Let me just be real Florida has become a straight-up circus under DeSantis. People can’t afford rent, tech investors are buying everything up, and the same residents who built this state are now sleeping on the streets. Something’s gotta give.
Posted By: Ryan
Ron DeSantis lost the ball on this one. I’m going to be honest. Florida has turned into a circus where people are striving hard to find a place to live. And the reason is because we had these big investors come into Florida and then they took over. And now we don’t have a place to stay the same residents that actually built up this state and made it what it is today.
Honestly, I’m very saddened because DeSantis has let this whole thing get out of control. Now we’re looking at mega developers building these high-rises all over downtown St. Pete while people who’ve been here for decades are out here sleeping on the streets because they can’t afford rent anymore. Tell me how that makes sense.
The problem started when these big tech and investment groups started swooping in, buying up all the property, and driving up the prices. And instead of protecting the people who already live here, DeSantis welcomed them with open arms like they were the saviors of Florida. Nah, they’re the ones turning our communities upside down.
Downtown St. Pete used to feel like home. Now it looks like some kind of flashy playground for out-of-towners. It’s ridiculous. We got restaurants built on top of clubs, clubs built under restaurants, and the whole thing just looks like a theme park for people with money. Meanwhile, folks who actually work here can’t even afford a studio apartment. It’s insanity.
The prices are outrageous $500,000 to $600,000 for condos that used to be old, run-down apartment complexes. They just slapped some paint on it, added “luxury” in front of the name, and boom — half a million dollars. For what? So people from out of state can move in and say they live “in the heart of downtown”? The rest of us are struggling to even keep the lights on.
Let’s call it what it is unfair housing. Plain and simple. Nobody’s really talking about it the way it needs to be talked about. It’s like the media doesn’t even care anymore. We gotta come to forums like this to tell the real truth. Because trust me, you’re not gonna see this on any of those big Florida news sites. They’re too busy kissing up to developers and politicians to tell what’s really happening.
DeSantis really needs to get a grip and fix this mess. Downtown has turned into one big party zone full of bars, clubs, and loud music, while families are getting pushed out. You can’t say you care about education and families when every street kids walk down is lined with bars. You want the next generation to succeed? Then stop turning the whole state into Las Vegas.
And let’s be real here a lot of this housing stuff is happening in Black neighborhoods on purpose. Yeah, I said it. Go down to South St. Pete, or even the Pinellas Park area (what some people call Dirty Foots and I know that’s not nice, but that’s what they say). These are the neighborhoods being hit the hardest. People are getting priced out left and right because they know the folks there can’t afford to fight back.
If people can’t afford to live in their own communities, how do you expect them to work here, raise kids here, or even stay connected to their roots? The state is pushing out the very people who made it strong. And it’s not just sad it’s cruel.
Florida’s becoming a playground for outsiders while locals get left behind. DeSantis wanted to play politics with the big boys and let investors run the show, but all he’s done is create a state full of broken promises, empty apartments, and real people with nowhere to go.
I love my state, but man, it’s hard to watch it turn into this. The people who made Florida what it is deserve better. Period.
Posted By: Shannon 🎙
Nov. 8th 2025
@Ryan Let’s be clear DeSantis did this only because he was looking to get more money into the state. It’s clear that he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. I’ve said this for a long time: he wanted these changes in the state just so he could act like he’s doing something.
We all know South St. Petersburg is mostly Black. However, more white folks are moving into the community. Because of that, they’re building more expensive houses all because DeSantis opened his big mouth inviting people from New York to come down here.
This is exactly why our crime rates are up now. I think we need to change the game and start making stricter rules for the state. The only way to do that is to get TRUMP the orange man out of office. 😂
