It is no secret that Florida continues to grow at a breakneck pace..  However, many would be shocked to learn where in Florida is growing the fastest.  According to recent numbers, the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has taken over as the fastest-growing region to move to, with Ocala placing second.

U-Haul published a report based on their company analytics on which area in their market became the most popular to move to in 2023.  According to U-Haul's report that measures one-way movers in U-Haul equipment from last year, Palm Bay-Melbourne ranked fourth.

Over 54% of all one-way U-Haul traffic was arriving in Palm Bay-Melbourne, compared to just over 45% departing, the report found.  U-Haul calculated their numbers by calculating net gain (or loss) of one-way equipment from customer transactions in 2023. Last year, over 2.5 million one-way transactions with U-Haul equipment were recorded.

U-Haul did clarify that these numbers are not meant to reflect population or economic growth. Rather, it's an effective way of seeing how states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents, according to the report.  Suburbs and cities are also clumped together by region to get a general picture of where people are moving in Florida.

"Growth in the Palm Bay-Melbourne area has been increasing at an explosive rate," said Cal Conner, president of U-Haul of Eastern Florida. "The Space Coast has many companies investing in this region and creating jobs such as Embraer, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin and L3Harris Technologies. We have a low cost of living compared to many of the northern cities people have left. Add to that our fantastic year-round climate, and you can see why Palm Bay-Melbourne is such a desirable area to live."

In 2022 Ocala, Florida held the title of the number 1 growing city in U-Haul's market.  But with the emergence of Palm Bay-Melbourne, Ocala has slipped, but stayed in the top 2 growing cities across several states in 2023, outranking cities like Dallas, Texas.

The post Data Finds Palm Bay-Melbourne Fastest Growing Region in Florida appeared first on The Floridian.

**UPDATE—Mayor Levine Cava's office has changed the online press release to read "Israel" and not "Gaza Region" after our story broke

The horrific attack by the Hamas terror group in Israel on October 7th that left 1,400 Israelis, Americans, and foreigners dead, and resulted in the kidnapping of over 240 civilians, has been widely condemned around the world, and by American lawmakers and elected officials, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (D).

Mayor Cava, who is Jewish-American, released a statement through her mayoral office denouncing the Hamas attack as it was still being realized.

“I am deeply shocked and heartbroken at the news of attacks on Israeli civilians and the senseless acts of violence by Hamas terrorists, as Israel celebrated a Jewish holiday,” stated Mayor Cava.”These heinous acts of violence must come to an end to protect innocent lives. Miami-Dade stands with the people of Israel and their right to defend themselves against acts of terror today, tomorrow and always.” 

But while Mayor Cava rightfully acknowledges that Hamas attacked “Israeli civilians,” her office didn't appear to want to acknowledge  the attack was actually carried out in Israel, instead stating that the attack was carried out in the "Gaza region.”

According to the Miami-Dade County government website, it appears that media contact Natalia Jaramillo penned the headline that stated, “Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava reacts to civilian attacks in Gaza region”

“At least 40 Israeli civilians were killed and 740 were injured after attacks in the Gaza region” was the opening sentence in Jaramillo’s release.

Cava's statement was released as the attack was going on.

Again, instead of stating that Hamas entered Israel to kill Israeli civiilans, Cava’s office refers to Israel as the “Gaza region.”

Was this a blatant effort to disregard or refuse to acknowledge the state of Israel by Cava’s office?

Considering that elected officials usually do not write their own public statements, let alone look over a press release before their staff pushes it out, there is a very good possibility that Cava was not aware of how the statement read before it was made public.

In taking a closer look into Natalia Jaramillo, a former activist who appears to have been the author of the press release, she has had a history of making social media statements that could be perceived as being anti-Israel.

In 2014, Jaramillo tweeted a link to a story about how some  business were trying to “Hold #Israel Accountable” followed by the hashtang “#FreePalestine.”

Jaramillo also promoted the pro-Palestine movie, “Where Should the Birds Fly.”

The movie, which is narrated by the film creator and director,  Fida Qishta, casts a dark shadow over Israel, blaming the Israelis for creating Palestinan refugees “forced from their homes by the creation of Israel.”

“The real question is the imprisonment of the people of Gaza. Why the continued occupation of Palestinian land and the massive collective punishment of its people,” said Qishta.

Jaramillo made the tweet when she was a volunteer in the communications office of Freedom Flicks, which is part of the Social Justice Film Collective in the the city of Miami.

The “Gaza region” comment has raised eyebrows in the pro-Israel community.

Both Republican and Miami area  U.S. Reps Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Gimenez,  took issue of the referencing of Israel as the “Gaza region.”

“No. Hamas attacked Israelis in Israel, there is no doubt about that. Even Hamas knows that.,” said Rep. Gimenez. “The Gaza region?  I don’t know what she’s talking about the Gaza region.”

Rep. Diaz-Balart dismissed the statement as well.

“The reality is that there are some that are trying to confuse,” said Rep. Diaz-Blart. “There are some who are looking at ways not to criticize hamas directly or not only recognize, not only right,  but the responsibility to protect itself and its citizens.”

