The Gainesville Iguana September 2012 Vol. 26, Issue 9 Security Overkill in Tampa at RNC Protesters at the Republican National Convention in Tampa on Aug. 27-30 were met by a militarized city. Chants addressed issues head-on: “This is what $50 million dollars looks like!”* and “Take off that riot gear, there ain’t no riot here!” Protests were peaceful and diminished in size by a hurricane threat that canceled buses from around the country. Despite the police's overwhelming numbers and equipment, relations were largely cordial; one activist reported cops clapping along as marchers sang “Solidarity Forever.” Participants who attended the protests will give a report-back at the Civic Media Cen- ter on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of Rob Shaw. * $50 million is the price tag for this authoritarian overkill, with another $50 million spent for the Democratic Convention in Charlotte Sept. 4-6. Noam Chomsky: Too big to fail INSIDE ... Publisher's Note...... 3 The following is the conclusion of an recovered from the devastation of the Civic Media Center Events. . . .9 article by Noam Chomsky from Tom- war and decolonization took its ago- Dispatch.com and reprinted by Com- nizing course. By the early 1970s, the Directory...... 10-11 monDreams.org on Aug. 13. The entire U.S. share of global wealth had de- Monthly Event Calendar. . .12-13 article is highly recommended with a lot clined to about 25 percent, and the Ask Mr. Econ ...... 14 of historical background, but space only industrial world had become tripo- General Election Information. . 16 allowed the last third to be run. lar: North America, Europe, and East Asia (then Japan-based). Oral History Program . . . . . 17 ... The peak of U.S. power was after Alachua County Budget . . . . .20 World War II, when it had literally half There was also a sharp change in the Election Resources ...... 21 the world’s wealth. But that naturally U.S. economy in the 1970s, towards fi- declined, as other industrial economies See CHOMSKY p. 2 CHOMSKY from p. 1 That has been the regular process the participating countries. since the Reagan years, each crisis nancialization and export of production. As NAFTA was rammed through A variety of factors converged to create more extreme than the last -- for the public population, that is. Right Congress over popular objection in a vicious cycle of radical concentration 1994, Clinton also initiated the mili- of wealth, primarily in the top fraction now, real unemployment is at De- pression levels for much of the pop- tarization of the U.S.-Mexican bor- of 1 percent of the population -- mostly der, previously fairly open. It was CEOs, hedge-fund managers, and the ulation, while Goldman Sachs, one of the main architects of the current understood that Mexican campesi- like. That leads to the concentration of nos cannot compete with highly political power, hence state policies to crisis, is richer than ever. It has just quietly announced $17.5 billion in subsidized U.S. agribusiness, and increase economic concentration: fis- that Mexican businesses would not cal policies, rules of corporate gover- compensation for last year, with CEO Lloyd Blankfein receiving a survive competition with U.S. mul- nance, deregulation, and much more. tinationals, which must be granted Meanwhile the costs of electoral cam- $12.6 million bonus while his base salary more than triples. “national treatment” under the mis- paigns skyrocketed, driving the parties labeled free trade agreements, a into the pockets of concentrated capital, It wouldn’t do to focus attention on privilege granted only to corporate increasingly financial: the Republicans such facts as these. Accordingly, pro- persons, not those of flesh and blood. reflexively, the Democrats -- by now paganda must seek to blame others, Not surprisingly, these measures led what used to be moderate Republicans in the past few months, public sector to a flood of desperate refugees, and -- not far behind. workers, their fat salaries, exorbitant to rising anti-immigrant hysteria by Elections have become a charade, run pensions, and so on: all fantasy, on the the victims of state-corporate poli- by the public relations industry. Af- model of Reaganite imagery of black cies at home. mothers being driven in their limou- ter his 2008 victory, Obama won an Much the same appears to be happen- award from the industry for the best sines to pick up welfare checks -- and other models that need not be men- ing in Europe, where racism is proba- marketing campaign of the year. Ex- bly more rampant than in the U.S. One ecutives were euphoric. In the busi- tioned. We all must tighten our belts; almost all, that is. can only watch with wonder as Italy ness press they explained that they complains about the flow of refugees had been marketing candidates like Teachers are a particularly good target, from Libya, the scene of the first post- other commodities since Ronald as part of the deliberate effort to de- World War I genocide, in the now- Reagan, but 2008 was their greatest stroy the public education system from liberated East, at the hands of Italy’s achievement and would change the kindergarten through the universities Fascist government. Or when France, style in corporate boardrooms. The by privatization -- again, good for the still today the main protector of the 2012 election is expected to cost $2 wealthy, but a disaster for the popula- brutal dictatorships in its former colo- billion, mostly in corporate funding. tion, as well as the long-term health of nies, manages to overlook its hideous Small wonder that Obama is selecting the economy, but that is one of the ex- atrocities in Africa, while French Pres- business leaders for top positions. ternalities that is put to the side insofar ident Nicolas Sarkozy warns grimly of as market principles prevail. While wealth and power have nar- the “flood of immigrants” and Marine Le Pen objects that he is doing noth- rowly concentrated, for most of the Another fine target, always, is immi- ing to prevent it. I need not mention population real incomes have stagnat- grants. That has been true throughout Belgium, which may win the prize for ed and people have been getting by U.S. history, even more so at times of what Adam Smith called “the savage with increased work hours, debt, and economic crisis, exacerbated now by injustice of the Europeans.” asset inflation, regularly destroyed by a sense that our country is being taken the financial crises that began as the away from us: the white population The rise of neo-fascist parties in much regulatory apparatus was dismantled will soon become a minority. One can of Europe would be a frightening phe- starting in the 1980s. understand the anger of aggrieved in- nomenon even if we were not to recall dividuals, but the cruelty of the policy what happened on the continent in None of this is problematic for the is shocking. very wealthy, who benefit from a gov- the recent past. Just imagine the reac- ernment insurance policy called “too Who are the immigrants targeted? In tion if Jews were being expelled from big to fail.” The banks and investment Eastern Massachusetts, where I live, France to misery and oppression, and firms can make risky transactions, many are Mayans fleeing genocide then witness the non-reaction when with rich rewards, and when the sys- in the Guatemalan highlands carried that is happening to Roma, also vic- tem inevitably crashes, they can run out by Reagan’s favorite killers. Oth- tims of the Holocaust and Europe’s to the nanny state for a taxpayer bail- ers are Mexican victims of Clinton’s most brutalized population. out, clutching their copies of Fried- NAFTA, one of those rare govern- In Hungary, the neo-fascist party Job- rich Hayek and Milton Friedman. ment agreements that managed to harm working people in all three of See CHOMSKY p. 4

