🔮 A glimpse into the future…
We’re starting the new year with a look into our crystal ball — sort of.
2021 is done, but many of its biggest stories are just getting started. That got us wondering: What 2021 local questions might be answered in 2022?
Come with us for a glimpse into Orlando’s future…
⚽️ Will Orlando host the World Cup in 2026? The City Beautiful is one of 22 cities in the running to host the big event, with an estimated 16 set to be chosen. Folks from FIFA — the world’s governing body on all things fútbol and soccer — wrapped up site visits late last year and said a decision on cities can be expected in April. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said he felt hopeful that Orlando would be chosen following FIFA’s September visit. For what it's worth, state officials are all aboard with the idea — last year The Enterprise Florida Board of Directors agreed to allocate $10 million toward Orlando and Miami’s goals of becoming host cities for the soccer tournament, with each city receiving $5 million for their respective campaigns. For context, the economic impact of a World Cup in our city would be equivalent to hosting the Super Bowl.
🚧 Will the I-4 Ultimate construction really end this year? Well, we already know that answer is yes and no. Even though the I-4 Ultimate project has officially started winding down and the new I-4 Express toll lanes are set to open early this year, the road work is not over. However, a big chunk of it is finished: As WESH detailed here, construction is continuing, as construction does, into the next project dubbed Beyond the Ultimate. Learn how the new express lanes will work by skimming this News 6 article, and if you really want to nerd out, read the i4express.com site. The Florida Highway Patrol says it’s already preparing for how to navigate accidents between merge points, something we can all stand to learn more about.
😷 How will Florida fare with COVID-19? This is a question that seems to have been asked on a daily basis since March 2020 and one that still has no clear answer in sight. As of writing, the omicron variant is battering Florida and much of the world as its transmissibility eclipses earlier COVID-19 variations. The good news is that we’re not in the same place as we were circa spring 2020 or even last fall, as more is known about the virus and increasing numbers of Florida residents have been vaccinated. A recent report by University of Florida biostatisticians estimated that anywhere between 70 to 80% of Floridians will have contracted COVID-19 by the end of the current omicron wave. One silver lining of the researcher’s estimates is that far fewer people are likely to be hospitalized compared to earlier surges.
🍔 Will Florida get an In-N-Out? And honestly, with a Fatburger on the way, who cares? Amirite or am I right? Okay, honestly, I don't even know if I’m right, but my foodie friends are pumped about Fatburger’s forthcoming arrival, so I’m trusting them on this one. Read more about the iconic L.A.-based hamburger makers by perusing this recent Orlando Weekly article.
🏆 Which Orlando restaurants will earn a Michelin star? With the Michelin Guide debuting in Florida this year, local chefs have their eyes on the prize — a bright, gleaming, life-changing star. The Sunshine State will be the fifth destination in the U.S. to be graced with the prestigious restaurant rating system, and the City Beautiful is one of three Florida cities where stars will be doled out (Tampa and Miami are the other two). Visit Orlando CEO Casandra Metej agrees that it’s about time that the rest of the world wakes up to “the emergence of the culinary arts scene in Orlando.” Kabooki Sushi Chef Henry Moso said a Michelin star is “what every chef aims for, what every chef dreams for…” However, Orlando Sentinel reporter Scott Maxwell reminded us that Michelin’s arrival doesn’t come without a cost.
⚖️ Who will Florida’s elected officials be? The 2022 midterm elections are coming up, and despite being 11 months away, there’s already a plethora of breathless headlines and bold predictions about how they’ll turn out. A number of prominent Florida seats are up for grabs, as both Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will be running for reelection. Here in Central Florida, one big seat up for grabs will be the one left behind by retiring U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy. Florida lawmakers are set to redraw the state’s district lines based on the findings of the 2020 Census, which will shape elections on state and local levels for years to come. You can read more about what’s at stake via this Miami Herald story as well as check out predictions from notable Florida political figures right here.
While no one can predict what the future holds and there’s much more to be covered beyond what was written above — affordable housing, Brightline, the downtown connector trail, climate change, police reform — what’s certain is that this newsletter will be here to make sense of it all at every step of the way. 💪