Former journalist and political strategies Fred Menachem, who has been pushing back against antisemitic rhetoric, also took issue with Cava’s office’s “choice to replace Israel with “Gaza Regioj.”

Let me be very clear, while legitimate criticism of the Israeli government is not antisemitic, denying Israel's right to exist is not only blatant antisemitism, it's reprehensible because it puts Jews in direct threat of violence and ultimately it calls for our extermination.  The fact that on October 7, the day of the worst attack directed at Jews since the Holocaust in Israel, that a rogue spokesperson would make the choice to replace Israel with 'Gaza Region' and choose to play 'social justice warrior' while the mass murder was still underway 'boils my blood,” stated Menachem.

Jaramillio has not been able to be contacted for comment

Cava nor her office have yet to respond to The Floridan’s request for comment on whether the mayor would be returning the travel gift she received from the Qatari government when they furnished travel expense for her tirp to Doha, Qatar.

The post Miami-Dade Mayor's Office Says Hamas Attack Occured in 'Gaza Region' Not Israel appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida continues to demonstrate its commitment to America's ally Israel as they battle Hamas. Just recently, eight of Miami Beach's Fire Rescue have volunteered to serve two weeks in the Jewish State as first responders.

X (formerly Twitter) account Israel in Miami posted pictures and footage of the sendoff ceremony presided over by Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, which featured a group of Jewish children singing both the American and Israeli national anthems.

"Today 8 Miami Beach firefighters head to Israel as volunteers to fill spots of first responders now in war against Hamas. CG @ElbazStarinsky thanked the City of Miami Beach," the account tweeted, referring to Consul General of Israel Maor Elbaz-Starinsky.

Today 8 Miami Beach firefighters head to Israel as volunteers to fill spots of first responders now in war against Hamas. CG @ElbazStarinsky thanked the City of Miami Beach @MiamiBeachNews @MayorDanGelber @MiamiBeachFire @CityManagerMB @alexjfernandez @JewishMiami @tbsmbtweet pic.twitter.com/coPr4hRXnG

— Israel in Miami (@IsraelinMiami) November 6, 2023

Additionally, in an interview with WPLG Local 10, firefighter Adonis Hernandez said he "wanted to make a difference, so I came up with the thought of asking our mayor and commissioners if they would support us and a team going to Israel."

Gelber also spoke of how Israel Defense Forces sent a search and rescue team to assist Miami during the Champlain Towers tragedy in 2021, saying the eight currently going to Israel "felt like this was the place they needed to be."

Shortly after Hamas' horrific attack in October, Representative Cory Mills (R-FL) personally flew to Israel in order to aid Americans out of the warzone, successfully evacuating 98 people.

Two weeks later, Rep. Mills met with 159 more individuals evacuated from Israel, saying he was "deeply honored and proud" to see them safely returned home.

Six days after Rep. Mills' rescue mission, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed an executive order permitting "logistical, rescue and evacuation operations to bring Floridians back home and provide important supplies to our valued ally, Israel," which evacuated 300 more Americans.

"I am proud of how quickly we have been able to activate resources and do what the federal government could not – get Floridians and other Americans back home, reunited with their families, free of charge," said Gov. DeSantis.

The post Miami Beach Firefighters Head to Israel as First Responders appeared first on The Floridian.

Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) has issued a statement after 17 Chinese nationals were apprehended in Florida’s 28^th District, the area he represents in Washington.

The 17 Chinese nationals landed in Key Largo by boat. They were undocumented, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

“Florida Highway Patrol and U.S. Border Agents detained 17 Chinese nationals after illegally making landfall in Key Largo - my district,” said Rep. Gimenez. “I’m proud to serve on the Armed Services Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and the new Select Committee on China and have requested additional information from all federal agencies involved. In Congress, I have fought the Biden Administration’s shortsighted border policies that have endangered our country and impacted our South Florida community.”

Moreover, the FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner mentioned that President Joe Biden (D) and his administration have “completely failed at border security.”

“While the Biden Administration has completely failed at border security, our Florida Highway Patrol troopers stand ready to protect the U.S. border, whether in the southwestern United States or here off the coast of Florida,” said Executive Director Dave Kerner. “This detention of Chinese nationals shows how an open border allows individuals from enemy nations to enter our communities.”

In January, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) was – and has been – very vocal about combating Chinese Communist Party (CCP) influence in Florida.

"We want no CCP land purchases. And obviously, they're not going to do it directly, they'll have shell companies, so we're going to have to have a system in place to scrutinize this," said DeSantis.

He asks aloud for what purpose China would be buying so much American land, especially so close to assets such as infrastructure and military bases, in the span of ten years. As such, "we're looking for a flat ban. We're going to work with the Florida Legislature to get that done," DeSantis states.

Moreover, he criticized foreign policy toward China as he believes "American policymakers for a generation have been empowering the CCP. They said it would end up working out, China would become a democracy." Despite these efforts, China "is a very serious threat to our country. Why would we want them to have even more influence over American society than they already do?"

