A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis is signing legislation that creates a state framework to get unhoused people off the streets and out of sight, and compels local jurisdictions to foot the bill for what a sponsor called a “carrot and stick” approach and a “Florida model” for dealing with the problem.
HB 1365, sponsored by Republican Sen. Jon Martin and Republican Rep. Sam Garrison, requires local jurisdictions to pick a piece of public property and wrangle people who are camping or sleeping in public spaces toward that location.
The Governor says the bill will keep streets “clean” and “safe” for residents.
“We have to govern this state and our communities with an eye towards what’s in the best interest of the law-abiding citizen, what’s in the best interest of families who are trying to raise kids, what’s in the best interest of our seniors who are here to retire. That’s what it’s got to be,” DeSantis said, framing the legislation as a “quality of life” issue.
DeSantis compared a California city to one in Northeast Florida to illustrate his point.
“San Francisco is actually slightly smaller than the city of Jacksonville, yet San Francisco’s homeless problem has cost their taxpayers $1.1 billion in 2022 alone. That’s almost 80% of Jacksonville’s entire city budget,” DeSantis said, slightly underselling Jacksonville’s $1.75 billion General Fund budget to make his point.
Sen. Martin said the “cutting edge” bill “shows we can walk and chew gum at the same time,” and contended the bill offers state “help” without micromanaging extant homeless service organizations.
“We can do better. We can synergize. We can put everybody in one place. Not just the homeless, but the non-profits that are helping,” Martin said.
Rep. Garrison described “great cities” elsewhere “brought to their knees” by the homeless problem, which assails “civic pride” in those municipalities that have “embraced comfortable inaction.”
The bill, passed by an 82-26 vote in the House and a 27-12 vote in the Senate, would ban counties and municipalities from permitting public sleeping or camping on public property without explicit permission.
It also compels these localities to round up the homeless and put them somewhere. Local camps must include clean restrooms, running water, security on premises and bans on drugs and alcohol.
Furthermore, these camps can’t be permanent, but must be moved every 365 days.
Democrats noted that the bill presented an unfunded mandate. DeSantis’ worry, apparently satisfied by the legislation’s final form, was that he didn’t want “Sodom and Gomorrah” style homeless camps.
Criticism came in from familiar voices as the bill was being signed.
“Every Floridian deserves the freedom to be healthy, prosperous, and safe, but Ron DeSantis would rather ban homelessness to cover up for his lack of solutions to the real issues facing his constituents that he refused to address as he focused on abandoning the state he was elected to serve during his disastrous bid for the presidency,” claimed DeSantis Watch.
38 comments
ScienceBLVR
March 20, 2024 at 10:53 am
It also compels these localities to round up the homeless and put them somewhere.. Go DeSantis Go!
I just spent 60 days in the jailhouse
For the crime of having no dough
Now here I am back out on the street
For the crime of having nowhere to go
Save your neck or save your brother
Looks like it’s one or the other
Oh, you don’t know the shape I’m in…
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 20, 2024 at 6:27 pm
Thank you Bill Nye The Science Guy,
Ron, “THE RONALD’S” Sage Homeless “RESCUE PLAN” is being haled by all communitties Nation-Wide as the “Best Way Ever” to handle the 8iden-Nomics curse of Homelessness From Sea To Shining Sea.
Gaven Poosome out there in Dook-A-Fornia was quoted as saying: ” Dang Why Diddent I Think If That ….. It’s “REALLY SAGE”.
Thank you Bill Nye The Science Guy,
Earl Pitts American
It's Complicated
March 20, 2024 at 11:05 am
The ban on drugs and alcohol will be a rub for many homeless people relative to these local government camps, because substance abuse is part of their problem. Many local governments will be in a position of arranging transportation to/from camps, too, because people willing to follow the rules won’t pitch a tent there if it is difficult to access, and absent a plan to move people, local law enforcement will become the default homeless ride to camp. There is no perfect solution to homelessness, particularly given the fact that many people on the street are there by choice or mental illness, but this is a step in the right direction.
rick whitaker
March 20, 2024 at 1:45 pm
it’s complicated, so you are placing some faith in desantis ‘ law turning out positive, and in the right direction. you are so christian and gullible. everything desantis touches breaks.
