Latest news with #Gossett-Seidman
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DeSantis, business groups in Sarasota tout new law for stricter anti-squatting enforcement
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke from behind a lectern that read 'No Tolerance for Squatting' in Sarasota on Monday as he met with local business leaders and politicians to sign two new anti-squatting bills into law. On the sixth floor of the bayfront Westin hotel, DeSantis said the measures would allow for more consistent law enforcement against squatters and illegal tenants in residential businesses − such as motels. Some advocates have criticized a flurry of such legislation around the country as damaging to poor and homeless communities. 'This provides those property owners with a streamlined process to regain possession of the property that is rightfully theirs,' he said. The two bills – SB 322 and SB 606 – are designed to make it easier for local law enforcement to remove people who are staying on a property they don't own (against the owner's wishes) and for those who haven't been paying their rent or residential fee to be evicted. SB 322's bill analysis says it would create a procedure outside of the courts for the county sheriff to remove 'an unauthorized person from commercial real property.' Both laws will go into effect on July 1. The House sponsor of SB 322, Highland Beach Republican State Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman, told the Herald-Tribune that it wasn't designed to prosecute homeless people who are staying on an empty estate out of necessity. As long as they comply with law enforcement, they won't be charged, she said. Florida's homeless population has fluctuated since DeSantis took office, but since 2021 it has increased by nearly 49% – from 21,141 to 31,462 − according to Florida Health. This has come amid skyrocketing rent and mortgage rates across the state. Gossett-Seidman tentatively said its possible that the state's affordable housing crisis exacerbates squatting, but there wasn't enough hard data on the topic. 'There aren't a lot of numbers and it's hard to keep track of this issue,' Gossett-Seidman said. 'It's all possibly conjecture since this has been an under-the-radar issue.' She referenced a survey by the National Rental Home Council that said Orlando had the third-highest rate of squatters in the state. The National Housing Law Project, an advocacy group of poor communities, criticized anti-squatting laws by state legislatures in a 2024 report. 'Key dangers include the improper removal of rightful occupants from their homes, the potential for arrest or violent interaction between tenants and police, and a heightened ability of landlords to intimidate tenants by threats of non-judicial police eviction," the report said. The group also criticized the council survey for a lack of transparency and called its findings 'unclear beyond what appears in media reports.' The press conference was filled with DeSantis' usual law and order rhetoric, making comparisons between Florida and states like California and New York. One man several rows of chairs back held a t-shirt in his lap that read 'Don't California My Florida.' Attendees included area state lawmakers such as Sens. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, and Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota; State Reps. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota, and Danny, R-Englewood; former Sarasota City Commissioner Erik Arroyo, Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche, and Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman. 'I'm not surprised the Legislature and Governor have turned to the sheriffs to be able to enforce this,' Hoffman said to the audience. 'We're up to the task, and we're certainly going to do that.' The sheriff said his office has conducted nearly 700 evictions a year since he took office. Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@ or christiancasale@ This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis signs anti-squatting bills into law in Sarasota
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DeSantis signs bill protecting Florida's state parks into law
Video: Floridians protest leaked plans to develop pickleball courts at state parks. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the State Park Preservation Act into law Thursday, marking a victory for those who adamantly spoke against leaked plans to build on some of the state's natural lands last summer. The bipartisan legislation, which will take effect July 1, enacts safeguards to prevent developers from building things like golf courses, hotels and pickleball courts within Florida's 175 state parks. Tampa group says there are no graves on controversial property they want to sell The bill doesn't ban all types of development, but going forward, lawmakers said Florida's state parks will be preserved exclusively for conservation-based projects supporting activities such as hiking, kayaking, camping and birdwatching. 'This may be one of the most monumental environmental laws Florida has ever passed,' said Rep. Gossett-Seidman, who co-sponsored the bill. 'Our parks are not for sale — they're sacred public spaces filled with natural beauty that must be protected for future generations.' The legislation was largely a response to massive protests that were organized last summer after outraged Floridians learned of plans to pave parts of their favorite state parks for pickleball courts and hotels. Gov. Ron DeSantis distanced himself from the proposals following the backlash, saying he never approved the plans. The Florida Department of Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) then withdrew the proposed amendments at the governor's request. However, Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart), another sponsor of the State Park Preservation Act, said he wanted to make sure something like that couldn't ever happen again. 'The passage of this bill ensures that our state parks are protected forever,' Harrell said. 'This is democracy at work. The voices of the people have been heard.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida House votes to stop pickleball courts, hotels from being built in state parks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — A bill aiming to protect Florida's state parks from overdevelopment was unanimously passed Wednesday by the state House. The measure received wide support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in a 113-0 vote, according to a release from Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman's office. Egmont Key State Park reopens after months of recovery from hurricanes Gossett-Seidman was among the sponsors who helped craft House Bill 209 in response to overwhelming public outcry last summer against leaked plans to develop pickleball courts, golf courses, and luxury lodges at some of the state's most visited marks. The news sparked protests across the state, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) later withdrawing the proposals at the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Lawmakers hope House Bill 209 will prevent anything of the sort from happening again by placing 'commonsense' limits on certain commercial projects that could potentially threaten native wildlife and ecosystems. The mission is also a personal one for Gossett-Seidman, a Republican who represents District 19. She fondly recalled childhood memories of visiting Jonathan Dickinson State Park, one of the nine parks that was potentially under threat of overdevelopment. 'With my family years ago, we had to throw marshmallows to a large gator always lingering near the canoe livery in order to pass,' Gossett-Seidman said. 'His name was Marshmallow, though this activity would be deemed unlawful now.' Gossett-Seidman and co-sponsor Representatives John Snyder worked with state agencies and environmental organizations to guide the legislation. Now it will go to the Senate, where a similar bill has cleared two committees so far. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
