Ed Hooper in line to get his full ask for Ruth Eckerd Hall

“Ask and you shall receive” might be Sen. Ed Hooper’s motto this Session.

A House budget offer includes $820,000 to repair water damage, undertake certain hurricane hardening, replace or install various flood prevention fixtures and fund other improvements to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

That’s the exact amount Hooper requested. Both the House and the Senate included the funding in their budgets.

The city of Clearwater owns Ruth Eckerd Hall’s facilities, but the organization has a long-term lease with the city and is responsible for maintenance and asset replacements to the property.

Funds would pay for hardening and other improvements.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics