The Florida FEMA Trap:

https://youtu.be/Z0Ehbjx6-vE?si=zsd_U7qFpepfb3o2 (https://youtu.be/Z0Ehbjx6-vE?si=zsd_U7qFpepfb3o2)

This video gets into the The Florida FEMA Trap, and City Code Compliance Inspectors being a part in the “Land Grab Phenomenon”. 

Basically after every hurricane, Real Estate investors, and hedge fund investors, sweep in buying up properties. 

Local governments use policy loop holes, like the FEMA 50% rule to deem properties, as “substantially damaged” and enforce stringent compliance requirements, that leaves homeowners with a choice to pay for expensive upgrades, or sell their property at a loss. Here’s another video:

https://youtu.be/wpfEvrYJxFs?si=bZK1fOQvrMZtZBz5 (https://youtu.be/wpfEvrYJxFs?si=bZK1fOQvrMZtZBz5)

“They use policy against the people. Many local governments use the federal government’s own rules  to take people’s properties from them, and it’s being done through code enforcement and permit process, that has become a playing field for investors.  That’s pretty much the gist of things, isn’t that right, Tarpon Springs City Inspector Keith M.? 

This strategy of forced buyouts, at 40% to 60% market value, what with homeowners getting overwhelmed with aggressive code enforcements, has been turning entire communities over to investment developers, who then build high end luxury properties, in areas that were once affordable neighborhoods. 

This EXACTLY explains the bullying tactics, and direction that Tarpon Springs City Inspector Keith M. was heading towards. 

Like when reporting us for code enforcement violation, and Mr. Keith M. ignored our demands that he must knock to let us know he was coming on our property, but he chose instead to continue to trespass on our property, without bothering to let us know that he was on our property. A form of bullying. Ignoring the requests of the homeowners and residents, and the numerous No Trespassing signs we put out. That and reporting our RV to Code Enforcement knowing full well that we were documented disaster victims, was some of the bullying tactics launched against us by this city inspector. 

Well, the gentrification process going on in Tampa Bay for some time now, has not left Tarpon Springs immune. Georgia has been facing the growing dread of her getting priced out of her home. She’s elderly and disabled, living off of a VERY fixed income, and this is the only home she's ever known since her sponger diver grandfather bought it for his family. 

Keeping up with her costs was how we first met through HomeShare back 2021, as autism being our common denominator. Me and Nikki gone through yet another evacuation out of Hawaii. We’ve been bouncing back and forth, from Hawaii and Florida for some time, before we made the move to permanently remain back home to Florida where most of our family and extended family lived. 

The ongoing land grabs in high risk areas, and especially with vulnerable, economically disadvantaged homeowners like Georgia D., who is an elderly and disabled, and isolated within her autism, was clearly seen as an easy target, for the increasingly restrictive local government policies, that had Tarpon Springs City Inspector Keith M., beaming from ear to ear, proudly reciting them to us, knowing we didn't have the resources for the repairs. The struggles have forced many homeowners to sell their homes to investors, as the extreme costs to repair their homes, left the average homeowner at a loss of what to do, was a very common tactic utilized against the average homeowner, that has been losing ground in this game, as cities enforce strict codes that overwhelm and push lifelong residents out, to pave the way for luxury developers, or investors to swoop in, like vultures.

The 50% FEMA rule is even worse, due to the fact that the 50% is based on the actual value of the structure in damaged condition, and does not include the value of the land in the calculation of the 50%. 

Which is really obscene of what’s been happening to many homeowners. Forcing people out of their homes without paying them fair market value, violates the old concept of eminent domain. 

Worse of all is that it’s the most economically vulnerable people that are routinely having this done to them, on the one valuable asset that could lift them out of poverty, if they are paid fairly for it. 

Not that this would be the case in Georgia’s situation, Keith M. I know, I know. She looks like such an easy target. We all do. This largely elderly and disabled household. What can we do about it? 

Fight back of course. 

But the pressure was on there. As an old timer here in Tarpon Springs since her grandfather came here to Tarpon Springs back in 1906, and worked his life as a sponge diver, for 30 years here Tarpon Springs until his last dive in 1935, but Georgia is very aware of the fact that her immediate neighbors pay far more in property taxes than she does. 