DeSantis received his wish as he signed a bill in May that now prohibits Chinese officials from buying land in Florida.

The post Gimenez Wants Answers Regarding 17 Chinese Nationals Apprehended in his District appeared first on The Floridian.

In the aftermath of the devastating attack led by the Iranian-backed terrorist group Hamas, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) is urging the Biden Administration to to identify and expel foreign nationals on U.S. soil who endorse, support, or participate in pro-Hamas activities.

Last week, the world was paralyzed with disbelief and despair as reports of mass slaughter, rape, and kidnapping conducted by Hamas in southern Israel emerged. This incident has since been described as one of the most harrowing attacks on Jewish individuals since the Holocaust.

Shockingly, pro-Hamas demonstrations surged across the United States, with a noteworthy number emerging from college campuses. The absence of outright condemnation from numerous college administrators has stoked a firestorm of criticism.

In response, Rubio stated, "America is the most generous nation on earth, but we cannot allow foreign nationals who support terrorist groups like Hamas and march in our streets calling for ‘intifada’ to enter or stay in our country."

Legal framework, including 8 USC1182 of the U.S. Code, provides grounds for the exclusion of individuals who engage in, endorse, or persuade others to espouse terrorist activity or support terrorist organizations.

Senator Rubio has announced plans to introduce legislation forcing the Administration to act, even as debates around the ethics and logistics of the proposal unfold. Furthermore, Rubio aims to withhold federal funding from educational institutions permitting activities that could be construed as supporting terrorist agendas.

Rubio also steadfastly rejects any plan to allow refugees from Gaza into the United States. Citing terrorism risks and border security concerns, Rubio asserted, “We are in no position to accept additional refugees, especially from a region with as high a risk of terrorism, given our nation’s inability to secure our own border or vet those who are already here.”

This story originally appeared in the Emet Times.

The post Rubio Demands Pro-Hamas Foreign Nationals Expelled From U.S. appeared first on The Floridian.

In a recent appearance on Fox News, Gimenez delved deep into the nuances of the current U.S. foreign policy concerning Ukraine. While the ongoing debates surrounding President Biden's strategy have been a frequent topic of discussion, Gimenez emphasized not only the immediate implications but also the cascading effects on global alliances.

Rep. Gimenez voiced his reservations about Biden's current stance in Ukraine, articulating, "I'm not crazy about the policy that President Biden is carrying out in Ukraine."

However, he was quick to stress the bigger picture. Highlighting the risk of global perception, he commented, “But for us to abandon Ukraine right now sends a really bad message around the world that America is not a security partner that you can trust.”

While I disagree with the Biden Administration’s strategy, abandoning #Ukraine right now sends an awful message that the US is not a reliable security partner — especially at a time when Communist #China is threatening so many of our allies. pic.twitter.com/9M4n3YT158

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) October 2, 2023

Gimenez's concerns weren't solely focused on Europe. Turning his attention to the Asia-Pacific landscape, he underscored the potential domino effect. "There are countries like Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines," Gimenez noted, "that will be scrutinizing our commitment to Ukraine closely." The underlying message was clear: wavering support for Ukraine might inadvertently push these pivotal nations closer to China's orbit.

In addition to his insights on Asia-Pacific relations, Gimenez touched upon the broader geopolitics at play. He suggested that any perceived inconsistency in U.S. foreign policy could have unforeseen ramifications on its global partnerships. With nations watching and weighing their strategic alignments, the U.S. stance on Ukraine could set a precedent for future alliances and partnerships.

Echoing these sentiments, Rep. Maria Salazar, also representing Miami, conveyed a similar stance in her recent conversation with WLRN. Advocating for continued funding for Ukraine, Salazar stressed the importance of the U.S. showcasing its reliability as a global partner while maintaining pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

She emphasized, “Vladimir Putin could say, OK, look, Biden is pretty weak and Congress abandoned the Ukrainians. Now why don't we try Poland?” Salazar further warned that pulling back support for Ukraine would cultivate “a major, monstrous problem” not only for the U.S. but the global stage as a whole.

The post Gimenez and Salazar: Abandoning Ukraine Will Bolster China appeared first on The Floridian.

On the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) congratulated State Representative Daniel Pérez for being selected as the next Speaker of the Florida House.

Both State Rep. Perez and U.S. Rep. Gimenez graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami.

Rep. Gimenez stated, “I rise today to honor and congratulate State Representative Danny Perez on being formally selected as the next Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Most importantly to me and to all my fellow Explorers, Danny Perez will be the first Christopher Columbus High School graduate to serve as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. Senator Marco Rubio paved the way as the very first Cuban-American Speaker of the Florida House and now Speaker Designate Perez will be just the third Cuban-American to ever serve in that role.”

He finished his remarks by saying that he is looking forward to “continue working with Speaker-Designate Perez.”

“I look forward to continuing working with Speaker-Designate Perez. I am confident that he will continue being a champion for Miami-Dade County, for the State of Florida, and a responsible steward of our taxpayer dollars,” concluded Gimenez. “Adelante Danny, adelante. We are all so proud of you!”

