Citizen Coalition PC

11/08/2016

Get out the vote!

11/04/2016

Thank you, City Commissioner Charles Goston!

We stand with you and East Gainesville - District 1 to vote AGAINST the 8 year $130 million Wild Spaces sales tax increase.

Flawed tax

The Wild Spaces and Public Places proposed sales tax is not about “quality of life,” it's about enriching a small group of people at the expense of the rest. I encourage the people living in Alachua County to vote against the $130 million, eight year sales tax when we have other pressing needs.

I support parks and recreation, but we do not have to tax ourselves more to have them. Our county has already done a great job with land conservation and we cannot afford to maintain the land we already have. Our sidewalks and roads are crumbling, and we have other public safety concerns and our people are in dire need of better-paying jobs.

Wild Spaces & Public Places is not a continuation of anything, it is a new tax and it is not for two years. Far worse, it is for eight years. Vote against this flawed and dishonestly peddled new sales tax.

Charles Goston
District 1 City Commissioner

The cost of growthGainesville and Alachua County are committed to continued growth beyond what will allow our area to remain recognizable as Florida.

11/04/2016

Thank you, Larry McDaniel! This is what a leader sounds like!

"I'm here to humbly request the citizens of Alachua County to vote AGAINST the proposed Wild Spaces, 8 year, $130 million sales tax..."

"The tax is a bad idea."

"To me the real question is the significant needs we have outside of conservation land - the dire need for better job opportunities, the need for road construction, the need to build our infrastructure where it is attractive to businesses."

"Not one dollar goes to economic depravity or the creation of jobs in eastern Alachua County. Not one dollar." -Larry McDaniel

11/04/2016

Thank you, Larry McDaniel! This is what a leader sounds like!

"I'm here to humbly request the citizens of Alachua County to vote AGAINST the proposed Wild Spaces, 8 year, $130 million sales tax..."

"The tax is a bad idea."

"To me the real question is the significant needs we have outside of conservation land - the dire needs for better job opportunities, the need for road construction, the need to build our infrastructure where it is attractive to businesses."

"Not one dollar goes to economic depravity or the creation of jobs in eastern Alachua County. Not one dollar."

11/01/2016

Who is backing the 8-year $130 million Wild Spaces tax increase?

One voted in the 30 year $2.1 billion (when it's not running, more when it is) biomass plant.

The other led the non-profit that helped buy 27,000 acres of land off the tax rolls for $100 million of taxpayer money.

Halloween is over but this is still scary!

Vote AGAINST the Wild Spaces tax increase!

As this exhausting and often infuriating election season enters its last week, many of us are ready to cast our ballots and be done with it all. But our

11/01/2016

Thank you, Ben Butler!

Vote AGAINST the Wild Spaces tax increase.

"...the Wild Spaces & Public Places initiative on the Nov. 8 county ballot that expects to raise $130.2 million over eight years. That’s enough to build over five schools! So, is putting walking trails through swamp land five times more important than educating our kids?"

"Remember, too, there is at least a $360 million backlog in road repairs. Priorities need adjusting."

Safer roadsThe day after returning from my best friend's funeral — he was killed on his bike by a driver who admitted to police he had vision

10/31/2016

Thank you Commissioner Pinkoson!

Pinkoson "said conservation projects have done well over the last 15 years and now the county needs to figure out how to pay its employees a living wage, fund a children’s services advisory board and help those who may be affected by the downgrading of some fire stations.

“I think we’ve done well on conservation and I think it’s time to focus our energies on something else,” said Pinkoson. “That argument needs to go out there.’’

Vote AGAINST the Wild Spaces sales tax increase.

The County Commission has decided to ask voters by way of the Nov. 8 ballot to renew a half-cent sales tax that will be used to fund conservation lands

10/31/2016

Wild Spaces tax promoters are leading others to believe that this tax is already in place and not an increase. These statements are false and designed to mislead voters.

"Back in 2008, the original Wild Spaces & Public Places half-cent sales tax passed with 51.5 percent support and raised $32.3 million during its two-year life." - Gainesville Sun

Don't be fooled. This is a new tax that increases rates.

After the August primary all but settled this year’s Alachua County Commission races, a big election question looming in November for county voters

10/29/2016

Join local small businesses... vote AGAINST the Wild Spaces tax!

The Gainesville Chamber of Commerce recently voted not to support the Wild Spaces Public Places tax referendum on November's ballot.

10/29/2016

Thanks, local business owners!

"Business leaders say 20 percent of county lands are already in permanent conservation..."

Business leaders say 20 percent of county lands are already in permanent conservation, and that tax dollars would be better spent on school needs.

10/28/2016

Commissioner Todd Chase on Wild Spaces Tax --

"I'm concerned over the appearance of conflicts of interest among some of the elected officials, local organizations, “consultants,” activists and future beneficiaries who ardently support the idea of you handing them $130 million dollars of your money for their pet projects. Find the reports from the Wild Spaces PAC for an interesting read at www.votealachua.com/Candidates-Parties-PACs/Political-Action-Committees."

Spread the word! Vote AGAINST the Wild Spaces Tax!

Below is listing of active political action committees in Alachua County. For a listing of inactive PACs, please click here. Financial Reports can be viewed here.

10/28/2016

Thank you, Commissioner Chase!

"I'm concerned over the appearance of conflicts of interest among some of the elected officials, local organizations, “consultants,” activists and future beneficiaries who ardently support the idea of you handing them $130 million dollars of your money for their pet projects. Find the reports from the Wild Spaces PAC for an interesting read at www.votealachua.com/Candidates-Parties-PACs/Political-Action-Committees.

"As a Gainesville City Commissioner, and, more importantly, in memory of my mother and everyone out there working hard, I can’t possibly say this is the top priority for you to tax yourself for. Vote no for this tax and yes to better priorities."

— Todd Chase is a Gainesville city commissioner representing District 2.

Fellow Citizens -- The sales tax vote is listed last on the ballot

ALACHUA COUNTY QUESTION 2, Wild Spaces & Public Places

Join us in voting “AGAINST” this flawed and dishonest $130 Million 8yr. sa;es tax.

After nearly six years as a Gainesville city commissioner, I cannot defend or support the Wild Spaces & Public Places sales tax initiative. The reason