Upscale Developer Uses Vaccine As Perk For Homeowners: Report

Sarasota FL

24 February, 2021

11:20 AM

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ENGLEWOOD, FL — Emails from employees of Neal Communities, the private developer of the Boca Royale Golf & Country Club in Englewood, show that the vaccine was offered to homeowners in the affluent community, as well as their family members and members of the semi-private club, the Herald-Tribune reported. Homes in the gated community cost more than $1 million and membership at the club costs thousands annually, reports said. Pat Neal, the former state senator-turned-developer behind Neal Communities, donated $25,000 to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' political committee and was part of his transition team when the governor took office, the Herald-Tribune reported. Neal Communities also develops homes in Charlotte County's Kings Gate community, where a pop-up vaccine clinic was held for seniors living there and in the nearby communities of Maple Leaf and Port Charlotte Village in early February. DeSantis has been under fire for showing political favoritism by bringing vaccine clinics organized by political donors to wealthy communities. He's faced criticism for both the Charlotte County clinic as well as a three-day pop-up clinic in the two wealthiest ZIP codes in Manatee County.