In a recent tweet, David Hogg, an American gun control activist, called out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his lack of action in response to flooding in Fort Lauderdale. The tweet reads: “Meanwhile in your home state in flooded Ft. Lauderdale: Q – Have you spoken to Governor Desantis? A – Go….”
The city of Fort Lauderdale has been struggling with severe flooding for years due to rising sea levels and aging infrastructure. This issue has become more urgent as the frequency and severity of floods have increased in recent years.
Many residents and local lawmakers have criticized the state government’s lack of action on this issue, including Governor DeSantis. In 2019, DeSantis vetoed a bill that would have created a task force on sea-level rise and climate change. He also removed language related to climate change from the Department of Environmental Protection’s website shortly after taking office.
Hogg’s tweet comes at a time when many are calling for more attention and action on climate change from politicians at all levels of government. The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly visible across the country, with natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods causing widespread damage.
Governor DeSantis has not yet responded publicly to Hogg’s tweet or addressed the flooding issues in Fort Lauderdale directly. However, he has previously acknowledged that addressing these issues is important for the future of Florida.
In March 2020, DeSantis signed an executive order creating a new statewide Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection aimed at preparing Florida for the impacts of sea-level rise and other natural disasters.
Despite this move towards addressing environmental issues in Florida by Governor DeSantis’ administration, many critics argue that more needs to be done quickly before it’s too late.
It remains unclear whether Hogg will continue to speak out about environmental issues or address this topic further with Governor DeSantis directly. However one thing is clear, the issue of climate change and its effects on Florida will continue to be a pressing concern for residents, lawmakers, and activists alike.