Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic landfall, Governor Ron DeSantis has requested an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration to support Florida's response and recovery efforts. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and members...
Following Hurricane Milton’s catastrophic landfall in Florida, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined the U.S. Coast Guard to survey impacted areas across the State. Photos are courtesy of Senator Rubio’s office. Senator Rubio joins the U.S. Coast Guard for a flyover...
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host in-person Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Major Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall in Florida, bringing with it devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. The Seminole Tribe of Florida should have access to the federal resources required for emergency response and recovery preparations on...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to potentially hinder or obstruct the Port of Tampa Bay, which receives more than 40 percent of Florida’s petroleum products. It’s crucial for the federal government to expedite all requested measures to protect Florida’s economy...
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio...
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today met with Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Councilman Garrett Dennis during a visit to Washington to discuss ongoing problems at the Eureka Garden Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing complex in Jacksonville, FL.
After the meeting, Rubio issued the following statement:
“I have been involved in calling for accountability on the issues at Eureka Garden since they first came to light. After months of repairs and very little progress, it is clear to me, Mayor Curry and Councilman Dennis that HUD must examine its faulty inspection process. What is happening in Jacksonville has unearthed a problem that must be resolved, and we remain committed to protecting the health and safety of residents living at these taxpayer-funded facilities.
“Both Mayor Curry and Councilman Dennis have been leading voices for the residents of Eureka Garden. From listening to tenants’ complaints when the situation at the complex began, to pushing for answers and solutions as knowledge of the scope of these conditions spread beyond Eureka Garden, they have been advocates for the people of Jacksonville. I want to thank them for their continuing efforts to improve living conditions on these federally certified facilities.”
A photo of the meeting is available below and can be credited to the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
Rubio’s office first got involved in the investigation of health and safety conditions over five months ago, following reports of code violations at the Westside complex. An October 2015 HUD inspection found deficiencies in at least 340 of the 400 units, yet just three months earlier in July 2015, HUD gave Eureka Garden Apartments a passing score of an 85 out of 100 in its Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspection. Many repairs have been made to the property over the past several months, but the complex still received a low score of a 62 out of 100 in a March 2016 inspection.
Rubio has asked HUD Secretary Julián Castro to reform the agency’s inspection process so that problems can be identified sooner, and to expand the role of state and local partners to ensure greater accountability of HUD-certified facilities. He also highlighted ongoing problems at Eureka Garden last week in a Senate floor speech.