“Barring a constitutional challenge, the people will get a say in this”: Gainesville City Commission puts GRU governance on the November ballot

The Gainesville City Commission held a Special Meeting on May 23

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At a Special Meeting this afternoon, the Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously on second reading to place a referendum on the November ballot that would return control of Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) to the City Commission and eliminate the GRU Authority.

Ballot language

The ordinance, which was passed unanimously on first reading, provides for submission of a Charter amendment to the voters for approval or disapproval at the November 5, 2024 general election. The Charter amendment would eliminate a previous amendment made by HB 1645 that transferred governance of GRU from the City Commission to the GRU Authority, beginning on October 1, 2023. The proposed ballot language is below:

“SHALL THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE CHARTER BE AMENDED TO DELETE ARTICLE VII, ELIMINATING THE GOVERNOR-APPOINTED GAINESVILLE REGIONAL UTILITIES AUTHORITY AND ITS APPOINTED ADMINISTRATOR THAT MANAGE, OPERATE AND CONTROL THE CITY OF GAINESVILLE’S LOCAL PUBLIC UTILITIES, AND PLACING THAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE ELECTED CITY COMMISSION AND CHARTER OFFICER; AND ELIMINATING LIMITATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES CONTRIBUTION AND UTILITY DIRECTIVES, AS PROPOSED BY ORDINANCE NO. 2024-352?” 

Public comment

Nine members of the public spoke in favor of the ordinance, and two spoke against it. The arguments were, for the most part, the same as the comments voiced in the May 16 meeting when the Commission took up the first reading of the ordinance

Ward: “And I would say once again, that the legislature had the distinct opportunity to preclude this and chose not to do so.”

After public comment, Mayor Harvey Ward thanked several attorneys for speaking during public comment or sending legal memos to the City, offering their opinion that it is legal for the City Commission to put the question on the ballot: “So there is plenty of legal support out there, I guess in any direction, but the preponderance does seem to be in the direction that this is a right that we do have. And I would say once again, that the legislature had the distinct opportunity to preclude this and chose not to do so. They did not address the part of our Charter that gives us the opportunity to put things on the ballot. And they would have if they intended to. That’s just my opinion, I’m not an attorney.”

Motion

Commissioner Reina Saco, who pointed out that she is also an attorney, made a motion to approve the ordinance. Commissioner Bryan Eastman seconded the motion.

Commissioner Desmon Duncan-Walker asked what percentage of GRU customers live outside the city limits, and Ward responded that the number is different for electric, gas, and water, but “the electric utility is in the low 30s… It’s a little less than that for water and even less for wastewater.”

Duncan-Walker followed up, “I was just curious: there is no mechanism at all that exists to allow those individuals to have a voice in this or a vote in this? No way?”

City Attorney Daniel Nee responded that he wasn’t aware of any mechanism for amending the City’s Charter that would give a vote to people outside the city limits. He added, “But obviously, as we’ve heard, the powers of the legislature are great, and… I would contemplate [the legislature] could accomplish that in some way.”

Duncan-Walker: Is there any way for GRU customers outside the city limits to have a vote?

Duncan-Walker thanked Nee and said, “I just wanted to bring that forward, because I think we have heard this rousing chorus of individuals who live inside, who are paying, but I also think, in the interest of being able to honor all voices of individuals who pay GRU rates, that to be able to have their voices or their votes included in this is something, too, that we ought to always be mindful of.”

Ward interjected, “I would remind everyone once again that some of the folks who spoke to us, were here in the room today, with their voices at the lectern, are not City of Gainesville residents but are GRU customers.”

Duncan-Walker responded, “But their voice is very different from their vote, and that’s what I’m cognizant of.”

Commissioner Ed Book: “We’re simply allowing the will of the community to determine how we’re going to govern.”

Commissioner Ed Book thanked all the people and organizations that had provided feedback on the referendum. He added, “It seems to me that really what we’re doing is, we’re simply allowing the will of the community to determine how we’re going to govern. And I think probably one of our greatest, if not our greatest responsibilities, as elected officials, is to operate in accordance with and at the guidance, and in partnership with, the community. Well, putting this on the ballot, I think, is exactly what we do. And then they determine how and when we govern and what we govern. So I appreciate that, I support the motion, and I know we’ve had considerable input, feedback, and weighing in – always appreciated.”

Commissioner Bryan Eastman: “I am excitedly voting yes on this… I think that we have a responsibility to put this on the ballot in November.”

