Florida homeowners want property tax relief. But could lowering one tax make rent more expensive and put local services under pressure?

What happens when counties lose millions in revenue—and who ends up paying the difference?

On this episode of Direct with Dana, host Dana Brooks sits down with former Leon County Commissioner Brian Desloge to examine Florida's proposed Amendment 3 and its potential impact on homeowners, renters, businesses, and local communities.

Brian draws on his experience in county government to explain how the proposed homestead exemption increase could affect local budgets. He discusses a projected $70 million annual revenue loss for Leon County, possible changes to property tax rates, and concerns about funding for first responders, parks, libraries, and animal shelters.

Dana challenges Brian with the questions everyday Floridians are asking: Why can't government simply spend less? Why should homeowners pay for services they don't use? And could property tax relief end up shifting costs to renters and businesses?

In this episode:

• How the proposed property tax amendment works
• Why homestead and non-homestead properties matter
• The potential impact on rent and commercial property
• How counties fund emergency services and public facilities
• Whether local governments can cut spending instead
• Alternative approaches to property tax reform
• 
  

The discussion also explores Florida's property insurance challenges and the importance of understanding local budget impacts before making decisions at the ballot box.

Have a question about Florida property taxes? Share it with us!

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#DirectWithDana #FloridaPropertyTaxes #Amendment3 #PropertyTaxRelief #FloridaHomeowners #FloridaRealEstate #HomesteadExemption #LocalGovernment

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American politics feels angrier, louder, and more divided—but did voters actually become more extreme?

Dana Brooks sits down with longtime political insider Steve Burtman to talk about what happened to the political middle and whether our parties still represent everyday Americans.

Steve, president of the Capital City Tiger Bay Club, brings decades of experience in Florida politics, government affairs, business, and advocacy to a wide-ranging conversation about the changing Republican and Democratic parties.

Dana and Steve dig into political polarization, MAGA and the changing GOP, the progressive movement on the left, why outrage gets rewarded, the influence of PAC money, third-party politics, immigration, political discourse, and why so many moderate voters feel politically homeless. They also discuss whether people are actually nastier than they used to be—or whether social media simply gives our worst political instincts a bigger microphone. And they explore why organizations like Tiger Bay could help bring people back into face-to-face political conversations.

If you're tired of political shouting matches and want a smarter conversation about where American politics is headed, this episode is for you.

Keywords: American politics, political polarization, Democratic Party, Republican Party, MAGA, moderate voters, independent voters, third party politics, Florida politics, Tallahassee politics, PAC money, elections, political discourse, Capital City Tiger Bay Club

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Gary explains his unconventional journey from baseball at Florida State to live television, elected office, The Usual Suspects, award-winning production, and the advertising strategy he developed with Fasig | Brooks. He shares why “the camera believes you or it doesn’t,” why quiet messaging can cut through a noisy marketplace, and why getting consumers to know, like, and trust you can matter more than shouting about results.

Dana and Gary also get personal about his son Zachary and the profound impact he had on Gary’s life and creative perspective. Then they dive into today’s political landscape: the power of moderate voters, the rise of political extremes, why negative campaigning works, and Gary’s once-controversial idea to combine Leon and Wakulla counties.

Topics include Tallahassee politics, political campaigns, advertising strategy, personal injury law marketing, storytelling, media production, Emmy-winning work, writing, authenticity, and building consumer trust.

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