Seth Johnson
Editor’s Note: Mainstreet’s 2023 year-end recap includes the area’s top news stories, top feature stories, top high school sports events, our most-viewed website stories and our Community Impact Report.
The Mainstreet staff covers a variety of local storylines throughout a given year.
Some stories rolled over from 2022’s top 10, such as Gainesville’s single-family zoning reversal. Other stories started this year and will continue to impact residents in the years ahead, including the creation of the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority or the School Board of Alachua County’s rezoning plans.
Some stories ended after months of coverage, such as Alachua County’s decision to stop pursuing a meat-processing center in Newberry.
Regardless, Mainstreet was on the scene throughout 2023 to cover the stories that mattered most to you. Here is the top news of the year, as we see it.
Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority creation
Tensions and disagreements simmered for years over how the Gainesville City Commission has directed the city’s utility, which serves both city residents and customers in unincorporated areas.
In April, state Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, filed House Bill 1645 to create a governor-appointed authority to control Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) instead of the City Commission.
Clemons and state Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, had asked for a state audit of the city years before, and the audit findings released in 2022 showed a list of issues. Clemons and Perry used these findings and bipartisan criticism of city officials by the Joint Legislative Audit Committee to push HB 1645 through both chambers.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in June and appointed members just days before the authority’s first meeting, although one of the five stepped down before she was sworn in after a residency controversy.
The authority has held three regular meetings so far, deciding to hire a new attorney and open a search for a new general manager.
State leaders and the authority have faced lawsuits by the city and local citizens.
Two judges have ruled against opponents of the GRU Authority, but other challenges remain in the courts and could impact GRU down the line.
Gainesville budget cuts and tax increase
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) demanded that the city get GRU finances under control, and four days later, the Gainesville City Commission said all options were on the table to deal with high debt at the utility.
In response, the City Commission halved the transfer from GRU to the general government, eliminated 125.5 budgeted positions, cut financing to GRACE Marketplace and created a debt reduction plan.
Even with financial cuts, the city increased the police and fire budget by around $10 million, and the City Commission approved a 16.9% tax rate increase to help offset the loss of funds from GRU.
This month, City Manager Cynthia Curry warned more cuts are likely coming in 2024.
City government changes
A new mayor and three new commissioners took office on Jan. 5 and promptly moved to reverse the signature action of the previous commission.
The new commission voted to repeal a trio of zoning ordinances in order to reinstate single-family zoning. The commissioners also voted to reinstate a ban on public alcohol consumption and stopped a scheduled salary increase for commissioners—largely because of financial pressures.
The city government also changed from one permanent and five interim charter officers at the start of the year to one interim and four permanent charter officers. GRU General Manager Tony Cunningham now reports to the new authority.
School rezoning
Overcrowded schools in western Alachua County and underutilized schools in eastern Alachua County prompted the school board to begin a comprehensive rezoning plan. New boundaries mean students could attend different schools than before, and many schools hope the process will right-size the schools.
Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe, also a high school teacher, has pushed the school board to ensure Newberry residents have their students in Newberry schools—while also keeping schools at or below capacity.
Meanwhile, Hawthorne Middle/High School sits below 50% capacity and already pulls students from one of the largest zones.
The school board is set to take up rezoning on Jan. 15, but it may slide back if issues remain unresolved.
Sasse takes reins at UF
Ben Sasse stepped into the role of UF’s 13th president in February. The university held his official inauguration in November, when he told assembled dignitaries that UF would embrace technology, transparency and innovation. The next day, Sasse presided over the opening of Malachowski Hall, a $150 million facility to house data science and information technology.
Sasse has staunchly defended the university and its current direction, including publicly clashing with the New York Times over its coverage of faculty retention rates. Sasse has also publicly supported Jewish student groups amid rising antisemitism resulting from the war between Israel and Hamas.
In September, U.S. News & World Report dropped UF from No. 5 to No. 6 in its rankings of the top public universities in the country, while the Wall Street Journal named UF No. 1.
Hurricane Idalia hits close
Forecasters projected Hurricane Idalia could make landfall in Cedar Key and head straight for High Springs and Alachua County, sparking a flurry of preparations from local officials.
The storm ended up sliding further up the coast, making it more of a non-event in Alachua County. Public works cleared more than 70 fallen trees, and about 8,000 local residents lost power.
In the days after Idalia hit, President Joe Biden landed in Gainesville to tour the damaged areas and make an appearance in Live Oak.
Emery Gainey becomes sheriff
After Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson Jr. sent a resignation letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis on July 31, DeSantis picked Emery Gainey to fill the position.
Gainey took charge on Oct. 1 and has already announced he will run for reelection in 2024. In an interview, Gainey said staffing shortages remain a high priority for him—with the jail operating with about a third of its needed staff.
School board considers superintendent contract
The performance and contract status of Superintendent Shane Andrew was a frequent topic of discussion at school board meetings in 2023. Andrew, who became superintendent on an interim basis after Carlee Simon was fired in March 2022, received mixed reviews during an annual performance in May. But the board decided to delay a search for a new superintendent and keep Andrew through the end of his contract, June 2024.
That decision meant Andrew would be the first superintendent to finish two consecutive school years since 2018-19 and 2019-20. In October, the school board discussed making Andrew permanent but later tabled the matter until 2024.
Alachua County meat-processing center
Alachua County brought the idea of a meat-processing center to the county commission in early 2023, and disagreements over the project flared quickly. Eventually, the county voted to nix the project in August.
Alachua County wanted to support the project fiscally but turn operations over to a third-party contractor—a similar relationship as its sports and event center. But a vocal group of citizens came out against the county financing anything involving killing animals.
The project ended with both Alachua County and Newberry leaders feeling painted in a bad light.
Alachua County Sports and Events Center opens
Alachua County, state officials and local business owners celebrated in June the grand opening of the county’s Sports and Events Center at Celebration Pointe. A public-private partnership, the $35 million project has already announced a booked calendar well into 2024.
The center’s activity helped Alachua County break its tourism tax record in 2023.
Other stories
Did we miss a story from the top 10? Comment your thoughts below on the most important stories of the year.