As she continues to slam Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his handling of the current housing crisis, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried has made plans to visit two of Tampa Bay's more troubled places to live.
On Tuesday, Fried—Florida's current commissioner of agriculture and consumer services—will be at East Tampa's Silver Oaks Apartments, located at 4200 Kenneth Ct. in Tampa, at 9:30 a.m.
Residents of the government-subsidized, affordable housing complex recently told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about nightmarish living conditions including black mold and rodents. Security has made it hard for media and relief volunteers to help or visit residents at Silver Oaks. On April 15, residents received a letter detailing last-minute inspections and potential termination of leases.
"Please take note that your housekeeping efforts must be at an acceptable safe and sanitary condition or termination of tenancy will be issued," the letter from Brittani James, Community Manager at Silver Oaks, read. The letter did not clarify how management would decide what is acceptable and safe. No one from Silver Oaks would speak to CL when contacted to discuss the letter.
A press release from Fried's campaign says Fried will discuss housing affordability and outrageous rent increases. "With her will be Florida residents who have experienced the housing affordability crisis first-hand," the release added.
Fried will then head to St. Petersburg where activists have been meeting with Mayor Ken Welch to discuss the crisis.
Her appearance in St. Petersburg will happen at Stanton Apartments, located at 211 3rd St. N. Last year, a Stanton resident died in a hospital after collapsing while hastily moving out after his own eviction.
