Citizens Raise Compelling Issues at Orlando Council Meeting

Four people, some speaking on behalf of Occupy Orlando, made public appearances at the conclusion of the City of Orlando Council meeting Monday. The issues raised ranged from the city’s policy of not broadcasting public comments live, equal benefits for all LGBT workers, to a resolution rejecting the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United that corporations are people.

Stephanie Latscu expressed her concern that public comments made during general appearances at City Council meetings were not being broadcast live so others not present could hear what was being discussed. She said that, in her opinion, it would be in the best interest of the mayor and commissioners to show they are engaging and interacting with their citizens by broadcasting the public’s comments.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said that historically, it wasn’t the practice to carry live the public’s input during general appearances at City Council meetings. Nonetheless, he gave an undertaking to revisit the current policy.

Commissioner Daisy Lynum (District 5) opined that she would not be in favor of broadcasting the public’s input live.  According to Lynum, this should never be allowed because, based on what she has heard in the past, the public’s comments are not substantive and there would be a lot of “garbage.”   She added that, should comments be broadcast, every “nut job” would want to offer public input.

Tim Murray queried Dyer and Commissioner Patty Sheehan (District 4), particularly, on whether they supported equal benefits for all LGBT workers, as according to him, both had declined to discuss the issue at the Come Out With Pride event on Sunday. While work is ongoing between the city of Orlando and Orange County officials on a domestic partner registry, Murray urged council members to place an equal benefits ordinance on the agenda and bring it to a vote, so that all rights of workers might be protected.

Rejecting the notion that corporations are persons, unlike the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in January 2010, Richard Powell, of Occupy Orlando, presented a resolution to city commissioners along these lines.

“We are looking first to get a local resolution passed saying that corporations no longer have the rights of people,” said Powell.  “Ultimately, we hope that this would lead to a national movement.”  He added that South Miami had passed a city resolution to this effect and he hoped that Orlando would join in this effort.

Powell said, now that the mayor and city commissioners have a draft resolution in their hands, public campaigns outside libraries and other public places of interest will commence, and citizens urged to contact their commissioners so that the resolution can be brought forward and passed.

“Corporations aren’t people and they should no longer have the rights of people,” Powell said.

Dyer and city commissioners were given an open invitation to participate in the General Assembly at Occupy Orlando.

“We would love to invite all of you to come down to forums and discuss matters with all those who vote for you,” said an Occupy Orlando representative, who had put together a package of information for council members. “People are upset and feel disconnected from those whom they have elected to represent and serve them.”

Dyer said that, he had held discussions with some members of Occupy Orlando and that 98 percent of the movement were in compliance with city Ordinances.  He added that about 2 percent were agitators and didn ‘t really support the operation, but will show up, protest and do some damage.