Candidate Samuel Chambers and his dog Enzo. (Photo from Samuel Chambers’ Facebook)
ORLANDO | Born and raised in Orlando’s District 3, Samuel Chambers grew up in the area he is now seeking to make a difference in and says he decided to run for the position of city commissioner because he has noticed the needs of his community going unheard.
Chambers has several key points listed on his website that he wishes to address if elected into office. Since the start of his campaign, Chambers says he has been going door-to-door, hearing out the residents of District 3 and actively reaching out to minority groups and listening to their take on what needs to been done within the community.
One of the issues he plans to tackle is Orlando’s homeless population.
“Our homelessness issue downtown has seemingly gotten worse. This is an issue that disproportionally impacts veterans and LGBTQ youth,” Chambers says. “I think as a solution we need to one, look at the current ordinances that criminalize the existence of the homeless and try to pull back some of those laws, as well as give funds to actual housing solutions – which are shown to not only be more effective but actually save money in the long run.”
Chambers says he believes it’s important to involve residents in the decision-making process. With the Rosemont Development Plan, many residents voiced their concerns with the nearly 6,000 apartments being built. Chambers worries about the impact the development plan will have on the surrounding environment, traffic and community diversity.
“Developments will primarily gentrify our communities – it’s a pretty underdeveloped area in the terms of it being a lower-income area and that we’re going to put luxury apartments there,” Chambers says. “I’m concerned that will gentrify the area and cause a lot of other rental units in that area to raise the cost of rent for those people, and white-wash the cultural background of the area.”
Orlando has the highest pedestrian fatalities in the state – over 700 deaths in the last decade – so pedestrian and road safety is a big part of Chambers’ platform. As a bicyclist, Chambers knows the dangers of maneuvering through the busy Orlando streets. HE has been hit by a car twice while riding his bike to school.
After seeing its success on Denning Drive in Winter Park, Chambers plans to introduce “Road Diets” in order to protect pedestrians and cyclists. According to Chambers’ platform, “Road Diets” allow for the same volume of traffic but shrink the number and size of lanes, thereby lowering speed limits and allowing more room for bike paths.
Chambers is looking to unseat District 3’s current commissioner, Robert Stuart, who has represented the district since 2006.
“He’s been a commissioner here for 15 years, ever since I was a child – we still have a homelessness issue, we’re still mostly powered by coal, some communities in our city are food deserts, we’re one of the most unaffordable places to live in the country and that’s what we’ve been kinda getting from his tenure,” Chamber says. “We know what he’s about, he’s been here for 15 years, we know what he’s gonna give us.”
While Chambers is the youngest candidate in the race he says that shouldn’t take him out of the running for potential voters. Chambers emphasizes that he is the only new candidate running for the position that was born and raised in District 3 and has spent his time actively listening to the needs of his community and is ready to bring those ideas into office.
The election for Orlando’s District 3 City Commissioner will take place on Nov. 2.
For more information on Chambers’ campaign and how to vote in this year’s general election, go to chambers4otown.com.
