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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

VOLUME 121 - ISSUE 4 Not officially associated with the University of Florida

Published by Campus Communications, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida

From pandemic fix to permanent plaza, The Streatery opens after six years A $500,000 CITY GRANT HOPES TO HELP BUSINESSES TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW OUTDOOR SPACE

By Jessica Yang Alligator Staff Writer

The fences and barriers around The Streatery came down Sept. 4, opening downtown Gainesville's new pedestrian corridor to the public after six years of votes and delays and months of construction that cut into neighboring businesses' sales. Mayor Harvey Ward stopped short of calling the project finished when he spoke at the site during a Sept. 4 press conference. "This is not a grand opening. We have a ways to go," Ward said, pointing to plans to add overhead lights and street furniture, with an official ribbon cutting planned for early November. But "the fences are gone, and the barriers are gone, and it is open

for business," he said. The improved corridor opened stronger than it started, he added. Every storefront along The Streatery is leased and open. Following the construction, two more businesses are opening in the area. Brewing Thoughts, a studentowned coffee truck, is moving into a storefront facing the corridor. It was "beneath a layer of dust and construction" at the time. Owners Titan Wojciak and Sofia Ortiz timed their opening to the corridor’s completion. Nest + Nibble, a mobile charcuterie business, has also softopened now that major construction has ended. Much of the infrastructure replaced through the project was more than a century old, he said. Two hours after a downpour, he noted the lack of standing water in the street. “That in itself is a win,” he said.

SEE STREATERY, PAGE 3

Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall steps off the team bus before an NCAA college football game against FAU, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. Find this story in Sports on pg. 11.

The Alachua County Commission signed an anti-ICE resolution. What’s next? The city commission has yet to revisit the resolution after delaying the decision By Olivia Lofaso & Aaron Zagal Yaji Alligator Staff Writers

After four months of debate and concerns about risks to state funding, the Alachua County Commission passed a resolution Aug. 11 opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in the county. Drafted by the Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative, the three-page resolution expresses a commitment to ensuring all residents, regardless of immigration status, feel safe interacting with law enforcement and seeking social services. It warns against discriminatory actions by law enforcement, but does not mention ICE specifically. The resolution also highlights concerns about the expansion of immigration enforcement in Alachua County. It urges federal immigration officers to clearly identify themselves and inform residents about the purposes of law enforcement activities. The board voted 4-0 to sign the resolution, with Commissioner Mary Alford absent. In an Aug. 12 Facebook post, Alford wrote that she was absent from the meeting and agreed with the resolution, but believed it could bring “unwanted attention” to Alachua County.

SPORTS/SPECIAL/CUTOUT Food recalls

Story description finish with comma, Do increased FDA investigations pg# mean food is less safe? Read more on pg. 2.

In June, Jacob Torner, the vice president for programs at the TaskForce for Ending Homelessness, wrote to city and county officials that passing an anti-ICE resolution could cause the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to view Gainesville and Alachua County "less favorably" when awarding federal funds for local services. The GINI proposal Gainesville Immigrant Neighbor Inclusion Initiative’s five-point petition was first presented to the Alachua County Commission April 28 during public comment. The resolution didn’t make it to the agenda until June 23, when the commission unanimously voted to delay the decision so it could discuss it with the county attorney. The petition was also brought to the attention of city commissioners during the public comment portion of a June 18 meeting. During a July 16 meeting, the Gainesville City Commission voted to postpone the decision on the resolution despite over a dozen public commenters encouraging the commissioners to support it. It’s unclear when the city commission will revisit the decision.

The county’s meeting County commissioners and staff discussed the resolution for over two hours Aug. 11, weighing potential risks to state funding, such as grants given to the city and county by the state. Ahead of the vote, commissioners considered actions by other counties, like Orange County, which passed a similar resolution opposing current ICE operations in March to oppose a rumored ICE detention facility in east Orlando. Alachua County Attorney Sylvia E. Torres said the state hasn’t pushed back against Orange County’s resolution, but the Florida Attorney General’s office could issue a warning to it or Alachua County for passing a resolution conflicting with state law like the 287(g) agreement. The 287(g) agreement allows state and local law enforcement agencies to carry out immigration operations. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office signed the agreement, while the Gainesville Police Department hasn’t. “There’s a history of the attorney general sending out letters that say, ‘What you’ve done is not within your authority’ or that it is ‘malfeasance or misfeasance in office,’ ordering you to basically repeal the action or threatening removal from office,’” Torres

The Avenue: Food

said in the meeting. However, the GPD issued a general order Aug. 27 requiring officers to report anyone they suspect is in the country illegally. The move was made to comply with state requirements, which is mandated by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). During public comment at the county’s Aug. 11 meeting, more than 10 residents and activists took to the podium to encourage commissioners to support the resolution. Before the vote, Commission Chair Ken Cornell said he didn’t plan to support the resolution. However, after hearing public comment and support from fellow commissioners, Cornell voted in its favor. He said the non-binding resolution, which has no legal weight, would help build public trust. Is the resolution purely symbolic? Although the county passed a resolution publicly opposing current ICE operations, the decision doesn’t guarantee or require an end to local law enforcement cooperation with ICE. Andrea Jacoski, a University of Miami law professor and associate director of the university’s immigration clinic, said the

SEE ICE, PAGE 4

Up2U Nutrition offers tasty twist on protein drinks and food, pg. 5

Opinions Debating the voter’s tendency to judge candidates by appearance, pg. 7

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2 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

A fear of food: Are food recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks on the rise? PRODUCT RECALLS AND OUTBREAK INVESTIGATIONS FOR 2026 ARE ON PAR WITH PREVIOUS YEARS, WITH ONE EXCEPTION

