Salazar and Gimenez have chosen silence as Gov. Ron DeSantis continues his assault on school systems, with threats to defund them for protecting students and teachers
This week, several major school districts across Florida voted overwhelmingly to protect teachers and students as they begin returning to classrooms, in defiance of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ threats to defund them and suspend public officials who listen to science and do the right thing.
While we’re lucky to have vocal school leaders who are willing to stand up to DeSantis’ authoritarian threats, the same can’t be said for Reps. Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar, who represent the fourth-largest student body in the United States.
While mayor, Gimenez was not shy about criticizing the state government for its attacks on home rule, or Ron DeSantis for ending mask mandates prematurely. But being a Republican in Congress, it seems, has a deleterious effect on rational thinking and independent leadership.
In fact, under DeSantis’s string of failures, the COVID-19 situation in Florida is worse now than at any other point in the pandemic, including when Gimenez offered stark criticism of the governor.
Yet, he and Maria Elvira Salazar have chosen silence over standing behind Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ efforts to protect our teachers and students.
“When it comes to actually standing up for Miamians, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar are MIA,” said DCCC Spokesperson Abel Iraola. “It’s shameful that two people who love to hear themselves talk as much as Carlos and Maria Elvira have found themselves incapable of saying anything in support of teachers and students. Apparently they see no problem with Gov. DeSantis’ relentless attacks on our public education system.”
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