This year is the 22nd time the Sentinel Editorial Board has laid out its annual goals for readers -- in effect, our New Year's resolutions. Each year, we detail what we will argue for, a vision for the future. We have always asked the politicians to do that. So we believe that it's only fair that we do it as well.
In truth, the issues in the Orlando region don't change very much. Back in 1984, when we first listed our annual goals, managing growth topped the list, just as it does today. That's not surprising, because this area's growth seems unstoppable. Then, we also listed affordable housing and rapid transit as goals, which we also do today. Housing did stay affordable here for a very long time. But now it is experiencing such a rapid rise, too many people are being priced out of apartments as well as homes. The area did have a shot at rapid transit several years ago, but the Orange County Commission rejected it.
Fortunately, this year there are opportunities to make good on several of these failed initiatives. It's not often an area has another chance.
For instance, commuter rail can become a reality this year and eventually stretch from Volusia to Osceola counties, reflecting the new housing patterns. Leaders also can strengthen downtown Orlando -- another goal in 1984 -- by using tourist-tax dollars for a performing-arts center, a new arena and an upgraded stadium. Twenty years ago, no one would have imagined that the tourist tax would produce so much money that all those things are possible. This region also can make huge strides in managing growth. Anyone looking at the area's jammed roads and schools can tell that the growth hasn't been managed -- for every new strategy is a new way to get around it because Orlando is Florida's premier frontier. There is plenty of land to develop and plenty of money to be made simply by getting elected officials to go along with a zoning change. That hasn't changed, either. This year, though, there is a plan to create a regional authority to buy and transfer land so that sensitive areas can be preserved forever and growth directed to already urban areas.
These opportunities have led me to believe that this year could be the most critical year in the Orlando area's history. It can take all its successes over the years and turn them into pluses. That's why our main goal this year is for the Orlando area to transform itself into Florida's city of the future.
There is absolutely no reason it cannot be No. 1, though for too long too many residents -- including elected officials -- have undervalued the area. It's rare to hear anyone talking about Orlando as having it all -- an exciting, vibrant city with all the amenities it deserves. It's a matter of thinking big, rather than thinking small.
The region's weaknesses can be turned into strengths. Instead of being overrun by the growth, it can be redirected. That makes all the land available a plus rather than a minus. The fact we need a new performing-arts center and arena and an upgraded stadium means that the area can make these state of the art.
The Sentinel Editorial Board doesn't believe these things are a stretch. It believes this area can and should be No. 1. We didn't believe that in 1984. Now we do.
The Sentinel op-ed page will see a significant change this year as well, something many readers have been requesting for years. Starting Monday, the comic strip "Doonesbury" will appear with the signed opinion columns. The newspaper has come to believe that the nature of the strip, often political in nature, belongs with opinion. At the same time, we recognized that "Doonesbury" is viewed almost exclusively as having a liberal point of view. So in our effort to balance opinions on that page, we also will be running "Mallard Fillmore," a comic strip that comes from a more conservative viewpoint. We will run them both every Monday through Saturday. "Doonesbury" will stay on the Sunday comics pages because of the space it requires.
The Editorial Board's door is open to Sentinel readers. Any individual or small group wanting to attend an Editorial Board meeting -- at which the opinions expressed on the editorial pages are formulated -- is invited to do so. Just call Nancy Kunzman at 407-420-5418 to set up a time. The meetings are held at 10 a.m. on most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. And remember to bring along your opinions. We would like to hear them.
Something to say?
The newspaper welcomes input from readers in the form of letters to the editor or a "My Word" guest column written by readers. Send short, to-the-point letters to Letters to the Editor. "My Word" candidates should be no more than 470 words. Send both contributions to the Orlando Sentinel, 633 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 328001-1349. Submissions also may be sent by e-mail to insight@orlandosentinel.com or by fax to 407-420-5286.
New Voices? Be heard
"New Voices" -- people in their 20s and students in college and high school -- are invited to submit essays on topics ranging from foreign affairs to the Internet to school life. Submissions should be about 400 words or fewer. The writer's age, street and e-mail addresses and phone number must be included. If a piece is selected for publication, the writer will be asked to supply a photograph. E-mail submissions to newvoices @orlandosentinel.com. "New Voices" are published on the Saturday editorial pages.