2
Credit: Jeremy Y., FlickrGovernor Ron DeSantis is set to ban thousands of homeless people from setting up camp or sleeping on public property.
Proponents of the bill assert that it will address the issue of homeless individuals residing in public areas and parks, reducing disturbances. Additionally, they contend that centralizing homeless populations will streamline the provision of local services to those in need.
The most visited area in Florida is Orlando, home of Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and hundreds of other tourist attractions. While Walt Disney World Resort, and other theme parks in Orlando are located on private property, their surrounding areas are public.
A very popular area that we have seen statements be made, signs shown, protests held, and more, are just outside the gates of Walt Disney World Resort. The property has multiple entrances, and thanks to the magical arches that greet guests, those standing outside of them have a picture-perfect view of their location.
While Disney can control any homeless activitiy on their property, they are not able to do too much on the public property surrounding them, which is what guests see as they drive into the most magical place on earth. Now, with the new bill being presented to DeSantis, who is in agreement with it, that will never be something that guests would see while on vacation.
As stated by news outlet AP, “Counties, with approval from the state Department of Children and Families, would be able to designate areas for the homeless to camp for up to a year under the bill the Senate passed 27-12 late Tuesday. Anyone using those encampments would be prohibited from using alcohol or illegal drugs.”
Related: Disney Could Side with DeSantis on Social Media Law
“It’s our responsibility to deal with homelessness and that’s why we can’t wait any longer to bring this solution. The current model is not working,” said Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin, the bill’s sponsor. “This bill is a compassionate response to the shortage of shelters.”
“Insufficient shelter beds and insufficient permanent housing solutions result in unsheltered sleeping and camping in public places, places that we want our kids and grandkids to enjoy, like the parks,” Martin said.
Martin said about 30,000 Floridians don’t have a home, and about half of them don’t have shelter.
But opponents said the bill is simply an effort to gather up the homeless and get them out of public view.
Social media account Pubity also shared the news, stating, “Florida lawmakers have passed a bill that will ban homeless individuals from camping or sleeping on public property, pending approval from Governor Ron DeSantis.
The bill allows counties to designate areas for homeless encampments for up to a year, provided occupants refrain from alcohol or illegal drugs. Supporters argue it will centralize services for the homeless, while opponents criticize it as merely displacing the issue without addressing root causes.
The bill defines public camping as residing overnight outdoors with evidence of habitation, exempting those in legally parked vehicles. If signed by DeSantis, it will take effect on October 1.”
View this post on Instagram
On the post, the majority of comments are negative in reaction to the new bill, with many thinking that Florida and DeSantis are just trying to act as if the homeless problem in the state has been eliminated.
Democrats argued the state would provide limited resources to local governments to carry out the measure, potentially exposing the local governments to lawsuits, Click Orlando wrote.
Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, said the measure is “literally reshuffling the visibility of unhoused individuals with no exit strategy for people who are experiencing homelessness.”
“I understand that this bill does not make it illegal for people to sleep in public places,” Jones said. “But rather, it appears to make it illegal for local governments to ignore people sleeping in public.”
At the moment, in the Orlando area, guests not staying in the Disney bubble, aka guests not staying at a Disney resort will likely run into a homeless person while driving around. While this is certainly the “aesthetic” that Disney goes for (as everything is meant to look perfect) DeSantis and Disney, have been at odds for a long time now, ever since the Governor took over the Reedy Creek District and turned it into the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD).
What do you think of this new bill being passed in Florida?