* “A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.”–Thomas Paine.
* “It is clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris.”–NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
* “I get called Uncle Tom and the N word by progressives. I know first hand our healing is not finished. Hear me clearly. America is not a racist country.”–South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the lone black Republican senator.
* “If there were no bad people, there would be no good lawyers.”–Charles Dickens.
* “When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else.”–Science fiction author and NASA consultant David Brin.
* “We expect to continue to see strong leisure travel demand in Florida throughout the summer, especially now that all adults are eligible for vaccinations. The desire to go to the beach doesn’t seem to be waning. … We’ll have to wait and see whether conventions and business meetings happen in person at that time.”–Chelsea McCready, director of hospitality market analytics at CoStar Group.
* “This (Supreme Court) didn’t take up this case without a plan to pull the trigger. It’s a safe bet that it is not hearing a Second Amendment dispute for the purpose of limiting gun rights.”–Ruth Marcus, Washington Post, on the Court’s announcement that it will (next year) be taking up a case involving a New York state law that requires residents to show “proper cause” or need in order to receive a concealed carry permit.
* “Cruise ships have motors, propellers and rudders, and God forbid we can’t operate in the state of Florida for whatever reason (including disagreement over requiring vaccination proof), then there are other states that we do operate from.” Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
* “To the governor and his allies who supported an extremist agenda, this will be considered a very successful legislative session. For the rest of us here in Florida, not so much.”–State Rep. Ben Diamond, D-St. Petersburg.
* “The legislative session: It was all theater. It was all appealing to the Fox News crowd. … I’m disgusted and am concerned. … Our governor claimed that he had many policy successes this session. Well, I would say he actually had many pandering successes.”–Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz.
* “This is Tampa’s time right now. … Tampa is really set to be the gateway for all of Southern Florida.”–Renowned hotelier Ian Schrager, whose Tampa Edition Hotel is partnering with Marriott. It’s slated to open on Water Street Tampa early next year.
* “Can you imagine if each city (including St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Miami Beach) had been led by Ron DeSantis? How many lives would have been lost? What would our economy look like today?”–St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman.