The once and future dead downtown
By the time the Oaks Mall opened its doors, out by the interstate in the 1970s, downtown GNV was dead. Because autoAmericans much preferred driving to the mall, where parking was plentiful and free.
But that was then, this is now.
Still surrounded by empty acres of free parking, the Oaks Mall is facing foreclosure. This due to having racked up something like $80 million in unpaid debt, interest and penalties.
Alas, it appears that downtown GNV is destined to die again, however. At least according to downtown business owners. This impending second demise due to the city’s removal of free downtown parking.
Apparently customers simply won’t come downtown if they can’t park for free.
Like they can at the Oaks Mall.
Wait! What?
Shocked (shocked) in Alachua
Alachua City Commissioners are shocked (shocked) by the resignations of three of the city’s four professional planners.
And I don’t blame them.
Hell, I was shocked (shocked) to learn that the City of Alachua even has professional planners.
As I once wrote in a column for The Sun, while the county for decades did everything in its power to keep GNV from expanding, Alachua and other small municipalities “were busy gobbling up acres and acres of cow pastures and farm lands in ‘voluntary’ annexations. Mostly the volunteers being would-be developers and land speculators in search of a friendlier regulatory environment in which to build their future subdivisions.”
Now Alachua wants to get to the bottom of what’s going on. “You’ve got 75% of our professional staff in the planning department leaving. It’s catastrophic,” Commissioner Ed Potts said. “We need to know more about why it happened.”
Heck, I can tell him.
In a growth-for-growth’s sake berg like Alachua, being a professional planner is the very definition of running a fool’s errand.
Who will next wash up in Tigert Hall?
Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez is the new interim President of Florida International University. Which, in Great DeSanitizer-speak, means that she is permanent FIU President In Waiting.
This following the appointment of former Fla. state rep Adam Hasner to run Florida Atlantic University.
This following the hirings of former state lawmakers Richard Corcoran at New College of Florida, Fred Hawkins at South Florida State College and Mel Ponder at Northwest Florida State College.
Not to forget Torey Alston, a former Great DeSanitizer staffer, tapped to run Broward College.
The only question now is which washed-up Florida pol is gonna wash up in Tigert Hall.
Personally, I’m pulling for Matt Gaetz.
I mean, given his personal history, Matt’s appointment is the only way UF is ever gonna claw its way back to the top again.
To be named America’s No. 1 Party School.
Seriously, let’s make UF fun again.
FreeGNV 
wish I could laugh