Posts with the tag Orlando

Check out Alan Grayson's (D-FL08) new ad for Congress!

Douglas J. De Clue — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:13:50 EDT

Fellow Democrats:

Just in case you haven’t seen Alan’s new ad on TV yet, you can check it out on-line at the DailyKos:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/25/155020/561/340/556978

Hope and Loss in Florida

Jim Callahan — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:59:27 EDT

I stopped by the Orlando for Obama HQ on Saturday and saw a bustling voter registration push. The Obama HQ already had a purpose, a sense of dedication and activity that HQ's seldom achieve until after the national convention, if at all. There was also a life sized, cardboard cutout of Senator Obama, a bitter reminder of a primary campaign where cardboard had to substitute for flesh and blood.

On Sunday, I received a gracious e-mail from Jesse the organizer of "Greater Orlando's Team Hillary" which included the following paragraph:

"Many of you have asked about plans beyond June in the event that Senator Clinton fails to secure the nomination. The simple answer is that there will be a transition period at that time to prepare our group to play a role in the election of the Democratic nominee. Not everyone will choose to make that transition with us. I mourn their loss, but respect what must be a very difficult decision for them. Each of us must act according to our consciences. Those of us who remain will take aim at John McCain as we rally under the banner of the Democratic Party."

On Sunday evening I saw the Robin Williams movie "Awakening" on TV. On one level it is "just words," but I took a walk downtown. On the way I saw Harvey. Harvey saw me try to avoid eye contact and said, "it's not about money." It almost always is; Harvey is homeless. I told Harvey about the movie, he told me about Vietnam (Harvey is a Vietnam vet). A couple walked by with a Subway sub in a plastic bag. I asked "Is Subway still doing two for one on Sundays?." She replied, "no, but they have the $5 footlong." Harvey guessed what I was up to, and I bought us each a $5 footlong. Inside Subway was Jerome, who slumped asleep over a large pencil drawing. As Jerome woke he showed me three impressive drawings. Cole seems to be homeless too, but he works for the vendor with the hotdog cart. We discussed our modest hopes for President Obama. While we were there "Magic" walked in with a guitar on his back. Magic had a hat on with cards in the brim and is probably homeless as well. As darkness fell, it wasn't quite an Edward Hopper picture, but there were some guys in a brightly lit eatery in a darkened city.

On a May weekend in 2008, a handful of people in Orlando were inspired by "just words" to be a little better than they might otherwise be.

On Monday, I will do a little day-trading, send out a few more resumes, prepare to attend attend DFA training next weekend. But, I can report that among those most discouraged there is a ray of hope, that America will change for the better under President Obama.

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

People are hurting

Jim Callahan — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:14:25 EDT

Behind the tenth of a percent analysis of GDP and unemployment rates; the anecdotal evidence is piling up that people are hurting.

Even the every booster-ish Orlando Sentinel had two disturbing pieces today.

In an article titled, "Hunting for jobs in Orlando area is getting tougher" the Orlando Sentinel reported:

Only eight of Florida's 22 metropolitan areas gained jobs in February compared with the same month last year. The Orlando region was among them, but the 4,100 jobs it added was a fraction of the 36,500 jobs it had picked up during the same month from 2006 to 2007.

The construction industry, the most battered sector of the economy, continued to shrink in February, shedding 77,400 jobs in Florida -- a 12.1 percent year-over-year decrease -- including 8,200 jobs in Metro Orlando.

Little effect on tourism

The nation's economic downturn, which started in residential real estate and spread to the financial sector, has had little effect so far on tourism, Central Florida's key industry. Metro Orlando has added 4,100 leisure-and-hospitality jobs during the past year, a 2.1 percent gain.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/ucf/orl-employ2908mar29,0,4882120.story

In an opinion column titled, "Groups fighting hunger have their plates full" Daryl Owens writes:

"The folks needing food today are invisible," Krepcho says. "People aren't going to talk about it. . . . Outside disaster times, I have not seen anything like it."

Two years ago, Second Harvest served about 53,900 people in a given week. Tack on 15 percent to 20 percent above that today. And it's not just food pantries quieting more rumbling tummies.