page 2, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida From the publisher ... Subscribe! Election: pivotal nationally, locally The Gainesville Iguana By Joe Courter is Gainesville's progressive events calendar & newsletter. Okay, the primary elections are behind us, and come November the voting begins. Individuals: $15 (or more if you can) This election is pivotal on both the national Low/No income: What you can and local levels. With the selection of Paul Groups: $20 Ryan as Romney’s VP, this presidential race Iguana, c/o CISPLA may be a referendum on how government P.O. Box 14712 should work in America; in the words of Gainesville, FL 32604 Ryan, individualism vs. collectivism. Comments, suggestions, contributions This Ayn Rand inspired libertarian ideology (written or financial) are welcome. To has been bubbling, some might say festering, list your event or group, contact us at: below the surface of American politics for decades. It opposed FDR’s (352) 378-5655 New Deal from the get-go, and still seethes at the welfare system, and any [email protected] thought of a national healthcare system. It hates regulation on business, be it www.gainesvilleiguana.org banking, energy or commerce. It wants privatization of the public sector, from facebook.com/gainesvilleiguana government programs like Social Security to drilling by corporations for oil and gas in our National Parks. The Iguana has been published Its adherents have been very successful in using their money and connections monthly or bimonthly by volunteers to get their ideology into the mainstream, creating the Heritage Society and the for 25 years. Circulation for this Cato Institute and many other “think tanks,” which the docile corporate media issue is 4,500. has come to accept as the third voice in our political debate. It can generate Publisher: huge campaign donations from the rich and corporations because its policies, Joe Courter if enacted, will save and make them even MORE money. Editors Emeritus: This is a wake-up call that brings to mind the old bumper sticker/button slogan, Jenny Brown “If You’re Not Outraged, You’re Not Paying Attention.” Mark Piotrowski What we have, unfortunately, is a society that is utterly addicted to distractions, disconnected from the political process and in some cases reality itself, such as Editorial Board: the denial of evolution or the statistical data on climate change. Pierce Butler Joe Courter We’ve all been aware of the attacks on women’s reproductive rights, but now Beth Grobman we have this Representative from Missouri stating that there are different kinds Jessica Newman of rape, and in forcible rape (the word he actually meant to use, not “legitimate” Production work & assistance: rape), women have this biological power to resist getting pregnant, and that Hillary Allison these pregnancies are rare. Justine Mara Anderson I would say unbelievable, but the Republican Party platform, election cycle Joye Barnes after cycle election, would deny even rape victims access to abortion. Rep. Robbie Czopek Akin is not an outlier; he is mainstream, side by side with Paul Ryan. Ideology Diana Moreno trumps reality in these peoples’ minds. Karrie Lyons-Munkittrick Emily Sparr “Another World is Possible” is a slogan from the World Social Forum. It was seen as an inspiring call for a better world of social justice and sensible Distribution: environmental policies. But there are other worlds possible, too. Bill Gilbert, Joe Courter, Marcus Dodd Please, if you have access to the Internet, watch, listen or read the program on DemocracyNow.org from Aug. 22 with author Craig Unger on his new book Authors & photographers have sole credit, responsibility for, and rights to their work. “Boss Rove.” Karl Rove has a vision of another world, a one-party USA, and Cover drawing of iguana by Daryl Har- it is coming our way unless we wake up and exert our own vision. Please pay rison. Printed on recycled paper. attention, and get outraged, informed, organized and active. D www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 3 CHOMSKY from p. 2 of allowing Germans to immigrate, because they were too swarthy; Swedes as well. Into the twentieth century, bik gained 17 percent of the vote in national elections, per- ludicrous myths of Anglo-Saxon purity were common in haps unsurprising when three-quarters of the population the U.S., including among presidents and other leading feels that they are worse off than under Communist rule. We figures. Racism in the literary culture has been a rank ob- might be relieved that in Austria the ultra-right Jörg Haider scenity; far worse in practice, needless to say. It is much won only 10 percent of the vote in 2008 -- were it not for the easier to eradicate polio than this horrifying plague, which fact that the new Freedom Party, outflanking him from the regularly becomes more virulent in times of economic dis- far right, won more than 17 percent. It is chilling to recall tress. that, in 1928, the Nazis won less than 3 percent of the vote in Germany. I do not want to end without mentioning another exter- nality that is dismissed in market systems: the fate of the In England the British National Party and the English De- species. Systemic risk in the financial system can be rem- fence League, on the ultra-racist right, are major forces. edied by the taxpayer, but no one will come to the rescue (What is happening in Holland you know all too well.) if the environment is destroyed. That it must be destroyed In Germany, Thilo Sarrazin’s lament that immigrants are is close to an institutional imperative. Business leaders destroying the country was a runaway best-seller, while who are conducting propaganda campaigns to convince Chancellor Angela Merkel, though condemning the book, the population that anthropogenic global warming is a lib- declared that multiculturalism had “utterly failed”: the eral hoax understand full well how grave is the threat, but Turks imported to do the dirty work in Germany are fail- they must maximize short-term profit and market share. If ing to become blond and blue-eyed, true Aryans. they don’t, someone else will. Those with a sense of irony may recall that Benjamin This vicious cycle could well turn out to be lethal. To see Franklin, one of the leading figures of the Enlightenment, how grave the danger is, simply have a look at the new warned that the newly liberated colonies should be wary Congress in the U.S., propelled into power by business funding and propaganda. Almost all are climate deniers. They have already begun to cut funding for measures that might mitigate environmental catastrophe. Worse, some are true believers; for example, the new head of a sub- committee on the environment who explained that global warming cannot be a problem because God promised Noah that there will not be another flood. If such things were happening in some small and re- mote country, we might laugh. Not when they are hap- pening in the richest and most powerful country in the world. And before we laugh, we might also bear in mind that the current economic crisis is traceable in no small measure to the fanatic faith in such dogmas as the ef- ficient market hypothesis, and in general to what Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, 15 years ago, called the “reli- gion” that markets know best -- which prevented the central bank and the economics profession from taking THINKING ABOUT THE MILITARY? notice of an $8 trillion housing bubble that had no basis MAKE AN at all in economic fundamentals, and that devastated the economy when it burst. INFORMED CHOICE. ADVICE FROM VETERANS As long as the general population is passive, apathetic, ON MILITARY SERVICE diverted to consumerism or hatred of the vulnerable, then the powerful can do as they please, and those who survive AND RECRUITING PRACTICES will be left to contemplate the outcome. D A Resource Guide For Young People Considering Enlistment http://www.afn.org/~vetpeace/ Gainesville Chapter 14 D

page 4, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida Adena Springs Ranch Consumptive Use Permit update By Karen Ahlers Their presentation sounded like they “We share these concerns and wel- are starting to hear us, but in no way come a thorough evaluation of Adena’s Adena Springs Ranch tried to head diminishes our resolve to pursue in- water needs and a valid assessment of us off at the pass last month. Adena dependent review of their proposed the likely impacts of their withdraw- representatives provided a “public consumptive use permit. als,” said attorney John R. Thomas meeting” at Church at the Springs in The St. Johns River Water Manage- who represents private citizens who are Ocala to announce they will reduce ment District has received thousands spearheading an independent review their water permit request from 13.26 of letters and petitions expressing con- of the permit. “No permit should be is- million gallons per day to 5.3 MGD. cern or objection. See ADENA SPRINGS p. 6

Vote: November 6, 2012

VOTE NOV. 6

www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 5 ADENA SPRINGS from p. 5 tricts,” said Dr. Bob Knight, director of standing Florida Waters," which under Florida Law and the Federal Clean sued without a complete assessment the Florida Spring Institute in Gaines- Water Act must afford the highest level and plan to protect and restore Silver ville. of protection. Springs, the Silver River and the Ock- Long-term flow in Silver Springs is lawaha River Outstanding Florida Wa- down more than 30 percent, or more “Sadly, Florida has not delivered on the ters.” than 160 MGD, and nobody agrees protection promise, and these OFWs are in severe decline from overpump- Ranch manager Mark Roberts said why. While rainfall patterns play a ing of groundwater resources and inad- less water would be used for the grass- role, Adena speculates the water-bear- equate management and regulation of fed beef because the cattle would only ing limestone collapsed on itself, the fertilizers and animal wastes,” Thomas be at the Ft. McCoy property for six District thinks submerged vegetation is said. months before being slaughtered on- clogging flow out of the springs down- site. Roberts was non-committal about river, and objectors say data show the Each of these OFWs has been deter- where the herd would be raised for the overuse of groundwater is responsible. mined to be impaired by excessive first 18 months of their lives or about The District has probably been telling nitrate concentrations, and the State the water needs at other locations. Adena they could not grant a permit for recently released a draft study for Sil- ver Springs calling for all sources of A team of advocates, presented by PR anything like 13 MGD from the Silver nitrate to be reduced 79 percent. This Director Honey Rand, argued that 5.3 Springs springshed. Even reduced to is no time to reduce flows and increase MGD withdrawals would cause only 5.3 MGD, it’s just way too much ad- nitrate loading. a small reduction in aquifer levels and ditional water lost to the ecosystem. the ranch would cause only a small in- The Adena PR Team was unable to Funding is needed for a possible le- crease in nutrient concentrations in the answer many questions about their gal battle. Donations can be sent to groundwater because Adena would nutrient management plan. Adena per- the Southern Legal Counsel at www. employ best management practices in mitting attorney Ed de la Parte asked southernlegal.org or by mail to 1229 handling cattle wastes and fertilizer. the audience to trust the process at NW 12th Ave., Gainesville, Fla., 32601. “There is no additional groundwater to SJRWMD. For more information contact John R. be taken — it has already been over- Silver Springs, the Silver River and Thomas at jrthomasesq@earthlink. committed to existing permit holders the nearby Ocklawaha River Aquatic net or Karen Ahlers at ahlers.karen@ by Florida’s water management dis- Preserve are legally designated “Out- gmail.com. D

