LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK
Andrae Bailey,
The Los Angeles Lakers finished a challenging season with the sudden resignation of team president Magic Johnson, whose departure leaves the Lakers in disarray. So, who would be the best person to fill this void? None other than former Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy! Stan may not be interested in the mess in L.A., but he recently hinted that he wanted another shot at coaching. If Stan could somehow bring LeBron James and the young and talented players in L.A. back from the brink, he would cement his place in basketball history.
Lee Constantine,
The most difficult talent to master in politics is saying NO. Special interests, benefactors and concerned citizens all want you to take care of their problem regardless of jurisdiction. That, in essence, is why the Legislature insists on poking their nose where it doesn’t belong. With more legislators elected without prior experience, the constitutional concept of local home rule continues to be assaulted. Their motivation is the desire to help influential parties who despise local control despite the consequences to their neighbors. Citizens elect state legislators to pass a budget and state-wide laws, not local ordinances. House members, do your 60-day job and leave local government alone to do theirs.
Joel C. Hunter,
I was glad to read in the Sentinel that the “Blue Dog” Democratic Coalition is still around and that our Rep. Stephanie Murphy is the co-chair. We need moderates in both parties to negotiate what can be done in a bipartisan spirit, such as the balanced budget amendment (with safeguards) they are endorsing. Any group that de-radicalizes the polarizing approach to politics and tries to advance reasonable, sensible causes is rare these days, and therefore all the more needed. I’m not sure what the corresponding Republican group would be called, but may their kind increase!
Viviana Janer,
All eyes are on Tallahassee, where HB 5 will make it harder for the will of the people to be heard. Many have decried this hypocritical assault on the ability for those closest to an issue to control their destiny. Legislators continue to advance this pre-emption bill. Among other things, HB 5 handcuffs local officials and citizens of the ability to decide how to pay for critical infrastructure and services — something vital because of Tallahassee’s frequent unfunded mandates and raids on designated funding. HB 5 requires a 2⁄3rds vote on funding questions placed on the ballot and, in my opinion, shows a lack of faith and disregard of the will of the citizens they represent.
Can our criminal justice system be considered just when Florida leads the nation in wrongful convictions? Imagine staying in prison for 40 years for something you didn’t do. Clifford Williamson and Nathan Myer were convicted of murder 42 years ago. Jacksonville State Attorney Melissa Nelson found evidence never presented to the jury that contradicted what the jury heard. The evidence was found because of the establishment — and funding — of a “conviction integrity review unit,” which should be funded in ALL circuits. Come on, legislators — fund the criminal justice system ( judicial, state attorneys and public defenders) to a level that keeps pace with the growth of our state. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Kathleen Oropeza,
A bill supporting school-board term limits, HB229, is moving through the 2019 Florida Legislature supported by a well-funded national group, U.S. Term Limits. Its goal is to use the state legislature to place the question on the 2020 state ballot. This is a blatant attack on local control. Florida has some of the largest districts in the nation. If we want to limit terms for our school boards to eight years, shouldn’t we decide at the local level? Instead, HB229 allows Miami-Dade voters to decide this question for the citizens of Orange. Bottom line: legislators should not be working with national groups to dictate Florida policy.
Rick Singh,
Partnering with Uber and Lyft, Orlando is set to begin its rideshare hub pilot program next month to cut down on late-night congestion. With two available hubs, the program will work similarly to an airport pickup line. Rideshare apps are being updated to direct users to their closest hub. Food trucks and restrooms will be available, making the hubs a safe place for visitors to wait for their rides. Offering a safe, easy solution to various issues caused by the spike in traffic on the weeknights, the hubs will relieve the congested downtown corridors and help unburden Orlando’s transportation infrastructure.