LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK

LESSONS FROM IAN, Lee Constantine, commissioner, Seminole County: Florida has been a developer’s playground for decades. The results, after Hurricane Ian, are obvious. Groups like the 1,000 Friends of Florida have been warning about filling in wetlands and building indiscriminately for years, but the allure of growth and profit dismissed these concerns as environmental poppycock. When are we going to learn? The consequences of these past mistakes have cost the state thousands of lives and billions of dollars. We live on a flat peninsula surrounded by water. Forget about building to the 25-year flooding event, Florida is experiencing floods of that magnitude yearly. To avoid major catastrophes, Florida must immediately strengthen our land development codes and flood standards.

OSCEOLA CRISIS, Mary Lee Downey, CEO, Hope Partnership: One week out from Hurricane Ian, it’s hard to remember what life was like before my county was underwater. As our neighboring counties drain, the flooding here only worsens. And while the physical storm has passed, I am fearful of the storm that is still to come. Osceola County was already in a housing crisis; now even more are without homes. Rental units will be repaired in time, and no doubt owners will increase the rents on those units once the repairs are made. Where will flooding victims go? How will our workforce recover from this disaster?

CELEBRATE VETERANS, Jeff Hayward, president and CEO, Heart of Florida United Way: Despite their acts of service, veterans have historically been among the most vulnerable groups in our society, and it is no different in Central Florida. To better understand the needs of our community’s veterans and how we can best support them — especially as it relates to their mental health — Heart of Florida United Way has partnered with Lockheed Martin to present the 2022 State of Our Veterans on Oct. 26 from 8:45-11 a.m. at Walt Disney World Resorts’ Shades of Green. To register for the event and celebrate the service of our veterans, visit www.hfuw.org.

IAN RECOVERY FUND, Pamela Nabors, president/CEO, CareerSource Central Florida:

My husband and I were fortunate and stayed safe during Hurricane Ian; however, we know many of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers were severely impacted by this devastating storm. Massive recovery efforts and fundraising are underway across the state. Right here in Orlando, the Heart of Florida United Way has launched a recovery fund to support our neighbors who still face challenges after Hurricane Ian. All funds raised go directly to individuals impacted by the storm. Please consider a donation, which can be made at www.hfuw/hurricaneian.

SCOTT HAS NO BACKBONE, Jim Philips, retired longtime radio talk-show host: What a lark to watch a politician who has the backbone of a jellyfish. Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott recently referred to federal agents as the Gestapo. He could not admit that Donald Trump issued a racist statement when he called his former labor secretary Elaine Chao ... “CoCo Chow.” Chao is the wife of Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell. Sen. “SpongeBob” fumbled and bumbled an answer when asked “Are you OK with this?” Instead, he blathered about nicknames and delivered platitudes designed not to rile the GOP base. Floridians may hope that Scott is smart enough next time to check with Squidward and Squilliam Fancyson before swimming in waters where he does not belong.

VOTE YES FOR PENNY TAX,

Gloria Pickar, president emerita, League of Women Voters of Orange County: Orange County voters have a penny sales tax increase for transportation on their ballots. Projections indicate $600 million per year for transportation projects with 51% of the tax paid by tourists. Traffic congestion is our No. 1 transportation challenge and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. Commuters pay $1,261 annually for traffic delays while the tax will cost the average resident $390. Almost half of the penny will go to double Lynx buses and expand SunRail to nights, weekends, east, west and the airport. Pedestrian, bicycle, traffic technology and road improvements get the rest. League of Women Voters advises, “Vote Yes!”

DON’T BLAME THE PRESS, Joanie Schirm, GEC founding president; World Cup Orlando 1994 Committee chairman:

I’m a Florida native. Hurricanes wobble and change course. William Higgins’ letter to the editor hit on what we suspected might happen. Gov. Ron DeSantis once again attacked the media because of their focus on Tampa Bay being the worst-case scenario for Ian’s landfall; at one point, a prediction. Higgins: “It’s the press’s job to question if the evacuation call was timely and if there are lessons learned ... if you are near the Florida coastline and in the forecasted path of a direct hit three days before a hurricane, evacuate.” Governors shouldn’t blame the press. A true leader starts working on regulations that deter people from living where nature says “no.”

HARRIS’ GAFFE, Michael Zais, political blogger for thedrunkenrepublican.com: Leave it to our breathtakingly incompetent vice president, Kamala Harris, to deliver another inappropriate statement draped in divisive identity politics — this time, disgustingly in the wake of one of the most destructive hurricanes to ever make landfall in Florida. At a recent event, Harris suggested there should be focus on “giving resources based on equity” and “communities of color” vis-a-vis federal hurricane relief. Kudos to FEMA chief Deanne Criswell for later throwing cold water on that offensive, politically charged drivel. Harris is the poster child for the pure folly of basing a VP pick on gender and skin color, as Joe Biden promised.