Monday, April 8, 2024

Approval of Florida recreational marijuana ballot initiative draws mixed opinions from state residents

THE AMENDMENT WILL APPEAR ON THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

By Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp Alligator Staff Writer

Framed by a neon array of the latest hemp, CBD and nicotine products neatly arranged in glass display cases, business partners Pedro Soler and Justin Mendoza paused when asked if there was a downside to the authorization of recreational marijuana in Florida.

They operate Miami Vice Mobile, their smoke shop on wheels, out of a van parked in the center of a bustling downtown night market. Despite the commotion, their silence hung heavy.

Soler cast his eyes down and lowered his voice solemnly, nodding a “yes” to the recorder.

“There will be a mass murdering

of Doritos,” he said.

The pair broke character, chuckling as they returned to their customers.

The Florida Supreme Court approved Amendment 3 to appear on the November general election ballot April 1, an initiative that would authorize recreational marijuana for adults 21 years of age and over if approved by 60% of Florida voters.

Statewide advocacy groups along with local residents, students and businesses expressed varying opinions on the potential amendment to the Florida constitution.

The ballot initiative was proposed by Smart & Safe Florida, a political committee and pro-marijuana advocacy group, and over $39 million in funding was provided by Trulieve, one of Florida’s largest medical marijuana distributors.

“We look forward to supporting

Activists

Furry friends or dangerous foes? A look at the caterpillars swarming UF campus

Tussock moth caterpillars population booms this Spring

By Annie Wang Alligator Staff Writer

Taylor Boyd was waiting for class to start when she saw something that made her heart drop. On her arm was a red-headed caterpillar with spiky white fur, one of the numerous caterpillars swarming Gainesville.

“I hate them so much,” the 19-year-old UF economics soph-

omore said. “Now I’m scared of them [and] watching my every step,” she said.

The caterpillars spotted across UF's campus are known as tussock moth caterpillars. They’re native to North America and typically emerge in North central Florida during the spring.

In Florida, there are three different species of tussock moth caterpillars: the fir tussock moth

caterpillar, the white-marked tussock moth caterpillar and the definite tussock moth caterpillar. They have many shared characteristics, such as protruding hairs and spines, but can be visually distinguished by color.

Although the caterpillars may appear soft and fluffy to the touch, UF assistant entomology professor Adam Dale advises

Inconclusive search for Continuum of Care leadership threatens Florida homeless service funding

MILLIONS IN FEDERAL FUNDING THREATENED BY LACK OF PROPOSALS FOR LEAD AGENCY ROLE

By Diego Perdomo Alligator Staff Writer

North Central Florida counties are at risk of losing over $1 million of federal funding for homeless service providers if a replacement lead agency is not appointed by June.

Keys to Home is a Continuum of Care — a coalition of homeless service providers — representing Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam counties. To obtain federal funding for new and existing programs, the coalition is required to have one representative agency coordinate a proposal for annual funding cycles.

After the current representative, or lead agency, United Way of North

Ashley C. Hicks // Alligator Staff

in support of abortion rights pictured across from Gainesville City Hall on Saturday, April

TRUST KICKS OFF MONTH WITH COMMUNITY EVENT

By Megan Howard Alligator Staff Writer

Gainesville residents driving down Northwest 25th Place can see metallic blue and silver pinwheels for April’s Child Abuse Prevention Month as they pass the new Children’s Trust of Alachua County building.

On April 5, staff members of Children’s Trust worked together to place the shining pinwheels in the grass along the sidewalk to raise awareness for child abuse to kick off Child Abuse Prevention month.

The organization, in collaboration with the Prevent Child Abuse America’s campaign, created a pinwheel garden to raise awareness to child abuse in the community. The metallic pinwheels represent how all children deserve a bright future, a campaign that originated in 2008.

Children’s Trust of Alachua County helps fund and organize services in Alachua County aimed to help families and children succeed. The trust has three main priorities to in which it directs funding: maternal and children’s healthcare, mentorship and childcare and community safety.

Between October 2022 and September 2023, the trust is estimated to have helped over 23,000 children in Alachua County.

Tina Certain, a statutory member of Children’s Trust board and an Alachua County School Board member, works to help organizations benefiting children with funding and guidance.

“The purpose of the trust is to

fund initiatives for children 0 to 18 and live in Alachua County,” she said. “They can be health, education related, juvenile, such as diversionary programs to keep children out of the criminal justice system.”

Children’s health and safety means a lot to Certain, and she worked on the committee to pass the voter initiative that created the trust.

The executive director, Marsha Kiner, has been working for the trust for a year and a half. She has always had a passion for developing youth potential inside and outside of schools. As a Gainesville native and UF journalism alumna, Kiner spent her teenage years and professional career working with and advocating for children.

“The opportunity came for me to come back to my hometown to make a difference in the community that I feel gave me my values, helped me to see the world and made me a compassionate and open-minded person who believed in diversity and inclusion,” Kiner said.

Kiner hopes the April 5 event reminds the community everyone plays an important role in preventing child abuse in the community.

“We can make a difference,” she said. “If we pay attention to signs, if we realize that all of us don’t have all of the same beginnings in life, and as that adage, if you see something, say something.”

Elizabeth Cayson, the community engagement manager, helps the trust partner with community organizations and participate in community outreach. Working in advocacy for over 30 years, Cayson strongly believes in the pow-

er of community work to improve the lives of children and families.

“I believe strongly in the work that Children’s Trust is doing because we want to ensure that all children have access to programs that help them thrive,” she said. “It’s really important that families know about the different programs that are available.”

To Cayson, the pinwheel event serves as a reminder to the community child abuse and family struggles happen within the Alachua County community, and outreach services exist to aid local families.

“I feel that it’s important that not just today, but every day we remember that families are struggling. If they need help, there are resources out there for them to get the services that they need,” she said.

On April 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Children’s Trust of Alachua County and the Alachua County Child Abuse Prevention Task Force will host Celebrate the Child at Albert Ray Massey Park with games, food and face-painting to connect with the community during this important month.