page 6, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida Reportback: National Veterans for Peace Conference in Miami By Brian Moore, Gainesville Veterans for Peace Member tion were excited to reunite and have some laughs, newer members and guests were eager to meet some of these leg- Veterans for Peace (VFP) held its 27th national conven- endary characters who have devoted their lives to working tion this year in Miami. The focus was on U.S. military in- for peace over the past decades. volvement in Latin America with the theme “Liberating the Americas: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean.” Among them was Gainesville’s Chapter 14 President Scott Speakers included author Alice Walker, Father Roy Bour- Camil, who was frequently approached to commemorate geois and TV host Phil Donahue. his dedication to educating the public and to recall his past experiences. He was also interviewed for a film documen- Also speaking at the workshops were familiar names like tary on longtime VFP member and friend S. Brian Wilson Col. Ann Wright, David Swanson, Medea Benjamin, Iraq who sat on train tracks in 1987 to stop the transportation of War resisters Camilo Mejia and Victor Agosto, Carlos and explosives to Central America. Melida Arredondo, Marlene Bastien and DeAnne Gra- ham. They participated in presentations on Haiti, Hondu- Wilson was run over by the train only to survive and bring ras, Guatemala, a panel on G.I. resistance, a Hiroshima/ public attention to what later became known as the Iran/ Nagasaki commemoration and much more. You can see Contra scandal. video of the workshops at vfpnationalconvention.org. The convention was filled with stories similar to Wilson’s, We met with many other members to discuss current issues like Col. Ann Wright refusing to participate in an unjust including drone warfare, depleted uranium, Agent Orange, war, Father Roy being imprisoned, or the countless fasts the military industrial complex, the war on drugs and U.S. foreign policy in South America. See VETS p. 8 Many of the members present in Miami worked together in the ‘80s. In Central America, VFP visited Nicaragua, Gua- temala and Honduras. VFP was invited back to help monitor the elections of 1990. While older members of the organiza-

www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 7 VETS from p. 7 against whistleblow- and marches that many members have ers, no new war in participated in. Iran and many other important issues. But there was concern for the lack of new members from our most recent During the final wars. Leah Bolger, VFP’s first woman dinner, two WWII president, suggested that younger vet- veterans were com- erans are in a much needed recovery memorated with period while some Vietnam veterans standing ovations think it’s a different environment today for their lifelong with less public outrage over the wars commitment to peace. Many oth- or at least less media coverage. Gainesville Vets for Peace members pose with Col. er members were Ann Wright at the national convention in Miami Along with an effort to attract the newer praised for their last month. Photo courtesy of Vets for Peace. generation of veterans, many topics work in and out of were discussed in the lively debates to- the organization. wards the end of the convention. With Author Alice Walker read a beauti- in. Veterans are firsthand witnesses an opportunity for members to weigh in ful poem. Father Roy spoke about of many of problems we face and can on the topics, the discussions were very his commitment to equal rights for set examples for educating the pub- thorough and passionate as they debat- women in the church and getting lic. This year’s convention in Miami ed future international chapters, voting countries to pull their troops out of solidifies VFP’s commitment to that procedures, by-laws and resolutions. conflicts around the world. struggle. We were happy to be visited by Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate Although member participation Veterans and supporters can learn more for U.S. President. Stein visited with might have been down this year at by going to the VFP website at www. us for two days speaking with all of the convention, there was no lack veteransforpeace.org and contacting us who had questions. It was refresh- of optimism moving forward. Leah local chapters. For more information ing to hear a presidential candidate that Bolger and her staff seem confident on the Gainesville chapter, visit www. actually cares about and supports our that membership will begin to grow afn.org/~vetpeace/ or email gvlvfp@ issues like ending these wars, ending at a faster pace especially because earthlink.net. D the drone murders, ending the attacks of the volatile times we are living WGOT 94.7 LP FM Gainesville's Progressive Community Radio Station WGOT is on the air: Sunday: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. - 5 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. & 8 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday: 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. Check out wgot.org for upcoming events and a detailed schedule. WGOT-LP is now streaming using Shoutcast. We are currently only streaming during our on-air schedule but are considering coming up with an off-air schedule to extend our reach. You can find the WGOT stream under the Shoutcast directory. To listen from your iOS, Android, or Blackberry mobile device, you can use any radio streaming apps such as Tune In. We are now listed in iTunes Radio under the Eclectic category. Direct feed at www. wgot.org/listen/. 94.7 is a Low Power FM station with a transmitter at NW 39th Ave and I-75, so best reception is within 5 miles, but many people are able to pick up the station in their car. Questions? Comments? E-mail us at [email protected].

Democracy NOW! airs Mon.-Fri. 1p.m. & Mon.-Thur. 8p.m.

page 8, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida Civic Media Center Events - SEPTEMBER 2012 Every Monday: Documentary Film, 7pm Thursday, 9/20: Radical Rush at Santa Fe's Oaks Grove, Every Thursday: Weekly Volunteer Meeting, 5:30pm 11am to 2pm Poetry Jam, 9pm Thursday, 9/20: Green Party meeting, 7pm Saturday, 9/8: Munchkin!, a family-friendly curious card Friday, 9/21: Radical Rush Social, join us for a party with game, 3pm to 6pm masks and delicious food, 8pm to Midnight Monday, 9/10: CMC Mario Kart 64 Video Game Tourna- Saturday, 9/22: Anarchademics and the Edible Plant Project ment Fundraiser at 1982, 7:30pm present “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Monday, 9/10: Stonewall Democrats present “Outrage” a Maathai,” a biographical portrait of Maathai, documentary discussing closeted politicians a Nobel Peace Prize winner from Kenya with who lobby for anti-gay legislation in the community discussion after film, 6pm U.S., 7pm Monday, 9/24: Alachua County Victim Services and Wednesday, 9/12: RNC Protest Report Back, an event where Rape Crisis Center presents “The Invisible locals will give a short talk on their experi War,” an investigative documentary about the ences at the 2012 RNC protests for our Oral epidemic of rape of soldiers within the US History Archives Project, 7pm military, 7pm Sunday, 9/16: Zine Workday, join us to work our zine Tuesday, 9/25: Gainesville IWW presents “Finally Got the library and unite Gainesville zine culture, News,” documentary that reveals the activi- 3pm to 6pm ties of the League of Revolutionary Black Monday, 9/17: Occupy Wall Street Anniversary screening of Workers inside the auto factories of Detroit, "Inside Job," a documentary exposes the truth 7pm behind the economic crisis of 2008, 7pm Thursday, 9/27: “Anarchism in Tokyo” a talk by David Mor Tuesday, 9/18: Radical Rush at UF's Plaza of the Americas, ris a research fellow in Tokyo with the Japan 11am to 2pm Society for the Promotion of Science, 7pm Wednesday, 9/19: Radical Rush at UF's Plaza of the Americas, Friday, 9/28: ArtWalk, 7pm to 10pm 11am to 2pm Saturday, 9/29: Tabling at the Pride Festival at Bo Diddley Wednesday, 9/19: Anarchademics radical theory reading and Plaza, 1pm to 9pm discussion group, 7pm

433 S. Main Street Parking just to the south at SE 5th Ave., (see sign) or after 7 p.m. at the courthouse (just north of 4th Ave.) or GRU (2 blocks east of CMC) Check our website for details or events scheduled after this went to press www.civicmediacenter.org (352) 373-0010 Pushaw Construction, LLC Residential Remodeling Richard Pushaw 352.215.1883 [email protected]

