May 21, 2021
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP
President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: Last week, I had the pleasure to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity with dozens of other CEOs. It was a well-run event, but to see so many leaders giving back to the community was a great sight. For me, this site was adjacent to my high school, Blanche Ely High, so it was great to see the spark of positivity in the neighborhood. Last, but certainly not least, was the ability to tour the unfinished home with the future homeowner. He shined with pride, and that’s why we give back.

Looking ahead: To me, the coming weeks are going to be filled with anxiety as more and more places open up, yet my daughter is too young to get vaccinated. Even when she’s eligible, I’m going to be very concerned about the gene-swapping technology used in the Pfizer vaccine and its impact on the developing body. I know that the clinical trials will be exhaustive, but as a parent, it feels too fast. I want things to be back to normal, but I also want her to be safe. I sense I’ll have anxiety for some time.

May 14, 2021
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP
President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: Lost amongst the pipeline hacks and gas lines, a significant crack was found on the I-40 bridge between Memphis and West Memphis. The good news is that the crack was found before there was a catastrophic failure. The bad news is that now the 71-year-old I-55 bridge is the only crossing in a 160 mile stretch of the Mississippi River and barge traffic under the bridge is essentially shut, which will greatly impact the movement of goods. Yet another reason why infrastructure benefits more than just the construction industry.

Looking ahead: More work in the resiliency space will begin this week. The governor’s signing of SB 1954 and SB 2514 will – among other things – invest hundreds of millions of state dollars in flooding infrastructure projects. In addition to the funds, which are definitely needed, though, the plans that accompany the funds are really the exciting part. Instead of these being one-time infusions, this will create a financially sustainable plan for future generations of Floridians.

May 7, 2021
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP
President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: This past week, the Federal Treasury said it expects to borrow $463 billion in the current April-June quarter, which will be part of its plans to borrow $2.28 trillion for the full budget year, which ends September 30. The $463 billion represents a significant jump from the government’s initial estimate three months ago that it would need to borrow just $95 billion in the current quarter. The government ran up a record $3.1 trillion budget deficit last year, reflecting the COVID relief spending and a drop in revenues caused by the recession. We need to stop reckless spending.

Looking ahead: Last year, the Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) created a task force on local government efficiency. The task force has effectively finalized its recommendations to streamline government processes. The Local Government Efficiency Task Force, established by the Legislature last year, is set to hand its final report to Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls by June 1. The report includes recommendations on elections, public meetings, reporting, pension plans, unfunded mandates and business taxes. The question comes down to whether or not these recommendations will make next year’s legislative agenda.

April 30, 2021
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP
President, Chen Moore and Associates

Last week: $100 Billion! I hear that with the voice of Dr. Evil from an Austin Powers movie, but this isn’t a comedy, this is a tragedy. Trust me, I know that we have needs in this state – health, economic and infrastructure – but I’m very concerned that the state budget crossing this boundary violates a mental barrier that future legislators won’t hesitate to cross. Florida still has an immature economy, depending on transactions in the form of sales tax and doc stamps. Until we have a more robust manufacturing economy to add additional stability, we need to stay lean and mean as a state.

Looking ahead: The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is 169 years old, representing over 150,000 members in 177 countries, making it the largest civil engineering organization in the world. Why is that important in the coming weeks? Because the election of the next President-elect (and other positions) will happen during the open voting period of May 1 through June 1. Of personal significance, I am one of the two candidates vying for President-elect. This would make me the third Floridian (and first native) elected, bringing Florida into the national (and international) spotlight once again. I’ll know the results June 3.