Florida100 Central
Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you. To read responses from more Central Florida 100 participants, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/cf100
THE TOP STORIES LAST WEEK
TEACHER FIRED, Carlos Carbonell, CEO/ Founder Echo: Tech Strategy & Apps; advisor, Converge Strategies: Central Florida again makes national news as one of our local teachers is fired for being gay. I encourage all business and community leaders to stand behind Steven Arauz. Part of the problem locally is that one week we can have Pride events and rainbow flags downtown, and the nextweek, we have want on discrimination. We need stricter guidelines to ensure organizations that receive federal and tax dollars follow federal discrimination laws andwe need our community of allies galvanized. Discrimination is not just morally wrong, it’s bad for business.
BARRETT, JUDGE AND MOTHER, Mary Lee Downey, CEO and founder of the Community Hope Center: I’ve been following the nomination process of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. I’m especially interested in howmuch focus has been on her motherhood. Howmany other nominees have been asked about what kind of minivan they drive at a Senate hearing? Judge Barrett and I disagree on many things, butwe do agree that women should be supported when they choose to have children. I believe that support happens whenwe invest in education, health care, affordable housing, and by providing paid parental leave, flexible work schedules and an understanding that children are not a liability to having a career.
WORLD SERIES THRILLS, John L. Evans Jr ., consulting unit chief for a global investment firm; former congressional staffer: It’s David vs. Goliath. Right here in greater Central Florida. We’ve got David, in the Tampa Bay Rays, who are battling the Los Angeles Dodgers (Goliath) with slingshots and stolen bases for the World Series championship. Our scrappy guys hail froma paltry payroll of $29 million, while the Dodgers deployed $108 million for their guys. Do you hear the ax grinding? Let’s get it on. America loves an underdog. In fact, wewere conceived as underdogs; just ask King George lll. This World Series, which started Tuesday, is already ferocious. Our guys are hungry. With slingshots at the ready.
VOTE TRUMP OR LAY OFFS, Ken LaRoe, Founder, Climate First Bank I/O: Sending letters to employees promising immediate layoffs in the case of a Joe Biden victory is a disgusting attempt at voter intimidation by Daniels Manufacturing president and Trump loyalist George Daniels. Americans have been battered enough by the pandemic without having unscrupulous employers threatening their very livelihoods based on an election outcome.
CREATIVE TRICK OR TREAT, Anna McPherson, past president, Junior League of Greater Orlando: It’s tricky and tiring navigating these pandemic times— so are we ready for a treat? Of course we are, but let’s be practical and do Halloween safely— no need for a real zombie apocalypse. There are a lot of opportunities to still have fun creatively. Break out the candy shoots, weave backyard spiderwebs, roast some marshmallows and repurpose those Easter eggs while keeping your distance AND your face masks on this Halloween with your pod. Stay outside and distanced— Happy Halloween!
FOLLOW CDC GUIDELINES, Gloria Pickar, president, League of Women Voters of Orange County: Frommy hospital bed for COVID-19, I sawthe crowded Sanford Trump rally of maskless people including Gov. DeSantis. I am ashamed for our state. Floridians are not sheep to be led to slaughter. I implore our leaders to demonstrate the simple CDC protocol: mask, distance, hand washing. No crowds. Limit your risk as much as possible; demand your leaders do the same. Itmay not go perfectly (I certainly thought Iwas careful), but the least we can do is act responsibly and role model our care for others. Act and vote like your life and the air you breathe depend on it.
CIVILITY, Larry Pino, attorney and entrepreneur: Utah gubernatorial candidates Chris Peterson and Spencer Cox are offering a welcome campaign respite in a joint ad, each pitching themselves with smiles, and then saying: “we can debate issues without degrading each other’s character; we can disagree without hating each other … and win or lose in Utah, wework together.” For all who have been subjected to the Trump/Biden cacophony, and particularly in the state of Florida, where we have had to endure the Jason Brodeur/Patricia Sigman slugfest, their joint ad is a breath of fresh air. If onlywe could turn the corner fromthe vile to the decent in political rhetoric.
BALLOT BOXGUARDS, Michael Zais, political blogger for thedrunkenrepublican.com: The ink was barely dry on the Oct. 17 Sentinel story, “Dems crying foul over interference” after the governor ordered guards for ballot boxes, when this headline appeared in USA Today, “California ballot drop box set ablaze in possible arson, damaging up to 100 ballots.” This is the proverbial no-brainer. In today’s politically charged environment, guarding ballot collection boxes is as prudent as carrying an umbrella whilst strolling through a rainstorm. Still, ridiculous cries of voter suppression abound. Anyone intimidated by a little old lady volunteer sitting in a folding chair next to a ballot collection box has far bigger problems than voter suppression.