“We all just feel a little despondent”: Alachua County Commissioners discuss gun violence, Black History, “so many attacks on so many fronts”
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alachua County Commissioners covered a number of topics during commission comment at the end of their August 8 meeting, including the Thelma Boltin Center, gun violence, Florida’s new African American History curriculum, and “so many attacks on so many fronts to things that we thought we had made so much progress on.”
Thelma Boltin Center
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler was concerned about the proposed partial renovation of the Thelma Boltin Center: “If we can keep a tree in front of Harry’s, seems to me we ought to be able to keep a center like this that’s on the Historic Register.”
Chair Anna Prizzia read a statement from Gainesville City Commissioner Bryan Eastman, stating that there are “fundamental foundational issues related to water that required in-depth change.” The letter said that if the City just repaired the problems, “we will be right back in a few years because of more water damage.” He said the option was recommended by the Historic Preservation Board and keeps “much of the original structure. It keeps the architecture the same and allows us to add theater performances and rooms for yoga and art classes.” Eastman wrote that the “majority of the people in the room” when the commission voted on it “felt it was a good middle ground between building all new and punting with a $600k band-aid.” Prizzia said she hoped to get a more thorough update from staff at the County’s joint meeting with the City Commission on August 28.
Gun Violence Summit
Commissioner Chuck Chestnut said the Gun Violence Summit was “very interesting… But I don’t know how you address these issues without addressing state law in terms of gun control… I thought it was a great first step forward for the community, but a lot more has to be done. One of the things I talked about was that there seems to not be a value for human life anymore. You know, that’s what it boils down to, for me. Folks feel like, ‘You talk trash to me, I’ll shoot you.’… That starts at home… So what can we do?… You can’t really address it unless it starts at home and you teach those values… You learn those values at home, that you respect life; I don’t think that’s happening… I don’t think that’s being passed on like it was passed on to me, you know?”
Commissioner Ken Cornell said he was very impressed by the commitment of the City of Gainesville to the topic of gun violence, as shown by the recent Gun Violence Summit. He said, “This is absolutely one of our community’s priorities, and I’m not sure how our budget really reflects that.” He made a motion to direct staff to prepare a budget analysis of what programs are included in the FY24 budget to address, directly or indirectly, the Gun Violence Public Health Emergency resolution that they passed at their August 1 meeting. Chestnut seconded the motion. Cornell clarified that he didn’t want the Fire Rescue budget but programs: “What are the programs that staff views would have an impact, directly or indirectly, to the resolution that we passed last week?”
Prizzia said what she heard at the Summit was that “older youth engagement and developing programming and productive supportive things for mental health, employment, skills training on conflict, de-escalation and the value of human life, and ways in which we choose peace instead of guns as an option, are the solutions to this problem.”
“You can do all these things for the kids. But if you don’t change the dynamics in their household, you’re really not solving the problem until you solve the problem of what’s going on in a household.” – Commissioner Chuck Chestnut
Chestnut added that a comment that stood out to him at the Summit was from Bishop Stokes: “Okay, you can do all these things for the kids. But if you don’t change the dynamics in their household, you’re really not solving the problem until you solve the problem of what’s going on in a household. I mean, that might be intrusion to some folks. But there needs to be education in there, too. I think if we’re going to educate the child about certain things, gun violence and all of this stuff, it has to start at home, too. And they have to be a part of it, to understand, also, and I think that’s the part that’s missing.”
Wheeler said kids need safe places because “kids don’t always want to go home, and their families that are so entrenched in this culture, you can’t do anything about that. But you can give the kid an escape route, a way out.”
“We’ve left two generations of people behind with our literacy rates–when you look how far back it goes, that we weren’t teaching, particularly African Americans how to read, we have a crisis, and it’s that root causes thing, right?” – Chair Anna Prizzia
Prizzia said, “I think it goes back to our commitment to literacy… We’ve left two generations of people behind with our literacy rates–when you look how far back it goes, that we weren’t teaching, particularly African Americans how to read, we have a crisis, and it’s that root causes thing, right? When you don’t give people education, when you don’t give people affordable housing, when they have to figure out how they’re going to provide for their families, you sort of dig people in, it’s really–structural poverty and a structural inability to achieve goals that they want to achieve, because we’re not providing that education to them in ways that we need to.”
