Latest news with #MayraUribe
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Proposed fireworks law in Florida seeks to defuse explosive neighborhood clash
ORLANDO, Fla. - A pesky neighbor whose explosive barrage plagues homeowners in Waterfront Estates is propelling a tougher Orange County fireworks ordinance that could ease tensions - and kabooms - around the region. County commissioners discussed the revamped rules at their meeting Tuesday. Discontent in the working class neighborhood near Little Lake Conway has been simmering for more than a year but boiled over in September when a disquieted group of residents appeared before commissioners to plead for help. Though they had repeatedly called the Sheriff's Office, residents said responding deputies informed them no enforcement action could be taken unless an officer personally witnessed the infraction. The proposed rule change would drop that requirement and treat illegal use of fireworks as a code violation rather than a crime. If an investigating office found probable cause of a violation - say a video or audio recording from a home-security system - a written warning or a citation could be issued to the alleged offender along with a directive to "cease and desist" in a reasonable time. Assistant County Attorney Joy Carmichael, who presented a draft of the new rules to commissioners, defined a reasonable time to mean "within five minutes or immediately." A first offense would carry a $200 fine and a second offense a $400 fine. Each subsequent violation would carry a fine of $500 and mandate the alleged offender to appear in court, she said. Florida law allows fireworks "solely and exclusively" on three holidays - New Year's Eve, New Years Day and July 4th. Commissioner Mayra Uribe, whose district includes Waterfront Estates, said she has heard the unnerving blasts in the neighborhood. She described the explosions as "random -9 o'clock in the morning, 3 in the afternoon - whenever he wants," When drought-like conditions this spring prompted Orange County and other Central Florida governments to impose burn bans to prevent a stray ember from touching off a dangerous wildfire, the fireworks stopped. "We were all like, 'Hallelujah,' " Uribe said. But then it rained, the ban was lifted and the fireworks resumed. Residents also allege the neighbor erected phallic objects on a fence at his home to annoy them. Though neighbors have identified him, the Orlando Sentinel is not naming him because he has not been charged or cited. The man could not be reached by phone for this story. Jill Sharga, among neighbors who have appealed to commissioners for help, considers the revamped rules to be "good news." She previously appeared before the board with a calendar festooned with cartoon bombs, each marking a day she'd heard an explosion. "I am very happy it's going in the right direction," she said in a text after Tuesday's commission meeting. "We would not need a sheriff's deputy to personally observe the guy lighting a match to blow up his bombs." ------------- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Proposed fireworks law in Florida seeks to defuse explosive neighborhood clash
ORLANDO, Fla. — A pesky neighbor whose explosive barrage plagues homeowners in Waterfront Estates is propelling a tougher Orange County fireworks ordinance that could ease tensions — and kabooms — around the region. County commissioners discussed the revamped rules at their meeting Tuesday. Discontent in the working class neighborhood near Little Lake Conway has been simmering for more than a year but boiled over in September when a disquieted group of residents appeared before commissioners to plead for help. Though they had repeatedly called the Sheriff's Office, residents said responding deputies informed them no enforcement action could be taken unless an officer personally witnessed the infraction. The proposed rule change would drop that requirement and treat illegal use of fireworks as a code violation rather than a crime. If an investigating office found probable cause of a violation — say a video or audio recording from a home-security system — a written warning or a citation could be issued to the alleged offender along with a directive to 'cease and desist' in a reasonable time. Assistant County Attorney Joy Carmichael, who presented a draft of the new rules to commissioners, defined a reasonable time to mean 'within five minutes or immediately.' A first offense would carry a $200 fine and a second offense a $400 fine. Each subsequent violation would carry a fine of $500 and mandate the alleged offender to appear in court, she said. Florida law allows fireworks 'solely and exclusively' on three holidays — New Year's Eve, New Years Day and July 4th. Commissioner Mayra Uribe, whose district includes Waterfront Estates, said she has heard the unnerving blasts in the neighborhood. She described the explosions as 'random —9 o'clock in the morning, 3 in the afternoon — whenever he wants,' When drought-like conditions this spring prompted Orange County and other Central Florida governments to impose burn bans to prevent a stray ember from touching off a dangerous wildfire, the fireworks stopped. 'We were all like, 'Hallelujah,' ' Uribe said. But then it rained, the ban was lifted and the fireworks resumed. Residents also allege the neighbor erected phallic objects on a fence at his home to annoy them. Though neighbors have identified him, the Orlando Sentinel is not naming him because he has not been charged or cited. The man could not be reached by phone for this story. Jill Sharga, among neighbors who have appealed to commissioners for help, considers the revamped rules to be 'good news.' She previously appeared before the board with a calendar festooned with cartoon bombs, each marking a day she'd heard an explosion. 'I am very happy it's going in the right direction,' she said in a text after Tuesday's commission meeting. 'We would not need a sheriff's deputy to personally observe the guy lighting a match to blow up his bombs.' -------------
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Proposed fireworks law seeks to defuse explosive neighborhood clash
