- August 6, 2026
Editor's Note: An invitation for all local candidates to submit letters was posted on the Ormond Beach Observer's Facebook page. This letter is in response to that post.
Dear Editor:
Growth can bring new businesses, jobs, housing and opportunities to our communities. But growth is not real progress when longtime residents are being priced out, roads cannot handle the traffic, flooding becomes worse and taxpayers are expected to cover the cost of infrastructure needed for new developments.
As I travel throughout our district, I hear the same concerns from families: Homeowners’ insurance is becoming unaffordable, rent continues to rise, traffic is getting worse and many residents feel decisions are being made without listening to the people who already live here.
We should not have to choose between economic growth and protecting our quality of life. We can do both, but development must be responsible. Developers should contribute their fair share toward the roads, drainage systems, utilities, schools and public safety resources their projects require. Those costs should not simply be passed on to working families and local taxpayers.
At the federal level, I will fight for stronger investments in flood mitigation, stormwater infrastructure, coastal protection and resilient roads. I will also push for greater accountability from insurance companies, faster disaster assistance and federal programs that help communities prepare before the next major storm instead of only responding after the damage is done.
Most importantly, local residents deserve a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their neighborhoods. The federal government should support communities, not take away their ability to protect their residents, environment and local character.
Growth should improve people’s lives. It should create opportunities without forcing families out of the communities they helped build. Ormond Beach can continue moving forward while protecting what makes it special, but that will require leadership willing to put residents before powerful interests.
Thank you for your consideration.
Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera
Editor's Note: Murchinson-Rivera is a Democrat running for Florida’s 6th Congressional District. He lives in Sorrento.