African American History
Chestnut said, “What angers me the most is what’s going on in the state, what’s going on in the country, of seeing Black History is not important–slavery benefited slaves, which is crazy. I mean, it’s just outrageous. When people came from Africa, on the slave ships, they had skills, they had all of that stuff. They knew how to farm. But to say that–that wasn’t beneficial that they came here, like nomads, and they were taught these skills through slavery. And that’s BS… it’s telling the wrong story.”
Chestnut said he was upset with the Urban League and the NAACP: “People are not fighting, like they used to, 20-30 years ago, about equality. And it’s just frustrating to me that everybody in the state of Florida is silent now and don’t know what to do or don’t know what to say. There haven’t been any outcry about this is wrong with what’s going on. And it’s just frustrating to me… Because I don’t know where we’re going as a country now. It’s just sad. And, you know, we’re talking about our youth and talking about violence, we’re talking about all this stuff, but look at all the other stuff that’s going on; it’s not good. It’s just not good. And you know, it’s just, it’s horrible. I’m sorry.”
“I think we all just feel a little despondent“
Prizzia responded, “Don’t be apologizing–it’s absolutely horrifying and it’s terrible, and I think you’re right. I think it’s hard right now because there’s so many attacks on so many fronts to things that we thought we had made so much progress on–you know, rights for blacks, rights for women…”
Chestnut chimed in, “Women’s rights and reproductive rights.”
“We’d moved so far, and I think we felt a moment where we could take a breath and we felt like we were finally starting to make progress. We were finally starting to hear the voices of the people when things like George Floyd happened and we had the uprising and the Black Lives Matter movement, and we were seeing progress around abortion rights. And then all of a sudden, it was just like, it was like the wind was taken out of our sails.” – Chair Anna Prizzia
Prizzia continued, “All of these things! We’d moved so far, and I think we felt a moment where we could take a breath and we felt like we were finally starting to make progress. We were finally starting to hear the voices of the people when things like George Floyd happened and we had the uprising and the Black Lives Matter movement, and we were seeing progress around abortion rights. And then all of a sudden, it was just like, it was like the wind was taken out of our sails. And all the regulations…. regulations even on the environment were turned back to the 50s. I mean, deregulation and the changes that we’re seeing in the way that people are addressing issues of human rights, social justice, and environmental rights is unbelievable, we’ve gone backwards so far.”
She continued, “That’s the thing, it’s being attacked at every level and on every topic. And so it’s really hard, I think, for our organizations to even know how to respond and how to be focused enough to do something about any one of these issues because they’re all huge. And I think we all just feel a little despondent, but I appreciate you bringing it up, and I appreciate you voicing it because we need to talk about it more. And we need to need to keep it on the forefront and not just let it go by.”
Cornell’s motion passed unanimously.
They need start talking about gang violence. Community violence . Mental health violence. You a mom never gave you no home training violence.
That they are so ‘despondent’ makes me SO happy. It means we’re winning!
Well said. When the government is miserable, The People are happy!
Commissioner Chuck Chestnut said the Gun Violence Summit was “very interesting… But I don’t know how you address these issues without addressing state law in terms of gun control…
Why is it so hard to see that it’s NOT the lawbiding citizens that are out here breaking the law and committing these shootings and murders? You can change the law a thousand times criminals are criminals because they commit crimes , crimes are actions that are against the law, THE LAW THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT.
They’re still dancing around the demographic that is responsible here, in this County alone it’s probably 157/1 where shootings are concerned. If they want to continue to blame guns for the crime I’ll continue to blame this wack azz music they’re listening to and trying to emulate.
Chuck really hit the nail on the head.
It’s about values. When we fail to teach our children to respect themselves and other people and replace strong father and mother figures within the family you can expect problems.
Further remove the concept of church or temple-based values and the pillars that hold up society are gone.