By Chloe Santiago Alligator Staff Writer

There’s a gap like a missing tooth in the frozen aisle of West University Avenue’s Publix. A shadow looms over the empty shelving between the coconut- and tangerine-flavored fruit bars where the grape and strawberry flavors used to be. “Our apologies,” reads the green placard on the shelf. “We are temporarily out of this item.” On Aug. 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalled five flavors of Outshine Fruit Bars for possibly containing pieces of glass. The frozen treats are one bullet point on a list of over 1,300 food and beverage recalls issued by the FDA so far this fiscal year, which runs from October 2025 to September 2026. Recalls can be triggered for a variety of reasons, including physical hazards in food, undeclared allergens and foodborne illness contamination. In August alone, the FDA opened four investigations into foodborne illness outbreaks of salmonella, E. coli and cyclospora, bumping the total number of investigations this year to 21. Social media users have flocked to platforms like Facebook, Instagram and X to share the latest updates from the FDA’s Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts website. “[I’m] frustrated and kind of scared,” said Kim Wollard, who shops for groceries at several different stores. “I feel like our administration isn't putting our health first.” As shoppers turn a wary eye to the supermarket, one question remains: Is food becoming less safe? Data says 2026 recall numbers aren’t out of the ordinary The number of recalled products this fiscal year is currently at a five-

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year low. It only includes recalls classified by the FDA as Class I, II or III. Unclassified recalls are recorded in the FDA’s enforcement reports but aren’t included in overall recall data. Class I, the most serious classification, labels recalls where consumption of the product can cause serious health problems or death. Class II recalls may cause temporary or reversible health problems. Class III recalls are not likely to cause health problems. However, recall numbers can be misleading — and fewer recalls aren’t necessarily better. High recall numbers can indicate better surveillance and testing, and the recall of one product can lead to dozens of other recalls that use it as an ingredient. Recall numbers also don’t show the impact of foodborne illness outbreaks, which are typically categorized as Class I recalls. As the infamous cyclospora scare has proven, one recall could spell disaster for thousands. The large-scale outbreak investigation into iceberg lettuce from central Mexico was first announced by the FDA July 16. Cases were initially linked to Taylor Farms-supplied lettuce served at Taco Bells in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia; the outbreak has since spread to 20 states, including Florida. It has become the largest cyclospora-related outbreak in U.S. history, with over 11,000 cases, nearly 500 hospitalizations and two deaths reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the outbreak remains ongoing, the FDA has since announced the best-by dates of recalled lettuce have passed, so the potentially contaminated vegetables are no longer being sold in stores or served in restaurants. Four other outbreaks of cyclospora from unknown food sources are also under investigation, bringing the total case count for this year’s cyclosporiasis season to over 18,000. “This is a typical year, with the exception of cyclospora,” said Keith Schneider, a UF food sciences and

human nutrition professor. “We have about 50 million cases of foodborne illness every year. The vast majority we never hear about.” Foodborne illnesses affect one in six Americans annually. Many common illnesses, like salmonella, E. coli and listeria, will go unreported, especially in cases of mild symptoms where people skip a doctor’s visit altogether. Some pathogens, like cyclospora, require warmer environments to develop, leading to a spike in cases during summer months. People may also eat more raw produce in summer and picnic outside, possibly increasing the risk of certain illnesses, Schneider said. Recalls issued in June, July and August account for a third of all recalls in the 2026 fiscal year so far, according to FDA data. Increased testing and new methods to detect cyclospora may have also contributed to a record-high case count, Schneider said. People are also more likely to visit the doctor for cyclosporiasis than they might for common foodborne illnesses, he added, because cyclosporiasis symptoms often can’t be treated with over-thecounter medication. Detection methods aren’t foolproof — as evidenced by a false positive of cyclospora from Taylor Farms lettuce in July — but the multistate investigation remains ongoing, according to the FDA. The outbreak data continues to point toward Taylor Farms products as the origin of the outbreak. Are FDA staff cuts responsible for outbreaks? The recent recalls have drawn attention to funding cuts to multiple departments by the Trump administration under Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Read the rest online at alligator.org. @csant860 csantiago@alligator.org

VOLUME 121 - ISSUE 4

ISSN 0889-2423

Not officially associated with the University of Florida Published by Campus Communications Inc., of Gainesville, Florida

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Downtown plaza celebrates soft opening STREATERY, from pg. 1

Six years in the making The Streatery began as an emergency, not a plan. In September 2020, the city closed Southwest First Avenue between South Main Street and Southwest Second Street so restaurants could spread tables into the street during the coronavirus pandemic. The Sept. 4 celebration marked almost six years to the day, Ward noted. The city commission voted 4-2 in August 2022 to make the two blocks permanently pedestrian-only. The price grew as the plans did. A city architect estimated in 2022 it would cost about $1 million per block to convert the street into a curbless "festival street." By the time the commission approved a concept plan in October 2024, the estimate for the full twoblock project had grown to $2.4 million. It was up to $3.2 million in March 2025, and the commission finally approved a construction contract with city contractor D.E. Scorpio Corp. in March 2026, capped at $4.5 million. The Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area program and gas tax dollars funded the multimillion-dollar project. The money will go toward rebuilding the roadway as a curbless brick plaza. It will also repair the 125-year-old stormwater drainage and electrical systems and add trees, lighting and outlets for food trucks, according to an announcement from the city. The schedule slipped, too. Construction was originally expected to begin in late 2025, but crews didn’t break ground until this April. The city aimed to finish before UF’s first home football game Sept. 5 or by October as a fallback. Ensuring the area would be

