Patrick Franklin, President and CEO, Urban League of Palm Beach County + Jervonte Edmonds, Florida House District 88 Representative and Founder of Suits for Seniors

Summary

Podcast Summary: Culturally Speaking: The South Florida Sunday Podcast
Date: April 26, 2026
Host: Patrick Franklin (President & CEO, Urban League of Palm Beach County)
Guest: Jervonte "Tay" Edmonds (Florida House District 88 Representative; Founder, Suits for Seniors)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the pressing political, economic, and social challenges facing South Florida, with a particular focus on state and local budget issues, the housing crisis, legislative changes, and the impact of recent policies on vulnerable communities. Host Patrick Franklin and Representative Jervonte Edmonds explore the aftermath of the legislative session, the real-life consequences of ongoing political infighting, and the needs of everyday residents amid rapid change and uncertainty.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Legislative Session Wrap-Up & Budget Stalemate

• Session Overview: The Florida State Legislature concluded its regular session without passing the constitutionally required budget.
  • “We just finished a legislative session. ... We finished March 13th. We gaveled out, but we didn't do our constitutional responsibility … which was to pass the budget.” (Jervonte Edmonds, 00:56)
• Consequences of Not Passing the Budget:
  • State and local programs face uncertainty, including schools, healthcare, fire and police funding.
  • “When the budget's not funded, most of our institutions don't know what to do or how to plan for the future.” (Edmonds, 01:14)
• Special Session:
  • Lawmakers are called back for a special session (then-rescheduled to April 27th) to resolve budgetary issues. Deadline for state budget is June 30. (02:06, 01:26)
• Budget Discrepancies:
  • Governor: $117B; Senate: $115B; House: $113B. Discrepancies due to anticipated retirement boom, loss of federal funding, and recent business tax cuts. (02:23)

2. Economic Pressures & Tax Debates

• Demographic Shifts:
  • Florida gains ~1,000 new residents daily, straining resources while state revenues decrease (business tax cuts, reduced federal aid, Medicaid drawdown). (03:25, 03:08)
• Tax Cuts and Impacts:
  • Business taxes cut, reducing state revenue by $6–$12B/year (03:25).
  • Ongoing debate on eliminating property taxes; serious risks to funding for essential services.
    • “Imagine calling the police and you have to pay $100 first before they can come to your house.” (Edmonds, 08:03)
  • Increasing homestead exemption also erodes the tax base: “Every time you increase $25,000 worth of homestead exemption, you lower your tax base, you lose about $30 million.” (Edmonds, 08:52)

3. Affordability, Housing & Homebuyer Support

• Rising Housing Costs:
  • Home prices in Palm Beach County approach $700K, pricing out middle-income residents, teachers, and essential workers. (12:39)
• First-Time Homebuyer Programs:
  • House Bill 311 offers up to $5,000 from employers toward employees’ first home down payment. (04:18)
    • “The employee wins, they get a new home, the employer wins … and the state wins because every time you buy a new home, that's a doc-stamp.” (Edmonds, 04:31)
• Loss of HUD Counseling Funding:
  • HUD will stop funding critical one-on-one homebuyer counseling, limiting the support available to first-time homebuyers.
    • “They have dismantled the entire system.” (Edmonds, 11:20)
    • “Sooner or later you’re going to find out that HUD’s going to say we won’t support any housing counseling.” (Franklin, 11:30)

4. Property Insurance Crisis

• Florida Has the Nation’s Highest Premiums:
  • Ongoing insurance crisis with premiums not decreasing despite legislation targeting fraud and litigation.
    • “I have not met a resident that said their premiums went down.” (Edmonds, 06:10)
• Legislative Attempts:
  • New laws aim at transparency and reporting but lack real relief; Edmonds introduced a bill to reward homeowners who haven't filed claims (did not pass). (05:17)
• Industry Accountability:
  • Subpoenaed insurance CEOs revealed use of shell companies and questionable practices. (06:50)

5. Political Dynamics & Leadership

• Legislative Infighting:
  • Discord between governor, senate president, and house speaker, stalling key initiatives and reforms. (03:25, 09:07)
• Calls for New Leadership:
  • One party has controlled Florida for 30 years; Edmonds calls for change due to ongoing deficits and program shortfalls.
    • “If that party hasn't done the right job for the past 30 years, it's time for a change.” (Edmonds, 03:25)