We haven’t even talked about the sad shape that education is in…and I’m not even talking about what we teach…but the fact that an education is no longer seen as the escape path from your problems for many people.
Ultimately, you can close the bars early, flood the streets with cops, clean up downtown, but it won’t matter until basic human respect is brought back.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaa…… good grief. Chucky spreads the same lies that VP Kamy did in Jacksonville. Prizzia sums it up in her statement “I think it goes back to our commitment to literacy… We’ve left two generations of people behind with our literacy rates–when you look how far back it goes, that we weren’t teaching, particularly African Americans how to read, we have a crisis, and it’s that root causes thing, right? When you don’t give people education, when you don’t give people affordable housing, when they have to figure out how they’re going to provide for their families, you sort of dig people in, it’s really–structural poverty and a structural inability to achieve goals that they want to achieve, because we’re not providing that education to them in ways that we need to. By doing what you are saying it is just plain racist. To tell a group if people that they are inferior because they can’t read, need help with housing, etc. Your statements infer that black people are not the same as other people and it demonstrates another Democrat racist. She probably a Robert Byrd admirer. GOOD GRIEF
Schools should teach logic, personal finance, and about political unintended consequences , too.
If we all just give up our guns, take every single vaccine, and accept full blame for toxic-masculinity-induced climate change while acknowledging our racism — then we could begin to talk about moving forward…
Again, not one word about enforcing existing laws, prosecute fully, sentence accordingly. Enforce discipline in schools, teach morals and respect for others. The rest is virtue signalling. (doing nothing, just like the school board and city).
Just a note from a middle class working stiff. We are sick of having the alphabet soup shoved in out face every day. Keep your private life private. We are sick of seeing the Democrat politicians, media and clueless people with access to the media, shoving racial division they are causing in our face day after day.
What a bunch of crybabies. But that’s your leadership, Gainesville. They are a sad lot, that’s for sure.
I like what Chuck Chestnut said about valuing life.
I do, too . . .but his position becomes grossly inconsistent when there is a lamenting of the loss of supposed reproductive rights. A culture that celebrates the freedom to snuff out life in the womb is a culture that will struggle to respect life at all levels. Respect of life is much more than life in the womb, but it is not less than that
Problem is, he gets more value from death.
Just more of the forked tongue dialogue from another liberal.
These Bozos need to stick to working for the majority of the people! Talk about snot slinging! Quit trying to gaslight county voters with your “woe is me” drivel!
I have never seen so many small time politicians (of course Chestnut is a career small time politician), deflect from the job at hand! County and City! Boo Hoo! Prizia is such a drama queen along with “Grammy Mary!” Chestnut tries to play the poor “Blackman” but anyone who knows his and Cynthia’s situation knows different! Next election, they will just switch spots on respective councils and continue sucking the taxpayer tit for their livelihoods! How sickening the entire lot is! The only one missing from this group is the gray haired “I wanna be a General” that shut down the County during the Fauci – Democratic Party’s Pandemic! They attacked our country and got away with it, so far!
Quit worrying about gun control! Only law abiding citizens take the time to legally possess, and use, a weapon!
Get the criminals off the streets and keep them off the streets! You want a revolution? Revolt (vote) against the Soros bought lawyers and judges who are releasing the criminals as fast as the police catch them! You already know where they live for the most part! Hint: East of Main Street in Gainesville!
Spend taxpayer money on taking teen repeat offenders out of the “home” and put them into a dorm, enroll them into a trade school! Give them a real fresh start, so they can learn how to support themselves through hard work, and not the generational living off the government addiction plaguing their parents!
There is nothing wrong with the African American History curriculum! You want CRT, want to dig into individual instances of mistreatment of slaves? Make it an elective, but get it approved! That’s how these things work!
Local politicians are too used to doing as they please, for the minority of taxpayers! Of course, if the non liberal taxpayers and voters don’t get energized very soon, no change will come next year!
Grammy Mary reminds me of Edith Bunker.
First thing look at who is doing most of the shootings and where they are located at that should give you a good idea as what needs fixing.
