published: Friday, November 06, 2009

Regionalism will help us all, says Orlando mayor

Regionalism will help us all, says Orlando mayor

ROXANNE BROWN

Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer came to South Lake Thursday afternoon, bringing a message of regionalism with him.

"You cannot think about competing against each other within the region," he said. "It can't be Clermont against St. Cloud or Orlando, because what's good for one is good for the other."

The lunch at First United Methodist Church's Wesley Hall was hosted by the South Lake Chamber of Commerce and was the second in a series of luncheons featuring high-profile speakers from across the region.

Dyer spoke on the importance of regionalism and of cooperation within and across county lines.

"You have to think about how the entire region can compete against other regions or internationally," he said.

Dyer recapped some of his accomplishments since taking on the post of mayor in 2003, including bringing a medical city and a performing arts center to Orlando and lobbying for a commuter/high speed rail system in Florida.

Dyer stressed that each project was only possible because of regional cooperation.

Dyer said some of Orlando's assets are really regional assets, citing the Citrus Bowl Stadium and the Amway Arena.

He also noted that other cities' venues benefit the region, such as the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford.

Dyer also talked about the work that's been done toward implementing commuter rail and how partnerships are going to be an important part of its success.

Dyer said that neighboring cities will benefit from cooperating to incorporate a strong feeder system running into it made up of other transportation means, such as buses, that people would take to get there.

Dyer touched on the importance of "shop local" programs, practiced in similar fashions by Orlando and South Lake, that promote helping local and neighboring businesses by not using the Internet or out-of-state shopping means.

"I was really excited about the fact that Mayor Dyer understood the importance of a rapid transit system as a feeder to the high-speed rail system," Groveland Mayor Richard Smith said. "That would mean we as South Lake can be beneficiaries in the feeder system. It would revive our community, take cars off the roads and be more economical for our families."