6. Redistricting and Voter Sentiment

• Early Redistricting Special Session:
  • Redistricting (state house, senate, and congressional maps) occurs 4 years early, with the stated goal to favor the controlling party. (13:44, 13:55)
  • Little public concern about redistricting; residents more focused on affordability and economic issues.
    • “People only want to make money or figure out how to save money … Can they pay their rent? Can they pay their mortgage?” (Edmonds, 14:57)
• Upcoming Elections:
  • Emphasis on the importance of voter engagement and considering new candidates as all legislative seats are up for election. (15:43)

7. Social Programs, Equity, and Community Impact

• DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Ban:
  • “Did you hear about the bill that passed that bans cities, any local official from promoting or funding DEI?...You will go to jail.” (Edmonds, 20:29)
• Struggles of Nonprofit Funding:
  • Funding streams dismantled, increased demand for services but reduced institutional support. (22:14)

8. Immigration, Labor, and Workforce Issues

• Alligator Alcatraz & Workforce Shifts:
  • State spent $400 million to construct a detention facility for immigrants, with poor conditions. (24:56)
  • Replacing immigrant labor with youth labor by lowering the legal working age—concerns about economic impact and lack of skilled workforce. (25:27)
    • “They're trying to replace the immigrant workforce with child workforce.” (Edmonds, 25:27)
    • “Many of our people ... don’t have the skills to do the work that we trying to replace right now.” (Franklin, 25:56)
  • Brain drain as skilled, legal immigrants leave Florida due to hostile policies. Residents now carry their passports out of fear. (27:15, 27:31)
    • “I've never seen so many people with their passport on them living in fear.” (Franklin, 27:25)
    • “That's not the state country we should have.” (Edmonds, 27:31)

9. Reflections, Hope, and Community Action

• Civil Rights Legacy and Activism:
  • Need for a new generation of organized, impactful, peaceful protest to effect change, drawing parallels to earlier civil rights struggles. (23:44)
• Call for Unity and Practical Solutions:
  • Must focus on policies that put money back in people’s pockets, health care, and job opportunities over divisive social issues. (19:54)
    • “That has to be our strategy. Talking about straight economic issues.” (Edmonds, 19:54)
• Middle & Higher-Income Residents Also Affected:
  • “You have to make over $100,000 just to live in Palm Beach County.” (Edmonds, 22:55)
  • Growing activism and advocacy by all income groups as affordability becomes a universal problem. (22:59)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Imagine calling the police and you have to pay $100 first before they can come to your house.”
  — Jervonte Edmonds (08:03)

• “They have dismantled the entire system.”
  — Jervonte Edmonds about HUD first-time homebuyer support (11:20)

• “You can't be on the city council and say Black History Month is coming up and they're doing a healthcare event. You will go to jail. That is the new law.”
  — Jervonte Edmonds on the new DEI law (20:38)

• “I've never seen so many people with their passport on them living in fear.”
  — Patrick Franklin (27:25)

• “That, that class group, you have to make over $100,000 just to live in Palm Beach County.”
  — Jervonte Edmonds (22:55)

• “The sad part is the voices of those who need it most are oftentimes not heard. … Middle income, high income. Thankfully, they're actually speaking up though.”
  — Edmonds (22:36)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:56 – Overview of the legislative session’s failure to pass a budget
• 02:23 – State budget breakdown and economic factors
• 03:25 – Florida’s rapid population growth vs. revenue losses, tax policy
• 04:18 – New first-time homebuyer assistance bill
• 05:17 – Property insurance crisis and failed reform efforts
• 08:03 – Risks of eliminating property taxes
• 11:20 – Loss of one-on-one HUD homebuyer counseling
• 13:44 – Redistricting and its political motivations
• 19:54 – Need for economic focus in political strategies
• 20:38 – Ban on DEI programs and penalties for local officials
• 22:55 – The rising cost of living for all income brackets
• 23:44 – Call for modern peaceful protest modeled on civil rights era
• 24:56 – Immigration: Alligator Alcatraz, targeted policies, and economic impact
• 27:25 – Community fear and legal immigrants carrying passports