Eastman agreed, “It’s just about making sure that the voters have a say in it. I do think that it’s important to point out, one, that I am excitedly voting yes on this, and I think that this is obviously about the people and their ability to have a say on GRU. But I do think that this is a really important and historic moment in the question of how cities govern themselves, how we move forward.”

Eastman said he couldn’t find any other utility in the nation that is run by a board appointed by the Governor and continued, “I think this is the right way forward; it gives the people of this community the right to say how we go forward. And I think this is an important and historic day; we are putting this out there… I think that we have a responsibility to put this on the ballot in November.”

Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut: “I think, quite simply, this can be summed up in one word: democracy.”

Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut said, “I think, quite simply, this can be summed up in one word: democracy – something that is eroding not only in this state but in this country. So we stand for democracy.”

Vote

The ordinance putting the referendum on the ballot passed unanimously in a roll call vote, and Ward concluded the agenda item by saying, “Barring constitutional challenge, the people will get a say in this.”

  • City commissioners are corrupt demonrats that just want to spend OUR money. Just like pedojoe sending $200billion to nazi ukraine.

    • Too crazy to comment on, but 12 others approving are Putin stooges spreading Russian propaganda? Zelensky is Jewish, dummy.

      • Jazzman, it’s well documented that Ukrainian Army units are actual NAZI units. It’s not a theory nor a joke.

        • From the Jewish Anti-Defamation League:

          “Q: Why does Putin think it makes any sense to call Ukrainian leaders Nazis, especially when President Zelensky is Jewish?

          Dr. Fishman: “This propaganda is an attempt to delegitimize Ukraine in the eyes of the Russian public, which considers its war against Nazi Germany its greatest moment, and in eyes of the Western publics who may not know much about Ukraine except that it’s next to Russia.”

          Q: But why call them Nazis, aside from that being the worst accusation one can make?

          “This propaganda isn’t new. Russia has for years highlighted the activity of a marginal group of Ukrainian ultra-nationalists as a way of trying to stigmatize all of Ukraine. Yes, some members of these ultra-nationalist groups have used Nazi insignia, made Hitler salutes, and used antisemitic rhetoric, but they are politically insignificant and in no way representative of Ukraine. The political parties which the ultra-nationalists support received just over 2 percent of the vote in the 2019 elections. Ukraine is a flawed democracy, but unquestionably a democracy, and in no way a Nazi regime.”

          https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/why-putin-calling-ukrainian-government-bunch-nazis

          • Jazzman, why would you crush TruthBTold’s cherished Putin/conspiracy/fantasy theories by providing verifiable facts? Heartless.

    • As the back-Ward Mayor Gainesville I will demand all the underlings I rule over vote to put GRU back into my pudgy fingers. How do you all expect me to continue to fleece you commoners if I can’t rob the GRU piggy bank and have you continue to pay the bill for my reckless spending, and donut buffets, with ever increasing utility bills. Also, let me tell Mr. Eddy B. something, you are not more, most, mostest, smarter than me. I got rid of you once for stopping me from robbing the GRU piggy bank, and don’t think you can stop me again from putting my hand in the GRU cookie jar. UUMMM COOKIE JAR, I have to go I just made myself hungry.

  • They do NOT “stand for democracy.” Many more voters in the GRU service area voted for DeSantis than for the GCC dais. Typically only 3% of G’ville voted for the “winners” in city elections, especially when they were in springtime cycles, when the previous 20 years of harmful GRU and City policies were enacted. Now we ALL have to pay that price.
    Hopefully the current D-to-R conversion rate will be enough to stop this *reactionary* return to those Local bad ole days.

      • Unlike Crist, 57% of the voters in Alachua County were able to decide they’re Democrat idiots…or at a minimum, liberal lemmings.

          • If you’re having difficulty understanding that then you’re as confused as Crist is.

            Now, how about telling us how you dealt with those employees who disobeyed your rules, or are you purposely hiding something? Maybe afraid of putting your hypocrisy out there?

