BLM mural painted on Rosalind Avenue

They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and few would claim that Orlando city leaders had anything but the best intentions in mind when they painted the words "Black Lives Matter" in letters 30 feet high on the surface of Rosalind Avenue. So we were very, very proud to see our city joining the national trend of proclaiming that Black Lives Matter in the most public way possible. But many residents, Black and white alike, question its utility. If the mural is a giant reminder to city and county staff of what they need to change in terms of policing and systemic racism, great, it's a first step. If there's no action following up the message, then it's an empty gesture, a pretty label slapped over an ugly history. Let's not let that happen.

Local Color

1st: Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour scenicboattours.com

2nd: Baldwin Park

3rd: Sanford Brewing Company sanfordbrewing.com

1st: The Center thecenterorlando.org

2nd: Zebra Coalition zebrayouth.org

3rd: Spay the Strays spaythestrays.rescuegroups.org

1st: Savannah Boan facebook.com/thesavannahboan

2nd: Johnny Magic facebook.com/johnnymagicfan

3rd: Jim Colbert facebook.com/thejimcolbertshow

1st: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, feedhopenow.org

2nd: Give Kids the World Village gktw.org

3rd: Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando petallianceorlando.org

1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani

2nd: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings

3rd: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

1st: 'A Mediocre Time With Tom & Dan' tomanddan.com

2nd: "To the Top With Carlos Navarro," iamcarlosnavarro.com

3rd: "Russ & Bo 2.0" facebook.com/russandbo2.0

1st: State Rep. Anna Eskamani

2nd: Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

3rd: U.S. Rep. Val Demings

1st: Orlando Weekly orlandoweekly.com

2nd: Bungalower bungalower.com

3rd: Orlando Sentinel orlandosentinel.com