The Gainesville Iguana A progressive newsletter and events calendar November/December, 2018 Vol. 32, Issue 11/12 North central FL results not good By James Thompson reliable if moderate progressive Clemons (Florida House D21, Gilchrist, On Nov. 6, Florida, and specifically North messaging, and golden reputation as a Dixie, and West Alachua counties). Central Florida, lost some big elections to physician, the party machine that ran her Mr. Haeseler’s campaign got outspent some very dangerous people. Statewide campaign is in fact funded by corporations almost five to one, but stuck with tireless results are not finalized at this time. that poison our people, our government, fieldwork, progressive messaging, and and our water: Big Tobacco, Big Sugar, Dr. Kayser Enneking’s courageous and open attacks on Clemons’s right wing liquor distributors, and health insurance policies and voting record. The lack of costly run to oust corporate servant companies, to name a few. Keith Perry in Florida Senate District 8 negative state party maneuvering in this (Alachua, Putnam, and North Marion This matter of public record – one main race made it easy for Mr. Haeseler to counties) hurts the most. We needed focus of the dark money mailers – made ask for support from his strong primary this seat to begin undoing the ghastly it difficult to attack Keith Perry where he opponent, the fierce organizer Amol gerrymandering Republicans enacted is most vulnerable across party lines, his Jethwani. An aside, Mr. Jethwani is much after the 2010 Florida census. This was absolute devotion to the money interests, to thank for the injunction that kept our the most expensive regional campaign, which govern his every action. new university polling locations open and strategists took notice. Another tough hit was the close loss across the state for Nov. 6. Dark money PACs bashed the Florida by military veteran and out-of-the-gate Both Dr. Enneking’s and Mr. Haeseler’s Democratic Party’s blue-washed corpo- progressively platformed Jason Haeseler, races were very close, and the distribution rate funding of Dr. Enneking’s efforts to that other corporate servant in our of County votes typical. Each won huge through its Florida Democratic Leader- regional legislative delegation, Chuck See BROKEN, p. 8 ship Campaign Committee (Perry takes his more expansive portfolio of corporate cash directly to his campaign coffers). Perry’s campaign iced the cake with a fierce barrage of deceptive flyers and me- dia advertising against Enneking in the general election. Other than Keith Perry’s demonically stellar name recognition and his unlikely reputation for “helping people” (almost every working class supporter I talk to mentions this), the dark money ads may have hurt the most. Aside from Dr. Enneking’s unassailable character,

INSIDE ... Editors’ Picks ...... 2 From the Publisher ...... 3 CMC Events ...... 11 Event Calendar ...... 12-13 Directory ...... 21-23 Update from the Alachua County Labor Coalition From the publisher . . Subscribe! by Jesse Cosme, ACLC member that have gained ground elsewhere in the complete affordable housing plan. country and state and have been shown to The Gainesville Iguana With almost 14,000 properties in Gaines- On November 8 our proposed process to Suppressing Democracy is Gainesville's progressive ville on the rental market in the last year, improve the livelihoods of the renters in implement universal landlord licensing those communities. As I write this, four days after Election Day, things are quite uncertain in the key Florida newsletter and events calendar there is a serious need for action to protect was presented at the Gainesville City races. It will be almost a week from when I finish writing this to when you can read this. the interests of renters. The city and county have both made Commission during a packed meeting. It is an odd feeling. This is a huge election for the direction of the State, and as well the Individuals: $15 In the last months the renters’ rights cam- significant efforts to explore methods to We thank our members and supporters balance in the Senate and the empowerment of the truly vile Rick Scott to a six-year term (or more if you can) paign for the Alachua County Labor Co- expand affordable housing, and while who came. The outcome of that meeting in DC. I leave any comment on the election outcome to the future... Low/No income: What you can our proposal is not a solution to all of the alition has been picking up steam to do being the City Commission’s creation of a What we DO know is that this election has shown us the many Groups: $20 just that. The campaign proposes a uni- issues associated with affordable housing, special committee to construct a pathway it will ensure that tenants can rent safe manifestations of voter suppression across the country, and the Gainesville Iguana versal landlord licensing program that towards making this a reality. desperation of the right wing to cling to power in the face of on homes with full knowledge of their rights - P .O . Box 14712 focuses on energy efficiency, safety com- coming demographic shifts in the country. Those in power from and the utility expenses of home. We need your help to continue to push Gainesville, FL 32604 pliance, mediation processes, disclosures, this issue forward and smoothly through the Founding Fathers forward have always been wary of a true and a few anti-discrimination ordinances We see that as an essential element to any committee. one person, one vote system. The rabble must be kept in check. Comments, suggestions, contributions I don’t need to run down the history of the 20th century regard- (written or financial) are welcome. To We need renters’ voices to be heard in ing gender, race, property, and nationality being kept from voting. list your event or group, contact us at: these meetings to make sure their needs Heck even voting on a Tuesday, a work day for most, is a form (352) 378-5655 are being heard as loudly as they truly are. of voter suppression. But now all kinds of other means are in use. Joe Courter If you are interested in participating in Some are totally blatant and outrageous, limiting the opportunities GainesvilleIguana@cox .net this campaign in any way, even sharing to vote through minimized or moved polling places, and an obvious intentional selective www .gainesvilleiguana .org your stories of why these things are shortage of voting machines resulting in long lines. This is amplified by electronic voting facebook .com/gainesvilleiguana needed please contact the labor coalition machines, which, in addition to being vulnerable to hacking, slow the process of actually The Iguana has been published office at [email protected] or 352- voting as opposed to the paper ballot optical scan machines where your time at the machine monthly or bimonthly by volunteers D 375-2832. is minimal. for over 30 years . Circulation for In 2010 the Republicans pushed to gain control of state governments and thus the keys this issue is 4,500 . to redraw districts. This gerrymandering suppressed liberal voices, which resulted in Two labor related state after state, though voting Democratic statewide, ending up with overwhelmingly Publisher: holiday parties Republican legislatures. This is not a new practice, but through technology it is done with Joe Courter cold-blooded precision. This is a HUGE reason the Gillum-DeSantis race mattered so Editors Emeritus: The Labor Movement, the people much; 2020 and another census is right around the corner. who brought us the weekend and a Jenny Brown host of other things, deserve love and Yes, it is a very good thing we have early voting; from the looks of things the system could Mark Piotrowski not handle it if everyone had but one 12-hour period to physically vote. It is overwhelmed recognition. Friends of labor should help Editorial Board: them celebrate the holidays. in many places with just a 50 pecent turnout. But then we also have the ability to vote by mail. Both are good tools for Get Out the Vote efforts, but vote by mail is quite labor- Pierce Butler The first event is the annual Central intensive for elections offices and, as we are now seeing before our eyes, prone to being Joe Courter Labor Council Holiday Party spaghetti uncounted by understaffed or incompetent offices. Beth Grobman dinner on Monday evening Dec. 10. Jessica Newman Purging voter rolls, precise signature matching, and strict ID laws all are aspects of direct This year it will be at the Senior Center voter suppression. Less obvious, the fluffing out the ballot with a bunch of confusingly Production work and assistance: on NW 34th St. just south of 441 and worded amendments as was done in Florida made people feel uncertain and hesitant, and Joye Barnes across from the Walmart SuperCenter. It slowed the time to fill out the ballot. Another subtle form of voter suppression is Dark Linda Bassham begins at 6:30, with a donation requested Money, the flood of anonymous money unleashed by Citizens United. This plays a role in of canned foods for charity, and will host Kaithleen Hernandez elections too; while not directly suppressing the vote, it influences the electorate with false Jeremiah Tattersall and honor union activists and members attack ads. We saw it twice in the same race here in North Florida when hidden backers Editors’ picks: News that didn’t fit from Transit Workers and Electricians, of Keith Perry first tried to hurt the Kayser Enneking campaign with negative multi-card Distribution: grad students and UF faculty, and mailings “promoting” her grassroots challenger Olysha MaGruder (who I am sure they’d Joe Courter D Trump’s NLRB just quietly ruled to make union pickets illegal by Moshe Z. supporters from the north Central Florida Marvit/Working In These Times have rather faced), and then funding the soullessly opportunistic Charles Goston as a Kate Ellison area active unions. This ruling by Trump’s labor board could mean far-reaching restrictions on one of labor’s No Party Affiliate, who was used as a tool to siphon away black voters. (A well spent Bill Gilbert most potent weapons . The second event is the Alachua County $120,000+, his 4 percent matched Perry’s margin of victory.) Negative campaigning itself Anita Sundaram http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/21530/trump_nlrb_union_pickets_illegal_labor_ Labor Coalition Holiday Party on suppresses turnout; people get disgusted with the mudslinging. joint_employer Tuesday, Dec. 18. All these impediments to voting were in effect in 2018 and look what we did. Yes many of Contact us if you can help with D Switzerland’s experiment with addiction treatment by Cédric Gouverneur/The Nation It starts at 6 pm and will be held at Forage us were heartbroken at the seeming Republican sweep of Florida (you in the future know distribution in outlying areas . Prescribed heroin cuts crime and saves lives . Hall in Working Food, 219 NW 10th Ave. the real outcome), but the next day showed us that nationally things went pretty good. The https://www.thenation.com/article/switzerland-addiction-prescribed-heroin/ Authors and photographers have All are welcome. Bring a potluck dish if House has flipped Blue, a huge alteration in the DC power balance with Democrats now sole credit, responsibility for, and These 14 Democrats are at core of what Bernie Sanders calls the ‘Most D you can. ACLC works on Living Wage, in committee chairs. Many, many more women were elected to the House as well. Demo- rights to their work . progressive freshman class’ in modern US history by Jake Johnson/Common Dreams Renter’s Rights, and Medicare for All, and crats gained 7 governorships (maybe 8?), 8 scientists were elected, and LGBT and ethnic “The political establishment notwithstanding, the future belongs to progressives,” said helps out with other struggles going on in minorities made great gains. State houses around the country went Blue, too. Cover drawing of iguana by Daryl Sanders . Harrison . https://www.alternet.org/these-14-democrats-are-core-what-bernie-sanders-calls-most- the community. There