DeSantis pressured to suspend evictions and foreclosures during pandemic

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to have been taking his cues from the White House, but it now appears as if the popular first-term governor could now be influenced by House Democrats pressuring him to do what they feel is in the best interest of Floridians.

After Gov. DeSantis announced that he would be suspending all foreclosures and evictions for the next 45 days, Rep. Darren Soto (D) was quick to take credit for pressuring DeSantis’s to make that decision.

Rep. Soto claims that a bipartisan letter he signed requested that DeSantis temporarily suspend all evictions and foreclosures prompted DeSantis' decision.

 “During this unprecedented public health and economic crisis, many Floridians are furloughed, underemployed or unemployed and unable to pay their rent, mortgage or hotel / motel charges,” wrote the Members last month. “On March 18, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development authorized the Federal Housing Administration to put an immediate moratorium on foreclosures and evictions for the next 60 days for homeowners who are unable to pay their FHA-backed mortgages as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Issuing a similar decision for the State of Florida will allow homeowners and renters the stability they need to care for themselves and their families, stop the spread of coronavirus, and save precious state resources.”

Signers of the letter: Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14), Val Demings (FL-10), Lois Frankel (FL-21), Al Lawson Jr. (FL-05), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Matt Gaetz (FL-01), Charlie Crist (FL-13), Ted Deutch (FL-22), Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26), Donna E. Shalala (FL-27), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (FL-23) and Ted Yoho (FL-03)