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Resources Mentioned / How to Connect

• Jervonte Edmonds’ Office: 561-954-0490
  (For help with state agency issues: food stamps, Social Security, Medicaid, etc. Serves Lake Park, Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Mangonia Park, Royal Palm Beach.)
• Urban League Workshops:
  • Homebuyer education: May 16, June 13, June 27
  • Financial literacy: May 20, June 17, 5:45–7:00 p.m.
  • Website: ulppc.org
  • Phone: [phone]

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Tone & Style

The discussion is candid, urgent, and direct, balancing frustration about political stagnation with a call to action, unity, and hope for reform and community empowerment. Both host and guest stress grassroots engagement, accurate information, and the need to focus on the well-being of residents.

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For Listeners

This episode is an essential listen for South Floridians seeking a clear-eyed view of legislative realities, community challenges, and a roadmap for advocacy and change. The conversation spotlights issues that affect daily life—housing, insurance, taxation, equity, and representation—and offers both practical information and a heartfelt call for active civic participation.

Transcript

[A]

Good morning. Welcome again to another edition of Culturally Speaking. My name is Patrick Franklin, president and CEO of the Urban League of Palm Beach County. And I thank you for joining us this morning as you wake up and open your eyes and tune into our Culturally Speaking show this morning. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for giving us your time. Folks. We're living in difficult times and different times. And as we go through these difficult, different times, we need to spend a second to talk and listen to. I wouldn't say talk, listen to our elected officials. So today I'm going to bring you the one and only Javante Tay Edmonds, Florida House District 88 state representative. Javante, welcome.

[B]

Thank you so much for having me, Patrick. And just thank you for all the work that you do in this community. You really moved the needle here in Palm Beach County.

[A]

Thank you, sir. We just finished a legislative session. You can start wherever you want to.

[B]

So we finished March 13th. We gave old out, but we didn't do our job, our constitutional responsibility.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Which was the past budget.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And so why we pass a budget is because we need to make sure we fund schools.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Make sure that we have health care services. We need to make sure we have money for agriculture and the environment. And when the budget's not funded, most of our institutions don't know what to do or how to plan for the future. So it's always incumbent that we do our job. Now are.

[A]

And it has to be done by June 30. Right.

[B]

It has to be done by June 30.

[A]

Right. Okay.

[B]

That's when the government's budget restart. Now, we've seen our federal government shut down quite often. We're kind of used to that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But we don't know what it looks like if the state shuts down.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And that means much of your libraries, your parks, your services, all that would be shut down. There won't be funding for fire and police. So that's why it's really incumbent upon

[A]

us what county government shut down.

[B]

If that happens, they will still have their own budget, but again, they receive millions of dollars from the state to help for their programming. And so we're going back. It was decided April 20th. We just got an update that they're going to push it back a week again. So.

[A]

So what day did we talking about special?

[B]

They're talking about April 27th now.

[A]

April 27th.

[B]

And so the issue is we didn't pass the budget. So our priority should be the budget. So when we go back to Tallahassee, we need to Talk about how we close out these gaps and have a budget for 27.

[A]

What type of what. What amount are we looking at? How many billions?

[B]

That's a great question. And so our current budget is $13 billion. Okay, so here's the problem. Three different people get to suggest what the budget should be, and then we work through it. The governor suggested 117 billion. The Senate suggested 115 billion, and the House said 113. Why are we coming in so low? Is because we're going through a cut basically in the future. One, we are going to have the largest retirement boom by 2030. We don't have as much money coming from the federal government. And third, we just cut business taxes for everyone in the state of Florida.

[A]

So 2030, we're talking about the baby boomers, just like myself, that will be looking at some form of retirement. I can see that. Keep going.

[B]

So that's less purchase power coming into the state. And so we're trying to figure out what we should decide on this number for the budget so we can.

[A]

So let me ask you a question right there. With all this tremendous growth that we see, and I don't know what the number is. What are we seeing? 500 people a day moving to Florida. 1,000 people a day.