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Campaign efforts for Florida House of Representatives District 22 gear up

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COMPETITIVE ELECTION IS IN THE FUTURE AS REP. CHUCK CLEMONS HITS TERM LIMIT

By Kairi Lowery Alligator Staff Writer

In less than 150 days, Alachua County citizens will cast their vote in the primaries for Florida House Seat 22 to determine who will be on the ballot in the November election.

This election will determine Rep. Chuck Clemons’ (R-22) replacement after his eight-year run in the Florida House of Representatives.

Clemons currently holds a House leadership position as Speaker Pro Tempore and has supported bills that have helped low-income families, like House Bill 7109, which discounts property taxes for affordable housing units.

He sponsored House Bill 1645, allowing Gainesville Regional Authority members to be governor appointed, which led to the creation of Gainesville Residents United, a group of Gainesville residents who filed lawsuits against the board. The result of one of the lawsuits led to the resignation of all four board members.

Clemons has served four, twoyear terms for a total of eight years in the House. As of 2024, three members represent different parts of Alachua County in the House: Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson (D-21), Rep. Chuck Brannan (R-10) and Clemons.

However as the election gears up, there are several candidates fighting to be on the Republican and Democratic primary ballots including: Amy Trask (D), David Arreola (D), Chad Johnson (R) and Raemi Eagle-Glenn (R).

Amy Trask (D)

Amy Trask, a mother and the granddaughter to Alan Trask, former president pro tempore of the Senate in the late 1970s and early 80s, is throwing her hat in the ring for the Democratic ballot.

Her inspiration for running: Her two kids.

“My campaign is a love letter to

my children. I’m so scared to see the world that they’re inheriting,” Trask said. “We’re going to go more and more into this dystopian Handmaid’s Tale version of reality.”

Trask’s approach to campaigning is much different than both her Democratic and Republican opponents in terms of division, she said.

“If you were to put my primary opponent and my Republican opponent in a room and tell them to make a law or work together, it wouldn’t happen, because they’re both calling each other names,” she said. “That’s not how we can do things.”

Trask has a background in conflict resolution, specifically de-escalation, from her time at Harvard Safra Center for Ethics, which she believes makes her the most equipped to pass legislation, she said.

She also aims to focus on women’s representation and education censorship in the Florida House.

Trask is one of two women running, and as a result has received mass support from young women across the state expressing thanks for the political representation she’s providing, she said.

“That was so inspiring for me to hear. I’m here to the end, and I’m so proud of what we’re doing,” Trask said.

David Arreola (D)

Her Democratic opponent, David Arreola, the youngest Gainesville city commissioner to date, is campaign-

Federal funding

HOMELESS, from pg. 1

Central Florida announced in 2023 it would leave the role, Keys to Home intended to notify the successful bidder for its lead agency role March 18. In the three weeks since then, it has yet to receive any applications.

“At present, our community is in danger of forfeiting access to millions of dollars unless we appoint a CoC lead agency by June of this year,” wrote Family Promise of Gainesville Director Shari Jones in a call to action March 20.

Applications for a new lead agency were released to the public Jan. 12 for an expected deadline of Feb. 23.

“We're stuck in step one: just finding a new lead [agency],” said Amber Miller, the president of United Way of North Central Florida, the current lead agency. “So I really didn't know what it's going to look like until we have a lead because then that's gonna trigger a whole different timeline.”

United Way of North Central Florida announced to the CoC leadership committee Oct. 31 it intended to leave this role due to concerns with the increase in households that make over

ing to “fight back against extremists who are hurting our community,” according to his campaign website.

“The extremism going on in Florida is really hitting close to home, the direction that the legislature is taking us is a very unsafe one,” Arreola said.

He ran for Gainesville mayor in 2022, but lost to Harvey Ward, the current Gainesville mayor.

Arreola has voiced his strong opposition to current Republicans in the Florida congress and their recent legislation. The Florida House of Representatives recently took a vote repealing one of the Parkland gun safety reforms that he disagreed with.

“They are actively working against this issue,” he said. “They are working against the issues I care about.”

He hopes to focus on gun control along with abortion and reducing homeowners insurance.

The House has already pursued the six-week abortion ban and has not allowed any exceptions in abortion access, he said.

His solution: Electing more Democrats to the state legislature. While aiming to replace a Republican seat is very competitive, it can be done, he said.

“We have opposition on the Republican side. They want to talk about culture wars, wokeism or whatever MAGA phrase of the day they’re coming up with to term things that they want to write laws about,” Arreola said.

Arreola has been endorsed by

the Federal Poverty Level but are not eligible for government assistance. This threshold is referred to as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. According to United Way of North Central Florida, 32% of Alachua County falls into the ALICE classification.

“United Way decided that we were willing to divest ourselves of our responsibilities as lead agency so that we can focus on those [ALICE] households struggling in our community, because there are so many of them, and in reality, these are the households that are going to eventually fall into homelessness if you don't do anything about it,” Miller said.

United Way is in regular communication with the Florida Department of Children and Families and Florida Coalition to End Homelessness in preparation to act immediately once a new lead agency is identified.

Before United Way took over the lead agency role in 2018, the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, also known as GRACE Marketplace, served as the lead agency. While county agencies in Miami Dade, Palm Beach and Broward all serve as its CoC’s respective lead agencies, Alachua County decided it will not fulfill the same role due to ethical concerns as a direct service provider, said Alachua County Support Services Director Claudia Tuck.

“It's really hard if you're the agency that

Steve Wilson, mayor of Belle Glade, Florida, local officials in Levy County and farms in Gilchrist County.

The current majority of the Florida House of Representatives is Republican with the party holding 84 seats, while the Democratic party holds 36 seats.

Outside the Democratic party, Trask and Arreola are running against Raemi Eagle-Glenn and Chad Johnson.

Chad Johnson (R)

Chad Johnson, a candidate running to be in the Republican primary, is a Levy County farmer and businessman originally from Alachua County, fighting to defend free markets, limited governments and private property rights, according to his website.

Johnson’s main goal now is to gain enough signatures to put him on the Republican Primary Ballot.

For District 22, it takes 1,266 signatures or an option to pay a fee in order to have your name on the ballot, he said.

Johnson currently has about 700 signatures, and is confident his name will be on the ballot, one way or the other, he said.

