LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK
PROTECTING THE COAST, Ken LaRoe, founder, Climate First Bank: Seawalls are just going to get higher. Florida has a 1,350-mile coastline. Compare that to the Netherlands that spends billions a year to bolster its only 280 miles of coastline against flooding. Florida spends pennies in comparison. With thousands of miles of coastline vulnerable to sea-level rise and other climate impacts, we need to be just as proactive and creative as the Dutch. As coastal building codes go up as well, experimenting with new materials and wildlife-friendly options is more important than ever. A huge thank you to all the scientists and companies working hand in hand to innovate how we are protecting ourselves.
UCF DOWNTOWN SCHOLARS, Alex Martins, chair, UCF Board of Trustees; CEO, Orlando Magic: More Jones, Evans and Oak Ridge high school students may earn UCF degrees thanks to the Helios Education Foundation’s generosity. With a $2 million grant and $1.25 million in university matching funds, we are launching the UCF Downtown Scholars Initiative and covering the scholars’ tuition, housing, books and related expenses. Students will receive additional support in high school and mentoring at UCF and participate in a summer bridge program at UCF Downtown to prepare them to transition to college. We agree with Foundation President and CEO Paul Luna that a high-quality education and post-secondary degree should be achievable for every student.
HAPPY EID, Khalid Muneer, broker/owner Jupiter Properties Central Florida:
With the holy month of Ramadan for our Muslim community coming to an end, 2 billion Muslims around the globe will be celebrating the Eid festival. With our local Muslim population numbering over 100,000, it is time to wish them happy festivities as they are a significant part of our local Orlando community. For those want to wish them well, you can just say “Happy Eid.”
DESANTIS VS. DISNEY IN COURT, Jim Philips, retired longtime radio talk-show host:
Gov. Ron DeSantis and his Republican toadies in the Legislature are huffing and puffing about their desire to disband the Reedy Creek Improvement District. The district is a government within a government created for Disney’s benefit in the late 1960s. This is a classic example of the governor yelling “jump” and GOP lackeys asking “how high?” DeSantis got bent out of shape when Disney expressed opposition to the so-called “don’t say gay” law. One can argue whether Disney deserves its own “town.” But no matter ... be prepared for a long legal battle that will generate huge legal bills on both sides. DeSantis will be long gone from Tallahassee by the time this is settled.
FOREVER MEANS FOREVER, Gloria Pickar, president emerita, League of Women Voters of Orange County: Damn the tortoises, full speed ahead! The Florida Communities Trust voted to accept Orange and Osceola County Commissions’ and CFX’s request to build a toll road through Split Oak conservation land for Tavistock development. The League of Women Voters maintains this violates the 1998 Florida Forever constitutional amendment to protect conservation lands into perpetuity for their conservation value. Additionally, 86% of voters approved the 2020 Orange County Charter Amendment to protect Split Oak from encroachment and roads except for linear facilities, like a water line. A major expressway destroying 160 acres of conservation land was never the intent. Broken promises. Broken laws.
AUTOCRATS’ PLAYBOOK,
Larry Pino, attorney and entrepreneur: The old Buddhist proverb says that when the student is ready, the teacher appears. That proverb could be no truer than the recent coming-out party for our governor. As the astute Harvard-educated apprentice of the powerful yet morally compromised former president, Ron DeSantis, after consolidating complete authority over all three branches of the Florida government — executive, legislative and judicial — now begins wielding that power in earnest. Of late, he has legislatively retaliated against Disney, ramrodded congressional redistricting seen by nonpartisans as both racist and pro-Republican, and throttled academic debate by conditioning professors’ tenure on political conformity. The playbook unfortunately is time-tested and the outcomes are never pretty.
SO MUCH LEFT UNDONE, Joanie Schirm, GEC founding president; World Cup Orlando 1994 Committee chairman:
Two issues that affect all Floridians in a big way could have been resolved during the legislative session. Instead of dealing with them in a timely fashion, special sessions will pretend all voices will be heard for the common good. First, Fair Districts laws were already adjudicated and should have led to appropriate redrawing of Florida’s new congressional maps. Instead, Gov. DeSantis used the Trump Sharpie-pen method to draw districts that overwhelmingly led to unfair voting districts. Second, property-insurance reform looms as prices skyrocket and insurers leave the state. Watch what GOP legislators do, not say, as we see whose side they are on.
WATER QUALITY, Nicole Wilson, Orange County commissioner, District 1: Since my election in 2020, I have worked tirelessly on water quality issues from stormwater retention to the new fertilizer ordinance update and revised wetland code. I championed a more comprehensive tree protection ordinance and GreenPLACE conservation program. All of these efforts are based on the voter support of the charter amendment passed providing for the Right to Clean Water. While some on the board say “If we don’t grow, we die,” I know that if we don’t change the way we protect water, we’ll die. Our natural resources should be the cornerstone of all good decision-making.