Tallahassee, Fla.—-While Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was carrying out his personal agenda in which the state legislature approved his Don’t Say Gay Bill, a controversial redistricting map that diminishes the voting power for Blacks and stripping Disney of its self-governing power, a group of Democrat lawmakers blasted him for ignoring two issues that have far more impact on Florida residents.

The group of Black Florida Legislators including State Representative Dotie Joseph (Miami-Dade County), and State Representatives Fentrice Driskell (Hillsborough County) and Anna Eskamani (Orange County) said during a press conference after the special session ended that DeSantis never addressed Florida’s housing crisis of skyrocketing rents and out of reach homeowners insurance rates during the regular 2022 Legislative Session and the special session.

The Democrat lawmakers urged the Republican governor to declare a state of emergency for the housing crisis and expensive homeowners insurance rates and tackle both issues.

Rent costs in Florida have increased 30 percent compared to last year, the highest in the nation, forcing people who can’t afford the new rates to move elsewhere or out of the state or into homeless shelters.

Some people are sleeping in their cars with their children.

The state representatives also critized U.S. Senators from Florida Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, both Republicans, for voting against programs that would help senior citizens affected by the affordable housing crisis and not addressing the homeowners insurance crisis.

Joseph said the rising costs for rent could drag down the state’s economy and DeSantis put his own political agendas ahead of responding to the ongoing crisis.

She said the federal government’s American Rescue Plan to help people who are behind on their rent due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is only part of a solution.

Joseph said the rent rates will soar each year unless the state and federal governments step in and resolve the issue.

“Democrats at the federal level have decided that they want to respond to the needs of our constituents," Joseph said during a press conference. "So they are using those American Rescue Plan funds to help expand the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which for the first time will help those whose rent increased.

Make no mistake, the affordable housing crisis is affecting Democrats and Republicans alike, but the people- the GOP in control, they don’t care.

The Florida senators that we have elected at the federal level, consistently put their own political agendas ahead of the needs of Floridians."

The state House and the Senate never offered a bill to resolve the problems this year and DeSantis avoided the issues that affect millions of Florida residents.

Instead, he pursued his own personal agenda with the Don’t Say Gay Bill and the contentious Congressional redistricting map which already drew its first of many lawsuits to overturn the legislation.

After Disney denounced his Don’t Say Gay Bill, DeSantis retaliated and got the Legislature, which voted along party lines, to pass his bill to strip the company of its self-governing power including providing infrastructure and fire rescue service and tax status.

According to reports, Disney is mulling taking legal action against the bill, which could lead to higher taxes for Florida residents if it remains intact.

After DeSantis became a lightning rod for criticism for his bills, one powerful Black leader supports him and his efforts to reduce Black political representation and punish Disney.

T. Willard Fair, long time president of the Urban League of Greater Miami, said he supported the new congressional map and stripping Disney of its self-governing power. While Democrats see the redistricting map as diminishing the power of the Black vote, Willard said he disagrees.

He said the new congressional map benefits all races and party affiliations, but Black leaders make the issue to be about Black and white.

"I don’t wrap everything in race," he said. "I’m smart enough to look at the new map and see it’s in the best interest of the entire community. I’m not a politician but if I was, I think the map is in the best interest of my constituents who are Black people, Republicans, Democrats and Independents.