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Thanks, Scherwin, for responding to our candidate questions. As a reminder, the ACLC does not endorse candidates. We have provided these questions to all of the candidates and will be posting their responses as we receive them.

Alachua County Labor Coalition City Commission candidate questionnaire

Please keep each response to 500 words or less.

1. The Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission have made significant progress on providing living wages for municipal workers, including part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted workers.  How do you propose we achieve similar wage and benefit gains for workers throughout our community?

It seems with the existing climate of a shortage of workers, now the time for workers to demand better pay and working conditions.  With the present worker shortage, this is the opportune time to have this conversation with the business community with the City of Gainesville taking the lead.  It is also important to speak with the larger employers such as the Alachua Board of County Commissioners, University of Florida, NFRH, UF Health and Shands, and Santa Fe College.  Another segment that’s probably been over looked are the temporary employment companies such as Tempforce and Manpower.  

2. If you are an employer: Do you pay all your workers a living wage and how do you       define a living wage?  If you do not pay a living wage: how are you making an effort to do so?  [If you are not an employer, “N/A” is an acceptable answer.]

N/A

3.    The City of Gainesville recently passed a comprehensive rental housing ordinance.  What will you do to see that this ordinance is properly implemented and what measures would you propose to keep the City accountable to these protections?  What are some additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe, affordable housing in our community?

To see that this ordinance is properly implemented, we must be properly staffed so the ordinance is and can be properly implemented. 

The measures I would propose to keep the City accountable to these protections is to have staff report to the City Commission on a quarterly basis as to the success of the program but also share what tweaks need to be made to the program.  Randomly select renters to speak with about the program to ensure the intent of the rental program is benefiting the renters as it should be.

Additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe, affordable housing in our community would be to continue to fund housing assistance in our budget and via block grant funding, partner with other affordable housing entities such as NHDC and Habitat for Humanities, and creating a housing trust which can be a public/private venture.

4. Do you support a local hiring preference that includes the use of certified apprenticeship programs for taxpayer-funded projects?

I support a local hiring preference for taxpayer-funded projects but the preference should not only include the use of certified apprenticeship programs.  The program should make some allowances for those at the entry level stage or in training for an apprenticeship who might not have received their certification. 

5. Do you support making RTS free for all Gainesville residents at the point of service? How can the City of Gainesville improve public transportation for people who rely on it but aren’t affiliated with UF or Santa Fe?

It wouldn’t be prudent to make RTS free for all at this juncture.  Making RTS free to all at the point of service should be phased in over time.  It is my belief we should start with the senior citizens, the physically handicapped, the visually and hearing impaired, and our youth.  To the other segments of our population, we can then offer reduced cost for ridership.

6. What would you do to advance equity in healthcare outcomes throughout our community?

First, we need to recognize what are the inequities and identify to what extent the inequities exist.  Secondly, we must recognize a singular entity be it governmental or otherwise cannot solve the problem of health inequities.  To solve this problem, we must work in partnership, governments (county and city) and the health community. Thirdly, we must reach out to the citizens at large to hear and listen to what they believe the inequities are and the magnitude of those health needs. Finally, we must have the political will and be willing to invest monetarily to bring about a solution.

7. What steps can the City of Gainesville take to address unequal access to quality food?

It is incumbent upon city government to take the lead in being a primary voice in addressing unequal access to quality food.  Again, this is where partnerships are so valuable.  There are organizations who are better equipped and organized to address the issue of unequal access to quality food.  We could allocate some of the federal dollars we received from the ARP to fund this initiative.

8. What will you do to ensure UF is a better corporate citizen in Gainesville (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes, moving more services to GRU, helping to ensure better access to quality housing, etc.)?

What is needed is to present a clear and concise plan and vision of what is desired from the University of Florida.  Secondly, we must meet with our state representatives to impress upon them how our city tax revenue is affected by the amount of state property that is not a part of the tax roll.  We must work at the state level to change legislation that exempts state facilities from contributing some level of monetary reimbursement.

9. What will you do as a City Commissioner to help GPD keep people out of jail unnecessarily?  For instance, civil citations in lieu of arrest.

Civil citations in lieu of arrest is a good start.  What we must do is put measures in place before that person finds himself or herself in that position.  We seem to want to react after the fact but our goal should be instituting preventative measures. Our juvenile rate of arrest is increasing because we have gotten away from providing opportunities for our youth like summer jobs or enrichment programs which gives our less fortunate youth better alternatives in which to participate.   