More gun control is not going to help we have laws on the books now that if were in force the judges and DA doing their job and locking up these want a be thugs it would cut down on crime bring back the 10-20-life law no the left wing idiots feel this is too harsh but cry for more gun laws but the blame where it belongs
It’s all Trump’s fault.
Well Chestnut started out okay. But forgot what Malcolm X said
“These are some direct Malcolm X quotes about the Democrats and liberals. 1. The white liberal is the worst enemy to America, and the worst enemy to the black man. 2. The liberal is more deceitful than the conservative. 3. The liberal is more hypocritical than the conservative. 4. Liberal is a nasty name. 5. Liberal represent hypocrisy” Prizia and Wheeler and entire City Comission.
I’m usually not one to imply that I’m smarter than others but in this case, I’m smarter than these knuckleheads. I mean, they just figured out the solution to most of the issues start at home? Compared to these people, I look like an Einstein or Oppenheimer.
If this is what the liberal Democrats in Alachua County voted for, that’s not saying much for their common sense or their smarts either.
Single member districts can’t come soon enough (2024). Chestnut comes closest to recognizing the problem with talk about the “household,” although there’s probably not much of a “household” where the shooters come from. Prizzia is in la-la land if she thinks that shooters won’t be shooters if only they could relax and have a good read. If she’s right, then all the $$ poured into the public schools has failed, and we ought to pull the plug, why spend more on a clearly disastrous system?
They have to look at the declining pop culture over those same 20-30 years. Urban Dems squandered decades by taking the easy way out: excuses and blame for BLM poster boys like Rodney King to George Floyd. Really, telling all America those clowns were the typical Black men, that really helped?
Fact is, 2/3 of Blacks are middle class and Black women are more likely to go to college than white women. They know what the truth is, who to depend on. Politicians are the last to know.
Prizzia again blaming someone else. She needs be a substitute teacher at some of the lower performing schools before she starts blaming the teachers. Put her big mouth to work trying to teach people who don’t have any or much interest in learning. Until she comes out of her bubble and experiences what many teachers do, she needs to shut her trap.
she’s going to lose her seat in the next election anyway
“We all just feel a little despondent”.
Ahww……sad feelings from our liberal leaders.
But….they always draw the line when it comes to punishing the criminals and removing them from society before they do it again.
“We all just feel a little incompetent”
The state attorney’s office needs to have prosecuting attorney’s at these gun violence summit meetings…don’t you think? KaBoom!!!!
Well, at least Chuckie and the Bishop got part of it right.
Learning has to start at home with two parents committed to raising their kids properly.
The street is no place for a neglected child to get an education. Sadly this all falls on deaf ears as 14 year old girls will be having babies by the bus load, and the daddy is no where to be found.
Let’s lay the platitudes aside for a moment and talk local history.
Two middle-class African American communities were born here through organic means in the mid 50s and early 60s with very little help from government(Duval Heights and Lincoln Estates).
They were values based God fearing communities Mr. Chestnut.
So, what happened?
Clue… a slew of impetuous goodwill gestures were rolled out by government
that included placing large subsidized housing projects (Kennedy Homes and Gardenia Gardens) up against those communities that were already busy trying to fend off the inherit inequalities of the system.
Those communities, that fought hard to be functional were completely blind sided by a new insidious threat called ‘culture of dependency’ that eventually hamstrung them in so many ways until they eventually stopped growing.
The takeaway is this, there was a culture prior to government social engineering that is so dearly missed now, and now you have a culture drowning in social engineering that is not well liked; but the truth of the matter is 90% of the policies the BOCC push these days feeds the latter.
SO STOP COMPLAINING!
BINGO!!!
Wide range of opinions expressed here, from Archie Bunker to QANON. A Martian reading this might think this is what most people in Alachua County think, but hey, that’s your little secret.
Soooo.. why do you spend so much time here?? Perhaps the Gainesville Iguana would be more to your liking?
Unlike most of you guys, I like to argue and exchange ideas with those who I disagree with.
