Poe rushes out statement on tragedy to push his preferred talking points

OPINION

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

Yesterday, without waiting for information about the identity of the Boulder shooter, Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe rushed to put out a statement that used the tragedy to push his preferred talking points on “gun violence, racism, and toxic masculinity”:

“In the span of one week, we have witnessed two brutal mass shootings, resulting in the murder of 18 souls. The Gainesville community mourns with our brothers and sisters in Atlanta and Boulder. While we will hold those impacted by these events in our prayers, we must also work to change the systems that allow them to happen in the first place. We must actively work to end gun violence, racism, and toxic masculinity, and make our communities safe and welcoming to all people.” 

Now that we know the shooter was an anti-Trump Muslim whose brother said he is mentally ill (as opposed to “racist” or brimming with “toxic masculinity”), Poe is silent. He is also silent about the frequent gun violence in Gainesville, including the killing of a young woman and her baby in December. Those murders didn’t fit his narrative that white people are evil and racist and those who legally purchase guns are a threat to the community. Poe frequently mentions national tragedies from the dais but rarely mentions local crime victims.

There is also no evidence that the Atlanta shootings were racist. USA Today has a story about “red flags” associated with those businesses that may tie them to sex trafficking and prostitution. According to the story, “The suspect in the fatal shootings at three Georgia spas has told authorities he blamed the massage businesses for providing an outlet for his addiction to sex.”

As mayor of a small city, Mayor Poe should be focusing on the core services that local governments are supposed to provide: law enforcement, emergency response, and infrastructure like roads and sewage. The City of Gainesville also provides utility services to its residents (and surrounding residents). Instead of talking about gun laws (which City leaders have no authority to change), racism (which is in people’s hearts and not controlled by government), and toxic masculinity (an entirely made-up concept), Poe should be pushing for Gainesville Regional Utilities to reduce rates and for City government to reduce property taxes so Gainesville’s citizens can focus on providing for their own families instead of looking to government for financial support.

Poe’s statement is typical of his need to jump on the latest national talking points without waiting for facts, and the city commission’s agenda items are similarly aimed at pushing a progressive agenda while ignoring the real problems in Gainesville.

Citizens of Gainesville and Alachua County, you need to start paying attention to progressive initiatives like “inclusive” zoning, universal basic income, “equity,” a City-owned grocery store, “Vision Zero,” “Zero Waste,” and “100% renewable energy resources by 2045” that are being pursued with your money. It’s time to demand that the mayor and city commissioners focus on providing core services in an effective, efficient, and accountable manner. When you don’t speak up, you allow the supporters of these initiatives to pursue their priorities with your money.

Local residents are starting to show up at school board meetings and county commission meetings to let elected officials know they are unhappy with their policies. If you think that the Gainesville City Commission’s priorities should also be refocused, join your fellow citizens and speak up.