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www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 9 and educational programs. 352-338-0766 Iguana Directory www.midwiferyschool.org Call 352-378-5655. or email [email protected] with updates and additions Florida Defenders of the Environment An organization dedicated to restoring the Ocklawaha and preserving Florida’s other Art Lab is a group for artists who are con- group at UF. www.chispasuf.org natural resources. 352-378-8465 FlaDe- tinually expanding their skills and knowl- fenders.org edge. Comprised of makers from various Coalition to End the Meal Limit NOW! backgrounds encompassing a wide range Search for Coalition to End the Meal Limit Gainesville Books for Prisoners is a of mediums from forged iron to spun NOW on Facebook. www.endthemeallimit- D.I.Y. prisoner support group. We are an wool to graphic design. We hold technique now.org all-volunteer, not-for-profit collective workshops, artist talks and critiques, pro- that maintains a small library, housed in fessional practices meetings and critical Code Pink: Women for Peace Women- the back of Wayward Council, to match thinking discussions. GainesvilleArtLab@ led grassroots peace and social justice books with requests from incarcerated gmail.com. http://GainesvilleArtLab.org movement utilizing creative protest, persons in Florida. Get in touch if you’d non-violent direct action and commu- like to help. gainesvillebooksforprison- Alachua County Labor Party meets nity involvement. CodePink4Peace. [email protected]. www.facebook.com/#!/ monthly and organizes to support local la- org,[email protected] groups/219545091407216/ bor and advance the national campaign for Gainesville Citizens for Alternatives to universal, single-payer health care. An- Committee for a Civilian Police Review the Death Penalty concerned people in the nual memberships are $20/year. Please Board Group that demands the creation Gainesville area who are working to abolish contact us to join or for the most updated of a citizens’ police review board to the death penalty in Florida. Participate in info: FloridaLaborParty.org, ACLP@Flor- fight against the pattern of corruption, vigils when Florida has an execution. Meets idaLaborParty.org, 352.375.2832, 14 East arrogance, bias and violence displayed the first Tuesday of every month at St. Au- University Ave, Suite 204, Gainesville, FL by some members of the Gainesville gustine Church and Catholic Student Center PO Box 12051, Gainesville, FL 32604 Police Department. gvillepolicereview@ (1738 W. University Ave.) 352-332-1350, gmail.com www.fadp.org. American Civil Liberties Union Cur- rently no local chapter. For info on forming Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. Gainesville Food Not Bombs is the local new chapter, or ACLU info, contact Jax of- Non-profit land trust working to protect chapter of a loose-knit group of collec- fice 904-353-7600 or [email protected] Florida’s rural landscapes, wildlife cor- tives worldwide who prepare and share ridors and natural areas. 352-466-1178, free, vegan/vegetarian, healthy, home- Amnesty International UF campus Conserveflorida.org cooked meals, made from local surplus, chapter of worldwide human rights move- with all who are hungry. Meals are at 3 ment; www.facebook.com/ufamnesty or Democratic Party of Alachua County p.m. every Saturday at Bo Diddly Com- [email protected]. Meetings are held the second Wednesday munity Plaza. Prep starts at 11am. Get in of each month at 7: p.m. in the second floor touch if you’d like to help. gainesville- Bridges Across Borders Florida-based auditorium of the County Administration [email protected]. www.facebook.com/#!/ international collaboration of activists, art- Building at SE 1st St. and University Ave. groups/143660782367621/ ists, students and educators supporting cul- Office is at 901 NW 8th Ave., 352-373- tural diversity and global peace. office@ 1730, AlachuaCountyDemocraticParty.org Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for bridgesacrossborders.org, 352-485-2594, Immigrant Justice (IAIJ) meets Edible Plant Project Local collective biweekly to discuss relevant immigration Citizens Climate Lobby (Gainesville to create a revolution through edible and issues and ways to bring political Chapter) provides education and food-producing plants. 561-236-2262 education to the community through activist opportunities to bring about www.EdiblePlantProject.org. workshops, presentations, advocacy and a stable climate. Meetings are the action. [email protected] or first Saturday of each month at 12:30, Families Against Mandatory Mini- www.gainesvilleiaij.blogspot.com usually at the downtown library's mums Work to reform Florida's sentenc- Foundation Room. 352-672-4327, www. ing laws and restore fairness to Florida's Gainesville Women’s Liberation The citizensclimatelobby.org, cclgainesville@ criminal justice system. PO Box 142933, first women’s liberation group in the gmail.com Gainesville, FL 32614, gnewburn@famm. South, formed in 1968, the organization is org. 352-682-2542 now part of National Women’s Liberation. Civic Media Center Alternative read- WomensLiberation.org ing room and library of the non-corporate The Fine Print An independent, critically press, and a resource and space for orga- thinking outlet for political, social and arts Graduate Assistants United Union that nizing. 352-373-0010, www.civicmedia- coverage through local, in-depth report- represents all UF grad assistants by fight- center.org. ing specifically for Gainesville’s students. ing for improved working conditions, www.thefineprintuf.org. community involvement and academic The Coalition of Hispanics Integrating freedom. 352-575-0366, officers@ufgau. Spanish Speakers through Advocacy Florida School of Traditional Midwifery org, www.ufgau.org and Service (CHISPAS) Student-run A clearinghouse for information, activities

page 10, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida Green Party Part of worldwide move- gram’s Web site at http://ombudsman. every month at 7:30 p.m. at the UF En- ment built out of four different interre- myflorida.com. tomology & Nematology Building, Room lated social pillars, which support its poli- 1035. 352-528-3751, www.ssjsierra.org tics: the peace, civil rights, environmental MindFreedom North Florida Human and labor movements. www.Gainesvil- rights group for psychiatric survivors and Sister City Program of Gainesville. leGreens.webs.com mental health consumers. 352-328-2511. Links Gainesville with sister cities in Russia, Israel and Palestine, Iraq, and Grow Radio Non-profit company that will National Alliance on Mental Illness Haiti. Meets the first Tuesday of every provide the opportunity for community (NAMI) Support, education and advocacy month at 7:30 p.m. at the Mennonite members to create and manage unique, for families and loved ones of persons with Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th Ave- engaging, educational, locally-generated mental illness/brain disorders. 374-5600. nue (across from Gainesville HS). For programming to promote fine, musical and ext. 8322; www.namigainesville.org. more information, see: http://www.gn- visual arts and humanities for the enrich- vsistercities.org. ment of, but not limited to, the Gainesville National Lawyers Guild Lawyers, law community. growradio.org. students, legal workers and jailhouse Student/Farmworker Alliance A lawyers using the law to advance social network of youth organizing with Harvest of Hope Foundation Non-profit justice and support progressive social farmworkers to eliminate sweatshop organization that provides emergency and movements. [email protected] conditions and modern-day slavery educational financial aid to migrant farm or www.nlg.org in the fields. More info on Facebook, workers around the country. www.harvest- search “Gainesville Student/Farm- ofhope.net or email: [email protected]. National Organization for Women worker Alliance.” Gainesville Area www.gainesvillenow. Home Van A mobile soup kitchen that org. [email protected] NOW Students for a Democratic Society goes out to homeless areas twice a week meeting info contact Lisa at 352-450- Multi-issue student and youth organization with food and other necessities of life, de- 1912. NOW information, contact Laura working to build power in our schools and livering about 400 meals per week; operat- Bresko 352-332-2528. communities. Meetings are every Monday ed by Citizens for Social Justice. barupa@ at 6:30 p.m. in Anderson Hall 32 on the UF atlantic.net or 352-372-4825. Planned Parenthood Clinic Full-ser- campus. vice medical clinic for reproductive and Industrial Workers of the World Local sexual health care needs. Now offering UF Pride Student Union Group of gay, union organizing all workers. Meetings are free HIV and free pregnancy testing dai- lesbian, bi and straight students & non- at the Civic Media Center the first Sunday ly from 9-11 a.m. and 1-4 p.m.. Located students, faculty and staff. www.grove.ufl. of the month at 7 p.m.. Gainesvilleiww@ at 914 NW 13th Street. edu/~pride. riseup.net. www. gainesvilleiww.org Pride Community Center of North United Faculty of Florida Union rep- Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Jus- Central Florida Resources for the gay/ resents faculty at Univeristy of Flor- tice Organizing faith communities to work lesbian community, open M-F, 3-7, ida. 392-0274, [email protected], together for immigrant justice. Meets 2nd Sat. noon-4 p.m.. Located at 3131 NW www.UFF-UF.org. and 4th Sundays at 6 p.m. at La Casita 13th St., Suite 62. 352-377-8915, www. 1504 W. University Ave. (across from Li- GainesvillePride.org. The United Nations Association, Gaines- brary) [email protected]; 352- ville Florida Chapter. Our purpose is to 215-4255 or 352-377-6577 Protect Gainesville Citizens Group heighten citizen awareness and knowledge whose mission is to provide Gainesville of global problems and the United Nations International Socialist Organization residents with accurate and comprehen- efforts to deal with those issues. www.afn. Organization committed to building a left sible information about the Cabot/Kop- org/~una-usa/. alternative to a world of war, racism and pers Superfund site. 352-354-2432, www. poverty. Meetings are every Thurs. at the protectgainesville.org. Veterans for Peace Anti-war organization UF classroom building at 105 NW 16th St. that works to raise awareness of the detri- at 7 p.m.. [email protected] River Phoenix Center for Peacebuild- ments of militarism and war as well as to ing provides innovative ways to resolve seek alternatives that are peaceful and ef- Kindred Sisters Lesbian/feminist mag- conflict in Gainesville and provides fective. Meetings are the first Wednesday azine. PO Box 141674, Gainesville, FL serives like mediation, communication of every month at 7 p.m.. 352-375-2563, 32614. [email protected], skill building and restorative justice. www.afn.org/~vetpeace/. www.kindredsisters.org. www. cemterforpeacebuilding.org. 2603 NW 13th St. #333, 352-234-6595 WGOT 94.7 LP-FM Community low- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Pro- power station operating as part of the Civ- gram needs volunteers to join its corps Queer Activist Coalition Politically ic Media Center. [email protected], of advocates who protect the rights of motivated activist group at UF fighting www.wgot.org. elders in nursing homes, assisted living for full civil and social equality for the facilities and adult family care homes. LGBTQ community. queeractivistcoali- Special training and certification is pro- [email protected]. vided. Interested individuals should call toll-free (888) 831-0404 or visit the pro- Sierra Club Meets the first Thursday of D www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 11

