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To beat Florida developers, community activists learn to be persistent

Because my kids love superhero movies, I’ve seen a lot of them. One of my favorites is an animated one, “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse,” which features Spider-people from various universes, including a teen girl, a ’40s noir detective, and “Spider-Ham” (aka Peter Porker).

One of the things all these Spideys claim to have in common: No matter how many times they’re knocked down, they always get back up. I had never thought of “dogged persistence” as a superpower.

If that’s true, though, then add the group Save Orange County to the pantheon of Marvel-ous modern superheroes. The Central Florida organization has had to repeatedly fight off developer assaults on its rural eastern Orange community adjacent to the Econlockhatchee River.

“This has been an ongoing battle,” said Kelly Semrad, who’s been in the thick of it ever since she and her husband bought their home in the rural area in 2013. They were hoping for a quiet place to raise their kids outside Orlando’s hustle-bustle. The quiet didn’t last.

Click here to read the full article at Florida Politics

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KELLY SEMRAD FOR DISTRICT 5
MAYRA URIBE FOR DISTRICT 3
NICOLE WILSON FOR DISTRICT 1