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Equity advisory board reviews first-year work; residents press county on east-side development neglect
Summary
The county's Equity Advisory Board reported on its first-year activities, including an equity audit tool and listening session; a public commenter urged the commission to address long-term underinvestment on the county's east side and to use economic tools to spur infrastructure and jobs.
The Alachua County Equity Advisory Board reported accomplishments from its first year and previewed upcoming priorities at the Feb. 25 meeting, while public comment highlighted persistent concerns about underinvestment on the county's east side.
Ron Rawls, chair of the Equity Advisory Board, told commissioners the board developed an equity-audit tool used to evaluate the housing element of the comprehensive plan, held a listening session with more than 50 attendees, and received presentations from multiple county departments to inform the board's reviews. Rawls said the board plans additional listening sessions and will provide feedback on inclusionary-housing policies and other county programs.
During public comment, Khalid Blount, who said he is an equity-committee member but spoke for himself, described a 1994 designation of the area around Eastwood Meadows as an opportunity zone that has seen —crickets— since that designation. Blount urged the county to use targeted public investments—widening streets, curb and gutter, fiber optic infrastructure, and tax incentives to attract clean industry—to spur job growth on the east side and stated that development attention has historically favored westward growth.
Commissioners thanked the advisory board for its work and encouraged the board to continue community engagement. Chair Chuck Chestnut complimented the listening-session turnout and commissioners said they wanted to see the board's equity audit tool applied to relevant departmental policies.
What's next: The Equity Advisory Board will continue department presentations, produce feedback on housing and inclusion policies, and plan future listening sessions; commissioners asked staff to accept the report and encouraged continued community engagement.
