Tag: Orange County
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Florida DOGE Audits: The Full Story from Subpoenas to Final Numbers – How Much Money Can Stay in Your Pocket in 2026?
By Sean King, Public Relations/Media Associate, J & Washington ORLANDO – If you own a home in Dr. Phillips, rent an apartment in Pine Hills, run a small business in Lake Nona, or just drive our roads every day, this story is about one thing: your money. Back in the summer of 2025, Florida’s new Read more
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Three Ways Orlando Is Failing Its Homeless—And It’s Not What You Think
Homelessness in Orlando is not a hidden problem; it’s a crisis unfolding on our streets, a crisis underscored by a recent 24% single-year spike in the unsheltered population, and a staggering 156% increase over the last three years. In response, city officials have launched high-profile initiatives like “Accelerate Orlando,” promising bold, compassionate, and effective solutions. Read more
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📝 The Strategic Win, The Civic Loss: What Orlando’s Election Night Really Revealed
The Unpacking of November 4th: Triumphs, Tensions, and the True Test of City Power Good evening, Orlando. The results from the November 4th municipal elections are in, and while they solidify a few campaigns, the most significant outcome is not found in the victory tallies but in the numbers that stayed home. For an electorate Read more
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The Orlando Sentinel’s Snub: Why the Editorial Board’s Endorsements are a Power Play, Not a Public Service
By David Washington, The Orlando Voice Political Editor In the chaotic, often confusing world of local politics, a newspaper’s editorial endorsement is meant to be a lighthouse. It is, in theory, a non-partisan, sober analysis designed to cut through the noise and guide voters toward the best-qualified candidates, regardless of political affiliation. This year, the Read more
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An Analysis of the 2025 Redistricting Process and its Political Implications
By David Washington, The Orlando Voice Political Editor 1.0 The Mandate for Change: Expansion to an Eight-District Commission The 2025 redistricting process in Orange County, Florida, represents a fundamental realignment of the county’s political landscape, driven by a direct voter mandate. The 2024 approval of a charter amendment expanding the Orange County Commission from six to Read more
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From Outrage to Resolution: Central Florida’s Latino Voice
Here in Central Florida, it means being present at town halls, commission meetings, and school board discussions. Osceola, Orange, and Polk counties hold meetings every month where issues that directly affect us, transportation, housing, education, public safety — are decided. The seats are open to the public, but too often, they are filled with the… Read more
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Part 1: The DOGE Audits – Who’s Watching Your Wallet in Orange County and Orlando?
Hey Orlando and Orange County neighbors – whether you’re juggling a family budget in Winter Park, running a small business downtown, or just trying to make ends meet in Apopka – you’ve probably felt the pinch of rising property taxes and wondered where all that money goes. Right now, there’s a big spotlight on exactly Read more
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Drawing the Lines: Orange County’s Map Battle
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Orange County Government Under Fire: A Pattern of Poor Spending
Orange County leaders are in hot water. Governor Ron DeSantis and state officials are taking a hard look at how local Democrats have been spending taxpayer money. What they found is not good news for families who work hard to pay their taxes. Read more
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Part III: Transforming Culture Into Power — When the Numbers Speak, We Must Act NOW
Political Editor’s Note Crystal Negron concludes her transformative three-part series not with soaring rhetoric, but with a battle cry backed by hard data and harder truths. Part Three strips away any remaining illusions about the barriers facing Central Florida’s Hispanic community—revealing that 44% of Hispanic-owned businesses are denied loans compared to just 34% of white Read more