Your Voice or Your Property Rights; Choose One

The Board of County Commissioners are about to decide, which is more important to you; your voice in front of your peers or your property rights, which one are you willing to give up? How could this happen, you ask? County Staff is attempting to follow the City of Gainesville position of removing your voice, in front of your peers, in speaking out against cases brought against you from the county Codes Enforcement Board. The position of the Alachua County Building Department and Codes Enforcement officer would rather have an Independent magistrate hear each case presented by officers of Codes Enforcement. It can be intimidating to stand in front of a board of your peers, who are volunteers, but having a county paid magistrate, listen to cases being presented by county officials being paid, with a county paid attorney overseeing the counties position; what could possibly go wrong? The arrogance of members of our county commission, county attorney’s office and members of staff reflect their personal political desire of centralized government control of every aspect of your personal property rights.  You can make a difference with policy by writing our county commissioners and expressing your opinion and your choice. The motion to be read to the commission; Have an Independent Magistrate listen to specific cases, remove the volunteer codes enforcement board and have an Independent magistrate hear all cases or leave it just as it currently is; a voluntary citizens board. You other choice is do nothing, say nothing and lose your voice as well as your property rights; which are willing to give up?