It's Complicated
March 20, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Always nice to hear from Florida Politic’s own anti-Christian Boomer Bigot.
rick whitaker
March 20, 2024 at 5:38 pm
you goddamn right i’m an anti-christian. if you were a student of history and knew of the track record the christians have always had, then you would be anti-christian too. but christians don’t need facts, history, logic, rational, or anything but faith to guide them. if you only knew how stupid that makes you look. a grown person believing in fairy tales and then infecting their children and world with the disease of the lies they call take it on faith truths. i am a boomer and a christian hater, but bigot, no. the definition of bigot is one who regards members of a group with hatred and intolerance. i hate maga cultist, but i tolerate them. nazi are hated as a group and not tolorated.to reject a group for it’s negative traits that you perceive, is called voting, not bigotry. i notice that christians commonly come down on people that hate them. how christian of them.
It's Complicated
March 21, 2024 at 4:12 pm
I apologize for inciting you. Your hatred renders you incapable of reading comments objectively and resisting the urge to respond with ad hominem and straw man attacks.
Jack Meoff
March 22, 2024 at 6:16 am
You sound very hateful. Sad. Just remember, God loves you, and will forgive you if you turn away from your hateful ways.
Nazis Are All Christian
March 22, 2024 at 6:30 am
Nazis, Klansmen, the Crusaders.
All Christian terrorists.
Josh Green
March 21, 2024 at 1:03 pm
Anti-Christian is ok with me.
Most “Christians” are actually despicable people.
Church Of Terror
March 22, 2024 at 6:31 am
💯
rick whitaker
March 21, 2024 at 8:15 pm
it’s complicated, you got me all figured out. i bow down to your vast superiority. you didn’t incite me. that’s presumptuous on your part that i even care, much less become incited by anything concerning you. you are clueless. how can a christian like you use the word objective. take it on faith, huh
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 20, 2024 at 6:30 pm
Thanks Rick,
Its great that you also reply to other posters because that way everyone will forget that you are working for me.
Keep up the Great Work Rick,
Daddy Earl
rick whitaker
March 21, 2024 at 8:19 pm
WARNING TROLL COMMENT BY EARL SHITS ” THE BIG MOUTH ON THE BITE ” UN-AMERICAN
Ken Giudice
March 20, 2024 at 11:30 am
And here come the Hatians!!!!
IronY
March 20, 2024 at 12:24 pm
What is the #1 cause of Homelessness in US?
DRUGs
68% of U.S. cities report that addiction is a their single largest cause of homelessness.
What is the #2 cause of Homelessness in the US?
ECONOMY
Look no further than the White House and the Great Lies of ‘Go Green’, ‘DEI’, and ‘Bidenomics’.
Biscuit
March 20, 2024 at 4:43 pm
Addiction to alcohol and/or drugs is a leading symptom of mental illness, not a cause of it. And if you really believe homelessness in the U.S. started with Biden, I have a used cat I’d like to sell you. Name’s Fluffy, 18 years old, does back-flips on command. Only $699 — It’s the best deal you’ll ever get.
Arf.
Jack Meoff
March 22, 2024 at 6:20 am
This is true. Most long-term homeless folks have a combination of mental health and substance abuse issues. Homelessness exploded during the Clinton administration and has continued to get worse ever since.
Dr. Franklin Waters
March 21, 2024 at 3:23 pm
Well there it is. The dumbest thing i’ve read all week.
Linwood Wright
March 20, 2024 at 12:39 pm
Put them all on buses and send them to the governors mansion in Tallahassee.
rick whitaker
March 20, 2024 at 1:46 pm
linwood, great comment
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 20, 2024 at 6:37 pm
My Man,
Excellent lefty followup to that Dook 4 Brains Lefty with the “Fake Name” Linwood!!!
Honestly, “Lets name our kid “Linwood”, said nobody!!!!!
Great job Rick,
Earl Pitts American
Earl Camps Under The 312 Brodge
March 21, 2024 at 5:05 am
Earl, you’re only mad because you’re one of the homeless who is affected.
