Politics
Ron DeSantis moves closer to congressional redistricting
Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to tubthump for a rare mid-decade census and Congressional redistricting, as he maintains Florida should have more seats than it does now.
“I had some people in the (Donald Trump) administration tell me they thought Florida would get like three to five more seats if they did it properly. Like, I haven’t seen that analysis done, but I’ve had people tell me that” DeSantis said in Tampa Wednesday during an event at the Hillsborough Academy of Math and Science.
DeSantis maintains the state is “malapportioned” because the census count stopped in April 2020, meaning that “growth” is not accounted for in the metric, which historically happens once a decade.
Yet whether the census happens or not, DeSantis reiterated that his team is “going to be looking at the pathways to be able to do the redistricting here in Florida” and that he would look “favorably” at efforts from the Legislature to move forward.
What that redistricting might look like is speculation as of now, but DeSantis gave hints Wednesday.
He suggested that there were “some potential problems” in South Florida even under the current map. While they aren’t as “constitutionally defective” as the old CD 5 that presented an “egregious racial gerrymander that stretched from Gadsden County, which is west of Tallahassee, all the way to the city of Jacksonville,” his comments suggest that Democratic incumbents like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz could be targeted if a new map is done.
DeSantis argued that Democratic “Blue States” in fact “overcounted” in 2020 to include “illegal aliens.”
“I think it’s wrong. I think it’s unconstitutional that they’re counted in the census. So there was no way that I was going to devote taxpayer money for that. Even without counting that, we should have gotten at least one more seat,” DeSantis said.
“I mean, just think about it over that period. Now, granted, Florida’s population really took off from the day the census ended closed, I think, April of 2020, which is like the start of COVID, we boomed from there, like never before, but still, over that decade, we did gain population. Are you trying to tell me Oregon and Florida were equal in population gain over that period of time? No, of course not.”
DeSantis said U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick agrees that “the census was flawed” and “Florida did not get the population that it should have gotten.”
He mentioned that so-called malapportionment nationally could have affected the 2024 Presidential Election, giving Kamala Harris a chance to win if the electoral count had gone differently.
“If Harris had just won those Rust Belt states, that would be 270 to 268 if that had happened so that it would have been Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and that would have been a huge crisis for this country because people like me would have said, ‘Well, wait a minute, if you did the census properly, even her winning those three states would not have given 270. Trump would have had over 270 with a proper count, even if he didn’t win any of those states.’ And so we really now, obviously, he won all of them, it wasn’t close. But, I mean, we would have had a constitutional crisis in this country had it ended up settled into that.”
DeSantis’ comments come as Texas already is moving toward redistricting that would benefit Republicans, with states like California and New York mulling countermeasures that would bolster Democratic advantages.
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The horrific shooting in Australia that claimed at least 16 lives during a Hanukkah celebration has prompted an expression of sympathy from Florida lawmakers.
The Florida Jewish Legislative Caucus issued a statement of condemnation of the violence during the Jewish observance on Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The Caucus published its statement Sunday afternoon.
“The Florida Legislative Jewish Caucus unequivocally condemns the horrific and senseless killing that occurred during Hanukkah in Australia. An act of violence against Jews celebrating their faith is an attack not only on a single community, but on the fundamental values of freedom, religious liberty, and human dignity,” the Florida Legislative Caucus said in a news release.
“We stand in unwavering solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters in Australia, with the victims’ families, and with Jewish communities around the world who are once again forced to confront hatred simply for being who they are. The State of Florida’s Jewish legislators join in mourning, remembrance, and resolve.”
The Florida LegislativeJewish Caucus has a dozen members from the House of Representatives and two State Senators.
Hundreds of people had gathered Sunday at the beach for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when gunmen opened fire. At least 38 others were injured in the attack.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park said the death toll had risen from 12 to 16 overnight, including a 12-year-old child. Three other children are being treated in hospital, he said.
“This is absolutely horrendous for the community broadly, but particularly the Jewish community. … What we saw last night was the worst of humanity, but at the same time, the very best of humanity,” Park said.
The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year, although the authorities didn’t suggest those and Sunday’s shooting were connected. It is the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.
One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was arrested and in critical condition, authorities said. Police said one gunman was known to security services, but there was no specific threat.
At least 29 people were confirmed wounded, including two police officers, said Mal Lanyon, police commissioner for New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.
“This attack was designed to target Sydney’s Jewish community,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said.
The violence erupted at the end of a summer day when thousands had flocked to Bondi Beach, including hundreds gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event celebrating the start of the eight-day Hanukkah festival.
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Material from The Associated Press was used in this report with permission.
Behavioral health officials have a list of precautions for Floridians to deal with anxieities heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day.
While the holidays can bring a lot of comfort and joy, the can also be a stressful time and Florida’s health management entities are providing some helpful tips to deal with yuletide anxiety.
There are seven behavioral health managing entities in the state and all of them are aware that stress heading into Christmas and New Year’s Day can seem overwhelming at times. They’re advising balance may be one of the key elements in dealing with the holidays.
“The holidays are a time of joy, but they can also be a time of stress, sadness and triggering situations,” said Natalie Kelly, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities. “Florida’s behavioral health Managing Entities remind Floridians that behavioral health services are available, even to those who are uninsured or underinsured.”
The state’s behavioral health professionals are also providing a list of tips to help come to grips with any holiday tension including:
— Get plenty of exercise. Exercising boosts your mood and combats depression.
— Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol is a depressant that can cause feelings of anxiety, sadness and depression.
— Set healthy boundaries and don’t overextend yourself. Setting realistic expectations can help reduce stress.
— Seek the help of a counselor for mental health needs. If you feel overwhelmed or the need to get help to address your feelings, contact a counselor.
— Call 2-1-1 if needed to connect with resources in your community.
— Call 9-8-8 if you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts.
A mental-health treatment network has been established in the state for providers who deliver services to residents needing help. Those services extend to parents and children, veterans and the homeless.
Providers serve patients for not only mental health needs, but substance use, housing, transportation and employment help. Those managing entities are often overseen by community organizations and administrators and are accountable to state and federal funds.
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