“If they want to do our job, they can come and do it,” Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla said. “It seems like they don’t want us doing anything and they’re not helping either.”
Florida’s Republican-Led, Nearly Unanimous Housing Reforms
“What’s happening right now is not the way renting has traditionally been done. We now have these huge corporations that are buying up all these rental properties, even single-family homes,” Bonilla says. “They don’t have any connection with people or their tenants. It’s just about how much money they can make their shareholders.”
Florida’s local elected officials worry state preemption bills could ‘chill’ local policymaking
“As Floridians weather the worst affordable housing emergency of our lifetimes, our state legislature has filed multiple bills that will make it even harder for local governments to help our communities keep a roof over their heads,” said Orange County commissioner Emily Bonilla.
Orange County’s Vision Zero – RCA Scope of Work
In August of 2022, Orange County adopted Vision Zero, a strategy targeting eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, focusing on designing safer roadways. With bike and pedestrian safety being my top priority, I took the opportunity to ensure that the several Roadway Conceptual Analysis (RCAs) in District 5 utilize the strategies behind Vision Zero. I am working alongside County staff to have all RCAs change their Scope of Work to focus on safety.
Extending Water Services to Bithlo
On October 25th, the Utilities Department and I delivered a presentation to the community of Bithlo regarding a Water Main Extension! Phase 1 West will extend service to 337 parcels in SW Bithlo, south of SR 50 and west of N. 3rd St. After lobbying for utility infrastructure for years, I am grateful that the American Rescue Plan Act funding made this project possible! More updates and project phases to come!
Orange County advances controversial Split Oak parkway extension
Emily Bonilla — who along with Maribel Gomez Cordero were the two Orange County commissioners to oppose the project — brought up multiple issues she had with the project. She expressed concern about the fact the project development and environment study was not provided before the meeting, and thought the route may affect non-wealthy families negatively in favor of the gated communities near the forest. Bonilla said during the meeting that she preferred a proposed mitigation route that would have brought the roadway closer to the communities near Split Oak, but would have affected the forest less. “I feel we should go back to the drawing board and get a route that is more reasonable,” Bonilla said. “I am not in support of it.”
Report: Universal seeking another $348-million in ‘high-crime-zone’ tax credits
Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla said such support should focus on entities that need public assistance.
Winter Park approves terms of $6M tourist tax grant for Canopy project
The county approved the city’s application in April despite an opposing vote from County Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who represents Winter Park and said she wasn’t convinced the community project met the tourism requirements for the cash.
Commissioners approve $6 million in tourist tax dollars for new Winter Park library
Commissioners Siplin and Emily Bonilla voted against giving hotel tax dollars to the project because, as many Winter Park residents expressed, they didn’t feel like it was a venue that would promote tourism. Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla questioned the return on investment for a project such as the Winter Park Canopy, which appeared to be relying heavily on weddings as a source of revenue, she said. Bonilla also called into question the Canopy itself and how it didn’t seem like the same project residents approved.
Expressway proposal for Bithlo and east Orange gets 8-mile extension to the Beachline
Orange County’s commissioner for the area, Emily Bonilla, thinks the call for an expressway through Bithlo would spur further suburban sprawl. Of the two agencies’ proposals, Bonilla said it comes down to comparing evils. The worst and most long-lasting damage, she said, would be from the state’s plan to build an expressway along Colonial Drive because it would significantly wall off the north half of Bithlo from the south side. Her preference would be to redesign S.R. 50 with measures to accommodate local traffic and have dedicated lanes for pass-through motorists.