Johnson is a former Levy County Commissioner, past president of the Levy County Farm Bureau and the Florida Auctioneers Association. His campaign mainly focuses on agricultural issues.

“Agriculture does play a part in everybody’s life,” he said. “Whether you live in downtown Gainesville or you live in Gilchrist County — we all need to eat.”

Along with his direct commitment to the agriculture community within District 22, the current seat holder, Rep. Chuck Clemons has publicly endorsed Johnson’s campaign.

“You win anytime you get the Speaker Pro Tempore to come out and endorse your campaign. It is a great shot of energy and huge boost,” Johnson said. “We’re just honored and blessed to have that endorsement.”

In terms of who his opponent might be, if making it past the Repub-

receives the dollars, and you're responsible for providing the service and then you have to come back and monitor yourself on how you did,” she said.

After the shift in lead agencies, funding for GRACE Marketplace was moved from equal city and county contributions to sole city contributions. With the funds originally provided to GRACE Marketplace by the county, Alachua County Support Services used funding to support rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing for individuals, Tuck said.

Brandon Jimenez is 26 years old and has been homeless since 2017. He said low monthly income and long waiting lists for housing services are the primary factors behind his current living state.

Jimenez’s property was seized by public works during a Feb. 20 sweep of a homeless encampment. If he does not retrieve it by May 20, it will be discarded after the 90-day period described in a public notice posted on the day of the sweep.

“The police don’t really don’t like us, hospitals don’t like us,” he said. “I should know. I go for mental health a lot. I got to overdose just to get them to open up.”

Terry Washington, who is 35 years old and homeless, expressed how his past experiences with GRACE Marketplace have caused him to

lican primary, Johnson affirms both Democratic candidates.

“Mr. Arreola has much more campaign experience and has been in leadership in Gainesville in the past so I could see the Democratic party supporting him,” he said. “I think [Amy Trask] has got some new ideas and she would be a formidable opponent as well.”

Raemi Eagle-Glenn (R)

Johnson’s Republican opponent is Raemi Eagle-Glenn, who served as a Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed county commissioner in 2022.

Eagle-Glenn also currently owns Everything Mac, an Apple product repair service in Gainesville. She believes her small business ownership experience makes her the best person to fill this seat, she said.

“It’s given me an eye for limiting government and cutting away what is unnecessary to focus on our tax dollar resources on essential services like public safety and infrastructure,” she said.

Her campaign will focus on public safety and infrastructure, meaning funding the police, first responders and firefighters, she said.

She also aims to target the immigration issues at the United States southern border.

“We have an invasion at our southern border,” she said. “People are afraid that the city of Gainesville and Alachua County serve as welcoming cities, which advertises to illegal aliens.”

Eagle-Glenn believes undocumented immigrants are coming into the U.S. causing an economic downturn and, in turn, middle-class Americans struggling to pay for food, gas and healthcare, she said.

Eagle-Glenn believes she will be on the election ballot come November, she said.

“It will be me,” she said.

City residents can vote for their preferred candidate in the Aug. 20 primaries. Rep. Chuck Clemons’ successor will be elected in November.

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depend on other services like the Gainesville Housing Authority.

“They’re going to have you out there waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting after years and years,” Washington said. “I’ve been waiting for over two years now. It's a whole new year. We're getting nowhere.”

Further confusion and frustration regarding this process stems from paperwork and long waitlists with up to 700 people ahead of him, he said.

While the funding structure for each service provider pulls from a multitude of sources, lack of funding affects the entire network of homeless supportive services, said Pamela Davis, the CEO of Gainesville Housing Authority.

“I believe every agency here in our community is applying for whatever federal or state funds that become available,” she said. “Right now the need outweighs the resource. And so we will continue to look at strategies, best practices and funding that become available and diligently seek to go after any that will assist us in our community with this problem.”

The request for proposal has reopened and is open until 5 p.m. April 11.

Courtesy to The Alligator

Marijuana ballot

WEED, from pg. 1

this campaign as it heads to the ballot this fall,” said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers in a press release.

If affirmed, Amendment 3 would take effect six months after the election.

State voters approved the authorization of medicinal marijuana in 2016, and there are 25 licensees operating in Florida, including Trulieve as of March 18. However, if the provision were to become law, even more licenses would be accepted following the decision, totaling to over 40, said Steven Vancore, spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida.

The nation has seen similar recreational usage officially instituted in 24 states.

“We think it’s time that Florida join the rest of America,” Vancore said.

Musicians David and Howard Bellamy formed the Smart & Safe Florida political committee in 2022. The organization gathered over the required 900,000 voter signatures on the initiative before it was reviewed and approved by the court, Vancore said.

The ruling followed opposition from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody who requested the court reject the amendment on account of confusing ballot language that she said failed to remind voters of a federal ban on marijuana.

The justices dismissed Moody’s argument, affirming the measure’s appearance on the November general election ballot.

Amendment 3’s summary reads in part that usage would not “change or immunize violations of federal law.” Vancore further emphasized the importance of word choice, opting for “authorization” over “legalization,” a term that would incorrectly refer to the federal level regarding a state amendment.

The ballot language also ensures the Florida legislature would retain authority to regulate “time, place and manner” of recreational marijuana use similar to both cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in addition to who holds production and distribution licenses, Vancore said.

“They can regulate all kinds of things, and we support that,” he said. “We support the legislature stepping in.”

Authorizing recreational usage would additionally allow oversight and regulation through lab testing, a step that would prevent more dangerous substances from being mixed into products and sold to unknowing consumers, Vancore said. He referred to concerns regarding marijuana containing one or more dangerous additives including but not limited to ketamine, methamphetamine or fentanyl, as well as both pesticides and herbicides.

“Whatever your opinion about whether it should be legalized, I think we can all agree that people shouldn’t be overdosing if they’re smoking marijuana,” Vancore said.

If approved by Florida voters, he said Amendment 3 would also disallow legal consequences like fines and imprisonment for recreational possession in compliance with state law for adults 21 years of age and over.

Soler and Mendoza, Miami Vice Mobile business partners, decided to tackle Gainesville with their smoke shop on wheels last year in addition to a permanent location in Miami.