Moreover, regarding the formal impeachment inquiry set forth by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Gimenez recently stated “If I were [President Joe] Biden, I’d be scared.”

Gimenez appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal voicing his support for the inquiry and speculating on how it will move forward.

"I agree with the Speaker's actions. I think there is plenty of evidence there to support an inquiry. And this is what it is, an inquiry: We need to look deeper into the affairs of the Biden family, including the President of the United States. We have to do our Constitutional duty, and if you have evidence that there may have been some wrongdoing, we have to pursue it," said Rep. Gimenez.

He would also bring up the evidence brought forward by House Republicans such as the supposed shell companies set up under the names of various Biden family members, Hunter Biden's time on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma, and testimony provided by witnesses such as Devon Archer.

"So, the President has been caught in a bunch of lies, and we have looked further into it because you know what? This money just did not come from inside the United States. It came from countries outside the United States, countries that are adversaries of the United States, and so that makes it a very serious business. And it is our Constitutional duty to make sure nothing is going on here," Gimenez continued.

The Florida congressman represents the 28^th District.

The post Gimenez Congratulates Florida House Speaker-Designate Danny Perez appeared first on The Floridian.

While coverage of the migrant and border crisis is focused primarily on the U.S.-Mexico border, many migrants also come by sea, Florida being a common destination. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) joined the U.S. Coast Guard to witness what he called "the forgotten invasion."

"In Washington, people are always talking about the U.S. Mexico Border but in a lot of ways what we see here in Florida is the forgotten invasion," Rep. Gaetz told CBS12.

Rep. Gaetz suggested Florida's attractiveness as a destination for migrants is "by virtue of our geography," such as the Florida Straits and the Bimini Passageway.

In October, Vice covered the role of the Bahamas' Bimini Island, which sits 52 miles from Florida, as a hub for human trafficking, with migrants coming primarily from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Additionally, wealthier migrants, some coming from as far off as Asia and Russia, use yachts to blend in with tour boats.

Early in May, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) spoke of his efforts in aiding the U.S. Coast Guard to intercept migrant boats, counting 11,000 repatriations from August to May. However, he noted a Federal response would be necessary to address the issue adequately.

Gaetz similarly criticized the lack of Federal aid, demanding assistance in collecting information and repelling further crossing attempts.

"The problem is that we don’t yet have Department of Defense assets to be able to really integrate not only the intelligence that we gather but the deterrence," Gaetz continued.

In February, Gaetz visited Yuma, Arizona. Witnessing the terrestrial border crisis firsthand, Gaetz slammed the Biden Administration as "intent on turning the border into a turnstile."

"We have an administration intent on turning the border into a turnstile and a Senate that’s not intent on doing much of anything," said Gaetz.

His most recent trip with the Coast Guard comes hot on the heels of Gov. DeSantis' recent Presidential campaign ad addressing the border crisis and calls to end birthright citizenship.

The post Gaetz Meets With Coast Guard on Florida Border Crisis appeared first on The Floridian.

As China continues to seek and establish global dominance, Republicans continue to criticize the lack of response from the Biden Administration, considering the Chinese are in talks with Cuba to establish a spy base on the island. Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) recently appeared on NBC, where he stated Biden "is asleep at the wheel."

"My district is only 90 miles away from Communist #China’s new spy base in Castro’s #Cuba & the Biden Administration has yet to brief me on these disturbing threats to our national security. Communist #China has infiltrated our hemisphere & @JoeBiden is asleep at the wheel!" tweeted Rep. Gimenez.

Rep. Gimenez added he did not find the plans for a spy base surprising since Cuba is the largest threat to the United States in the Western Hemisphere while China is our largest threat worldwide, though he still found it concerning.

My district is only 90 miles away from Communist #China’s new spy base in Castro’s #Cuba & the Biden Administration has yet to brief me on these disturbing threats to our national security.

Communist #China has infiltrated our hemisphere & @JoeBiden is asleep at the wheel! pic.twitter.com/gs4KH6uQSf

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) June 26, 2023

However, Gimenez expressed equal concern for the spread of Chinese influence in South America and the Caribbean.

"But also I'm concerned around our hemisphere. They're in the Bahamas, they control the ports on both sides of the Panama Canal, they have space tracking stations down in South America," Rep. Gimenez continued.

In 2021, The Hill reported on massive investments in the Bahamas made by China, such as the construction of ports on Abaco and at Freeport, along with a highway construction project.

Similarly, the Republic of Panama has acted favorably towards the Chinese, up to no longer recognizing Taiwan and allowing Chinese investment along the Canal.

Finally, Rep. Gimenez referenced the building of a Chinese military satellite station in Patagonia, Argentina, which Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) interrogated Secretary of State Antony Blinken about in late March.

"They're getting close to many other countries in South America and we have been, frankly, asleep at the wheel. We need to wake up to what China is doing not only in Cuba but around our hemisphere," Rep. Gimenez concluded.

