Category Archives: September 2015

by Tana Silva

A proposed zoning overhaul in Gainesville would reward speculation in the guise of redeveloping urban neighborhoods—the last cheap real estate—around UF and downtown. Each neighborhood is unique, and all are gradually revitalizing.

With rezoning, multistory business and apartment buildings could replace houses and small yards, first and worst in the historically African American Fifth Avenue neighborhood and eventually Porters and others.

From Brooklyn to San Francisco, the same fate has befallen once-affordable real neighborhoods and their distinct character. They become Disneyfied, the rich become richer, and longtime residents become refugees.

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Teach-In, Sept. 19 — Porters Community Center

As part of the ongoing campaign to have the Confederate statue relocated, our third teach-in will be held beginning at noon on September 19 at the Porters Community Center (512 SW 2nd Terrace) and will be titled “Power to the People or Confederate Heritage: Which Side Are You On?”

At this event, powerful speakers will discuss the horrific history of the Confederacy as well as the informal and formal systems of violence, oppression, and discrimination that have perpetuated white supremacy to this day. Our speakers will include Kali Blount on slavery, Kayla Esparra on emancipation, Annette Gilley on discrimination, Herb DuPree on the economy, Jesse Arost on colonialism and imperialism, and Faye Williams on the need to relocate the Confederate statue.

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Well, Summer’s over, the consistent 90s will make way for cooler and more energized times. There’s lots going on in the world, let’s have a great year.

We are glad to have Kelly Mangan’s firsthand report from Vermont on Bernie Sanders. It is infuriating to watch and listen as the media spends all its time covering the reactionary celebrity candidacy of Trump, and then, even worse, equate Bernie with Trump as fringe candidates, but then still spend their time on The Donald. The topics Bernie is putting on the table are the issues most Americans care about. They are about hope, positive solutions, and challenging the power of corporations and big money in our politics. They are not what the media wants to talk about.

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The September 2015 issue of the Iguana is now available! Kelly Mangan talks Bernie Sanders, Bob Knight discusses Florida’s water crisis, Susan Bottcher writes on redistricting corruption in Florida, and we remember some of Gainesville’s finest — Travis Fristoe and Pat Fitzpatrick. If you want to get your hands on a hard copy, check out our distro locations here.