Today we have a lot of ground to cover — including news about a new Orlando TV show that steered clear of Orlando, Marco Rubio’s latest twitter shot and an orgy that made its way into this week’s Only-in-Florida headlines.
But first, let’s turn to Florida State University where researchers studied more than a decade’s worth of data to conclude that Florida’s main industry is an economic stinker.
And not just any stinker. The stinkiest stinker of all.
The university’s headline: “FSU study finds tourism industry pays lowest wages nationwide.”
Professors with the Dedman School of Hospitality looked at base wages from 2006 to 2018 and found that, while the average weekly wage in America during that time was $710, the average for those in America’s “leisure and hospitality industry” was $311 — slightly higher than minimum wage during the midpoint of the years studied.
The most alarming part was that the disparity is only getting worse.
Researchers found that, for every $1 wages rise over time, tourism wages rise by only 81 cents.
In other words: Tourism jobs pay the worst, yet they’re also losing ground.
Few places in America spend more time or more tax dollars trying to grow tourism than Central Florida — a region that ranks dead last in median wages among America’s 50 largest metros.
The industry still packs a mighty punch. Researchers credited a statewide impact of $86 billion and 1.5 million jobs.
They also noted that the wage tallies reflected only base pay. That means the numbers excluded tips, which can be a big part of service-sector jobs, but also commissions and bonuses, which can be a big part of higher-paying ones.
The study also noted that many hospitality jobs don’t rely heavily on tipping. And even if tips doubled the salary of your typical hotel housekeeper, security guard, desk clerk or fast-food worker (and most don’t), the take-home pay would still be below average.
Researchers pointed out that some industry observers have suggested tourism businesses offer wages that are less tip-reliant by providing higher base rates and charging customers “service-included menu prices.”
They also suggested tourism communities focus on cultivating higher-paying jobs within the sector and investing in other industries when the economy stalls.
The bottom line, said assistant professor Tarik Dogru, is that more people entering the workforce now view tourism jobs as temporary: “They think, ‘I’ll do this job until I find a real job.'”
Orgy crimes?
This week’s Only-in-Florida headlines:
“Florida man reports handgun stolen during orgy at his home” … “Boat captain catches 8-foot Burmese python off Naples Bay” … “Woman arrested with 63 pounds of pot at Tallahassee airport. She tells police it’s not hers” … “Carjacking thwarted because thief couldn’t drive stick shift“
I have to imagine that stolen-handgun-orgy guy was the most reluctant 911 caller in the history of 911 callers.
Orlando-adjacent?
Later this month, Showtime is set to debut a series called “On Becoming a God in Central Florida.”
The dark comedy features Kirsten Dunst, Alexander Skarsgard, Mary Steenburgen — and, obviously, Central Florida.
Except not really.
The show was filmed in Louisiana.
Showtime describes the show as set in a “small Orlando-adjacent town” … which must mean we’re adjacent to New Orleans and Westwego.
This isn’t terribly surprising. Many entertainment productions have left Florida since the state’s film incentives dried up.
Last session, Orlando Democrat Linda Stewart filed a senate bill that would’ve let local communities use a small slice of the hotel taxes on film incentives. (Personally, I’d rather use the money on public safety. Or transit. Or to recruit for truly high-wage jobs. But I’d take film jobs over another wing at the convention center.)
Stewart’s effort, however, never even got a co-sponsor.
Oh, we’re not done
OK, one more thing about the stolen handgun story.
Here was the best line in that piece:
“Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Todd Smith tells The Daytona Beach News-Journal the homeowner couldn’t give detectives the names of possible suspects because the 20 or so people attending the orgy wore masks.”
1-2 punch
1. Tweet from @MarcoRubio: “#Putin bots & trolls are aggressively pushing hashtags on social media promoting Trump & Clinton conspiracies about #Epstein death.”
2. Politico headline: “Trump defends sharing Clinton-Epstein conspiracy theory“
Back to school
On a final note: With kids heading back to the classrooms, I thought I’d share my favorite back-to-school shopping story.
I once went shoe-shopping with my daughter.
We split up in the store for a moment. When she came back, she looked down at the shoes I was putting on with horror and declared: “No. Just … no. They’re bleh. Total ‘Dad’ shoes.”
They were the shoes I wore into the store.
I was putting them back on.
