Legislator donates salary to unemployed Floridians

With a half a million Floridians either denied unemployment or still waiting, a local state representative is donating her state salary to directly help.

“I don’t feel like it is appropriate for me to get a salary from the state when folks are not getting their money from the state,” says Rep Anna Eskamani (D – Orlando). “I don’t want to return it to the state because I don’t know when it will get to them, so using Venmo or CashAp, providing some constituents with some relief if I can.”

Eskamani has been holding virtual town halls and using her legislative staff to answer questions about unemployment as many people are still waiting for any money. The annual salary of a state representative is $29,697.

Read: Proposal aims to extend unemployment benefits for duration of pandemic

“There are two families that needed $300 for their weekly rate at an extended stay motel or they would be living in their car, there are also cases of people who just needed food,” says Eskamani.

But not everyone is able to be helped by their state representative.

“I know I’m one of thousands of people who are in the same boat and frustrated,” says Paige Marinelli. “It feels really hopeless like nobody cares, well people care just not the people who should care.”

Read: Floridians file over 2,200 complaints on businesses that haven’t complied with COVID-19 restrictions

Marinelli lost her job in March and has not seen any money from the state or federal government. She has attempted to call, but has not found any assistance.

“If you call the voice mail sends you through some prompts and then tells you there is nobody to answer your phone call,” says Cocoa Beach resident Nancy Happel. “The fact that I can’t get through to find out if there is a problem with my application, I don’t think there is, I was pretty through it’s extremely frustrating.”

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