ABOUT BUILDING STRONGER CITIES

Building Stronger Cities: Organizing, Empowering, Delivering, is an initiative created by the president of the Florida League of Cities, Orlando Commissioner Tony Ortiz. This initiative focuses on enlisting local support to protect Home Rule, which gives your city the flexibility to craft laws specifically to the unique needs of residents like you.

Home Rule is important because it means that decisions for your city are made by the people who love it enough to call it home. We need your help to tell state legislators to focus on state issues and allow local officials and residents to make decisions that are best for our communities.

Watch President Ortiz’s video and download the informational booklet to learn more about Building Stronger Cities and how you can join our mission! Be sure to visit the Residents and City Officials pages for additional resources designed to help you understand why your voice is so important, including:

PRESIDENT ORTIZ INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR MISSION: FLC President Tony Ortiz discusses the Building Stronger Cities initiative and invites you to join our mission! With your help, we will have local voices making local choices without the state’s interference. View Spanish Language Version

Cover of Building Stronger Cities Booklet

BUILDING STRONGER CITIES HANDBOOK: City governments were created because their founders wanted to have control over how they were governed. This handbook provides examples to help you understand which issues are state and which are local. English VersionSpanish Version

Man asks question during public forum

RESOURCES FOR RESIDENTS: On this page, you’ll learn about Home Rule and why it should be important to you and your family. You’ll also learn about how to get involved in protecting your community and how best to make your voice heard. Help us build stronger cities! Visit Resource Page

City official speaking at public forum

RESOURCES FOR CITY OFFICIALS: There is a threat from some state lawmakers to reduce the decision-making abilities of local government officials and their residents. We need your help to protect the authority granted to locals by Home Rule, and to get your residents engaged. Visit Resource Page

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JOIN OUR MAILING LIST: Want to stay up-to-date on local issues that affect Florida’s cities and residents? Click here or on the link below to sign up for emails from the Florida League of Cities and learn how you can get involved in supporting Home Rule in your community. Sign Up Now

ABOUT FLC PRESIDENT TONY ORTIZ
Ortiz fist bumps little boy in gymnasium
Ortiz at podium
Ortiz with workers
Ortiz in kitchen
Ortiz head shot
Ortiz at community event
Ortiz with first responders

ANTONIO “TONY” ORTIZ has been a dedicated public servant most of his life, beginning with his enlistment into the United States Marine Corps in 1984. He was first elected to the Orlando City Commission in 2008. Since his election, Ortiz has been involved in various successful projects and programs including, opening the first Seniors vs. Crime Office in Orlando, organizing the community through the creation of neighborhood and business councils, developing the main gate to the city from the Orlando International Airport, the creation of the Central Florida Public Service Career & College Readiness Program in Orange County, the creation of a government academy, and championing the efforts that led to the implementation of the City of Orlando Trust Act policy, among others. Before his election to the city council, Ortiz was also an officer with the Orlando Police Department for 14 years. Learn More