You like to worship your so-called elected leaders. We see them as overpaid public servants who are to be held accountable to at least minimum standards. You seem like you would be okay with a strongman to tell you what to do all the time. You might like it in Venezuela or Cuba or parts of the EU.
Very funny stuff coming from someone who cheers on Fat-and-Short Ron who regularly takes over government from those who were elected by citizens. Are you that un self aware of what you have been celebrating?
Ron is the Real Deal. That is the reason the left is terrified of him.
You mean the governor enforcing standards and removing those who are derelict in their duties to the detriment of the people? I hope the City of Gainesville is next.
Must not have too many of those ideas to exchange. Don’t worry, I’m confident Harvey will give you some later.
Look, I’ve been trying to hide out here. Seriously. How you found out I am really a Martian is disturbing. Hey, I’m really only here for your produce.
Or they will come to the conclusion many of us already have…the leaders who were elected to represent us are idiots.
If you hang around long enough you might figure that out.
Yeah, well then elect someone else or join Mr Peabody in Venezuela.
Been trying to but can’t fix stupid. When the majority of voters in Alachua County are as stupid as those they’ve elected the task is that much more difficult.
You’re proof of that.
Enjoy Caracas.
Well at least we know you’re capable of using an encyclopedia. Try to have a nice weekend.
Let the Martian’s read the Gainesville Sun and they’d think we’re all masked germaphobes who need quite rooms to contemplate chopping off our t¡ts and c0¢ks while arguing over whether or not the government should provide tampons for men.
As a victim of a black on white shooting attempt (fortunately marksmanship is not taught in the ghetto), government can talk all they want. But the issue is a culture that refuses to acknowledge basic norms of civilization. And government believes that culture is acceptable. I mean who am I to expect that culture to conform to established civilized standards of behavior.
Dude, putting aside the fact that no government in modern America thinks citizens being shot by other citizens is acceptable, you are living in a place where people owned other people until forced to stop it by the federal government, and then doubled down on oppressing them, including enslavement, withholding education, and not allowing freedom of commerce or travel until again forced to stop it by the federal government. Your outrage is justified, but maybe hold some perspective for what others have gone through.
Ok jazzman, so I guess I should not hold the urban youth responsible because his ancestors 175 years ago were held in slavery while my ancestors were peasants in Europe. Gotcha.
You should absolutely hold the youth responsible for his actions, but calling out his race implies collective guilt, and as I pointed out, there’s already plenty of that going around that I’m sure you don’t want to be held responsible for as a white man. An older black man helped me load something heavy into my truck yesterday with no other motive than being a good guy. You think he should answer for the jerk who attacked you?
No. I do not think the man that helped you should answer for the actions of others of his race no more than a person of should be held responsible due to their race for ” living in a place where people owned other people until forced to stop it by the federal government, and then doubled down on oppressing them, including enslavement, withholding education, and not allowing freedom of commerce or travel until again forced to stop it by the federal government.” Stop it, Jazzman, this is a tired excuse for bad behavior. The trouble is: 1) Government as Parent. 2) The acceptance of Unacceptable behavior.(Thug Culture, and the normalization of viloance) 3) The Vilification of the police.
Clay, our history is not an excuse for bad behavior from anyone and I didn’t say it was. I pointed out that if one wants to racialize bad experiences with others, implying collective guilt, there are legitimate grievances available for others to hang on all of us. Given that many to most of the comments her are racist, you guys are throwing rocks in a glass house, and that resentment well is very deep.
The Shootings and Crime Wave in Woeksville is totally acceptable to the failed and fired Gainesville Mayor and City Commission and Staff . They created it and they Own it. Remove this incompetent bunch and declare Marshall Law right before football season. That should wake the woke up! Shameful , lawless leaders thrive in Alachua County.
Jizz, here’s a little bit of information. Slavery is over in Florida and has been gone for quite some time. Stop beating a dead horse. There are no more black slaves alive in Florida. Most of the black population in this country was born here so they are Americans. They were not sold into the country nor were they kidnapped from another company. They are American. The Gun and Knife violence hat is being committed within the county is mostly B on B crime. You can not dispute it. (Look at the stars) They are killing one another and the only excuse that city and county commissioner come up with is they are uneducated, (cant read/Pizza commissioner) also if you want to through Racism start with her. Her comments singles out the black community as not being the same as everyone else and that is racist.