Amendment 3 would enthusiastically have their vote, the pair said.

The pink and blue van offers a vibrant selection of state legal hemp, CBD and nicotine products in a variety of forms, and the potential of legally adding medicinal grade marijuana to their selection would be game changing, Soler said.

“We would just be giving the people what they want,” he said. “It’s a wave that we can’t stop. The green rush is coming.”

Soler expressed support for the state regulation of marijuana products through lab testing that would come with the authorization of recreational usage to ensure customer safety.

“There’s just such a benefit with that level of transparency,” he said. “Everybody just wants to have their fun and be responsible.”

When asked about his thoughts on whether there would be negative consequences to the potential approval of Amendment 3, he joked about the decimation of convenience store snack foods.

As long as the initiative is “done right,”

Mendoza said he would also have no issue.

Beside his bicycle, loudspeaker and folding table of bibles stationed at the sunlit center of UF Plaza of The Americas, Erik Dressel felt differently.

“It would probably be a nay for me,” he said.

While Dressel said he believed there should never be imprisonment over minor marijuana possession, he expressed concern that the authorization of recreational usage could pose wider instances of health impacts, including decreased lung health or fertility in men.

There was a time in his youth where he did partake in smoking weed, he said, but it now seems a gateway drug.

“It can be a demotivator,” he said. “It can make someone so chill that they lose their edge a little bit.”

The Sumter County resident and “minister guy” can often be found preaching to passing students at the heart of UF campus. Even though he knows of other Christians who use

Fuzzy friends

marijuana, he said the practice doesn’t align with his idea of the faith.

“I feel almost like I’d be cheating on God,” he said.

And to those who claim Jesus smoked weed, he said that assertion is “pure speculation.”

Cassidy Shooster, a 24-year-old Santa Fe College freshman, said she felt the potential authorization of recreational marijuana would be primarily harmless and that Amendment 3 would “1,000%” have her support.

“I don’t smoke weed for my own reasons, but I know how helpful and effective it’s been for other people in my life, and it shouldn’t be illegal,” she said.

The upcoming 2024 general election is slated to take place Nov. 6, giving Florida voters a chance to decide the fate of state recreational marijuana usage for adults 21 years of age and over.

@rylan_digirapp

rdigiacomo-rapp@alligator.org from pg. 1

against touching them, as their

“It's not a major health concern, but it's just something to be aware of if it happens,” Dale said. “You just need to wash the area thoroughly and recognize that you might have some local skin irritation right there for a

The caterpillars appear to be making a particularly abundant resurgence this year, to the extent where some areas are completely covered in the fuzzy creatures. Dale said it might be that the milder winter has boosted the survival rate of caterpillar eggs.

“Lots of moth species go through these cycles, where some years they're gonna have these huge, massive emergences, and then they kind of lay low for a lot of years and then they have these periodic booms,” he said.

The last time the tussock moth caterpillars were a trending topic was in 2012, when The Alligator reported several tussock moth

caterpillar cocoons across UF’s campus. Before that, the most recent population surge was reported to be in 2001.

Corinne Griffin, a 22-year-old UF environmental science senior, had a similar experience to Boyd’s, only she found another caterpillar on her arm right after flicking the first one off. However, she said she tries to be mindful that they are living creatures, even though they can become bothersome.

“I actively try not to step on them,” she said. “And there's not a lot of places on campus, that I park in at least, that aren't under tree cover, so they're always all over my car. And I don't want to kill them, so I just leave them all over my car.”

Clusters of tussock moth caterpillars can be seen on certain sidewalks and lamp posts, their furry bodies wriggling around in search of food and resources. The caterpillars are especially plentiful under tree canopies, as they feed on leaves.

The mass influx of these caterpillars has even prompted UF to post an Instagram meme, where it cheekily refers to the caterpillars as “public enemy #1.” While

many students in the comments section agree that the caterpillars are a terrible nuisance, some students like Nolan Ferguson, a 21-year-old UF studio art senior, found the post to be distasteful.

“My whole practice is about raising empathy and understanding and kindness for these animals,” Ferguson said. “And then to see the school that pays me to be kind to these things posting about how they're a nuisance and are a problem is kind of disrespectful to their whole existence.”

Angela Hilliard, a 20-year-old UF health science sophomore, shares Ferguson’s belief that it’s important to practice kindness toward the caterpillars, even if they do pose an inconvenience.

“Obviously they're very annoying and I would never fault someone for accidentally stepping on one, like I'm sure I've done it [because] they're everywhere,” Hilliard said. “But just be kind. They're living creatures.”

Karis Dunnam // Alligator Staff

Gabriella Aulisio // Alligator Staff

Eyes in the sky: A look at Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit

TWO ACSO HELICOPTERS ASSIST IN CRIME RESPONSE AND PREVENTION

By Daniel Bednar Alligator Staff Writer

Hovering above the hustle and bustle of everyday life, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit serves as a set of “eyes in the sky” — a silent guardian aiming to keep the community safe from a distance.

From tracking fleeing burglary suspects to finding missing persons, spotting house fires and providing disaster relief, the unit’s two military surplus helicopters are equipped to both respond to crimes and prevent them from happening.

“We are basically support for the men and women on the ground, to be able to help them do their job and help protect communities. We are a force multiplier,” said ACSO Deputy Scott Caley, the unit’s lead tactical flight officer and one of only two fulltime staff members.

As a tactical flight officer, Caley

operates the sensitive tracking systems onboard each helicopter, including an infrared camera that detects heat differences within a tenth of one degree. The footage is combined with a detailed area map, complete with addresses and street names, to provide a real-time look at what’s happening on the ground.

“I can see the roads surrounding a wooded area or neighborhood, and then I can use a camera to help search that area,” Caley said. “It’s good enough to where I could see if someone’s wearing a backpack, if they have long hair or short hair.”

In 2020, the aviation unit terminated its joint partnership with the

Gainesville Police Department after a funding disagreement, resulting in decreased staffing and enforcement overall. Despite this, Caley said the unit’s targeted patrol schedule and 24/7 on-call status still serve as an effective deterrent.

