Gatorland does right by workers
Maxwell: Hugs and slugs puts spotlight on attraction, DeSantis.
It’s time for another round of hugs and slugs … though we’re going to do them all virtually this time, so nobody catches COVID.
A hug for Gatorland
Let’s start with a big ol’ scaly hug for the guys down at Gatorland.
Why? Because the old-school Orlando attraction that opened its doors back in 1949 has kept every one of its 190 employees on the payroll through the pandemic— even when the park was closed.
In a community where attractions are laying off workers by the thousands, that’s worth celebrating.
Gatorland CEO Mark McHugh said stimulus money helped. But he also said the company decided that paying employees both before the federal money arrived and after it ran out was simply the right thing to do.
“Itwas hard, but we were very blessed and thankful as a company to be in a position to do that,” McHugh said, noting that it allowed the park to re-open “with a full staff of happy folks thatwere thankful for all the company had done and fully committed to getting us back on our feet.”
Nicely done.
Slug for governor’s conspiracist hire
A few days ago, I wrote about Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ increasingly fringey behavior, first suggesting legislators in other states overrule their citizens’ votes for Joe Biden and then enlisting a blogger to try to undermine the state’s own health data on COVID-19 deaths.
Well, the ink was barely dry on that column when the Miami Herald published another disturbing story: “Gov. DeSantis’ latest hire for COVID-19 data team: Uber-driving, coronavirus-conspiracy sports blogger.”
Yes, another blogger. The story began: “When Gov. Ron DeSantis needed to hire a data analyst, his staff picked a littleknown Ohio sports blogger and Uber driver whose only relevant experience is spreading harmful conspiracy theories about COVID-19 on the Internet.”
The piece went on to note that Ohio blogger Clay Lamb’s previous claims included that COVID might be part of a Chinese “bio war,” that masks don’t prevent the spread of the virus and that United Nations troops had taken over a fairgrounds in Ohio.
That’s your newest state employee.
The governor appears to be
drifting further and further into the fringe-o-sphere. The question is whether anyone in Florida leadership objects. With Senate President Wilton Simpson telling the Herald he thought the new blogger hire seemed “above board, 100%,” the answer so far appears to be no.
Hug for lobbyist crackdown
Not everything in Florida politics is bonkers these days. On the plus side, members of Orlando International Airport’s governing body— which includes some DeSantis appointees — seem ready to crack down on rule-breaking lobbyists.
Last month, the Sentinel revealed that lobbyist Christy Daly Brodeur, the wife of recently victorious state Sen. candidate Jason Brodeur, had been lobbying airport officials and not disclosing her efforts as airport rules require.
Her lobbying would’ve remained a secret if the Sentinel hadn’t discovered and reported it. So what did the airport do after the Sentinel revealed the improper activity? Nothing, with airport officials saying they hadn’t developed policies to enforce the rules … which is quite lame.
Fortunately, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings led the charge at this past week’s meeting to call for greater accountability— and sanctions. And most board members, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and DeSantis appointee Ralph Martinez, seemed inclined to agree.
Good. The airport is a multibillion-dollar public operation where lobbyists salivate over big-money deals theway zombies crave brains. And every local company deserves a fair shot at the contracts— and full disclosure on who’s trying to score those contracts behind the scenes.
Still, therewas one concerning hitch when airport officials mentioned lobbying policies that don’t punish rule-breaking lobbyists unless the airport can prove the lobbyists broke the rules “with intent.”
That’s ridiculous. We don’t ask prosecutors to prove a burglar knew itwas against the lawto rob someone’s house. We don’t give a pass to a driver going 70 mph if they claim they didn’t know the speed limit was 45. Either followthe rules. Or get the heck out of the business.
A hug to the arts
Dramatic hugs to the local arts groups working hard to reinvent themselves, stay solvent and continue serving this community.
Groups like Orlando Shakes (which just announced itwill return to its roots with outdoor shows at Lake Eola) and the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (which is constructing elevated and separated pods for attendees towatch shows on the front lawn) are finding creative ways to keep the community entertained, enlightened and safe.
Shrug on environmental commitment
And finally, a shrug (meaning we’re not yet sure what to think) about Mayor Demings‘ upcoming appointment to the Central Florida Expressway Authority.
Local environmentalists say the toll-road board needs a fresh set of environmentalwatchdog eyes. They’re absolutely right. After all, the most popular thing on this month’s Orange County ballot was a couple of green initiatives — including one attempting to protect an environmental preserve from future paving plans. (The amendment scored 86%. Normally, you can’t get 86% of Floridians to agree that the sky is blue.)
Demings said he’s still trying to decide who gets the seat. Well, newly elected commissioner Nicole Wilson, who made conservation a key plank in her platform, would be a perfect fit.
Adding one die-hard greenie to this 10-member board won’t transform this asphalt-focused body. But it would give conservationists a new voice. And there’s no good reason to oppose that.