Building a 21st century economy in Florida requires change
As a new legislative session is fast approaching, a few thoughts on the current status quo in Tallahassee. Why are state lawmakers content to continue legislating with a 20th century mindset for the 21st century? Case in point: Amazon. The online retailer is currently in the midst of a nationwide search for the home of its new headquarters, HQ2, and cities all around Florida are chomping at the bit. South Florida, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville have put forth bids to reel in this economic powerhouse. Estimated to bring in 50,000 highpaying jobs and over $5 billion, it’s plainly obvious what Amazon would mean for Florida.
However, the aggressive pursuit begs the question: Why isn’t it a no-brainer for Amazon and other exciting American companies to take their talents to the Sunshine State? We live in a low-tax state, with incredible resources and an environment unrivaled anywhere in the country. We shouldn’t just be on a shortlist for these companies — we should be on their wish list. Why wouldn’t entrepreneurs, CEOs, and small business owners want to start, grow, or move their companies and startups here?
The answer lies in the HR manuals of our greatest American companies. Just take a look at how they treat their employees, and compare it with how Florida treats its residents.
Great, innovative companies pay their employees’ fairly, and invest in their health and future (for example, Amazon offers four different affordable health care plans to its employees). Compare this to Florida, where Tallahassee legislators have worked continuously to destroy the ACA and leave millions of Floridians without health insurance.
Another large priority for these companies and everyone who works for them is sustainability. The Jeff Bezoses and Elon Musks of the world are searching for locations where their companies can thrive in the years to come. In Florida, we pollute our water by not attending to our precious aquifers, and we continue to risk serious peril from storms and sea-level rise by ignoring climate change.
When G.E. moved its new headquarters to Boston, one of the largest factors they cited for their decision was the city’s impressive intellectual ecosystem. Great companies desire great public universities and schools that provide a pool of great skilled workers.
In Florida, we have let our public K-12 education system fall by the wayside, as Tallahassee does little to help the teachers and students in our public schools. Rather than creating a rich environment for learning, some legislators are more preoccupied with proposing backward legislation — such as open-carry on college campuses — that would only make our schools less safe.
No incentive package, no sweetened deal will ever be enough, by itself, to bring these companies to Florida.
To win these “economic Holy Grails,” it starts at the top, both with leadership and with policy. Yet right now, Tallahassee continues to create Blackberry-style policies for an iPhone world.
To make Florida the Startup State, we need to re-write our state’s H.R. manual. Let’s emulate the successful formulas of these dynamic companies, and create policies that are good for people and good for business.
This requires investing more in our public schools and universities and setting a livable wage. It means protecting our environment and building resiliency in our coastal communities. It means fostering an environment where everyone has an equal opportunity to pursue their dreams.
It means expanding Medicaid coverage, and passing legislation so that everyone has access to affordable health care. It means investing in new, sustainable public transportation and connecting our cities.
Like in the movie “Field of Dreams” — if we build it, they will come.
Philip Levine is the two-term mayor of Miami Beach and president and CEO of Royal Media Partners.