DeSantis Team Boasts Declining Crime Rate Over Newsom’s California
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Amidst the latest crime report from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement finding a stark decline from 2021, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ team responded to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s repeated criticism.
Newsom, a Democrat who won deep-blue California by approximately the same margin DeSantis won previously-purple Florida, has tweeted at the Florida governor 13 times since April.
The latest hurl, on Dec. 9, included a Florida voter fraud case brought by the state being dismissed on jurisdictional grounds: “The third DeSantis ‘election fraud’ case being dismissed really speaks to who is the ACTUAL fraud.”
On Dec. 5, Newsom also tweeted at DeSantis, saying Florida is “where civil rights go to die.” Newsom additionally tweeted about the Florida governor on Dec. 3.
Jeremy Redfern, Deputy Press Secretary for DeSantis, pointed to Florida’s crime statistics compared with California.
“While @GavinNewsom continues to emote online about Governor DeSantis, homicides in California increased by 7.2% in 2021 and arrests decreased by 7.3%,” Redfern said. “Homicides in Florida decreased 14.2% and arrests were up 6.8%. Amazing what happens when criminals are taken off the streets.”
The report from the FDLE found overall crime decreased by 9.5% from 2020 to 2021. Gun violence decreased substantially, and arrests increased by 6.8%.
The Public Policy Institute of California reports the state’s violent crime rate increased during the same time frame.
Violent crime increased by 6%, aggravated assaults by 8.9%, homicides by 7.7%, and rape by 7.9%.
They note that since 2019, gun-related homicides and aggravated assaults are up 52% and 64%, respectively.
Property crime, which fell substantially in Florida, increased in California.
One user said Newsom lives ‘rent-free’ in the heads of DeSantis and his team, to which Redfern noted the Republican has never mentioned Newsom in a social media post.
DeSantis has hit back directly on Newsom’s previous remarks several times.
In September, he mocked California for power outage scares when asked about a potential debate.
“Hey [Ron DeSantis], clearly you’re struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people’s lives. Since you have only one overriding need — attention –let’s take this up & debate. I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day,” Newsom said.
As days passed, DeSantis remained quiet on the challenge. Then, on an appearance with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, he poked fun at Newsom’s latest issue with keeping the lights on in California.
“Do you have any interest in debating good old Gavin Newsom on his record taxes, state income taxes?” Hannity asked.
“I don’t know if they can reliably keep the power on, so you go out there for a debate and what ends up happening, you know, if they can’t keep the lights on?” DeSantis said.
On a more serious note, DeSantis explained rather than spend time debating another state’s governor, he’d rather “get things done.”
“We’re happy with what we’re doing. You know, what I do though, Sean – My actions speak louder than my words. There’s certain people that’ll preen, and do that – I understand – we get things done in Florida.”
After news of the migrant flights, Newsom also asked the U.S. Department of Justice under President Joe Biden to investigate DeSantis and Gov. Greg Abbot of Texas for a “fraudulent scheme” to send migrants up north.
“[Newsom] sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, ‘You need to prosecute Texas and Florida governors!’ And, all I can say is, I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function,” DeSantis responded. After laughter and applause, the governor ended the press conference.