[B]

100%. A thousand people a day are moving to Florida. But again, we cut the business tax, so that was 2% to all corporations that would give money back to the state. That rounded out to maybe 6 billion to $12 billion a year. We no longer have that money. The federal government is no longer giving us money. We're no longer receiving money for Medicaid anymore. So we're going into a deficit. So we're trying to be smart, proactive. But I'll tell you, usually we see about 400 bills turn into law. This year we only had 200. So a lot of infighting is happening. The governor, the Senate president, and the House speaker, none of them like each other. And so this is where residents who are listening, this is where we need change and we need great leadership. For the past 30 years, there has been one group of people controlling the state of Florida. We won't call any parties out, but it sounds like if that party hasn't done the right job for the past 30 years, it's time for time for change. Time for a change. So when we talk about the budget and things that actually got passed, I passed three bills this year I'm very proud of. The one that I'm going to talk about mostly is House Bill 311. And so what this bill is going to do, it's going to ask our corporate partners to give their employees up to $5,000 to buy their first home. Very nice. And so the employee wins, they get a new home, the employer wins, they get to live local to their employees and the state wins because every time you buy a new home, that's a docu stamps.

[A]

Docu stamps and all the other fees.

[B]

And yeah, so it's a incredible bill we just passed. It's one of its kind. I was very proud to pass that this year. So it's in our tax package. We just got to finalize the budget. What else I would say was important? The veterans dental care program. So we increase the amount of veterans that can have access to dental care. Even if you're 100% disabled, the VA does not take care of your dental benefits. So I just had a toothache recently, got a root canal. So I now understand the importance of definitely having great dentistry.

[A]

So.

[B]

So with that budget we're expected to finalize whether it be 113 or 115 billion dollars. We didn't see any relief whatsoever about the main issue in Palm beach county, property insurance. No one's addressing it. We have bills that call us for more transparency, that you need to tell us the price up front, that you need to report your findings to the insurance commissioner, but no actual solutions. Now I put a bill forth. It did not pass. But essentially, if you haven't filed a claim in five years, the insurance company needs to reimburse you for that, for your good service to your home. And so that was legislation proposed. We also tried to talk about how

[A]

does that happen in any other states?

[B]

It doesn't. Okay, it doesn't. So most of it was up before our new solutions that we're trying to create because what's in place now isn't working. I have not met a resident that said their premiums went down to vonte.

[A]

Is it true that that we have the highest prop insurance in the country?

[B]

Almost 100%. True. And they said the reason behind it was because of litigation, that people consistently sued insurance company because of roof claims. And it was a lot of scamming going on in that. So Florida amounted up to 84% of all insurance claims nationwide. And so we were the leading insurance agencies getting sued in the state of Florida.

[A]

Yeah, but even though we have the probably the third largest population in the country, or fourth largest, I mean, but

[B]

we account for 84.

[A]

Yeah, that's a little bit out of warp There.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. But we passed laws to stop that frivolous lawsuit, and the goal was to reduce premium costs. It hasn't happened. And so now we need to look at holding them accountable. We actually subpoenaed them last session. We brought the CEOs in front of us and asked them what they're doing. Money. We found out they just have shell companies and they're just putting billions of dollars away. So that didn't help whatsoever. So we need to spend some time on this because it's not getting any better, especially here in Palm Beach County. The development is beautiful, but you can see that we're offering 2 million dollar condos in off of Tamarind.

[A]

Yeah, yeah. And, and, and, and that's gonna, that, that's gonna really, you know, it's not affordable to us. Okay. It's not built for us. It's not for us.

[B]

And $2 million off of Tamara.

[A]

Yeah, $2 million off Tamra. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

[B]

It blew my mind when I went down there last week.

[A]

Yeah, but.

[B]

And the next big topic everyone wants to talk about is property tax.

[A]

Property tax.

[B]

It sound like a great talking point. It's the worst ideal you can think of.

[A]

All right, one plus one equals two. You take away property tax, what's going to fill it?

[B]

Nothing. This is the scary part. So local governments, counties and cities, they can get money through property taxes, they can get money through fees, and they can get money through business taxes. So they wanted to cut property taxes. They passed the bill this year to cut their business taxes. And so all they would be left with is fees. So imagine calling the police and you have to pay $100 first before they can come to your house. And that's the situation we were going to look at if we cut property taxes. And so more people have done analysis on it, and they realize that if you cut property tax whatsoever, you're going to cost Palm Beach County $300 million. We won't survive. So the solution, they're saying now is let's increase homestead exemption. So every time you increase $25,000 worth of homestead exemption, you lower your tax base, you lose about $30 million.

