MAYOR DEMINGS' DIGEST

On May 16, I welcomed hundreds of residents and leaders to my first State of the County address. The theme, “We will build our community together,” focused on the three pillars of innovation, collaboration and inclusion. With these three central pillars in mind, I ask you to join me in making Orange County the "Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow." My commitment to you as your Mayor is to do everything in my power to move Orange County forward. Our individual contributions will achieve a collective impact that counties, cities and communities across our nation will look to as an example of excellence and a beacon of hope. As we build our community together, we want Orange County to be known, not only as the premier place to do business, but ground zero for the entrepreneurial spirit and a hub for innovation. We also want to be intentional about fostering a culture of top-notch customer service in all of our operations.

Building our community together will require a laser-like focus on connectivity, specifically as it relates to our transportation infrastructure. We are fortunate to be part of a dynamic and growing community. By the year 2030 we will boast a regional population of 5.2 million. With this growth comes challenges, but I am confident we can arrive at community-wide solutions that work for everyone. Specifically, we must collaborate on a range of solutions that will alleviate the pressure on our fledgling transportation network.

I am convinced we must begin seeking multi-modal transportation options that increase frequency of public transit so more people use it. I invite our community to consider support of a sales tax referendum to prepare for the future today. I look forward to leading efforts to pass a one-cent sales tax that will allow us to fully fund a transportation system that will better serve us well into the future. Over the course of the next few months, we will hold public workshops to listen and gain input from our community stakeholders, learn the priorities of our citizens and local elected officials, and build towards a long-term solution that works for everyone.

I believe now is the time to build a better quality of life, not only for us, but for generations to come.
Mayor Demings' home page
IN THE NEWS
Mayor Demings stands on stage. The words State of the County are in the background.

On May 16, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings welcomed nearly 1,500 citizens and community leaders to the 2019 State of the County address at the Orange County Convention Center.
Mayor Demings and two other men on stage. Behind them is a very large screen that says 75 million.

Tourism officials announced today a historic milestone for the U.S. travel industry as Orlando released news of a record-setting 75 million annual visitors in 2018.    
A man in traditional red and yellow garb is leading a dance with a decorative dragon

Throughout the month of May, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) have been celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at events across the County.
Orange County Corrections officers, Orange County Corrections Chief Louis A. Quiñones and Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings standing outside during the Greater Orlando NAMIWalks event .

May is National Mental Health Awareness month. Each year, residents, community organizations and major employers across the U.S. highlight the effort to fight the stigma linked to mental health issues, provide support, educate and advocate for policies and resources to assist those living with mental illness and their families.
Mayor Demings is being shown a baby bat while Commissioner Gomez Cordero stands behind him and peeks over his shoulder.

Since 1989, the Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge and Rehabilitation Center has been rescuing, raising, rehabilitating and releasing injured or orphaned Florida-native species and educating Orange County visitors about respecting and preserving the environment through its non-releasable permanent residents known as “educational ambassadors.”
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
A man in traditional red and yellow garb is leading a dance with a decorative dragon at the Asian Heritage celebration.
Love and Kindness on the Lawn | On Sunday, June 9 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., the One Orlando Alliance invites the community to gather in gratitude at the Seneff Arts Plaza — the same healing space where many joined together after the Pulse tragedy — to celebrate community and the spirit of #OrlandoUnited. Register: http://bit.ly/LoveandKindness

Visit the Orange County Regional History Center | The remembrance exhibit for the Pulse Nightclub tragedy — “ Love Speaks: Artistic Responses to the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy ” — will run from June 1 to Sept. 22, 2019. Admission to the History Center will be free from June 8 through 16 to allow the entire community to enjoy the exhibition. For more information, visit www.thehistorycenter.org or call 407-836-8500.

Celebrate a Summer in Space with WUCF at the Orlando Public Library | On June 23 at 2 p.m., celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing at the Orlando Public Library by watching a free screening of two PBS documentaries — AMERICAN EXPERIENCE’s Chasing the Moon and Space Chase USA — followed by a group discussion. For more information, visit www.wucf.org/summerofspace or call 407-835-7323.

Spend Your Summer Reading | Enjoy the Orange County Library System's free Adult Summer Reading Kickoff event, which will take place on June 2 at 2 p.m. at the Orlando Public Library. Explore the “Universe of Stories” as you paint your own drawstring bag. The program will run throughout the summer, as will summer reading programs for early learners, kids and teens. For more information or to register, visit www.ocls.info/asr or call 407-835-7323. 
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