A fight for water justice in Miami Gardens sparked political fallout in Florida’s legislature. Back in 2018, the city sued North Miami Beach for adding a 25% surcharge to the water bills of residents who lived outside NMB’s boundaries. That legal battle laid the groundwork for House Bill 11, filed by Rep. Felicia Robinson in 2024, aiming to ban municipalities from charging people more simply because of where they live.
According to a city study, Miami Gardens households saw their water bills rise by nearly $70 per quarter in just two years—all while wages stayed flat. The bill had its first reading on March 4, 2025, but despite its intent to level the playing field, it hit major resistance.
Former Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo voted against HB 11 every time it came before a committee. He argued the bill didn’t meet constitutional requirements—specifically, a missing fiscal impact statement. But things reached a boiling point when, during debate on the Senate floor, Pizzo defended his “no” vote with a jab, telling critics who accused him of racism to “suck it.”
Although Pizzo didn’t specify who called him racist, the backlash was immediate—particularly since Miami Gardens is Florida’s largest majority-Black city. The very next day, Pizzo followed up his performance and made a dramatic exit from the Democratic Party, registering as No Party Affiliation and declaring that “the party is dead.”
While HB 11 didn’t make it into law, it opened a much bigger conversation about equity, race, and respect in Florida politics. And as the Legislature moves forward, it does so without one of its most vocal—and controversial—former Democrats.
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