Monday, December 19, 2022
Is The Florida Democratic Party Salvageable?
I wanted to share this Open Letter to the Florida Democratic Party that was recently reprinted in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. I want to thank my Co-Authors Carolina Ampudia, Lorenzo Canizares, Osvaldo "Oz" Hernandez, and James "Jim" Langford
The Open Letter to the FDP, Is The Florida Democratic Party Salvageable"?:
The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) is in crisis. The dismal results of the 2022 midterm elections in our state show this unequivocally. Florida is now a red state.
We must identify the root of the problem and find a solution if we are ever to become a viable party that contributes to Democratic victories for the people at the local, state and federal levels.
Let’s start with an example of how not to do this. In 2020, current FDP chair and former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz ran on a platform he never began to deliver. He did not build his planned 67-county strategy. In his post-midterm public letter, Diaz admitted having visited just over half of our state’s counties.
In the FDP, two state committee persons from each county vote in party chair elections and for other major decisions, but their votes are weighted so that the more populous counties have more votes divided among those two representatives. When Diaz ran, he campaigned only in approximately the six counties with the most allocated weighted votes. He failed to deliver on his campaign promises, including his own platform point No. 9: Eliminate the weighted vote, which disproportionally gives money, power and representation in state party matters to specific people and regions of our state, a violation of the Democratic National Committee’s recommendations.These are just some of his administration’s failures. Absenteeism, finger-pointing, excuses and incompetence characterized his administration. At the personal level, Diaz was known for failing to consider the views of progressive and other party leaders and for canceling important meetings with other leaders in direct violation of party bylaws.
Manny Diaz broke FDP bylaws since the very day he was elected, manipulated the Florida DNC elections and went to illegal endorsements of candidates. Under Chair Diaz, there has never been any actual finance status report. The only numbers presented to the state party’s central and executive committees in the past two years included an aspirational number (based on fundraising goals) in December 2021.
The FDP was wiped out in November. Diaz’s campaign and tenure serve as an example of how not to save the party. Diaz’s strategy, already a mediocre one, was doomed to fail by not analyzing the party’s state.
If we are to save the FDP, we need an honest assessment of the party’s ability to represent Floridians. Past mistakes serve as lessons. The FDP must be able to diagnose the problem and identify solutions.
Why is the FDP failing? The party does not adequately represent the needs of the people. The problem is so bad that voters can barely notice a meaningful difference between the Republican and Democratic parties. Indeed, the FDP has diluted values and messaging to attract voters from the right. Either way, neither party provides solutions to the everyday needs of the majority.
What do Florida voters want? The top concerns are economics, health care and housing. Floridians are also concerned about education, LGBTQ rights, environmental policies, racial justice, immigration policies and justice reform. If this sounds like Florida voters are more left-leaning than the officials they elect, you are correct. When asked about specific policy proposals, Floridians tend to favor left-leaning policies (just like the rest of the country). Just look at the constitutional amendments
Floridians have approved in the past several election cycles raising the minimum wage, legalizing medical marijuana, granting voting rights to ex-felons and investing more state money in the environment.
It’s no surprise that successful Democratic candidates are progressive ones that people trust and that have adequate financial support.
The solution to saving the FDP is straightforward. The party needs to get behind bold, progressive candidates instead of demonizing them. These candidates inspire young voters, the largest growing group among Democrats and the party’s future.
So why isn’t it? The answer is that special interests, dark money and corruption have hijacked the party. The gatekeepers and outside consultants must go, and we must change the state party’s bylaws. Popular candidates need a level playing field, and the party needs to support them. The bylaws need to enable this.
Until this happens, the FDP will continue to lose in Florida, and the majority of Floridians will pay the consequences.
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Sunday, December 18, 2022
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Florida Democratic Party Blown to Smithereens, Seeking to 'Clean House'
In a state known for its alligators, hurricanes, and theme parks, Florida remains politically wild and uncharted despite constant development and growth. If the state has swung to a huge right in the 2022 midterm elections, a confluence of factors can swing the political pendulum back with long-term strategic planning and year-round organizing. more
Friday, December 16, 2022
Florida halts amanita muscaria sales at nation’s only brick-and-mortar retailer
Earlier this week, Leafly reported on a rash of recent police raids on illegal mushroom retailers across the US and Canada. In the story, we highlighted Chillum, a hemp-derived product retailer in Tampa, Florida, as an exception to the rule. The shop has legally sold amanita muscaria—also known as fly agaric—products to adults since September. MORE
Thursday, December 15, 2022
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
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