Blakely: Why doesn’t the City of Alachua stream or publish videos of their Commission meetings?
Letter to the editor
What is incredible is that in the year 2025, the City of Alachua refuses to stream or publish videos of its public meetings. Rather, reading directly off their meeting agendas, “a verbatim record of these proceedings must be made to appeal.”
All of the surrounding cities – not just Gainesville and Alachua County, but even smaller cities such as Newberry, High Springs, and Archer – stream their meetings. It’s pretty low-tech to do so at a basic level (locally, the school board and several of the smaller cities use YouTube).
It appears the City of Alachua Commissioners prefer less public oversight of their activities. And requiring an attendee to provide their own record of the meetings in order to appeal a decision makes people less likely to fight back. It also makes you question their integrity in how they represent their constituents.
The City of Alachua Commissioners do not want your input nor your awareness. It’s either uncomfortable for them or they just don’t care. Remember this next election season.
Joan Blakely, Alachua
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Joan: The only way to change things is to get three new commissioners on the Alachua City Commission. Gib Coerper and all remnants of the Boukari Klan and Clovis Watson MUST be voted off the commission and all their lackies replaced in city hall.
In a week or so (not sure because the lack of transparency city government does not put it on their web site) is a short qualification period for the spring election. Two commission seats are open, including Mayor. Mayor Gibby has overstayed his welcome and must be replaced. Two moderate candidates who do not threaten the Good Ole Boys or the folks with big houses in Turkey Creek must qualify for this election.
The same cartel has run Alachua for the last 50 years. Unless they are replaced, nice letters like yours are a total waste of time. The Alachua Cartel will NEVER live stream city meetings.
This is a legit concern. 10 years ago you could make the argument it was cost prohibitive.
Now, there is zero reason not to stream these meetings and keep a video archive.
It’s also an accountability thing. Let’s say I want to run on my conservative (or progressive record) and you run against me and put together a montage of me doing the exact opposite? That wouldn’t be good at all.
All of the city leaders are on the take!!
It used to be such a quaint little town. But then corruption set in and ruined forever that sleepy Lil town.
Thanks Joan for your letter. This is a serious issue and one easily corrected. The COA has the largest most elaborate commission meeting chambers equipped with a full media room. No less than 20 years ago the meetings were video recorded and posted on the website for viewing by anyone at anytime. There lies the problem: Anyone at anytime. Now the meetings are recorded, but not posted. A person can submit a public record request for the video, and then will have 7 days to download or view. The staff can keep track of who is wanting to know what is going on. The live streaming resistance is not a budget issue. Look at all of the development in Alachua. The tax revenue has ballooned and continues. Keeping the public in the dark is the objective.