Welcome to Sparker's Digest, a newsletter devoted to sharing news for Collier voters, with an emphasis on local and state government. Sparker's Digest is produced by Sparker's Soapbox publisher Sandy Parker, who is passionate about facilitating and encouraging informed voting in Collier County and throughout Florida.

Collier County Government News

1. Countywide Public-Safety Emergency Radio System Scrutinized

Collier County’s aging public safety radio system doesn’t meet national standards, and suffers from frequent outages, flaws and failures that hinder disaster and emergency response — and public safety. Costs to upgrade are estimated at $20 million to $60 million, a sum not included in the 2026 budget. The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Aug. 12, when it is scheduled to decide the next steps. (The Naples Press, 6/27/25)($)

2. Collier Advances 1,299-Home Plan with Affordable Housing near Fiddler’s Creek

County commissioners unanimously approved amending the county’s growth management plan to allow 1,299 homes, including affordable housing, on 227 acres near Fiddler’s Creek. (Gulfshore Business, 6/26/25)

3. Collier Ups Engineering Contract by $11.6M for Northeast Wastewater, Water Treatment Plants

After more than two decades of planning, Collier County is moving forward with its Northeast wastewater and water treatment facilities. The plants will meet future demands by planned villages and towns, which all have county utilities contracts. (Gulfshore Business, 6/27/25)

4. Newsletters and Other News from Local Officials

• District 4 Commissioner Daniel Kowal, 6/30/25

• District 5 Commissioner Bill McDaniel, 6/30/25

• Property Appraiser Vickie Downs, 6/30/25

• Supervisor of Elections Melissa Blazier, 6/30/25

• Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Crystal Kinzel, 7/2/25

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Florida Government News: Immigrant Detention Centers

5. 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigrant detention facility opens, with Trump in attendance

The facility has given a political boost to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies, while activist groups have protested its construction on humanitarian and environmental grounds. (NBC News, 7/1/25)

6. It’s official: Alligator Alcatraz is not a nickname

“Yes, it is the official name,” Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, said in an email to the Herald/Times. (Miami Herald, 7/1/25)($)

7. Environmental Groups Sue to Stop 'Alligator Alcatraz'

Environmental groups Friday filed a federal lawsuit seeking to halt construction and operation of a detention center for undocumented immigrants, saying it threatens ecologically sensitive areas and species in the surrounding Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. (News Service of Florida via ABC7 Sarasota, 6/27/25)

8. Miccosukee Tribe Asks Florida to Halt Plan on Detention Center

"The Miccosukee Tribe is opposed to the use of our ancestral lands in Big Cypress as a detention facility," Tribe Chairman Talbert Cypress stated, in a message on Facebook. (The Floridian, 6/24/25)

9. How DeSantis leaned on emergency powers to build ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in days

Relying on an emergency order issued in January 2023 in response to a flood of Cuban and Haitian migrants arriving by boat in the Florida Keys, DeSantis is seizing county land, mobilizing a team of private companies to build a facility big enough to hold 3,000 detained immigrants and deploying Florida National Guard troops to secure the site (Miami Herald, 6/28/25)

10. Will 'Alligator Alkatraz' Wreck Florida's Economy?

“They really do so much more of an amazing job than what we call the ‘domestic’ workers that we used to get 30 years ago when I started in this business,” said mega-farmer Francis Alfred “Alfie” Oakes III in a video he uploaded to Facebook on April 28. (Florida Trident, 7/1/25)

11. Florida Eyes Second Immigration Detention Center to Join ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

Florida officials are considering opening an immigration detention center at a National Guard base in North Florida in addition to a facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades, part of a plan to set up 5,000 beds by early July to support President Donald Trump’s mass deportation agenda. (Orlando Sentinel, 6/25/25)($)

Florida Government News: The State Budget

12. DeSantis Signs Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget

"Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025–2026, totaling $117.4 billion after $567 million in line-item vetoes. This budget continues the Governor’s commitment to fiscal responsibility." (Governor's Press Release, 6/30/25)

13. DeSantis Signs Tax Cuts for Businesses, Shoppers

The $1.6 billion tax-cut package is dominated by eliminating a commercial-lease tax and providing sales-tax breaks on back-to-school items, hurricane-preparedness supplies and guns and ammo. The impact on state general revenue, a key issue for lawmakers, will be about $1.3 billion. (News Service of Florida via NBC Miami, 6/30/25)

14. Line-Item Vetoes Total Almost $600 Million

The vetoes erased funding for dozens of local parks, building projects, water and sewer work, and health and social services organizations across the state. The governor also vetoed $750 million lawmakers dedicated toward reserves and $200 million it had clawed back from funding for the Florida Wildlife Corridor. With that veto, the funding stays put for the corridor. (Tallahassee Democrat, 6/30/25)($)