open before the start of FEST, Gainesville’s annual punk music festival, on Oct. 23, said Bryan Singleton, the city’s interim chief operating officer, at a March 5 meeting. The soft opening beat the football deadline by a day, with Gators fans arriving in Gainesville for the home opener the same weekend the barriers came down. The finished corridor is curbless and built for outdoor dining, festivals, markets and community events. Laid with brick, it features decorative lighting, landscaping, seating and rebuilt underground infrastructure. It arrives in a downtown that might need the help. A city count this spring found 28 vacant storefronts across roughly 20 core downtown blocks, a 22% vacancy rate. A city project primarily paid for by the county The GCRA, which runs the project, is a redevelopment partnership between the city and Alachua County, with the county as the bigger funder. The 10-year program runs from 2019 to 2029, covering downtown and much of East Gainesville, said Mark Sexton, Alachua County’s communications director. The program is funded with about $70 million, roughly $40 million from the county and $30 million from the city. It is administered by city staff because the redevelopment area sits inside city limits, Sexton said. The county provides the larger share of the money. The 2019 agreement that created the program puts the combined commitment closer to $77 million. "The county overall is the majority funder of these projects," Sexton said. The county's most visible role during construction of The Streatery was marketing. Its

social media accounts, which Sexton said reach about 200,000 followers, posted lists of the businesses that stayed open behind the fences. All made it through construction without closing, he said. "I think it's going to be another really good attraction and reason for people to come downtown,” Sexton said. Half a million dollars for the storefronts next door The city is also putting money behind the block's recovery. On Aug. 13, the city's General Policy Committee approved the Streatery Improvement Grant program. A $500,000 fund offering up to $50,000 per business for public-facing improvements. Such as storefronts, signage, awnings, outdoor dining furniture, lighting and accessibility features — in the blocks surrounding The Streatery. The program pays for a project's first $15,000 in eligible costs and half of every dollar after that, up to a maximum of $50,000. A cap a business would reach by spending about $85,000 on improvements. Improvements made since this March may qualify for reimbursement. Applications are expected to open this fall. A costly year for the businesses behind the fences For businesses that lived through the construction, the reopening ends a costly stretch. Johnny Conti of Capone's, a nightclub on the corner of the construction zone, estimated business dropped about 15% to 20% after the fences went up because foot traffic made up much of the crowd, he said. Capone's lights and lasers were visible from across the street before construction, he

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 ALLIGATOR 3 said, which would entice people walking by. The disruption of construction created real problems, he said. When crews blocked off the side of the street Capone’s sits on, a customer with a disability who normally had a 50-foot path to the accessible entrance had to travel around the entire block. A crosswalk on First Avenue near the club was also closed, he added, so more Uber and Lyft riders were dropped off on the road. He faulted the city for not providing a safe rideshare zone. Conti said the city kept in near-constant contact through a project manager who checked in weekly and rescheduled work near the club's entrance so it would finish before weekend events. "Everybody involved in the project has been very, very on top of it and very resourceful and helpful," Conti said. "It really does look like The Streatery is going to be really nice, brand new, beautiful." Other businesses on the block told similar stories. Jacob Larson, who owns The Bull, a bar and music venue on the corridor, told WUFT in March that the construction would wipe out revenue from events the bar hosted on the street. He estimated about a third of The Bull's income came from free events held on the street. But he predicted the new corridor could help raise sales by as much as 25%. Daniel Hughes, the owner of Loosey's Downtown, told WCJB in May the fencing blocking his storefront was the hardest part of construction. But it didn’t stop regulars from coming by, he added. Read the rest online at alligator.org. @jessie_yang_22 jyang@alligator.org

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4 ALLIGATOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026

Alachua County parents share frustration with public school transportation

put an end to the monthslong backDistrict rezoning and bus driver shortages cause concern among parents tion and-forth, Stanton said, which she argued

By Julia Miller Alligator Staff Writer

Every afternoon, Crystal Hampton leaves work to pick up her sixth grader from school. Hampton, a single mother, picks her daughter up from the Extended Day Enrichment Program, which her child attends at an additional cost, and drops her off at their home before returning to work. Hampton lives with her three children in Suburban Heights, a neighborhood in northwest Gainesville. Living just under 2 miles from Westwood Middle School, her daughter is not eligible to ride the bus. Florida law only requires public school buses be provided for students who live 2 or more miles from their school. Hampton initially requested courtesy bus service for her middle-schooler, but was denied. She then requested her child be allowed to walk to the nearest bus stop and get the bus there. This request was also denied, she said, with the county citing a lack of bus drivers. “There's so many parents complaining, and it feels like nobody is taking it seri-

ously,” Hampton said. Transportation challenges were agitated by the Alachua County Public Schools’ rezoning that took effect this school year. Voted into place by the school board last March, the plan reassigned more than 3,200 students to new schools and approved the closure of three elementary schools, one of which closed at the end of last school year. The remaining two schools will close in 2028. The adjustments forced families to navigate different bus routes and shifting transportation needs. Hampton’s sixth grader could have ridden the bus to Fort Clarke Middle School, where she was originally zoned, but the recent change to Westwood Middle has rendered her ineligible due to her proximity to the school. “There's not enough drivers, so it's frustrating as a parent because I'm like, ‘Who is going to do something about this situation?’” Hampton said. Parent intervention has had some success. Carson Stanton, the parent of a 9-year-