is a lively youthful Not the least of it here in Florida was the tremendous organizing it took to re-enfranchise progressive-freshman-class-modern-us D feel to the ACLC as a new generation of Printed on recycled paper . labor activists have come on board. D See SUPPRESSING, p. 6 page 2, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 3 issue that Justice Roberts feels empowered to reach down and interfere with the normal proceedings of the courts because of that.” A major climate change lawsuit Now the federal government is arguing that there is no constitutional right to an environment free of climate change and is on hold. Again. that the children don’t have standing to make such a claim. But both sides agree that the case is not a question of the science. “This is not an environmental case, it’s a civil rights case,” wrote Our Children’s Trust, the nonprofit that is backing the lawsuit, in a press release. The US government, the defendant, has argued that the case has no basis in the law. “In our view, the Oregon lawsuit is an un- constitutional attempt to use a single court to control the entire nation’s energy and climate policy,” said Acting Assistant At- torney General Jeffrey Wood, who is help- ing represent the US government in the suit, at a law conference in October. “It is Transgender Day of Remembrance will be held on Tuesday evening, Nov. 20, at a matter of separation of powers and pre- the Bo Diddley Plaza in downtown Gainesville. Also known as TDOR, this event serving the opportunity in our system of was started on Nov. 20, 1999, as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a government for those policies to be decid- transgender woman of color who was killed in November of 1998. ed by the elected branches, not the courts.” The event serves to raise public awareness of hate crimes against transgender But in its filings, the government cited people, especially transgender women of color, and mourn and honor the lives of the harms from costs of litigation as the those who might otherwise be forgotten. This day also provides an opportunity for reason it was seeking a stay, essentially everyone to step forward and stand in vigil, memorializing those who have died by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, youth director for Earth Guardians, leads a rally in Boulder, Colo . arguing that it is a waste of time and anti-transgender violence. money to litigate a claim that would By Umair Irfan On Friday, the court denied the likely be dismissed. This event is present by Alachua Tranquility, Pride Community Center of North argues that the US government pursued This article was originally published government’s request for a stay, Central Florida, and UF LGBTQ+ Affairs. policies that harmed the climate, thereby though Justices Clarence Thomas and The plaintiffs responded in their brief by Vox . See more at https://www .vox . robbing the children of a “climate system last week that the cost and length of See Facebook event for further details: com/2018/11/2/18029146/climate- Neil Gorsuch would have granted the https://www.facebook.com/events/946112322243292/ D capable of sustaining human life.” As application, according to the court order. legal proceedings “are not a legitimate change-lawsuit-children-scotus-supreme- redress, they want the government to take The Supreme Court also suggested that basis to stop a trial on the constitutional court-juliana . action to fight climate change. a federal appeals court should consider rights of children.” Update, November 8: The Ninth Circuit “The youth of our nation won an important appeals on other grounds before the case For climate change activists, the Court of Appeals granted part of the Trump decision today from the Supreme Court heads to trial in district court. courtroom is one of the few remaining administration’s motion for a temporary that shows even the most powerful gov- The Justice Department this week filed options for enacting policies to limit stay of the Juliana v . US lawsuit. Trial ernment in the world must follow the rules even more motions to stop the trial and greenhouse gases, as the White House preparations are still going ahead, but the and process of litigation in our democra- scarcely acknowledges climate change have the case dismissed. “The federal D plaintiffs have 15 days to file a response. cy,” the plaintiffs said in a statement. “We government, by engaging in filing all and Congress remains deadlocked. Read more about the background of the have asked the District Court for an imme- these motions and petitions, is very, very case and the stakes below. diate status conference to get Juliana v . US scared of the evidence we’re going to put In a surprise decision late Friday, back on track for trial in the next week.” on at the trial,” Philip Gregory, co-lead the Supreme Court cleared the way A lower court ruled earlier this year the case counsel for the plaintiffs, told Vox. Hey, Readers! for Juliana v . US, a major lawsuit filed by could go to trial, and that trial was expected Several legal analysts told Vox that the young people against the US government to begin at the United States District Court Supreme Court’s temporary stay of a The Gainesville Iguana has opened for failing to limit the effects of climate in Oregon on Monday, October 29. case in a lower court was unusual, but the a PayPal account, and we’re now change. It’s not yet clear if the case will But then late last month, Supreme action signaled that the high court is very accepting donations through our go to trial, but attorneys on both sides will Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued interested in the issues at play and that website at www .gainesvilleiguana .org . meet on Thursday with Oregon District a temporary stay of the case to consider the justices expect the case could have Go to our home page and click on Court Judge Ann Aiken to decide if and a request from the Justice Department significant ripple effects. the Donate with PayPal to support when the trial will begin. for a stay to halt the case. The Supreme “It reflects the unfortunate politicization us via PayPal account or credit The case includes 21 plaintiffs between Court’s temporary stay sent the of climate change,” said Michael Burger, card . the ages of 11 and 22, who began testing plaintiffs scrambling to put together executive director of the Sabin Center We thank you very much! the idea that a safe climate is a civil right a brief in time to keep the case moving for Climate Change Law at Columbia when the suit was first filed in 2015. It forward on schedule. University. “[It’s] such a hotly political page 4, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 5 Noam Chomsky: Members of migrant caravan Protest against anti-LGBTQ conference, Nov. 30-Dec. 1 by Melina Rayna care emergency drop off center, they heavily discourage the fleeing from misery and horrors created by U.S. kids from any kind of non-cis-het activities. Amy Goodman hosts Democracy Now!, behind that. And his new troika—I doubt are fleeing from the misery and horrors for Ignite Life Center, a a vital news hour of reporting and inter- that the U.S. will dare to do something which we are responsible. church at 404 NW 14th A response is being planned. Friday night a “Community Ave., is on a large proper- Embrace” will gather at the Rails to Trails Park at 128 NW views that runs Monday through Friday . similar, but that’s what it brings to mind. And you have this incredible charade tak- All shows are archived for video and audio ty that borders NW 6th St. 14th Ave. at 5 pm and take a short walk to the Ignite Church. It’s kind of interesting to see this hysteri- ing place, which the world is looking at replay . See more at www .democracynow . Unfortunately, it is host- cal raving alongside of another astonish- with utter astonishment: Poor, miserable Then, on Saturday, marchers will gather at the Rail to Trail org . On Nov . 2, Amy interviewed Noam ing a conference called ing propaganda campaign that Bolton and people, families, mothers, children, fleeing Park at 11 am and march up the Railtrail to NW 16th Ave., Chomsky . Here is a excerpt from that show . Unbound on Friday, Nov. his colleagues are carrying out with regard from terror and repression, for which we are 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1 then left to NW 6th Street and down 6th Street to the Ignite AMY GOODMAN: As President Trump to the caravan of poor and miserable peo- responsible, and in reaction, they’re send- that has a strong anti-LG- Life Center. Once there and throughout the day, community escalates his attacks and threats against ple fleeing from severe oppression, vio- ing thousands of troops to the border. The BTQ point of view. They groups and individuals will picket. Spanish-speaking allies the Central American migrant caravans lence, terror, extreme poverty from three troops being sent to the border outnumber have invited what they are especially encouraged to participate, as Ignite Life Center making their way to the U.S.-Mexico bor- countries: Honduras—mainly Honduras, the children who are fleeing. And with a call “former members of is a mixed English/Spanish speaking congregation. der, the Trump administration unveiled secondarily Guatemala, thirdly El Salva- remarkable PR campaign, they’re frighten- the LGBTQ community” new sanctions against Venezuela and Community groups who would be able to commit 8-12 people dor—not Nicaragua, incidentally—three ing much of the country into believing that to speak. You know what Cuba Thursday. National security adviser for two-hour shifts, please email [email protected]. For countries that have been under harsh U.S. we’re just on the verge of an invasion by, that really means. John Bolton declared Venezuela, Cuba domination, way back, but particularly you know, Middle Eastern terrorists funded other questions, please see the Facebook event at https://www. and Nicaragua to be part of a “troika of since the 1980s, when Reagan’s terror wars by George Soros, so on and so forth. While the church is involved in many community activities facebook.com/events/293479768138373/ or call the Pride Com- tyranny” and a “triangle of terror.” Bolton such as acting as a polling station and an end of the line foster munity Center at 352-377-8915. Times are subject to change. D devastated particularly El Salvador and I mean, it’s all kind of reminiscent of was speaking in Miami, Florida. Guatemala, secondarily Honduras. Nica- something that happened 30 years ago. JOHN BOLTON: We will no longer ragua was attacked by Reagan, of course, You may recall, in 1985, Ronald Rea- appease dictators and despots near our but Nicaragua was the one country which gan strapped on his cowboy boots and shores. We will not reward firing squads, had an army to defend the population. In called—got in front of television, called torturers and murderers. We will cham- the other countries, the army were the state a national emergency, because the Nica- pion the independence and liberty of our terrorists, backed by the United States. raguan army was two days’ march from neighbors. And this president and his The most extreme source of migrants right Harlingen, Texas, just about to over- entire administration will stand with the now is Honduras. Why Honduras? Well, it whelm and destroy us. And it worked. freedom fighters. The troika of tyranny in was always bitterly oppressed. But in 2009, I mean, this spectacle is almost indescrib- this hemisphere—Cuba, Venezuela and Honduras had a mildly reformist president, able. Even apart from noticing where Nicaragua—has finally met its match. Mel Zelaya. The Honduran powerful, rich they’re coming from, the countries that AMY GOODMAN: As John Bolton elite couldn’t tolerate that. A military coup we have crucially been involved in de- spoke in Miami on Thursday, Democra- took place, expelled him from the country. stroying, it’s—the ability to carry this off cy Now!’s Nermeen Shaikh and I spoke It was harshly condemned all through the repeatedly is quite an amazing