• 2025 Veto List(Florida Politics, 6/30/25)

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Florida Government News: Other Vetoes

15. DeSantis Vetoes Funding to Study Impact of Eliminating Property Taxes

DeSantis, at a news conference, said officials don’t need more data while also calling for a ballot measure next year to kill ad valorem taxes on homesteaded property. (Florida Politics, 6/30/25)

16. DeSantis Vetoes Statewide Recycling Plan that Passed Unanimously

"This legislation is unnecessary as it perpetuates a cycle of plans and reports without action and does not take into consideration that the private sector iscontinuously implementing innovative ways to reduce waste," DeSantis said in his veto letter. (HB 295; Veto Letter)

17. DeSantis Vetoes Parole Bill that Passed Unanimously

“This would likely result in making Florida’s parole system more lenient,” DeSantis said in his veto letter. (CS/CS/HB 181; Veto Letter, 6/27/25; Florida Politics, 6/28/25)

18. DeSantis Vetoes Infrastructure Investment Bill that Passed Unanimously

"The bill also includes a provision requiring the PSC to consider green energy credits when establishing and reviewing utility rate requests that are inconsistent with state energy policy," DeSantis said in his veto letter. (CS/CS/SB 1574; Veto Letter, 6/27/25)

Florida Government News: New State Laws

19. Over 100 New Laws Take Effect July 1

Some key changes include restrictions on geoengineering, expanded school choice options, a database for animal abusers, and new criminal offenses for excessive speeding. (Florida Today, 6/25/25)($)

20. DeSantis Signs Hurricane Recovery Law That Preempts Local Land Use Authority

Proponents say it will improve how the state and localities plan before and after natural disasters while helping homeowners to rebuild with clear, streamlined permitting resources. Critics contend that while well-intentioned, the legislation lacks key details and overly preempts local land and growth management. (Florida Politics, 6/27/25)

21. DeSantis Signs Bill Establishing Corkscrew Grove Stewardship District in Eastern Collier

The bill, sponsored by District 82 Rep. Lauren Melo and unanimously supported by the Board of County Commissioners and the entire Collier County Legislative Delegation, establishes an independent special district responsible for overseeing the construction, operations, and maintenance of essential community infrastructure in eastern Collier County. (Naples Daily News, 6/26/25, ($); Gulfshore Business, 6/27/25)

22. DeSantis Signs "Kill the Drill Bill"

Despite overwhelming support in the Florida Legislature during this year's session, there had been fears DeSantis might veto a bill banning fossil fuel drilling in sensitive wetland areas, such as the Apalachicola River basin. (WFSU, 6/27/25)

23. DeSantis Signs Tristan Murphy Act

The Tristan Murphy Act creates model processes for diverting defendants to mental health treatment. The legislation is named after Tristin Murphy, who tragically took his own life in a Florida prison in 2021. (Florida Senate News Release, 6/25/25)

24. DeSantis Signs Live Local Act Amendments Bill

The update to the Live Local Act gives Florida developers freer rein to build residential structures without having to abide by local requirements if they meet certain affordability standards. Last-minute language was added to somewhat restrain construction in and around historic buildings and districts. (Florida Politics, 6/24/25)

Florida Government News: In Other News

25. First Phase of Rail-to-Trail Project Approved, Now Eligible for State Funds

The first phase of the Trail consists of an 11.4-mile unused rail corridor from Wiggins Pass Road in Collier County to Estero Parkway in Lee County that would be converted into a public trail as part of a statewide network. (The Naples Press, 6/27/25)($)

26. Immigration Ruling Appealed

After an appeals court rejected his arguments, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier last week asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step in and at least temporarily allow enforcement of a new law targeting undocumented immigrants who enter the state. If the Supreme Court grants Uthmeier’s request, the state could enforce the law while what could be a lengthy court battle plays out. (Miami Herald, 6/24/25)($)

2026 Election News

27. In the Governor Race

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds has raised $22 million for his gubernatorial bid since entering the race, a sum that dwarfs any of the two dozen rivals in the race, according to his campaign. The fundraising helps cement Donalds' status as the odds-on favorite to win the GOP primary in which he has a priceless asset: President Trump's endorsement. (Axios, 7/1/25)

28. In the Attorney General Race

José Javier Rodríguez, the Miami Democrat who lost his Florida Senate seat to a criminal election conspiracy, is launching a campaign to become Florida attorney general. The Harvard-educated attorney and former Biden administration official said he is running to challenge operatives and corporations that he believes have run amok in the Republican-controlled Capitol, including property insurers and utilities. (Miami Herald, 6/2/25)

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