Volusia Sheriff Launches Bold NYC Campaign Inviting Residents to Relocate to Sunny Florida

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood is extending a warm welcome to New York officers, encouraging them to consider a career move to Florida. This initiative comes on the heels of his recent invitation to New Yorkers to relocate to the Sunshine State.

According to the sheriff’s office, Chitwood has launched a campaign that will feature advertisements in Times Square, airing 80 times daily until January 31, 2026. This effort aims to attract law enforcement talent from the bustling streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida.

The sheriff mentioned that the messaging will be refreshed periodically throughout the campaign’s duration, ensuring that it remains engaging and relevant to potential recruits.

“Whether you’re hailing from New York or elsewhere, if you’re a skilled officer, Florida offers a vibrant setting to begin a new chapter,” the campaign’s message proclaims.

Chitwood further clarified that this recruitment drive is financially backed by the Volusia Sheriff’s Foundation, emphasizing that taxpayer funds are not being utilized for this endeavor.

This outreach follows Chitwood’s previous invitation, made after the election of Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s mayor, encouraging residents to consider Florida as their new home.

In a Facebook post, Chitwood said that New York City residents or police officers dissatisfied with the election results are invited “into the welcoming arms of Volusia County.”

“To all New Yorkers, if you’re looking for a better quality of life, from education, to the outdoors, to the beautiful weather, check out Volusia County,” Chitwood wrote. “We are open for business. Tonight’s election is not the end. It can be the beginning of a new life.”

Mamdani, who claimed victory over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the mayoral seat on Tuesday, is set to be New York City’s youngest mayor, as well as the city’s most liberal in generations.

He has already faced scrutiny from national Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who have eagerly cast him as a threat and the face of what they say is a more radical Democratic Party.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also weighed in on the election results on social media.

DeSantis has taken several jabs at the Big Apple during his governorship, including during a news conference in Winter Haven earlier this year, where he claimed that New Yorkers were fleeing to Florida.

“New York state now, they have millions fewer residents than we do in Florida…” he stated at the time. “We have over 23 million, they have about 19.5 million. And so even with millions more residents, the state of Florida’s budget is less than half of the budget of New York state.”

A report earlier this month also shows that people fleeing New York City are more inclined to move to large metros in Florida like Miami, Orlando and Tampa.