Commissioner Diaz calls for stopping evictions during states of emergency

MIAMI – The Miami-Dade County Commission on Oct. 3 approved legislation sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz urging the state to halt any pending evictions during a declared state of emergency.

The legislation took the form of two resolutions. One requests the Florida judicial system to adopt administrative orders requiring judges to automatically stay any writs of possession associated with evictions after the governor or County mayor declares a state of emergency. The other urges the state to adopt a moratorium on evictions during states of emergency.

The legislation was prompted by reports of at least one Miami-Dade resident being evicted shortly before Hurricane Dorian was expected to hit South Florida.

“During and after a hurricane, law enforcement needs to focus on residents’ health and safety, not evicting people who may have nowhere else to go, especially at a time when homelessness is more likely to result in death from dangerous weather conditions and downed wires,” Commissioner Diaz said.