“They realize that’s the police helicopter coming, and people aren’t going to act up because they know we can see them on the ground,” he said. “Our technology is not a secret, everybody knows we have it.”

Some incidents stand out as especially bizarre to Richard Bray, the unit’s chief pilot who’s been involved with the aviation division since its inception nearly 27 years ago.

In 2013, three people used a sledgehammer to break a concrete wall behind Best Buy on Archer Road, attempting to steal nearly $27,000 in electronics. Police struggled to track the fleeing suspects in the early morning darkness until the aviation unit arrived.

The helicopter’s infrared camera detected someone hiding inside a nearby retention pond, staying submerged for long periods and occasionally coming up for air.

“The subject erroneously thought that by cooling off body temperature by getting in the water, [he] can defeat the infrared camera system,” Bray said.

This wasn’t the case. The helicopter’s guidance led to a high-stakes capture that won a first-place award for the best takedown of any national law enforcement agency in 2014.

Records show the aviation division was responsible for 29 arrests in 2023. But the unit prides itself on more than just chasing cars and capturing suspects. Its daily patrol often prevents minor disturbances from escalating into larger tragedies.

In one instance, an aircrew spotted a previously unreported house fire through night vision goggles.

“It turned out that the house was fully engulfed and an elderly gentleman with dementia was trapped inside. We sent deputies, and he was rescued,” Bray said.

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Gainesville author Lauren Groff responds to statewide book bans by opening bookstore, The Lynx

THE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE EMPHASIZES BANNED BOOKS, OPENS APRIL 28

By Bonny Matejowsky Alligator Staff Writer

At South Main Street, a large brown cat stands guard. You can’t help but feel like you’re being watched as you pass the freshly painted 30-foot mural, its large brown eyes following you to the glass front door.

It guards a prize behind its walls that would attract any local literary enthusiast — boxes and boxes of books, waiting patiently to be shelved, bought and taken to their next home.

On April 28, The Lynx will become Gainesville’s latest independent bookstore. It’s the creation of New York Times bestselling author Lauren Groff and her husband Clay Kallman. When she’s not on nationwide book tours,

Groff lives in Gainesville with her husband and two children, having grown “deeply attached” to the city’s charm and community.

Opening a bookstore has been a decadelong dream for Groff. The Lynx came to fruition at a testy time in Florida’s history, catalyzed by the recent book bans and heightened restrictions placed on education.

“We were hoping to respond to the recent authoritarian slide in the state of Florida right now,” Groff said, “and to respond with celebration of a lot of the books that are currently being banned.”

In addition to banned books, The Lynx will sell books written by BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and Florida authors.

The store’s titular mascot holds a deeper meaning than being just an iconic Florida cat. A group of lynxes is called a watch, which ties into the store’s message of accountability and education.

“The logo really led to a lot of the decisions that we made,” Groff said. “It’s a sly lynx

smiling at you and being like, ‘I’m watching you.’”

This isn’t the only new bookstore in the community. On March 20, Butler Plaza reopened a Barnes & Noble after closing a store in 2013.

But independent bookstores offer a more personal and community-oriented touch than chains, Groff said.

“When you come into a store and say you want a book, we’ll know every book on the shelves because we’re the ones who bought the books,” Groff said. “We’re going to know what you want, and we’re going to understand the books that you’ve already read.”

Kallman, the store’s co-founder alongside his wife, has a long history with Gainesville bookstores. His family owned the local staple, Florida Book Store, for 83 years before its closing in 2016.

Kallman grew up working at the shop, selling and buying textbooks for UF students. At The Lynx he has a more involved role, han-

dling the rental process, setting up insurance and building an HR department.

“It’s a fun full circle because it’s back to Gainesville and back to serving a community that I love,” Kallman said.

As The Lynx gears up to open its doors, Gainesville residents expressed their excitement about what the store has to offer.

Maricar Molisak is a 43-year-old matching specialist at UF Foundations, the university’s funding and fund management partner. Moreover, she is the owner of Cutie Doki, a business that sells sustainable accessories, candles and K-pop merch.

As a small business owner who has lived in Gainesville for more than ten years, she said she was thrilled to hear about the opening of The Lynx.

Read the rest online at alligator.org

@bonnymatejowsky

bmatejowsky@alligator.org

Kyle King // Alligator Staff

Helicopter operated by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office pictured at Gainesville Regional Airport on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

FOOD & DRINK

From fields to fork: A list of local farmers markets

A GUIDE TO SEVEN HOTSPOTS FOR GROCERIES AND A GOOD TIME

By Molly Seghi Avenue Staff Writer

As temperatures rise and flowers burst into bloom, farmers markets grow in product and patron size. This guide lists seven markets in Gainesville and High Springs.

Grove Street Farmers Market

Monica Albert, the former owner of The Sisters Restaurant in The Haile Village Center, closed down the food joint in 2014 leaving customers “wanting more.” Gleaning inspiration from a local farmers market, Haile Farmers Market, near her restaurant, she decided

to create the Grove Street Farmers Market at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co., 1001 NW 4th St. Grove Street, which initially hosted ten weekly vendors, now sees 92 vendors and more than 1,000 patrons every week, Albert said. It’s considered a “growers and makers-only market,” where all the goods are locally sourced. Staple items sold include organic leafy greens, cheeses, Latin-Caribbean dishes, jewelry and floralscented candles. It also runs fundraisers to contribute money to local charities.

“We’re there to create the best vendor experience, which in turn, makes for a great community,” Albert said.

Grove Street Farmers Market is open Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m.

Keep up with the Avenue on Twitter. Tweet us @TheFloridaAve.

Opinions: STEM

Union Street Farmers Market

In its current location at Bo Diddley Plaza, the Union Street Farmers Market has undergone a series of changes since its establishment in 1996.

Charles Lybrand, a local farmer, and his wife originally were honey vendors at another Gainesville market, Alachua County Farmers’ Market, before establishing Union Street Farmers Market. They created the Union Street Farmers Market to cope with product restrictions some markets were enforcing.

Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/the_avenue.

@molly_seghi mseghi@alligator.org

The value of extracurriculars for UF STEM students.

Read more on pg. 8.

