On Saturday night, NBC Nightly News showed a report by correspondent Sam Brock that surprisingly portrayed Florida as an economic success due to its less stringent anti-COVID regulations unlike California and New York, which led many restaurants to relocate to Florida .
On the other hand, no mention was made of the fact that well-administered Florida is controlled by Republicans while California and New York are run by Democrats.
After weekend anchor Jose Diaz-Balart created the report by associating the pandemic with “fuel for the economic boom” in Florida, Brock noted in the previously recorded piece that many companies are “migrating” to the state.
Then there was a soundbite from restaurateur Craig O’Keefe complaining about California regulations: “You know, California, our restaurants are still only open outdoors. The 25 percent and 50 percent hospitality industry, these companies just won’t can.” Stay afloat. Not now, never. “
Brock further linked Florida’s happiness to excessive pandemic regulations in California and New York as he continued:
Craig O’Keefe’s San Diego-based Cliques Hospitalities are finding more fertile ground in Florida where restaurants can open 100 percent indoors. O’Keefe says with five more properties on the way and hundreds of jobs, security and growth can coexist. The lure of various rules has sparked a wave of top New York restaurateurs. From South Beach to Palm Beach. La Goulue has been a mainstay of Manhattan for half a century.
Soon there were clips from New York restaurant owner Jean Denoyer explaining why he had moved to Florida:
JEAN DENOYER, RESTAURANT: It’s a breeze to operate in Palm Beach, very difficult in Manhattan.
BROCK: Was it so difficult that it actually pushed you to leave New York and come to Florida?
DENOYER: Indeed.
Towards the end of his report, Brock told viewers that despite the differences in anti-COVID regulations, there was little difference in the per capita infection rate between the three states. “Florida has reported 1.9 million cases of COVID and more than 31,000 deaths to date, but NBC News shows that despite very different rules, California, Florida and New York City have nearly identical per capita case rates. Better than the majority of the country. “”
NBC focused on cases, not deaths. New York state has more than 47,000 deaths and 245 deaths per 100,000 (second worst in America), far more than Florida’s 146.
This episode of NBC Nightly News was sponsored in part by Prevagen. Your contact information is linked. Let them know that you appreciate such refreshing coverage that exposes much of the liberal media’s call for more pandemic containment.
Transcript follows:
NBC Nightly News
March 6, 2021
JOSE DIAZ BALART: Florida is a snowbird’s haven, but now, during the pandemic, businesses are fueling an economic boom for the Sunshine State. Tonight, Sam Brock, why so many are going south.
SAM BROCK: There are more than 100 restaurants on a busy section of downtown Del Rey Beach, and many – like newly opened Lionfish – are moving in from overseas. Are you making a conscious decision to invest in Florida because something is happening here?
CRAIG O’KEEFE, RESTAURANT: Yes, absolutely. You know, California, our restaurants are still only open outdoors. The hospitality industry with 25 percent and 50 percent ii of these companies will simply not be able to stay afloat. Not now, never.
BROCK: Craig O’Keefes San Diego-based cliques hospitality is finding more fertile ground in Florida where restaurants can be 100 percent open indoors. O’Keefe says with five more properties on the way and hundreds of jobs, security and growth can coexist. The lure of various rules has sparked a wave of top New York restaurateurs. From South Beach to Palm Beach. La Goulue has been a mainstay of Manhattan for half a century. Founder Jean Denoyer has just opened a sister site here.
JEAN DENOYER, RESTAURANT: It’s a breeze to operate in Palm Beach, very difficult in Manhattan.
BROCK: Was it so difficult that it actually pushed you to leave New York and come to Florida?
DENOYER: Indeed.
BROCK: Proponents of this pro-business boom like influential real estate developer Craig Menin were able to push big projects through the pandemic like the Del Rey Market and the upscale Rey Hotel – both of which opened in the coming months. He says there is a transition between industries here, from technology to finance to restaurants.
CRAIG MENIN, MENIN DEVELOPMENT: Selling is so easy that we are discontinued. We don’t recruit. People want to be down here.
BROCK: Florida has reported 1.9 million cases of COVID and more than 31,000 deaths to date, but NBC News shows that per capita case rates in California, Florida and New York City are nearly the same despite very different rules. Better than the majority of the country.
MENIN: And I think it gives people hope that there is a future that is much more normal than we are told in other places where they can live.
BROCK: As America tries to find a way to reopen and restore Florida, Florida is sure to create its own recipe. Sam Brock NBC News, Del Ray Beach.
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