On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made stops in the Northeastern United States to promote tougher laws on crime and to speak at an event in Annadale, Staten Island, which was sponsored by the state Fraternal Order of Police.[0] During his speech, he condemned New York’s bail reform law and criticized politicians who put “woke ideology ahead of public safety”.[1]
DeSantis’ visit to the Northeast caused a backlash from Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who condemned the Florida Governor as “homophobic”.[2] Pritzker also said that DeSantis’ “dangerous and hateful agenda has no place in Illinois. Banning books, playing politics with people’s lives, and censoring history are antithetical to who we are”.[3]
In response to DeSantis’ visit to New York, Mayor Eric Adams tweeted: “Welcome to NYC, @GovRonDeSantis, a place where we don’t ban books, discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, use asylum seekers as props, or let the government stand between a woman and health care. We’re happy to teach you something about values while you’re here.”[4]
Paul Vallas, a Democratic candidate for mayor of Chicago, also responded to DeSantis’ visit to the city.[5] “There is simply no place in Chicago for a right-wing extremist like Ron DeSantis, and I am disappointed in FOP leadership for inviting him to speak to officers,” Vallas said.[3] Governor DeSantis’ attempts to erase the LGBTQ community, ban books about Black history, and other similar initiatives are not in harmony with my values, the values of our community, or the values of the common police officers, who I think do not wish to be involved in cultural and political debates related to the national Republican Party.[6]
There are strong indications that DeSantis is preparing to run for President, and it is believed he will make the announcement sometime between late May and early June.[7] However, his former press secretary and current rapid response director Christina Pushaw responded to DeSantis’ visit to New York by tweeting: “Nice rhetoric – but here’s reality: More Americans fled NYC than any other metro area last year.[8] Florida was the most popular destination for Americans moving from one state to another.[2]
0. “Ron DeSantis sure sounds like a presidential candidate during Staten Island speech (opinion)” SILive.com, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.silive.com/news/2023/02/ron-desantis-sure-sounds-like-a-presidential-candidate-during-staten-island-speech-opinion.html
1. “Governor DeSantis Blasts NY’s Bail Reform Law On Staten Island” 710 WOR, 21 Feb. 2023, https://710wor.iheart.com/content/2023-02-21-governor-desantis-blasts-nys-bail-reform-law-on-staten-island/
2. “DeSantis team fires back at Eric Adams after he offers to teach Florida governor about NYC ‘values'” Fox News, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-team-fires-back-eric-adams-nyc-values
3. “DeSantis gets caught up in Chicago police politics” NBC News, 20 Feb. 2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/desantis-gets-caught-chicago-police-politics-rcna71741
4. “During NYC visit, Gov. DeSantis complains about ‘woke’ politicians, avoids thorny issues like abortion, book bans and …” Brunswick News, 21 Feb. 2023, https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/national_news/during-nyc-visit-gov-desantis-complains-about-woke-politicians-avoids-thorny-issues-like-abortion-book/article_59a328aa-ad86-5e54-9eca-ea9b4170e9f5.html
5. “Blue State Democrats trip over themselves to denounce DeSantis visit” The Capitolist, 20 Feb. 2023, https://thecapitolist.com/illinois-democrats-trip-over-themselves-to-denounce-desantis-speech-even-before-he-delivered-it/
6. “Mayoral contender Paul Vallas disappointed in police union over ‘right-wing extremist’ Ron DeSantis’ speech in Elmhurst” Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023, https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/elections/ct-ron-desantis-chicago-mayor-election-police-union-paul-vallas-20230217-2jpoigevifedjkrc5ailgehbhe-story.html
7. “NYC Mayor Eric Adams takes shot at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ahead of visit to Staten Island” ABC News, 20 Feb. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-takes-shot-florida-gov/story?id=97333945
8. “DeSantis rep, Adams spar as Florida gov rips NY bail law on Staten Island” New York Post , 20 Feb. 2023, https://nypost.com/2023/02/20/desantis-rips-ny-bail-law-on-staten-island
