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New RPOF Spanish Ads Feature Senator Marco Rubio and Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón for Ron DeSantis

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The Republican Party of Florida today announced three new Spanish-language ads titled “Intereses”, “Gran”, and “Lo Conozco”. Two of the ads feature U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and one ad features Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón, the Resident Commissioner representing Puerto Rico. In the 30 second ads, Rubio and González-Colón discuss why they support Ron DeSantis for Governor. [Read more…] about New RPOF Spanish Ads Feature Senator Marco Rubio and Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón for Ron DeSantis

Nelson, Rubio raise concerns over FEMA wait times

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U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter today to FEMA Administrator Brock Long raising concerns over the amount of time Floridians are being forced to wait for housing assistance.
“Individuals calling FEMA’s help line have waited up to four hours before speaking with a representative,” the senators wrote. “Additionally, FEMA’s current estimates are approximately 45 days for a home inspection, a required step for Individual Assistance claims to be paid out.”
The lawmakers cited a March 2006 report by the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Inspector General that found victims of Hurricane Katrina experienced an average wait time of 10 minutes before speaking with an agent by phone, and approximately 10 days for a home inspection.
“We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance,” the senators said. “However, the current wait times must be improved.”
Following is text of the senators’ letter sent to FEMA Administrator Brock Long, a pdf copy is available here.

October 31, 2017

The Honorable Brock Long
Administrator
Federal Emergency Management Agency
500 C Street SW
Washington, DC 20472
Dear Administrator Long:
We write to express our concern about the lack of available housing options in Florida following Hurricane Irma. It is critical that displaced Floridians in affected counties are provided with the ability to access rental housing.
Tens of thousands of homes in Florida were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irma. Reports have indicated thousands of Floridians are waiting for housing units to arrive and be filled, and many are living in uninhabitable circumstances with collapsed ceilings and mold. These are not sustainable living conditions, and could lead to negative health consequences or personal injury. While we recognize manufactured housing may not be appropriate for every situation, it seems there are serious delays in direct leasing options as well. Thus, we urge you to work expeditiously with Florida communities to ensure that Floridians have safe and sustainable housing options in the coming months.
It is also our understanding that Florida residents have had issues with the FEMA help line in obtaining assistance. Some reports state individuals calling FEMA’s help line have waited up to four hours before speaking with a representative. Additionally, FEMA’s current estimates are approximately 45 days for a home inspection, a required step for Individual Assistance claims to be paid out. This means families face a long wait before receiving funding for housing needs, such as housing repair, replacement or construction. The wait times for FEMA phone assistance and home inspections appear to be longer than those experienced by individuals during past major disasters. A March 2006 report conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General found Hurricane Katrina applicants experienced an average wait time of ten minutes before speaking with an agent. The report also stated FEMA has historically completed home inspections within 10 days.
We recognize and appreciate the 4,000 inspectors in the field working tirelessly to help people in need of housing assistance. However, the current wait times must be improved. Therefore, we ask that you work with Florida communities to ensure that displaced storm victims have adequate housing options available to them while they rebuild and repair their homes, and address any outstanding issues with FEMA’s help line that have led to delays with assistance.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

Nelson, Rubio send letter re: Jewish center bomb threats

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U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter today urging the administration to take action in response to recent anonymous bomb threats made against Jewish Community Centers, synagogues and schools across the country.
In a letter cosigned by all 100 senators and sent today to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey, the senators pressed the administration for swift action to deter such threats.
“These cowardly acts aim to create an atmosphere of fear and disrupt the important programs and services offered by JCCs to everyone in the communities they serve, including in our states,” the Senators wrote. “We are concerned that the number of incidents is accelerating and failure to address and deter these threats will place innocent people at risk and threaten the financial viability of JCCs, many of which are institutions in their communities.”
According to the Jewish Federations of North America, at least 98 incidents against JCCs and Jewish Day Schools at 81 locations in 33 states have been reported in the first two months of 2017 alone.
Below is the full text of the senators’ letter:
Dear Secretary Kelly, Attorney General Sessions, and Director Comey:
We write to underscore the need for swift action with regard to the deeply troubling series of anonymous bomb threats made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs), Jewish Day Schools, Synagogues and other buildings affiliated with Jewish organizations or institutions across the country. We thank you for your recent efforts and ask that you inform us of the actions that your Departments plan to take to address threats against these and other religious institutions. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that these centers can continue to serve their communities free from violence and intimidation.
It has become clear that threats of violence against individual JCCs are not isolated incidents. According to the JCC Association of North America, in the first two months of 2017 alone, at least 98 incidents against JCCs and Jewish Day Schools at 81 locations in 33 states have been reported. These cowardly acts aim to create an atmosphere of fear and disrupt the important programs and services offered by JCCs to everyone in the communities they serve, including in our states. In addition to reports of incidents at JCCs and Jewish Day Schools, there have been incidents at cemeteries in both St. Louis and Philadelphia involving the desecration of Jewish headstones. This is completely unacceptable and un-American.
We are concerned that the number of incidents is accelerating and failure to address and deter these threats will place innocent people at risk and threaten the financial viability of JCCs, many of which are institutions in their communities. Your Departments can provide crucial assistance by helping JCCs, Jewish Day Schools and Synagogues improve their physical security, deterring threats from being made, and investigating and prosecuting those making these threats or who may seek to act on these threats on the future. We encourage you to communicate with individual JCCs, the JCC Association of North America, Jewish Day Schools, Synagogues and other Jewish community institutions regarding victim assistance, grant opportunities or other federal assistance that may be available to enhance security measures and improve preparedness. We also recognize the anti-Semitic sentiment behind this spate of threats and encourage your Departments to continue to inform state and local law enforcement organizations of their obligations under the Hate Crimes Statistics Act and other federal laws.
We are ready to work with you to address this pressing issue, and we look forward to your responses about the actions you intend to take to address, deter, and prevent this threat.