Yes, development can be limited - Weekly Wrap-Up - 4 June 2023

Subscribe to Key West Voices for free.

National news, local relevance. Tension between development and community need appeared in national headlines this week. 

• Yes they can: Phoenix curtails development. Facing water shortages, Arizona will curtail some new development around Phoenix. (NPR)
• No, you can't? NYC short term rental restrictions. Airbnb Inc filed a lawsuit against New York City over a new law it called a "de facto ban" against short-term rentals set to go into effect in July. (Reuters)
• Pre-emption mania. The New York Times decries the rise of partisan efforts to strip home rule power from cities in red states, including Texas and Florida.  (New York Times, $, unlocked)
• Tennessee is still a drag. A federal judge rejected Tennessee's anti-drag law as too broad and vague. (NPR)
• Developers win. DeSantis again backed developers over what’s good for Florida. (Florida Phoenix) 
• Costly. DeSantis vs. Disney has a $1B price tag for Florida (Citizen, $)

Debt crisis averted. Biden signed the debt limit bill, avoiding U.S. default. (Reuters)

Lower power bills. Keys Energy Services’ (KEYS) said that customers will see a decrease in their June energy bills, as a result of reductions in natural gas costs. (Citizen, $)

New format. The first City Commission meeting format begins on Thursday 8 June. Proclamations, presentations, and consent agenda in the morning, with discussion items and other public hearing items in the afternoon.  

Arelene. Hurricane season began Thursday with the first named storm. (USA Today)

Pride month.

• Loud and proud. Despite a climate of intimidation, Key West prepared to be loud and proud. (Keys Weekly)  
• Sushi in the shoe. The gala retrospective of 25 years of local celebrity Sushi's New Year's Eve appearances opened at Key West Art and Historical Society's Custom House museum. It was elbow to elbow with local celebrities and Queens coming together in pure joy. (Florida Weekly)

Our voices.

• Info junkie? Keep it mellow. Linda Cunningham shared her secrets of being an information junkie in Key West. (Key West Island News) 
• Bicycle parking. Chris Hamilton and the City want our help to choose where new and expanded bicycle parking should be installed. (Friends of Car Free Key West)

Our Eyes

Untitled, Cudjoe Key - Lynne Bentley-Kemp