[A]

I mean, come on. We keep cutting taxes, but the services and the offerings that come from our paid taxes are necessity, I would say, for the majority of them, 100%.

[B]

Everything we use our property taxes for, for your roads, to make sure they look great. It's for the police, it's for the fire, it's for the school system, the libraries, your golf courses and your parks, your Water, your sanitation, your water sanitation, the children's services council, the water waste management. Yeah, that's what property tax is for. It's not for anything frivolous. It's not for anybody's bonus or pay. It's all for services. So again, I like to use the example. If we cut property taxes, you will call the fire department and they're going to ask you to pay $50 before they come to your house if we cut property taxes. So the three people who need to decide on this issue do not agree at all. The governor, the senate president and the speaker of the House, all of them are fighting each other.

[A]

Could, could you possibly see that this whole property tax proposal just gets blown to the wayside and never even addressed?

[B]

It will. I mean, because they don't agree on it, it's not going to move.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I think from the beginning they knew it was a talking point and it wouldn't pass because even in the dream world it did pass in the legislature.

[A]

But do you think it was a talking point or a distraction from, from something else that they're trying to push through the back door a hundred percent? Okay.

[B]

All right. And I know exactly what that distraction is. I'd love to tell you about it.

[A]

All right.

[B]

So the worst part of this job is I really never have great news to come back and share to the residents of Florida. I can tell them about first time homebuyers program. Those are great.

[A]

Well, let me just give you a little update on first time home buyers. Last week, HUD sent down an edict that said that organizations like the Urban League and other housing counseling organizations, they're not funding one on one counseling. They're not going to fund one on one counseling. What we do at the Urban League, we hold monthly housing first time homebuyer counseling seminars for groups 30, 40, 50 people. Okay, they will fund that, but they won't fund after that group session's done, the one on one sessions that take you through the process individually.

[B]

They have dismantled the entire system.

[A]

Oh, absolutely.

[B]

And I heard you need work requirements for some of these programs now, now you need to be working. And if you don't meet that threshold, you're no longer going to get the service.

[A]

So I mean, the, the funding apparatus that's been in place to support our clients to prosper, okay. Is being dismantled piece by piece by piece. And sooner, sooner or later you're going to find out that HUD's going to say we won't support any housing counseling.

[B]

That's where it's Leading to.

[A]

That's what it's going to. And that's going to be the end result. And what's that going to happen? You're going to have. First of all, you have a loss of jobs.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay. Because you have to be certified by HUD to even conduct those type of classes. Okay. So you're going to lose jobs, then you're not going to be able to engage a number of people that need. That are looking for assistance. Look, educated, working middle class, et cetera. Even that group needs support to understand how to buy a home. Okay. Can you imagine someone uneducated, working two to three jobs, no clue, no idea of what the process is. And you want them to try buy a house? Especially here in Palm beach county.

[B]

It's approaching 700,000 for a house now.

[A]

Yes. Which is a W2 wage earner.

[B]

Yes. Okay. And the teachers are fighting for their pay increase right now. So the average person just can't afford to live in Palm Beach County. No, they're moving the Port St. Lucie, unfortunately.

[A]

Well, that's filling up, too. I heard that. That, that's filling up quickly.

[B]

That'd be a solution anymore.

[A]

No. And I don't know that that's something we got to face. So. So property taxes, I don't. I don't see that going anywhere in the near future. I think it's just. I think it's just a smokescreen for something else.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

You know, and we can put that on the table to come back later. But what else do. Do you see as the driving factor in this upcoming special session?

[B]

So. So we've been called back to do a special session about redistricting. I think at this moment, they're reconsidering if they should do it because they've seen in other states, when they do it, they lose seats. So the whole goal. Let's talk about redistricting. Essentially, every 10 years, it is the job of the state legislature to redraw the maps. So we try to use boundaries.

[A]

We talk in maps for state house, state senate or congressional.