  • Time to sue Kim Barton to keep it off the ballot. City initiatives cannot override state laws. They know this which is why:
    “Mayor Harvey Ward thanked several attorneys for speaking during public comment or sending legal memos to the City, offering their opinion that it is legal for the City Commission to put the question on the ballot: “So there is plenty of legal support out there, I guess in any direction, but the preponderance does seem to be in the direction that this is a right that we do have. And I would say once again, that the legislature had the distinct opportunity to preclude this and chose not to do so. They did not address the part of our Charter that gives us the opportunity to put things on the ballot.“

    **Not a single mention of whether or not the actual proposed charter amendment itself is legal…only whether or not it’s legal to place it on the ballot. The city is intentionally causing a clusterf**k and screaming ‘it’s democracy’ like every other idiot on tv. Maybe they are all just dumb but I can’t help but see malicious intent at every step

    • Exactly, they’re trying to get an unlawful amendment on the ballot. As you also stated, they are also playing dumb or actually dumb and poorly advised.

      Saco and Willits should be arrested for “Wearing mask while committing offense; reclassification”. As cited in FL Stat § 775.0845 (2023).

      Those same women cops who arrested Ray Washington at a city commission meeting for not being a mask slave while speaking alone at the podium should be forced to cuff these two thespians/hypochondriacs.

  • You can not be surprised by this move because the manner this was done was always going to create resentment.

    It was a stupid strategic move by feckless politicians.

    Like Newberry, like single member districts taking the brute force thuggish way rather than have the debate and build consensus and therefore legitimacy is why we are here.

    And all of these are brought to our community by the same cabal of hoodwinkers.

    It’s no way to govern.

    • Well this is a fine financial mess your regime got GRU any the COG in , yet evidently still in denial of the COG Commissions many failures. If equal representation for all GRU Customers does not set well with the Democrats , that says it all about their agenda and monopoly . Buckle up Wokesville your going on a money diet, no matter what Greaseman says.

  • Renal Wacko Saco pointed out she’s an attorney…a non-retained one is what she should have said. She’s never had a real job… guess that should offend some Chronicle readers but it won’t.

    Greasy Eastman, or is it lubed Eastman? Seconded the motion.

    Ed Book: “We’re simply allowing the will of the community to determine how we’re going to govern.” He’s a charlatan if ever there was one. He betrayed a lot of people who put their faith in him.

    Chestnut as always showing she’s a nut”case”. She’s never been interested in Democracy unless it falls in line with her lunacy.

    Ward as always just a walking snake oil salesman. Telling people he can fix things but knowing he’s a liar and cheat.

    Now that’s been pointed out, I would like to put something on the ballot.
    “Whereas, these fiscally incompetent idiots, who claim to represent and have the best interests of the residents of Gainesville, have been duly found to be in violation of their duties and obligations to not only the City, but the Constitutional laws of these United States, be removed from the offices they currently occupy for their own enjoyment and monetary gains?”

    • Predictable. They said they would do this years ago.

      The inky answer is get out and vote in big numbers. The more they lose by the more we see change.

      Pretty much like that I any election.

  • The one and only reason the governor and legislature have become involved with GRU is the repeatedly proven incompetence of the city commission.

    • You left out the $100k dirty money FPL gave Sen Perry and with the single member district dirty crusade (most Florida counties aren’t), and continuing carving up of very blue Alachua County so it can be ruled by decisions of the people in Trenton, Williston, Ocala, and Ft McCoy (I live 2.5 miles from the G’ville city limits and my Fl House rep is now in McClenny and my Fl Senator is in Orange Park), the pattern of control and stripping of power from our citizens.

      IF GRU needed outside control – and a big IF there – that could have been accomplished by expert oversight, not stripping control away from the town that built it and owns it.

      • “could have been.”

        But wasn’t.

        Said town didn’t and doesn’t think anything is wrong with the current situation GRU is in. Nothing was going to change.

        • If the state can steal property from the city, it could have surely set up goals and check points overseen by experts, not political appointees made by a partisan hack.

          But hey, you guys like being ruled by big daddy – in the high heels – from Tallahassee.

          • Your committee of experts is a red herring. There is no world where a republican governor can appoint anyone with advisory or managerial input into the utility that you will see as legitimate. And the city commission has systematically run off anyone who questions its financial decisions.

          • Why does the governor need to be the one to appoint experts. Are there no longer any state agencies not fully politicized and with non partisan committees making decisions which have nothing to do with party?

  • Maybe we could focus on facts and vision. Which way will best serve residents and utility users? The large amount of debt and deferred maintenance is very concerning. What is the authorities plan? We know the CC track record. I for one am happy to vote. We just need a strong community education campaign on the issues.