And Georgia felt with growing dread that many of the new people moving into Tarpon Springs, will eventually have her be priced out of the only home she’s ever known. And she feels rightly so,  that some people who work for the city, are catering to a whole new population in Tarpon Springs, that will gladly see the old timers like herself, go, so as to make way for other well off new residents, that can and will pay far more in taxes, than she would ever be able to do. 

That’s a very legitimate concern, isn’t it Keith M.? It SO explains your behavior. The tactics you have utilized to put pressure and stress upon Georgia and us. 

As since its resident's property taxes that is what pays for the city workers salaries. It's just another incentive to price lifelong residents out of their homes, and replace them with more affluent residents, that will pay far more in property taxes, then an elderly and disabled lifelong resident is, utilizing the historic time her family purchased their homes, and Georgia's homestead exemptions, that lowers her tax burden considerably. 

The gentrification process here in Tampa Bay is very real. 

Georgia however, will not go easy. Especially with me on watch here. Her home is repairable. Regardless of what tactics have  been utilized to pressure her to sell her home. But you sure did try, City Inspector Keith M. It would have made a great story. City inspector attempts to strong arm and forcibly displace of a lifelong elderly Greek resident, and her friends. Make sure the Greek residents here are okay with that stain on you and your tactics in the bullying out, of one of their own. Greeks are much like Italians with their nonnas, or Spanish with their nanas, to get away with such underhanded tactics launched against a vulnerable and helpless lifelong elderly Tarpon Springs resident. 

Georgia will definitely NOT go quietly. Neither of us will go quietly. She’s never really reached out to her community, as after the losses of her older sisters, she just kept to herself, but I told her that they needed to know what was going on. They won't step in if they don't know. But upon knowing her plight, will they just look away, and allow you to bully out one of their very own, from her home? She's turned to Citizens Alliance for Progress for help to avoid "talk". But her Greek community must be made aware of all of what she was being faced with. 

We've got no problem going public in what we have had to endure, which was psychologically more stressful to her, and us, than the storms themselves. She was adamant about not leaving. So I gave up on possible relocation options. Georgia's entire family lived and died here in Tarpon Springs. She refused to leave, even temporarily. 

Want to hide your true intentions behind your code compliance rules and policies, City Inspector Keith M.? With what’s been happening with homeowners of other storm damaged locations, all over over Tampa Bay? Y definitely needs to shine the spotlight on the issue. Apparently someone has. I'm glad we held out. It's been a tough year, but the outcome now looks far more promising now. 

Go ahead and beam from ear to ear, City Inspector Keith M., proudly reciting code rules, as if. But the best way to face off against bullies is in public. 

Update. As Yia-Yias are notoriously equivalent to our Nonnas, and the outrage that the commissioner Peter K., (also Greek American) obviously felt, having Georgia weep to him over her plight, was palpable even over the phone, and was all that was needed for the bullying and harassment to stop immediately, just as he had assured her, that he would take care of things and end the bullying. He did. Right as we had already received a response from Tampa Bay Times, who have been covering the stories of the plight of many storm damaged homeowners in Tampa Bay after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

Another update, Commissioner Peter K., made us aware of another program that was coming up that will assist homeowners like Georgia in repairing their home, and remain in their home. And Farah E. of Citizens Alliance for Progress also let us know of the new programs, that just launched for homeowners in Pinellas County in October 2025.

We have since applied to the Pinellas County Homeowner Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program that was launched on October 2025, more than a year after the twofold hurricanes of 2024. We spent over 2 hours applying and getting everything together. We're told that the application process is the longest part of the process. 

After over a year, camping out in an RV, on Georgia's property, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Here's to holding out on things.

Granted, the only way that Keith M., would have successfully managed to have Georgia removed from her property, would have been by force. Which I would have SO filmed and made viral. Best know that. Here's to the cowards who love to pick on the weakest members of society, simply because they don't have the resources, or the ability to fight back, but who off with the quickness, when faced against someone their own size. Cowards. Men that enjoy preying on the elderly and vulnerable, we can literally squat down and crap out better "men" than these. 

Here's to the champions, where no one messes with a vulnerable Nonna, (in this case a Yia-Yia) on their watch, we will always immensely grateful to Commissioner Peter K. for keeping the wolves at bay, until this program opened up that will be the answer to Georgia's prayers, this coming 2026!! 

God bless you, Commissioner Peter K., for all you did for Georgia, and for us all!!