ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County commissioners approved a controversial new district map Tuesday that will create two new districts and separate the historically Black communities of Pine Hills and Eatonville from the more affluent city of Winter Park.

The redistricting plan, which takes effect next year, marks a significant shift in local representation as the growing county adapts to population changes.

Under the new map, Pine Hills and Eatonville will have their own dedicated county commissioner, while Winter Park will share representation with Bithlo and other less developed areas in eastern Orange County.

“We want a person that’s going to help us build Eatonville, Pine Hills, and the other areas... the whole District 7, all together,” said Felicia Hunter, a Pine Hills homeown

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