Climate Change is real and we’re too late to stop it. It’s time to talk about resiliency.
Florida has stared down the threat of hurricanes for its entire existence. Our state’s unique peninsular shape and location at the intersection of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean makes it a susceptible target to extreme weather from the sea. Still, we love living here because the weather is warm, the beaches are beautiful and taxes are low.
Unfortunately, the reminders of climate change have become more frequent. Hurricanes are packing way more power because the ocean waters are warmer. We see algae blooms (red tides) at the beaches in Naples frequently, making it impossible to swim. The lives of fishermen are damaged because delicate marine ecosystems are crumbling. Only the truly delusional members of the MAGA cult could look around Florida and think that everything is fine.
And yet, Governor DeSantis has decided that the best way forward is to pretend that climate change doesn’t exist. It is heartbreaking to see this response from the leader of our state, considering the death and destruction that hurricanes have brought to our shores. Since 2016, hurricanes have caused more than $150 billion in damages and over 300 deaths. The response from Tallahassee needs to be about solutions, not burying our collective head in the sand.
We are at the point as a society where we need to transition to a conversation about climate-resilient infrastructure. Fortunately, the people at Babcock Ranch have started moving in the right direction. This new planned community on the Gulf Coast has structures built to withstand 150 mph winds and has solar farms with underground transmission to mitigate power loss. It has a plan for 22,000 home units, two schools, parks and commercial space. Over 2,000 people sought shelter at Babcock Ranch during Hurricane Milton, and though there were some downed trees, the community never lost power and did not suffer any substantive damage.
Florida needs more of these communities, and they need to be made affordable for all Floridians. The average purchase price of a home at Babcock Ranch is higher than the average home elsewhere in the state, but when you factor in the hundreds of billions of dollars in damages that we owe due to past hurricanes, the state should be willing to step in to subsidize the development of more communities like Babcock Ranch. It would surely help our insurance rates, which skyrocket because of shameful housing development practices.
If elected, I will bring forward legislation to move Florida in the direction of climate-resilient infrastructure. It will reduce insurance costs, encourage insurance companies to return to Florida thanks to better development regulations, save the state money due to less destruction, and limit lives lost in natural disasters.
I look forward to your support in this election.
