100 Central Florida
Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you.
TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK
NOT YOUR CLASSIC CONSERVATIVE,
Dick Batchelor, president, Dick Batchelor Management Group: There is a bill in the Legislature that will preempt local government decisions and a bill that will assault the stellar Bright Futures college funding program. Then a proposed law that will restrict early voting, not to mention one that will radically restrict protest and the right of assembly. Conservative proposals? No! A radical departure from conservative principles? Yes!
WATER RULES, Lee Constantine, commissioner, Seminole County: Water is the essential ingredient in life and a key necessity for Florida’s economic future. Nothing is more important than its vitality. That’s why it was imperative that Seminole County came to a fair settlement with Florida’s water agencies over consumptive use rules in the Central Florida Water Initiative. The settlement negotiated a solution beneficial to both, as well as ensuring we moved the bar forward when it comes to water quantity and the protection of this valuable resource. Seminole County is committed to being a leader in water conservation and management and it is a cornerstone of my public service.
SWEEPING SADOWSKI, Mary Lee Downey, CEO, Hope Partnership: Things are getting back to normal: Florida’s Legislature plans to sweep 30% of the Sadowski Housing Trust fund for flooding and wastewater infrastructure projects. This news comes on the heels of the American Rescue Plan, which already provides money to states and localities for infrastructure improvements. 2020 brought us a pandemic and the only time the Florida Legislature was willing to actually spend affordable-housing money on affordable housing. With only 28 affordable-housing units for every 100 low-income households, must we wait until the next pandemic for a full appropriation?
LEGAL AID FOR EVICTIONS,
Jeff Hayward, president and CEO, Heart of Florida United Way: Since March 2020, our nation has been under eviction moratoriums. Our local legal-aid societies have been working hard to help those facing eviction so they keep a roof over their heads. Once these moratoriums are lifted, thousands of residents may be without a home because of their inability to pay past rent. Most are facing this reality for the first time due to job loss or furlough. To help, Heart of Florida United Way recently made a $150,000 investment in Central Florida legal-aid organizations to provide advice and counsel to those in need.
MANAGING GROWTH, Jane Healy, former editorial page editor and managing editor, Orlando Sentinel: Orange County commissioners were right to increase the impact fees on new development. The fees help pay for roads, schools and other needs brought about by growth so that taxpayers aren’t stuck with the bills. But there is another good reason for them to do so: Tallahassee legislators this session want to limit local government’s ability to impose those fees. That could be disastrous for communities. Local commissions are now the last line of defense against mismanaged growth. In the past decade the state has abandoned any pretense of managing it, so someone needs to.
KISSIMMEE AIRPORT GROWTH,
Belinda Ortiz Kirkegard, Kissimmee economic development director: The recent federal stimulus rollout is providing governments the opportunity to fund public projects. The city of Kissimmee is brilliantly pursuing the funding of a new control tower and fire station for Kissimmee Gateway Airport. This airport is an incredible asset to the community, having grown over 400 high-value/high-wage jobs in the last several years. The proposed fire station is a double win — it complements efforts to grow jobs at the airport and improves public safety for residents.
MENTAL ILLNESS DEFENSE, Carol Wick, CEO, Sharity: The U.S. again watched in horror as another mass shooting was carried out. The defense attorney of the man charged in the crime is asking for a mental-health evaluation. When individuals do horrific things, this is often the first excuse. Many want to believe that no rational person would deliberately plan and carry out a mass killing, yet research shows that mental illness is often not the cause, though it might be present. Hatred and anger at this level may be hard to comprehend, but it’s time we accept that these acts are deliberate and we must stop them before they happen.
VACCINE AGE, Michael Zais, political blogger for thedrunkenrepublican.com: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings lowered the age eligibility to 40 for COVID vaccines at the Orange County Convention center on the very same day Gov. Ron DeSantis lowered the state eligibility to 50. Apparently, the governor was a tad miffed at this decision. This move by Demings was driven by waning demand at the convention center, but seemed premature as demand was sure to surge as the state simultaneously lowered the eligibility age to 50. Then DeSantis lowered the age to 40 a week later anyway. Not sure this qualifies as “bipartisanship,” but these days it’ll have to do.