How will this issue play a role in your selection of a new City Manager?

The new city manager should have some experience and creativity to assist in solving the problem. The new city manager should be able to build consensus among the city commission and the citizens at-large.

10. Given all the turmoil at City government in recent months, what reforms would you like to see to our local governance structures that would improve local government’s effectiveness while maintaining transparency and accountability?  

If you’re implying if we should change our governmental structure to a strong mayor, my answer is no.  The citizens voted to have the structure of government we have now to ensure all citizens of our city should be heard.  To maintain transparency and accountability, it is the city commission who should review and understand what their duties are and who they are there to serve and meet the expectations of the citizens.

Thanks, Cynthia, for responding to our candidate questions. As a reminder, the ACLC does not endorse candidates. We have provided these questions to all of the candidates and will be posting their responses as we receive them.

Alachua County Labor Coalition City Commission candidate questionnaire

To: The Alachua County Labor Coalition

From: Cynthia Moore Chestnut

October 27, 2021

Please keep each response to 500 words or less.

1. The Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission have made significant progress on providing living wages for municipal workers, including part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted workers.  How do you propose we achieve similar wage and benefit gains for workers throughout our community?

Working with the Chamber of Commerce and private employers to provide in-service training on the benefits of higher pay and incentives for workers to improve longevity, accountability and productivity.

2. If you are an employer: Do you pay all your workers a living wage and how do you define a living wage?  If you do not pay a living wage: how are you making an effort to do so?  [If you are not an employer, “N/A” is an acceptable answer.]

N/A

3. The City of Gainesville recently passed a comprehensive rental housing ordinance.  What will you do to see that this ordinance is properly implemented and what measures would you propose to keep the City accountable to these protections?  What are some additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe, affordable housing in our community?

Access to affordable housing has been an ongoing issue since the 1960s when the League of Women Voters first brought attention to the 20% of Gainesville housing that was dilapidated and/or deteriorating. Since the Ordinance was recently implemented, I would like to receive a report from staff on its effectiveness and the impact on rental housing. I would like to hear perspectives from renters as well as the landlords. There is mis-communicaton on both sides.

September 2020 the City passed an ordinance for Accessory Dwellings Units on a single-family lot anywhere in Gainesville, without requirements for owner occupancy or onsite parking. This effectively turned every single-family home, including rental homes into potential triplexes. I would like an update on this ordinance and its effectiveness, how many ADU’s have been issued, impact on traffic and so on.

4. Do you support a local hiring preference that includes the use of certified apprenticeship programs for taxpayer-funded projects?

Yes a local hiring preference would greatly enhance vocational programs in our area.

5. Do you support making RTS free for all Gainesville residents at the point of service? How can the City of Gainesville improve public transportation for people who rely on it but aren’t affiliated with UF or Santa Fe?

First and foremost, I support improving the working conditions for RTS Drivers. It has been noted that RTS operates with a shortage of approximately 48 bus drivers everyday; African American Women are terminated at a higher rate than any other employee group; while employees are hired and trained, the turnover rate is tremendous; employees have expressed concern about working in an environment where they are bullied, harassed and threatened with retaliation for speaking out. The City Manager and Equal Opportunity Charter Officer must direct attention to this matter.

Yes, the City embarked on a program of free rides for students 18 and younger as well as Seniors, 65 and older, that began October 1, 2021. I am particularly interested in expanding the program to include the workforce, who potentially would benefit greatly from this transportation option.

6. What would you do to advance equity in healthcare outcomes throughout our community?

All of us are aware that the most expensive portal of entry to health care is the emergency room, for many on the Eastside of town, this is the only entry available due to a lack of access to primary care. I support the City of Gainesville and the Alachua County Commission collaborating with UF Shands to provide an urgent care center in East Gainesville using funds provided through President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

7. What steps can the City of Gainesville take to address unequal access to quality food?

The lack of access to quality food most significantly impacts residents of East Gainesville. First, I would work to expand food harvest programs in the community. For the past 18 years my church, Mt. Pleasant United Methodist has provided a food harvest program for residents from all over the city. Food is provided through a food diversion program very much like the one discussed in the City’s Zero Waste Committee where Grocers like Publix, Winn Dixie and Walmart provide left over food items to local programs. I would also work to reduce food deserts in the City.

For several years the notion of a grocery store in East Gainesville has been tossed around. I suggest the City Commission hold a public meeting with residents of East Gainesville to determine what the community would like and support.