Earl Pitts is a Pedophile
March 21, 2024 at 10:38 am
Stop replying to Earl. He’s a convicted child rapist. (link is in my user name)
He belongs in prison or (preferably) in the ground.
Jack Meoff
March 22, 2024 at 6:22 am
Earl is a democrat?
rick whitaker
March 21, 2024 at 11:10 am
earl, let’s name our kid billy purser. billy purser, that’s got to be a fake name. earl, billy, gary, or whoever the fuk you are, you are known to me as: EARL SHITTS “THE BIG MOUTH ON THE BITE” UN-AMERICAN.
Old geezer
March 20, 2024 at 7:34 pm
Linwood wins the comment prize of the day
Ima Person
March 22, 2024 at 3:08 pm
😁😁😁Hahahaha! Perfect! Will you be our governor?⁉️
Ima Person
March 22, 2024 at 3:10 pm
That was for Linnwood by the way.
Dont Say FLA
March 20, 2024 at 1:46 pm
If homelesses are such a problem, maybe Rhonda should talk to the CEO types who keep virtually all the company profits for themselves. for being such good boys and doing such a good job, albeit at zero personal risk: Their houses aren’t the houses on the line. Those are the workers’ houses that are on the line, totally dependent on the CEO’s ability to do their job and create new profit versus slashing and burning to take profit away from cost.
The Insurance industry would be a great place to start talking to CEO types.
MH/Duuuval
March 20, 2024 at 8:31 pm
Yeah, like the media mogul who paid $22 million In cash for an oceanfront estate in Ponte Vedra. (How many other manses does he own and in what parts of the globe?)
Dont Say FLA
March 21, 2024 at 7:54 am
Was that former media mogul, now in X-ile, Cucker Tarlson? Or another loooooooser?
tom palmer
March 20, 2024 at 3:39 pm
@linwood Tallahassee seems the place to ship the problem. Better than Hyannis Port
My Take
March 22, 2024 at 3:12 am
Before the pandemic I used to walk or exercize around a nice safe (security guards several government buildings) parklike area in the evenings. Lots of park benches, lots of homdoneless on them. Where they slept I don’t know but it must have been close. Seeing the same people night after night Ii got to know some a bit. They weren’t drinking. No sign of drugs. No obvious hint of mental difficuties (e.g., friendly demeanor, good humor, were obvious friends with other unfortuates) And they were employed!! Scratching-by service or trade jobs to be sure, but regular. The pandemic kept me from ever getting to know them better to find out how seemingly normal people end up on the sreets
Earl Pitts "The Big Voice On The Right" American
March 22, 2024 at 6:48 am
Good Morn ‘Ting Dook 4 Brains Leftys,
Happy Friday and some quick Sage advice from Earl:
EARL PONTIFICATES WITH SAGE WISDOM:
Relax your sphincters and submitt to “The Sage Wisdom of Earl”. It will only hurt for a few minutes then you will love it.
Thank you America,
Earl Pitts American
rick whitaker
March 22, 2024 at 7:45 pm
earl, isn’t your post the exact words of a child molester? ” you will love it ” and “relax your sphincter (anus ) “, come on you old fool, check in for mental healthcare. one day some enraged parent of a child will blow you away.
KathrynA
March 22, 2024 at 9:53 am
The governor and the legislature just springs these on Florida counties to suddenly buy land and develop it and given only $30 million to divvy among all these cities and counties and have it up and running in 6 months. And then, find another place a year later to do the same thing. They want shelters to take in more people, but all have been full to capacity and more for years. Perhaps, they should be talking to the shelters doing things the right way and figure out how to help them grow and serve more people and provide mental health counseling, help with drug addiction and job training. This is brushing it off the state and giving the counties and cities little money and time to figure this out. Mercy!
Ima Person
March 22, 2024 at 3:16 pm
Whatever happened to local control!??! Child homelessness has skyrocketed in the last 5 years. One can only assume their parents are with them. Where will the children who don’t get aborted go? What happens to them? Anybody thought about that and I do not want to get into a right to life conversation or argument. Let’s assume things stay as they are and all of these women who would have aborted now have the children 9 months later and don’t want them. The numbers are astounding. I don’t remember them but I will look for them and share. I have not heard any discussion of what will happen to these children?
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