old at Norton Elementary School, managed to get her daughter a bus after the rezoning added obstacles to her path to school. Before the rezoning, Stanton’s daughter originally attended Foster Elementary School, which closed at the end of last school year. After being reassigned to Norton Elementary, her daughter was faced with a nearly 2-mile walk, which would have included an unassisted crossing at Northwest 13th Street, a four-lane road. When Stanton applied for a school bus for the students making the commute, it was originally denied. The district told her the request didn’t meet the definition of hazardous walking conditions described by Florida law, she said. The law defines a dangerous crossing as one over a road with a posted speed limit of 50 mph or greater or that has six or more lanes, not including turn lanes. School districts are legally required to provide bus transportation for students facing hazardous walking conditions. The students were granted a bus after she continued to press the school board and superintendent, she said. The solu-

should have been resolved sooner. “I should not be talking to the school superintendent or the school board about something that the transportation director should have been handling and elevating in their department,” Stanton said. “It just doesn't make any sense.” James Sheppard, the executive director of operations, oversees transportation throughout the district. He did not respond to multiple requests for comment via email and phone call. According to an email from ACPS spokesperson Jackie Johnson, the district serves about 28,000 students, and about 7,500 rely on district transportation. The majority of routes are completed on time, Johnson wrote. The district is in the process of hiring more bus drivers, she added. “Our focus is not only on addressing individual concerns but also on identifying patterns and developing solutions that strengthen transportation services across the district,” Johnson wrote. @juliamill30 jmiller@alligator.org

Alachua County signs symbolic immigration resolution ICE, from pg. 1

resolution seems to be a symbolic gesture acknowledging community concerns. It can’t supersede state and federal ICE operations in the county, she added. “I don't actually know that passing a resolution will pull away from their obligation to actually continue to share information or effectuate ICE detainers,” Jacoski said. ICE detainers, or immigration holds, are written notices sent by ICE to local or state law enforcement asking them to hold a person so ICE can take them into custody. While the county’s resolution may not prevent ICE operations entirely, Jacoski said, it can build public trust and demonstrate solidarity with its immigrant communities.

“It's important, and it's good that people are recognizing that it is very harmful for our immigrant neighbors and the large immigrant population across Florida,” she said. Community reactions After months of discourse, Alachua County Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said the resolution upholds the county’s responsibility to care for its residents by encouraging ICE officers to treat them fairly. “It has very nice words put together to ask that folks here don’t wear masks and that they treat people well and that they don't profile anybody,” Wheeler said. “But again, it’s not binding, and so, more than anything, it’s an acknowledgment that there are communities being jeopardized by the

tactics coming out of Washington and now out of Tallahassee.” Wheeler added she’s done far more for immigrants than support a non-binding resolution. In an attempt to promote binding change, Wheeler said she’s addressed community concerns like GINI’s with U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack and her team, who represent Alachua County and the surrounding area in the U.S. House of Representatives. “[Cammack] knows that this is a topic that I'm most concerned about,” she said. “So we sat down together … and we were trying to come up with some ideas that we might be able to address the concerns of the community in a more face-to-face and direct way.” Her relationship with Cammack began when Wheeler ran against former U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho in 2014.

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Cammack was his campaign manager at the time. Wheeler looks back at her 2014 campaign for House and her platform on immigration as evidence of her decadelong support for immigrants. She suspects the Gainesville City Commission has been waiting for the county commission’s decision to make its own about the resolution, she added. While waiting on the city commission’s vote, she said, she’s been gathering a group of volunteers to talk with Cammack. “What I’m trying to do is set up a meeting with those folks who were willing to go to have this discussion about what is happening,” she said, “and what we can expect in the future and how we might be helpful in trying to get some kind of immigration reform policy go-

ing.” Having achieved the county’s approval, GINI representative Ethan Maia de Needell said the organization is now focusing its efforts on the city. He said future work with the county will aim to make the county’s social services more accessible to the immigrant community. GINI hopes to help facilitate those efforts and hold the county accountable, he added. “The demands in the resolution are not extreme,” he said. “They are simply a gesture of what the city prioritizes, which we hope are the constitutional rights of its residents.” @azagalyaji azagal@alligator.org @OLofaso77652 olofaso@alligator.org

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/the-avenue

FOOD & DRINK

Up2U Nutrition offers a sweet twist to packing protein REVIEWING THE RESTAURANT’S VITAMIN TEAS, PROTEIN SHAKES AND TREATS

feel like I was drinking a Frappuccino. “Caramel Pie” was the perfect fall flavor recommendation, especially for those who don’t love pumpkin.

By Katharine Litman

Abs-olutely delicious

Avenue Staff Writer

Protein shakes and unsweetened teas have a reputation for tasting like punishment. Up2U Nutrition might be changing that. Located on Northwest 23rd Avenue, Up2U Nutrition offers “SpecialTeas,” water-based protein shakes and protein-packed desserts with an emphasis on serving nutrient-dense drinks and meals. Nicolas Echavarria, 26, and his wife Rosie Gil, 32, started Up2U Nutrition to bring traditional Venezuelan and Colombian-inspired drinks to Gainesville with a menu tailored to reflect the community’s tastes. The pair’s “SpecialTeas”, starting at $8.32, combine three types of teas, Echavarria said, which contain aloe concentrate and vitamins C, B12 and B6. They use plant-based protein and avoid lactose in their protein shakes to ensure those with dietary restrictions can enjoy them. For students looking to start the semester off on a healthier diet, Up2U Nutrition might be a place to start. Tea time

Echavarria recommends the “Miami Vice Tea,” he said, a combination inspired by his Miami upbringing. The “Miami Vice Tea” tastes like a watermelon Jolly Rancher — sweet, fruity and almost candy-like — while still refreshing.

