Chris Cortez, guitarist and proprietor of Winter Park’s Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts (don’t forget Melody!), organized a remote recording session with friends. The result is their recording of Chris’s composition “Awakenings.” Click here for some musical enjoyment. Please keep our Winter Park cultural organizations in our heart as we work our way through the current challenges. They can all use our social, emotional, and financial support. Enjoy “Awakenings” by Chris Cortez and Friends.
Month: April 2020
Bad Governance
We have good reason to be upset and concerned about our new city commission. The intent of the Orange Avenue Overlay was to create a new mixed use neighborhood similar to Park Ave and Hannibal Square, extending and re-enforcing the Winter Park character that benefits all residents. This opportunity is now dead. Two new members of the city commission, Sheila DeCiccio and Marty Sullivan, and two existing members, Carolyn Cooper and Todd Weaver, worked feverishly immediately after the March 17th election to “rescind” the Orange Avenue Overlay (OAO) Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Land Development Code that had earlier received final…
City COVID Response Status
The CRA Board and City Commission each met on April 8th after two days public notice* and voted to proceed with some of the proposed programs. The CRA Board and City Commission reduced the use of taxpayer funds from that initially proposed. City management has released a press release (click here) concerning the approved response programs. Thanks to many who provided comments and suggestions to our city commission. Policy decisions under current circumstances are very difficult. I believe we arrive at the best policy results when we seek experience and wisdom from our community. Here is my take on what…
Appropriately Compassionate or a Knee-Jerk Reaction?
Fellow Winter Park Residents, Please share with friends and neighbors. Please send an email to mayorandcommissioners@cityofwinterpark.org expressing your thoughts on this issue. Tomorrow, with two days notice, our city commission and CRA board are each holding a “Special Meeting” where they will vote on commiting over $2,000,000 of our money for a local “response” to the COVID-19 pandemic. My letter to the commission on this subject is below. Please share your thoughts with them on this issue. To Winter Park Mayor and Commissioners: The notice for tomorrow’s scheduled “Special Meetings” (“is insufficient per statute” removed 04.08.2020 per the comment below)…