Top 10 Epic Failures in Central Florida

During the last weeks of the year, the media puts out lists for your acknowledgment. They tell you the most important people, the top stories of the year and a plethora of other issues. They do the research come up with some relevant criteria, put together a panel of people and voilà!, you get a story about the most, the biggest, the best, the worst, the up and coming and the outrageously powerful people in the area.

As I read those articles, I began to notice something missing. I observed that there was precious little mention of African-American community leaders or organizations.  So I thought, “Well maybe there is little good to say about us.” What positive occurrences in our neighborhood should we be proud of? Obviously, according to some media outlets, very little. So I wondered, “Why is that?” Where are our people who are doing great things in our area of town? Why can’t we make these lists?

I decided to look at our leaders and our organizations to see what noteworthy events they had accomplished over the past year or two. I also looked at other organizations to see if they had a tremendous effect on our lives and neighborhoods. I didn’t put together a panel or devise some special criteria for judgement.

I found that the most notable behavior by our people that affects the greater mass of “us” was negative. I found that we are causing much of the heart ache and pain to ourselves. In some instances, we did not cause the pain, but we allowed it to happen, which in my opinion is worse. So I had to run with what I found. It is what it is.

Perhaps, after more research, I will find some community success stories to tell. But for now, here are the top ten failures of Central Florida.

10. Obama’s Re-election – President Obama won a second term as POTUS. Great! His team was very successful in motivating Blacks to vote. His opposition consistently used his win as a diversionary tactic to keep local voters preoccupied and not actively pursuing solutions to local issues. When Black residents are thinking and talking about national issues, they are usually not thinking and talking about local issues. Local issues need thinkers and doers to find solutions. President Obama’s re-election moved more of the conversation from local politics to national politics.

9. Trayvon Martin – The Trayvon Martin-murder case sparked a short-lived moment of intense concern but no long-range solution. The marches, the newspaper articles, the proposed healing of Sanford, Florida, the conversations about gun control and the “stand your ground” laws are all attempts to quiet the loud outbursts of the murder of an unarmed Black child by an armed vigilante. There are few attempts to get to the root of the issue, but these activities are designed to quiet the noise.

8. Elected Officials – Lack of real leadership – Daisy Lynum, Sam Ings, Tiffany Moore-Russell and others have completely failed the community which they are supposed to serve. I can’t find much positive actions for the Black community from any of these politicians. Their inactivity hurts the community.

7. City Fence – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer installed a fence down the middle of town. This fence was designed to block Black merchants from earning income during large events that were held at their door step. This shows a complete lack of respect for the Black community and a complete sell out of the Black elected officials who did nothing to stop this blatant misuse of public confidence. (See number 8).

6. Dr. Barbara Jenkins, Orange County School Superintendent – Dr. Jenkins fails to support Black schools. She has allowed the Orange County School Board to illegally vote to close one Black school with plans to de-fund and close all Black schools in Orange County, including Jones High School. The United Stated Department of Justice is investigating the OCSB for their activity.

5. Dr. Robert Spooney and the African-American Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Spooney failed to achieve meaningful placement of Black owned businesses during the construction of the new Amway Center. Dr. Spooney has not positioned Black businesses to take advantage of the proposed construction of the ‘village’ that will be built on the space where the old arena stood.

4. Allie Braswell and Central Florida Urban League – (See number 5). Allie Braswell fully supports the policies and practices of Walmart. He fully supports bringing Walmart to the Washington Shores area knowing full well that this will harm existing businesses in the area. His actions are the exact opposite of what the Urban League is supposed to stand for. He has failed the Urban League and the community.

3. Orange County NAACP – The Orange County NAACP is so disregarded in this community that no new person wanted to be an officer in this branch. The elections for new leadership were held in November, the same week as the national election for President of the United States. No new person cared enough to run for office so all of the old officers will stay in place. The last six years of leadership of the Orange County NAACP has been bogus at best. The NAACP were very instrumental in allowing the Orange County School Board to close Black schools. The leadership is so bad, that a judge called the NAACP attorney, ‘incompetent and useless.’

2. Kat Gordon – Orange County School Board Representative.  Kat Gordon was instrumental in closing Richmond Heights Elementary. She also endorsed a plan that would close all Black schools in Orange County. Ms. Gordon held secret meetings with officers of the Orange County Branch of the NAACP where she successfully garnered support to close Black Schools in Orange County. She has consistently deceived the community and her constituents and is not working for the betterment of Orange County residents.

1. Developer Bishop Allan Wiggins of the Hope Church.  Developer Bishop Wiggins is the main character in bringing Walmart to Washington Shores. He said that Washington Shores needed a place where residents could purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. So he negotiated a deal to bring in a 40,000 sq. ft. Walmart Grocery Store where low wage employees could sell these fruits and vegetables. Developer Wiggins is aware that this venture will kill local businesses but Developer Bishop Wiggins said that this competition is fair. (See numbers 4 and 5).

Okay, there you have it. This is my opinion and mine alone. I would like to know what you think? Please leave a comment.