Bear, I don’t know how old you are, but I am old enough to remember when a black person couldn’t eat in a Gainesville restaurant, sleep in a Gainesville hotel, or go to GHS. Not very long before that slavery still existed in the south with sheriffs arresting blacks for whatever and then giving them over to farmers and business owners to “work it off”. If you imagine that 350 years of truly horrendous history involving destructions of family and culture would be resolved in short order – “hey, dust yourself off, here’s your hat, we’re good, right?” – you’re dreaming. We are still paying and will continue to pay for that national theft for a long time and innocent people will continue to suffer from it. Best for all of us to remember that history for understanding and perspective but cut the tribal resentment, or it will go on much longer.
Once again the issue of Florida Slavery doesnt exist today. The bad old days of the pre seventies is over. And here’s a something. Racism doesnt exist in Gainesville today as you infer. What would all these liberals do if it did. No the real racists of today tell the black community they are failures because they can not read, or learn in school. That without liberal government handouts they can not survive. This is BS. There are a lot of folks that live in the Southeast and Northeast parts of Gainesville because that is where their families started and it’s a family community with deep rich history. The issue at hand is black people are violently dying at the hands of other black people. (Stats dont lie) I am sick of these city and county commissioners telling me that my extended family is inferior because of skin color and can not make it without their interference with our lives. Black folks need to stop this BS about going to violence over name calling, drug territory, and hatred of their fellow man. The end result if things dont change is wiping out a culture.
Racism exists in most of us if it is fed and this comment board is a prime example of racism in Gainesville today. Crime follows poverty.
Perhaps you have not noticed, but most people in America are employed by small businesses, not Fortune 500s, or institutions, so AA only effects a small number of available jobs. Guess who owns most of the small businesses – white people, most of whom are probably not racist, but who hire nephew Jimmy, Jimmy’s friend Brian, or other guys who they can identify with and want to mentor to success. Given this fact, and that blacks have not been on the ladder long enough to accumulate the family nest egg many whites have, is it a wonder that blacks struggle to get better jobs and to move up that ladder? And do you resent programs intended to give a 1st lift to those stuck behind? Apparently.
Sure, if black families put knowledge and schooling on a pedestal like Asians and Jews, they’d do more to help themselves than government programs, but they barely have families and they don’t – most whites don’t either, but Uncle Bob has a brake shop. In the meantime, we – America – broke it and we bought it. 250 years of slavery and another 100 of subjugation does not come for free, nor the wealth and infrastructure that slave and low wage labor helped create. How about waking up and recognize our history instead of pretending everything turned to unicorns with MLK’s “Dream” speech. No, we are not individually guilty of the past, but we can’t escape it’s legacy and what needs to be fixed.
Funny line from Chris Rock stand up to help keep it in perspective:
“None of you white guys would trade places with a black man in America like me ……….. and I’m rich!”
How much money did you donate to BLM, Jazzman? You sound like a real sucker, especially your fanboy love affair with the local politicians.
Another excuse.
Where have we seen that before.
I sure hope you fired back and had good gun control you hit the POS
I thought they didn’t know what a woman was, they easily confuse a male as a female, will support males beating women in women’s sports, allow men in women’s bathrooms and yet they talk about protecting women’s rights?
“One of the things I talked about was that there seems to not be a value for human life anymore. ”
Gee Chuck, do you you think that is because we teach kids as young as 12 about aborting and killing defenseless children in the womb? If you can murder defenseless children I am not sure you can teach people the value of a life.
Chestnut said, “What angers me the most is what’s going on in the state, what’s going on in the country, of seeing Black History is not important–slavery benefited slaves, which is crazy. I mean, it’s just outrageous. ”
This is a lie and they keep pushing this over and over. No matter how many times they say it, it will never be true.
LBJ hijacked MLK’s torch of non-violence. That’s the root of the problem.