Orlando council betrayed us on historic protection
I’ve abandoned the parties. I’ve stayed quiet in political positions. Always let down. But I still believed one thing: governance belongs at the local level, where leaders walk the same streets, share the same air, and look constituents in the eye.
Then I watched Ordinance 2026-18. (“Orlando advances plan to roll back Downtown historic protections,” June 9)
Introduced on a few days’ notice, mid-summer, when no one is watching. A rule to strip historic review from downtown landmarks and fast-track their demolition. I live and work in these buildings. I spoke. So did resident after resident. The commissioners’ eyes stayed down. Unresponsive, their vote clearly decided before a word was spoken.
“Power tends to corrupt.” Time in office breeds the same rot. An utter arrogance. In my opinion, the city council meetings have become ceremonial back-patting followed by preordained votes. Democracy performed, not practiced.
This is the sad state of affairs. Indifferent to the people they represent. We didn’t elect you for your opinions. We elected you for your discernment and your representation.
— Justin Core, Orlando
Tax cut has consequences
In November, all voters will be required to understand and vote upon the expanded homestead exemption that the governor and Legislature have recommended. Their proposal has been around for years and is a political position. It appears that they want to shift the cost of city and county services to “sales tax” that every consumer pays instead of real property taxes. Homeowners and businesses would no longer pay annual property taxes.
The savings of that tax will go into the pockets of those folks. However, the consequences may include higher prices on goods and services, a greater tax burden on lower and middle income households that spend a larger share of their income on taxable purchases and more volatile government revenues because sales tax collections fluctuate with economic conditions. Local governments and schools, which rely heavily on property taxes, will face funding uncertainties during economic downturns. We must have taxes to have roads and sidewalks, fire and police.
The better alternative to their proposal is to elect fiscally responsible representatives. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said it best, “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.”
— Roger McDonald, Orlando
Trump’s unfit demeanor
If any corporate CEO responded in the manner that the president did on “Meet the Press” on June 7, I believe the board of directors of any public corporation would ask for his resignation or fire him on the spot. We should do no less!
— I. Richard Weiner, Winter Park
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