Reagan Bresnahan // Alligator Staff

Up2U Nutrition owner, Nicolas “Nico” Echavarria makes a drink, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. Made with mango, coconut, raspberry, strawberry and pineapple, the rich pink tea offers plenty of flavor with no carbonation. Tasting the drink’s sweetness, you’d have no idea it’s sugar-free like all the others. But if sweet isn’t your style, the “Tropic Like it’s Hot” tea is the way to go. Mango, peach, passion fruit and tropical punch come together to resemble the flavor of a SweeTARTS Rope. Meanwhile, the “Dragon Slayer” offers the perfect in-between with blackberry, mandarin, strawberry, kiwi and dragon fruit. Of the three teas I tried, I’d have to say this was my favorite — owed partly to my love of dragon fruit, but also because the fruit combination

comes together to create such a vibrant flavor. Shake it up

If you’re hesitant to try the protein shakes: Don’t worry; I was, too. But Echavarria said one of his focuses when constructing the menu was finding a protein powder that didn’t taste like traditional ones. The “Caramel Pie” shake contains dulce de leche, vanilla protein, apple, caramel syrup and cinnamon, and it has 32 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber, all for around 350 calories and $12.48. For something with that much protein, it was surprisingly indulgent and tasted exactly like a caramel apple. Its rich flavor and smooth texture made it

Up2U’s protein options aren’t limited to shakes. The menu also boasts treats like protein acai bowls, churros and waffles. The protein waffle, which cost $12.48, completely exceeded my expectations. Given a wide variety of toppings and syrups, I chose to top my waffle with bananas, blueberries and a peanut butter drizzle. The waffle was extremely soft and tasted like a snickerdoodle. When Echavarria told me it was packed with 40 grams of protein but was only 420 calories, my jaw dropped. These waffles are the perfect snack to share with friends and family and are made with clean ingredients. After trying three teas, a protein shake and a protein waffle, I left Up2U Nutrition with one conclusion: Eating high protein doesn’t mean flavor has to be sacrificed. While the “Dragon Slayer” tea was my favorite, the “Caramel Pie” shake and protein waffle proved the menu goes beyond a stereotypical healthy drink. For students in Gainesville looking for a post-workout snack, a sweet treat, a quiet study spot with free Wi-Fi or even a quick breakfast, Up2U offers plenty of options that don’t make wellness feel like a chore. Maybe protein shakes and unsweetened teas don’t have to taste like punishment after all. @katealligator klitman@alligator.org

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El Comisionado del Condado de Alachua firmó una resolución en contra del ICE. ¿Qué sigue? LA COMISIÓN MUNICIPAL AÚN NO HA VUELTO A EXAMINAR LA RESOLUCIÓN TRAS HABER APLAZADO LA RESOLUCIÓN

Por Olivia Lofaso y Aaron Zagal Yaji Después de cuatro meses de debate y preocupaciones por los riesgos para la financiación estatal, el Comisionado del Condado de Alachua firmó una resolución el 11 de agosto en contra de operaciones del Servicio de Control de Inmigración y Aduanas en el país. Escrita por la Iniciativa de Inclusión de Vecinos Inmigrantes de Gainesville, la resolución de tres páginas expresa el compromiso de garantizar que todos los residentes, independientemente de sus estatus migratorios, se sientan seguros al interactuar con las fuerzas del orden

y al solicitar servicios sociales. Advierte contra las acciones discriminatorias de las fuerzas del orden, pero no menciona específicamente a ICE. La resolución también destaca la preocupación por la expansión de la aplicación de la ley federal de inmigración en el condado de Alachua. Insta a los agentes federales en inmigración a identificarse claramente e informar a los residentes sobre los objetivos de sus actividades policiales. La junta votó 4-0 para firmar la resolución, con la comisionada Mary Alford ausente. En una publicación de Facebook el 12 de agosto, Alford escribió que aunque estuvo ausente de la reunión, se oponía a la resolución porque creía que podría atraer “una atención no deseada” al condado de Alachua. En junio, Jacob Torner, el vicepresidente de programas del Grupo de Trabajo para Acabar con la Falta de Vivienda, escribió a los funcionarios municipales y del condado que

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la aprobación de una resolución contra el ICE podría provocar que el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de Estados Unidos viera a Gainesville y al condado de Alachua como “menos favorables” al otorgar fondos federales para servicios locales. La Propuesta de GINI La petición de cinco puntos de GINI se presentó por primera vez a la Comisión del Condado de Alachua el 28 de abril durante los comentarios públicos. La resolución no se incluyó en la agenda hasta el 23 de junio, cuando la comisión votó unánimemente a favor de aplazar la decisión para poder consultarla con el abogado del condado. La petición también fue presentada a los comisionados municipales durante la sesión de comentarios públicos de la reunión del 18 de junio. Durante una reunión del 16 de julio, la Comisión Municipal de Gainesville votó a favor de pospon-

er la decisión sobre la resolución a pesar de que más de una docena de comentaristas públicos animaron a los comisionados a que lo apoyaran. Se desconoce cuándo la comisión municipal reconsiderará la decisión. La reunión del condado Los comisionados y el personal del condado debatieron la resolución durante más de dos horas el 11 de agosto, considerando los posibles riesgos para la financiación estatal. Incluyendo las subvenciones que el estado otorgó a la ciudad y al condado. Antes de la votación, los comisionados consideraron las acciones de otros condados, como el condado de Orange, que aprobó una resolución similar en contra de las operaciones actuales de ICE. El Comisionado del condado de Orange aprobó en marzo una resolución para oponerse a un supuesto centro de detención de ICE en el este de Orlando. La fiscal del condado de Alachua,

