Letter to the editor
The people who attempted to railroad Chief Antoine Sheppard with their flimsy unfounded allegations have demonstrated their lack of professionalism and consideration for the citizens—their electorate. This became even more evident when I witnessed their handling of the July 7 High Springs City Commission meeting. High Springs is justifiably proud of its railroad heritage. However, they used it badly when their actions were tantamount to an unpleasant attempted railroading of Chief Sheppard.
Indeed, they are supposed to serve with intelligence and fairness, yet everything they did or didn’t do speaks of apparent ignorance and absolute lack of care. Knowing there would be attendance that far exceeded the capacity of their commission chambers, they did nothing that suggested they cared even a little about accommodating their citizens and Chief Sheppard’s many supporters. One who indicated she had traveled as far away as St. Petersburg, FL. Some were from all over Alachua County and some surrounding counties. Yet unsuccessfully being able to thin the numbers, they abruptly approved a motion to suspend the agenda to July 23rd and then got up and walked out within five minutes of the meeting being called to order. Yes, they reinstated the Chief, but that did nothing to calm the stress, mistrust, disrespect, and time waste of those who came out, nor the deprivation of public comment. The commission’s only other concern was that it would be a longer meeting than they were willing to sit through; a 5-minute meeting is probably the shortest ever…