What Happened

Columbia County Courthouse. Lake City, FL

I've been in Columbia County, Florida For 15 years now. I've seen a lot of things take place in this county that would make you look twice. It is safe to say that there is quite a bit of Rights being violated toward citizens in this, "what used to be a great place for a drive." The police catch a driver speeding, they always make a move to search the vehicle. I myself, have pulled over to wait on traffic to make a U turn, cop wants to flash his lights and approach the vehicle. "What are you supposed to do?", many people think. You can't just burn out in his face. Officers want to slow down traffic just to get to the grit and tell you their going to search your car. Most people get jittery when they see the Red & Blues flashing in their rear view, so its easy for folks to forget their rights as citizens. Officers want you to leave your windows down, and doors unlocked when you step out of your vehicle. Minorities get it the worst. What makes it worse, is that the same Sheriff Deputies run the jail. Many folks have been beaten, choked, went without their medications because of guards refusing to give people their med's. Anyone that has been in there can tell you. My brother was just one of those many. A guard slammed his head against the wall, then threatened to "switch out his pills with something he won't wake up from."- Actual Quote..  My brother had the bloody scab on the back of his head, and it was obvious that he had been without his med's. The Jail needs a surprise inspection out of the clear blue. This county is messed up. All stops should be reviewed as well as the Jail. I respect the fact that Columbia County is "Zero Tolerance" for drugs, yet the county allows for a Methadone Clinic to go up. If you ask me and are capable of logical thinking, the clinic being here is good for business down at our local neighborhood Police Departments. i.e Jail fees, court costs, lawyer fees, probation fees, drug council fees, etc. Once your in the system here, its impossible to get out. The county gets all that money and want to spend it on what exactly? Here is an example, but fact of what $25,000.00 of our counties tax dollars are going to irrigate and seed a football field that is used approximately 3-3 1/2 months a year. Columbia County Board of Commissions approved a Property Tax Exemption for Target Corporation. What? Why would they do that? Target is a Multi-Billion dollar company. Can't they afford to pay taxes? We have hundreds of people struggling to make ends meet to keep a roof over their heads, and Target gets an exemption? If you ask me we are all over run by corporate interests influencing our local government. Jobs here are slim and nothing pays. The average hourly wage in Columbia County is like $8. That's gas money. 90% of jobs in Lake City are for companies that don't allow 40 hours a week, just to get out of giving employees the benefits they promised in the beginning before being hired. What we have here is White Collar Crime made Legal through Legislation starting at the top. All that corruption and greed has trickled down into the roots of our own communities. Lets not be blind. Whats happening in your community?