Mayor Demings' Digest

Members of the Orange County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Initiative host its Book Buddy program with students at Oak Ridge Children's Academy. The program supports early learning, strengthens social development, and promotes literacy.

MAYOR DEMINGS' DIGEST

Greetings!

The cool days of our Florida winter seem to be coming to an end as we leap ahead towards a warm spring. Our beautiful weather is the envy of the rest of the country and is the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy our nature trails, lakes and parks. I always look forward to the annual “Jazz in the Park” event, which is taking place this year at Cypress Grove Park on Saturday, March 26. It is an afternoon filled with great music and culinary delights. Come out and join me this year!

This month we are hosting a series of Transportation Open Houses across the County in each of our six districts in order to help inform our residents about the Orange County Transportation Initiative. These sessions will provide information about the proposed one-penny transportation sales tax that would go on the ballot in November 2022. The money raised would be dedicated to transportation projects, infrastructure, technology and transit, as well as improve safety for users of all modes of transportation. I am looking forward to meeting you at one of these Open Houses. We also invite you to go online and share your thoughts on transportation by taking our transportation survey, available now.

Finally, this is Women’s History month, where we commemorate and honor the vital role women have played in our history, culture and society. We will be sharing stories of interesting women from Orange County who have made valuable contributions to our community. Watch the Orange County Newsroom this month for these inspiring stories.

I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

IN THE NEWS

Orange County Updates Fertilizer Ordinance | WKMG | February 9, 2022

Updates to Fertilizer Ordinance | WKMG

Orange County Utilities Job Fair | WESH

Other Orange County News:

TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE

Relaunched in 2022, the transportation penny sales tax aims to raise the necessary funds to reduce congestion, increase safety for all transportation users, and offer more and better options for commuters. If passed, it could generate almost $600 million per year dedicated to transportation projects, infrastructure, technology and transit, as well as increased safety for all transportation users.

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings is calling on all residents to stay engaged!

Take the Survey Now

Attend an Open House

For more information about the Transportation Initiative, upcoming meetings or to take the survey, visit ocfl.net/Transportation.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Transportation Open House

March 2022

Orange County’s Transportation Open House Meetings continue throughout March. Residents will hear a short update on the proposed transportation initiative and will have the opportunity to meet with County departments and transportation partners to discuss how the initiative will affect their communities.

Movie in the Park: Sonic the Hedgehog

March 4 and 5, 2022

Grab blankets and snacks for the upcoming screening of Sonic the Hedgehog at Dr. Phillips Community Park and Bear Creek Park. The event, hosted by Orange County Parks & Recreation, is free and open to the public.

History Center: Into Light Project Florida

March 5, 2021

Presented in collaboration with Orange County’s Drug-Free Coalition, the exhibition highlights original portraits of people in Central Florida who have died from drug addiction. The exhibition seeks to erase the stigma of Substance Use Disorder and provide a space of healing for those impacted by addiction.

Women’s History Month Breakfast Honoring Mary Ann Carroll

March 10, 2022

The Orange County Regional History Center presents its annual Women’s History Month Breakfast with a program honoring trailblazing artist Mary Ann Carroll (1940-2019), the sole woman in the famed group of 26 artists now known as the Florida Highwaymen.

Mayor’s Jazz in the Park

March 24, 2022

Orange County Parks and Recreation and Mayor Demings celebrate the 10th annual Mayor’s Jazz in the Park at Cypress Grove Park. The event is free and open to the public. Guests should bring lawn chairs and picnics for a musical afternoon in the park.

MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

The mental and behavioral health system of care has been overburdened for years, and recent research suggests the situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Orange County has not been spared by this national crisis.

The recent Orange County Mental and Behavioral Health System of Care Community Analysis has been published. The purpose of the report was to conduct a cross-sectional analysis to determine the validity of the findings of the initial study completed by our Mental Health and Homelessness Division, identify remaining system gaps and develop recommendations for system improvement.

For more information about the report, or to read the full analysis, visit ocfl.net/MentalHealthReport.

COVID-19 RESOURCES

COVID-19 health services continue to be widely available in our community. For more information about free drive-thru COVID-19 testing and vaccinations in Orange County, visit ocfl.net/COVID19.

Orange County’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program has provided nearly $20M to support residents who are behind in rent. For more information about the program, visit ocfl.net/RentalAssistance.