THE TOP STORIES LAST WEEK
DON’T REPEAT MISTAKES,
2011, one year after I left the Senate, the Legislature recklessly dismantled the state’s growth management agency, the Department of Community Affairs. This was done under the guise of economic recovery, though Florida was well beyond the worst of the great recession. DCA opponents had for years argued that the agency’s efforts to ensure environmentally responsible growth were killing jobs. This short-sighted policy caused Florida to lose more rural land to urban sprawl and our waterways choked with algae fed by polluted runoff. Now, faced with another economic crisis, some Legislators will again try to eliminate the last remaining environmental protections. When will they ever learn? In Florida, the environment IS the economy.
AT IT AGAIN,
Will Chris Dorworth — a legislator turned lobbyist turned developer — ever give up? After several failed attempts to bully Seminole County commissioners into turning rural land into a mega-development, he’s at it again. He wants the commission to move its rural boundary apparently to allow his owner’s land to be annexed into a city — so he can try to manipulate a fresh set of politicians. Voters knew what they were doing in 2004 when they approved the rural area. It was a no-brainer. It’s where the treasured Econlockhatchee River winds its way through forests. Plus, there is plenty of land elsewhere in Seminole for developments. He deserves yet another loud “no” from any commission.
NEEDS OF THE MANY,
Our community’s needs are visible with long lines at food pantries or the speed in which mortgage foreclosure and rental assistance were snapped up. Osceola opened housing assistance last week and within 15 minutes residents submitted 500 applications. COVID-19 has escalated an already tenuous situation with furloughs, reduced work hours and layoffs, stressing household budgets for food and shelter. Osceola continues to support food pantries and will offer a third round of housing assistance on June 1. It will never be enough but we are doing everything we can for those who need it the most.
FORGOT THE MEMO,
In
Alan Harris, the unelected bureaucrat in Seminole County, created a new COVID executive order this week. It mirrors the state’s executive order except for one essential item — Seminole County requires patrons and employees of a business to wear facial coverings when they are within 6 feet of each other. Jay Zembower, the Seminole County Chairman, apparently did not get the memo because a few days later he was pictured at a place of business in Oviedo standing much less than 6 feet from people to his left, right and behind him. Apparently, chairmen have an immunity to the virus.
WRONGFUL FIRING,
Rebekah Jones, a scientist who created Florida’s COVID-19 data portal, alleged she was fired by the state Department of Health for refusing to manipulate the numbers in a way that would support reopening the state. If true, it means our elected officials are censoring scientists and withholding information from the public. A lack of transparency will mean unnecessary suffering and death. In November, let’s remind our elected officials that Floridians value ethical behavior and we will vote for the candidates that have our best interests in mind.
HELP NEEDED,
Vice President Mike Pence met with Gov. Ron DeSantis and leaders of Florida’s tourism industry Wednesday in Orlando. He praised Florida’s handling of the coronavirus crisis. However, the government-mandated closures of the theme parks paralyzed the local economy. The Florida tourism industry has been dealt a big blow which led half of the businesses to lay off employees. While the visit by the VP is appreciated, local businesses need serious government help to survive.
LEGAL SAGA GOES ON,
This week, the saga with the embattled former CEO of the Florida Coalition of Domestic Violence continued as a judge ordered the FCADV Foundation dissolved. Only a third of the remaining $1.5 million will go to support shelters. The balance is reserved for paying creditors and claims against FCADV, and its former leadership. Florida is now the only state without a domestic violence coalition facing the highest rate of domestic violence likely in decades. We can’t wash our hands of this crisis. Thousands of lives depend on our next move.
MUSIC TO MY EARS,
Gov. Ron DeSantis enthusiastically calling out the media for their consistent “narrative” reporting on Florida’s coronavirus response was music to my ears. Endless prognostications of gloom and doom never came to pass. The governor’s secret sauce was swarming resources and attention very early on to nursing homes, thereby preventing countless deaths. On the flip side, media darling N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo did the exact opposite with disastrous effects, yet the left and media continue to bow at his altar. And if the South Florida outbreak wasn’t largely seeded by an influx of New York residents fleeing the city, Florida’s numbers would be even better.