Dear John,
It’s been one year since the tragic collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside — when our South Florida community was shaken to its core.
We lost 98 people that day, and South Florida will never be the same.
Let me start by saying that today is a day of mourning. Today is a day we should all come together — just like we did one year ago — to remember those we lost in Surfside and lend our support to their loved ones. It is also a day to reflect on the bravery of first responders who rushed into danger and worked around the clock to rescue and recover.
While nothing can make up for the loss of that day, we owe it to our community to do everything we can to ensure tragedies like this never happen again. That’s why this past special session, I led efforts to pass the condominium safety reform package that’s now been signed into law.
But our work isn’t done. We need lawmakers in Tallahassee who will prioritize building and resident safety — who will take action and do what it takes to keep our members of our community safe. I promise to continue doing exactly that.
Let us all take time today to remember those we lost, thank first responders who put their own safety on the line, reflect on the devastating impact the Surfside tragedy had on everyone touched by it, and recommit ourselves to preventing another building collapse like this from ever happening again.
Thank you,
Lauren Book