education has been stagnant, with the accounts, usually called endowments, in exception of the increases from 2009 the stock market and other risky places through 2011 due to the American in the hopes of high returns. With the Recovery and Reinvestment Act. stock market underperforming, this has According to the National Center for a two-fold consequence in some cases. Education Statistics, federal funding has fallen from a high of about 18 The first is less income from the percent of a school’s revenue to below endowment to add to the revenue 10 percent. side of the university’s budget. Universities tend to save the corpus or While we have heard of the very public the endowment’s principle for capital and very large gifts foundations and projects or “rainy days.” individuals have given to colleges, private corporate funding has not kept The second has to do with contributions pace. Several studies ranging from the to pension funds. Both public and What happened to the Department of Education’s National private sector colleges at one time American Dream of a Center for Education Statistics, to the offered defined benefit pensions plans. Chronicle of Higher Education, to With the stock market and other college education and private research studies have shown investment vehicles underperforming home ownership? corporate support for higher education expectations, universities are being is at best stagnant. Instead, corporations forced to add money to their pension Anonymous Iguana Reader that used to give research dollars to funds to make up for the short fall of universities have chosen to keep those expected revenues in order to meet This is the third part of a three-part dollars in house or, at best, to form joint pension obligations. research ventures with schools. series addressing the reader’s question To some extent, this is being exacerbated about the American Dream. In this These public/private partnerships by the fact that a large number of faculty installment, Mr. Econ tackles college and staff currently at universities are education. may have benefits for the institutions; research jobs, graduate assistantships, from the baby boomer era, are just Let’s look at the factors that place a future employment opportunities, now reaching retirement age and are college education beyond the grasp of laboratories and equipment that the in fact retiring. Hence, these pension many middle class people. university can’t afford can now be used obligations are real and becoming due or shared. But still, the real money stays right now. Universities, therefore, have The basic factor here is price. The price outside the university. to augment pension investment income of a four-year college education has with current revenues to make up for skyrocketed. From 1980 to 2010, the Real money, you ask? Yes, real money. the shortfall. estimated cost of earning a four-year Ever think of who benefits from that degree has risen from $2,550 per year at bottle of Gatorade you just bought, or It should be noted that not all college a public college or $15,014 at a private the milk infused with Vitamin D, or the pension funds are in this predicament. school, to $5,594 and $32,800 in 2010 poison you use to kill rats, or the blood There are several that either through – increases of around 490 percent. At thinner your elderly uncle takes? In each more prudent investment policies, more the same time, middle class wages and of these examples a major state research fiscally sound contribution policies, their purchasing power are stagnant or university is funding a significant or by decreasing promised benefit falling, and the consumer price index portion of their costs through these or instituting or increasing faculty rose by only 165 percent. products. In the case of Vitamin D in staff contributions, have avoided this milk and Coumadin (the blood thinner) problem. Further, many systems have One of the main factors that contributed or Warfarin (the rat poison), patents are now gone to a defined contribution to the astronomical increase is the held by the University of Wisconsin and pension plan, which works more like decrease in government support for its patent holding arm, the Wisconsin an employer-funded or jointly funded higher education. At major state colleges Alumni Research Foundation (WARF 401(K), and it gets the institution off the and universities, state legislatures have – hence, the name of the rat poison). hook for any future guarantees. drastically cut financial support. We can see this locally in the more than $38 As newer patents are developed by Faculty salaries are another reason million that was recently cut from the these public/private partnerships, less for the increasing costs of getting a University of Florida’s budget by the of the income comes to the university. college education. Faculty salaries state legislature, and UF is not alone. have been under tremendous upward Tied to real money is the return on what pressure in many fields. Colleges now In addition, federal spending on higher is called the university’s endowment. have to compete with private sector Universities invest their savings

page 14, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida firms for top talent. This has led many and student fees. Hence, the price of a So we have a situation where middle institutions to establish different salary four-year college degree shot up. class income and purchasing power rates for faculty positions in such fields is falling while at the same time the as law, engineering, business and the What made matters worse is that cost of going to a four-year college is research sciences. To a lesser extent this some universities turned to some rising faster than the general rate of has pulled other faculty salaries up, but very creative tuition and enrollment inflation. The unfortunate result is that nowhere at the rate of those professions solutions. A couple of very high profile many people are forced into the labor that directly compete with the private public research universities attempted market working at low paying jobs just sector. to privatize either the entire university to survive or to at least earn enough or parts of it that they thought could money to go to a community college. Overall median faculty salaries have become self-sustaining. risen from just under $13,000 in 1970 to In the vast majority of cases, neither around $66,000 in 2010, representing an Also, a number of schools have of these two tracks will provide the increase of approximately 400 percent, experimented with differential tuition education and training necessary to less than the rise in the consumer price for various majors, the theory being secure a job that will enable a person index for the same period of time. that students can expect to earn more to achieve the middle class American once they graduate from some majors, Dream. D In addition to rising faculty salaries, more so they should pay more. and more college and university staff became organized, including graduate Finally, some major research assistants. What was previously very universities have limited the size of poorly paid employment with few or the undergraduate class. The theory no benefits now has more market rate behind this move is that many tenured wages and benefits. Thus, the pool of professors see teaching undergraduates low paid workers that kept the university as a burden. Classes are large, papers clean, the community fed, the grounds and exams take a long time to grade and manicured, and the buildings heated review, and courses take a lot of time and cooled, the introductory level to prepare. This all takes away from courses taught, and the research project research, writing books, developing going, became more expensive. patents, writing and working on grants, presenting lectures at conferences, and With all these factors and foundations consulting and developing outside turning to shore up the social safety businesses, all of which can lead to network that was decimated in additional income. consecutive order by the Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Bush II administrations, As a result, the revenue tuition is there were few other places to turn for expected to generate is spread over additional revenue outside of tuition fewer enrollees, which means higher costs.

www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 15 page 16, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida History and the people who make it: John De Grove Transcript edited by Pierce Butler Knocked me out just for an instant. two, just by a few months. That apparently did some damage [to This is the tenth in a continuing series my lungs that showed up] later. Didn’t I became president of the student body of transcript excerpts from the collec- stop me right then at all. [After] that at Rollins. I led a revolt at Rollins tion of the Samuel Proctor Oral History concussion [grenade], we went on and against the president. We threw him out. Program at the University of Florida. those guys were wiped out. Well, he was a bad guy. We went into John DeGrove, “the father of growth After the war, I went in to the hospital an enrollment decline. In the process management law in Florida,” was in- because I had a case of viral pneumo- of cutting back, he was firing the best terviewed by Cynthia Barnett [B] on nia. It developed into tuberculosis and people. His concept of how to get Roll- December 1, 2001. they always said that the concussion ins straightened out and going right was grenade had weakened the structure just wrong. I had some board of trust- B: You were in the infantry from ee members who agreed with me. His 1942-1946? of that lung, so that when I got the vi- ral pneumonia, which [I] should have name was Wagner. We did every kind Yes. We went over right after D-Day been able to shake off, it evolved into of thing to force this guy out. [June 6, 1944]. We landed at Cher- tuberculosis after I got in the hospital. I finished my master’s in nine months bourg, in France, got on cattle cars, I [was sent] out to Colorado, a special at Emory [University in 1954]. My the- went across France, and into the front sis looked at the Swamp and Overflow lines in Holland, Germany, Belgium. I place for tuberculosis types. I decided, I’ll be damned if I’m going to die out Lands Act. That really got me into real- got into leading patrols out behind the izing how badly it’s possible to manage enemy lines and doing things like that. here in Colorado. I was [determined] to die in Florida, as close to home as resources. Swamp and Overflow Lands Pretty soon, our platoon [was] down Act of 1849, I think it was, granted to to a handful of people who were still I could get. They went along with all that. I went to the tuberculosis sanitari- Florida twenty million acres of land. alive. That’s how I became a sergeant Turned out that a lot of it wasn’t swamp and then I got a battlefield commission. um. They had several of these, and they were ahead of their time. I was in the and overflow at all. We were doing a counter-attack, I hospital for almost four years. I missed It hadn’t been surveyed. There are guess and some Germans were surren- the marvelous streptomycin and the only thirty-eight million acres of land dering. Somebody in the back threw TB drugs, the ones that would have a grenade. Big mistake on their part. kept me in the hospital for a month or See ORAL HISTORY p. 18

