Letter: Chestnut is the right choice for City Commission
Like many Gainesville residents, I have expressed concerns for the hardships faced by ordinary people who are struggling to afford housing and pay their bills so they can continue to live in Gainesville. Low-income households, hardworking Gainesville families, and local businesses are being adversely affected by the poor governance, fiscal mismanagement, and dysfunctional conduct of the Gainesville City Commission. Unfortunately, the City Commission continues to ignore the valid concerns of citizens and our neighborhoods on these important issues while continuing to increase GRU rates and property taxes. How much affordable housing could have been built with the $32 million in ARPA funding that the City Commission is squandering? Why are GRU residential electric rates 35% higher and the fuel adjustment increase nearly 3 times higher than FPL?
We need less politics and more common sense, better decision-making, and more fiscal responsibility on the City Commission. As a candidate, Cynthia Chestnut has demonstrated that she is committed to listening to GRU customers and neighborhoods who are being disenfranchised and ignored by the current City Commission.
I believe that Cynthia Chestnut is the right choice to help bring stability, leadership, and good governance back to the City Commission. Please join me in supporting her.
Nathan A. Skop, Esq.
Gainesville, Florida
Mr. Skop is a local attorney and former commissioner on the Florida Public Service Commission
The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com.
While I frequently agree with Mr. Skop, he couldn’t be more wrong on this one. We can not fix the problems of today using the same thinking that was used to get us there in the first place! No more former politicians whose ways of thinking caused these issues. New ideas and new ways of thinking are desperately needed and another Chestnut politician is a step into the past, not a step towards a better future.
The City of Gainesville struggles with all its desires to change a persons life by offering aid rather than opportunity. One is a pacifier while the other is a long term engagement in self respect and a sustainable career path. I hope that a future, more inclined candidate can be found to focus on more realistic and fulfilling aspects of life in Gainesville.
Nathan Skop is a very smart & knowledgeable person, especially regarding GRU & electric utility policy!
We, GRU customers, are very fortunate to have Mr Skop highlighting the challenges facing GRU such as its massive debt!
Mr Skop may be wrong on this matter but his track record is an almost perfect score being right! So probability is in Mr Skop’s favor!
Both Mr Skop & Dr Kim Tanzer, urban design expert, have endorsed Cynthia Chestnut!
I’m following the advice of these 2 very smart, knowledgable citizens!
All I hear about Howland is that a bunch of people are so excited to have someone ‘new’ that they are Howlin’ at the moon. He can run again in the Fall. I’m voting for Cynthia.
She has made a living on the public dole. Time for some new thinking. Life is getting more and more expensive with her and other Dems running the show.
Nah, she has mostly always been a hospital administrator, and she hasn’t held public office in like a decade. The fact that someone would base his campaign on I’M NEW NEW NEW!!!! Look at me everybody!!! I’M NEW!!!!!! just shows what a dim bulb he is.
…Todd Chase endorses
Howland and what did he do when he was on the CC? …he’s a Rhino and now pedaling real estate.
Chesnut is a good lady and allowed citizens to speak
When she was chair of the county commission…
I’m voting Chesnut.
I’m voting for Matt Howland. He’s not an inexperienced rookie. I’ve had experience dealing with Queen Chestnut in the past. Ego’s are no longer needed in our local government.
I think Chestnut is more moderate and will be able
To keep the lefties in line…she’ll bring some class
Back to the CC…
Chestnut is pandering to the “neighborhood rights” crowd who understandably resent the high value redevelopment in once Black hoods near UF and downtown. Those areas are a gold mine for property owners, but heirs could not leverage that. Luckily the GCRA has a program to help. She’s also pandering to the eastside grocery store desert, but that ignores Walmart. Yes, there’s a desert further east, but shoplifting crime is the biggest barrier for grocers. Only more profitable retailers can survive in such areas of any city, not just here. Teach your kids not to steal, and tell them CRT is no excuse.