Universal Orlando $15 Minimum Wage + Lake County Hotels + Housing

Good morning and Happy Friday. My name is Carlos Hernandez and I am back to update you on the latest happening in the Orlando area.

In this issue, you’ll learn about new hotel concepts coming to Lake County, the latest on charges against a former Orlando City SC player, a housing project between a local Orlando church and LGBTQ+ organization, and more. Grab your coffee and let's get started.

Today’s weather: High of 95 and low of 72 with mostly sunny skies.

Here are the top 5 stories happening around Orlando:

1. Universal Studios Orlando has announced that they are raising base pay for team members to $15 an hour effective June 27th, according to an email sent to employees. This comes after weeks of strikes around the country at fast food businesses for a $15 minimum wage and increased pressure on businesses to find workers after the pandemic. (Orlando Weekly)

2. More than 57,000 eviction cases were filed in Florida from March 2020 to mid-December during the pandemic, but that didn’t lead to any action or movement from the Florida Legislature. Orlando Sentinel took a deep dive into Florida’s history with pro-renter laws as part of a series. (Orlando Sentinel)

3. 4 hotel concepts are planned in Lake County, increasing supply by nearly 11% with both budget and boutique concepts planned. Currently Lake County is home to just 36 hotels with about 2,500 guest rooms, but that is set to change as Central Florida grows and expands. (Orlando Business Journal)

4. Charges were dropped against former Orlando City soccer player, Jonathan Suárez-Cortes, and his brother, who were arrested in February and accused of sexually battering a woman. (Click Orlando)

5. A local Orlando church is working with Zebra Coalition, an organization that works to provide housing and support services to LGBTQ+ youth, to renovate a motel for housing use. (Orlando Sentinel)

Today in Orlando:

• Community Action Board Policy Advisory Committee Meeting. (9 a.m.)
• Tai Chi in the Garden at Mead Botanical Garden. (10:30 a.m.)
• Glow in the Park in Apopka. Enjoy views of hot air balloons and rides for a special time this Memorial Day weekend. (4 p.m.)
• SKYLINE at Lot 54 @ The Vanguard. Enjoy a 2-day electronic dance music festival during Memorial Day weekend. (5 p.m.)
• Family Sunset at the Zoo at Central Florida Zoo in Sanford. (5 p.m.)
• Orlando Carnival Downtown Weekend. Enjoy a Mardi Gras-style celebration all weekend in Festival Park. The fun kicks off this evening. (6 p.m.)
• Orlando Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades at Amway Center. (7 p.m.)
• Classic Albums Live: Tom Petty ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ at Hard Rock Cafe & Live Orlando. (7 p.m.)

Orlando Patch Notebook:

• Arkansas chicken chain Slim Chickens wants to expand to Orlando.
• A new Winter Park coffee shop called KOS offers coffee for a cause.
• City of Orlando is having a mobile COVID-19 vaccine site at the Orlando Fringe Festival on May 28th and May 29th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with Johnson and Johnson vaccines. Walk-ups only.

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That's all for today. I will be back tomorrow with the latest happening in Orlando. My inbox is open if you have any tips to send or want to reach out: orlando@patch.com.

-Carlos Hernandez

About me: I have lived in Florida since 1999 and covered the Orlando area for nearly 10 years, mainly with a focus on food through my blog at CarlosEats.com.