commen- with the world-renowned professor, lin- hemisphere, with one notable exception: tary on much of the popular culture. guist and dissident Noam Chomsky. He the United States. The Obama administra- joined us from Tucson, Arizona, where he tion refused to call it a military coup, be- But the troika, just like the “axis of evil,” are now teaches at the University of Arizona. cause if they had, they would have been those who just don’t obey U.S. orders. Co- Noam Chomsky is also institute professor compelled by law to withdraw military lombia, for example, has the worst human emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of funding from the military regime, which rights record in the hemisphere for years, but Technology, where he’s taught for more was imposing a regime of brutal terror. they’re not part of the troika of tyranny. than 50 years. His recent books include Honduras became the murder capital of All of this rings very familiar bells. It’s Global Discontents: Conversations on the the world. A fraudulent election took place a long—it’s been a long-standing ele- Rising Threats to Democracy, Who Rules under the military junta—again, harshly ment of the U.S. propaganda system on the World? and Requiem for the Ameri- condemned all over the hemisphere, most the—mostly on the far right, but not only, can Dream: The 10 Principles of Concen- of the world, but not by the United States. which goes way back and which is a kind tration of Wealth & Power. The Obama administration praised Hon- of pathological feature of the dominant I began by asking Professor Chomsky to duras for carrying out an election, moving political culture that should be under- D respond to NSA, national security adviser, towards democracy and so on. Now people stood, analyzed and dismantled. John Bolton’s remarks on Latin America. From SUPPRESSING, p. 3 NOAM CHOMSKY: Well, that, of 1.5 million citizens who had a felony conviction on their criminal record. It was a true course, immediately brings to mind the grassroots people-to-people effort to get it on the ballot, and now it is all but a reality. “axis of evil” speech of George Bush back So many people in our blue dot area got behind this campaign, and it is a huge win for in 2002, which was the precursor, laying democracy. the groundwork, for the invasion of Iraq, the worst crime of this century, with hor- Let us hope this is a turning point, but don’t think it won’t be a fight. We need to work rendous consequences for Iraq, eliciting together, support each other’s struggles, and see the common enemy of ignorance and blind ethnic conflicts that are tearing the region allegiance to reactionary ideology. But for now, again from the recent past as I sit here now apart—a major atrocity. John Bolton was November 10, COUNT ALL THE VOTES. And then we organize and move forward. D page 6, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 7 From BROKEN p. 1 citizens across faction, party, and racial boundaries are ready to victories in Alachua County, while outlying county results were let a highly functioning County Commission continue its work Emily Browne, activist, NOW president, RIP almost symmetrically flipped in Senate D8 and were outright with a leader who shares their values. catastrophic in House 21. A once unlikely importance has become attached to Obituary from the Gainesville Sun Yocum, Camden McNeely, and Cassidy McNeely. She was so enamored of her great-grandson, Jackson Yocum, that she lit up This has been a pattern for Democratic candidates in the past. environmentalist and citizen advocate Kaithleen Hernandez In addition to Emily Browne, the past couple weeks saw defeating Neo-Confederate Chris Rose for Soil and Water the passing of two other crusaders for justice in our town, the room when holding him. She also cherished her extended Having spent as much time, money, party, and people power as family: Brad McNeely, Stephanie Yocum, Donna and Richard we possibly could on multiple victorious progressive candidates Conservation District 3. But all of us now realize that restoring environmentalist Dwight Adams and Civil Rights activist our planet and crushing fascism is at the top of every checklist. Mildred Hill-Lubin . We acknowledge their contribution to our Rayburn, Kyle Krumwiede, Linda Bassham, Dottie Faibisy, and and issue campaigns this cycle in Alachua County and many, many friends. Gainesville – Children Services Trust, 1/2 Cent School Facilities The School Board contest won by incumbent Chair Dr. Gun- community and offer condolences to their friends and families . Tax, saving our public utility (GRU Referendum), Amendment nar Paulson, a Democrat in this fictionally non-partisan race, is Emily Marden Browne, age In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Planned 4 – the clear Wednesday morning quarterback solution is to complicated enough to merit a separate article. I confess I do Parenthood, and GO VOTE! (Note: This ran in the Sun before 76, after battling Parkinson’s D distribute some of our valuable organizing and electioneering not have the courage to write it at this time, and many progres- disease for years, died the election .) talent into neighboring counties as soon as possible. sives feel the same way. The truth is, April Tisher might have peacefully on Oct. 12, We can’t just wait for old white Dixiecrats to die, or try to flip won had she focused on her role as a majority vote on equity 2018, in Gainesville, racists in places where the Civil War never ended. We do have issues with sitting Board Member Dr. Leanetta McNeally and Florida. Emily was born in to seek out rural county citizens that share our values and know Member-Elect Tina Certain. Instead she displayed her Republi- Glendale, NJ, and moved our struggle. The electoral dilemma is outside our bubble, not on can credentials to a fault. with her family to Florida in our tiny “blue island.” Dr. Paulson and the Board majority were not too long ago a beam the late 1950s. She earned of reforming light to an outgoing conservative Board. They must her bachelor’s degree in The success of all our local referendums on public school fund- mathematics (because UF ing (kids, parks, and conservation are frequently positive bipar- now decide on their legacy as our community demands more rapid and radical redress on change on equity issues. wouldn’t let her major tisan referendum issues in our County), election reforms (no in engineering!) from more stand alone Gainesville City elections), and our public At the end of the day, it’s a mixed bag for North Central the University of Florida. utility governance (which stays with elected officials) are to be Florida. But statewide we saw absolute catastrophe as half noted. They are joined by plainspoken public educator Marihel- of our neighbors elected an openly fascist governor. And yet, After a brief stint teaching, en Wheeler’s trouncing of pro-development NPA Scott Costello our former slave state won a big second chance. That second she discovered her profes- and Libertarian Gregory Caudill. Her two opponents mustered chance is 1.5 million people strong – the number of formerly sional niche, computer programming. She described it as solving only 35 percent of the vote. incarcerated Floridians, most of them working poor and people puzzles and getting paid for it. She was a pioneer in the field, and made a great career in it, but her real passion was to right wrongs. Costello openly played the corporate land developers’ card – as of color, who now have the right to vote because we passed if zoning for McMansions on our wetlands is going to lift anyone Amendment 4. Sixty-four percent of voters approved it. One She began her work in the struggle for civil rights in the ‘60s. She out of poverty or hardship. But his resounding loss signals that hundred percent of the people affected will tell you what it’s like was part of the March on Washington in 1963, and expanded her to lose everything and keep on struggling. fight for justice to encompass women’s rights and gay/lesbian To that end let us share the wisdom of journalist Roland rights soon after. Her guiding principle had been that until all Martin, the 2018 Alachua County NAACP Freedom Fund human rights are protected, none of us are free. Banquet keynote speaker. On Nov. 4, to a packed gymnasium Emily was a believer in political action as a means of effecting at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Gainesville, he urged us systemic and therefore cultural, change. Over the past decades, to “Fight until Hell freezes over, then do battle on the ice.” she had done it all: picketing, petitions, precinct walking, Alachua County’s Those are not words of compromise or surrender. They are legislation writing, candidate support. She even ran for public “No Pressure” Realtor fighting words. We need to shout them over and over and over office in a political gambit. again until we get this right. For many years, Emily was President of the Gainesville Blue island electioneering and big money campaigns clearly are NOW (National Organization for Women) and was a co- No buyer fees and not solutions. We need the movement organizing that drives the founder of the Judy Levy chapter of NOW, a precinct listing commission is readership of this journal to continue to do its two-pronged work coordinator for the Alachua County Democratic Executive only 1.5% of being issue-focused and election savvy. Committee, and a lifetime member of the NAACP, and Hell has frozen over. Now we battle on the ice. countless other organizations. Emily was instrumental in protecting women’s health clinics from Let me help you find James Thompson is the Vice Chair of the Alachua County Democratic Party and wishes to be explicit that his opinions protesters; she was involved in gaining the inclusion of sexual your next perfect fit and analysis are his own . They do not in any way represent orientation protections into Gainesville’s anti-discrimination home! official Party positions.D ordinance; and she served on various advisory boards, including the Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women. In 2002 she was awarded the Santa Fe College Woman of Distinction Sandy Malone, Realtor and in 2010 the Friend of Susan B. Anthony award. She was a C. 352-575-4080 [The media can be] the greatest crusader for justice. Emily was an avid gardener, loved playing cards, games, and force for peace on the earth jigsaw puzzles, and even won crossword puzzle tournaments. [email protected] [for] it is how we come She was an accomplished painter, specializing in natural www.goldenrulerealestate.com to understand each other . landscapes in oil. She is survived by her brother Jonathan Marden, her two -Amy Goodman successful daughters, Kimberly Browne and Allison McNeely, and was thrilled to love three wonderful grandchildren: Trevor page 8, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 9 www.civicmediacenter.org WGOT seeks help to resume streaming worldwide [email protected] By Fred Sowder, WGOT Station Manager Fundraising is the relatively easy part of election coverage in between the 352-373-0010 433 S. Main St., Gainesville 32601 It’s been a banner year for your community this and we’re requesting your assistance. Democracy Now!/The Intercept national Our GoFundMe page (goo.gl/Rtwii1) still election night rundown. Park just to the south on SE 5th Ave, or after radio station. 7 pm at the courthouse (just north of 4th continues to fundraise for this important Ave), or GRU (2 blocks east of CMC). 