Issues | Kendrick Meek for FL-24

Lowering the Cost of Living for South Florida Families

South Florida has become one of the most expensive places in America to live. Working families, seniors, and young professionals are being priced out of the communities they helped build. It's time for our government to put people ahead of special interests by focusing on an agenda that puts our families first. Kendrick's priorities will be to implement policies that helps:

Affordable Housing and Homeownership

Build more affordable and workforce housing for teachers, nurses, first responders, hospitality workers, and young families.
Expand down payment assistance and first-time homebuyer programs.
Increase funding for housing voucher programs and affordable rental assistance like Section 8.
Crack down on corporate investors and private equity firms that buy up neighborhoods and drive up housing prices.
Protect renters from excessive rent increases and unfair housing practices.
Convert vacant and underutilized properties into affordable housing opportunities.

Lower Everyday Costs

Strengthen consumer protections against price gouging and corporate profiteering.
Expand the Child Tax Credit and other tax relief programs for working families and middle-class households.
Increase food assistance and Snap benefits for seniors, veterans, and families facing rising grocery costs.
Invest in neighborhood grocery access and support local food markets in underserved communities.

Lower Utility and Transportation Costs

Hold utility companies accountable for unjustified rate increases.
Expand clean energy investments that lower long-term energy costs.
Invest in reliable public transportation and regional mobility options that reduce commuting expenses.
Support programs that help homeowners improve energy efficiency and lower utility bills.

Affordable Healthcare for Every Family

So many Americans are struggling to afford healthcare because of the recent attacks on our healthcare system like decreasing funding for hospitals and community clients, the rollback of Medicaid expansion programs, the cancellation of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, and the rising cost of hospital stays and doctor visits. No one should have to choose between paying rent and seeing a doctor, between buying our grandparents medications and eating, or between necessary hospital stays to heal and suffering at home alone. Kendrick's plan for more affordable healthcare will include:

Expanding Access and Reducing Costs

Restore and expand the Affordable Care Act subsidies for our families.
Fight for Medicaid expansion for all those in need.
Lower prescription drug costs and expand access to affordable medications.
Increase access to mental health and behavioral health services.
Expand community health centers and neighborhood clinics.
Improve access to healthcare in underserved communities.

Protecting Seniors

Protect Medicare and Social Security from cuts.
Expand home healthcare and aging-in-place programs.
Allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.
Reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs for seniors on fixed incomes.

Protecting Reproductive Freedom

Defend access to reproductive healthcare and family planning services.
Expand maternal health investments and reduce disparities in maternal outcomes.
Improve healthcare access for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

Good Jobs and Economic Opportunity

Too many South Floridians are struggling because of a lack of good paying jobs and economic opportunity. More tax breaks to large corporations and billionaires will not solve this problem for our working family. South Florida's economy MUST work for workers—not just the wealthy. Kendrick will fight to:

Raise Wages and Support Workers

Fight for higher wages that reflect South Florida's cost of living.
Protect workers' rights to organize and collectively bargain.
Strengthen workplace protections and enforcement against wage theft.
Expand paid family and medical leave.

Better Workforce Development

Invest in apprenticeship programs and skilled trades training.
Create pathways to high-paying jobs in healthcare, construction, technology, clean energy, and transportation.
Partner with local employers to prepare workers for the jobs of the future.

Support Small Businesses and Local Entrepreneurs

Expand access to capital for local entrepreneurs and minority-owned businesses.
Reduce unnecessary barriers for small business growth.
Support neighborhood commercial corridors and local economic development.
Promote innovation and entrepreneurship throughout South Florida.

Education That Creates Opportunity

For most minority and immigrant communities, access to education has led to greater opportunities in our communities. That is why we believe every child deserves a quality education regardless of where they live, skin color, and family educational history. Kendrick's family's long history advocating for education means he will continue to:

Invest in Early Childcare and Public Schools

Fight for universal childcare and pre-K.
Increase teacher pay and improve educator retention.
Modernize school facilities and classroom technology.
Expand after-school, mentorship, and summer enrichment programs.
Support mental health resources in schools.

Higher Education and Career Training

Make community college, trade schools and technical certifications, and workforce training more affordable and eventually free for everyone.
Reduce student debt burdens through student loan forgiveness programs.
Increase support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

Safe Communities Through Prevention and Partnership

South Florida deserves communities where families are safe and our children can ride bikes, visit playgrounds, and gather together without fear of violence and harassment. We must reduce our investment in prison and focus more on prevention and community partnerships because good public safety requires both accountability and opportunity.

Keeping Communities Safe Initiative

Invest in violence prevention and intervention programs before crime happens.
Strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and communities.
Expand youth employment, mentorship, and recreation programs.
Crack down on illegal gun trafficking and violent crime.
Support first responders with the resources they need by improving mental health crisis response services.
Focus public safety efforts on prevention, intervention, and accountability.

Protecting Freedom, Civil Rights, and Reimagining Democracy

Our basic freedoms and civil rights are under attack right now. Through the court system and the legislative process, this is a collective effort to silence Black voters, reduce Black political representation and access to political power, and return Black people living in the South to a Jim Crow era. That is why we must fight to protect our freedom and civil rights while also reimagining our country and our democratic system through a lens of racial fairness. Kendrick will focus on our protections through expanding:

Voting Rights

Better access to voting and civic participation.
Protecting our rights to have representation that reflects the racial diversity of our communities.
Voting rights and strengthening election accessibility.
Increase voter education and engagement.

Equality and Opportunity