Tag Archives: infrastructure

Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative

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From the Press Office of Governor Ron DeSantis

AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Today, Governor DeSantis announced the Moving Florida Forward initiative to expedite transportation projects over the next four years. If passed by the legislature, this proposal would invest $4 billion of general revenue, redirect an average of $131 million annually to the State Transportation Work Program, and leverage additional funding over the next four years for a total of $7 billion to strengthen Florida’s transportation infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of people that rely on Florida’s roadways. Through this record investment, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) would expedite 20 priority infrastructure projects into the existing Work Program to combat congestion, improve safety, and ensure a more resilient transportation system to bolster current transportation needs and set the stage for future growth. Projects included as part of the Moving Florida Forward Legislative Proposal are available at FDOT.gov/MovingFloridaForward.

“This proposal will break through bureaucracy that often slows down infrastructure projects and allow FDOT to target projects that will ease congestion across the state,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Expediting these projects will bring them to completion more than a decade ahead of schedule.”

“Governor DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward proposal is truly historic and the projects included will help relieve congestion while also focusing on safety, resiliency, the supply chain, and economic growth. These are important for Floridians’ quality of life and to ensure we maintain a strong transportation system to keep Florida moving forward,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “The Department has worked closely with communities and our partners through the years to plan and prepare these projects for construction. Receiving this funding will allow the vision of each project to become a reality in the immediate future to better meet the growing demands in communities throughout the state. Our team is prepared and ready to work with the Legislature to deliver these critical projects and strengthen Florida’s transportation infrastructure.”

Florida is home to over 22 million residents, and in just the first three quarters of 2022, we had nearly 105 million visitors to our state. In 2022, Florida experienced the largest net migration in the country at 1.9%, meaning that Florida’s infrastructure must accommodate more people than ever before. The 20 projects included in the proposal will build more resilient transportation infrastructure, which is important to the integrity of roadways and corridors especially during severe weather events such as hurricanes.

FDOT will continue working on projects currently planned in the existing FDOT Five-Year Work Program in addition to projects included in the Moving Florida Forward package.

Candidate Kevin Cochrane Doesn’t Want You To Live In Tall Buildings But He Purchased Two Units In Thirty-One Story Building Directly On Fort Lauderdale Beach

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City Commission candidate Kevin Cochrane wants to halt all development in Fort Lauderdale. In 2020, Cochrane, a California native, collected signatures for moratorium on new buildings in the City. “We’ve hit a tipping point. The [task force] needs to investigate the beneficial impact a moratorium could have to help our city catch its breathe and catch up,” Cochrane told the Sun-Sentinel. As a candidate for District 4, Cochrane still opposes new buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale and the beach.

Yet, when he relocated to Fort Lauderdale from San Francisco, Kevin Cochrane purchased multiple units in one of the tallest buildings directly on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

According to Broward County records, in June 2016, Kevin Cochrane purchased a unit in the Point of Americas condominium on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Built in 1971, the luxury Point of Americas condo is 31 stories tall. Records show Cochrane paid $945,000 for his piece of Fort Lauderdale Beach.

According to the Redfin real estate website, Cochrane’s “corner beauty offers direct eastern beach views that wrap around more than 180 degrees and showcase the ocean, Intracoastal, downtown and north to the Hillsboro lighthouse. Floor to ceiling impact windows in all rooms highlight unobstructed ocean views. Point of Americas I offers luxury amenities, 10 acres of landscaped beachfront property, undercover parking, extra guest parking, guest hotel rooms, two heated oceanfront pools, multiple gyms, BBQ area, onsite restaurant, 24-hour security, guardhouse entry, all on the widest private stretch of Fort Lauderdale beach. Watch the daily parade of boats.”

Cochrane loved Point of Americas so much he bought a second unit in February 2021.

Six months ago, Cochrane sold his first condo for $1.4 million dollars. He made $455,000 profit.

On his campaign website, Cochrane claims to represent the little guy. He wrote, “We want our city to grow. But we want it to grow responsibly, in a manner that protects and preserves the character and integrity of our neighborhoods and benefits all residents—not just a privileged class of developers, their lobbyists, and realtors.”

REDBROWARD asked Kevin Cochrane to comment.

Cochrane campaign strategist John Rodstrom III told us, “Kevin supported a building moratorium as an emergency measure following the Rio Vista sewer main break in 2020. He’s not against current zoning laws. High density has a place in the downtown core. This is why he’s against changes to the PDD. Kevin is against unmanaged development and believes our infrastructure (water, sewer, roadways and public safety) needs to be properly upgraded, funded and maintained to keep up with development. Unmanaged development is development that leads to a deterioration of our quality of life. We want our city to grow. But we want it to grow responsibly, in a manner that protects and preserves the character and integrity of our neighborhoods and benefits all residents – not just a privileged class of developers and their lobbyists.”

Point of Americas changed the “character and integrity” of Fort Lauderdale Beach when it was built in 1971.

Thanks to anti-development crusaders like Cochrane, buyers with the money to live in luxury on Fort Lauderdale Beach do not have many options.

Is Kevin Cochrane just another wealthy activist who claims to worry about traffic and infrastructure, but they don’t want common folk and newcomers ruining their rich and famous lifestyles?

Hypocrites?

Fort Lauderdale voters will have final say in November.