The post Gimenez Calls Biden 'Asleep at the Wheel' Against China appeared first on The Floridian.

Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) recently appeared on Trinity's Huckabee, where he briefly discussed his background as the son of Cuban exiles and how he and thousands of others like him appreciate the United States.

"Governor @HuckabeeOnTBN: “I’ve never met a group of people who love this country more, who have a greater understanding of what freedom really means, than the Cuban-Americans from South Florida.” Our community loves #America because freedom made all the difference for us!" Rep. Gimenez summarized on Twitter.

The video clip begins with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee stating he had "Never met a group of people who love this country more, who have a greater understanding of what freedom really means, than the Cuban-Americans from South Florida."

Rep. Gimenez described how his family was "Well off in Cuba" before the takeover of Fidel Castro, yet his parents came to Florida with little else than "Ten dollars and a watch."

Governor @HuckabeeOnTBN:

“I’ve never met a group of people who love this country more, who have a greater understanding of what freedom really means, than the Cuban-Americans from South Florida.”

Our community loves #America because freedom made all the difference for us! pic.twitter.com/OJLlIHImMf

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) April 16, 2023

"Look, we were well off in Cuba. But my father and mother came here with ten dollars and a watch, which I still have, by the way, he gave it to me. And then he started working as a bellhop in Miami Beach. My mom, she's half-American, my grandmother was Irish-American; so she spoke English, so she got a job working as a secretary, and we started building up from there," said Rep. Gimenez.

Gimenez added how his story is not unique and can be replicated "Hundreds of thousands of times," with his wife being one of those examples, having been the daughter of a well-known lawyer in Cuba.

"But my story is replicated in Miami by the Cuban-Americans hundreds of thousands of times. My wife is the same, she came a year later. Her father was an attorney, a very, very reputable family. Her name means a lot in Cuba, and so they started again. Her mother started driving a bus, he became a teacher and later drove taxis and all that, but that story, again, is replicated hundreds of thousands of times," Gimenez continued.

He reiterated that he and the thousands of others like him "know what we left, we know what we lost, and we're very grateful to this country."

"We know what we left, we know what we lost, and we're very grateful to this country, so you'll see that most Cuban-Americans are going to tell you that they love this country. I love this country, I love my town, and I will fight for this country," Gimenez concluded.

The post Gimenez Says Cuban Exiles Have Tremendous Appreciation for the United States appeared first on The Floridian.

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and his administration officially filed a complaint with the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) against the Hyatt Regency Miami for hosting a drag show with children present.

In addition to the complaint, they have also pulled the liquor license of the establishment.

The Floridian initially broke the story of the traveling drag show group. Our report was on the Fort Lauderdale event that gained the attention of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and DeSantis administration and led to the investigation of the Miami hotel which hosted one of their events.

pic.twitter.com/Huhgz1r5yD

— Javier Manjarres (@JavManjarres) March 14, 2023

According to our Publisher Javier Manjarres, these are the events that transpired following one of the events in Miami:

“As a steady stream of alcoholic beverages were being sold to patrons at the James L. Knight Center in Downtown Miami where the event was held, we could not confirm that three of the four apparent minors were underage, but did verify that the fourth was a 12-year-old girl from South Florida.

During the show’s intermission, we caught up with ‘DeAnne’ and her 12-year-old daughter and asked them what they thought about the very funny drag show.

Both mom and daughter were happy to be there, and when we asked them what skit was their favorite, the “Screwdolph the Red-Nippled Reindeer” skit performed by Jimbo the Clown was by far their favorite.

DeAnne, who praised the actor as ‘amazing,’ said that ‘nobody was expecting’ to see that reindeer outfit, which had two large breasts with red lights shining through the nipples.

‘I went to a drag show,’ said the daughter when we asked her what she was going to tell her friends she did over Christmas break,

The daughter is currently in the 7th grade.

The show itself was very funny and entertaining, especially when the actors involved the audience, but should it have been marketed to ‘all ages’ and allowed children to attend?"

Here is our short interview with the mother and daughter:

Shortly following the news break of the event, Gov. DeSantis' Press Secretary Bryan Griffin released this following statement:

Thank you to those who flagged the event for us. Please see the following statement: pic.twitter.com/D8N8a6SPNa

— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) December 27, 2022

This is a developing story.

The post DeSantis Files Complaint Against Miami Hotel for Hosting Sexualized Drag Show With Minors Present appeared first on The Floridian.

Republicans in Congress continue to push for action regarding Cuba. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), a long-time crusader for Cuban freedom, reintroduces the DEMOCRACIA Act in the Senate, while Rep. Byron Donalds, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart introduce its House counterpart.

In his press release, Sen. Scott calls Cuba "the root of instability in Latin America and a constant threat to the national security of the United States." Moreover, in addition to its human rights abuses and harboring of terrorists, Cuba "props up other ruthless dictators, like Maduro in Venezuela and Ortega in Nicaragua while providing a foothold in Latin American for Russia, Iran and Communist China to spread their influence." Moreover, he criticizes the Biden administration's "failed appeasement" and says he must instead "punish the communist regime for its crimes."