  • It doesn’t take someone with a law degree to know that a local referendum can NOT overturn a STATE law passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

    • My best guess is they are trying to set themselves up for a Supreme Court showdown on Home Rule or Dillon’s Rule vs the state. They are willing to waste millions they don’t have to fight the state law it seems

    • Exactly. There are real lawyers and then there are loser lawyers. She has never struck me as a real lawyer. Passing the Bar exam isn’t the measure of a real lawyer. Maybe it was further punctuated by her giving the finger to employees who didn’t agree with the vaccine mandate the city literally began imposing on employees with deadlines and threats of termination in published communications to employees before the then CM lied in writing to the IG of the State of Florida saying they never issued a vaccine mandate. A dirty, sleazy operation if ever there was one. The hallmarks of which are lying, corruption, incompetence, malfeasance, greed and immorality. You need a good bath after spending time with these disreputable people. I hope the Governor wipes the slate and gets rid of all the city commissioners and overhauls the entire damn city. It is past time for the chickens to come home to roost there. Too bad Poe escaped before his whiny wimpy ass could be captured in this debacle. Dum spiro spero.

      • Sure Doofus, you’ll never win an election here so why not just admit you want a dictatorship.

        • Jazzman— I’ve made several comments today addressing multiple real issues related to this stunt by the city. You refuse to acknowledge legitimate problems. You and the other representatives are unable to field any real questions. You are a diehard partisan and as such you chose to ignore legitimate issues and only engage in adolescent red/blue political banter. I despise your party as well as your opponents party.
          You need to grow up and realize how much your dreamy political pet projects harm regular people.

          This isn’t political…it’s economical!!!

  • I find the whole conversation comical. I saw the writing on the wall over 20 years ago and left Gainesville. I still perform work in Gainesville, so it behooves me to keep up with some of the goings-on, but I choose to earn money in Gainesville to spend elsewhere. There’s an old saying: “Money talks; BS walks.” That’s actually backward. The wise person walks away with the money and lets the BSers talk about where all the money went. Granted, however, I’m less interested in making a lot of money than I am in not wasting what I do make. But to each his own.

    • You’re not the only parasite living off the success of Gainesville. Shands was – and probably still is – the biggest employer for Putnam county residents. You don’t think all those new soulless subdivisions being built in Newberry are for people who will work there do you?

      • We see you’ve been drinking early today Jazzy Eastman. Calling someone a parasite and somehow equating people from Putnam county, EAST of Gainesville with the city of Newberry which is WEST of Gainesville? Since you and your GCC buddies like to create edicts, maybe you should declare that ONLY Gainesville residents can work at Shands. That would fit right in with all of your other questionable decisions.

        • Putnam County and Newberry are about equ-distance from their teat in Gainesville.

      • By calling names, you’re starting to sound like the very commenters here you criticize. It’s certainly not indicative of the erudite countenance you like to portray. That said, I work neither for UF nor for any other corporation that profits from my work, and my work isn’t limited to Gainesville. Furthermore, I earned a scholarship to study biochemistry at UF when it required additional approval as an interdisciplinary studies program 30 years ago; but I left that program because of the corporatization and monetization of medicine that stymies genuine research, and I certainly don’t recommend it now. I also don’t live in Newberry or any other “soulless” entity like Gainesville, nor do I live in Putnam county, and hinting that I might in the form of a question is just a thinly veiled strawman. We are all parasites, living off resources we didn’t create; I’m just living wisely, neither killing the host nor being killed by it.

        Do better.

        • Michael, Ill take your criticism of my posting style seriously when I see you apply your “standards” to the “very commenters here I (you) criticize.”

          You wrote: “I choose to earn money in Gainesville to spend elsewhere.” I think by definition that makes you a willing parasite, unless that is you find the chain stores and restaurants in Lake City (there aren’t any other kind there), or wherever the F you spend it, somehow superior and therefore a choice you’d exercise here if you only could. Doesn’t sound like it.

          Call me old fashioned, but I work here and spend here because I like it and like it a lot. It is rare to find the choices available here in a city this small and close to nature, with a highly educated and interesting citizenry – hey, one just won the International Booker Prize for literature and was written up in the NYTs, WaPo, all European media, etc. – unless of course compared only to other small places hosting a large university.

          But hey, keep on doing your bit and thinking it wise, we’re fine without you.

          • Highly educated? That’s subjective, but you do have low standards.

          • He won the award as the translator, not the author.

            Gainesville has lost its charm and ability to attract and keep many artists and creative types. A few older ones will stick around, but that’s about it (until we start flushing all the POS politicians down the election toilet).

