VOLUME 5 ISSUE 50
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12 days until Christmas DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2024
Several candidates qualify for special election to fill vacated seat in Congress By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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roster of candidates from several parties has been solidified for the special election to fill the District 6 U.S. House of Representatives seat that will soon be left vacant by Michael
Waltz. Waltz, who recently won reelection to the congressional seat, has been chosen by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as his National Security Adviser. Former Marion County School Board Member Donald Browning withdrew his name for the race
ahead of qualifying, endorsing State Sen. Randy Fine for the position. He said he will continue to advocate for the issues he cares about in Marion County by maintaining open communication with whomever is elected to represent District 6. See Election, page A8
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, in Tallahassee, Fla. (Photo/Florida House of Representatives)
Addressing homelessness
Ocala’s $1.1 million garbage compactor purchase passes despite opposition from private sector By Caroline Brauchler caroline@ocalagazette.com
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Jon DeCarmine, CEO of Grace Marketplace, points out some of the buildings on the grounds on Nov. 22, 2024. The facility for the homeless and hungry in Gainesville is considered to be a low-barrier point of entry for assistance.
Photos by Andy Fillmore Ocala Gazette
Grace Marketplace, a low-barrier facility for the homeless and hungry in Gainesville, offers a cafeteria for clients.
This is one of the dorms at Grace Marketplace in Gainesville, which offers resources to help the homeless get into permanent housing.
Clients at Grace Marketplace in Gainesville have access to things such as this garden.
Local leaders indicate that a low-barrier facility in Alachua County could serve as a potential model for Marion County. By Andy Fillmore andy@ocalagazette.com
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race Marketplace, a low-barrier shelter for the homeless and hungry in northeast Gainesville, claims a 47% reduction in people living on the streets of Alachua County, with many people put on the path
to permanent housing. Officials say the 23-acre facility former correctional facility could serve as a model for a low-barrier shelter in Ocala/Marion County, a need voiced by many who serve the homeless community in Marion County. Grace Marketplace allows emergency entry without identification, no criminal background restrictions and does not
require proof of attendance at substance abuse or mental health programs, as opposed to Ocala-area shelters that might require an ID or have criminal background restrictions. The Gainesville facility is operated by the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry. See Grace Marketplace, page A3
he Ocala City Council approved the purchase of trash compactors and trucks to serve the downtown area, a shortfall that multiple private companies argued they should have been contracted to take over instead. The $1,129,587 purchase will allow the city to acquire three solid waste roll-off compactor trucks and 10 compactor units, said Public Works Director Darren Park. “This item will allow us to … provide efficient and cost-effective service in the downtown area that has become increasingly dense and continues to grow,” Park said. “It’ll also enable us to provide collection at future multifamily complexes that are requesting compactors, which we’ve seen an uptick in as of the last couple of years.” The city purchased three trucks from Cumberland International Trucks for $616,350, four compactors from Tampa Crane Body for $209,806 and six other compactors from Tampa Crane Body for $303,429. Representatives from local trash hauling and compacting companies disagreed with the city’s decision to purchase the items, saying that if the city has a shortcoming in its ability to collect garbage, then it should hire private companies to do the work. John Paglia, CEO of Florida Express Waste and Recycling, told council that one of Councilmember Barry Mansfield’s clients through Cullison-Wright Construction came to Paglia saying that he wanted a trash compactor for the apartment complex he owns rather than relying on the city for trash pickup. “(Mansfield’s) client came into the city to build an apartment complex. They don’t want city Dumpsters. They want a roll-off compactor,” Paglia said. Paglia said that roll-off services are unique, noting the city should rely on Florida Express for that work rather than purchasing their own machinery to do so. See Compactor purchase, page A2
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School Chaplains.......................... A2 Pearl Harbor.................................. A5 Jeep fest ......................................... B1 Puzzles............................................. B3 Local Author ................................. B9
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