Monitoring septic tanks

Lee Constantine,

Nine years ago, my Springs Protection Act passed the legislature. One of the many provisions was a septic-tank inspection program. After I left the Senate, it was brutally criticized as unnecessary and was rescinded. Today, it is widely accepted that aging and defective tanks are a major cause of water pollution creating the red tide/green algae economic and environmental calamity affecting our state. Although it is comforting to be vindicated, it is more important to take immediate steps to correct the problem. This session, the legislature must implement an inspection program and prohibit new septic tanks in developments under five acres. Otherwise, disastrous and expensive consequences are looming.

Orlando tech/film projects featured

Tim Giuliani,

Orlando will be on the world stage when two projects representing our region’s tech and film/television industries will be premiered at the 11th annual South by Southwest Conference & Festival. Millebot, an Orlando startup, has been selected as one of the finalists from around the world to pitch at the SXSW Pitch event in Austin. David Makes Man, the Warner Horizon and Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) series that filmed entirely in Orlando, has also been selected to world premiere at SXSW. The series will debut this summer on OWN.

Take a look at ‘1984’

Francisco Gonzalez,

For a fraction of the cost of “Hamilton,” you can check out a theatrical production of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, “1984,” at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden through March 17. I recently read the book for the first time. In an age when our devices are listening in, tracking us, and reading (and writing!) our emails, it seems “Big Brother” certainly has all the capacities today to keep an eye, and ear, on all of us. So, read the book or see the play — before it is banned, changed, or adopted into Newspeak. Don’t let the (American) revolution down!

InfoPass changes

Henry Lim, Starting this month, self-scheduled InfoPass appointments will no longer be available to people requesting a status on their immigration case pending at the local Orlando office (or any other local office). United States citizens must now call a 1-800 hotline just to find out how to sponsor a loved one or inquire on a case they previously filed. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) claims they are committed to providing effective and efficient administration of immigration laws. However, the information officers answering these calls do not have the physical file in front of them to resolve issues. We experience hours of wait time when calling the hotline and as it becomes the only option for resolution of matters short of lawsuits, it does not look like the matters will be handled effectively or efficiently.

Colleges and spending

A.J. Marsden,

After officials at two state universities admitted to misusing higher-education funding, Florida lawmakers are calling for increased oversight and firmer regulations on spending. Rep. Randy Fine and Rep. Tom Leek assert that the University of Central Florida and University of South Florida have not been “good stewards of the public’s money … it makes it more difficult to trust them.” Although this is true, the House should not cut all funding to these universities. The impact it will have on the thousands of students who attend these schools would be insurmountable and cruel. Changes in how universities are governed should made but we should not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

International Women’s Day

Stephanie Porta,

60 days: Get ready to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday. The next year is dedicated to achieving gender balance and economic parity. Florida is a long way from achieving those ideals for health care, reproductive freedom, living wages, voting rights, climate justice and a society free from discrimination. So, be on high alert for the 60 days of the Florida legislative session — very dangerous days — which begin Tuesday. There are legislators who want to take our rights away. The 2018 midterm elections ushered in a change in representation: More than 100 women — 30 percent — serve in the House of Representatives and women of color were elected in more states than ever before — altering the balance of power in Washington. Let’s rally around them and organize to beat back the dark forces that would erode the progress we’ve made.

Filmapalooza in Orlando

Jen Vargas,

Independent filmmakers from 130 countries and six continents will converge upon downtown Orlando for Filmapalooza, a finale to sister event the 48 Hour Film Project, the world’s oldest and largest timed filmmaking competition. Beginning Thursday, 150 citywinning films will screen at Cobb Plaza Cinema Cafe 12. A jury will select a group of winning films to screen at Cannes Film Festival’s Short Film Corner in May. This is Orlando’s first time hosting Filmapalooza in the event’s 18-year history! Ticketing and scheduling information can be found at http://www.48hourfilm.com/filmapalooza.