2018 has seen the creation of our studio We’ve had several orientation and project, and it’s just over $2,000 away training sessions and look forward to within the Civic Media Center; a blowout from reaching its goal. 10th anniversary celebration featuring having more of those in the new year. Civic------Media Center Events Radon, Whiskey & Co. and others at The Perhaps more importantly, you can be- We encourage all of our attendees to Every Sun Zine Meeting at 12pm Atlantic; and the lecture by Democracy come a sustaining member of WGOT’s continue using the studio, especially Every Thu Volunteer Meeting at 5:30pm Now!’s Amy Goodman in Gainesville mission by becoming a patron here: goo. to practice and hone your delivery and gl/ZBjYxc. Becoming a monthly sustain- production skills. That’s why it’s there. Poetry Jam at 8pm in association with the CMC’s 25th Every Sat Meditation at 9am anniversary celebration. er will get you bonus episodes of many of Increasing the number of locally-based your favorite WGOT programs as well as programs on our schedule is really ------We’ve also had continued partnerships with other cool swag TBA. And since WGOT important to us. Fri Nov 16 Connect the Dots Live Music 7pm The Fest, Daily Green, Sweetwater Organic is a part of the Civic Media Center, your Open Jam and Art Show 10pm We also have open board and scheduling Sat Nov 17 Yoga 10am Coffee Company, and other great sponsors. donations are fully tax deductible. volunteer positions to fill if you’re Free Store 2-5pm But we’re not stopping there. We’re also in the process of applying for a interested in being a part of WGOT’s day- Mon Nov 19 Movie Monday: “Brooklyn Castle” 7pm Our next mission is to begin streaming local grant to assist us in this endeavor and to-day operations. Tue Nov 20 Queer Movie Night and Vegan Potluck 6pm again worldwide to overcome reception anyone with grant writing experience would Thank you for helping in whatever ca- Thu Nov 22 Closed for Thanksgiving problems from having only a 100-watt sig- also be a large asset. Those with technical pacity you can to help your station grow. Fri Nov 23 Anti-Thanksgiving Food Not Bombs Benefit nal originating from the area of Santa Fe Show 9pm expertise willing to volunteer their services Stay tuned to 100.1 FM and like us on College. The biggest obstacles to that right Sat Nov 24 Sustaining Wellness Workshop 12pm to accomplish the latter goal would also Facebook for upcoming details about now are funds needed to cover over a 100 Mon Nov 26 Movie Monday hosted by Students for Justice provide an invaluable contribution. WGOT’s 11th anniversary show coming percent increase in our annual performance for Palestine 7pm In addition, WGOT seeks to increase its rights fees, as well as the implementation to The Atlantic in January! Tue Nov 27 Letters to Prisoners 6-8pm of reporting technology since we’ll need live programming originating from the If you missed it, Amy Goodman’s #GivingTuesday to submit our entire playlist of songs along Civic Media Center. speech at the Civic Media Center’s 25th Thu Nov 29 Connect the Dots Live Music10:30pm with the number of people streaming at Doug Clifford and I recently had a Anniversary celebration can be found Fri Nov 30 Women’s Self-Defense Jiu Jitsu Class 6pm any given time on a quarterly basis. successful live hour of local midterm here: goo .gl/S78wGD . D Silent Disco and Art Fest 9pm Sat Dec 1 Yoga 10am Mon Dec 3 Movie Monday 7pm Wed Dec 5 Communication Skills Workshop 6-8pm INDIE AND OLDER ROCK, ELECTRONIC, PUNK, AMERICANA, JAZZ, etc. Fri Dec 7 ARTWALK 7-10pm MORNINGS 9-11, AFTERNOONS 2-4, EVENINGS AFTER 6 Open Jam and Art Show 10pm-2am Sat Dec 8 Sustaining Wellness Workshop 12pm Mon Dec 10 Movie Monday 7pm THOM HARTMANN GREAT SHOWS BY: 7 AM Tue Dec 11 Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee FRED SOWDER 6-8pm Wed Dec 12 PUNK Oral History Project 6pm DEMOCRACY NOW! BILL PERRY Fri Dec 14 Connect the Dots Live Music 9pm AMY GOODMAN Sat Dec 15 Yoga 10am 8 AM, 1 PM H.R. GERTNER FREE Store 2-5pm D.J. CRAMELA Connect the Dots Live Music Show 10pm MÚSICA EN ESPAÑOL Mon Dec 17 Movie Monday 7pm VICTOR PEREZ D.J. 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From RECAP p. 24 announced future plans, but with increased financed by contributions from the state’s member engagement, a lot is possible. “I unionized public employees’ pensions, re- Hyatt hotel heir Jay Pritzker, will overtake want to get back to building power,” Ari- ported Capital and Main. A day in the life of a poll worker: President Donald Trump as the richest elect- zona teacher Rebecca Garelli said. ed official in the country. Rent control was a key issue for rank-and- NURSE RATIOS, RENT CONTROL LOST file Teamster and Richmond City Council A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER? Mid-term election November 6, 2018 Workers and unions have often succeeded member Jovanka Beckles, who had union Teachers who took part in this spring’s strike on issue fights at the polls. 2018 saw some and community support in her run for a state by Connie Caldwell half a sandwich. They’re big. Then I’m He chooses to re-do his entire ballot. We wave vowed for months to “Remember in legislature spot in Richmond and Berkeley. back at my station. continue to wait. victories, including votes to increase the We arrive at the big front doors of our November” and punish politicians who op- minimum wage in Arkansas and Missouri. Beckles is a longtime activist in the Rich- posed their efforts. In Oklahoma, Arizona, precinct, the Museum of Natural History One young woman who comes to check There are two poll watchers who have But there were also notable losses. A Massa- mond Progressive Alliance, which has man- on campus before 6 am. It’s dark. We’re in asks how I am. That’s when I realize been with us all day, sitting together and West Virginia, teachers and their unions aged to break Chevron’s political domina- hoped to turn their state houses less red, with chusetts safe staffing initiative was crushed a team of seven. There’s much to prepare I’ve already been doing this for six hours. unobtrusively in a corner and occasionally by a well-funded hospital-backed “no” cam- tion of that oil-refinery town. But she lost the hopes of winning more funding for edu- the legislative race to the well-funded candi- and we must be ready for voters by 7. And there are six more to go. walking around the room. One of them cation (and in West Virginia, a permanent fix paign. takes pity on us and brings us food. She date of the Democratic establishment, who I help with whatever I can: with Kathryn, But I can do this. I must do this. At times to the state’s public employees health insur- California voters rejected a ballot initiative places a small plate of snacks on the shelf had the backing of charter school supporters the “ballot lady,” setting up cardboard during the afternoon I feel a bit woozy, ance system). that would have restored municipalities’ and out-of-state donors. behind each of us. voting booths on the long tables and sometimes shivery. It’s cold in the room Arizona teachers suffered a setback over ability to enact rent control; Wall Street in- fused millions into the opposition campaign, And ironworker Randy Bryce of Wisconsin, distributing pens in the voting booths; but I think my shivers are not just from All day I had been telling myself, the summer when the state’s supreme court also known as “Iron Stache,” hoped to re- with Paul, plugging in and powering up the the cold. A couple of times I ask the voter “Well, it’s supposed to be healthy to knocked their “Invest in Ed” initiative off including $12 million from private equity firm Blackstone, which has heavy -invest claim Paul Ryan’s seat in Congress with a EVIDs (Electronic Voter Identification). in front of me to wait a few seconds while fast occasionally.” Now that we’re done the ballot. Nevertheless, teachers said their pro-worker, pro-union message—but he lost checking in voters I have time to enjoy strike made education the top issue in the ments in rental properties. Ironically, Black- “The other” Mike places the necessary I get a sip of water. stone’s money came from investment funds to Ryan’s Republican successor. D the food the poll watcher has brought. I state’s election. Republican politicians who signs outside and around the room. Carina In the thick of it I need a bathroom break. eat every morsel. had opposed the strike scrambled to portray sets up her ballot scanners. Ashley, the Ashley, the assistant clerk, takes over themselves—deceitfully—as supporters of assistant clerk, helps everyone. At 6:40 I for me. I go to the break room, too, and As soon as the last voter has finished, public education. ask Mike, the clerk, what else I can do. get another bite or two of my sandwich, we begin shutting down everything and The state’s voters ultimately rejected a ballot There’s nothing right now, so I take this feeling guilty while I’m at it, but we can’t packing up. All our numbers are easily initiative to expand school vouchers, and the opportunity to eat some of the breakfast have food in the room with us. reconciled. We’ve done well. We feel like statehouse will be less red, if not split, when a team. By 8:45 we can go home. I had brought with me. I’m back by 6:50. Somewhat refreshed, I’m back at my all the votes are counted. But Arizonans weren’t able to topple key Republican law- I take my seat at my EVID and quickly EVID. The young people keep coming. My plan had been to join Jeff at the after- makers, including Governor Doug Ducey. review, again, the steps in my manual for I thank them for voting when I think of party at Cypress and Grove Brewery. I checking in a voter. it, especially the ones whose birth date call Jeff. He says it’s loud and crazy there. In Oklahoma, after the strike ended in April, 100 teachers decided to run for office, and Now it’s 7. Yes, there’s a line of young is 1999 or 2000. I know they’re voting Well, at this point all I want is home and for the first time. I love seeing their fresh 65 of those made it through the primaries. people waiting! a beer. I head home. After feeding the cat, On Tuesday, six K-12 teachers were elect- young faces. It’s very encouraging. I hope I settle in my rocking chair with my beer ed to the state legislature. The legislature’s We begin. After the first few voters I’m they will continue to vote in the future, finding it easy and fun. I enjoy greeting and the newspaper puzzles. It takes my education caucus, which includes current even if their candidates don’t win this brain a while to come home and settle or former teachers, administrators, and sup- each one, and so many of them are first- time. I hope this means a generation of port staff, grew from nine to 25—although time voters. down. As I sit there I keep looking up to involved citizens coming up! greet the next person in line! many of those, including teachers, are Re- Quite often I have to send someone to the During the afternoon and evening it’s publicans. Oklahoma also re-elected a Re- Clerk’s table for a change of address or Yes, it was a long, grueling day. Would I publican governor who had opposed raises constant, no breaks at all. I’m on auto- do it again? for teachers. other issue. Some have to be directed to matic pilot by now. Then suddenly it’s 7 another polling place. pm. We did it! At mid-afternoon I would have said no. North Carolina voters broke the Republican supermajority of their statehouse that for The fact that the Phillips Center next But by the end of the evening there was By 7:10 we’ve checked in every voter. a feeling of camaraderie with my fellow six years pushed through devastating cuts door is also a polling place is causing Only one young woman comes after to public education and attacks on workers some confusion. It’s not obvious, when workers, and a sense of elation, realizing we’ve closed. She tells us that she just got what we had accomplished. rights and public services, and sparked the approaching from outside, that there are off work. It’s hard, turning her away but Moral Mondays movement in 2013. two different polling locations. People I think my elation is about all the young we have no choice. Later I wonder how Kentucky teachers had also hoped that a show up at one place when they should many people in the long line that still voters who came to us, and that we were wave would bring educators into the state- be at the other, and sometimes they’ve snakes around the Phillips Center should just one of at least four precincts on house. Ultimately 14 out of 51 educators already stood in line for a long time. have been