HomeOpinionLetters to the editorMartinez: GRU Authority should add more public comment, stream all meetings on Cox Channel 12

Martinez: GRU Authority should add more public comment, stream all meetings on Cox Channel 12

November 12, 2023

Letter to the editor

I urge GRU customers to attend the GRU Authority workshops and meetings; while the recent November 1 meeting was streamed on YouTube and the Authority plans to stream future meetings, there are no plans to stream the November 15 workshop.

Please take a look at the email I sent to members of the GRU Authority on November 11.

Dear GRU Authority Members,

The city has a long history of allowing public comment at the end of workshops and MULTIPLE opportunities for public comment were provided at regular City Commission meetings until Mr. Lauren Poe became Mayor and City Commissioner Harvey Ward got elected.

After that, with the help of other members on the Gainesville City Commission, they began to REDUCE opportunities for citizens to speak DURING City meetings/workshops.

The newly-appointed GRU Authority is INDEPENDENT and does not  have to follow in the footsteps of the City Commission with their restrictive guidelines/rules for public comment.

Residents who take the time to attend these important workshops add VALUE and need to be heard during these meetings – even if it’s at the end of the workshop.

Also, for the sake of fiscal responsibility and neutrality, I ask that you hold your meetings and workshops in the Jack Durrance Auditorium located on the second floor of the Alachua County Administration Building (12 SE 1st Street, Gainesville) AFTER 5 p.m., when there is ample parking available for residents. 

The County Administration Building is ALREADY set up to air these meetings/workshops LIVE on Cox Channel 12, as well as streaming. 

Residents, especially those living on the east side, are used to watching these meetings live on Cox Channel 12 and continue to ask this board to air them live on Cox Channel 12 as well as streaming.

Debbie Martinez, Gainesville

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  • I totally agree with you. Customers of GRU should be allowed to speak. After all, they claim that GRU belongs to the customers.I’m

  • Streaming on Cox 12 implies every GRU customer has Cox as the Internet service provider. GRU provides utility services throughout the County beyond the limits of Gainesville.

    Streaming on YouTube allows anyone to watch that has Internet access, wether it is cellular data, another cable company or a telecom provider such as ATT.

    As for public comments, not everyone can attend a meeting or workshop in person; lack of transportation, schedule conflicts or other reasons. Zoom or other virtual meeting technology is a better choice in allowing public comments for every GRU customer throughout its various Service Territories beyond the City of Gainesville limits.

    • Still requires staff. Are citizens allowed to use their phones to live stream on their own, to a public outlet?

  • Didn’t the city commissioners say not too long ago that they will stop streaming meetings? Typical demonrat.

  • City and County meetings have BOTH – airing meetings LIVE on Cox Channel 12 and streaming LIVE on FB etc.

    That covers everyone – those who are used to watching and/or recording the meetings LIVE on Cox Channel 12 – AND for those who only have streaming capabilities.

    This is not about either or – it’s about providing BOTH that has been requested from day one – but for some reason – it appears GRU/City staff and one of the GRU governing board members either cannot get it done or does not want to get it done.

    Of course not everyone attends city and county meetings – for many reasons – and that is why many organizations ALSO have call-in phone lines as well as Cox Channel 12 and other streaming options.

    That is what transparency looks like.

    Next, I believe, in order for this board to be EFFECTIVE, the board members need get an independent GRU/GM to serve on the board and independent Attorney – that have not or are not currently trying to shutdown the new INDEPENDENT governing board who have EXPERIENCE in fixing a utility as FINANCIALLY BROKEN as ours.

  • But isn’t the Video Dept “short staffed” so conveniently, still? I’m sure the GCC will put that at the bottom of the to-do list. Their 3% donors do NOT want the other 97% to get a clue.

  • The fact that it is “blacked out” will likely draw more attention and coverage. But it might be time to lay off the hysterical public comments for a while and let them do their work.

    • Well said. The Authority needs to focus on their job. The public can make their thoughts known through an assortment of ways that don’t waste valuable time. Email, letters, letters to the editor, make an appointment etc. To many of comments are just ridiculous and are made by people who have the need to promote their agendas and/or their need for revalance.

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