DeSantis says San Francisco has ‘collapsed’ from ‘leftist policies’

Article content

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis released a campaign ad this week criticizing San Francisco and its “collapse” due to “leftist policies.”

DeSantis shared the ad on social media Tuesday evening, and he described seeing rampant drug use, boarded-up businesses and “riff raff” everywhere.

Article content

“We came in here and we saw people defecating on the street, we saw people using heroin, we saw people smoking crack cocaine,” DeSantis said at a street corner with a heap of trash behind him.

Article content

“And you look around, the city is not vibrant anymore. It’s really collapsed because of leftist policies. These policies have caused people to flee this area,” he said, criticizing the city’s leadership.

The city has been struggling with a huge increase in overdose deaths mostly due to fentanyl, office vacancies and a record budget deficit.

“No wonder why we’ve had so many people move from San Francisco to Florida over the last few years,” he said.

DeSantis released the video after California Governor Gavin Newsom filmed his own ads targeting Florida.

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

Bay Area political insider Phil Matier says San Francisco could be a flashpoint in the U.S. president election next year.

“It is no secret that Governor Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis have had an ongoing feud,” Matier told San Francisco’s ABC 7 News.

“Governor Newsom goes down to Florida, cuts television news ads there criticizing that state. And now Governor DeSantis is stopping by Governor Newsom’s hometown and is sending him a postcard with his own critique of San Francisco. Once again, putting us in the spotlight for possibly the presidential election.”