Sylvia E. Torres, declaró que el estado no se ha opuesto a la resolución del condado de Orange. Pero la Fiscalía General de Florida podría emitir una advertencia tanto al condado de Orange como al de Alachua por aprobar una resolución que contravenga la ley estatal, como el acuerdo 287(g). El acuerdo 287(g) permite a las agencias policiales estatales y locales llevar a cabo operaciones de inmigración. La Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Alachua ha firmado el acuerdo, mientras que el Departamento de Policía de Gainesville no lo ha firmado. Lee el resto en línea en alligator.org @azagalyaji azagal@alligator.org @OLofaso77652 olofaso@alligator.org

Sports: Football Analyzing the Gators’ successes and pitfalls in their win against Florida Atlantic, pg. 11

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Column

Dance is more than a performance

igorous practices are full of running drills that consume every free hour of the week. Exercises are strategically designed to strengthen and increase the team’s endurance. Competition is high-pressure with an audience constantly searching for mistakes. As a team, everyone works cohesively toward victory. You might read this description and immediately think of sports like football, basketball or soccer. But what if I told you it’s actually about dance? The four years I spent on my high school’s dance team taught me lessons that have shaped who I am today. I learned about the importance of perseverance, teamwork and dedication. I also learned dance is a sport that often goes unrecognized. Dance is an artistic expression of an emotion or idea through movement. It gives shape to feelings that can’t be conveyed verbally. But while dance is incredibly artistic, it also has an athletic side that would be naive to discredit. While some Florida counties consider high school dance a sport, my school was part of the group that doesn’t include it in their athletics departments. The reasoning is this: Not all high schools compete, so it’s classified as an extension of the arts.

As a result, dancers don’t have the same resources allocated to traditional sports teams. My coach struggled to get a regular and safe space for us to practice. Without access to a dedicated athletic space, we were demoted to running drills in the school cafeteria. The standard dance floor is made of marley, a specialized vinyl material that provides traction and safety. The cafeteria floor was marble, which was not the best to execute tricks on because it was slippery and painful to fall on. But even the cafeteria wasn’t guaranteed to us. Although we were granted a time slot, our practice space was sometimes occupied by employee celebrations, club meetings and ROTC drills. I will forever be thankful for my coaches’ endless dedication to making sure we always had a place to practice, even if it wasn’t a traditional dance studio. We also didn’t have transportation for away games. Typically, dance teams will sideline football games — including away games. The football and cheer teams had buses to transport them, but my team needed a parent-led carpool schedule to make sure we could still perform. A huge responsibility was placed on the parents and coaches to ensure we could safely

get to high schools up to 40 minutes away. Many recognized high school teams don’t have to worry about practice spaces and transportation. Just because dance has not traditionally been recognized as a sport doesn’t give schools a reason to leave it out. Ella Finkelstein Like various sports, dancers train opinions@alligator.org for hours daily, mixing strengthening and conditioning. Dancers need to be athletic to execute movements and tricks successfully. My coach used to make us run laps around the parking lot to build our stamina, a drill common in most sports. Dancing for three minutes may not seem exhausting, but it is. Dancers have to give 110% throughout a dance, engaging every muscle in their body to perfectly execute each move. Getting tired in the middle of a dance is not an option; it can result in injuries or mistakes. Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/opinions. @Ellamfink efinkelstein@alligator.org

Column

Evan Moon doesn’t look like a politician, and that’s the point

“F

un fact! I talk A LOT.” That was how Evan Moon began his pitch to be Gainesville’s next mayor. It’s not exactly the carefully curated answer we’d expect from someone asking for our vote. His description of his day job wasn’t, either. Moon told voters he works in the deli at Walmart, helping customers before returning home to “plot to take over the city.” Moon’s plot involved expanding public transportation, increasing affordable housing and finding Gainesville a permanent fairground. It’s funny. It’s strange. And it doesn’t sound much like a traditional political campaign. But why is that a bad thing? Moon lost Gainesville’s Aug. 18 mayoral election to incumbent Harvey Ward, winning only 20% of the vote. Ward entered the race after serving as mayor since 2023 and as a former

city commissioner for two terms, while Moon had never held an elected position. Those differences alone gave voters legitimate reasons to prefer one candidate over the other. Despite this, Moon’s campaign raised a question that outlived the election: What exactly makes someone look like a politician? Moon works in the Walmart deli. He jumped between jokes, personal stories and policy proposals in his Mainstreet Daily News questionnaire. When asked about his previous elected experience, Moon initially said he had none before remembering his time in student government, where he would “run for everything,” he joked. It would be easy to take one look at Moon and write him off. But doing so would mean ignoring what he was actually saying. Moon advocated for 40% of new housing to be genuinely affordable, a vast increase

from Gainesville’s existing 10% inclusionary zoning floor. He spoke about a stronger transit agreement between Gainesville and UF and a permanent fairground. He also campaigned explicitly as a member of Gainesville’s working class, according to a July Gainesville Ledger election preview. His ideas to improve public transportation contrasted his more eccentric campaign statements. In a candidate questionnaire from the Alachua County Labor Coalition, Moon argued Gainesville’s Regional Transit System needs to be more “accessible, reliable and frequent.” “If you cannot afford to take off work due to RTS not running, you cannot afford to Uber,” he wrote. Suddenly, Moon’s “plot to take over the city” doesn’t sound quite as ridiculous. Taking the message away from the person de-

livering it demonstrates the value. Maybe it’s worth examining why we feel the need to separate his delivery from the issues he advocates for. Shirin Khizzar We like to think our opinions@alligator.org political decisions come from carefully comparing policies, experience and qualifications. But we start deciding who looks competent before we know much about them at all. Read the rest online at alligator.org/ section/opinions. @Shirinkhizzar Skhizzar@alligator.org

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 ALLIGATOR 9

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Sports Quiz

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5. In 2018, Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira set a Guinness World Record for the largest wave surfed by a female. How high was the wave's face height from trough to crest?

