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