THE TOP STORIES LAST WEEK
MANAGING GROWTH,
Gov. Ron DeSantis did the right thing in vetoing a bill that would have allowed cities to ignore a county’s rural-area protections by simply annexing land. It had particular significance in Seminole County, where lobbyist Chris Dorworth has been trying — and failing — to get a mega-development in the sensitive rural area. But that this bill reached the governor’s desk at all is worrisome. DeSantis can now show a commitment to managing growth by restoring the agency that his predecessor dismantled. The agency allowed the state to be a needed check in reckless local decisions — a need that never seems to go away.
ROSEN’S LAYOFFS,
Hotelier Harris Rosen announced he must make a “substantial reduction in workforce,” which he called a “drastic decision.” Mr. Rosen has 4,000 employees. Devastating for a self-made man who is well-known to care deeply about his employees. Notably, funding and operating a primary care clinic to provide access to healthcare for each while also paying for college tuition, childcare and more. Also crushing for every employee and family affected with few other opportunities to turn to in our tourist-dependent economy as this COVID-19 shutdown drags on. The solution HAS become worse than the problem. We MUST open back up our economy now.
TRUMP-CDC RIFT,
State Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran issued an executive order calling on schools to reopen five days a week and offer the full slate of services for all students. The Orange County School Board met for 11 hours on Tuesday to figure how to reopen schools as the number of coronavirus cases in Florida surges. The CDC issued guidelines to schools to help limit the spread of the virus, but President Trump attacked the CDC’s rules. The contradictions between Trump and the CDC leave school districts and parents very confused, and students and teachers are going to be the victims of this chaos.
STORES CLOSING,
We’re seeing a lot of shakeup in local storefronts right now at Bungalower. Businesses that have been scraping by for years are choosing to shutter, freeing up some prime storefronts in our local main streets for adventurous entrepreneurs. Mills 50 has a handful of secondgeneration restaurant spaces that have recently been freed up — something you would never have seen just a few months ago, and they’re already filling up. Lamp Shade Fair is moving out of their Mills Avenue space to downsize and there’s already a contract on the building. This is a major flux time for local shops, but it’s not all doom and gloom.
KIDS CARRY COVID-19,
We are No. 3 nationally in COVID-19 cases. Yet, President Trump and Gov. DeSantis work daily to force the opening of K-12 public schools. The ludicrous point that “kids don’t get COVID-19” is repeated by politicians and parroted by constituents. Kids are vectors who spread COVID-19. Kids are also dying from COVID-19. The fallacy of the “kids don’t get COVID-19” argument is that “kids” don’t drive their school buses, kids don’t teach each other in class, kids don’t return to empty homes, living alone. Wake up, folks. COVID-19 will eat through our state like Pac-Man whether people deny it or not.
PAY VETERAN TEACHERS,
Good teachers = good schools = buy homes = more business = strong economy. Gov. Ron DeSantis provided $400 million for starting teacher salaries to average $47,500, but just $100 million to boost veteran teachers. One teacher, with 20 years’ experience and a master’s degree, makes $52,000! Ridiculous! Now, a teacher starts at $46,756, will make $57,294 in year 20, just a 1% a year raise. It’s demeaning. Many teachers quit after five years because their passion is overcome by lack of money. Governor, provide another $500 million for veteran teachers. Give the monetary incentive to stay a lifetime.
DESANTIS PREMATURE,
Remember May 20? That was the day Gov. DeSantis proudly claimed the media had it all wrong with their predictions of a coronavirus outbreak. This was right after his decision to partially reopen the state. Then the horse called Corona flew out of the barn before the governor realized he opened the gate. Who knows when Florida will return to full normal? But after it does, when the governor sits down at a newly opened restaurant, he might be urged to swallow his pride and order a big plate of crow.
WITHHOLDING SCHOOL MONEY,
Schools are contemplating whether or not to re-open during this new surge in COVID-19 cases. If the federal government withholds money to schools that don’t open, is that extortion or blackmail?