[B]

All of them.

[A]

All of them.

[B]

Every 10 years, though, we're supposed to do it.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

We're only in 2026. So we're four years early.

[A]

We're four years early.

[B]

So technically, technically, it's illegal to do it, but they're finding ways to get it done. So essentially, if you redistrict your area, you can potentially have more seats for a potential party. And that is the goal.

[A]

You will favor one party over another.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And as we saw in this last special election with Emily Gregory and John Maples, people want a different direction. People want new leadership. And so they're reconsidering. It was supposed to be February, sorry, April 20, but now they pushed it back a week because I think they're reconsidering what they're going to do.

[A]

Let's hold that. Let's hold it for a moment. If you just join us this Sunday. Thank you for joining us at Culturally Speaking. And I have with me State Reverend Javante Edmonds, Florida District, House 88. So we're talking about the special session coming up on April 27, correct?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

All right. And we're talking about property tax. We can talk about redistricting. Do you think that there's an overwhelming outcry for redistricting right. Right now from the populace?

[B]

I think no one even cares about redistricting to be transparent. I think since I've ran for office, I always said this one thing. People only want to make money or figure out how to save money. And that's the only thing they're focused on. Can they pay their rent? Can they pay their mortgage? And you're not seeing that in the current legislative leadership that we have. So I do want to say that everybody's up for election. Everybody, August, even myself. And so it's time to look at the people who have been representing us. Tallahassee has a majority of 87 Republicans and 33 Democrats, and they have reigned supreme for the last 30 years. And so now it's time to look after 30 years. If we're in this position, we're going into a deficit. Our school districts don't have enough money. We can't pay for our health care. It's time to look at really getting out the vote and choosing the right leadership.

[A]

Okay. All right. When you look at this legislative process and we look at funding, we look at appropriations, we look at all these different means of funding that not only myself as the Urban League, but other nonprofits are looking for support and help. Do you see that the next administration, which is coming up, too, and I want to spend a minute talking about that. How do you see that changing from where we are right now?

[B]

Well, one thing I did see that came out of the federal government that actually I think is useful, is Doge holding the government itself accountable. I sit on the state Administration Budget Committee. At one point in time, we were having a discussion, Patrick. They could not find, I believe, 3,000 trucks owned by the state, the Department of Emergency Management. They didn't. We didn't know it was almost worth $50 million that we had no clue of where it was.

[A]

Well, they just weren't tagged or they weren't tagged.

[B]

We didn't know where the trucks were. So we have them on a budget item, but we don't have no clue where they're at. Mismanagement of money. The school system right now we have, I believe, 30,000 kids that we don't know where they are. And that's about, I believe, across the state. Across the state. Okay, that's about $120 million. So if we're talking about just mismanagement, Patrick, we have $115 billion. If Florida was a country, we'll be the 15th largest economic engine in the world.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So it's just mismanagement of money. We could do everything successfully in the state of Florida. We choose not to. Why that is. That's a great question. I think oftentimes we help corporate out so much that we forget about people. And that's why I love my tax credit bill, because it directly affects people. And so we're seeing that hopefully the next administration has a little bit more compassion and humanity, but we don't know who that next administration is going to be. It's actually an interesting race to look at, because if you look at it, Patrick, I think the same thing that happened with Emily and John Maples is going to happen for the governor's race.

[A]

All right, hold that thought. I want to come back to that. Javante. How does someone get in touch with you if they want to give you information or get information or share information or whatever? How does somebody get in touch with

[B]

you if you're going through any issue with a state agency, let's say with food stamps or Social Security, Medicaid, any issue that you may be going through with a state body, please call me immediately. My office number is 561-954-0490. If there is something going on in the community that you think I should know about? I represent Lake Park, Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Mangonia park and Royal Palm Beach. So any issues you have in the community or on state level, I'm always here for you.

[A]

Okay, Very good. All right, so let's get back to that. To that issue. Florida has never elected a person of color, Black person of color ever, at the state level.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

All right. We have the potential that our next governor could be African American.

[B]

I would love to have an African American governor.

[A]

All right.

[B]

Do I think it's going to happen?

[A]

Well, you got One on the Republican side and one on the Democratic side.

