Special Reports for " Urban and Suburban" Florida: Cloudy Days Ahead? THE WORLD & I's annual look at one of America's major states takes us to Florida, whose image of sunny prosperity is shadowed by three key social concerns: crime, education, and immigration. Courtesy Florida Dept. of Commerce  Uncertain future? Behind the idyllic tourist image of Florida are significant social problems. Introduction At first and even second glance, Florida seems to be a paradise, with near-perpetual sunshine, low taxes, over 8,000 miles of shoreline, ... Economic Pluses and Minuses Faced with tough competition from other states in the Southeast, Florida is taking action to make its business climate more appealing. ... The Three Big Social Issues Floridians cite crime, education, and immigration as their major concerns. ... An American Microcosm From virtually a one-party Democratic stronghold in the 1970s, Florida has become a highly partisan-competitive state. ...