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.
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