The commentator’s video pairs the Democrat’s image with Soviet-style imagery and references his grandfather’s communist beliefs; Vilchez Santiago has publicly rejected socialism.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Hispanic broadcaster Ray Cruz Santiago is targeting Florida House Democratic nominee Samuel Vilchez Santiago in a video that depicts the candidate in a Soviet-style military uniform and pairs his name with a hammer-and-sickle graphic.

The approximately two-minute video invokes Vilchez Santiago’s description of his grandfather as a communist while presenting images of the candidate, former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Republican opponent Jorge Malavet.

In separate Facebook posts, Cruz Santiago also accuses the Venezuelan-born Democrat of misleading Puerto Rican voters about his heritage. The material reviewed does not substantiate that allegation, and Vilchez Santiago has publicly rejected the socialist label.

 

Video visually links candidate to communism

The uploaded video shows an apparent composite depicting Vilchez Santiago in a military uniform and peaked cap. Another graphic places the name “Samuel Vilchez” beneath a red flag bearing a hammer and sickle.

An on-screen caption describes him, translated from Spanish, as a “Democratic candidate in District 43 with a communist grandfather.”

The sequence also juxtaposes footage of Chávez with an image of Vilchez Santiago draped in a Venezuelan flag. Later frames display Malavet and Vilchez Santiago alongside Puerto Rican and Venezuelan flag symbols, respectively.

Together, those visual choices suggest an association between the Democratic candidate and communism. They do not independently establish his political beliefs, affiliations or support for Venezuela’s government. The uniform depiction should be understood as an apparent composite, rather than documentary evidence that he wore such a uniform.

Grandfather’s statement includes family opposition to Chavismo

The reference to Vilchez Santiago’s grandfather has a documented source.

“My grandfather was a communist,” Vilchez Santiago said in a 2019 Princeton University profile. In the same discussion, he described his parents as politically active opponents of Venezuela’s Chavista government and discussed his family’s departure because of political persecution. pace.princeton.edu

That account describes an ideological divide within his family. His grandfather’s beliefs do not establish the candidate’s own ideology.

Candidate has rejected socialist label

Cruz Santiago’s supplied posts describe Vilchez Santiago as a socialist or democratic socialist, a characterization the candidate has disputed.

“I am not a socialist. I have never been a socialist,” Vilchez Santiago said in Spanish in an interview published Sept. 29 by La Prensa Florida.

He argued that proposals involving health care, Social Security and lower household expenses should not automatically be labeled socialist. His stated priorities included easing property tax increases for first-time homebuyers, reducing toll expenses and simplifying small-business registration. laprensafl.com

Separate posts question Puerto Rican campaign imagery

Cruz Santiago’s heritage criticism appears in separate Facebook posts alleging that Vilchez Santiago is presenting himself as Puerto Rican to attract voters. www.facebook.com

A screenshot of a campaign advertisement supplied to FNN shows a photograph of Vilchez Santiago holding a Puerto Rican flag alongside two women, with his campaign branding displayed over the image.

The photograph places a recognizable symbol of Puerto Rican identity within the campaign’s presentation of his personal story. Viewers unfamiliar with his Venezuelan background could interpret it as suggesting Puerto Rican heritage. The materials reviewed do not establish whether viewers reached that conclusion or whether the campaign intended it.

The screenshot contains no explicit claim of Puerto Rican ancestry. Vilchez Santiago’s Venezuelan background is publicly documented in the Princeton profile and a Venezuelan-American Caucus biography. pace.princeton.edu

Why the presentation matters to voters

The criticism combines two distinct subjects: the candidate’s heritage and his political beliefs.

For voters evaluating the material, the central distinction is between documented statements and associations created through editing. The grandfather’s communist beliefs are supported by the candidate’s published account. The uniform, hammer-and-sickle graphic and Chávez juxtaposition are elements of the video’s presentation, rather than proof of the candidate’s ideology.

Likewise, the Puerto Rican flag photograph documents the campaign’s use of cultural imagery without establishing a false claim of ancestry.

Broadcaster brings criticism into District 43 contest

Cruz Santiago hosts El Escándalo del Día on Miami’s Radio Mambí 710 AM, according to his professional profile. Salsoul’s official website also lists him among its personalities. www.linkedin.com

Readers can review his commentary on Facebook and visit his website.

Vilchez Santiago and Malavet are the Democratic and Republican candidates, respectively, in the Nov. 3 election for Florida House District 43, according to state election records. dos.elections.myflorida.com

Terminal upgrades, parking projects and international connections mark the authority’s fiscal year review.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority highlighted terminal improvements, expanded international connections and parking projects during its fiscal 2026 review, while its board adopted changes to a local business program and announced a new statewide small business initiative.

The updates affect Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport, which GOAA operates.

“We are undertaking an ambitious effort to redefine what it means to deliver a world-class airport experience,” GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle said in the authority’s announcement.

“As we welcome more visitors, more airlines, more routes, and new programs, our responsibility is to elevate every part of the journey — making it more welcoming, intuitive, and connected.”

Terminal Improvements Focus on Connections and Families

Among the completed projects was an enclosed pedestrian bridge with moving walkways connecting Orlando International Airport’s train station and Terminal C.

Terminal C also opened a new wing serving gates 250–254, providing additional capacity and becoming the new home for Virgin Atlantic’s airport operations.

Three new Family Zones — one in each terminal — offer spaces for children and families to play, read and recharge. GOAA also highlighted improvements to directional signs along airport roads, in parking areas and throughout the terminals.

Parking Expansion and $40 Million Improvement Program

GOAA reported progress on a parking guidance system at Terminal C, with phased activation across all garages planned through mid-2027.

Dedicated employee parking areas are intended to free additional spaces for travelers. Planning is also underway for two new garages expected to add 8,000 public parking spaces over the next few years.

Separately, the authority’s $40 million Beautiful Airports Program targets safety, functionality and appearance across garages, terminals and other airport areas.

Aviation Investments and International Service

The fiscal year review highlighted a $50 million investment by dnata, a $26 million redevelopment by Signature Aviation at Orlando International Airport and groundbreaking for Sky Harbour’s $40 million campus at Orlando Executive Airport.

International service developments included ZIPAIR’s nonstop passenger charter flights between Orlando and Tokyo and Iberia’s launch of nonstop service to Madrid.

GOAA described ZIPAIR’s service as the first passenger charter connection between Florida and the Asia-Pacific region.

Business Policy Changes Broaden Eligibility

The board adopted revisions to GOAA’s Local Developing Business program following research, town halls and discussions with internal experts.

The changes increase the allowable personal net worth threshold and clarify how assets are excluded from that calculation, including primary residence equity, business equity, retirement assets and certain nonliquid holdings.

Business size standards were also revised to account for inflation and increased operating costs. The announcement did not specify the updated financial thresholds.

A new Small Business program will complement the local program and extend eligibility to qualifying businesses throughout Florida. Under the announced framework, participating businesses must fall within 50% of the applicable U.S. Small Business Administration size standard.

GOAA said detailed guidelines for both programs would be posted on its website. Those guidelines will provide businesses with the information needed to assess eligibility.