          • Jazzman, I apply the standards to everyone, but I try to avoid wasting my time with those who won’t or can’t listen. I had hope you could understand the criticism and take corrective action. I suppose I was wrong.

            I already said we are all parasites. Offering your opinion on what kind of parasite I am is just restating the obvious. Of course I’m willing; I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise. But, again, we are all parasites.

            I will keep on doing exactly as I’m doing, with or without your permission, because I like peace and quiet. Gunshots, street racing, drunken hooliganism, and the sirens chasing the aforementioned and more are not my idea of a good time. I have no doubt Gainesville will continue to grow in that vein for years to come—without me. Gainesville’s intellectualists and culture are meaningless to me. Congratulations on liking it and liking it a lot; I don’t.

            I don’t live in Lake City either. Do better.

          • I’m sorry, I don’t understand your statement that we are all parasites, but if you’re gone, I’ll survive without an explanation.

            Crime appears to be your primary reason to live elsewhere and I understand that the benefits of our community don’t interest you enough to overcome that. Fair enough, keeping in mind that our crime stats are roughly equal to neighboring cities of approximate similar sizes, but also I think, much more boring places with less culture, activities, and diverse populations of those who could and have lived many other places but chose where they are.

            As to rural living, I am in a semi- rural, very safe location within bicycling distance of downtown and 2.5 miles from city limits, and my situation is not that unique. Previously I lived on a farm in a rural location 10 miles farther out. I think I can accurately say both of these locations were as free of crime as places 30 miles from Gainesville. I don’t know if your shopping and activity center is still Gainesville or a Lake City like alternative, but avoiding city living is not a criticism of Gainesville as I see it.

          • It’s simple, Jazzman. None of us created the earth, the sky, or the bodies of water we use to sustain life. We live by virtue of resources we didn’t create. I said that in my first message, but perhaps you didn’t notice during your knee-jerk reaction of calling names instead of making a rational argument.

            I never said Gainesville alone was the problem. Cultured, cultivated, cultish living happens wherever people gather in large numbers. I used to find Gainesville a decent place to visit, but I don’t any longer. Saying I criticize Gainesville but not other cities is another strawman.

            What you’re failing to understand is that I’m just not like you. Crime is not my primary reason to avoid Gainesville. Crime is the result of the self-entitled mindset of people who figure they deserve what everyone else has, and that pursuit of stuff is where it starts. I don’t need or want a “shopping and activity center” to entertain me. What you find fascinating, interesting, and valuable, I find repulsive. I don’t have a lot of stuff, don’t want a lot of stuff, and so have no need for the sort of culture that provides for the convenient pursuit of a lot of stuff. I enjoy nature, uncultivated and uncultured, and I live simply in a way that minimizes my impact on the world around me—i.e., neither killing the host nor cultivating it into something that will kill me.

            Telling me that you enjoy living where and how you live is not an argument against my living the way I live. Again, a strawman. Making wrong assumptions about why I live the way I live is not working for you; so maybe just stop, take a deep breath, and realize your way is not the only way.

      • UF is “going West”, Jazzman. The golf complex, the Agri-Tech Park, etc. They build 200-300 homes a year, total, and that’s including the NC Ranch plans. Lots of people are probably glad to live away from the crazed/dangerous vagrants and the Kodak haircut crowd even if they have to commute.

        • Dummy, the problems follow those running away from them. You know there are ghettos west of I-75 now, right?

  • “Barring a constitutional challenge, the people will get a say in this”

    ‘The people’? No….you mean SOME of the people. You purposely omitted the GRU ratepayers in the county to ensure you get the vote you want. What a sham.

    • Clay and FPL rate payers don’t have a say in how those utilities spend their money.

      PS During the short state House debate on this bill – it was rammed through half baked and with virtually no expert or citizen input, and at the last minute (look it up) – democratic Rep Hinson moved an amendment to allow ratepayers outside the city to opt out for another utility provider – it was shot down on a straight party line vote. Think about that.

      • Hinson looked like a poor old fool with her grand suggestion and insistence that “the infrastructure is already in place!” You have a problem with the truth, Jazzman. It’s just one of the things that makes you unAmerican.

        • Until you are able to point out a false hood from me, you “look like a poor old fool” corroborating what I just posted. We agree then that Hinson offered that amendment was shut down in a party line vote by a GOP determined to pass a half baked bill without proper testimony or deliberation. Look it up.

