South Florida's "Billionaire Bunker" leaned on lawmakers in sewage dispute

Why it matters: The ultra-wealthy have in recent years encroached into politics ever more forcefully, influencing policy both at the federal and state level, including in Florida.

• The outcome of the Indian Creek sewage debate shows the growing influence even in hyper-local municipal issues, per the New York Times, which first reported on the dispute.

Catch up quick: A 2018 analysis found that the majority of the island's septic systems were "vulnerable to failure," the Times reported. It has been under pressure to prevent them from continuing to leak waste into Biscayne Bay.

• So leaders recently proposed that the island "export waste through the sewer pipes" of Surfside.
• Surfiside, though, said it would charge $10 million to accept the waste.
• The island's leaders took the issue to Tallahassee, paying less than $10,000 for a lobbyist to get language into a bill that would favor it, the Times reported.

State of play: Under the new law, Indian Creek would be allowed to run pipes under Surfside, connecting to a line owned by Bay Harbor Islands.

What's next: Preliminary testing to prepare for the eventual connection is set to begin next month, reported the Times.