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/sports

FOOTBALL

‘A fun brand to watch’: Florida’s offense puts on a show in season opener THE GATORS LOGGED 624 YARDS AND 30 FIRST DOWNS By Max Bernstein & Riley Orovitz Sports Writers

When Jon Sumrall gave his first opening statement as Florida football head coach on Dec. 1, he made his offensive game plan very clear: aggressive and explosive. “I want the scoreboard to light up,” Sumrall said. “Here, I think we can score a lot of points, and that's what I want to do.” And in his Gator coaching debut, the offense did just that. Against Florida Atlantic (0-1) Sept. 5, the Gator attack was nearperfect drive after drive, putting up 624 total yards, 30 first downs and 9.3 yards per play in a dominant 6621 season-opening victory. The 66 points were the most Florida (1-0) has scored since a 70-52 win over Samford on Nov. 13, 2021, and the highest total in a Florida season opener since 1988, when the team logged 69 points against Montana State. “It was fun. It was good. A lot of good in there,” Sumrall said. “I think it was a fun brand to watch tonight. We need to keep it up.” At the forefront of Florida’s offensive success was the superb play of junior quarterback Aaron Philo. In his first appearance as a Gator, the Bogart, Georgia, native completed 15 of 21 pass attempts for 275 yards, three touchdown passes and one interception, which came on a dropped pass that Sumrall said “wasn’t on him.” Philo also added 20 yards and a touchdown on the ground. After earning the starting quarterback position over sophomore Tramell Jones Jr. just under two weeks before the season-opener, Philo showcased his command of the offense Sumrall and offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said gave him the edge. Sumrall was “proud” of Philo, he said post-game, and the quarterback’s preparation for the moment “showed up tonight by how he played.” Philo showed elite efficiency in the opening stages, completing all of his first seven pass attempts, including touchdown passes to sophomore wide receiver Vernell Brown III and former Prince Avenue Christian School and Georgia Tech teammate Bailey Stockton. Stockton, a 5-foot-10 senior, saw 26 games of action in his three seasons as a Yellow Jacket. He won a

Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff

Florida running back Jadan Baugh (13) runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game against FAU, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. pair of Georgia state championships in high school, one of which came alongside Philo. The duo took their already bolstered connection to Gainesville, playing in front of nearly 90,300 fans. “Coming from high school and then you're here playing in The Swamp, throw a touchdown and throw it to Bailey,” Philo said. “We've done it so many times. Just to do it again in The Swamp was pretty cool.” Despite Philo’s limited collegiate experience, the signal caller looked incredibly comfortable through his three quarters of play. The Faulkner product was able to sit back in the pocket but showed his ability to step up and scramble when the time came. More importantly, he didn’t appear flustered when a play broke down. Philo connected with sophomore Duke Clark with 4:30 remaining in

the third quarter for the running back’s first career touchdown. Philo lined up in shotgun — as he did consistently throughout the contest — and found the checkdown option. He faked the handoff to Clark and was looking for wideout Dallas Wilson on the crosser. Instead, the Owls’ secondary took away Wilson and Brown, forcing Philo to make a decision. He emerged from the pocket and toed the line of scrimmage before making a cross-body toss to Clark at the 4-yard line. “I came into today feeling really confident,” Philo said. “I felt like I prepared really well and prepared a lot for these guys, and that allows you to come out here and play with confidence. I think I was able to do that from the start.” Six quarters, 426 rushing yards, five touchdowns. Not too shabby a stat line for anyone, but for Jadan Baugh, it’s

all but unusual. The junior running back added 160 yards and three scores on 14 carries against FAU, making the last two outings in The Swamp quite memorable. After capping his sophomore campaign against Florida State Nov. 29 with the second-most yards in a game in program history, Baugh picked up right where he left off. On a night where nearly everything seemed to be going right for the Gators, it appeared Baugh could break one loose at any point in his 40 minutes of action. He averaged 11.4 yards per carry, his most since Sept. 4, 2025, against Long Island (minimum 10 attempts). Baugh recorded a 61-yard burst in the third quarter, setting a new career-long rush that more than doubled his longest run of 2025, a 26-yarder. “[I saw] grass. Green grass. That's it,” Baugh said. “I seen my

receivers blocking. I was nice and ready to go.” While Baugh’s night should not be understated, he and Sumrall both tipped their caps to the offensive line and receivers for their work in the trenches. Florida’s line allowed a sole sack and no quarterback hits, giving Philo and backup QB Jones Jr. ample time in the pocket. The combination of the o-line’s protection and wideouts’ relentlessness handed the Gators immense success. “The thing I'm most proud of tonight offensively is our perimeter block. Our receivers blocked their ass off,” Sumrall said. “That says a lot about who they are. The character of a football player sometimes isn't revealed by when they're getting their opportunities or production. It's what you're doing to serve your team.” Outside of Brown’s blocking ability, he shined in his sophomoreseason debut. The 5-foot-11 wideout opened 2026 by snagging his first touchdown reception as a Gator. Philo connected with Brown on a designed screen pass, paving the way for the latter to do all the dirty work. The Gainesville native ran 49 yards, breaking an initial tackle and weaving his way between FAU’s secondary en route to the end zone. Brown closed out 2025 with a team-high 40 receptions and 512 yards, becoming the first Florida true freshman to lead the program in both categories. While he failed to tally six points on the scoreboard last season, it took just three minutes into the 2026 season to do so. “I was kidding around with him all offseason, ‘You still haven't scored here,’” Sumrall said. “The explosive one, the first one, was a great play by him. He's [an], unbelievable worker. So, not surprised.” While the Gators’ victory will go down in the record books, Sumrall and Co. have their eyes fixed on what’s ahead. Florida will remain at home and take on its last nonconference opponent of the season on Sept. 12, the Campbell Camels (2-0). “It's a good start. 1-0 was the goal this week,” Sumrall said. “We got there. As of tomorrow at about 5 o’clock in my mind, we'll be 0-0 catches. Just go win another game. Focus on the game one at a time. I know that's coachspeak, but that's how we operate.”