in our line, and won’t be al- campus. I’m grateful that I was stationed (including administrators) won races in the Later, I think maybe it would have helped lowed to vote. at this particular precinct. And yes, I just statehouse but Kentuckians only made a might do it again. D small dent in the Republican majority (two to have someone check their voter regis- Now we have to wait for all the people tration cards when they approach the lines. seats). who are still here to finish marking If you don’t like who’s in there, Maybe I will suggest that for next time. their long ballots before we can begin Colorado teachers, after joining the spring wave of walkouts, had gathered signatures We keep our line moving. Occasionally packing up and going through the Vote ‘em out to for a ballot measure to raise taxes on there’s a break and I can stand up and process of shutting down. One young That’s what Election Day is all about the rich and deliver $1.6 billion for public walk around for a minute or two. man says he has mistakenly marked two schools. Voters rejected it 55 to 45. ovals on an item. He chooses to cast his The biggest gun we’ve got’ I choose the 11 am lunch half-hour. Jeff ballot anyway, knowing that particular Unions will have to keep organizing to pres- brings in sandwiches (lucky me) and we Is called “the ballot box” sure hostile lawmakers to put more money item won’t count. eat quickly in the small break room. I’m - Willie Nelson into public education. Will it take another super-hungry and shaky but I can only eat Another young man has a similar issue. strike wave? Teachers in these states haven’t page 14, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 15 After an election of historic firsts, the real work begins Amidst the backdrop of white nationalist violence linked to the presidency of Donald Trump, the 2018 midterm elections are ushering in a slate of elected officials representing the country’s diversity more than ever before

byAmy Goodman, Denis Moynihan/Common Dreams Davids also is a lesbian, as well as a former professional kickboxer. “Words cannot express my gratitude to every organizer, every Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are the first two Muslim women News from the small-dollar donor, every working parent and dreamer who ever elected to Congress. Tlaib, a Detroit activist who is filling John helped make this movement happen,” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Conyers’ seat, will be the first Palestinian-American congresswoman. said to the ecstatic crowd that packed the election night party She says she’ll be taking her bullhorn to Washington. celebrating her victorious run for Congress. She told her supporters, “I will uplift you in so many ways, “That’s exactly what this is, not a campaign or an Election Day, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! speaks at the CMC’s 25th anniversary not only through service, but fighting back against every single but a movement, a larger movement for social, economic and celebration on Oct . 19 . Democracy Now! is one of the leading U .S .-based oppressive, racist structure that needs to be dismantled, because Civic racial justice in the United States of America.” you deserve better.” independent daily news broadcasts in the world and is broadcast on NPR, PBS, Pacifica and a variety of college and community radio stations including WGOT in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or “AOC” to her core supporters, Minnesota legislator Ilhan Omar is the first Somali-American Gainesville . Photos courtesy of Connor Hayes and Ian Maikisch/lvltotheroom .com is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. This Bronx- ever elected to Congress. In her victory speech, she said, “I born, 29-year-old millennial of Puerto Rican descent is a proud stand here before you tonight, as your congresswoman-elect, Media row, starting Thursday with “Queer the Fest,” a CMC-produced member of the Democratic Socialists of America. She marks a with many firsts behind my name: the first woman of color to music show featuring LGBTQ artists as sort of an antidote to critical inflection point in American electoral politics. Amidst the represent our state in Congress. The first woman to wear a hijab the much too white, much too straight Fest, which was all over backdrop of white nationalist violence linked to the presidency … [and] the first refugee ever elected to Congress.” Gainesville Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, including the CMC of Donald Trump, the 2018 midterm elections are ushering in as a venue for each of those nights. Adding to the tempo on a slate of elected officials representing the country’s diversity These are just a few of the agents of change who emerged victo- Center rious in the 2018 midterms. Many of them support progressive by Joe Courter the block, the CMC courtyard hosted a Saturday afternoon of more than ever before. lively ska bands organized by Vinnie from Less Than Jake, policies like “Medicare-for-all,” a federal $15 minimum wage, October was breathtaking for the Civic Media Center. A lot While Republicans increased their majority in the U.S. Senate, who are also residents on the block with their merchandise debt-free college and comprehensive immigration reform, and of preparation led up to the very successful 25th anniversary the Democrats took control of the House of Representatives. headquarters Paper and Plastic. Lots of fun (and work) and a lot are deeply concerned about climate change. celebration on Friday evening, Oct. 19, when the CMC hosted Many races remain too close to call, including the intensely of refreshments provided, all benefiting the CMC. Democracy Now!’s host Amy Goodman for a double-header fought and closely watched race for governor of Georgia Yes, the bottom shook the top, but whether our country’s dangerous event; first a meet and greet benefiting the CMC’s low power FM I said ska in the prior paragraph as a reference to music, but between Stacey Abrams, who would become the first African- shift toward authoritarianism gets shaken off its foundation is still station WGOT with the fine people from Afternoon Restaurant SKA has taken on a new meaning for the Civic Media Center. In American woman governor in the country, and Brian Kemp, to be seen. President Donald Trump represents a wall, both literally hosting, and then right across the parking lot at Working Food a this case it is a place, the Stetson Kennedy Annex. In the space who refused to recuse himself as Georgia’s Republican secretary and figuratively. The 2018 midterm elections turned that wall into full house of over 200 people got to hear a great talk from one of vacated by Sequential Artists Workshop to the rear of the CMC, of state, overseeing the very election in which he is a candidate. a door. Whether that door is kicked open or slammed shut depends the leading journalists of our time. this multi-level area will now be a place for a needed expansion Kemp, who is being sued for a racist campaign of voter not only on elected officials, but on the people who put them there. for the CMC. It has already proved to be an asset for hosting two These elections are not an end in themselves. Times like these are For those who missed the talk, it is available for streaming at suppression, is slightly ahead in the vote tally, but thousands events at the same time, and presently a staging area for sorting goo.gl/S78wGD., and a partial video can be seen at https://www. of ballots have yet to be counted, and Abrams is refusing to when movements can have the greatest effect. out a major book donation from the beloved Jack Price (over facebook.com/lvltotheroom/videos/690905477951209/. concede. More than 110 million people voted, far more than in past 40 boxes of books), who moved to a VA care facility from his At least 20 CMC volunteers were there to help out from set home due to declining health. It was a $400 increase in rent but a This was an election of firsts. Nationally, a historic number midterm elections. Yet still half of eligible voters stayed home or up to break down. Jacob Adams provided a flawless sound major opportunity to enhance the CMC’s operations and a fitting of women ran for office. This is the first time that more than were excluded by the increasingly widespread voter suppression system. Area restaurants Leonardo’s 706, East End Eatery, optimistic way to begin its 25th year of operations. 100 women will serve in Congress. Connecticut schoolteacher tactics being deployed across the country. The movements Gyro Plus, Sweetwater Branch Inn, and again Afternoon, Jahana Hayes and Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley behind this historic electoral result for women and for diversity As was emphasized at the anniversary program, the CMC is provided food. After her over-an-hour talk, Amy stayed to sign became the first African-American women to represent their must also work to increase engagement, enfranchisement and looking to build a monthly donor support system, a regular books and talked with everyone who stayed around – a very states in Congress. Sylvia Garcia and Veronica Escobar became electoral participation. donation of a small amount of money from a lot of people to genuine, warm person. And then at the conclusion of the event, the first two Latinas elected to Congress from Texas. help underwrite the rather staggering expense of maintaining a One of the biggest success stories this week was the passage of Coordinators Kaithleen Hernandez and Emily Arnold, Fred place like the CMC. The anniversary was a big success, and we Early on Election Day in Escobar’s district in El Paso, the Florida’s Amendment 4, restoring the right to vote to 1.4 million Sowder from WGOT and others invited Amy to come down will be putting some of that into needed infrastructure such as U.S. Border Patrol initiated an unannounced “crowd control” Floridians with prior felony convictions. It’s one of the biggest to the CMC itself to take a look at what it was she’d come to new chairs, and better lighting and sound equipment, as music exercise, only to cancel it after public outcry over the apparent acts of voter enfranchisement since women got the right to vote support, and from what I heard she was very impressed. As shows are proving a good fundraising tool (plus, hey, music is attempt to intimidate Latinx voters. in 1920. It should be replicated around the country. much as we were with her. part of media). The CMC is a 501(c)3 non-profit, and your help Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Sharice Davids of Kansas Now, as these many newly elected officials assume their duties D That done, then came the next week and four nights of music in a is greatly appreciated! became the first Native American women elected to Congress. after hard-fought campaigns, the real work begins. D page 16, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 17 houses. Last year’s change to the zoning speeded that up. Checks and balances – Gainesville’s Department of Doing The three-story apartments going up next to my house ‘Gainesville, Citizen Centered, People Empowered’ or ‘Gainesvile, Citizen Censored, Developer Empowered’? are all “luxury” apartments. Now the Department of by Lee Malis and Gainesville Neighbors United But how could a developer have a permit to cut down a tree in Doing plans to change the zoning again to allow even my yard? Over the next days, I wrote to the city commissioners, more rentals at higher density, without telling property I came home from vacation one day to find a backhoe ripping out owners. Fifth Avenue is being zoned out of existence. trees, knocking down my fence and then going after a giant Live all of whom I had voted for and for many of whom I’d helped Oak tree in my backyard. My shock and confusion at the time campaign. Not one wrote back. And the Department of Doing is trying to impose would be hard to describe. I had just come from attending a great Then the land moving equipment came, digging out near the big citywide changes in the name of “affordable housing.” wedding with lots of old friends. I was feeling happy and content. Live Oak’s roots. Though I called the Dept. of Doing again to That means developers can come into any neighbor- That was August 16 and that was the last time I felt that way. try and stop that, the city staff didn’t answer my calls. I called hood, bypass zoning regulations, and build nine expen- The past three months seem to have been nonstop invasion, the police, and I called all the commissioners again. Luckily, sive rentals in exchange for one that’s “affordable.” attacks, slander, and legal fighting. commissioner Gigi Simmons was a couple of blocks away The city commissioners are the Department of Do- and came to visit while Sergeant Wilkins of GPD got the land- ing’s biggest supporters in this. The Department of Do- My name is Lee Malis, and I left Gainesville back in the 80s moving crew to agree to stay away from the roots for the day. and returned home after being away for almost 30 years. I ing came up with this plan after months of talking with The next day the city staff came out and said that they would ask “stakeholders” including developers who would profit photographed social upheavals all over the Americas and Mr. Jones to keep his crew away from the roots until the new Europe for 20 years and raised my family in Prague, Czech from it. Not with the public, no notice to property own- survey was finished. Without a lawyer to agree to take it on contingency or pro bono, ers, a few sham “workshops,” and now, after people protested, Republic. I had covered Pinochet in Chile, the massacres of the it’s not worth it. I’m exhausted now. Civil law is for the wealthy. Mayan Indians in Guatemala, the wars in Bosnia and Croatia, Mr. Britton Jones had held a neighborhood meeting back in four sham “affordable housing open houses.” the coups of Russia, the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification March, as required for the Reef Apartments development But it’s not all bad news. Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos Unless people start standing up for our neighborhoods and the of Germany. I had been a photojournalist for Time, Newsweek, application. The invitation to the meeting had a map showing asked the City Auditor to investigate what’s going on. There is way the city is being run, we are in real trouble. US News and World Report, and many more magazines. that the Reef Apartments were over a mile away from the actual an official independent investigation of the Dept. of Doing by location. I sent that map to the city commissioners and the the City Auditor. And the state Board of Surveyors and Mappers Wendy Thomas is the director of the Department of Doing. When I quit photojournalism, I bought an old hurricane- developer had to hold another meeting and notice it properly. has started two official investigations into the engineering firm Before she came to work for the City of Gainesville, she was damaged sailboat, fixed it up and then sailed in my 40’ ketch They then did not invite me or any other person living adjacent Jay Brown Professional Group and their surveyor. the planning director in Bozeman, Montana. Her department for 10 years between Maine and the Caribbean working as a floated an incentivized “affordable” housing plan there as the to the property. I complained again, this time to the Dept. of It’s been an education on how Gainesville government works. captain, fixing boats, teaching high school, and I even published Doing and they promptly did … nothing. Department of Doing is trying to enact here in Gainesville via a small monthly newspaper for a while in St. Augustine. It seems the new Orwellian “Department of Doing,” and the GNV R.I.S.E. The Dept. of Doing continued to do nothing but said that city’s newspeak logo, “Gainesville, Citizen Centered, People When I came home to Gainesville five years ago, my son had they would look into it. So I assumed there would be another Empowered” was created to help developers get their jobs done. But that plan didn’t work there. According to an article in the never lived in the United States and I had always told my meeting. Nothing was done and not only did they not have I’ve seen no desire to protect the citizen’s rights. It should be Bozeman Daily Chronicle A community group called “Save children that Gainesville is the center of the universe. another meeting they gave them their permit and no one from “Gainesville, Citizen Censored, Developer Empowered. Bozeman” filed suit against the city, accusing city commissioners of modifying development regulations to “benefit developers I bought an abandoned old house and my son and I lived in the the neighborhood had any say in the event. Due process for the The city planning department – the “Dept. of Doing” – is trying to without neighborhood input,” saying commissioners rushed house. He attended Santa Fe Community College and I worked adjacent neighbors was ignored. A pattern was forming. pass an amendment to the recently updated City Comprehensive through a 2015 design guideline change to promote high-density on renovating the house. I created a nice garden and am getting Back to September now. When the new survey came out, it was plan. They’re calling this new plan “GNV R.I.S.E.” Some of the development. involved in Gainesville life again. obvious it was wrong again! They did not correct the tree size. Newspeak is just amazing. My favorite is the term “Affordable The size of the tree is crucial to the fee paid for the permit to Housing”! They are saying this is an Affordable Housing plan. Our city isn’t making it easy to find out what’s going on in the My son graduated and moved back to Prague for film school. Department of Doing. Maybe you heard something about what I was happy with a quiet life, repairing the house, renting out cut it down. Surveys are not supposed to be alternative facts. And who can be against helping less affluent people have Nobody seemed to care. Jones agreed to not tear down the tree affordable housing? Not me. I grew up on the streets and was they’re calling an “affordable housing plan”? Maybe you read a the rooms downstairs with Airbnb, and making a garden and Gainesville Sun article or editorial about it? fixing broken things. I fixed old lawnmowers, furniture, broken saying it would be too expensive. But he did tear out my fence, a ward of the courts from the time I was 13 years old. They are bicycles. I enjoyed a simple existence. tore out other trees, sued me with a SLAPP suit. For those who finally going to help my people! Hallelujah! What you probably didn’t hear is what it really is – citywide don’t know what a SLAPP suit is: zoning changes. This time the changes affect all neighborhoods. Then, along came the Reef Apartments, a new “luxury apartment But no. The City of Gainesville and the Department of Doing community” development next door to my house in the 5th “A strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) is have a different definition of affordable housing. But were any neighborhoods or property owners notified? No. Avenue neighborhood. a lawsuit that is intended to censor, intimidate, and silence Mayor Lauren Poe says “affordable” means 30 percent of The Department of Doing has tried from the start to call the critics by burdening them with the cost of a legal defense until After the initial backhoe attempt to tear out my tree, I got city income. But he didn’t say anything about how much income. So comprehensive plan amendment an “affordable housing plan” they abandon their criticism or opposition . Such lawsuits they can build luxury apartments that are affordable for middle- to hide what they’re really doing until it’s too late. Well, too employees to come to my house and see with their own eyes that have been made illegal in many jurisdictions on the grounds there had been a mistake. income people but not for the lower-income people. He says the late is coming up fast – Nov. 29. Commissioners will vote on that they impede freedom of speech .…The plaintiff’s goals are city has a housing crisis and needs the Department of Doing’s the changes then. So far they just keep saying the changes Gainesville’s city planning department, recently renamed the accomplished if the defendant succumbs to fear, intimidation, latest rezoning plan for that reason. But the plan is touted to help are a tool in their toolbox or an experiment they can undo if “Dept. of Doing,” had given the Reef Apartments a permit to mounting legal costs, or simple exhaustion and abandons the lower income people. A sham. it doesn’t work. tear down a tree that was standing in my backyard. The Live Oak criticism…” (From Wikipedia .) But last year Poe said, “Gainesville has an overabundance tree is also actually approximately five feet in diameter, not less Doesn’t happen that way. So now I’ve spent almost half of my yearly income on legal costs. of affordable housing.” Which is it? And how does favoring than three feet as their survey showed, a difference of $20,000 in I started a Go Fund me site with the help of Meg Neiderhofer. developers over neighborhoods help? And how will all this Once the city gives permission like this to developers, there’s no the mitigation fee. That is more than my annual income. Incredibly we raised about $3,600 and after fees it came to about new housing serve the 4,000 people currently on the Housing going back. Their lawyers show up and threaten to sue. Instead of denying the permit, the Dept. of Doing just told $3,300. I spent that money saving the tree. I feel bad asking Authority’s waiting list? There are loopholes big enough for a To find out more about what’s really going on, check out the Britton Jones, the Reef Apartments developer, to redo the survey people to help pay for my battle and so haven’t asked. The total blue whale to swim through. I would bet not one of the 4,000 Facebook page “Gnv Neighbors” and some of the conversations and he could keep his permit to cut down the tree in my back I’ve spent so far is about $6,000. will be able to afford this “affordable housing.” going on in Nextdoor.com. yard. I did not like that. Every week it’s something. I rarely sleep anymore, my blood My neighborhood, Fifth Avenue, one of the most diverse Speak up, call and email commissioners, come to the city The city employees did not seem to care what I liked. They pressure spikes sometimes 50 points in one day, when they tear neighborhoods in Gainesville, has real affordable housing commission meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at city hall. Don’t let the strongly suggested he not cut down the tree, but since he had a my fence down, for instance. I could keep fighting legally, but available. Well it did. Developers have been buying up property, Department of Doing run over you and your neighborhood like permit, that was up to him. what’s the point? It would cost everything I’ve got and more. tearing down houses, and building high-rent dorms that look like they have mine. D page 18, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 19 Proposed phosphate mining update: Gearing up for legal battles ahead The next Iguana will be by Carole Mosley of September, but HPS keeps changing published in mid-January A lot has happened since the last update. the versions, so now the hearing will be set for 90 days from whenever the HPSII, LLC has been busy with document consultant’s report is released. requests from everyone they can think of. They’ve already gone after the North Flor- There was a PBS story taken from the Our regular feature: ida Planning Council, Alachua County, documentary done by Alan Toth. It’s and Union County and won a Judgment worth a look: “History and the against Union, which is being contested. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/ people who make it” More recently, HPS’s Records Request battle-over-phosphate-mining-roils- to Union included Citizens Against Phos- small-fla-town will return in the next phate Mining (CAPM), Our Santa Fe Alachua County has expressed concerns River (OSFR), and Carol Mosley (me). from the beginning. The mining project issue of the Iguana And after I got a new Resolution of Op- straddles the New River, which runs position from the little town of Brooker, into the Santa Fe River, designated one where the mining is nearest, HPS request- of Florida’s “Outstanding Rivers.” The ed all communications they had with me. Alachua County Commission offered Holiday Art Walk I hope it’s not an attempt at intimidation. assistance to both Union and Bradford There is still a lawsuit pending against counties. Bradford has declined their Union to overturn the Moratorium. help, for the most part, assuming Ala- Friday, Dec. 7 Meanwhile, Union has taken the chua is biased against the mining. But opportunity during the Moratorium to Union has worked with Alachua County update their Land Development Regs. and the Regional Planning Council on 7 pm to 10 pm (LDRs) and Comp. Plan to meet more updating plans that give greater protec- recent standards. In light of that, HPS tion to the public. All the while fighting DRIVE THRU & CALL-INS sent a new claim, this time for relief of Goliath’s legal bombardments. GALLERY TOUR BEGINS AT 7 PM 407 NW 13th St. $298,750,000 (that’s right, two hundred Local groups are working hard to www.artwalkgainesville.com 9am-10pm ninety eight million plus dollars) under uncover the ever-changing details and Breakfast til 11, 11:30 weekends the Harris Act. bring them to the surface for public And then there’s Bradford County, which scrutiny. They’re gearing up for the legal 5011 NW 34th St. did not enact a Moratorium and has been battles ahead. If you want to help with 11am-10pm in limbo while they await the report from that, you can donate to BAB at PO Box the consultants hired to help them make 103, Graham, FL 32042 or visit www. Amnesty International UF campus chapter of a decision. That report was due the end bridgesacrossborders.org. D worldwide human rights movement; www.facebook. Iguana Directory com/ufamnesty or [email protected]. Avian Research and Conservation Institute Call 352-378-5655 or email [email protected] with updates and additions (ARCI) is a non-profit research organization working to stimulate conservation action to save Readers: If there is inaccurate information Medicare for All and a living wage. Contact: threatened species of birds in the southeastern here, please let us know . If you are connected http://laborcoalition.org/, info@laborcoalition. U.S., www.arcinst.org to an organization listed here, please check and org, 352-375-2832, PO Box 12051, 502 NW Central Florida Democratic Socialists of update so others can be accurately informed . 16th Ave., 2B, Gainesville, 32601 America A local chapter of Democratic Socialists Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc. Protecting Alachua County Organization for Rural of America focusing on local social and political North Central Florida’s natural, scenic, Needs (ACORN) Clinic is a not-for- profit activism issues to better our community. General historic & recreational resources for over 25 (501C3) organization that provides low-cost, meetings are on the 4th Monday of every month years. ACT is the 2013 national Land Trust high-quality medical and dental care, and social at the Downtown Library in Gainesville in Excellence award recipient. 352-373-1078. services for people with and without health Meeting Room A. [email protected], AlachuaConservationTrust.org insurance. The clinic primarily serves residents www.fb.com/centralfldsa of Alachua, Bradford and Union Counties. Alachua County Green Party Part of The Clinic fulfills its mission with the help of Citizens Climate Lobby builds awareness and a worldwide movement built out of four a broad-based core of volunteer physicians, lobbies for sensible climate policies, btancig@ interrelated social pillars that support its politics: nurses, dentists, hygienists, pharmacists and gmail.com, 352-214-1778 the peace, civil rights, environmental and labor counselors. Located at 23320 N. State Rd 235 Civic Media Center Alternative reading room movements. gainesvillegreens.webs.com, A destination game store and parlor Brooker, Florida 32622 352-485-1133 and library of the non-corporate press, and a [email protected], 352-871-1995 4401 NW 25th Pl., Suite G, Gainesville, FL 32605 (access from NW 43rd St) American Civil Liberties Union Currently no resource and space for organizing. 352-373- 352-378-PLAY (7529) Alachua County Labor Coalition meets local chapter. For info on forming a new chapter, 0010, www.civicmediacenter.org, 433 S Main monthly and organizes to support local labor Subscribe $30/year Find us online at gainesvilletabletop.com and Facebook or ACLU info, contact Jax office 904-353-7600 St.,Gainesville, 32601 and advance the national campaigns for or [email protected] Continued on next page page 20, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 21 Continued from preceding page in 2008 with political, social and arts coverage, a community for freethinking, secular humanists. Email: [email protected]. See http://www.putnamcountyfloridademocrats.com, Students for Justice in Palestine, a cultural and thefineprintmag.org Goals include promoting values of humanism, national Web site to join: http://www.ncpssm.org/ check website or call for upcoming meetings, 107 political organization, [email protected] The Coalition for Racial Justice gnv4all@ discussing issues humanists face internationally. We S. Sixth St., Palatka - For information on volunteer Florida School of Traditional Midwifery A National Lawyers Guild Lawyers, law students, le- Sunday Assembly, a secular congregation gmail.com strive to participate in community service and bring activities call Fran Rossano at 352-475-3012 clearinghouse for information, activities and gal workers and jailhouse lawyers using the law to ad- which celebrates life, meets the third Sunday of a fun, dynamic group to the university! Preferred The Coalition of Hispanics Integrating educational programs. 352-338-0766 www. vance social justice, support progressive social move- Quaker Meetinghouse Quakers have a 350- each month at 11 am at 530 W. University Ave. contact info: email ufhumanistsoncampus@gmail. Spanish Speakers through Advocacy and midwiferyschool.org ments. [email protected] or www.nlg.org year tradition of working peacefully for social (Santa Fe College campus building in downtown com, alternative: [email protected], phone- 561- Service (CHISPAS) Student-run group at UF. justice. Silent, unprogrammed worship Sundays Gainesville). There is a talk, music, sing-alongs, Florida Defenders of the Environment works 374-3537 National Women’s Liberation is a feminist [email protected] at 11, followed by potluck. Visitors welcome. discussion, refreshments and felllowship. See to protect freshwater resources, conserve public group for women who want to fight back against Indivisible Gainesville* is one of 5800 local http://SAGainesville.weebly.com/ Code Pink: Women for Peace Women-led lands, and provide quality environmental educa- 702 NW 38th St. Facebook/GainesvilleQuakers chapters of the national Indivisible movement, male supremacy and win more freedom for grassroots peace and social justice movement tion since 1969. 352-475-1119, Fladefenders.org for events or request Meetinghouse space at UF College Democrats (UFCD) meets working to peacefully and systematically women. Inequalities between women and men are utilizing creative protest, non-violent www.GainesvilleQuakers.org Tuesdays at 6:30 in Little Hall 121. 407-580- Gainesville Area AIDS Project provides toiletries, resist the Trump agenda. We are a group of political problems requiring a collective solution. direct action and community involvement. 4543, Facebook.com/UFcollegedems household cleaners, hot meals, frozen food at no cost local volunteers fighting against agendas of Founded 1968. Join us: www.womensliberation. Repurpose Project, a nonprofit junk shop and CodePink4Peace.org, [email protected] to people living with HIV/AIDS. www.gaaponline. division, inequality, financial influence in org, P.O. Box 14017, Gainesville, 32604, 352- community center, diverts useful resources from UF Pride Student Union LGBT+ group open The Community Weatherization Coalition is org, [email protected], 352-373-4227, Open government, and policies that neglect to benefit 575-0495, [email protected] the landfill, redirects these items to the public for to queer folk of all sorts, including students, art and education, inspires creativity, and helps a grassroots community coalition whose mission Tuesdays 10-1 and last Friday of month 5-7. all American citizens equally. indivisiblegnv.org, NCF AWIS - an advocacy organization champi- non-students, faculty and staff. www.grove.ufl. is to improve home weatherization and energy us all rethink what we throw away. Let’s all help Gainesville Citizens for Alternatives to Death [email protected] oning the interest of women in science, technol- edu/~pride efficiency for low-income households through protect the planet and buy used. Open to the Penalty works to abolish the death penalty. Join Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee ogy, engineering and math (STEM) across all United Faculty of Florida, UF chapter Run education, volunteer work projects and community- public. Tues-Sat: 10am-7pm, Sun noon-5. www. vigils when Florida has an execution. Meets (IWOC), branch of IWW, GainesvilleIWOC@ disciplines and employment sectors. Meetings are by and for faculty, the University of Florica building. The CWC welcomes new volunteers to repurposeproject.org 6pm first Tuesday every month at Mennonite gmail.com usually the first Monday of the month (except holi- Chapter of United Faculty of Florida (UFF-UF) get involved in a variety of ways, from performing Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th Ave, 352-378- days) from 5:30 -7:30pm, Millhopper Branch, Ala- River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding represents over 1600 faculty and professionals audits to PR/Graphics and more. Contact: 352-450- Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) 1690, www.fadp.org. chua County Public Library. All meetings open to provides innovative ways to resolve conflict and at UF. UFF’s origins lie in efforts by faculty to 4965 or [email protected] Gainesville General Membership Branch public. [email protected] or www.ncfawis.org provides services like mediation, communication Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Union for all workers, regardless of industry, protect academic freedom, defend civil liberties, Conservation Burial, Inc. promotes natural skill building and restorative justice. www. Justice (IAIJ) organizes faith communities to trade, job, or employment status. Meets 1st Occupy Gainesville is about engaging local and end racial discrimination at UF. www.UFF- burial practices in cemeteries that conserve land centerforpeacebuilding.org. 2603 NW 13th St. work together for immigrant justice. Meets 2nd Sunday of the month at 6 pm at CMC. Contact: people in grassroots, participatory democracy, UF.org, 352-519-4130. and reunite people with the environment. 352- #333, 352-234-6595 Mondays at 6 pm at the Mennonite Meeting House, [email protected] diversity and dialogue; we stand in solidarity United Nations Association, Gainesville 372-1095, [email protected] 1236 NW 18th Ave. [email protected], with the Occupy Wall Street Movement and Rural Women’s Health Project is a local health League of Women Voters of Alachua Florida Chapter Purpose is to heighten citizen Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. Non- www.gainesvilleiaij.blogspot.com, 352-377-6577 the rest of the people peacefully occupying education organization developing materials County Nonpartisan grassroots political awareness and knowledge of global problems profit land trust working to protect Florida’s public space across this county and the world. promoting health justice for migrant and rural Gainesville NOW www.gainesvillenow.org. group of women and men which has fought and the UN efforts to deal with those issues. rural landscapes, wildlife corridors and natural www.occupygainesville.org and https://www. women. Robin or Fran 352-372-1095 [email protected] NOW meeting info since 1920 to improve our systems of www.afn.org/~una-usa/. areas. 