Word from the Commissioner

Commissioner’s Update: Surprising ways Orlando can help you go green

Orlando District 3 City Commissioner Robert Stuart

We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. Orlando is among the top 20 greenest cities in the country. In 2020, Orlando was also named a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold City, meaning the designs of our buildings are among the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. As cities across our nation […]

Commissioner’s Update: Highlights from District 5 in June and July

Highlights from District 5 in June and July

We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. On June 8, the Neighborhood Watch of the Year sign was unveiled in the Carter Street neighborhood. Mayor Buddy Dyer, OPD Chief Rolón and I attended a ceremony that honored the late Vencina “Ms. Vinnie” Cannady for her commitment, dedication and superb leadership. Cannady’s Neighborhood Watch […]

Commissioner’s Update: Schools at the heart of the community


There are those who say that a great community is made from several vital elements. It can be the people, the shops, the churches or the amenities. But within every study, one of the key elements that binds communities together is the local schools. Schools are where families in our community come together and get to know one another. Schools […]

Commissioner’s Update: Parramore Kidz Zone students learn beekeeping; seniors shuttled to vaccine sites; community conversations held


We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. On Feb. 11, 2021, I attended the Black Bee Honey Apiar y Graduation Ceremony held at the Downtown Recreat ion Center. The graduation included 11 Parramore Kidz Zone students who were involved in the Black Bee Honey Program and completed a Beekeeper Education Course. The Beekeeper […]

Commissioner’s Update: Coming together by staying apart: Care enough to show safe support


We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. The impact of COVID-19 has been a very sad one for our community. Many of my friends have lost family members and close friends. The maddening part of this pandemic is the unknown. If infected, a person can be asymptomatic or get sick, sick enough to […]

Commissioner’s Update: City government is not perfect, but we strive to meet our potential


Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” is still resonating throughout our nation. Her profound words — declaring that we are not yet “a union that is perfect” but one that will continue to strive with purpose — hit close to home for me. Our City government is not perfect, but we love Orlando and always strive with purpose to […]

Commissioner’s Update: Blueprint 2.0 employment training aids Orlando residents, expands to County during pandemic


We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. The Blueprint 2.0 is an employment training program to assist City of Orlando residents (with an emphasis on Parramore residents)to enroll in City-approved short-term training programs for high-demand careers, so they can launch a great career in two to 18 weeks, not years. The Blueprint 2.0 […]

Commissioner’s Update: Two who passed left remarkable legacies


Each of our city commissioners are invited to submit a column once per quarter. — Our community experienced a devastating loss last month with the passing of two of Orlando’s luminaries and champions of diversity and inclusion. Commissioner Daisy Lynum was a friend and colleague on the Orlando City Council. She served for 16 years, and I got to spend […]

Commissioner’s Update: Biking our way around Orlando

Orlando District 3 City Commissioner Robert Stuart

We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. A friend asked me to name a silver lining from COVID-19 and quarantining, not to detract from the pandemic’s impact on our world but to help me to look for something positive despite our current situation. I’ve loved seeing more residents biking in our community. Major […]

Commissioner’s Update: COVID-19 effects in District 5: ‘The work continues!’

Update on COVID-19 effects in District 5: ‘The work continues!’

We invite each of our city commissioners to submit a column once per quarter. There are so many people across our nation who have been drastically affected by COVID-19. We are seeing tremendous job loss, income loss; small businesses are drowning without proper assistance, and soon our community maybe staring at the largest influx of homelessness that we’ve ever seen. […]


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