ORANGE COUNTY MAYORS CRITICIZE
the “condescending arrogance” of lawmakers and blast them over stripping cities of local control.
Criticizing the “condescending arrogance” of state lawmakers, the Orange County Council of Mayors denounced a series of bills targeting tree protections, vacation rental codes, election dates and redevelopment as an attack by Tallahassee on home rule by cities.
“Call Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran,” said Council Chair Gary Bruhn, mayor of Windermere, at a news conference Friday. “Tell him, ‘Mr. Speaker, we like home rule.’ Call Senate President Joe Negron. … Tell him, ‘Let cities do the job you elected them to do.’ ”
Bruhn, also president of the Florida League of Mayors, was joined at Orlando City Hall by mayors and municipal leaders from almost every city in the county in warning residents about several bills they contended would have a harmful effect on cities.
They cited two bills by state Sen. Gary Steube, R-Sarasota, one that would prevent cities from imposing rules on Airbnb and other vacation rentals and another that would restrict what cities can do to protect trees on private property.
“Because Sen. Steube was unhappy with his hometown [tree] ordinance … he’s seeking to implement statewide control, one size fits all,” said Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary, who said his city has spent millions on maintaining its prized tree canopy. “If he has a problem with his local commission, deal with it locally.”
Eatonville Mayor Eddie Cole was opposed to a bill that would replace all local rules about election dates. Eatonville has been holding its elections on Saturdays for 130 years, he said, dating back to its creation as the oldest incorporated African-American town in the U.S.
Several mayors said they had just returned from meeting legislators in Tallahassee. Belle Isle Mayor Lydia Pisano was frustrated by legislators who said they agreed with them but had to vote with their party to ensure funding for their districts, while Maitland Mayor Dale McDonald said the “condescending arrogance you see from some folks up there is difficult to rationalize.”
Asked if the mayors’ opposition to legislators would translate to withdrawing support in elections, Bruhn cited his pulling an endorsement for state Rep. Bobby Olszewski, R-Winter Garden, before the GOP primary because of home rule issues.
“One of the greatest tools mayors have is their endorsement,” he said. “Many of us will keep it right in our pockets.”