Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been on a one-day tour of the northeast, leading to speculation that he could be announcing a bid for president in 2024. During his trip, he stopped in New York City, where he was met with a withering response from Democratic NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
Adams accused DeSantis of discriminating against the LGBTQ community and of using “asylum seekers as props.” DeSantis responded by pointing to the influx of people moving from New York to Florida as evidence that his policies are working.
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. https://t.co/o2CgOt1SES
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) February 20, 2023
DeSantis’ team fired off a series of tweets in response to Adams’ accusations. Christina Pushaw, an aide to DeSantis, tweeted that “more Americans fled NYC than any other metro area last year” and “more Americans moved to Florida than any other state.” She then added that “Florida’s crime rate is at a 50 year low.”
Nice rhetoric — but here’s reality: More Americans fled NYC than any other metro area last year.
More Americans moved to Florida than any other state.
You know this, Mayor Adams, and you’ve talked (accurately) about crime pushing people out of NYC. Florida’s crime rate… https://t.co/gHru8I12PS
— Christina Pushaw ???? ???????? (@ChristinaPushaw) February 20, 2023
Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary, also tweeted in response to Adams, saying “based on migration rates out of NY and into FL, it’s fair to conclude that many people don’t agree with those values. Florida values freedom, life, and truth.”
DeSantis’ deputy press secretary then suggested that Adams take notes while the Florida Governor is in town, tweeting an image of tents crowding a sidewalk as homelessness runs rampant in the city.
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has reported a total drop in crime by 8.3 percent in comparison to 2020. New York City, on the other hand, experienced a sharp increase in crime since 2020 leading into 2021, especially in robberies. The US Department of Housing and Urban Development reported 27,487 homeless people in Florida and 161,548 in New York in 2020.
DeSantis did not directly respond to Adams’ accusations, but during his Staten Island appearance, he blamed the Democrat mayor for “putting woke ideology” ahead of safety. He said, “the reason why you have what you have in some of these other jurisdictions, is because they’re putting woke ideology ahead of your safety.”
Overall, DeSantis’ trip to the northeast has stirred up speculation that he is inching closer to announcing a bid for president in 2024. His team’s response to Adams’ accusations has certainly added to the speculation, as they appear to be setting the stage for a political battle with the Democratic party in the days to come.