[B]

Just to be transparent. I saw the race for Emily Gregory seat for State House and John Maples, and that is Trump's district, that Mar a Lago system, that district. I think people are tired of the rhetoric that the party has given, tired of chaos. And I just think we should be very truthful about who the Republican voters are. Panhandle Republicans who live in Escambia County. I don't think they're going to come out for a black man to vote for him, just to be realistic. So I think now we do have.

[A]

Do you think that they just. When that election comes, if we have those two candidates, do you think that it's going to be like, ah, no

[B]

vote, they're going to sit out, they're not even going to show up to the ballot. And I mean, we saw what Emily Gregory's race. They're not going to show up. That is my belief.

[A]

But who does that favor?

[B]

It favors definitely the Democratic Party, 100%. But this is our opportunity to put actual plan forward about affordability, making sure people have health care, making sure people can increase their job wages. That has to be our strategy. Talking about straight economic issues, the social issues. We have to move past that and really think about how we put money back in people's pocket.

[A]

Look, that's really, really of deep concern to us at the Urban League and to many of our listeners out there of how do we make sure that we're taking care of our people.

[B]

Did you hear about the bill that passed that bans cities, any local official from promoting or funding dei?

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Okay. So that, that, that bill is crazy. You can't do it. You can't be on the city council and say Black History Month is coming up and they're doing a healthcare event. You will go to jail. That is the new law. So interesting.

[A]

What times are we living in? I mean, that, that is. I wonder, I wonder what, I wonder if I could to have a conversation with Judge Rogers.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Or someone like that from, from the past that, that had a, a very sound, sound delivery of expectations and needs for our people, you know, and things like that. Because I often try to reflect, well, what, what would he say about what we going through right now, you know, and, and to give us some words of wisdom and some guidance in these difficult times. But, you know, the uncertainty, the chaos, the unknown hour to hour, day to day. Yes, it's chaotic, it's hectic. We, I have a very difficult. Right. Time right now trying to Imagine my next year's budget, 100%. Okay. I didn't say draft, I said imagine. Okay, what and where I should look for dollars to fund our programs and service? Who's going to be in or out?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

What are you going to have to update and change to meet the needs and qualifications?

[A]

And the need and demand for our services are growing daily. But I don't think anybody's listening to the cry of our people, the cry of people in need, the cry of people wallowing in poverty and disgust of what's happening right now.

[B]

The sad part is the voices of those who need it most are oftentimes not heard. And it is those who have the influence, power. Middle income, high income. Thankfully, they're actually speaking up though. That is how the tide is turning. That, that class group, you have to make over 100,000 just to live in Palm Beach County.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

And in certain counties that's wealthy, you're doing a great job.

[A]

If you're in a panhandle, you're rich,

[B]

you're rich here, you may not survive, you know. And so thankfully we're having all income levels step up to the plate. Things are changing. Things are changing, thankfully. And that perspective about Judge Rogers is interesting. We talk about MLK all the time and there was just a special the other day talking about the sit ins and how they would sit at restaurants, but it wasn't for a week, it wasn't for a month, for a year. They would get spit on and sit at tables and get kicked out. They say MLK was arrested 29 times within I guess 2 years. We need to revamp that format of peaceful protest in a way that it makes sense. That hurts the, the bottom line.

[A]

Yeah, well, you know, we didn't get into immigration and things like that, but you know, we, we are being faced with obstacles that, that, that are going to affect us directly in, in our employment scenarios and our delivery of goods and services. Like I said, what do you, what do you see as far as on your agenda? I know you got the special session, you got this coming up as the governor ends his term, his second term. Do we think that we're going to get anything, any other major decisions out of the governor before his term ends?

[B]

I believe he's going to continue to call special sessions, but nothing will be done. I mean, we can go to Tallahassee. The speaker is again against the governor and he can just cancel the special session as soon as we get there. So just because no one's getting along, we're not Going to see any improvement for the state of Florida coming up. I did want to talk about immigration though. I just do want to say it's heinous. Yeah. We spent $400 million to build Alligator Alcatraz and people are living.

[A]

I hear the places disgust.

[B]

Disgusting. Yeah. Far worse than any jail you can think of. But as you, as you said, it's affecting our economy more than anything.

