Alachua County, Gainesville and Student Government elected officials new year plans roundup
Here’s what to know about the City of Gainesville and UF Student Government plans for the new year Photo by Samantha Harrison | The Independent Florida Alligator
Moving past the challenges of 2020, Gainesville, Alachua County and UF Student Government elected officials have a positive outlook on what city and student life will look like this year.
Here are some issues to be watching for in 2021:
City Commission
Handling mass COVID-19 vaccination in Alachua County is the city and county commissions’ New Year’s resolution.
Racial equity, living wage and youth development will also be discussed heavily in 2021. The city commission is working to improve the public transpo
Alachua County leaders outline COVID-19 vaccination plan
Gainesville City Commission approves plan for distributing vaccine at first meeting of the year January 9, 2021 | 7:32pm EST
Mike Foley, UF journalism professor, receives his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 5, 2021. Photo by Chasity Maynard | The Independent Florida Alligator
Gainesville is still a month or two away from having the COVID-19 vaccine becoming widely available, but city leaders are starting to make plans for when it is.
The Gainesville City Commission voted unanimously Thursday to pass a four-part plan that will help the Alachua County Health Department mass administer the COVID-19 vaccination.
A county ordinance exists that prohibits pedestrians from being in the same space as vehicles for safety reasons, which includes anyone from a jaywalker to panhandlers standing in the median.
The county attorney’s office said that while the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office has the ability to prosecute for violations of the 3-year-old ordinance, no cases have ever been fully prosecuted.
County Attorney Sylvia Torres said sheriff’s deputies in most cases direct the pedestrians in violation to another area.
The ordinance is not enforceable within the Gainesville city limits.
City commissioners voted to have the manager’s office bring them options for enforcement of different laws involving pedestrian safety. Commissioners David Arreola and Gigi Simmons were absent during the vote.