As such, this bill imposes severe sanctions on the island dictatorship. The first described is denying entry into the United States to any person who "knowingly engages in an activity with Cuba’s defense sector, security sector, intelligence sector, or any other sector involved in carrying out human rights abuses or providing support for international terrorism."

Additionally, these sanctions will only lift for Cuba if they release all political prisoners, legalize all political parties, establishes a free press, and hosts legitimate elections.

Lastly, the DEMOCRACIA Act will authorize provision of reliable, unrestricted internet to Cuba with "all means possible."

Rep. Donalds is also quoted as saying "this legislation targets the worst abusers in the authoritarian government accountable are their egregious human rights violations against democracy activists and reaffirms our commitment to freedom, liberty, and justice;" adding that "the Cuban people need and deserve the full support of the United States in their relentless and righteous fight for liberation from the Communist Cuban regime."

Similarly, Rep. Salazar says "as the daughter of Cuban exiles, I am committed to fighting against the murderous regime that forced so many of us to flee. The DEMOCRACIA Act will ensure that any foreign company choosing to do business with the Castro regime will be blocked from doing business with the United States. We will not stand idly by as foreign businesses supply oxygen to a brutal dictatorship. The United States must not do business with dictators."

Finally, Rep. Diaz-Balart commends Cuba's dissidents and protestors, calling them "brave pro-democracy and human rights activists" who "continue to face brutality, imprisonment, and repression for simply demanding freedom." Thus, "this legislation will deny resources to the regime’s machinery of oppression, including the Cuban military and state security."

The post Scott, Donalds Introduce New Cuba Sanctions appeared first on The Floridian.

Politics in Miami-Dade County, or as we like to call it, ”Arroz Con Pollo” politics, is not business as usual as is the case in other Florida counties.

Things in the Miami boogie down are done a lot differently. Cronyism runs rampant in Florida’s largest county, and it appears as if a longstanding, unspoken rule to push back against the current and former state-level politicians at the county level is currently playing out.

Miami-Dade County folks like to keep their business and politics among themselves and have tried to block out those they believe would bring in state-level approaches to change the way they cook their ropa vieja.

Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, appears to have shunned the only past legislators on the Commission—Commissioners Rene Garcia, Kionne L. McGhee, and Anthony Rodriguez.

Why?

It has nothing to do with race, creed, or color.

Interestingly enough, Chairman Gilbert passed over veterans Garcia and McGhee for freshman commissioners Marleine Bastien, J.C. Bermudez, and Micky Steinberg.

Here are the committee chairmanship assignments:

Keon Hardemon —Airport and Economic Development

J.C. Bermudez —Community Safety, Security, and Emergency Management:

Raquel Regalado —County Infrastructure, Operations, and Innovations

Marleine Bastien —Housing, Recreation, Culture, and Community Development

Cohen Eileen Higgins—Port Miami

Eileen Higgins— Transportation, Mobility, and Planning

Micky Steinberg—Community Health

In American politics, coincidences do not exist.

Again, why were the only past state legislators not appointed to a committee?

The post Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Shuns Former State Legislators appeared first on The Floridian.

Earlier this week at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), several men expressed antisemitism by posting antisemitic messages as they interrupted a student event. Thankfully, no violence occurred.

The University put out a statement on Twitter stating,  "Florida Atlantic University believes in the freedoms provided by the First Amendment; however, we also denounce antisemitism in all its forms. Although no security threat was identified, Florida Atlantic University Police were in the area to provide security as needed."

Florida Atlantic University believes in the freedoms provided by the First Amendment; however, we also denounce anti-semitism in all its forms.

Although no security threat was identified, Florida Atlantic University Police were in the area to provide security as needed.

— Florida Atlantic University (@FloridaAtlantic) January 18, 2023

Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL-25) responded to the tweet with her  message condemning antisemitism.

"I condemn the antisemitic acts at @FloridaAtlantic and applaud their swift response to address this issue. As antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world surges, we must work together to fight bigotry and hate," stated Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

I condemn the antisemitic acts at @FloridaAtlantic and applaud their swift response to address this issue. As antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world surges, we must work together to fight bigotry and hate. https://t.co/S0kcYhFH4P

— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) January 19, 2023

Similarly, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL-23) says "antisemitism is a virus that has infiltrated our society and our community. The students at @FloridaAtlantic stood up to the face of hatred and countered the attacks on their identity."

Antisemitism is a virus that has infiltrated our society and our community. The students at @FloridaAtlantic stood up to the face of hatred and countered the attacks on their identity. https://t.co/yPdIUlmeWO

— Jared Moskowitz (@RepMoskowitz) January 19, 2023

The night of the event, Rep. Moskowitz also said that "this display of antisemitism and support for Nazi Kanye West is abhorrent as it is ignorant and just plain freaking stupid and pathetic. Thank you @FloridaAtlantic for taking a stand."

