
— First Shot —
The Trust for Public Land is joining the chorus.
The national nonprofit focused on creating parks, conserving public land and expanding access to outdoor spaces is the latest org to speak out on Amendment 3, and like the preponderance of other groups firing out statements in the lead-up to Election Day, it’s sounding the alarm.
“Trust for Public Land opposes Amendment 3 as it would decrease local funding for parks, trails, wildlife habitat and outdoor spaces, and reduce the quality of life for communities across Florida,” said outgoing Democratic state Rep. Lindsay Cross, the organization’s Florida State Director.
“The drastic cuts inflicted if Amendment 3 passes would reduce local funding available to create new parks and trails, protect habitat for wildlife, improve access to the water, and maintain and bolster existing green spaces. TPL stands with local leaders from counties and cities across Florida who oppose this measure.”
While the amendment expressly requires local governments to continue spending on natural resources and infrastructure, city halls across the state have been clear they don’t believe there will be enough to go around even for basic services — police and firefighters, typically among the most insulated from cuts, are among the amendment’s loudest opponents.
State economists estimate the amendment would reduce local non-school property tax collections by nearly $5 billion in the 2027-28 fiscal year and almost $8.8 billion the following year. The estimated recurring reduction eventually reaches nearly $12 billion annually, according to the EDR’s Revenue Estimating Conference.
Standing in Amendment 3’s corner are a lukewarm Gov. Ron DeSantis and some Republican legislative leaders, who claim the measure will deliver substantial — and needed — tax relief to Florida homeowners. Even so, a frequent concession from the Yes crowd, including the Governor, is that fiscally constrained rural counties would require state funding to make ends meet.
Amendment 3 requires approval from at least 60% of voters in the Nov. 3 General Election.
— Evening Reads —
—“The global economy is running out of wiggle room” via Patricia Cohen of The New York Times
—“A supermajority wants to slow AI down” via Nate Silver of the Silver Bulletin
—“We’re worrying about the wrong AI apocalypse” via Sara Herschander of Vox
—“Corporate donations to state AGs are setting records this year” via Jessica Toonkel and Neil Mehta of The Wall Street Journal
—“From mother to son: The Jamaican values that shaped Byron Donalds’ path to Florida politics” via Sheri-Kae McLeod of CNW
—“Donalds says homeowners could leave Florida if Amendment 3 fails” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics
—“María Elvira Salazar breaks with Donald Trump on immigration in new ad aimed at Hispanic voters” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics
—“A Florida family court therapist was charged with child abuse. Now she works with other people’s children.” via Shira Moolten of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
—“Flock once touted its cameras as ‘Made in the USA.’ Now it’s not so clear” via Paresh Dave of WIRED
—“Florida county officials try to eliminate public comment on development” via Craig Pittman of the Florida Phoenix
— Quote of the Day —
“Interestingly, Donald Trump is hitting Angie Nixon, our Senate nominee, over socialism charges, but he’s staying out of our race.”
— Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly, on the Trump factor.
— Put it on the Tab —
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy-hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Lay off sending any Shrapnels to Taylor County — they’re dealing with plenty after a Cory Mills-linked grenade factory went boom.
Depending on how Amendment 3 shakes out, Byron Donalds says bartenders may see a mass order of Exodus Lemonades as their regulars wave goodbye.
James Uthmeier will earn his fill of Moments of Silence if he puts the thumbscrews to the people behind those incessant scam calls and texts.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
Gators open SEC schedule at Auburn
The Florida Gators play on the road for the first time in the Jon Sumrall era as they travel to Auburn to face the Tigers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The two programs have not met in football since 2019 and have faced one another only four times in the last 20 years. The last meeting was a 24-13 Gators’ win over Auburn seven years ago. Saturday will also mark the first meeting between the two
The Gators scored 118 points in the first two games of the season, a 66-21 victory over Florida Atlantic and a 52-3 win over Campbell. In the previous four seasons, Florida scored over 50 points twice. They matched that number in the first two weeks of this season.
Saturday’s game will offer a different test.
Auburn opened the season with a 17-16 victory over Baylor, winning the 10th straight season opener. They followed up with a 43-8 pounding of Southern Miss as the Tigers put up 600 yards of total offense against an FBS opponent for the first time in five years.
Both programs have first-year head coaches, Sumrall for Florida and former USF head coach Alex Golesh at Auburn. The two coaches led their previous teams against one another when Sumrall’s Tulane squad topped Golesh’s Bulls 45-10 in 2024.
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
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