8. What will you do to ensure UF is a better corporate citizen in Gainesville (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes, moving more services to GRU, helping to ensure better access to quality housing, etc.)?

The University of Florida must work to stop the gentrification of traditionally Black neighborhoods.

9. What will you do as a City Commissioner to help GPD keep people out of jail unnecessarily?  For instance, civil citations in lieu of arrest.  How will this issue play a role in your selection of a new City Manager?

The Gainesville Police Department is committed to invest in prevention and intervention programs. I applaud their return to Neighborhood Crime Watch Neighborhoods. The addition of the Business Crime Watch; the Neighborhood Support Unit and Violence Interrupters. In other words, GPD has a number of community-oriented programs to reduce crime and incarceration, many require funding and support from the City Commission. I would support their efforts.

I would look for a City Manager with experience in community policing, as well as other innovative crime reduction programs.

10. Given all the turmoil at City government in recent months, what reforms would you like to see to our local governance structures that would improve local government’s effectiveness while maintaining transparency and accountability?

True implementation of the City’s Charter, where there is a clear delineation of roles would be most helpful. The Charter calls for a professionally trained City Manager to run the day-to-day operation of the City, while the City Commission and Mayor are responsible for the generation and implementation of policies.

Submitted by:

Cynthia Moore Chestnut, Candidate for City Commission At-Large, Seat B

Thanks, Matt, for responding to our candidate questions. As a reminder, the ACLC does not endorse candidates. We have provided these questions to all of the candidates and will be posting their responses as we receive them.

Alachua County Labor Coalition City Commission candidate questionnaire

Please keep each response to 500 words or less.

1. The Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission have made significant progress on providing living wages for municipal workers, including part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted workers.  How do you propose we achieve similar wage and benefit gains for workers throughout our community?

We’ve seen progress in wages going up. McDonald’s now starts employees in Florida at $11 an hour. Bank of America recently announced an increase to $21 an hour. As one of the city’s largest employers, I believe it’s important that we demonstrate a commitment to a living wage by increasing wages for employees and applying pressure to the University of Florida to do the same. We could decrease poverty significantly in Gainesville if the University of Florida increased wages for their lowest earners. I look forward to working with the ACLC and partnering with local businesses to raise wages.

2. If you are an employer: Do you pay all your workers a living wage and how do you define a living wage?  If you do not pay a living wage: how are you making an effort to do so?  [If you are not an employer, “N/A” is an acceptable answer.]

The minimum wage for workers on my campaign is $20 an hour. Paying my workers a living wage compensates them for the value of their time and demonstrates my appreciation for their hard work. Paying a living wage is the right thing to do and a smart business decision. I hope to lead by example and encourage other employers to do the same.

3. The City of Gainesville recently passed a comprehensive rental housing ordinance.  What will you do to see that this ordinance is properly implemented and what measures would you propose to keep the City accountable to these protections?  What are some additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe, affordable housing in our community?

The ordinance is here to stay. If we fix the quality of housing, the cost of utilities will go down. I thank the ACLC for their hard work on the ordinance and look forward to working with the ACLC to ensure the ordinance is followed. I also appreciate the ACLC’s understanding that there may be challenges in the first year and I appreciate their openness to making changes as needed to ensure the ordinance is effective for everyone. I will work with the ACLC and city staff to ensure income discrimination ordinances are followed and effective mediation policies are in place to address landlord and tenant issues. I believe we should be proactive in ensuring tenants know their rights.

4. Do you support a local hiring preference that includes the use of certified apprenticeship programs for taxpayer-funded projects?

Yes, I fully support such a hiring preference. We have a shortage of skilled tradespersons and we must make every effort to build a pipeline of talent and provide young adults with additional pathways to employment. I believe we must be proactive in our approach and take action to ensure the state does not preempt our ability to establish such a hiring preference.

5. Do you support making RTS free for all Gainesville residents at the point of service? How can the City of Gainesville improve public transportation for people who rely on it but aren’t affiliated with UF or Santa Fe?

I support making RTS ree for all Gainesville residents but I also acknowledge that this is a complex issue. The University of Florida and Santa Fe College pay millions of dollars in support of RTS service. If we make RTS ridership free for all, we may lose those revenue streams. I support recent efforts to make ridership free for those ages 18 and under or 65 and older and support additional pilot programs such as free ridership for low-income residents not already covered by the University of Florida or Santa Fe College student transportation benefits.

