Everything old is new again

Some recent news stories involving other Central Florida communities seemed to strike "close to home."

First, we read that Eustis recently completed an 8-month study of what could be done to attract more business to their downtown area. The key recommendation seemed to be to reduce the speed in downtown. This would do two things, said the study: First, drivers would move more at a speed that would allow them to notice businesses downtown. Second, the reduced speed would tend to make other routes more attractive to drivers who were using downtown as a shortcut. Those involved in the study noted that these ideas were applicable not only to Eustis, but to any community with a struggling downtown. Seems like we've heard this somewhere before, yet even more locally. So let's get on with it. We will note that, if you look at The Loop parking lot, there's no way you're getting through there at more than about 15 MPH, and we're starting to wonder if that wasn't intentional.

Second, there was news of a group of angry residents protesting Winter Springs' proposed Fire Fee. Of note was that the city's consultant had not, as of meeting time, figured out what the fee would be. News outlets noted that not one person attending the meeting was in favor of the fee. We wonder if the tables have turned, and if Kissimmee were considering a Fire Fee today, as opposed to last fall, whether it would have passed so easily, now that the public backlash to municipal service fees appears to be in full effect.