        • False. The most covered study by the Cochrane group claimed masks ineffective and it was covered extensively in mainstream media. However, a follow up of much larger scale found that the Cochrane study recommended masks but did not follow up on actual usage, so what they actually had proven was the ineffectiveness of recommending masks, not the masks. In the follow up, masks were proactively supplied and encouraged on a personal level and the benefits were clear in the results. The Cochrane group admitted that their study did not show that masks were ineffective.

          Check the date.

          “Masks are effective but here’s how a study from a respected group was misinterpreted to say they weren’t”

          Recently, a review from the Cochrane Library set off a firestorm after headlines declared research published by the respected organization’s study found masks don’t work and don’t stop community transmission of respiratory viruses like COVID-19.

          Over a two-month period, some commentators and politicians took to op-ed pieces and social media to say the study proved masks weren’t needed the whole time and that mandates had been ineffective.

          However, the editor-in-chief of the Cochrane Library, Dr. Karla Soares-Weiser, issued a statement on March 10 to say the analysis had been misinterpreted and that the review didn’t find that masks do not work….”

          https://abcnews.go.com/Health/masks-effective-study-respected-group-misinterpreted/story?id=97846561

          PS It is common sense that masks would help and in fact other detailed studies on the physics of masks and the particles they trap include Covid carrying ones.

          Case closed.

          • PS Wish, from the Cambridge link:

            “Does this mean masks are inherently ineffective? Not necessarily. One criticism of the RCT evidence is that you cannot get enough subjects in the mask-assigned groups to actually use them consistently and correctly. Reference Wen40 So, do mask trials show no effect because masks are ineffective? Or do they show no effect because people do not use masks enough, or use them correctly enough, even when urged to do so? The practical result either way is that mask mandates, as a public health strategy, appear to be ineffective. Mandates that do not work cannot be justified. Reference Halperin, Hearst and Hodgins1,Reference Gandhi2”

            Like the 1st Cochrane Review unwittingly found, this is a criticism of user – or non-user – behavior, not masks.

            Given that this “study” is actually a review of the literature, not an actual study, be aware that there are other recent ones with different emphasis, though the conclusions are the same. See for instance:

            https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/cmr.00124-23

          • P.S. When is your sanctimonious, hypocritical self going to fill us in on how you dealt with your non-conforming employees? You know, those who didn’t follow your rules.
            You chime in about everything else but you want to avoid that one. Is it because Harvey won’t let you?

  • Here come the CROOKS, they will be in control again, got to start talking to my wife again, we need to get out of this ridiculous county.

    • It’s the entire reason they got into local politics.

      Money has always flowed from GRU, is scrambled and shuffled around, and then laundered through fake initiatives and fake jobs before going either directly to the pockets of Gainesville City Commissioners, or more often used to pay off political donors or secure goods and services that enrich the GCC family and friends.

      It’s organized crime.

  • Interesting how Ward dismissed the 30 + percent of people outside the city who are GRU customers not having a vote. One third of a customer base is significant. If another utility company came and took over those accounts would the percentage be significant then? I do agree that it would be logistically difficult to involve these customers in the vote but to dismiss them out of hand is disheartening.

    • It’s mind boggling isn’t it? The ‘let them eat cake’ mentality of Ward and his buddies…sheesh

    • Ward dismisses practically everyone until he’s in need of their vote or wants something. It’s quite common amongst politicians and fake people.

  • Good. Take this righteous fight wherever it goes. The bill creating this authority was a half baked, rushed through hostile takeover by the prince of Newberry and Duke of Marion County who lives in Gainesville. The city built and owns GRU, not the state GOP and it’s citizens should elect whoever makes it’s big decisions – we call it democracy – and when those leaders screw up, the citizens should and will pay the bill. The Florida Public Service Commission can police rates if those outside the city served by GRU think they’re too high and/or the state can mandate GRU sell those customers to Clay, FPL, whoever.

    PS I am one of those ratepayers outside the city. Our rates are higher, but not significantly higher than when we were on Clay, and service – including outages – is much better under GRU.

    • UHH the City built GRU up until 2006-2008 . Then your regime destroyed GRU finances. Clearly proven and evident. You cannot heal until you get past the denial stage, SOS.

  • This local referendum cannot overrule the State, period.

    The Governor and the Legislature were duly elected by the people of Florida, and this measure was enacted by them to protect the people of Gainesville and Alachua County from the embedded corruption and malfeasance of our local political machine.

    If you don’t like it, “try winning an election for a change,” losers.

