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To the editor:
Most political pundits say Ron DeSantis is most likely to succeed Donald Trump as the 2024 GOP standard-bearer. I know a little bit about Florida under DeSantis. I am not talking about his war on “woke”; I am talking about everyday governance, bread and butter issues.
My wife and I winter in Southwest Florida, at a home we own. EVERYTHING costs more in Florida than at our Upstate New York home. Property taxes are nearly $2,000 a year higher on equally assessed homes. Auto insurance for four months, on one car, is roughly the same as it is for two cars the remaining eight months. Home insurance was four times as much, before Hurricane Ian; rates are expected to double this year. We pay more for trash disposal and utilities for half as much time.
The differences in life quality don’t end there. Traffic safety, part of my career’s work, is nonexistent in Florida. In October 2022, digital media news outlet The Capitolist reported that Florida has the nation’s fifth-deadliest roadways; New York ranked 41st. Walking is even worse. Smart Growth America’s “Dangerous by Design 2022” study found Florida is the second-deadliest state for pedestrians, with seven of the nation’s 20 worst cities. Driving or walking, you are two to three times more likely to die in Florida than in New York.
As for crime, just watch the local news — WINK in my area. The hourlong broadcast resembles a police blotter. According to the FBI’s 2019 Uniform Crime Report, Florida ranked tied for 22nd worst in gun deaths with 13.4 per 100,000 people ; by contrast, New York ranked third-best, with 4.1 firearm deaths per 100,000.
I served nearly 30 years under New York City mayors from Ed Koch to Mike Bloomberg and Governors Hugh Carey to David Patterson. Ron DeSantis is the worst public administrator I have ever seen. He may check off the talking points some relish, but, as the person responsible for keeping the lights on, DeSantis can’t even find the switch.
Joseph Cannisi
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krell1349
This is on point. What are DeSantis's policy positions? He has NONE!!! What is he going to do for the American people? NOTHING!!! He's running on a silly woke agenda. Also, there's plenty of crime in Florida, don't kid yourself. What is he doing about that? And don't forget about homeowners insurance, soon no one will be able to afford it and live in Florida. The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence. He won't even talk to the press and answer the hard questions. Banning of books? This is how autocrats get into power, by not having an educated population. I could go on and on....
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Report this
ROSS_BALAGULA
Interesting, but did I miss a huge waive of migrAtion from FL to NY since Covid? No, wait, it was from NY to FL, and that’s all you have to know.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Report this
nickt02ls
Just wondering for some clarification, when you say upstate NY where exactly??? And your home in Southwest Florida, again where exactly??? Many of NY area's are very costly, more than most places in Florida except exclusive areas. Nowhere will be perfect, but maybe compare cities closer to NYC when comparing cost of living and compare to cities like West Palm Beach. https://www.bestplaces.net/cost-of-living/new-rochelle-ny/west-palm-beach-fl/83000 AS for other items you speak of some areas according to where in NY will be on top, and according to where in Florida they will be on top. As I see in a lot of places area's change by short distances.
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 Report this
reenjoe
For those who asked for a direct comparison of cities check Realtyhop which ranked Miami as the nation's least affordable city, ahead of L.A. (2nd) and NYC (3rd). As for the Covid migration that was about New Yorkers who wanted to escape masks and vaccine mandates, not cost of living, dying on a road or being shot. If you really believe NYC is more dangerous that Miami, Jacksonville or Orlando, think again. Go check FBI data not Facebook. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report NYC had 3.8 murders per 100K population in their latest report. Orlando had 8.3 murders per 100K, Miami/Miami Beach had 8.55 murders per 100K and Jacksonville wins the prize with 14.33 murders per 100K residents.
If you don't want to wear a mask during a pandemic, Florida is the place for you. If you want to reduce the risk of being killed by a gun or a car, not so much.
Thursday, February 23, 2023 Report this
bigern36
Umm, upstate NY? Really? And you are trying to pass that off as NYC in your comparison? Let’s put your politics aside and let the people decide. Oh wait. They did, and do, every day. New Yorkers run to Florida, en mass. Not the other way around. Yourself included. It’s not just the sunshine causing this. New Yorkers pay for wasteful spending. Now we are hit with an unsustainable burden of housing people who are here illegally. Desantis runs a great state well.
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Report this