Ryan Ray

Florida, man

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

Most people aren’t Florida enough to live in Tallahassee

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

That’s partly why the current hardcore state overreach into local gov (where voters are more engaged & aware of issues) is so wrong.

It essentially grafts the views of a small, lobbyist-dominated backwater cadre of little-known electeds onto the rules everyone has to live with.

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

~12% turnout in a primary, just once, often sends a Rep to office for 8 years, and then 8 more in the Senate afterward.

Meanwhile they never really have to defend their ideas. That leads to the extreme stuff we see at the Capitol.

Voters disapprove, but can’t do much about it.

[Jeff Brandes @JeffreyBrandes]

“The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” - The Usual Suspects

The greatest trick DeSantis ever pulled was convincing Floridians that local government is the problem and state government is the solution.

If your mayor, sheriff, and county commission have to fly to Tallahassee every year to ask permission to fund basic services, the state didn’t shrink government.

It just moved it farther away and gave you less control.

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

Legislative elections have the lowest democratic legitimacy of any major level of gov.

Lawmakers are often elected w/o real opposition, with shockingly little awareness in their districts.

Lobbyist money plays an outsized role. Folks around the process know they run the show.

[Tropical Depression @TropDepPod]

New episode out!

We caught @aglorios and @lmower3 — on their wedding anniversary of all days — and talked:

- Hope Florida scandal
- the Legislature’s failure to pass a budget
- Florida’s new “domestic terrorism” law

Check out Tropical Depression where you get podcasts!

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

@fineout RIP

[Justin Adam @DubAlllStar]

@ryanray_Fla “Infrastructure”

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

Think about your commute vs. your commute 5 years ago

Then think about how developer-driven sprawl negatively impacts walkability and good urban planning

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

A proposed second I-10 interchange farther north, the Northeast Gateway/Welaunee Blvd, City Land Code variances, developer priorities all work in concert to produce the same outcome:

New McMansion sprawl development far from the actual community we live in, diluting Tallahassee

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

I grew up reading the Times & the Trib. Feels like an impossible luxury today that thousands of people had both delivered every day + La Gaceta and alt weekly Creative Loafing for micro local

[Ira Kaufman @IKaufman76]

May 3 marks a somber anniversary for Bay area residents. Ten years ago today, the Tampa Tribune ceased publication after 123 years of providing local journalism to the community. The Trib's slogan, "Life Printed Daily,'' was a mission statement that served the region well.

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

Working in Marianna on @GwenGraham for Congress 2014 was a North Florida education of a lifetime

As was living in Grand Ridge (pop. 896) #NorthFLWay

[Matt Dixon @Mdixon55]

The fact that @FlaDems old headquarters is now “The Therapy Place” is kind of amazing

[Joe Weisenthal @TheStalwart]

David's polling here is incredible and deserves way more attention.

A majority of all voters, including 50% of Trump voters, are now in favor of publicly-funded job creation and healthcare to protect workers against AI-related job loss.

[Tropical Depression @TropDepPod]

Local issues win w/ Gainesville Commissioner @FlaBryan | Building a post-MAGA Florida with a local focus on Episode 40 dropping 🔜

[Leon County Democrats @leondems]

Florida Republicans have a major racism problem — again

Fishback, Trump & violent Far Right bigotry are the GOP we must defeat

[Tropical Depression @TropDepPod]

Gaines Vegas forever | Great talking w/ City Commissoner Bryan Eastman (@FlaBryan) about GNV + Florida under Maga. Episode 40 coming up 🔜

[Jeffrey Burlew @JeffBurlew]

Leon County Citizen Charter Review Committee votes 8-7 against examining a charter amendment that would create a joint city/county land development code.

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

@SeanThomasFL Awwww. Ty my friend :)

[Ryan Ray @ryanray_Fla]

@steveschale @PeterSchorschFL Hell yeah

[Steve Schale @steveschale]

@PeterSchorschFL @ryanray_Fla