Is Florida Really The Sunshine State? YES! NO!

Compared to many other states in America, Florida is supreme to all. The flora and fauna alone make it a fairytale to many northerners looking for a warmer climate, hence why the population rate of Florida itself has increased so much so. Growing up in Boca Raton, Florida, and having the opportunity to travel to numerous states in the United States, I have grown to appreciate it more each time the humid air hits me as I there’s always a beach nearby,” said senior Sander Greenfield.

Alaina Kosier Face-Off Editor

be attributed to COVID-19, leaving parents and young adults to work virtually. If corporate America is able to work virtually, why not do it on the beach?

For me, thinking of the state of Florida itself, I only really consider Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami Beach. What’s crazy about that statement is that many northerners would feel as though I just listed a large portion of Florida, however, there is so much more to discover! Most states have just a couple tourist attractions to choose from, however Florida has numerous ones in every city. The beaches alone are reason to visit, even if it means my friends and I have less parking spots to choose from.

“What’s not to love about South Florida, it has great weather, great people, and

Beyond the sites to see, Floridians have collegiate opportunities others states gasp over. For instance, with Florida Prepaid, residents have the chance to pre-pay for their children’s in-state tuition, regardless of inflation. This attributes to the hundreds of thousands of kids who attend in-state colleges such as the University of Florida, Florida State University, and suggest.

Known for its juicy oranges, wild stories about men, and alligators spotted on the street, Florida just so happens to be one of the worst places to live despite the utopian fantasy the rest of the country has about it. It sounds glorious when picturing the Sunshine State as just a place with beautiful beaches and clear skies. Ironically, there is such a thing as too much sunshine in this overcrowded and muggy state. However, besides the million-degree temperatures, Florida is still quite a trainwreck. With new contentious laws being passed by the day, we’re headed straight for chaos. Just weeks ago, Governor Ron DeSantis and The Florida House signed a bill that now allows one to carry concealed guns and weapons without possessing a permit or training. DeSantis has also been open about making open-carry legal if the legislature were to pass the law, too. This new measure is devastating to people around the entire state, including students at Spanish River.

“The new gun law, which has recently been passed by our governor, [puts] me at risk every day at school and while walking around Boca trying to live and do daily activities,” says junior Tristin Dasse. “I now know I have a higher chance of being shot or seeing someone

School shootings and public places are already a big problem in the state of Florida; just five years ago, 17 innocent lives were taken by a school shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School -- which is just twenty minutes from Spanish River. Despite this happening, It would not be surprising to see the death toll or the number of unprovoked shootings rise due to this new law. The godawful laws that have been passed in the state don’t stop here, either. The “Stop WOKE” act, passed just last year, has banned teachers and employers from discussing instructional lessons regarding race relations and diversity because conversations about the topic could supposedly make people feel guilty or uneasy about the past. This act violates the First Amendment due to speech being barred based on what can and cannot be said in schools and the workplace. Further, DeSantis also passed a law last year, known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which states that teachers may not discuss or teach classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades K-3 as it is not “developmentally” or “age appropriate.” Much backlash was received from other government leaders, representatives, and residents in Florida as the law marginalizes the LGBTQ+ community and suppresses their presence in society no matter their age. DeSantis is also looking into expanding this law to grades 4-12 as well.

As it seems, Florida is not the place to be in terms of the amount of discrimination and danger that the state possesses.

Even more so, Florida is unappealing because of the overcrowdedness during the winter season and the rising population year-round. Notice how “winter season” was mentioned -- actually, there are no seasons in the state. Anyone who lives here or visits knows that they are in a constant state of sweat and stickiness from the absurd temperatures and high humidity levels throughout the state. Personally, I’m counting down the days until I can feel the crunch of snow beneath my feet and see colorful leaves during the fall. With winter being nonexistent, snowbirds from New York, New Jersey, and elsewhere fly down for months at a time and cram the roads and beaches. This wasteland of tourists makes the beaches, which are already trash-filled, unpleasant to be at because they are loud and oblivious. The state of the environment affects students at our school, too.

“I’ve noticed in the past few years, thousands of people have flooded into the south Florida area and the littering on the beach has been noticeably increased ever since,” says junior Elena Ferbeyre. “We need to do a better job at taking care of our beaches and the overall environment we live in.”

Besides the unpleasant environment and weather, the attitude of the people that live here are also quite unnerving. Pop! There goes the Boca Bubble. In my experience, South Florida has one of the largest populations of people who are entitled and impolite and I think a primary factor that contributes to this is the difference in economic classes. On one hand there are people from the middle and lower classes who are respectful and kind, and on the other, there are people in the upper class who are more snobbish and notso considerate. It is unclear that this is because of the way they were used or just an attitude that was adopted from those they surround themselves with, but it is prominent in schools, the workplace, on the road, etc. It’s something that for sure has driven me away from the love I used to have for Florida as a kid, and I’m sure this can be said for many other Floridians.

With that being said, my stance on Florida remains due to the sticky weather, outrageous laws, and the people that I cannot wait to leave. Maybe make the decision to move elsewhere some day, or perhaps do your part in redirecting the antiFlorida position that myself and many others hold.