LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK
“SAME MUD, DIFFERENT SPORT,”
John L. Evans Jr., consulting unit chief for a global investment firm; former congressional staffer:
So said U.S. Senate candidate for Ohio, Jane Timken. She played rugby in college, and is tough and affable, a critical dyad of attributes in this tumultuous time in politics. I asked her over coffee why any Central Floridian conservative, or essentialist, should give a dime to an Ohio candidate. “Because your senators are rock solid, and this seat matters. Further, I am a uniter. Let’s get our families talking together again. And look at my record organizing my complicated state for an eight-point Trump victory. Lastly, I know the economic policy that will get your children and grandchildren good jobs.” Remember the name, y’all; The woman can scrum, and unite.
PAY WHAT THEY’RE WORTH,
Ken LaRoe, Founder, Climate First Bank I/O: Central Florida restaurants are facing the worst labor shortage in years and are struggling to find sufficient staff to keep their doors open. Certain business owners point fingers at the extended unemployment benefits put forward by the Biden administration, citing that potential employees would rather collect unemployment than work. These business owners should realize that they need to actually pay these workers a livable $15 wage instead of the absurd $5.63 for tipped employees. This work force is placing its health at risk by coming into contact with crowds every day and deserves to be compensated fairly.
STOP THE HATE, A.J. Marsden, assistant professor, Beacon College: Since the start of the pandemic a year ago, data reveals that antiAsian hate crimes have skyrocketed by 149%. In 2019, there were 49 documented cases of anti-Asian hate crimes in 16 American cities, but that figure jumped to 122 in 2020. Further data from Stop Asian-American and Pacific Islanders Hate showed that verbal harassment comprises about 68% of the reports they receive, shunning makes up about 20%, physical assault accounts for about 11% and violating civil rights makes up about 9%. Ignorance and fear are driving these new data points. Now, the question is, how do we stop it?
RAMADAN FAST APPROACHES,
Muhammad Musri, president, Islamic Society of Central Florida: Muslims in Florida and around the world will begin their annual monthlong fast of Ramadan on Tuesday. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for Muslims to crowd the mosques for the usual Ramadan nightly prayer services and Iftar dinners after abstaining from food and water from dawn to sunset. Even with vaccination becoming available, mosques will keep following CDC guidelines of social-distancing and mask-wearing to protect from the spread of the new variants. Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayers, and charity, will be a time of reflection on how the pandemic claimed many loved ones and changed our lives forever.
OPEN FOR BUSINESS, Pamela Nabors, president/CEO, CareerSource Central Florida: Orlando’s year-round good weather and economic opportunities are drawing new restaurants to our region. Some of the recent announcements: Gordon Ramsey’s Fish and Chips, Nashville-based The Chef and I, and Dallas-based Cowboy Chicken. White Castle is opening in Orlando once again thanks in part to Bring White Castle back to Florida, a group of passionate mini-burger lovers on social media. New jobs and the rehiring of furloughed and laid-off restaurant workers are critical to help our hospitality and tourism industry to rebound quickly.
PIROUETTES AND PICTURES, Cole NeSmith, executive director, Creative City Project: The arts are coming back in full swing! The weekend of April 16, Orlando Ballet returns to Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with “Peter Pan.” Orlando Ballet has continued to produce stunning content since the fall of last year, quickly adapting to keep performers and audiences safe. The 30th anniversary of the Florida Film Festival is now happening! 14 days of 160+ films are taking place at Enzian Theater. Congrats to FFF for 3 decades of movies. The festival goes through April 22. And this is the last week to catch Orlando Shakes’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola.
ONE FOR THE ROAD, Brendan O’Connor, editor in chief, Bungalower.com: The Florida Senate just approved a bill to make to-go alcohol legal when the pandemic is over. The bill would make Gov. DeSantis’ executive order to allow to-go booze sales a permanent fixture in Florida restaurants and bars if approved by the full House. You still need to put the booze in your trunk or back seat, though.
GAETZGATE, Jim Philips, retired longtime radio talk-show host: Don’t kid yourself. Republican political sharks are circling embattled Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. The question is, who will be the first to bite? Gaetz has been linked to Joel Greenberg, who’s been charged with sex trafficking. Now there’s reporting that Gaetz sought a blanket pardon from President Trump, despite the fact he had not been charged or indicted with anything. Metaphorically speaking, politics is a blood sport, and it’s been this way since the days of Julius Caesar. The GOP knows that a Republican gopher tortoise could defeat any Democrat in the panhandle. Gaetz will need a bigger boat to survive because it’s only a matter of time before the “pols” smell blood in the water and go in for the proverbial kill.