Investing in our community

The City of Alachua, for the 36 years I’ve lived here, has invested in its future.

In the mid-1970s, a new wastewater and water system was put in.  The cry from some was “you’re overspending.” While Alachua was moving forward, other cities balked at that decision and it shows we made the right decision.

In the mid-1980s, Alachua made the decision to change the look of Main Street from an unattractive boarded up near dead center of town and activity to the vibrant beautiful downtown we’re all proud of today. But the cry from some was “you’re overspending.”

In the mid-to-late 1990s, the start of a job center that has created a thousand-plus jobs, a change in ownership and direction of the Progress Park, today is known as the Sid Martin Center, and is receiving world-class recognition.

Santa Fe College is a jewel to our community affording our citizens an opportunity for higher education.

We have a nationally recognized recreation center with volunteers second to none.

All of this would probably not have happened if the city leaders had decided not to invest in Alachua’s future; it’s been proven time and time again that businesses are more attracted to a city that showed a willingness to invest in its infrastructure.

Mr. Helle’s letter to the editor last week in the Alachua County Today deals only with the last two or three years, and fails to mention that not only Alachua, but the every state and community in America has faced the same devastating news, “we’re in the worst economy since the Great Depression.” Alachua survived the 1930’s and it will survive this, only to become better.

I did not see a letter from Mr. Helle lamenting the lower taxes. Mr. Helle has been a successful businessman here since about 1987, right after Alachua decided to invest in itself and change Main Street.  The nature of his business depended on the success of “The Good Life Community,” it allowed him to make a good living and profits and also build his dream house high on the hill.

Without Alachua investing in itself, I doubt if those dreams would have come true.

As a longtime resident, and someone that has been involved in a positive way for many years, and now as mayor, I will continue to encourage investment in our “Good Life Community.”

Time to Focus on the Future,

Gib Coerper, Mayor, City of Alachua