New state laws enacted after the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021 have created a financial crisis throughout Florida.
The USA TODAY Florida Network, which includes 19 daily newspapers throughout the state, has written extensively on the topic that has generated significant interest and concern for many condo owners in Florida.
That’s why USA TODAY Florida Network will hold a town hall on Wednesday, April 16, called the Condo Crisis. A panel of industry experts will discuss the issue and answer your questions.
The bill that created the chaos in 2022, Senate Bill 4D, created new standards for condo buildings over three stories tall, and has left many Floridians wrestling with the option of paying significant association fees, selling their unit or going into foreclosure.
The result: many retirees on pensions or fixed incomes cannot afford the bills that are now due, and potential buyers are avoiding older buildings because of the high assessments. Meanwhile, insurance premiums are soaring.
All questions and answers that come up in the town hall will be published.
Here are the panelists for the forum:
The panelists for the Palm Beach Post’s Condo Crisis forum: Michael J. Gelfand, Shelby Seidler, Mike Diamond and Jonathan Lickstein.
Michael J. Gelfand
Michael J. Gelfand is a Florida Bar Board Certified Lawyer in real estate law and condominium and planned development law. He is also a mediator of condominium and homeowners’ association law disputes, an arbitrator, and a parliamentarian. He is the senior partner of Gelfand & Arpe, P.A., in West Palm Beach. He served on the Surfside task force.
Shelby Seidler
Shelby Seidler, a native Floridian and Coast Guard veteran, has built a successful real estate business from the ground up. After the Surfside collapse, she became increasingly focused on the implications for condo owners and buyers — advocating for transparency and smarter decision-making in buildings with shared structural responsibility.
Mike Diamond
Mike Diamond is an award-winning journalist who has worked as a reporter and editor for more than 30 years in both New Jersey and Florida. He currently works for The Palm Beach Post and also often writes about issues affecting homeowner associations. He was the lead reporter for the USA TODAY Florida Network’s in-depth series on the Condo Crisis in Florida.
Jonathan Lickstein
Jonathan Lickstein also serves as a broker, mentor and certified instructor at the firm. He is the 2025 President of the Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtor Association. He also contributes to various committees with Florida Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.
We want to hear from you: Do you have questions regarding the condo crisis in Florida? Answer our poll below.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Condo law 2025: USA TODAY Florida forum to answer questions on crisis