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www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 17 ORAL HISTORY from p. 17 Back at the turn of the century, and possibly be [right]. It turns out it had in Florida and we got twenty million really a part of the Progressive move- to do with a deal to get the medical acres under the Swamp and Overflow ment, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, school what has turned into the Shands Lands Act. It was to be drained and Florida’s governor, took a good long complex here instead of Jacksonville. reclaimed for useful purposes. That hard look and concluded that skull- [They wanted to keep] liberal profes- is, I believe, the exact phrase of the duggery had taken place in what we sors totally out. The guy that made that Act. “Drained and reclaimed for use- did with the Swamp and Overflow deal, I guess, was Shands, a [senator] ful purposes,” carried the connotation in the [Florida] legislature. that as wetlands, as swamp lands, it Anyway, we organized the Civic Ac- had no value. That got started with the tion Association. We managed to Disston Purchase [in] 1884. That’s throw out the old guard and not only when we’d gotten well underway to elect a new city council, but, in effect, screwing up the state. a new county commission. Up until [Hamilton] Disston bought two mil- then the old guard just picked out who lion acres of land. I think it was twen- was going to be the next ones. I was ty-five cents an acre he paid for it. The pushing for city-county consolida- deal was, that he would dig a canal tion, all kinds of radical stuff. I ended where the Kissimmee River was and up chairman of the planning board. drain the land. He would get an extra We were here from 1958-64, six years, acre for every acre that he reclaimed. and boy, we took over. I was chairman I remember talking to Marjory Stone- of the state AAUP [American Associ- man Douglas [environmental activist, ation of University Professors]. When author of The Everglades–River of Charlie [Foreman] and I met, I was Grass] about this, neither one of us at a Board of Control meeting repre- realized what damage channelizing senting the AAUP and I think Charlie the Kissimmee River was going to do. might have been chairman. He just Disston got quite a few extra acres, could not believe that I was a Florida Lands Act lands. We had given away because we hit this bad dry spell and southern cracker. So he got it [the fac- more land for this that and the other it looked like he had drained and re- ulty censorship rule] changed. purpose, many of it ill-advised or claimed a whole lot of land that only absolutely crooked, than there was dried up. When the rains came again, It taught me something I had begun in the whole state of Florida. They most of that land re-flooded. Disston, to learn earlier and I have never wa- went to court. They were successful the whole thing didn’t work out for vered in my conviction. Before then, in recapturing 3,000,000 acres of the him. Maybe he did commit suicide. Charlie Foreman had been just a guy original Everglades. They recaptured That got [me] looking and under- [who] didn’t look like [he was] inter- it to drain, not to restore it. standing, the give-away to railroad ested in doing anything good [or for] what I was after. Never ever write companies, to canal companies, to As time went on and the digging went this, to that. A lot of it just absolutely anybody off completely, because forward, we ended up with the Cen- you might be able to work with them skullduggerously crooked. My thesis tral and Southern Florida Flood Con- dug into how we had mismanaged some time in the future. As a mat- trol project, [and] the increasingly ob- ter of fact, I’ve worked with Charlie that land and what negative impacts vious negative impacts of this effort, that mismanagement had. ever since. He has been a great sup- [such as] saltwater intrusion. porter of the Joint Center and 1,000 At Chapel Hill, I got very interested I came here to the University of Florida Friends of Florida. in urban development patterns. That’s in January of 1958. They offered me a B: When did you go to Boca Raton? when I began to see, understand, or be marvelous salary, I think it was $5,800. sensitive to the downsides of sprawl. In 1964, when FAU opened its doors. The university had this rule that not My Ph.D. dissertation was on the only could you not run for political of- When did I first cross paths with Nat? Central and Southern Florida Flood fice, you couldn’t contribute to the can- We started 1,000 Friends of Florida Control District. The Flood Control didacy of anybody else that ran for po- together. That was later, much later. I District was multi-county, but it didn’t litical office. Remember, I’m a brand knew him when he was working with have the right boundaries. At least it new assistant professor and I [had] no Claudius Maximus. was a regional entity. It was a way to particular political protection. Anyway, try to straighten out some of the things I declared that [rule] to be unconstitu- B: How well did you know Claude that we had messed up so badly. tional, not only wrong, but it couldn’t Kirk? What do you think of him?

page 18, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida Any legacy that he has for positive be- began to cool. Quite a number of it’s been in a real or perceived crisis. havior is due to the fact that he wasn’t people were saying, wait a minute, Always. The other common thread a right-wing ideologue. He was a to- we’re really messing things up here. is, everything we’ve ever done, tal character. He had to have people we’ve never ended up funding it following him around all the time to There was an effort to stop digging adequately to allow it to be imple- keep him from running off with first the cross-state barge canal. There’s mented effectively. one lady and then another, which he where Nat Reed [came] into the pic- did repeatedly, famously once when ture with Claude Kirk [Fla gover- The second half of SPOHP’s John he went all the way to California out nor, 1967-1971]. DeGrove interview will appear in the October 2012 Gainesville Iguana. of a wedding in Virginia. B: They were both involved in halt- I think it was the governor’s bride. ing the jetport and the cross-Florida An audio podcast of this interview Somehow he persuaded her to get barge canal. will be made available, along with on this Lear jet he flew around in. many others, at www.history.ufl.edu/ It was because of Nat Reed. Nat had oral/feature-podcasts.htm. D Don Reed was a big Republican in been Assistant Secretary of the Inte- the legislature. [He and] this other rior under Nixon. A good Republi- person, were supposed to be watch- can, an environmentally-strong Re- ing out for [Claude]. Somehow he publican. The Florida Air and Water slipped away from them and he got Pollution Control Act was passed. The Samuel Proctor Oral History this lady to get on this jet with him Coastal Construction Setback Line Program believes that listening and they flew to California and they legislation was passed, aimed at carefully to first-person narratives just disappeared. protecting vital dunes and coastal can change the way we understand vegetation, and the establishment of history, from scholarly questions to Nathaniel Pryor Reed [Governing public policy. SPOHP needs the pub- Board Member, South Florida Water the Coastal Coordinating Council, charged with developing a planning lic’s help to sustain and build upon Management District] is from a fam- its research, teaching, and service ily who owned a lot of land on Jupi- and management plan for Florida’s 11,000 miles of coastline. missions: even small donations can ter Island. He’s always been a very make a big difference in SPOHP’s strong environmentalist. He’s gradu- In the late 1960s, Kirk supported ability to gather preserve and pro- ally come to accept that you can’t these initiatives. He couldn’t have mote history for future generations. have a sustainable environment un- cared less, but he was heavily in- less you have sustainable urban sys- fluenced by his dollar-a-year, chief Donate online at www.history.ufl. tems. and that neither are sustainable environmental advisor, Nat Reed. edu/oral/support.html or make [in Florida at this time]. Nat was convinced that protecting checks to the University of Florida, the environment had become good specified for SPOHP, and mail to PO B: What would you say Nat Reed’s Box 115215, Gainesville, FL 32611. legacy is to Florida? politics in Florida. [He was] Nixon’s environmental ad- Every time we’ve done something visor. He persuaded him to stop the in Florida to move toward some cross-Florida barge canal and many kind of effort to manage our growth, other things. Alachua County Victim Services presents ... In 1969, in this Seaside Institute pa- per, I said that we had to understand "The Invisible War" that Florida’s effort to get any kind Academy Award-nominated filmaker Kirby Dick of growth management system had investigates the troubling epidemic of rape in the to evolve out of a conviction that military ... it's estimated that female soldiers in no right-minded person would vol- the U.S. military are more likely to be raped by a untarily come to a state, as I put it, male soldier than shot by an enemy combatant where it was hot and muggy, the In- ... learn how systemic corruption allows the vast dians were hostile and swore they’d majority of their attackers to walk free ... never surrender, the alligators were . - Janson Buchanan, Rovi large, and the moccasins were mean. Monday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m. To counter these, from statehood through World War II, our leaders Civic Media Center, did everything they could to promote 433 South Main St., Gainesville growth in Florida. In the mid- to late- $3-5, donations appreciated 1960s, our love affair with growth www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 19 The truth about the Alachua County budget By Mike Byerly, Alachua County Commissioner have about $5.4 million less to work with. Your county budget is undergoing some serious changes at the It’s easy to cut taxes if, instead of making corresponding budget hands of the new “conservative” Alachua County Commission reductions, you just put it on next year’s tab. The real pain will majority. start then (unless that Commission finds another clever way to kick the can down the road). Each year, the Property Appraiser determines the market value of all taxable property in the county and reports this to the County The following are some highlights from the budget now on track Commission. The County Commission then applies a rate, the to be approved by a majority of the County Commission as we’re millage rate, to this total in order to produce the budget for the going to press. coming year. The budget and the millage rate are not the same -- First, not all of the budget is being reduced. The Sheriff’s Office, thing, and can’t be used interchangeably. alone among all county departments and constitutional offices, If property values decline, but the millage rate stays the same, will once again receive an increase. About $1.8 million in new then the budget will decline by the same percentage as property money will fund new positions at the jail and in administration, values. So, it’s possible to increase the millage rate while actually along with an assortment of capital improvements. This means reducing the budget. the reductions everywhere else must be correspondingly deeper. -- Next, the politically easy part for the Commission: for the fifth This is what happened last year, and the year before. straight year, County employees will receive no raises or cost The budget for the current year’s General Fund (by far the of living increases. There are consequences, of course. Both in county’s largest fund) is $127,423,057. Alachua County and across the state, salaries in the private sector and in peer public sector agencies have been rising steadily for Property values are projected to decline by about 3.4 percent this the past four years, including at UF and the City of Gainesville. year. To maintain the same actual budget next year, the millage Alachua County is becoming uncompetitive. Morale is in the tank, rate would have to be raised 3.4 percent. This is the course I and the County continues to hemhorrage talent and experience to supported. Commissioners Lee Pinkoson, Susan Baird and other governments, the private sector and early retirement. The Winston Bradley voted to keep the millage rate the same, which same budget generates less productive work each year. will now require that the budget be reduced by 3.4 percent, or -- The County will pay for this year’s $3.4 million Medicaid about $4.4 million. expense by raiding the CHOICES program, which the County Bear in mind that even our radically conservative state legislature attorney now holds can legally be done. This is a ONE-TIME recognizes the necessity of indexing a budget to population SOURCE OF MONEY being used to fund an ANNUALLY increase and inflation. In Alachua County, population increase RECURRING EXPENSE. This action is not only fiscally and inflation for the coming year are projected to erode around 5 irresponsible, it’s unethical; this is clearly not what the voters had percent of the budget’s purchasing power. in mind when they approved CHOICES. -- Each year, unspent funds in all departments and constitutional In other words, maintaining the same budget next year would offices countywide are returned to the County’s budget and result in an effective 5 percent reduction in the County’s ability to form the starting point for building the next year’s budget. The provide services. Add the proposed 3.4 percent reduction resulting County Commission has elected to take $1.4 million from this from the proposed millage rate, and the proposed budget declines revolving amount in order to balance the budget this year. This is some 8 percent in just one year. another ONE-TIME SOURCE OF MONEY being used to fund Property values have declined modestly for each of the past three an ANNUALLY RECURRING EXPENSE. years. However, this follows a huge, market-driven runup during -- The Community Agency Partnership Program (CAPP) will the real estate speculation of the mid-2000s. So even with the be reduced by $175,000, a 15 percent cut. CAPP is the program recent declines, countywide property values are still 25 percent through which the County provides assistance to the poor through higher than they were just five years ago. contracts with a variety of private, nonprofit agencies that are already doing this work. CAPP emphasizes assistance to children To make a ridiculously complicated story as short as possible, and the elderly. Every dollar provided by the County helps to Florida’s counties are going to have to start making substantially leverage the grants and volunteer support these nonprofit agencies higher payments to the state for the federal Medicaid services are able to generate, and so they’re able to provide these services that their residents receive. In Alachua County, this will mean more cheaply and effectively than the County could. CAPP is in approximately $3.4 million more next year, $2.4 million more for the Department of Community Support Services, which will also three years following that, and then about $1.2 million more per receive an additional $138,000 reduction, including two positions year from then on. in the Poverty Reduction program. Lastly, one of the first principles of sound budgeting is that you -- The Department of Court Services will eliminate two don’t use a ONE-TIME SOURCE OF MONEY (“found” money) positions, a reduction of $112,000. This department operates a to fund an ANNUALLY RECURRING EXPENSE because the variety of programs to divert non-dangerous offenders from the expense will still be there next year, but the money to pay for it County jail, including parole, substance abuse and mental health won’t. counselling, work release, community service, Drug Court and Teen Court, and day-reporting. A recent departmental analysis The County Commission has always reaffirmed this principle estimates that without these services, the current average by vote at the beginning of each budget year, and that vote has daily jail population of approximately 993 would instead be always been unanimous. This year, Comissioners Pinkoson, Baird approximately 1,715. Of course, long before the jail population and Bradley have changed course. reached that level, we’d be legally obligated to build a new jail In total, the proposed budget uses about $5.4 million in one-time pod. Previous estimates cited in County Commission hearings sources to fund annually recurring expenses. Next summer, as the for the cost of a new pod begin at $30 million and go upwards new Commission begins to build their budget, they’ll start with rapidly from there. the same millage rate and the same program expenses, but will See BUDGET, p. 21

