Gubernatorial hopeful Phillip Levine

calls the federal response to Puerto Rico “embarrassing” at an Orlando event.

Former Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine on Tuesday called the federal response to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria “one of the most embarrassing moments in American history” during his first visit to Orlando as a candidate for governor.

He spoke to a small group at the east Orange County home of Puerto Rican activist Pura Delgado as part of a 10-city bus tour his campaign dubbed “Live! from Florida’s Living Rooms.”

Levine, a Democrat, touted his business credentials while calling for an increased minimum wage and funding for affordable housing. He took aim at Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican he called “the president’s BFF,” or best friend forever.

Levine, who chartered a flight to deliver supplies to Puerto Rico days after Maria, pledged to help those displaced from the island.

“We need to make sure that they have the proper housing, that they have the proper education, that we make sure that we welcome them to Florida and they can continue their lives going forward,” he said.

Levine noted that he visited the island frequently as a cruise ship worker early in his career, before launching Onboard Media, the cruiseindustry shopping and media company that propelled him to wealth.

He began his remarks in Spanish before transitioning to English.

He described himself as an entrepreneur — “politician,” he said, is a “dirty word” — and stressed the need to lure high-paying employers to the state. Levine listed improving the state’s school system and housing as ways to entice such companies.

“If you looked at the HR manual of the most admired companies in America … you’re going to find they have something in common: They’re pro-education. They’re pro-health care. They’re pro-environment They’re pro-people,” he said. “We need to be the same way in the state of Florida.”

Levine cited metro Orlando in particular as a place in need of higher wages and more affordable housing, citing “The Florida Project,” a critically acclaimed film depicting a girl living in poverty in a Kissimmee motel.

“I mean, my God, if Hollywood’s actually made a movie about the fact that Orlando has this issue, clearly we have this issue here,” he said.

Levine called for a minimum wage “much higher” than the current $8.25 per hour, touting the Miami Beach City Council’s 2016 vote to establish a local minimum above $10, which was later struck down in court. The city is appealing to the state Supreme Court.

His remarks were well received by the small group of