Rep. Sam Garrison, R-Fleming Island, a Republican who sponsored the controversial “Camping on Public Property” legislation in Florida, praised the recent Supreme Court decision that allows cities to enforce bans on sleeping in public spaces.
Garrison released a statement calling the ruling a “victory for public safety and hygiene.” The law, passed in March, criminalizes sleeping on sidewalks, parks, and other public areas in many Florida cities.
Advocates for the homeless argue the law is inhumane and criminalizes homelessness itself. They point out that Florida, like many states, faces a shortage of affordable housing and shelter beds.
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“Florida has chosen to reject comfortable inaction and tackle this problem head-on,” Garrison, who is slated to become House speaker in 2026, said in a prepared statement Friday. “That is our right, and our obligation. We will continue to work with all 67 counties in our state to support innovative solutions that simultaneously protect public spaces and respect the dignity of every human being.”
But Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, blasted the ruling. “This is a devastating ruling that ignores the reality of homelessness in America,” Eskamani said in a statement. “We will continue to do what we can at a local and state level to push back against the criminalization of our fellow Americans who deserve evidence-based interventions, not incarceration.”
The Supreme Court’s decision is likely to reignite debate over how best to address homelessness in Florida.
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