First Friday continues downtown

GAINESVILLE - First Friday continuing on the downtown square with its relaxed alcohol consumption got Gainesville City Council approval Tuesday night but not without a couple of no votes.

Families and alcohol don't mix, according to George Wangemann, and he voted no. So did Bob Hamrick, who asked why have First Friday during winter months with no outside entertainment?

"What is the idea?" Hamrick said. "Are these people still just going to go outside and have a drink?"

Main Street Director Angela Thompson said First Friday is helping business and that is why the downtown merchants wanted to continue it the rest of the year.

"They did not feel that entertainment was necessary in the winter months since it will be colder but they did feel it would be beneficial for their business," Thompson said, adding that some restaurants suggested they might have entertainment.

HOME RULE, FINAL VOTE

City Council's home rule redistricting ordinance got a long awaited second reading approval but with Mayor Ruth Bruner opposed to it. She said it is up to local state legislators to decide if the city school board gets a separate redistricting map.

"So we won't know until sometime during the legislative session if the Board of Education does pick another map," Mayor Bruner said.

City Council members are elected citywide; school board members run in districts.
Bruner the new redistricting won't affect city elections for another two years.