6. What would you do to advance equity in healthcare outcomes throughout our community?

I believe we need a stronger partnership between the city and the county to address equity in healthcare. I also believe in taking a proactive approach to provide healthcare to our residents who need it most. Our community resource paramedic program meets residents where they are and provides the help they need which frees up valuable resources for other residents in need. We cannot rely on every resident finding their own way to a healthcare provider. We should consider expanding the community resource paramedic program and continue our proactive approach to meeting the most vulnerable where they are.

7. What steps can the City of Gainesville take to address unequal access to quality food?

I’ve seen examples in other cities where the expansion of mobile food markets has had an overwhelmingly positive effect on addressing unequal access to quality food. Mobile food markets are an effective way to get quality food directly to the residents who need it most. We must also strengthen our partnership with the county and the University of Florida to support such an effort to expand mobile food markets.

8. What will you do to ensure UF is a better corporate citizen in Gainesville (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes, moving more services to GRU, helping to ensure better access to quality housing, etc.)?

We must keep the pressure on the University of Florida to increase wages for their lowest earners. We must also continue our efforts to establish agreements with the University of Florida to purchase more energy from Gainesville Regional Utilities. Lastly, the University of Florida should work with the city to ensure an adequate supply of workforce housing and affordable housing for faculty and students.

9. What will you do as a City Commissioner to help GPD keep people out of jail unnecessarily?  For instance, civil citations in lieu of arrest.  How will this issue play a role in your selection of a new City Manager?

We must pursue all reasonable policies aimed at reducing jailable offenses. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; there are many levers we can pull at the same time. We should expand the use of civil citations in lieu of arrest, work to transition more jailable offenses to non-jailable offenses, and increase our use of mental health first responders in lieu of police officers. These recommendations will reduce the burden on first responders and help police officers to focus on real police work.

10. Given all the turmoil at City government in recent months, what reforms would you like to see to our local governance structures that would improve local government’s effectiveness while maintaining transparency and accountability?

I am unaware of another city in America with the number of charters officers as we have here in Gainesville. With six commissioners, a mayor, and six charter officers, we have 42 different vertices of communications and challenging silos of work. We should consider opportunities to reduce the number of charter officers and increase commission staff. Such efforts would improve the efficiency of work and effectiveness of policy implementation, and increase the time city commissioners have to engage with the community.

Thanks, Patrick, for responding to our candidate questions.  As a reminder, the ACLC does not endorse candidates.  We have provided these questions to all of the candidates and will be posting their responses as we receive them.

Alachua County Labor Coalition City Commission candidate questionnaire

Please keep each response to 500 words or less.

1. The Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission have made significant progress on providing living wages for municipal workers, including part-time, temporary, seasonal, and contracted workers. How do you propose we achieve similar wage and benefit gains for workers throughout our community?

Use the wage plan as a guideline for private business. In addition, make restaurant an retail workers a protected class from violence, as well as offer a Restaurant and Retail Worker retirement and disability fund.

2. If you are an employer: Do you pay all your workers a living wage and how do you define a living wage? If you do not pay a living wage: how are you making an effort to do so?  [If you are not an employer, “N/A” is an acceptable answer.]

As a former NY restaurant owner, I paid my staff a living wage and NOT restaurant wages in addition, let them keep their tips.

3. The City of Gainesville recently passed a comprehensive rental housing ordinance. What will you do to see that this ordinance is properly implemented and what measures would you propose to keep the City accountable to these protections?  What are some additional policies the City of Gainesville can enact to improve access to quality, safe, affordable housing in our community?

It’s a start though some areas may be over-restricted? Rent control whether mandated or voluntarily is also needed to encourage landlords to lower their rents?

4. Do you support a local hiring preference that includes the use of certified apprenticeship programs for taxpayer-funded projects?

Yes, I do! The taxpayer took on the burden for training and the hiring will pay back many times over.

5. Do you support making RTS free for all Gainesville residents at the point of service? How can the City of Gainesville improve public transportation for people who rely on it but aren’t affiliated with UF or Santa Fe?

A previous questionnaire made me aware that rideship is only 3% of RTS revenue. While making rideship free for student and senors. I would like to see RTS to include FREE rideship for everyone. A better partnership between rideshare companies and RTS, for example on home game days, rideshare drops off passengers at a designated drop off location where RTS can then take the passengers closer to the stadium.

