LOOKING AHEAD THIS WEEK
HURRICANES’ EFFECT ON POOR, Mary Lee Downey, CEO and founder of the Community Hope Center: This has been the busiest hurricane season on record with 30 named storms. Florida has been fortunate this season to not have a catastrophic storm hit our shores, but these longer, harsher storm seasons have a greater effect on our homeless neighbors and those living in poverty. For those in the woods, simply the act of getting to a hurricane shelter is perilous. Do they leave what little possessions they have behind? Do they pack up and try to bring it to shelter with them? We must work together to lessen the effects of climate change on our most vulnerable.
BLENDED FAMILY HISTORY, Ben Friedman, attorney and community advocate: While the administration of President-elect Joe Biden was already historic in nature, I’m particularly excited about the Second Family. Not only will Vice President-elect Kamala Harris be the first woman to hold the role, and break racial and ethnic barriers to boot, her family represents a truly American definition of the word. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff will be the first Jewish person at that level, and their blended family— multiracial, interfaith, stepchildren— honors the many millions of American families just like them, including mine. Representation matters, and the Harris/Emhoff family will give many Americans their first taste of it.
AIR TAXI SERVICE, Tim Giuliani, president and CEO, Orlando Economic Partnership: German startup Lilium’s establishment of its first U.S. fully electric and emissions-free air taxi service in Lake Nona will prove a groundbreaking addition to the travel options for our residents and visitors. The company’s 56,000-square-foot flagship U.S. verti port facility will generate an estimated $1.7 million in economic impact over a10-year period while creating 143 new jobs by the end of 2025 with wages over 150 percent of the median wage in the area. Beyond an economic boost, this investment will augment the region’s transit system by positioning Orlando to lead the nation with the country’s first urban and regional air mobility network.
CURIOUS TIMING, Francisco Gonzalez, philanthropy director, National Review Institute: You can’t make this up. Two days after many media outlets called the election for Joe Biden, Pfizer announced a vaccine is on its way. Throughout the year, many believed that the pandemic was being used for political purposes, to drive up voting by mail, and use a public health crisis to bring downan otherwise successful presidency. Before COVID-19 and the economic lockdowns, most Americans were experiencing the best economy of their lifetimes. We should be grateful for capitalism. It allows technology towork at warp speeds to bring products to market and allow us to rebound again.
AMENDMENT 2 BATTLE CONTINUES, Ken LaRoe, Founder, Climate First Bank I/O: Amendment 2 has passed, and a supermajority has chosen to raise the minimum wage to lift millions of Floridians out of poverty— most of them women and people of color. However, there are still many hurdles ahead as Republicans in Tallahassee seek other avenues to circumvent the people’s choice (as they have in the past with ex-felons’ right to vote) and protect the interest of big business. Floridians must remain vigilant and be prepared to fight any attempts to undercut Amendment 2.
SCHOOL FUNDING A TRISK, Kathleen Oropeza, co-founder, FundEducationNow.org: Gov. Ron DeSantis is dangling Florida school districts by a thread while he decides whether to fund synchronous learning programs like LaunchEd next semester. Both DeSantis and Commissioner Richard Corcoran have indicated funding will not be granted, forcing students back into classrooms. In Orange County, 50 percent of all students attend LaunchEd. A COVID-19 spike could cause transfers to Orange County Virtual School. If that happens, Orange County Public Schools will lose a catastrophic $59million in funding. Teaching and staff jobs are on the line. DeSantis and Corcoran should rethink dealing a life-threatening blow to school districts.
HERD TEST IS COMING, Jim Philips, retired longtime radio talk-show host: The rubber is about to meet the road when it comes to Florida’s response to the nation’s ever-increasing COVID-19 caseload. Gov. DeSantis will not publicly endorse the “herd immunity” approach to the disease, but ya’ know, “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck …” The Sunshine State now sees an increase in virus-related illness and one can only hope the Midwest surge will not plow south with the holidays fast approaching. Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, the DeSantis leadership appears hellbent on its campaign to keep Florida open. It won’t take much time to determine whether the governor called it right.
WOMAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, Gloria Pick ar, president, League of Women Voters of Orange County: Finally, awoman will rise to the second highest job in the land— vice president! Aswe close out 2020 and the celebration of the centennial ofwomen’s suffrage, we can look ahead to celebrating awoman crashing through the glass ceiling that has barred women frompresident or vice president since our founding. In1920, women gained the right to vote, but women of color still didn’t “get” to vote. Nowwe see the path to sending a Black/South Asian woman to the White House. Whether you voted for Biden/Harris or not, this is a giant step forward forwomen.