A pesky neighbor whose explosive barrage plagues homeowners in Waterfront Estates is propelling a tougher Orange County fireworks ordinance that could ease tensions — and kabooms — around the region. County commissioners discussed the revamped rules at their meeting Tuesday. Discontent in the working class neighborhood near Little Lake Conway has been simmering for more than a year but boiled over in September when a disquieted group of residents appeared before commissioners to plead for help. Though they had repeatedly called the Sheriff's Office, residents said responding deputies informed them no enforcement action could be taken unless an officer personally witnessed the infraction. The proposed rule change would drop that requirement and treat illegal use of fireworks as a code violation rather than a crime. If an investigating office found probable cause of a violation — say a video or audio recording from a home-security system — a written warning or a citation could be issued to the alleged offender along with a directive to 'cease and desist' in a reasonable time. Assistant County Attorney Joy Carmichael, who presented a draft of the new rules to commissioners, defined a reasonable time to mean 'within five minutes or immediately.' A first offense would carry a $200 fine and a second offense a $400 fine. Each subsequent violation would carry a fine of $500 and mandate the alleged offender to appear in court, she said. Florida law allows fireworks 'solely and exclusively' on three holidays — New Year's Eve, New Years Day and July 4th. Commissioner Mayra Uribe, whose district includes Waterfront Estates, said she has heard the unnerving blasts in the neighborhood. She described the explosions as 'random —9 o'clock in the morning, 3 in the afternoon — whenever he wants,' When drought-like conditions this spring prompted Orange County and other Central Florida governments to impose burn bans to prevent a stray ember from touching off a dangerous wildfire, the fireworks stopped. 'We were all like, 'Hallelujah,' ' Uribe said. But then it rained, the ban was lifted and the fireworks resumed. Central Florida faces growing fire threat with deepening drought Residents also allege the neighbor erected phallic objects on a fence at his home to annoy them. Though neighbors have identified him, the Orlando Sentinel is not naming him because he has not been charged or cited. The man could not be reached by phone for this story. Jill Sharga, among neighbors who have appealed to commissioners for help, considers the revamped rules to be 'good news.' She previously appeared before the board with a calendar festooned with cartoon bombs, each marking a day she'd heard an explosion. 'I am very happy it's going in the right direction,' she said in a text after Tuesday's commission meeting. 'We would not need a sheriff's deputy to personally observe the guy lighting a match to blow up his bombs.' shudak@
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
FDLE investigating Orange County commissioners' use of Skybox tickets
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating how Orange County commissioners are using Skybox tickets. 9 Investigates obtained an email showing FDLE investigators requesting records from Orange County on all Skybox ticket receipts. FDLE specifically asked for the tickets issued to each county commissioner for each event from December 1, 2018 to the present day, in an email sent to the county on May 14. In a statement to 9 Investigates, the agency said it would not comment on complaints received or active investigations. Our 9 Investigates team has investigated how Commissioner Mayra Uribe gave hundreds of free Skybox tickets to her husband's former charity, All Star Dads. Some of these were tickets to big games like USA v Brazil and big-name acts like Bad Bunny, Travis Scott and Def Leopard. After our investigation, the county changed its Skybox policy. When Uribe announced she was running for Orange County mayor, she also told Channel 9's Ashlyn Webb that she would release information clearing up questions surrounding her use of Skybox tickets. Uribe said she would release that information by May 20. However, she hasn't released any new information so far. Check back with Channel 9 for updates. Do you have a story for WFTV's 9 Investigators? Click the banner below to submit a tip.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Yahoo
Orange County leaders call for change after teen hit, killed while walking to school
The Brief After a 16-year-old girl was fatally struck while walking to Oak Ridge High School, Orange County leaders are pushing for a reduced speed zone and traffic cameras near the campus. Commissioner Mayra Uribe is urging immediate action, calling the current 45 mph limit unsafe and advocating for a school zone to prevent future tragedies. ORLANDO, Fla. - Orange County leaders are calling for change after a 16-year-old girl was killed Monday while walking to Oak Ridge High School. What we know The speed limit outside Oak Ridge High School is 45 miles per hour. There isn't a school speed zone placing the limit at 15 or 20 miles an hour the way you'd see outside elementary or middle schools. The Florida Department of Transportation says school speed zones placed at high schools have to be done on a case-by-case basis and justified by an engineering study. District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe, who happens to be an alumnus of Oak Ridge High School, wants a speed zone established at that school. She also wants traffic cameras installed there that would automatically catch people driving over the speed limit near the school. What we don't know The Florida Highway Patrol has not said yet whether speed was a factor in the crash. We also don't know whether there has been any major push in the past to classify Oak Ridge Road as a school speed zone, though Commissioner Mayra Uribe says residents have complained about the road being unsafe. What they're saying "That's too fast for lots of kids coming out of the school," said Penny Brecker, who lives near the school. Jose Rosario, who also lives nearby, seconded that. "They do run fast through here," he said. Orange County District 3 Commissioner Mayra Uribe says what happened was a tragedy that she wants to make sure never happens again. She also believes there have probably been many close calls that preceded the deadly crash. She wants a school speed zone established and traffic enforcement cameras installed. "I am reaching out to Assistant Secretary with DOT and saying we need this to happen yesterday," said Commissioner Mayra Uribe. So that's my goal. And I mean, that's not going to bring back, you know, the tragedy that we went through and the grief that this community is going on, but it will start having some more accountability." What's next FDOT told FOX 35, the County would be the ones to plan, fund, and carry out an engineering study establishing a school zone, since it's their road. Commissioner Uribe says she wants that process started right away. She and the other County Commissioners are also finalizing their lists of where they want traffic cameras installed. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source FOX 35 reporter Marie Edinger covered the story, highlighting Commissioner Mayra Uribe's push for a reduced speed zone and traffic cameras near Oak Ridge High School following the death of a 16-year-old student.