Express Ourselves

Celebrate creativity with UF student-written poetry inspired by art, spoken word with Bard & Broadside, a fashion show by UF Fluidity, live painting with Yvonne Ferguson, UF student dance performances and more. View our exhibitions and enjoy free refreshments.

April

Marcus Rojas // Alligator Staff Farmers meet with community organizers to promote their recent harvest to the public at Cypress & Grove Brewing Company on Monday, May 8, 2023.

It isn’t just what you learn: The value of experience for STEM

Recently, fellow columnist Sabrina Castro wrote about the value of involvement culture. With nearly 1,000 registered student organizations and many informal organizations, involvement forms a key aspect of the college experience. While what you learn is important, what you experience will be essential to the rest of your life. This is especially the case for STEM.

Student organizations form the backbone of involvement, but they are just one aspect of our rich campus involvement culture. Many other opportunities exist, such as research, off-campus work and internships. I previously wrote about the importance of research, discussing how it shapes UF’s identity as one of the highest ranking institutions in the southeast.

I recently spoke to Marion Hagstrom, 23, a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University. At UF, she was a biomedical engineering student and mentored me during my time at Generational Relief in Prosthetics, or GRiP, a student organization at UF.

GRiP, founded in 2017, works to develop prosthetics and other devices for students with limb differences at little to no cost. Hagstrom moved through the organization, starting as a member of a SOLIDWORKS team and later becoming president. I got the chance to serve as marketing coordinator during her presidency.

Hagstrom was also a member of the Nino Research Group, a research lab that focuses on artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability and national security, among other issues. In her capacity, Hagstrom studied biomarkers and risk assessments of Alzheimer’s and related subjects.

The basic skills carried forward to what she does now, even if the subject did not carry forward. My work in the Porras TMI Lab worked similarly, giving me broad skills in communication and general good research practices that will carry me into whatever I do next.

Hagstrom told me how, coming from a small town, being involved in many positions formative to her. She was not exposed to much engineering in her hometown. Her involvement in GRiP helped create friendships and develop core skills, both hard skills and soft skills.

In my capacity in GRiP, as a member of its marketing team, I got to see the vast expanse of the organization. We had teams working on everything from dog prosthetics to adapted controllers. In upper leadership, Hagstrom described to me a similar experience of seeing a “breadth of projects” across the organization.

The skills learned in technical student organizations, like GRiP, can still be used after graduation. Although classes in programming, elec -

tronics or CAD exist, there exists a unique learning that comes from actually making something that impacts the world.

Hagstrom also got to work for the local prosthetics clinic, Gainesville Prosthetics, further connecting with the people’s prosthetic designs. She is now part of Tikkun Olam Makers, which makes technology in the assistive technologies field. They work in busts — Make-a-Thons — to develop technologies for persons with disabilities.

Many such organizations exist at universities throughout the United States. At the University of Central Florida there is Limbitless and many other campuses have an affiliate of e-NABLE, an “online global community of ‘Digital Humanitarian’ volunteers” who use their 3-D printers to make low-cost prosthetics.

Hagstrom was uncertain where she would go after undergraduate, having three paths before her. She could go into industry, clinician training to become a certified prosthetist, or Ph.D. research.

Her work with Dr. Nino led to the third. After a conversation with Dr. Nino, he saw a capacity for her to do incredible research in a Ph.D. “Even when I couldn’t see myself doing that,” she said, Nino helped her see another path for her.

“Having that mentor in undergrad was pivotal for me,” she said.

I find myself in a similar position, guided by the mentors before me. I see that in my UMMP mentor, Dr. Steven Hagen, my research mentor, Dr. Ana M. Porras, an organizational mentor, Marion Hagstrom and in other small forms of mentorship. I write this column to underscore that many valuable things can come from all sorts of experiences.

Even if you do not feel the most qualified for an involvement, pursue it anyway. Enrich yourself with a breadth of experience across multiple organizations.

One of my biggest takeaways was Hagstrom noting how anyone can achieve their dreams, with a mentor to push them even when they think they cannot do something. There is a gulf between what you learn and what you do when you enter the professional world.

It is important to think about what you think makes you happiest and how you can impact the world.

Ronin Lupien is a UF biomedical engineering senior.

If you’ve never been in a car accident before, I’m sorry to report, you’re in the minority. A vanishing minority as Florida has earned a top spot among the most dangerous states for pedestrians. I recently had the misfortune of colliding with a city bus on my morning commute to class. The experience taught me far more than to look both ways before crossing the street, though it was a grim reminder.

My accident showed me that my life is not safe on the road unless I am armed with 4,500 pounds of steel and padded leather seats. I know you know what I mean. One minute you’re enjoying an evening walk and the next, you’re on an operating table. The headlights bore into you from a block away. Overexposed, vulnerable. That moment when you hesitate at an intersection because part of you understands that you’re putting your life in your hands.

Like a bite from a radioactive spider, that rude awakening across from Pugh Hall gave me the acute ability to identify dangerous roadways. My spidey sense, as it were, is the twisting feeling of fear I feel now when biking along a busy street. The wide roads that provide a vast field of vision for drivers yet leave pedestrians like me feeling unprotected. Sweeping, rounded corners at intersections that enable drivers to make turns at unsafe speeds while putting pedestrians in harm’s way for longer stretches. Despite the standard 20 miles per hour speed limit in and around UF’s campus, these continuous design decisions are far more effective at regulating speed limits than a sign posted every few miles.

Because it is a design issue. College towns are often credited with the most pedestrian friendly urban design in America. They are built on a human scale,

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator.

prioritizing convenience and accessibility for everyone regardless of their mode of transportation.

Beyond that, they foster social connections by incorporating third spaces where people can gather serendipitously.

Unfortunately, Gainesville is an exception to that rule. Numerous accidents in and around the University have driven the county to investigate our roadways. The flawed design choices that take shape on thoroughfares like University Avenue and Archer Road have been dubbed “stroads,” a precarious balance which combines the high speeds of roads with urban activity of streets. It is this dangerous trade off that puts pedestrians at risk. One tool we must hone before tackling the enormity of reclaiming our roads for people is perspective. Humans have never needed cars. We’ve only been driving them in large numbers for about half a century, but from the look of our cities, you’d think driving is as natural and perpetual as breathing. But the opposite is true. Through the long lens of history, the American sprawl we all know and love appears to be an accident of politics and timing.

