LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK
Francisco Gonzalez,
President Trump kicks off his campaign at the Amway Center in Orlando on Tuesday. While the city of Orlando and Orange County have become the bluest of blue Democratic cities and counties in the state, Central Florida is the battleground of Florida — and the nation. Trump’s supporters will be out in full force — more than 74,000 tickets have been requested for the 20,000-seat arena. I hope his opponents will respect that a campaign event is part of the democratic process and respond peacefully. Protesting is a waste of time — if you aren’t a fan of Trump, put your effort elsewhere.
A.J. Marsden,
Marion County’s emergency management team wants to build a shelter that will be able to house 1,000 special-needs individuals if a disaster occurs. The shelter most likely will be built on government land within the city limits of Ocala and be funded by state and federal grants. The team hopes the shelter will be completely up and running in three to five years. It is encouraging to see our local governments doing what is necessary to take care of all citizens.
Cole NeSmith,
Part of a thriving arts community is the development of new works and new artists. This week, The Winter Park Playhouse presents the Florida Festival of New Musicals. The four-day event showcases staged readings of six brand-new, never-before-produced musicals. Professional actors and musicians come together to present this new work as part of the process of developing the musicals into fully formed works. It’s initiatives like these that continue to platform Central Florida as a place where artists can thrive.
María T. Padilla,
A June report by the U.S. Sentencing Commission states 1,051 prisoners — nearly 15 percent of them in Florida and nearly all black — were set free under re-sentencing guidelines established by the First Step Act, which is re-evaluating and reducing certain drug sentences. The good news jibes with a nation grappling with a justice system’s disparate treatment and sentencing of people of color. That Florida claims such a large percentage of re-sentences is a poor reflection of the justice meted out in the Sunshine State, highlighting the heavy lifting that needs to continue to make Florida a fairer state. Matthew Peddie,
President Trump picked Orlando for his official re-election campaign launch, a signal of how important the voters in the so-called I-4 Corridor may be in 2020. As the city prepares for the logistics of thousands of supporters descending on the Amway Center, and protesters, political analysts are also weighing the significance of the location. Democratic political analyst Jason Henry tells 90.7’s Intersection that choosing Orlando is “sticking it to the Democrats,” as Orange County and Orlando are a hotbed for Democrats. Henry says Trump’s campaign manager “was very shrewd in picking this area.”
Joanie Schirm,
Twenty-five years ago June 19, the first of five FIFA World Cup matches kicked off in the then-named Citrus Bowl. Orlando has never been the same since. Three weeks of World Cup activities turned into a fan lovefest and for the spirited and colorful party-attitude that enveloped Central Florida nonstop. Church Street Station was ground zero. Together, opposing teams and their fans danced, cheered and drank a lot of beer in camaraderie that left an indelible memory. At the time, the Wall Street Journal summed it up well: “The U.N. should send observers to see how it’s done.” Let’s do this again in 2026!
Ed Schons,
With Orlando Pride players Alex Morgan, Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris in the spotlight on the U.S. Women’s National Team, their explosive opening in the first-round game against Thailand may just signal another FIFA Women’s World Cup championship in the making for the red, white and blue. Having broken the record for the most points scored in a game, the U.S. team looks like a tough opponent.
Michael Zais,
Hurricane Trump will be storming into the Amway Center on Tuesday to formally declare his re-election bid in what is sure to be a raucous rally. While the Rust Belt states always seem to get top billing, make no mistake … the road to the White House in 2020 goes straight through the Sunshine State. And more specifically, right in our own backyard … the critical I-4 corridor. Trust me, 2020 will make 2016 look like a Student Council election. So, whatever your political stripes, sit back, embrace the craziness and prepare to be thoroughly entertained. I know I will. And don’t forget the popcorn!