All timeline stories.
Commissioner Emily Bonilla called the negative feelings about medical marijuana “a stigma.” “If you make a decision based on a stigma and not something factual, that’s not doing the right thing,” she said.
Emily Bonilla, a Democratic county commissioner who was elected from a district that is 80 percent white, is working to provide services for the new arrivals, mindful that they may soon be her constituents. “Puerto Ricans are unique,” she said. “We support each other regardless of party, but no surprise, the majority become Democrats.”
Emily Bonilla, a Puerto Rican elected to the Orange County Commission in Florida in 2016, speculated to the Tampa Bay Times that Puerto Ricans’ strong sense of family will motivate those already living in the United States to invite relatives in distress after Maria to come and live with them. “We know people will come here. They have family here. They have friends here. They’re comfortable coming to Florida,” Governor Rick Scott said on Tuesday while announcing the opening of three aid centers for displaced Puerto Ricans, echoing Bonilla’s point about family ties.
“We’re considering flashing pedestrian signs, and also looking at off-duty sheriffs to conduct traffic,” said Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who added that she got calls from frustrated parents that improvements were taking too long. Her district covers UCF’s campus. She said her office receives $50,000 yearly for public works projects, part of which she hopes to invest in the vicinity of UCF’s campus. “I’m trying my best to make it safe as safe as possible, as soon as possible,” Bonilla said. Safety improvements that are expected to be built as part of the county’s larger project include: installing midblock crosswalks; adding barricades; widening sidewalks; and adding more lighting in the area.
Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla initiated a Puerto Rican Migration Task Force to coordinate with community organizations to identify the needs of these citizens, and help implement solutions. The task force found that the incoming population needs better access to a number of resources like healthcare, housing, food, and employment.
“It only makes sense that when you have a large, growing population, it will gain some influence,” said Emily Bonilla, a Democrat who last year was elected to the Orange County Commission. “We as Puerto Ricans care about our families, the community and supporting each other.”
Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla and staff have spent time volunteering and supporting CASA’s initiatives this past weekend. Bonilla shared “As a fellow Puerto Rican and Commissioner in one of the counties with the fastest growing Puerto Rican communities, it behooves me to take action and support local community efforts. I look forward to supporting these efforts and any actions taken by Orange County administration during one of the most challenging times for the island in modern history.”
Orange Commissioner Emily Bonilla, who represents the area, asked the county to look into a purchase during Tuesday’ s commission meeting. Bonilla also asked the county to send a letter asking for jurisdiction of the private Pluris utility be transferred from the Florida Public Service Commission to the county to prevent the rate hike.
Food and water for East Orange County residents will be available Saturday afternoon in Bithlo and at Blanchard Park. Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla announced that the Bithlo Community Center, 18501 Washington Ave., and Blanchard Park, 2451 Dean Road, will have free food and water, starting at 3:30 p.m. The donations from Faith Assembly of God church, Second Harvest Food Bank, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, and the American Red Cross, and Orange County Government.
District 5 County Commissioner Emily Bonilla will be distributing warm food and water to residents in need in the Bithlo area in East Orange County.