Central Florida 100
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
TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK
POST OFFICE BAILOUT, John L. Evans Jr., consulting unit chief for a global investment firm; former congressional staffer: Don’t you love waiting in line at the DMV and post office? Did you know that congressional lawmakers are considering giving the U.S. Post Office a $100 billion bailout for incompetencies in pension planning? That amount comes from your hardearned paycheck, incidentally, in the form of taxes. Hmmm. When did we stop the Pony Express? Maybe it’s time to keep evolving, with the likes of super-efficient Amazon, FedEx, UPS and Uber delivering the mail.
MOURNING PARKLAND, Ben Friedman, attorney and community advocate: Feb. 14 is the three-year anniversary of the murder of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Despite the disingenuous remembrances we’ll inevitably get from state leaders, students in Florida are no safer today than they were before that tragedy occurred because the movement pushing for change has been ignored and undermined by those same elected officials every step of the way. This year, Feb. 14 will not just mark the anniversary of that tragedy; it will serve as a reminder of the shameful failure to address the plague of gun violence that stains our state and nation.
FLORIDA TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS, Francisco Gonzalez, philanthropy director, National Review Institute: Joe Biden and his Democratic friends up north are now threatening to restrict travel to and from Florida. I think they realize we’re having too much fun down here. Maybe they are a little jealous that we’re a plain-as-day example that you can balance health and keep the economy open at the same time. The rates of infections and deaths from COVID-19 are lower in Florida than most of the blue states that have been super-locked down. The Super Bowl in Tampa showcasing this to the nation even more may have something to do with Biden’s timing.
JUDICIAL GIANT, Viviana Janer, vice chairwoman, Osceola County Commission: On Feb. 8, Osceola County Commissioners honored former Judge Jon B. Morgan — naming the Osceola County Courthouse after him. Morgan was a universally respected figure in the Osceola County legal system for more than four decades. After serving on the bench for nearly 23 years, the “judge’s judge” retired in December and tragically passed away in January. While we mourn his untimely death, his name on the courthouse will remind people of Judge Morgan’s community service and contributions to programs for teens, victims of domestic violence and those suffering from substance abuse and mental health issues.
TAMPA’S DANGEROUS PARTY, Ken LaRoe, Founder, Climate First Bank I/O: Despite pleas and dire warnings from public health experts, hordes of maskless football fans clogged the streets of Tampa last weekend — creating the perfect Petri dish for even more dangerous COVID-19 variants. I wholeheartedly agree with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s tweet: “This isn’t how we should be celebrating the Super Bowl. It’s not safe or smart. It’s stupid.” Just how hard is it to celebrate safely and wear a mask?
CARLOTTA’S CULTURE PARK, Brendan O’Connor, editor in chief, Bungalower.com: Will’s Pub and Bungalower.com are launching a new outdoor, socially distant pop-up series in a former car lot in the heart of the Mills 50 District. The three-month “Carlotta’s Culture Park” will feature outdoor movies, special dinners, early-evening concerts and more. It kicks off with a wrestling event from the crazy Mayhem on Mills crew on Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. The calendar for the series will be made public in the next few months, so stay tuned.
WOMEN PAYING HIGH PRICE, Beverly Paulk, founding member, Central Florida Foundation and The Orlando Philharmonic: Working women are paying an unfair price for pandemic survival locally and across our country. Headlines gave painful updates, but behind each number and percentage are individual women and usually children. Women’s work force participation was at the lowest level in 33 years with 3 million forced to permanently leave. Most women will never recover the lost income or momentum. Reduced lifetime income and extra financial stress are the probable outcomes — including reduced Social Security payments during retirement. Some companies are being flexible to retain women’s skills, but more could step up. Help from multiple sources is needed.
FRESH STARTS, Joanie Schirm, GEC founding president; World Cup Orlando 1994 Committee chairman: New faces are here to make their mark within our local world of arts, sports and tourism. Aaron De Groft, director and CEO of Orlando Museum of Art, arrived with the “ideal blend of professional success and personal passion” from the College of William & Mary’s Muscarelle Museum of Art. Terry Mohajir comes as the new “high profile, high energy” UCF athletics director, having served as Arkansas State athletics director for nine years. Visit Orlando’s new president and CEO, Cassandra Matej, from San Antonio, is already off and running our epicenter for all things travel and tourism with a “Wonder Remains” ad campaign. A four-leaf clover to all!