[A]

I just wonder with Alligator Alcatraz was what was going to happen if we had a hurricane that came through there? They don't care, you know, I mean, what would.

[B]

They were giving out contracts for toilets for $66 million.

[A]

Is a cyclone fence going to protect all those, all those human beings that are housed in there when, when you have a hurricane bearing, bearing down on you.

[B]

It's just scary how they treat people from other countries when, I mean, everyone's from a different country in America. Right. But what they're trying to do is actually replace the immigrant workforce with child workforce. And so essentially we've lowered the age and allotted more time for children to work over 40 hours.

[A]

Now, I'm just gonna say this, Javante. Many of our people on either side.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Don't have the skills to do the work that we trying to replace right now.

[B]

100%.

[A]

They can't build anything, they can't create anything.

[B]

The work ethic.

[A]

The work ethic is not there. And without going to some stereotypical names on either side, neither one of them can do anything with their hands. Okay.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So it's going to cost us a tremendous, tremendous blow to our economy when you try to replace a skilled worker with an unskilled nobody.

[B]

Right. And we try to box them in and say, hey, we're going to lose our agricultural workforce, we're going to lose our hospitality workforce, our labor pool for building houses. But I hate that we box them in like that because they're doctors, they're engineers, they're lawyers, they're skilled professionals that you're trying to remove from the country. And so I just don't want us to limit and say if you're from a foreign country, you're doing a bottom of the barrel job. No, we have some intelligent people who come from other countries, well educated, well educated. And we have to send them back. Even the ones that are in our colleges who are professors, they can't be here anymore. So we're just losing great talent day in, day out.

[A]

Now we're not. We're not only losing those who are so called illegal, we're losing those who are legal say that they can't tolerate the indifferences. Right now.

[B]

People are, people are driving around with their passport. Just talk to someone who's Jamaican and say, I'm just scared. I need to have my passport just in case. I don't know.

[A]

I have never seen so many people with their passport on them living in fear. Living in fear.

[B]

And that's not the state country we should have.

[A]

No. It's a time in history that we were in the 40s.

[B]

That's the scary part.

[A]

Right. Where we walk around with our papers and have to show our papers wherever we're being confronted.

[B]

And that's why they're redrawing the districts. They're throwing out the Civil Rights Act. And so I tell you, I'm hopeful, though. I know it sounds doom and gloom.

[A]

After the special session, come on back and give us an update on what's going on because I know we're planning another legislative update at the Urban League coming up soon. And whenever you guys are ready for that, I love to host it again to educate and bring awareness to our people who live in this community, the community that you represent. Our doors are always open to you to come in and share your information with our clientele, with our community residents. For those who need to know, folks, stay tuned into that because we did it last year, we can do it again this year. I think it's so important that you are aware of what's going on through your elected officials. Okay.

[B]

And I just think we need to give you your flowers, brother, for all that you do. I mean, I think it's like two decades now.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And it's crazy how we're losing people these days, Patrick. So just seriously, your commitment, longevity, you can't plan on another executive that's been around that looks like you and me that's been around doing what you're doing.

[A]

So I hear you.

[B]

Thank you, brother, for what you do.

[A]

Thank you. All right, folks, look, we got a few things, a few announcements from the Urban legal Palm beach county. Again, if you're looking to become a first time home buyer, take a Look at our May 16 and June 13 and June 27 homebuyer education workshops. Go to ulppc.org to get more information or call the urban league at 561-833-1461. If you're looking to join one of our financial literacy workshops, we will have one on May 20. Also on June 17, 5:45 to 7:00pm, please sign up early because those classes do fill up fast. If you're looking to figure out where your dollars are going. You get paid on Friday and don't have a dollar on Monday. We need to help you some kind of way figure out how to hold onto your hard earned dollars. So with that first time home buyer class and also with our financial literacy workshop, go to the Urban League. We have classes throughout May and June, and if you need that assistance, we're here to serve you. If you want to become a young professional or a member of our guild, please go to our website to find out more information. Young professionals ages 21 to 44 guild ages 45 and older all right, with that being said, I hope you have a great Sunday. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend, and I look forward to speaking with you again next Sunday. Thank you.