The Women, Infants, and Children program, which feeds mothers and their kids, has enrolled 43,000 participants since February 2007. The food dollar doesn't buy as much with milk flirting with the $4-a-gallon mark and the price of other staples on the rise, so more people supplement with food pantries.

Meanwhile, a perfect storm brews:

While the rising cost of living drives demand for supplemental food, the supply is shrinking. Cutbacks in USDA commodities, which make up about 25 percent of Second Harvest's stores, haven't helped. Neither has the fact that retailers who once donated distressed items now often sell to dollar stores or prison systems to beef up the bottom line.

"We turn people away all the time," says Robert F. Stuart, who heads the Christian Service Center for Central Florida Inc., which feeds the hungry through its Daily Bread program. Once clients came in every 90 days for a care package that lasts several days. Now, he says, "we're seeing them coming every two weeks."

Meanwhile, food providers, too, are feeling pinched. Tiny outfits are negotiating gas-saving partnerships. And with diesel at about $4 a gallon, Krepcho may need to park one of the eight trucks that pick up food.

"My budget on fuel is totally blown. But I can't cut back on the diesel fuel because if the trucks don't roll, the food doesn't arrive here and it doesn't get out to the people."

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/columnists/orl-owens2908mar29,0,7964532.column

Watchamacallit? Depression? Recession? Call it hard times.

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

Mitt Romney in Orlando

Jim Callahan — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:43:44 EST

Mitt Romney(R) spoke to a small rally in the lobby of an office building next to City Hall. Lots of TV crews were there.

In between the US flag and a State of Florida flag there was a banner saying "Washington is Broken."

Underneath the "Washington is Broken" banner Mitt Romney(R)was introduced by Republican US Congressman Tom Feeney(FL, 24th CD), who is best known for taking a trip to Scotland paid for by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramhoff.

On an earlier trip, I am told, Romney was flanked by former state representative Sheri McInvale(R), who is now under indictment.

Romney spoke of giving tax cuts to senior citizens who are still working, eliminating taxes on unearned income and eliminating the death tax. I assume the tax cuts for the dead and near dead will be paid for by working Americans who earn their paychecks each week.

To Democratic Presidential candidates:
Wish You Were Here.

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

Mea Culpa

Jim Callahan — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:01:59 EST

I wrote a comment, "Wounded Knee II in Context" to expand on Mike_M post, "Who has the courage to free Leonard Peltier?"
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/radiclefantast/CrSG

One should not single out the people of the West for their treatment of the Native Americans without considering where one lives.

I live in the City of Orlando, in Orange County, Florida. To the north of me is Seminole County (named after the Seminole Tribe) and to the south of me is Osceola County (named after the most famous chief of the Seminole tribe).

The Seminole tribe was forcibly removed to Oklahoma as part of the enforcement of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 in what would become known as one of five "trail of tears." (more information in extended post).

One of the founding myths of Orlando is that it is named for a soldier "Orlando Reeves" who fought in the Seminole War.

CENSORSHIP? Orlando Weekly Adv Dept Arrested

Jim Callahan — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 14:24:41 EDT

Orlando Weekly Adv Dept Arrested after hostile story

Orlando Police/MBI arrested 3 members of the Orlando Weekly's advertising department (for running advertisements for escort services) the same week the weekly newspaper wrote a cover story hostile to Mayor Dyer. The MBI also sent letters (PDFs online) to Craigslist and to EBAY founder Meg Whitman (as a large shareholder in EBAY).

NOT GUILTY verdict in Homeless Feeding Trial

Jim Callahan — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:34:45 EDT

In the first test of Orlando's controversial ban on feeding groups in public parks, a jury Tuesday found 22 year-old Eric Montanez not guilty of the misdemeanor charge against him. * * * He faced a possible $500 fine and 60 days in jail.

Link

The previous week

{Mayor] Dyer described the accomplishments of the past year as "extraordinary," saying downtown is undergoing a renaissance. * * * Everything is going great in downtown Orlando, Mayor Buddy Dyer reported in his annual State of Downtown speech Thursday.

