I guess every town has this type of self absorbed looney tune. As I’m sitting here in the Orlando Airport waiting for my flight back to Buffalo (terminal free wifi-ed…nice), I come across this story in the Orlando Sentinel. A hotelier named Harold Rosen has an issue with the idea of major capital investments to build a new performing arts center, basketball arena and major improvements to the Citrus Bowl.

Hotelier Harris Rosen’s petition drive is a flop so far, and time is running out for the millionaire businessman to put a downtown sports-venue referendum to voters on the Jan. 29 ballot….Wednesday was Rosen’s self-imposed deadline to turn in the about 31,000 petitions needed to get a referendum to the ballot. But so far, only 1,215 have been certified.

“I don’t think we’re going make it,” said Steve Braun, a Rosen employee leading the drive. “It’s been very difficult.”

Well here’’s the problem Mr. Braun… Like the kooks, branch davidians and assorted macadamias blocking progress here in Buffalo, when you hold a minority viewpoint, that’s what you are… a minority. And you can file all the lawsuits, send out press releases and bully people to your heart’s content, but at the end of the day everyone wants you to just go away.

After three years of politicking, city and county leaders here in Orange County put aside historic animosities and approved a plan to build a $480 million arena and $425 million performing-arts center, plus $175 million in Citrus Bowl renovations back in summer. If plans move according to schedule, the NBA Orlando Magic would be playing in their new digs in 2011.

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