Francis Suarez

I did my mayor's ball last year, and this year I'll be doing it on May 31st to end homeless. We want to be the first major American city to have zero homeless, and we think we can get there. We call it Functional Zero. Thank you. And frankly, the strategy is not that complicated. Obviously, there's a macroeconomic strategy. We have the lowest unemployment in America.

I did my mayor's ball last year, and this year I'll be doing it on May 31st to end homeless. We want to be the first major American city to have zero homeless, and we think we can get there. We call it Functional Zero. Thank you. And frankly, the strategy is not that complicated. Obviously, there's a macroeconomic strategy. We have the lowest unemployment in America.

We have the highest median wage growth in America. I lowered taxes to the lowest level in history, and we've seen 140% growth in nine years. So the economy is robust. We were ranked the happiest city in America, the healthiest city in America. Frankly, if you're happy, you're healthy and you're working, you're probably not homeless.

We have the highest median wage growth in America. I lowered taxes to the lowest level in history, and we've seen 140% growth in nine years. So the economy is robust. We were ranked the happiest city in America, the healthiest city in America. Frankly, if you're happy, you're healthy and you're working, you're probably not homeless.

And then, of course, we've done innovative things in the homeless space. We've worked with charitable organizations that help people reunify families if they live in other parts of the country. And also we rent homes so that we can get around the building process and give all the same wraparound services. But we sort of hack through that process.

And then, of course, we've done innovative things in the homeless space. We've worked with charitable organizations that help people reunify families if they live in other parts of the country. And also we rent homes so that we can get around the building process and give all the same wraparound services. But we sort of hack through that process.

A very high percentage. I would say 80% plus. That's sort of anecdotal. And I've been out to the streets. I'll be out there before my homeless ball now on May 31st. I'm actually going to spend a night out on the street. And when you talk to them, when you engage in them, a vast majority of them are, unfortunately.

A very high percentage. I would say 80% plus. That's sort of anecdotal. And I've been out to the streets. I'll be out there before my homeless ball now on May 31st. I'm actually going to spend a night out on the street. And when you talk to them, when you engage in them, a vast majority of them are, unfortunately.

Fentanyl.

Fentanyl.

A big part of the problem, heroin or opioids. He's asking for a friend, by the way. Yeah. I'm asking if you have a hookup. Clearly, clearly.

A big part of the problem, heroin or opioids. He's asking for a friend, by the way. Yeah. I'm asking if you have a hookup. Clearly, clearly.

Well, to your point, I mean, meth and the opioids are incredibly addictive and they're very hard to beat, right? I mean, even people who are wealthy and get addicted to these drugs have a very hard time. The recidivism rate is very high. And so, you know, You just had Antonio on here a minute ago, and he was talking about immigration and the border.

Well, to your point, I mean, meth and the opioids are incredibly addictive and they're very hard to beat, right? I mean, even people who are wealthy and get addicted to these drugs have a very hard time. The recidivism rate is very high. And so, you know, You just had Antonio on here a minute ago, and he was talking about immigration and the border.

And one of the big problems with the border is the tens of thousands of people that die annually because of fentanyl that gets imported through China and through our border. And so there's a tie-in between federal policy and local policy. But for us, again, in 1980, during the cocaine era, a different drug, we had 220 homicides.

And one of the big problems with the border is the tens of thousands of people that die annually because of fentanyl that gets imported through China and through our border. And so there's a tie-in between federal policy and local policy. But for us, again, in 1980, during the cocaine era, a different drug, we had 220 homicides.

So you had drugs hurting people, but you had the business of drugs very much hurting people, right? Last, so we started recording homicides in 1946 in Miami. 1946, we had 32 homicides. From 1946 to today, the lowest, number we ever had was 24. Last year we had 27. Wow. Okay, we had 220 in 1980. This year we're trending below the 24.

So you had drugs hurting people, but you had the business of drugs very much hurting people, right? Last, so we started recording homicides in 1946 in Miami. 1946, we had 32 homicides. From 1946 to today, the lowest, number we ever had was 24. Last year we had 27. Wow. Okay, we had 220 in 1980. This year we're trending below the 24.

So this may be the safest year in the history, recorded history of Miami.

So this may be the safest year in the history, recorded history of Miami.