Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez came to Miami Lakes on Sept. 9 to discuss the recently passed condo law and the hardships it has caused state residents.
The meeting, held at the Roberto Alonso Community Center, brought residents from Miami Lakes, Hialeah and the surrounding areas to discuss how new inspection schedules have caused a rise in condo assesment fees to pay for repairs for property owneres throughout the state.
The change in law was made to prevent building collapses like the 2021 failure of a building at Champlain Towers in Surfside, when 98 mostly sleeping people died.
DeSantis announced goals to ease the burden on condo owners who can't afford the assessments or may lose their properties. He said he wanted to find solutions before the end of the year.
Fla. Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes participated in the roundtable and said he'd heard from Miami Lakes residents who were struggling to pay assessment fees.
DeSantis and Nuñez heard from area residents Jonathan Carcasses, an Aventura real estate broker; Kevin Patrick Cortina of Hialeah and Doris Gonzalez who spoke about how assessments are hurting them and other owners in their condo associations.
Also in attendance were Fla. Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah; Miami-Dade County Commissioner Sen. René Garcia, District 13; Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Tony Fernandez and Councilmembers Ray Garcia and Bryan Morera.