352-466-1178, Conserveflorida.org facebook.com/occupygainesville contact Lisa at 352-450-1912 government and impact public policies Samuel Proctor Oral History Program focuses United Way Information and Referral Democratic Party of Alachua County Our Revolution North-Central Florida, inspired on story-telling, social justice research, social Gainesville Peer Respite A non-profit, non- (fairness in districting, voting and elections, Human-staffed computer database for resources Meetings held the second Wednesday each by Bernie Sanders, bringing progressive voices into movement studies, oral history workshops. clinical mental health community providing e.g.) through citizen education and advocacy. and organizations in Alachua County. 352-332- month at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the the Democratic party, [email protected] http://oral.history.ufl.edu sanctuary and support to those experiencing http://www.lwvalachua.org/, info@lwv- 4636 or simply 211 Gainesville Police Headquarters on NW 6th St. alachua.org Our Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee emotional distress. Peer Support Warmline is Say Yes to Second Chances Florida is Veterans for Peace Anti-war organization that & 8th Ave. Office is at 901 NW 8th Ave., 352- Alliance are two of a number of grassroots available 6pm-6am; we offer wellness activi- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program a coalition of nonpartisan civic and faith raises awareness of the detriments of militarism 373-1730, alachuadems.org environmentalist groups campaigning to protect ties, support groups and brief overnight respite needs volunteers to join its advocates who organizations who are working for Florida’s and war as well as seeking peaceful and and restore the rivers and springs. See: http:// Divest Gainesville advocates divesting City stays. Call the Warmline Support: 352-559- protect elders’ rights in nursing homes, assisted Voting Restoration Amendment to allow effective alternatives. Meets first Wednesday www.oursantaferiver.org/ and http://www. financial assets from fossil fuel industries and 4559, gainesvillerespite.org living facilities, family care homes. Training and people who’ve paid their debt to society to of every month at 7 pm. 352-375-2563, http:// educating on racial justice and climate change, ichetuckneealliance.org/ earn back their right to vote. https://www. Gainesville Roller Rebels - a womens’ Flat Track certification provided. 888-831-0404 or http:// vfpgainesville.org/ [email protected] ombudsman.myflorida.com PFLAG (Parents and Families of Lesbians floridiansforafairdemocracy.com/ roller derby team needs skaters and volunteer WGOT-LP 100.1 FM Community low-pow- and Gays) meets the 3rd Tuesday of each Divest UF is a student-run organization and a assistance, [email protected] Madres Sin Fronteras (Mothers Without Sierra Club meets the first Thursday of every er radio station operating as part of the CMC. loose collective of Gators seeking to divest the month at the Fellowship Hall of the United Graduate Assistants United Union represents Borders) is a local grassroots immigrant-led month at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist [email protected], www.wgot.org university from fossil fuels, the prison industry, Church of Gainesville (1624 NW 5th Ave.) at UF grad assistants by fighting for improved organization that works to protect the rights Fellowship of Gainesville, 4225 NW 34th St. and arms & surveilance companies. http:// 7 pm with a programmed portion and informal Women’s March Gainesville meets on the sec- working conditions, community involvement of immigrants’ families in our community and 352-528-3751, www.ssjsierra.org www.divestuf.org, Facebook @Divest UF to ensure that all are treated with dignity and meeting with opportunity to talk and peruse ond Monday of each month: for location and and academic freedom. 352-575-0366, officers@ Sister City Program of Gainesville links respect. Email: [email protected] their resource library. pflaggainesville.org. agenda information, please see are on the second Edible Plant Project Local 100% volunteer- ufgau.org, www.ufgau.org Confidential Helpline 352-340-3770 or email Gainesville with sister cities in Russia, Israel Monday of each month, see www.hearourvoice- run collective to create a revolution through MindFreedom North Florida Grow Radio Non-profit provides opportunities Human rights [email protected] and Palestine, Iraq, and Haiti. Meetings are gnv.org; m.facebook.com/wmflgnv/;www.face- edible and food-producing plants. http:// group for psychiatric survivors and mental the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. book.com/groups/wmflgnv/; Instagram.com/wo- for community members to create and manage Planned Parenthood Clinic Full-service health edibleplantproject.org/contact-us health consumers. 352-328-2511 at the Mennonite Meeting House, 1236 NW mensmarchgnv/; Twitter.com/WMFL_Gnv/ and/ engaging, educational, locally-generated pro- center for reproductive and sexual health care 18th Ave. (across from Gainesville HS). http:// or email [email protected]. Together Families Against Mandatory Minimums gramming to promote musical/visual arts and Move to Amend, Gainesville is an organization needs. Offering pregnancy testing and options www.gnvsistercities.org we can do anything... Join Us! We Need You. Work to reform Florida’s sentencing laws and humanities for enrichment of the community. dedicated to amending the US Constitution to counseling for $10 from 10am-noon and 2-5pm. Let’s build this peaceful movement together! restore fairness to Florida’s criminal justice www.growradio.org. PO Box 13891, Gaines- establish that money is not speech, and that only Located at 914 NW 13th St. 352-377-0881 Stand By Our Plan informs the public on crit- system. PO Box 142933, Gainesville, FL 32614, ville, 32604, 352-219-0145 (v), 352-872-5085 human beings have constitutional rights. Contact ical differences between the Comprehensive World Socialist Party of the United States Pride Community Center of North Central [email protected]. 352-682-2542 (studio hotline) Alachua County Green Party for info. Plan and Plum Creek’s proposal, which we do (WSP-US) welcomes anyone wanting to know Florida Resources for the LGBT+ community, not support. Alachua County’s Comprehensive more about Marxian socialism and our efforts to Final Friends helps families learn how to accom- Humanist Society of Gainesville meets at 7 National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) open M-F, 3-7, Sat. noon-4. Located at 3131 Plan is the best blueprint for future growth in transform the dog-eat-dog–Devil take the hindmost plish legal home funeral care as an alternative to pm on the 3rd Wednesday of most months at Support, education and advocacy for families NW 13th St., Suite 62. 352-377-8915, www. the county’s unincorporated areas; it protects world–created by capitalism into a democratically employing a commercial funeral home. We are an Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4225 NW and loved ones of persons with mental illness/ GainesvillePride.org independent group of volunteers who provide free 34th St to discuss and promote secular, human- brain disorders. 374-5600. ext. 8322; www. valuable wetlands, standbyourplan@gmail. arranged world society of equality at boston@ws- education, guidance and support to anyone who ist, atheist & agnostic social influences-www. namigainesville.org Protect Gainesville Citizens Group whose com; http://standbyourplan.org/ pus.org. Upon request the Party will provide mem- mission is to provide Gainesville residents with bership applications, htttp://wspus.org. prefers to care for their own deceased loved ones gainesvillehumanists.org or facebook.com/hu- Student/Farmworker Alliance A network of National Committee to Preserve Social Security accurate and comprehensible information about prior to burial or cremation. www.finalfriends. manistsocietyofgainesville; gainesvillehuman- youth organizing with farmworkers to eliminate Zine Committee meets Sundays at noon at the and Medicare Local advocates work to promote/ the Cabot/Koppers Superfund site. 352-354- org, [email protected], 352-374-4478 [email protected]. sweatshop conditions and modern-day slavery CMC to preserve and promote Travis Fristoe Zine preserve these threatened programs for senior 2432, www.protectgainesville.org The Fine Print Quarterly magazine founded Humanists on Campus UF organization provides citizens. We have literature, speakers, T-shirts. in the fields. On Facebook, search “Gainesville Library at the CMC, cmzinecommittee@gmail. Putnam County Florida Democratic Party, Student/Farmworker Alliance” com or on Facebook D page 22, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida www.GainesvilleIguana.org November/December 2018, Iguana page 23 National Election Roundup This article was originally published by Labor Notes on November 9 . See more at labornotes org. . How did states with high-profile union fights fare in the 2018 midterms? The elections were a mixed bag. Wisconsin union members (and yours truly!) got to vote out the state’s number one union- buster: Scott Walker. He survived a 2012 re- call and a 2014 re-election, but the third time was the charm. The governor who rose to the national stage by kneecapping unions was narrowly ousted in a high-turnout election. “There’s going to be a lot to rebuild,” said Milwaukee Teachers Education Associa- tion President Amy Mizialko, whose union campaigned heavily for Walker’s opponent, Governor-Elect Tony Evers. “Lots of things were ripped away from workers and stu- dents.” Evers has vowed to increase funding for public schools by $1.4 billion and to end the voucher program that funnels public money into private schools. Walker’s notorious Act 10 all but banned col- lective bargaining for public sector workers, banned dues deduction, and forced unions to recertify every year. Under his lead, the state went “right to work” in both the public and private sectors, and union membership plummeted 40 percent. Meanwhile Walker diverted taxpayer funds to voucher and charter schools and to elec- tronics manufacturing giant Foxconn, noto- rious for the awful conditions under which workers produce iPhones at its factory in Shenzhen, China. Foxconn agreed to set up a The Gainesville Iguana factory in Wisconsin after receiving the larg- Gainesville's progressive newsletter and events calendar est tax giveaway in U.S. history. Two other Midwestern states, Michigan and Illinois, also ousted anti-union Republican Subscribe! governors. Individuals: $15 a year (or more if you can) Michigan has seen the last of Governor Rick Low/No income: what you can Snyder, who signed that state’s right-to-work Groups: $20 a year law in 2012 and established dictatorial con- trol over many Michigan cities and school Gainesville Iguana districts through the “emergency manager” P.O. Box 14712 system, throwing out union contracts and Established 1986 Gainesville, FL 32604 corrupting Flint’s water supply along the way. Snyder was term-limited out, but will Comments, suggestions, contributions (written or financial) are welcome. be replaced by Democrat Gretchen Whitmer. The state retained its Republican-dominated To list your event or group, contact us at: state legislature, though. (352) 378-5655 GainesvilleIguana@cox .net In Illinois, unions were pleased to be rid of www .gainesvilleiguana .org facebook .com/gainesvilleiguana Governor Bruce Rauner, a named plaintiff in the Supreme Court’s Janus decision and Articles from current and past issues since 1996, and PDFs of print a foe of teachers and public sector pensions. issues since 2012 are available at www .gainesvilleiguana .org The new Democratic governor, billionaire Continued on p . 15 page 24, Iguana, November/December 2018 Gainesville, Florida