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The Good News – A Summary of Global Innovation In Response to the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the lives of billions of people and slowing the global economy to a crawl. We are using geographic information systems (GIS) to map infection rates and track the spread of the virus and our social media feeds are full of infection dashboards, speculation about when the curve is going to […]
Still Open and Working Hard for You!
Clients, Colleagues and Friends, For the immediate future, and in accordance with heath guidelines, governmental orders, and our own business continuity plan, the attorneys and staff at Fletcher Fischer Pollack are operating remotely and conducting internal and external meetings virtually. We realize that continuity of support is critical, and while we are doing our best […]
How Do We Move Forward If We Can’t Have a Hearing: A Detailed Look at the Status of Land Use Hearings and Permitting in Tampa Bay Counties and Cities – April 2020
A big concern of property owners, developers and others in the real estate industry fortunate enough to have a stable investment backing, is how to keep projects moving forward that require land use or permitting approvals in the age of “safer-at-home” and public hearings that are cancelled or virtual. Everything is changing day by day, […]
Florida Issues Shelter At Home Executive Order
On April 1, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Orders 20-91 and 20-92, increasing the restrictions on sheltering at home and essential and non-essential service providers. EO 20-91 provides that certain individuals are ordered to stay home and take all measures to limit risk of exposure to the virus. These individuals include “senior citizens” (a term […]
The Pinellas County Safer-At-Home Order
On March 25, the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the “COVID-19 – Safer at Home” Order. A copy of the resolution can be found here. COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, can cause severe illness and death, and is extremely contagious. It is much more serious than the flu, and […]
FEMA recommends changes to Florida Building Codes and Land Use Regulations to Decrease Potential Damage from Future Hurricanes
Hurricane Michael struck the Florida Panhandle on October 10, 2018. The hurricane was the most powerful storm to ever make landfall on the Panhandle, and, with its 161 mph windspeed, was the 4th most powerful hurricane to ever hit the US. The storm was 350 miles in diameter and its eye alone was 25 miles […]
Where are the opportunities for entrepreneurs in space?
At the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross predicted that the space economy will be worth more than one trillion dollars by 2040.[i] Certainly, private investment in space endeavors is increasing. Thousands of small satellites are in the development stage by companies like SpaceX and OneWeb to deliver internet via […]
Maker Spaces, Educators and Hobbyists Beware: proposed FAA drone (UAS) regulation will impact you!
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is seeking comments on a proposed set of regulatory changes to the regulations governing unmanned aerial systems (drones) operation and production that would impact both maker spaces and amateur drone enthusiasts. The proposed rules would be phased in over 36 months following adoption and would relate to both design requirements […]
Will the coronavirus hurt your business? Minimizing and managing risk to your business operations from a global health epidemic
As cases of coronavirus spread worldwide, the World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus an international public health emergency. While to date there have been few cases in the United States, reports are that the virus is already impacting both operations and revenues of businesses with significant business connection to China. As reported in the […]
Federal and Territorial Emergency Response to Oil Spills Using Dispersants and Solidifiers to be Guided by Best Management Practices to Protect Endangered Species and Essential Habitat
At the Caribbean Regional Response Team Meeting on January 27, 2020, the EPA reported on the draft Best Management Practices that will guide federal response activities to future oil spills using dispersants and solidifiers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The BMPS were developed as part of the formal Section 7 consultation with […]