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 ALLIGATOR 11

FOOTBALL

Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff

Florida quarterback Aaron Philo (12) celebrates after making a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against FAU, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

Gators’ defense not up to Jon Sumrall’s standards in season opener FLORIDA RECORDED TWO INTERCEPTIONS AND TWO SACKS IN BRAD WHITE’S DEBUT By Ava DiCecca & Curan Ahern Sports Writers

Though the Gators outscored Florida Atlantic by 45 in Jon Sumrall’s highly anticipated debut in Gainesville, the first-year Florida head coach wasn’t pleased with the performance of his defense. In a 66-21 rout of the Owls, Florida allowed 396 total yards, including 276 through the air at the hands of FAU graduate quarterback Caden Veltkamp. “Early on with them, we couldn't keep pace,” Sumrall said. “Our defense was atrocious at times, quite honestly … I'm really a little bit frustrated with how we play defensively at times. I don't think we're as good as we think we are. I think we got some guys who feel like, you know, we've arrived in some spots, and that'll be addressed.” A Florida defense that allowed less than 223 passing yards per game in 2025 saw Veltkamp with ample time to make reads and find a receiver. FAU senior Kelby Valsin grabbed double-digit receptions and tallied 92 yards and a touchdown, while fifth-year receiver Easton Messer added 73 yards on seven receptions. Aside from struggling to pressure FAU’s signal-caller, Florida’s defensive line couldn’t bring down Veltkamp as much as it would have liked. However, sophomore Jeramiah McCloud managed to make an impact. He posted eight tackles and two quarterback hurries along with breaking up a fourth-down pass late in the second quarter. “I love his energy,” junior inside linebacker Myles Graham said. “He’s a dawg … It makes my job easier.” Along with McCloud, senior defensive linemen Brendan Bett and Kamran James and fifth-year Emmanuel Oyebadejo combined for 10 tackles and five quarterback hurries. James

logged one of Florida’s two sacks, while Oyebadejo added constant pressure and a pass breakup. After a statement first quarter in which the Gators nabbed an interception and forced back-to-back three-and-outs, Florida’s defense seemed to hit a wall. The Gators allowed touchdowns on both of the Owls’ ensuing drives in the second quarter, cutting UF’s lead to 10. But after FAU’s 245-yard, two-touchdown first half, the Gators attacked the second with a new mindset, allowing just 151 yards of offense and a single touchdown. “I think with that type of offense you have to bend but not break,” Graham said. “They’re going to take the easy throws … So, I think it’s definitely a bend-but-not-break mentality, but we want to be cleaner across the board.” Graham headlined a solid linebacker unit, pacing the Gators defense with 10 total tackles. The double-digit mark stamped a collegiate career high for him. Even leading 59-21, Florida’s defense refused to give up another score. Though UF allowed the Owls to string together chunk plays and march downfield to the 1-yard line in the fourth quarter, the Gators put together a goal-line stand headlined by Bett’s forced fumble. “Our guys rose up and they didn't just look at the scoreboard and go, ‘Hey, this touchdown, we're still going to win if it's scored.’ They said, ‘No, we're not going to let them in,’” Sumrall said. “It was a great play by Brendan Bett down there to fight, get off the block and tear off and go make the play. I appreciate the fact that they continued to play.” The takeaways and physicality were there; UF’s defense just allowed Veltkamp to string together enough yardage to sustain drives and keep FAU’s offense on the field. Despite the lopsided score, FAU held the ball for 28:24, just minutes less than Florida’s 31:36 time of possession. “We've got a lot of room to grow on defense, and if it doesn't happen real fast, we're going to get embarrassed and exposed pretty handily in some spots because that wasn't a great performance by us,” Sumrall said.

Senior defensive back DJ Coleman was one of the bright spots in a Florida secondary that needs to considerably improve if it wants to meet Sumrall’s lofty standards. His gameopening interception and tipped pass late in the first half led to two of Florida’s three takeaways in the win. Coleman also logged an interception during Florida’s Orange & Blue Spring Game and has been one of the secondary’s most efficient defenders against the pass through the offseason. He finished the win over FAU with two tackles, a pass deflection and an interception. “DJ [Coleman] is one of those guys that is just really consistent,” Sumrall said. “He's a high-level communicator, he's got a high football IQ, he's smart, he's tough, he's dependable. So, not surprised.” Senior Kanye Clark and sophomores Ben Hanks III and J’Vari Flowers made some of the most considerable impacts of the night in regards to perimeter tackling. Clark logged seven tackles — the third-most on Florida’s squad — and added two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup, while Flowers trailed with six tackles. Hanks also recorded one of Florida’s seven pass breakups, and he added four solo tackles. “Grateful for the guys' effort, a lot to work on, a lot to grow from,” Sumrall said. “I told them just now the journey of 1,000 miles starts with a single step. That was step one. The goal this week was to be 1-0, and we gotta go back to the drawing board and get a little bit better each day this week to keep improving.” Despite the dominant 66-21 showing, the defense has much more work to do. The Gators will look to build off their Week 1 win and display a stronger defensive front and tighter secondary against the Campbell Fighting Camels Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. @avadicecca24 adicecca@alligator.org @CuranAhern cahern@alligator.org

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