Don't undermine downtown Kissimmee's progress
Dear Editor:
As stakeholders in the local community and supporters of Kissimmee’s downtown businesses, we want to express serious concern regarding the city’s proposed alcohol and noise ordinances. While public safety matters, adding new permits and fees is not the solution. These measures punish the very businesses that have helped fuel downtown’s growth—without truly addressing the underlying issues.
We hear claims that the Community Redevelopment Area is not “paying its fair share” toward the costs of police and safety downtown. That argument is disingenuous. According to the City of Kissimmee’s own website, the CRA was specifically created to use CRA funds to “create activity, increase pedestrian traffic, promote events, and connect visitors to the business districts, restaurants, and government offices.” In other words, bringing people downtown is exactly the point—and using CRA resources to manage the resulting activity is part of the deal, not a burden. The Commission then understood that the rest of the city would take on the cost of policing the CRA to allow it to better focus on its intended purpose.
The real solution isn’t to restrict business hours or add more costly red tape. It’s to increase targeted police patrols during peak hours, partner with businesses on safety plans and crowd management, use existing CRA resources for public space improvements and events that attract the right crowd and hold individuals accountable for bad behavior, not punish responsible businesses across the board.
Downtown is finally growing—let’s not undermine that progress with reactionary policies that hurt small businesses and discourage new investment. We urge city leaders to slow down, engage with stakeholders, and prioritize real, collaborative solutions over half-measures that won’t fix the problem.
Kissimmee’s downtown should be safe, thriving, and open for business—not regulated into oblivion.
Marcos Diego Marrero
Kissimmee
Upset to see Skyview hotel chosen
Dear Editor:
I was at the commission meeting last Tuesday and it was upsetting seeing the city of Kissimmee commissioners make an insane choice, choosing the Skyview development hotel project.
I don’t understand why they would waste tax paying dollars so easily to a developer that will not return any investment, because they are going to purchase the land and the city has lost the long-term benefit in revenue. They proposed to build elevators in the public parking garage, but they want the city to reimburse them $440,000? But the city will own one of the elevators? It makes no sense. We will pay them more than $3 million tax paying dollars, with all of the incentives they are asking the city.
Elected officials are chosen to serve all citizens, and it seems like they are focusing solely on how to bring the short-term benefits and not the longevity of the city. Many of them say that they are here for the people because they are one of us, but instead they focus on their selfish desires, it’s upsetting.
Pedro A. Rodriguez
Kissimmee
Dear Editor:
I write to express my anger and disbelief regarding the commissioners’ vote on the downtown hotel development awarded to Skyview Companies partnership for the Toho Square development. It has significant drawbacks that deserve attention My union Unite Here Local 737 raised vocal opposition to the nearly $3 million in “pioneer grants” Skyview is requesting, warning that this investment may not be recouped. The City ignored this and made a decision that will affect my tax paying dollars. The construction phase itself could disrupt existing downtown businesses, and long-term concerns exist about elevated traffic and parking pressures in the Toho Square area.
I live a block away from this future hotel, and the traffic is already a major issue in the downtown area. How much longer is it going to take me now to get home? I would be okay if the taxpayers would get something out of it, but instead we are giving our taxpaying dollars away.
I was there at the meeting, and to see how all the commissioners were in sync is disheartening. They talk about they are “open for business,” but they don’t care about the residents concerns. They say they want to hear from us and when we show up, they look at us and do whatever benefits their interest, which is not what the constituents’ interest is.
José E. Castro
Kissimmee