  • Anyone else find it ironic that UF students who live on campus will be able to vote on this initiative? They have no connection to Gainesville and since they live on campus they’re powered by Duke, not GRU.

  • Don’t you understand that it is FPL that is running this game?

    The Gov doesn’t give a darn about small, piddly GRU. He cares about the quarterly donation from FPL.

    The play is setting GRU for sale. It’s the exact same play FPL ran in Jacksonville with JEA that was only exposed due to greed.

    All of this is a long-term plan, and we are all pawns in this charade.

    • I’ll play along…but can you please clarify…Is it also your opinion that FLP loaded the Gville City Commission with its activist agents over the past few decades in order to slowly bankrupt the utility so FLP could now swoop in and buy GRU’s assets?

      How deep does this conspiracy run, Teddy?….perhaps you’re just overthinking…

      • GRU is not bankrupt and still has an A credit rating which dropped from higher when the state took it over.

        • I know it isn’t literally bankrupt…

          You are once again lying about the rating…I’ve previously corrected you on this same issue. Here’s the most recent credit rating report:

          “We previously lowered the rating on Gainesville’s senior-lien debt to ‘A’ from ‘AA-‘ in May 2021. That rating action reflected GRU’s very high rates and leverage, the product of investment in renewable resources that have proven to be uncompetitive.”
          https://www.gru.com/Portals/0/2022%20updates/SPCreditResearch_Analysis%20June_30_2022.pdf

          • Slice, GRU is not close to being bankrupt or it would not have an A credit rating. Cut that crap. However, you are correct and I was wrong when I stated that the passage of Clemons bill resulted in a lower credit rating for GRU. Moody’s did issue a warning on that subject due to the uncertainty of his the authority would act.

            “Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) remained at the “A” level with a stable outlook, according to the latest report by Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings, one of three companies that assign ratings.

            The report, released on June 30, lists a series of pros and cons for the utility and notes the uncertain future with a new authority board poised to take control of GRU in October.

            Standard & Poor’s (S&P) last issued a credit rating for GRU in 2021. Since then, Moody’s Investor Service, another credit rating company, also affirmed GRU’s rating with no change. Moody’s did, however, lower the city of Gainesville’s rating to Aa3 in January.”

    • And they deviously made GRU more unattractive to buyers by loading it up with massive debt, inflated rates, and unsustainable obligations in order to… uhhh… to hide their tracks! Yeah, that’s the ticket!

  • First, I think the proposed referendum is too long and wordy and thus a bit confusing. I know what they are trying to do – make it appear that citizens have somehow had their best interests stolen by taking authority to run GRU from the city. And of course to help with that they mention the “governor appointed GRU Authority” – that naughty bad boy at it again.

    Secondly it should be remembered there was a reason, actually many of them, why the control of GRU was shifted. Some would say corruption but that is hard to prove. What is not is incompetence and using the GRU as a city bank. For those in doubt I recommend Ed Bielarski’s book “The City that Lost Control.” I was glad to see Ed appointed to the GRU Authority and selected as its chair.

    I have to laugh at Jazzman’s comments. In a previous article where someone mentioned corruption of city officials he got on his high horse about unprovable allegations. Then a few lines later he wrote about Senator Perry being corrupt and taking dirty money. He brings that up again in this article’s comments. Jazz, I’m not aware of the Senator even being investigated let alone indicted or convicted of corruption. Please show me the proof.

    Jazz also thinks that anyone living outside the city but working in the city, especially at Shands, is a parasite. Oh my. Gosh could all those people even find housing if they wanted to live in the city? Maybe we could replace some of them with the downtown ambassadors. They need jobs. There are reasons besides housing why people choose to be “parasites” especially those in Putnam or other counties. High taxes and bad roads for starters but those are county wide problems. Soulless subdivisions, ah what a way with words. Somebody had to approve them (county and/or city commission) and they certainly benefit the city if for no other reason than revenue sharing (sky high property taxes). Those “parasites” also spend a lot of money while in the city.

    Jazz talks about “expert oversight” to fix problems. Didn’t we already have that when the city ran things before? If not, why not?

    Jazz mentions Clay and FPL relative to lack of citizen input and how much better service he got from GRU. I don’t know about FPL and while I am familiar with GRU I am not going to knock their service. I have had Clay as my provider for over 20 years and I will say I am very happy with their low rates and with their outstanding service. But Clay is also a coop. Customers do have considerable input and the management listens.

