100 Central Florida

Our panel of 100 influential leaders discusses the most important issues affecting you. To read responses from more Central Florida 100 participants, go to OrlandoSentinel.com/cf100

TOP STORIES FROM LAST WEEK

STAX IS A UNICORN, Carlos Carbonell, CEO/Founder Echo: Tech Strategy & Apps; adviser, Converge Strategies: Stax became the first homegrown Orlando startup to reach unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation. Its founder and CEO Suneera Madhani now leads the only woman- and minority-led unicorn in Florida. With their latest raise of $245 million in funding, it’s a step forward for women entrepreneurs who receive less than 2% of funding, and women of color, who receive a fraction of a percent.

LAPCHICK’S LIFE, Earl Crittenden Jr., chair, OnePulse Foundation: Congratulations to Dr. Richard Lapchick for winning the Central Floridian of the Year award. Since being a teenager — when his family was threatened because his father sought desegregation in the NBA — Richard has walked the walk of inclusion and diversity. He successfully pioneered the use of sports as a platform on the global stage to teach and promote ethics and fairness. Richard and all of this year’s distinguished finalists are valuable assets to our community. As Florida is sadly in the nationwide spotlight for last week’s passage of draconian, injurious and purposefully divisive legislation, these are folks that should be championed.

POLICING LANGUAGE,

Our state Legislature sent a bill to the governor’s desk that directly targets our LGBTQ+ neighbors by policing language in our classrooms. I’ve learned that democracy means no decisions should be made about me without me. Teachers and students alike have protested this measure, and not a single LGBTQ+ advocacy group here in Central Florida supports this measure, so who is this law meant to serve? I am glad to know that Disney’s CEO is speaking out against this legislation, and I hope that all Central Florida leaders will form a united front against this inexcusable effort.

Mary Lee Downey, CEO, Hope Partnership:

PUSHAW’S MALICE,

Given a license to annoy by her boss, Ron DeSantis flamethrower/spokesperson Christina Pushaw described the hateful “Don’t Say Gay” law as “anti-grooming” legislation, a clear reference to minor sex trafficking and pedophilia which she apparently believes this legislation is meant to prevent. The unnecessary maliciousness of this statement is outweighed only by its irony. All of the students targeted are now being “groomed” to be heterosexual. I know I was at that age. But hypocrisy, inaccuracy and hate-filled rhetoric are nothing new for Pushaw. Taxpayers deserve better. It’s time for Pushaw to be Pushed Out. Quick.

Jeffrey Miller, shareholder, SiefertMiller LLC:

Mark E. NeJame, Only one in five people in the world live in fully free countries, the smallest number in 27 years. There has been a consistent global decline for freedom in each of the consecutive last 15 years. Dictators, autocrats, and demagogues litter the world. The U.S. has experienced further decline with attacks on our Capitol, efforts to deny valid election results, and education and speech being curtailed in our schools. Our freedoms may be flexible, but certainly are not guaranteed. Just ask the billions around the world who have lost theirs and the Ukrainians who only two weeks ago had theirs.

WINTER PARK DEVELOPMENT, Jim Philips, retired longtime radio talk-show host: Winter Park residents sent a strong message in last Tuesday’s election when they overwhelmingly approved six ballot questions designed to make it harder for city government to approve projects related to development. Maybe it was the traffic mess along 17-92 from Lee Road to Minnesota Avenue that tipped the scales. Perhaps concerns about proposed development near Fairbanks, Denning and Orange Avenue made the difference. Winter Park has always been a thorn in the side of those who want to exploit its charm for profit. Winter Park is not opposed to changes in land use ... it just doesn’t want to look like State Road 436 in the future.

WOMEN AS ROLE MODELS, Nicole Wilson, Orange County commissioner, District 1: International Women’s Day was adopted by the United Nations in 1977, dedicating March 8 to celebrate the work women do every day to make this world better. It is a time to honor the strong female role models in our lives, including my fellow Commissioners Christine Moore, Mayra Uribe, Maribel Gomez Cordero, Emily Bonilla and Victoria Siplin. Reflecting on my legal mentors such as Chief Judge Lisa Munyon and Judge Alice L. Blackwell, I am grateful to have had these incredible role models in my life and to work toward setting an example of equal opportunity and diversity.

LADAPO’S VACCINE STANCE OK,

Michael Zais, political blogger for thedrunkenrepublican.com: I’m continually bewildered by the hysterical reactions by many Floridians over various COVID-related policies and recommendations put forth by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. Case in point — all of the ridiculous hand-wringing over Dr. Ladapo’s recent decision to not recommend young, healthy kids get the vaccine. Many in the medical community genuinely and honestly fall on different sides of the issue. The pertinent point, though, is that “recommendations” or avoiding “mandates” does not prevent or prohibit anyone from doing whatever they feel is right for themselves or their family. I happen to appreciate that freedom of choice.