The way I see it, we can let it continue to wreak havoc on our communities and climate, or we can push for change. It takes a critical mass to turn the tide. Students have immense power here to shed light on these problems and imagine alongside longtime residents for safer, more sustainable solutions that prioritize safety and connectivity.

Amaya Borroto is a UF political science freshman.

Amaya Borroto opinions@alligator.org

Ronin Lupien opinions@alligator.org

Policy.

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Position requires a Bachelor’s degree in degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Public Health, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field and 2 years of relevant experience with data management, programming, statistical methods, and various software packages, such as SAS, SPSS, Stata, Excel, and Access; or a Master’s degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, Public Health, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science or a related field.

For more information about the position, including instructions on how to apply, please visit us on-line at https://explore. jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/listing/ and reference job opening ID: 530937.

UF is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 1-8-1-14

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2. ASTRONOMY: What does the acronym SETI mean to the scientific community?

1. GEOGRAPHY: The island of Ibiza belongs with which European country?

2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a group of flamingos called?

3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin prefix “sub-” mean in English?

3. MOVIES: What is the name of the island terrorized by a shark in "Jaws"?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms?

4. U.S. STATES: Which state capital has the highest elevation in the United States?

5. LITERATURE: Which 20th-century movie star penned the autobiography “Me: Stories of My Life”?

5. ANATOMY: Where is the corpus collosum located?

6. HISTORY: What was the first National Monument proclaimed in the United States?

7. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the island of Luzon located?

6. LITERATURE: Who wrote the children's book "Where the Wild Things Are"?

7. TELEVISION: Which 1970s TV show had a spinoff hit with "Laverne & Shirley"?

8. MOVIES: Which sci-fi movie has the tagline, “Reality is a thing of the past”?

8. MATH: How many sides does a dodecagon have?

9. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What was the name of the United States’ first nuclear-powered submarine?

10. GAMES: What are the four railroad properties in Monopoly?

9. ASTRONOMY: Which one of the planets in our solar system has the Great Red Spot?

Answers

1. 63,360 inches

2. Search for extraterrestrial intelligence

10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president ended the military draft?

3. Below or insufficient

4. Grover Cleveland

5. Katharine Hepburn

6. Devils Tower, 1906

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

7. The Philippines

8. “The Matrix”

9. The USS Nautilus

10. Pennsylvania, Short Line, Reading and B&O

© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc. January 27, 2020

1. In August 2023, the London Capitals defeated the London Mets to claim the championship in what baseball league?

1. Tommie Aaron, brother of Hank, hit how many home runs in his seven-season Major League Baseball career?

2. Tim Grgurich resigned as head coach of what college basketball team after just seven games and a 2-5 record in 1994?

2. Bill Chadwick, the NHL’s first U.S.-born referee and later a broadcaster for the New York Rangers, went by what nickname?

3. How many times was drag racer Doug Kalitta the NHRA Top Fuel season runner-up before he finally won a championship in 2023?

3. The name for the Albuquerque Isotopes Minor League Baseball club was inspired by a fictional team from what TV comedy series?

4. What Minnesota Vikings player set the NFL record for longest kick return touchdown with a 109-yard score on the opening kickoff vs. the Green Bay Packers in 2013?

5. What two golfers made holes-in-one in consecutive groups in the final round of the 2004 Masters?

4. Jim Covert and Ed Sprinkle, two members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020, spent their entire playing careers with what NFL fran-

6. Who was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing?

7. What Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball star surpassed LSU's Pete Maravich as the all-time career NCAA Division scoring leader?

MEN'S GOLF

Planned celebrations and staying positive helps Ian Gilligan lead Florida golf

The two-time SEC Golfer of the Week, 2023 Ping All-American Second Team selection has made an impact as a Gator

By Hannah Getman Sports Writer

As the golfers slowly made their way across the fairway, it was hard not to look at the one in the middle of the course. While everyone else was quietly lining up their shots, one clearly stood out among the rest, prancing around the short grass.

Junior Ian Gilligan of Florida men’s golf had hit the shot he wanted and was celebrating with a club twirl — probably a planned performance.

His teammate, sophomore Matthew Kress, could do nothing but smile as he watched Gilligan celebrate from further up the course.

“I’m just sitting back there laughing,” Kress said, “He’s like the only kid on our team who literally plans out how he’s going to celebrate when he succeeds.”

Since transferring to Florida this fall from Long Beach State, Gilligan has made his presence known on the course. On top of winning the Southern Highlands Collegiate, he leads the team in almost every statistical category and was titled the 2024 GCAA/SWING U Golfer of the Month in February.

“What he’s known for is celebrating during rounds but it’s not ever in a, ‘Hey, look at me’ way, it’s just a way of pumping people up,” said Kress. “I think especially in golf… you’re always thinking about what could go wrong… but he’s almost the opposite.”

His mindset and the way he carries himself aren’t just what

MEN'S TENNIS

makes Gilligan unique as a player. His energy off the course is a crucial factor to his and the team's success.

“Probably the most underrated

part of Ian is how good of a fit he’s been for us off the golf course,” Head Coach J.C. Deacon said.

“He’s got a great sense of humor. He’s really funny and has gotten

along with our guys really well.”

Deacon also highlighted Gilligan's skill on the course, saying the junior is good at everything and doesn’t have many weaknesses in his game.

“It was probably about an hour or two into the visit, I knew he was a really good fit for us,” Deacon said about recruiting Gilligan, “And, he just loves golf. He’s kind of a golf geek.”

His love of the sport is truly evident in the way he plays and prepares for tournaments.

“My best tournament of the entire season was the Vegas tournament,” said Gilligan referring to his win at the Southern Highlands Collegiate at UNLV. “Going into it, I didn’t really have a ton of expectations… and maybe that was a good thing. When I’m in my best mindset for tournaments I really try and treat it like a normal tournament day.”