6. What would you do to advance equity in healthcare outcomes throughout our community?

Governor Rick Scott introduced budget billing which stopped the practice of surprised billing. Next we need to stop the practice of healthcare discrimination.

7. What steps can the City of Gainesville take to address unequal access to quality food?

Additional farmers market at accessible locations for all residents.

8. What will you do to ensure UF is a better corporate citizen in Gainesville (e.g., payments in lieu of taxes, moving more services to GRU, helping to ensure better access to quality housing, etc.)?

If an entity takes away from the city, they must offer a greater benefit to the residents! An example, during home game days, disrupt the flow of traffic and directly affect business and residents lives, then UF would be required to offset RTS and GPD expenses.

9. What will you do as a City Commissioner to help GPD keep people out of jail unnecessarily? For instance, civil citations in lieu of arrest.  How will this issue play a role in your selection of a new City Manager?

We must have a strong, technologically advanced and educated police force to avoid controversies while in the performance of their duty. GPD already has a very low use of force percentage. Technologically advanced to help the officers cite more than making arrests. Restore the production of GPD-TV.

10. Given all the turmoil at City government in recent months, what reforms would you like to see to our local governance structures that would improve local government’s effectiveness while maintaining transparency and accountability?

My dispute resolution and team building skills that I acquire through years of corporate work, will help to bring order to the commission. Ensure all commissioners are proficient on parliamentary procedure, ethics and the sunshine law.

Below are the list of sessions:

• Session 1 Overview (Pgs 1-44)
  Monday, June 14th @ 5:30pm
• Session 2 History and Theory (Pgs 47-107)
  Monday, June 21st @ 5:30pm
• Session 3 Case Studies (Pgs 111-177)
  Monday, June 28th @ 5:30pm
• Session 4 Key Concepts (Pgs 181-283)
  Monday, July 5th @ 5:30pm

Thank you to everyone who came out and showed support for our community members who faced illegal discrimination because of their Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) and Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV). The Collier Companies knowingly chose to illegally discriminate against these tenants, since discrimination in housing is illegal in Alachua County according to Ordinance #190814. Because of all the noise we made and the letters we sent; Nathan Collier responded by offering lease renewals to the seven tenants who were being evicted by Collier.

The ACLC will continue to demand that Collier Companies be held accountable for their discrimination against the low income and the disabled. We are now demanding that all Collier properties in Alachua County post on their websites and in physical spaces that they happily accept all HUD vouchers from residents. We will advocate that all landlords be required to post a letter detailing all of the housing protections on every unit they lease out.

To find out more about ways to get involved in the Safe and Affordable Housing Committee of the ACLC please email us at info@laborcoalition.org.

The Collier Companies is refusing to renew leases for residents with housing vouchers at Bivens Cove apartments. They are kicking veterans and people with disabilities out of the homes they’ve been in for more than 10 years in some cases. Everybody deserves a safe place to live, especially those who are vulnerable.

For the landlord, housing vouchers are the same as cash deposited into their bank account, but for voucher holders, they may be the line between having a place to stay and living on the street. There is no reason that they should deprive someone of housing by refusing to accept their vouchers. In Gainesville, it is also illegal under Ordinance #190814 to discriminate in housing on the basis of lawful source of income.

Collier Companies is one of the biggest landlords in Gainesville. They have a responsibility to the community which they benefit from, but instead they undertake policies which drive houselessness, rising rents, and gentrification.

Click here to send a letter to tell Collier to renew leases for voucher holders and end their illegal housing discrimination immediately!

And come out to the protest on Monday, May 3rd at 4:30pm in front of the Collier Companies office at 220 N Main Street!

Join us in protest on Monday, May 3rd at 4:30pm against Collier Companies one of the biggest Slumlords of Gainesville and fight for disabled people and veterans!

Let’s protect our neighbors and demand a stop to evictions!
Disabled people and veterans are being subjected to illegal discrimination by this Slumlord. Collier companies is completely disregarding the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance which has passed under the Gainesville City Commission and the Alachua County Commission. This ordinance protects individuals from being discriminated against based on their lawful source of income, including Section 8 vouchers, as well as disability. The Slumlord, Collier Companies, has decided to stop accepting Section 8 vouchers as a lawful source of income, and is now evicting tenants and leaving disabled people and veterans on the streets.

Day: Monday, May 3rd
Time: 4:30pm
Place: Collier Companies Office
220 N Main St, Gainesville, FL 32601

Check out the Facebook event for updates

Masks are mandatory!