    Jazz is upset about redistricting and now his reps are so far away. My senator and representative used to be Perry and Clemons and now they are based in two counties to the north. Further away, yes, but how has our power been stripped away? We still have reps, we still get to vote, we still get to call, write or visit out reps. Hyperbole to accompany his hypocrisy.

    And lastly Jazz defends masks by presenting a link to a badly out of date study. As Wishwehadda pointed out there is much newer and more relevant data on the issue and he provides links for those interested. Jazz specifically mentions EGC affiliate Mushfiq Mubarak as one of the authors and therefore presumably an expert on masks. EGC is Yale’s Economic Growth Center. Mubarak is a Bangladeshi economist and professor at Yale. Yes you read that right – economist. Yep, I’m sure going to trust him for medical advice. Incidentally, WHO has cited his research so you know it’s good. HAHAHAHA.

    • Greg, I’m flattered by your obsession with my posts, but unimpressed with the responses.

      1. “..make it appear that citizens have somehow had their best interests stolen by taking authority to run GRU from the city.” Appear? So you are of the opinion that we are all best served by having our decisions made by a highly partisan Governor of another party than our voters? Okkkkkkay.

      2. “..corruption but that is hard to prove. What is not is incompetence and using the GRU as a city bank….” Hard to prove, indeed and you like others have not the slightest evidence of personal enrichment by any of the commissioners. Hey, if you do, bring it! I’m not in love with any of them and want to hear it. GRU is an asset of the city and how they use it’s profits – like Duke or FPL – is their business.

      3. Yes, why wasn’t Sen Perry investigated? There is no question that he received that money from FPL and it was a campaign law violation from a donor with suspect motives about …. wait for it….. electric utilities!! Absent that money and how it was used and Dr Enneking would have won that race, so what does he owe FPL? Here, read again:

      https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article264196761.html

      4. “Parasite” – Yes you’re right, too strong a word and I apologize to any Putnam county Gainesville workers who may have read that. It is still true of course that they depend on Gainesville for their livelihood, and hopefully they spend much of their disposable at our Walmart and Lowe’s, not the ones in Palatka, though except for the lower level jobs at those locations, it doesn’t matter with the big boxes. But how about those so inclined – and they abound on this board – STFU about how they hate the teat they live off of.

      5. Dude, I’m sorry you are not capable of understanding how cutting up a large region in a representative democracy into little pieces affixed to multiple other large ones negates that regions influence. You really need that explained to you? Hey, maybe your interests and opinions dovetail with those in McClenny and not those who live 4 blocks from you, but if so, you’re unique.

      6. See above on masks.

      • The sanctimonious idiot is still reading and making comments but doesn’t want to answer a question.
        Maybe you’ve just got a vivid imagination. Either that or you’re just like Biden, so confused that your mind tends to get lost in all that emptiness.

  • My sisters meeter just had a a reading that said, BEND OVER AND GRAB YOUR ANKLES”?

    • At least she’s a female…my brother just had the same reading back to back months.

  • I am a GRU customer living outside the city limits. I cannot vote on this referendum. This affects me and many other customers who do not live in the city limits. This is wrong on so many levels!! Why do we not get a voice?

    • Yes and as ‘Slice’ mentioned above — to add insult to injury transitory UF students who live on campus (the same campus powered by Duke Energy, not GRU) will be voting on this but if you’ve lived 10’ outside of the city limits for decades and paid for GRU your entire life you will not be able to vote.

      Just wait until all of the transitory workers slated to live and work in UF/the City’s Innovation District between UF and downtown get a vote. Doesn’t matter if they’re only living here a few months leading up to elections…still able to vote. “We’ll give you free housing and a job so long as you vote how you’re told”

    • Because , Greaseman, Fat Harvey , PoePoe, David Arreola District 22 Candidate , Hoochie and Jazzman says so.

      • Duke and FPL (aka NextEra Energy) are privately owned corporations, not public utilities, so this is comparing apples and pencil sharpeners.

        Of course one *could* purchase stock and influence budget priorities in those two cases.

    • The city of Gainesville only cares about getting their hands back on that money. Not you. Not customers. MONEY. Their always full cash cow has disappeared under state control and they hate it.

  • HB 1645 expresses the clear legislative intent that the City Commission take no action whatsoever that would interfere with the transfer of control of GRU. The ballot question could be nothing more than a straw ballot.

  • Too much money at stake. The city of Gainesville knows they cannot get their hands in the pie and then raise rates, if the state maintains control.

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