The leading candidate for Orlando mayor in 2027 says local small businesses are struggling and that municipal construction projects are making things worse during the tough times.

This message may not make Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer happy, but it is an important message for him and the Orlando City Council to hear. And for small businesses around Orlando, it should be a very welcome message. The candidate for mayor also had a direct plea for local residents.

Democrat Anna Eskamani, who is running for Orlando mayor in 2027, called on the community to get out and support small businesses as many struggle to stay open. She called on the community to be “putting our money where our values are” by supporting small businesses, especially those impacted by local construction projects.

“If you’re like me, you love supporting small businesses,” Anna Eskamani said in a recent video. “And if you’re also like me you probably follow a lot of small businesses online and you’ve likely noticed that things aren’t looking so good for our small businesses. Many have closed here in Orlando and others are struggling to stay afloat. We also have a lot of new construction projects happening our community and that impacts the ability for small businesses to attract customers.”

Anna Eskamani, who is also currently a Democratic State Representative, noted that she worked on legislation to support small businesses, especially those impacted by municipal construction projects. She said that even with different types of resources, Orlando small businesses need and rely on every day residents to survive and grow.

“Put the app down, go walk into a small business, don’t shop online, support our local boutiques,” Anna Eskamani continued. “We really need to make sure that we are putting our money where our values are. So do what you can to uplift your small businesses, especially those impacted most recently by different construction projects where, unfortunately, in our car-centric community a lot of folks tend to avoid those areas when they get that news. But it’s important for us to go the extra mile, literally, to support those small businesses and make sure they stay open for years, decades, and generations to come.”

In her platform as a candidate for Orlando mayor, Anna Eskamani pledges to streamline the city’s permitting, licensing, and inspection processes. She says the City of Orlando needs “to work with small businesses more intentionally,” and listen to concerns over time. The Orlando candidate is campaigning to establish a Business Disruption Assistance program to support small businesses negatively impacted by public works projects. She also wants Main Street organizations and directors to be empowered to speak up for small businesses about city services or decisions that are not working or are not adequate.

These all seem like fresh approaches compared to the status quo under Mayor Buddy Dyer.

“From food trucks, pop-ups, and family-owned restaurants and shops to artists, independent venues, salons, entrepreneurs, and tech innovators, they make our city vibrant, resilient, and full of possibility,” Anna Eskamani’s campaign platform states. “But too often, local businesses are left out of the conversation. Squeezed by rising costs, impacted negatively by local construction projects, buried under red tape, and overshadowed by big corporations. As Mayor, I’ll ensure that Orlando is a city where small businesses are supported, celebrated, and central to our economic future.”