9/16/21, 10:15 AM South Florida landlord requires new tenants and those renewing their leases to be vaccinated - CNN

US
South Florida landlord requires new tenants and those
renewing their leases to be vaccinated
By Leyla Santiago and Dan Shepherd, CNN
 Updated 0128 GMT (0928 HKT) September 16, 2021

'DeSantis knows that's BS': Cuomo on misinformation at press event 03:51

(CNN) — A South Florida landlord is requiring new tenants over the age of 18 or any adult tenants who want to
renew a lease in one of the 1,200 units he manages to provide proof of a Covid-19 vaccination.

Santiago Alvarez told CNN he has no plan to change his rule despite threats from Gov. Ron DeSantis to fine
businesses that require proof of vaccination.

Alvarez said he made the decision a month ago after seeing too many of his tenants die from Covid-19.

"I think my decision was right, and I will defend it any way I
can. If I get fined, I will go to court with it," he told CNN.

The landlord also requires his employees be fully vaccinated.

He told CNN he has two employees and two tenants that have
left as a result of his vaccination policies.

Alvarez, who said he has voted Republican for a long time,

said he is not a DeSantis fan and urges the governor to follow
the science, not the polls.

DeSantis has made it clear that he does not support mask

and vaccine mandates, citing personal choice as a greater
priority.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/15/us/florida-landlord-vaccine-requirement/index.html 1/3
9/16/21, 10:15 AM South Florida landlord requires new tenants and those renewing their leases to be vaccinated - CNN

Related Article: Black, Hispanic people "These mandates are overreaches, and they will be very
US destructive for a lot of really, really good people," DeSantis
miss out on Covid-19 testing and
said Tuesday.
vaccinations
The governor announced this week he will fine county and
city governments requiring employees to get vaccinated
against Covid-19, threatening a $5,000 fine per violation.

Alvarez said he has about 80 to 100 tenants in Broward and

Miami-Dade counties with lease renewals coming up soon.

He said he is willing to be flexible with tenants who don't want

to provide proof of vaccination, but also don't have anywhere
to go. He will consider a lease extension on a month-to-month
basis with higher rent.

"I don't want to put them on the streets, but I don't want them
to be a danger to my tenants, or to my employees," Alvarez
Related Article: New York City now said.
enforcing Covid-19 vaccine requirement
DeSantis' press secretary, Christina Pushaw, noted that the
for most indoor activities Florida Department of Health's rule enforcing a ban on
vaccine passports takes effect Thursday.

"Under Florida law, people cannot be required to show vaccine passports as a condition of entry or service," she
said.

There is a $5,000 fine for each violation.

"Mr. Alvarez and all who agree with him should be informed that vaccinated people can still transmit COVID to
others, although they're protected against severe illness," she added. "The idea of requiring vaccine passports is
unscientific and will not achieve 'lower cases.' Without mandates, cases are dropping rapidly in Florida on their
own."

Search CNN...

World

US Politics

Business

Health

Entertainment

Tech

Style

Travel
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/15/us/florida-landlord-vaccine-requirement/index.html 2/3
9/16/21, 10:15 AM South Florida landlord requires new tenants and those renewing their leases to be vaccinated - CNN

US Sports

Videos

Features

Weather

More

US

FOLLOW CNN

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility & CC AdChoices About Us Modern Slavery Act Statement

Advertise with us CNN Store Newsletters Transcripts License Footage CNN Newsource Sitemap

© 2021 Cable News Network. A Warner Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/15/us/florida-landlord-vaccine-requirement/index.html 3/3