This display of antisemitism and support for Nazi Kanye West is abhorrent as it is ignorant and just plain freaking stupid and pathetic. Thank you @FloridaAtlantic for taking a stand. https://t.co/bAQDymNtLV

— Jared Moskowitz (@JaredEMoskowitz) January 19, 2023

The Sun Sentinel describes the group as setting a table at the FAU Breezeway with a banner reading "Ye is Right, Change My Mind," a reference to the flurry of antisemitic comments rapper Kanye West made in December during an appearance on Alex Jones' InfoWars.

Thankfully, it is noted that many FAU students stood against the group, condemning their message peacefully.

Even then, such bold displays of antisemitism are becoming worryingly numerous, not only in the United States but around the world. Florida can nonetheless pride itself in having representatives on both sides of the aisle thoroughly opposed to antisemitism whenever and wherever it manifests.

The post Wasserman Schultz, Moskowitz Condemn Antisemitism at FAU appeared first on The Floridian.

With the border crisis continuing unabated and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continuing to buy American land, the Biden administration does not appear to be acting. As such, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is taking matters into his own hands. In a Wednesday night appearance on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight,"  Gov. DeSantis describes his activation of the Florida National Guard and cooperation with the Coast Guard in intercepting boats from Cuba and Haiti.

Additionally, he tells of his efforts in halting Chinese purchases of American farmland.

Tucker begins by asking for details on how DeSantis is using the National Guard in conjunction with the Coast Guard. "So they've been heavy in this ever since we activated over the last week to ten days," says DeSantis.

DeSantis spares no expense to criticize the lack of support from the Biden administration as he tells Tucker that "basically, Biden is leaving the Coast Guard out to dry."

Specifically, DeSantis describes Biden as "not sending any more vessels, any more support. They don't have enough to intercept all the boats that are trying to come, primarily from Cuba, but also from Haiti."

To make up for this, DeSantis says the Florida National Guard is "out there in the Florida Straits," spotting, marking, and alerting vessels for the Coast Guard to intercept.

More insidiously, DeSantis suspects "some of this is absolutely being orchestrated by the Cuban government. We think that there's a lot of human smuggling going on, so not only is this not good for the Florida Keys to have people dumped on their property, some of these people that are on these boats are being mistreated," he says.

Thankfully, this proactive approach is "working as a deterrent," as DeSantis notes a decline in both vessels in Florida waters and landings on shore. "But it's our sense that they're going to start trying to change their tactics, so we're going to be watching, and we're going to be responding in kind," he adds.

The discussion then pivots to the Chinese and how DeSantis is seeking to stop them.

"We want no CCP land purchases. And obviously they're not going to do it directly, they'll have shell companies, so we're going to have to have a system in place to scrutinize this," says DeSantis.

He asks aloud for what purpose China would be buying so much American land, especially so close to assets such as infrastructure and military bases, in the span of ten years. As such, "we're looking for a flat ban. We're going to work with the Florida Legislature to get that done," DeSantis states.

Moreover, he criticizes foreign policy towards China as "American policymakers for a generation have been empowering the CCP. They said it would end up working out, China would become a democracy." Despite these efforts, China "is a very serious threat to our country. Why would we want them to have even more influence over American society than they already do?"

Finally, Tucker asks if other State governors would have any difficulty in replicating what DeSantis is doing.

"Well the National Guard, we control, we're putting resources," DeSantis answers.

It is here that he really lays it into the Biden administration, as he describes his efforts as "stepping in for the federal government's failings."

He concludes by saying that "I think more states can do it, Tucker, but honestly, we should not have to be doing this. The federal government should be taking care of the immigration issue, and they should be taking care of the CCP issue. But with this administration, we know neither of those two things are going to happen."

The post DeSantis Activates National Guard to Tackle Migrant Crisis, Talks About Combatting China appeared first on The Floridian.

Florida has been more than welcoming to those seeking to benefit from not having a state income tax. In a recent appearance on Newsmax's Spicer & Co., Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL-26) suggested that Elon Musk's Twitter move their headquarters to Miami-Dade, Florida.

"Everyone is moving to the Free State of #Florida and I want @Twitter to be next," Rep,Gimenez..

WATCH @Newsmax:

Everyone is moving to the Free State of #Florida and I want @Twitter to be next! pic.twitter.com/5DYmaw6LDI

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) December 10, 2022

Host Sean Spicer asks Gimenez what the ultimate goal and possible motive of his offer is.

"I'm hoping that Twitter moves to Miami-Dade County," Gimenez answers simply.

"We have a great tech ecosystem, something that I built up while I was the mayor of Miami-Dade County, we have a great, diverse group of people that live here, close to three million people, and better yet, we have diversity of thought. We have Republicans and Democrats and Independents, we're not just of one mindset," Gimenez elaborates.

Gimenez then compares Florida and the Miami-Dade area with Twitter's current headquarters of San Francisco, California.