Link

Meanwhile, Food Not Bombs, the group organizing the mass feedings in the downtown Orlando park is continuing a 3 day "Ladle Fest."

To show its support, the group organized Ladle Fest, a three-day large scale feeding at Lake Eola Park. It runs through Wednesday.

Food Not Bombs say it's dividing the feeding into several small groups so it doesn't violate the ordinance.

Link

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

Republican Murder/Suicide in Orlando

Jim Callahan — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:43:49 EDT

A Republican political consultant with ties to US Congressman Feeney of Florida and Ralph Reed of Georgia, Rafael "Ralph" Gonzalez, was found dead by police at the age of 36 this week at his suburban home east of Orlando near the University of Central Florida along with his roommate David Abrami aged 36 and friend Robert Drake, aged 30. The press are tentatively labeling it an apparent double murder-suicide.

Gonzalez was executive director of the Georgia Republican Party from 2001-2002.

AP/Boston Herald
Link

The time period corresponds to the takeover of the Georgia Republican Party by Ralph Reed. According to the Wikipedia article on Ralph Reed,
Link.

In 2001, Reed mounted a campaign for State Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, a volunteer job not usually the subject of heated contests. His candidacy attracted national media attention, two opponents and an independent "Anybody But Ralph" campaign. * * * Reed won on the first ballot, capturing almost 60% of the delegate vote against Shafer, who won 40%, and a third candidate, lobbyist Maria Rose Strollo, who won 1%.

Reed was endorsed by the "Confederate Republican Caucus," a block of almost 500 heritage activists who had participated in the state convention as a protest against the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the State Flag. Associated with the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Confederate Republican Caucus claimed credit for both Reed's victory and the large margin. They would later claimed that they were "double crossed" by Reed.

Documents released by federal investigators in June of 2005 show that Reed's 2001 campaign for State Chairman was secretly financed with contributions from the Choctaws, an Indian gaming tribe represented by lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The party experienced success in the 2002 elections under Reed's leadership. Saxby Chambliss was elected as U.S. Senator [vs. Max Cleland(D)]

Gossip: Orlando Party Switcher (D to R) Indicted

Jim Callahan — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:02:09 EDT

The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that
Link

Former state Rep. Sheri McInvale [R] and her ex-legislative aide Robert Franklin Stuart Jr. [R] were arrested this morning after an Orange County [Florida] grand jury indicted them on misconduct and theft charges.
* * *
She faces five felonies and four misdemeanors. Stuart faces three felonies and two misdemeanors.

The story interesting not only because of the D to R party switching, but because it highlights some of Orlando's most tightly intertwined bi-partisan political, family and business relationships.

You could end up owing more money than your borrowed

Jim Callahan — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:30:52 EDT

"You could end up owing more money than you borrowed" is an actual link on a Federal Reserve Board web page called "Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages." Except that I left out the kicker, "even if you make all your payments on time." Ouch!
Link

FLORIDA, ESPECIALLY ORLANDO, IS GROUND ZERO
EXPECT WORSENING HOUSING CONDITIONS AROUND TIME OF
JANUARY 29, 2008 PRIMARY

Violent Crime comes to downtown Orlando Precinct 401

Jim Callahan — Sun, 13 May 2007 16:27:08 EDT

I live in a very safe downtown neighborhood, the City of Orlando is considering building a world class performing arts center right across the street from my condo. But, this month, May 2007, there was a MURDER at my 7-Eleven where I sometimes buy gas and stop for coffee and a pastry, an ARMED ROBBERY at my Chevron gas station where I buy normally buy gas and a stranger, home break in RAPE on a tree lined suburban street where several of my friends live. There is no amenity we can add to the performing arts center or any of the other venues to make up for people attending the venues being robbed, raped or murdered and thus, I would support diverting some of the venue's tourism tax dollars to crime prevention.

I hope the Democratic Presidential candidates will support a return to the Clinton era Community Oriented Policing (COPs) grant program which put 100,000 new policeman on neighborhood patrols.

This is also why I am very concerned about the Florida Legislature cutting City and County Property Taxes right when anti-crime programs are supposed to come on line. For more details and the specific locations of the MURDER, RAPE and ROBBERY follow the link...