Photo by Dana O'Connor
Key Points
It’s that time of year again. The cooler air is starting to move in, and we can finally enjoy being outside without having to change clothes three times a day because of the Florida humidity!
Our kids are busy with school, fall baseball and soccer are in full swing, and the holidays are right around the corner.
It really is a great time to live in Apopka.
I know there is a lot being said on social media, and unfortunately, much of it focuses on the negativity and division. I want to remind everyone that there is so much good happening in our community. We have wonderful families, great schools, local businesses, dedicated city employees and neighbors who genuinely care about one another.
Since taking office, I have spent a great deal of time reviewing our city departments, listening to employees and working to build a leadership team that I can trust. I’ve always believed that you should surround yourself with good people, give them the tools to succeed and hold everyone, including yourself, accountable.
But building a stronger Apopka goes well beyond what happens inside City Hall.
A strong community is built in our neighborhoods, at our schools, on our ballfields, in our churches, at our local businesses and in our parks. It’s built when neighbors look out for one another, when families get involved, and when people are willing to work together even when they don’t agree on everything.
That’s the Apopka I want us to continue building.
We are going through changes at City Hall, and I understand that change can bring questions and concerns. We have challenges that developed over many years, and we have work ahead of us. But I know we are moving in the right direction.
I believe we need to spend more time bringing our community together. I want to see our parks filled with families, our youth sports programs growing, our local businesses supported and more residents getting involved in what happens throughout our city.
We don’t always have to agree on politics or every decision made at City Hall to be good neighbors. We can have different opinions and still shake hands, have a conversation and work toward something positive.
Social media can make it seem like everyone is divided, but when I get out into our community, I see something different. I see parents volunteering their time, coaches mentoring young people, neighbors helping neighbors and people who take pride in calling Apopka home.
That’s what makes this city special.
As Mayor, my responsibility is to make sure our city government is doing its part. That means supporting our employees, improving services, planning for growth and being responsible with taxpayer dollars. But it also means listening to our residents and finding more ways to bring people together.
As we head into the holiday season, I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy our community. Attend a local event, cheer our youth on at a sporting event, visit a park, support a small business or introduce yourself to a neighbor you haven’t met.
Sometimes building a stronger community starts with something that simple.
Apopka has a great future ahead of us. We have challenges to address, and we also have tremendous opportunities. I believe that if we continue working together, respecting one another and taking pride in our city, we can make Apopka an even better place for our children and grandchildren.
Let’s keep building a stronger community, together.