The Biggest Losers
In the session that just ended, the Florida legislature passed one of the most anti-tenant bills that has come before it in the last decade, allowing landlords to accept partial payments of rent after starting the eviction process and to cure any faulty notices in the middle of the eviction proceeding. That it passed is not all that remarkable. The legislature passed a host of anti-working people and homeowner bills, outlawing local sick leave ordinances, refusing to expand Medicaid, and expediting foreclosures on homeowners. What is most remarkable is how little opposition there was. While the bills targeting workers and home owners had hosts of labor, homeowner and community organizations educating the legislators, the anti-tenant bill passed silently with no more opposition than a few public interest tenant lawyers. Why is it in Florida, where so many groups are now recognizing the importance of organizing to...