"I think he [Musk] needs to get out of San Francisco. There's an echo chamber there. Everybody is thinking the same. We don't do that here in Miami-Dade County. That's why it's such a great county, that's why everybody's moving here. That's why everybody's moving to the great state of Florida, the free state of Florida," added Gimenez. "Elon needs to get out of there and come to Miami-Dade. So yeah, I'm serious about it, and hopefully he'll look at it and see what a great tech ecosystem we do have; and we do have talent; and again, what's most important is that we have diversity of thought."

Furthermore, when co-host Lyndsay Keith asks if Gimenez has more to offer, namely in economic benefits, he is quick to say yes.

"We have incentives here in Miami-Dade County that will give tax breaks, we also have incentives from the state of Florida. If you add jobs, it depends on the number of jobs and the salaries and all, and yeah, you can get some tax breaks here. Plus, you have no state income tax here either, so that the employees themselves, they can keep more of their paychecks and keep it in their pockets and not ship it off to a woke state like California where they do all kinds of crazy things. We actually do good things with tax dollars here, when we're led by a good governor, and the proof is in the pudding. We've got something like 800 people moving into the state every single day."

This is not the first time Gimenez has offered a high-profile business to relocate to Florida. In November, he offered Fox News to move from its New York base, even though he knew they would not take up his offer. Perhaps Musk will feel differently.

The post Could Elon Musk's Twitter Move to Florida? appeared first on The Floridian.

Few would disagree that robocalls are a plague. According to Scientific American, 8 billion messages were sent out in 2018 alone. In Florida, Smartbiz Telecom, located in Miami, is enabling foreign robocalls to be routed into the country. As such, Attorney General Ashley Moody is filing a court action against them.

"The defendants helped facilitate the transmission of millions of foreign-based robocalls into the United States," says Moody. She describes how Smartbiz ignored warnings "multiple times," 250 filed by the Industry Traceback Group, to be exact; yet did nothing against them. More alarmingly, Moody alleges that Smartbiz actually profits from the fraudulent messages. This makes them linked to more illegal robocalls than 98% of all companies in the telecommunications industry.

Moody's complaint contains five counts against Smartbiz Telecom. Two are violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Specifically, the first is that it is illegal to use an automatic dialing system or artificial/prerecorded voice. The second is essentially an extension of the first, though the difference is based on residential versus mobile phone numbers.

The third is for violating the Truth in Caller ID Act, while the fourth is violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule. The Truth in Caller ID Act essentially means what it sounds like: it is illegal to knowingly impersonate another caller for the purpose of scamming or harming them. The Telemarketing Sales Rule is that telemarketers cannot engage in abusive or deceptive sales tactics over the phone.

Finally, Smartbiz Telecom is alleged to violate Chapter 501, Part II of Florida's Consumer Protection Statutes. Part II is better known as the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices, which Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) filed his proposed anti-ESG legislation under back in July.

If Smartbiz is found guilty, Moody intends to "shut them down and force them to pay restitution to consumers harmed by scams associated with these foreign-based robocalls."

The post AG Moody Files Action Against Miami Robocall Enabler appeared first on The Floridian.

With 30,000 border crossers encountered in the U.S. in 2022 having criminal records, the crisis along the border continues to bring more bad news to law enforcement.

With the Biden administration's easing of the Trump administration's immigration policies, Republican lawmakers have continued to criticize the President as being soft on illegal immigration.

This is the subject of Rep. Carlos Gimenez's (R-FL-26) recent appearance on Fox Business Tonight.

"The Biden administration worries more about illegal criminals than the American people," Gimenez tweets, adding that "NOTHING this administration does makes sense."

The Biden administration worries more about illegal criminals than the American people.

NOTHING this administration does makes sense. pic.twitter.com/eqMsrOr4QU

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) November 29, 2022

Host David Asman asks the "million dollar question:" For what reason is Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas not pushing to detain criminal aliens who can do Americans harm? Gimenez says, "I haven't the faintest idea." He further ridicules the Biden administration's handling of the border, saying "there's nothing this administration does that makes any sense whatsoever."

"The bottom line, though," replies Asman, "is that Floridians are getting harmed." He asks Gimenez if any of these border crossers have killed anyone in Florida. While Gimenez does not cite a specific case, he says that he is "sure there have been."

However, Gimenez adds that ultimately, "it's a question of, "they've committed crimes here in the United States, we know they're criminals, they are now loose, and they won't be deported."

Gimenez also points out that federal law requires the deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records. Despite this, "this administration seems to think they're above the law."

Asman clarifies that these criminal aliens "are not all loose." By this, he means Florida has arrested some of these people, but detaining them is a costly $130 million. He asks Gimenez if Florida can expect to get any of that money back. Gimenez only says "good luck with that."

He cites his attempt at receiving compensation during his stint as mayor of Miami-Dade County, and postulates that if it costs Florida $130 million to detain criminal aliens for deportation, then nationwide costs are likely well over $1 billion.

"We need to send these criminals, known criminals, back to their country of origin, so they don't put us at risk. But the Biden administration worries more about illegal criminal aliens than they do about the American people."

The post Gimenez Slams Biden for Not Deporting Criminal Aliens appeared first on The Floridian.