Author Archives: honorablenicolewilson

As the United States reached another anniversary of its independence, the national zeitgeist fell short of celebratory. Even before the holiday, Supreme Court decisions endangered the rights to clean air and water, to basic privacy, to bodily autonomy. Additionally, numerous shootings marred this July 4th weekend. The specter of ever-present gun violence even triggered aContinue reading “Independence Day Gun Violence”

Landmark decision Roe v. Wade was overturned last week after several decades of protected reproductive freedom. Throwing away nearly 50 years of precedent not only takes away our power to make personal medical decisions, but it also reveals this Court’s disregard for stare decisis, an essential doctrine guiding decisions for settled legal issues in ourContinue reading “Roe v. Wade”

In light of the slew of Supreme Court of the United States Rulings, please take note of West Virginia V. EPA. This case, decided last week, limits the ability of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate air pollution, greenhouse gasses, and power plants. The fully present threat of climate change manifests as aContinue reading “West Virginia v. EPA”

I was excited to dive into policy making last week relating to escalating rental costs and the housing emergency. Decision makers need thoroughly researched and unbiased information. Furthermore, I would like to see more creative thinking employed for our housing and development challenges. Exclusionary zoning, convoluted permitting, and a lack of incentives for quality infillContinue reading “Housing”

With elections at every level around the corner, we ask citizens to stay vigilant, research candidates, and vote. The character of our politicians, their willingness to be transparent and what they choose to conceal all matters. Democracy is fragile and requires your participation. Make sure to check your voter registration and vote in the primaries,Continue reading “Demanding Principled Political Leaders”

On June 19, 2022 the United States will officially recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Also known as Emancipation Day, this day in history marks the end of slavery in the US. Commemorative events across our region are important opportunities to understand how far we’ve come and how much work we still have in theContinue reading “Juneteenth 2022”

On June 14th, the St. Johns River Water Management District temporarily halted plans to sell over 18,000 acres of public conservation land stretching from Orlando to Jacksonville. “Temporarily” must become “permanently”—the land, which includes Orange County’s Hal Scott Regional Preserve, is not a private commodity. Natural lands are an irreplaceable resource, not a surplus toContinue reading “Public Lands – Protected, Not Plundered”

The Orlando Metropolitan Area, encompassing Orange County, has seen rents rise at an unprecedented rate year over year. On Tuesday, the Board discussed possibilities for rent stabilization, policy requiring rent increase notice, as well as strategies to increase housing supply. Housing issues are urgent. Moving ahead, I look forward to a robust special session relatingContinue reading “Rent Stabilization and the Need for a More Accessible Code”

Last Tuesday, the Lake Avalon Rural Settlement was protected from a detrimental intrusion. Orange County has 21 rural settlements, and all of them serve essential functions including preserving rurality in the ever-developing corners of Orange County, maintaining green spaces, and facilitating aquifer recharge. These communities are constantly threatened by encroaching development. Large scale projects threatenContinue reading “Rural Settlements”

On Memorial Day weekend, we honor those who have served in the United States armed forces and who fought for the freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since the Uvalde, Texas massacre, there have been at least 20 shootings. The freedom to live peacefully, send your children to school, go to aContinue reading “Memorial Day Freedoms”