page 20, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida BUDGET from p. 20 Elections Update -- The Environmental Protection By Joe Courter Department will be reduced by $50,000, which will include reductions in water We’re two months from Election Day on Nov. 6 as this Iguana goes to print. quality monitoring and prescribed fire We will have another edition out in early October, but now the campaigning for County conservation lands. A half- time GIS analyst will also be eliminated. has moved from the primaries to the main elections. -- About $420,000 is being “reduced” in the General Fund by reassigning From our point of view, the primaries went well with one exception. There certain expenses to a different fund, was one surprise in the District 21 race, and on this I must apologize. Both the Municipal Services Taxing Unit, or candidates in the race were good, and, without a lot of research, I went with the MSTU. It’s still in the budget, but will candidate who had more name recognition and money – Aaron Bosshardt – as now be paid for only by residents in the the incumbent Republican Keith Perry was going to be hard to unseat. unincorporated portions of the County who pay the MSTU. Well, Andrew Morey (Bosshardt’s opponent) knocked on a lot of doors with -- Lastly, the Gas Tax funds the operations of the Public Works Department, and a grassroots campaign and beat Bosshardt in the primary, and we couldn’t be declining consumption of gasoline is happier. steadily driving down revenues to this fund. If this trend continues, as we We have subsequently found Morey to be an excellent candidate, and Boss- believe it will, the County will have hardt has rolled his campaign into Morey’s. This is a winnable race, and we to supplement the operations of Public encourage volunteers to help out. Works from some other source (the MSTU would be the most appropriate). Locally, we also hope people will jump in on the County races listed below This year, to restore a $526,000 decline with whatever support they can give. This is a pivotal election for both the in Gas Tax revenue, the budget proposes Alachua County Commission and the Alachua County School Board, and these to delay capital expenditures and reduce reserves (which will have to be candidates will make a big difference in the coming years for our County. restored). In other words, ONE-TIME SOURCES OF MONEY will fund this The U.S. Congress District 3 had a surprise on the Republican side when the RECURRING ANNUAL EXPENSE. Tea Party’s Ted Yoho knocked out long time Congressman Cliff Stearns. Yoho These are the two most important will now face JR Gaillot, a Democrat who had no primary opponent. This is a upcoming public hearings, both pretty stacked conservative district, so it’ll be an uphill battle. It’ll be interest- on the second floor of the County ing if the talkative Yoho will agree to the rigorous debate schedule Gaillot is Adminstration Building: Sept. 11 at requesting. D 5p.m. AND Sept. 25 at 5p.m. Attend if you can. D Election Resources for November Alachua County Races State Races Useful Resources County Commission, District 1 County Commission, District 5 Florida State Representative, Alachua County Democratic Mike Byerly (DEM) Charles S. “Chuck” Chestnut, District 21 Party PO Box 776 IV (DEM) Andrew Morey [DEM] 901 NW 8th Ave. Micanopy, FL 32667 1773 NE 21st Place PO Box 357121 Gainesville, FL 32601 (352) 466-7030 Gainesville, FL 32609 Gainesville, FL 32635-7121 www.alachuadems.org [email protected] (352) 215-0659 352-538-0379 www.electmikebyerly.com [email protected] [email protected] Obama For America Offices www.morey2012.org 315 SE 2nd Ave. OR County Commission, District 3 2727 NW 43rd St. School Board, District 4 Congressional Race Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson Leanetta McNealy (DEM) Gainesville, FL (DEM) 1266 SE 12th Ave. U.S. Congress, District 3 2619 SE 30th Place JR Gaillot [DEM] Gainesville, FL 32641 Alachua County Women for Gainesville, FL 32641 PO Box 8747 352-373-9472 Obama (352) 256-6043 Fleming Island, FL 32006 [email protected] Karen Epple [email protected] 904-531-4737 www.leamcnealy.com 352-642-6843 www.electhutch.com [email protected] www.jrgaillot.com

