One thing is true: in a war, there are casualties. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ “woke war” is no exception.
DeSantis, who promises that if elected president, he will make the United States more like Florida, has been promoting a wave of extremist legislation in his state. He has restricted academic freedom and banned diversity and equity programs, among other measures.
Some fear that his policies may lead tourists to vacation elsewhere and some college students to enroll out of state in search of a more diverse education; they may also exacerbate the exodus of educators at a time when the state is already facing the largest teacher shortage in its history.
According to the Florida Education Association, when DeSantis took office in January 2019, Florida had 2,217 teacher vacancies. By January 2023, that number more than doubled to 5,294 vacancies in a state where teacher pay is among the lowest in the country.
Business Exodus
But the lack of teachers is just one of the negative impacts of DeSantis’ policies. As CNN reported on Sunday, Florida businesses are also suffering.
Organizations and corporations are canceling conventions and other events that are an essential part of Florida’s vital hospitality economy. The NAACP issued a travel advisory in May warning that the State of Florida has come to be seen as “openly hostile to African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
It seems that several organizations are heeding the warning. The organizers of the Global Surgical Conference and Expo – which expected to attract about 7,000 people – moved their 2027 event from Orlando to Philadelphia. Orlando tourism officials told The Wall Street Journal that the group cited concerns about the policies promoted by DeSantis.
The American Educational Research Association canceled its 15,000-person meeting in Orlando after the passage of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, championed by DeSantis, which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports teams. Tony Pals, the group’s spokesperson, explained in an email to CNN that the organization would not hold a conference or event in a state like Florida that has enacted anti-trans laws.
The organizers of a “Game of Thrones” fan convention recently canceled the event that was supposed to take place in Orlando after hearing from attendees that they did not want to go to an event in Florida.
The list goes on.
As reported to CNN on Sunday, Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of the tourism marketing agency Visit Lauderdale, noted that 10 events and conventions have been canceled by organizations “citing recently enacted laws, policies, and travel advisories.”
Measured in dollars, DeSantis’ “woke war” has already secured an estimated loss of $20 million in revenue for the state. That’s millions of dollars less spent on hotels, local restaurants, and small businesses in the state.
Despite this real impact, DeSantis’ press secretary dismissed CNN’s story, calling it “nothing more than a media stunt.” The spokesperson added, “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida’s economy is growing.”
Source: CNN