Kress echoed Gilligan’s sentiments about his mindset. Gilligan plays in a very laid-back way and has a lot of fun while doing it, he added.

But it wasn’t always an easy road for Gilligan. He struggled to find his footing in the beginning of his first season as a Gator, with no top-five finishes in the fall and only one finish under par.

“It was definitely a big change for me… I was really excited to be able to start playing at some higher level events,” Gilligan said about coming to UF. “In the fall, I felt like I was working pretty hard and doing the right things, but I didn’t see the results I wanted.”

He kept working, trusting that eventually things would go his way. And once they did, everything started to click.

Gilligan turned his spring season around, starting with a second place finish at the Sea Best Invitational. After a third place finish at Florida’s home tournament, he captured his first win as a Gator at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.

His accolades have only grown since, with two SEC Golfer of the Week awards and a selection to the Spring Haskins Award Watch List in March, one of the most prestigious awards in collegiate golf. It’s presented annually to the most outstanding male golfer and will be announced in June.

Keeping his success in mind, Gilligan is looking forward to the postseason. With just one regular season tournament left, the Calusa Cup, he hopes the team can keep up its impressive play.

“Everyone’s working really hard to not only try and be a part of the team come the postseason,” Gilligan said. “When you’re in the lineup, you want to be able to perform and I think everyone’s really ready for the postseason.”

The Gators will open postseason play April 24 at the SEC Championship. Gilligan and the Gators will then look to earn backto-back national championships, starting with the NCAA Regionals in May.

@hannahgetman hgetman@alligator.org

JanMagnus Johnson co-captains Gators men’s tennis despite limited playing time due to injuries

JOHNSON SERVES AS A CO-CAPTAIN, ROLE MODEL FOR THE YOUNG GATORS TEAM

By Chandler Hawkes Sports Writer

Back in October, the Gators men’s tennis team was in a battle against the University of Central Florida Knights in the Gator Fall Invite. Florida graduate transfer JanMagnus Johnson was facing off against UCF sophomore Francisco Llanes.

Johnson lost the first set 6-3 and was down 5-2 in the second set, just a few points from losing the match.

But he flipped the script, winning five straight games to even that match with a 7-5 win in the second set. Johnson rode that momentum to victory, closing out the match 6-2 in the third.

“Coming back from being down match point and winning that match with all my teammates on the side was one of the highlights of my season,” Johnson said.

Despite excitement heading into the spring, Johnson has been forced to serve a different role on the court. Multiple injuries kept him from competing for nearly all of the spring season.

“Things haven't gone as I would have hoped,” Johnson said. “I felt like I did pret-

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ty well in the fall, felt like I was finding a good level, and then got hurt. I thought it was going to be okay because we’d finished fall… but couldn’t really get healthy.”

But this hasn’t stopped Johnson from taking on a co-captain role, providing encouragement to younger members of the team and motivating his teammates during matches.

Johnson, 23, is the oldest member of this Gators squad and has been critical for the development of the program and the people in it –– on and off the court.

“It’s really important to have those veteran guys that have been through it, especially when you have six freshmen,”

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Gators head coach Adam Steinberg said. “He and Nate [Bonetto] are and were very important to our success and leading these young guys… they’re extremely important to the development of these young players and development of our program.”

Steinberg said when it comes to having the makings of a team captain, Johnson checks all the boxes.

“He gives 100% to everything that he approaches — school, tennis — that's how he's made,” Steinberg said. “He has all the makings of someone you want as a leader and sets a great example for the young

Courtesy to the Alligator Gators junior Ian Gilligan hits a drive at the Gators Invitational on Friday, February 16, 2024.

Leader and mentor

TENNIS, from pg. 11

guys, especially this group… it’s been a pleasure having him in the program.”

The Cape Coral, Florida, native began his college career at UCF. His time as a Knight was short-lived due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he decided it was best for him to transfer to Florida Gulf Coast University to continue his academic and playing career.

While at FGCU, Johnson accumulated quite a resume. He earned a singles record of 44-10 in dual matches across three seasons and gained a career-high Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles ranking of No. 65.

When his time as an Eagle came to an end, he had been awarded the Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year, ASUN All-Freshman Team, ASUN Conference Player of the Year and ASUN First Team All-Conference.

“At Florida Gulf Coast, it felt like it was a family, and I really enjoyed my time there,” Johnson said.

For his final season of collegiate tennis, Johnson knew the decision on where to play was easy.

“Growing up, I always loved the University of Florida,” Johnson said. “For my fifth year, if I had the opportunity to play for the University of Florida and get to experience that with all the resources and the competition that’s here and just get to be a part of this great history, and that’s something that I couldn’t pass up.”

Though he has not been able to compete for the team on the court, he has proven why he is a team captain off of the court.

He’s focused more on leading by example in his day-to-day life and offering knowledge to his teammates.

“Being at this university, looking up to the guys that I’ve seen before me, captains at a program like this, I’ve always had respect for them, and I think just getting that opportunity and honor in itself has been an incredible opportunity,” Johnson said.

Gators freshman Henry Jefferson arrived on campus in January and instantly noticed what made Johnson special and worthy of being a captain.

“He’s very supportive, especially of the young guys that have just come in,” Jefferson said. “He’s helped everyone settle in.”

Johnson has always taken academics seriously, as he’s currently working on his master’s degree in sports management and has been awarded the ITA Scholar-Athlete honor three times.

His work ethic directly impacted Jefferson off the court, as they’ve spent multiple hours together in the dining hall working on school work, Jefferson said.

There is still hope Johnson can return to action for the Gators this spring, as he’s back to hitting and practicing with the team as the Gators head to the SEC tournament in April.

“We’re still hoping that these next few weeks we get him back and that he starts feeling better,” Steinberg said. “It’s been fun watching him get back on the court this last week, hitting a bit more, so that’s the goal for him to still be able to compete this season.”

Johnson will be honored as part of the Gators' senior day festivities in their match against No. 19 South Carolina April 14.

@HawkesChandler chawkes@alligator.org

Ryan Friedenberg // Alligator Staff Florida graduate student JanMagnus Johnson rips a backhand in the Gators’ 7-0 win against The Citadel on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.