www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 21 The Waiting Grame - A DREAM Deferred Coalition of Immokalee By Rommy Torrico I remember reading it in disbelief, not Workers Week of Action allowing myself to become hopeful. This article originally appeared on Was this really it? in Gainesville, 9/11-9/15 the Rural Women’s Health Project blog, www.viablog.net, on Aug. 31. Deferred action, as this announce- 9/11, Tuesday, 7p.m. – Farmworker ment was called, would benefit 1.76 Poverty: An Interactive Play per- Throughout a lifetime, one can ex- million undocumented and out-of- formed by CHISPAS; Room 355, Re- perience few monumental moments status youth nationwide. If granted, itz Union on UF’s campus that mark one’s life in such a way that the youth who qualified would have one remember every detail, no matter 9/12, Wednesday, 7p.m. – “Meet the chance to work, study and tempo- the CIW Farmworkers” Community how much time has passed. In my 23 rarily live without fear of deportation. short years, I can say I’ve had only Potluck and Program by CIW with four of these moments - my birth, my As more news came in, the notion City Commissioner Randy Wells move to the U.S. in 1994, my time as that I could leave this limbo behind and Mayor Craig Lowe reading a a student at the University of Florida started sinking in. I began realizing proclamation; Emmanuel Mennonite and my coming out as a DREAMer. how historic this moment was for so Church, 1236 NW 18th Ave., Gaines- many of us who had been waiting for ville It’s been four years since my last so long. From that point on until the 9/13, Thursday, 9a.m.- 5p.m. – Slav- landmark moment. I was a sopho- President’s announcement at 2p.m., more at UF when I first came out and ery Museum on display; Plaza of the it was a waiting game. I, like many Americas at UF told my story to a crowd. A liberating other DREAMers nationwide, was and harrowing experience, I shared a holding my breath. 9/13, Thursday, 1p.m. – Talk and very real and very vulnerable part of multi-media presentation by CIW my identity to the world. I was undoc- And then it finally happened. After farmworkers; Room 1A, UF’s umented, unashamed and unafraid. almost two decades of living in the Smathers Library shadows as an undocumented youth, And although I cherish that moment, with restrained freedom and a hunger 9/14, Friday, 5p.m. – Protest Action I was always aware that I was living for more, the fifth event came along at Westgate Publix; corner of Univer- under the illusion of freedom. The to take its place in my life. sity Avenue and 34th Street day after graduation, I would be part of the millions of DREAMers stuck in Yet, there is still much work to be 9/15, Saturday, 10a.m. - 4p.m. – Fair limbo. My status denied me the right done at all levels. This program, al- Food Fair Trade Fair with workshops to work and to continue my journey though similar in some respects, is not and vendor tables; Emmanuel Men- of pursuing my dreams. What should the DREAM Act. Because deferred nonite Church, 1236 NW 18th Ave., have been a time of celebration and action only provides temporary sta- Gainesville forward momentum was nothing tus and work eligibility for two years, more than dreams put on hold, indefi- there is no guarantee that DREAM- Gardening workshops and exhibits; nitely. ers will be able to continue moving Highlands Presbyterian Church, 1001 forward or that we will be safe from NE 16th Ave., Gainesville Or so I thought. deportation in the future. 9/15, Saturday, 12p.m. - 9p.m. – In- It was 9:30a.m. on June 15, when I In addition, deferred action only in- formational tabling at Gainesville’s first received the news about admin- cludes youth from the ages of 15 to Latino Fair; Bo Diddley Plaza, down- istrative relief for DREAMers. What 30. This completely overlooks a sig- town Gainesville started as an unassuming day would nificant portion of our communities soon turn into one of the few experi- including younger children, DREAM- For more information on the CIW’s ences that have marked my life for- ers who “aged” out of the age range week of action, contact Sheila Payne ever. and parents of DREAMers. We are at 352-373-3435 or sheilapayne56@ still in a precarious situation. This hotmail.com, or contact Richard Mac- The first glimpse of hope came from Master at 352-377-6577 or gaines- an email with the subject line “White fragile, glass ball that holds the hopes and dreams of so many DREAMers [email protected]. This event is House announces admin relief for hosted by the Gainesville Interfaith Dreamers!” can shatter more quickly than we can imagine. D Alliance for Immigrant Justice and co-sponsored by the University of Florida Institute of Hispanic-Latino In the next issue, look out for "Changing the Conversation," Cultures “La Casita,” Emmanuel Mennonite Church, Samuel Proc- an essay by Richard MacMaster, local farmworker advocate tor Oral History Program, George A. and leader with Gainesville's Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Smathers Library, P.K Yonge Library Justice, where he addresses the fundamental changes that must of Florida History, Center for Latin be made in our society in order to achieve true social justice. American Studies, CHISPAS, and Rural Women’s Health Project. D

page 22, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida August’s Artwalk saw artists from the Church of Holy Colors do an amazing mural in the Courtyard behind the Citizens Co-Op and the Civic Media Center. The painting was accompanied by live music and completed in about four hours.Adding to the festivities was a show of student art at the Sequential Arts Workshop, as well as art in the CMC and at Display. The Church of Holy Colors is a working gallery space located at 11 SE 5th Ave. in Gainesville. For information, visit holycolor.tumblr. com or email [email protected]. ArtWalk happens again Friday, Sept. 28, all over downtown Gainesville. Photo by Hillary Allison.

LOCAL RADIO LIVES ON THE INTERNET WWW.GROWRADIO.ORG WWW.WGOT.ORG schedules available on line “D’s”Remember Tee’s Your and Ancestors Ting’s LOG IN & TUNE IN

Specializing in Afrikan & Caribbean Items LOW COST PET VACCINATION Den & Deb's Flea Market in Gainesville Booth #37 - Next to Sonny’s AND VETERINARY CLINIC 2708 NE Waldo Road An alternative to high-priced animal hospitals Community VeterinarY SERViCES every Sunday at the WALDO FARMERS & FLEA MARKET RABIES VACCINATION $15 (includes free exam) Tel. 386.418.1234 ~ Fax 386.418.8203 No appointment needed – rain or shine 14804 NW 140th Street ~ Alachua, FL 32615 Waldo Farmers & Flea Market (9 a.m.- 2 p.m.) Outside Booth #18 (North of C Building) Also available: Friday appointment day – Distemper/parvovirus – $20 call or email us! Heartworm tests – $20 Feline (cat) FVRCP (4:1) – $20 See website for full Deworming – $5 - $10 schedule Lyme – $25 No debit or credit cards Skin exams and sick pet visits too! please. Dr. Cindy Rosenfeld Community Veterinary Services, LLC 352-485-2520 * [email protected] WWW.DRCINDYVET.COM www.GainesvilleIguana.org Iguana, September 2012, page 23 The Gainesville Iguana (established 1986)

Thomas Wynn and the Believers perform at Farm to Family on Oct. 8, 2011. The County Commission denied show organizers a permit for the Gilchrist location they've been using, so they are seeking a new one. Photo courtesy of www.farmtofamily.com. Farm to Family Full Moon concert canceled, organizers request support to continue By Don Appelbaum cations, including two 400-acre prop- erties. In order to move, Farm to Fam- The Farm to Family Full Moon Festi- ily must also find additional funding. val scheduled for Sept. 28-30 has been This is not the first time the concert canceled. The County Commission venue has moved: two years ago, they denied their application for a special moved from off of County Road 236, use permit for the 120-acre Gilchrist where they held shows since 2005. County location where they've hosted concerts since 2010. Past concerts featured regional bands such as Nashville-based singer/songwriter The Gainesville Iguana Neighbors surrounding the location - 38 Verlon Thompson, folk-bluegrass band within a half-mile and 65 within a mile - Quartermoon, and Jacksonville reggae is Gainesville's progressive banded together to give a presentation to band De Lions of Jah. events calendar and newsletter. the County Commission on Aug. 20 re- questing denial of the permit. Residents The festivals were family and dog- said sound traveled to the surrounding friendly, and offered food, vendors, area, despite concert sponsors attempt- camping and other entertainment. Subscribe! ing to contain PA levels by using sur- Individuals: $15 round sound in the stage viewing area. To offer funding or help finding a loca- (or more if you can) tion should contact Don Appelbaum at Low/No income: What you can Farm to Family is looking at other lo- [email protected]. D Groups: $20 Iguana, c/o CISPLA P.O. Box 14712 CMC Membership Drive Gainesville, FL 32604 Goal: 100 new members before the end of the year What the Civic Media Center does: Comments, suggestions, • repository of information contributions (written or financial) • creator of community events are welcome.

• incubator for future activists and organizers To list your event or group, contact What you can do: For information: • become a member • web: www.civicmediacenter.org us at: • be a monthly sustainer • email: [email protected] • keep up with events on email • phone: 352-373-0010 (352) 378-5655 • attend and bring friend to events • stop by: 433 S. Main St., Gainesville 32601 [email protected] Future note ... Save the date! www.gainesvilleiguana.org Alachua Conservation Trust and Civic Media Center OktoberFest facebook.com/gainesvilleiguana Friday, October 12, Time TBA Prairie Creek Lodge, 7204 SE County Road 234, Gainesville 32641

page 24, Iguana, September 2012 Gainesville, Florida