Mike Hogan: Small Business is key to Jax's future

[stjr]

We will be sitting down with him shortly, stjr, and will invite him to respond to metrojacksonville readers specifically---which is quite a different set of expectations on a candidate, I think.  Perhaps we will be able to learn more.  Mike is a very decent guy, and given the chance, I think I can say from experience that he will be nothing less than forthright about his positions and intentions.

Thanks, Stephen.  I am supportive of MJ's efforts to raise the level of discourse among our candidates as, for far too long, individuals have been able to get elected in Jax with a major lack of transparency as to their motives, at least among those not closely connected to them or their campaigns.  I hope some hard hitting questions and related demands for substantive answers will better flush out just who and what we are voting for on election day. Importantly, races for office present significant opportunities for us as a community to self-examine, thoroughly discuss, reevaluate, and update our priorities and goals and to reassert our demands to achieve them with accountability.  We need to take advantage.

[fieldafm]

I am supportive of MJ's efforts to raise the level of discourse among our candidates as, for far too long, individuals have been able to get elected in Jax with a major lack of transparency as to their motives, at least among those not closely connected to them or their campaigns.

Couldn't agree more.

This election is so critical to our city. 

[vicupstate]

Supporting small businesses and the port is like "Mom and Apple Pie" in Jax.  Other than building permits and codes for builders, I am not sure the City has much influence over small business regulation.  In fact, most City enforcers are enforcing State and Federal laws mandated upon them.  I see Hogan's words as code to his newly close friends at the NE Florida Builders Association that he will be willing to dilute zoning laws and process so we can continue the urban sprawl we are so famous for.  That may be the cynic in me but let someone get him on record that he means otherwise.

I have to say, I had a similiar reaction when I first skimmed the article.  It was so remenicient of 'run government like a business'  that we have heard so often, but in reality turns out to be just a platitude with no real substance.

Then, I read through the article in full, and did find a nugget or two that seemed more insightful, than my cynicism at first would lead me to expect.

I'm willing to hear him out on the details and how the rubber will meet the road.   All of the comments regarding Chattanooga are very noteworthy IMO.

[dougskiles]

This election is so critical to our city. 

And our response to it is just as critical, IMO.  Engaging the candidates in thoughtful and respectful discussion now will go a long way toward our ability to continue that discussion once they are elected - regardless of who is elected.

[cityimrov]

I somewhat agree and if he's talking the way I think he is, I completely disagree.  Just because something is a Small Business doesn't mean it's useful for our city.  Remember, Small Business are the ones who own many of the places we complain day and night about in this forum hindering and preventing progress in our great city!  I'm pretty sure most the property in downtown is owned by Small Businesses!!

Small Business in Austin is completely different from Small Business in Jacksonville!!!  

Small Business in Austin don't stay small!  They grow, expand, and try to create a good world class company that can compete internationally!  In Jacksonville, what I tend to find is once a Small Business has just enough success for it's owner to live in someplace fancy neighborhood like Deerwood, they stop trying to serve the community by growing their business and turns into well, plantation owners or slum lords!  The plantation style mentality I find in way too many small business owners around here have is a horrible way to grow a business and probably why they are still small.  Not only that, way too many business around here continue their success by living off government bid "welfare contracts" provided by us the taxpayers!

Yes, Jacksonville needs Small Business but we need a different kind than our status quo.  We need ones that know how to grow, make the world a better place, and more importantly have the ability to compete in the global marketplace!!

[dougskiles]

Interesting response, cityimrov.  For many (including me), small business ownership is not about a desire to, as you say 'grow, expand, and try to create a world class company that can compete internationally'.  Those are worthwhile goals and I applaud the efforts of those who choose that path.  However, I chose small business ownership because it allows me to spend more time with my wife and children.  It is about quality of life more than quantity of life.

If there is one thing above all else that I believe we need in Jacksonville it is a confidence boost.  We need a leader who can bring the city together instead of tearing us apart.  I heard someone say yesterday that what we need is a re-consolidation of our consolidated government.  I couldn't agree more.  We have too many moving parts that aren't moving in the same direction.

[urbanlibertarian]

Chattanooga also had a huge focus on the revitalization of their urban core.  I would like to see Mike Hogan's opinion on the importance of DT revitalization, as well as how he plans to address this issue.

After reading the white paper It seems he would advocate relaxing regulations and zoning restrictions and streamline the process of compliance.  I wonder what he thinks about parking meters?

[ChriswUfGator]

The parking meters are a business, no doubt Hogan probably loves em.

[urbaknight]

I have a grave feeling that if we get Hogan as our next mayor, we can forget about revitalization projects such as the parkview inn, Barnett tower and the Laura st Trio. We can also look forward to BRT, Metpark un-improvements, no LRT, no skyway extention but lots more road projects, mass cronyism, First Baptist may acquire more city blocks for building which would only be used once a week fro a few hours or so. And this is just the beginning!

He says he wants to focus on small businesses but I think he'll do nothing but feed and nourish the sprawl problem.

I was on Roosevelt bvld the other day and in an empty storefront, in a strip mall of course, I saw Mike Hogan for mayor signs all over the empty storefront. I guess that's appropriate because that's what he wants to give us. That's what he wants to keep, a sprawling township style town with an empty downtown! Let's keep this country bumpkin out or our city leadership at any and all cost!!!

[urbaknight]

Not to attack him personally, I'm sure he's a stand up guy but, I believe his policies will eather halt progress to a stop, or God forbid, reverse the progress we've already made.

[fsujax]

I am a member of First Baptist (regular attender) and I am not voting for Hogan! so see we are not all blind sheep.

[dougskiles]

I wouldn't be so quick to insinuate that the city will regress with Mike Hogan.  He may make it a little more challenging in some ways to get things done and he may make it easier in other ways.  You never know how these things will play out.

My feeling about the election is this:

1.  None of them will do everything that any of us want to see happen.
2.  There is nothing that any of them can do to solve all of our problems.

The bottom line is that the future of the city is in the hands of the citizens.  Make enough noise and politicians will listen.

[thelakelander]

I think regression will occur if the next Mayor does not do anything but attempt to maintain status quo on quality of life issues.  Regardless of how some may view DC right now, this is the time to move forward with sustainable urban initiatives.  If we can't accomplish anything worthwhile over the next 8 years, Jax will fall further behind our peers.  If you think things could be better now, just imagine competing economically when you're a decade behind everyone else.

[dougskiles]

So what should people do if Mike wins?  Give up?  I don't agree with the doomsday attitude.  No matter who wins the election, there are going to be interest groups in that person's face all day long.  If we want to improve the quality of life in the ways we discuss on this forum, we need to continue to be a positive voice.  And we need as much face time as we can get.

I believe that Mike wants to do what is best for Jacksonville, and I believe that if the message is clear that people value a certain quality of life, that he will listen.  I'm not campaigning for or against him.  But I do want to be able to work with him if he wins.

[vicupstate]

If you really want ot be heard, BEFORE and AFTER the election, you need to put your money where your mouth is, collectively, that is, with a campaign contribution.  Contributors get their phone calls and emails returned.   

I'm all for citizen activism, but you have to also realize that structurally the Mayor's office in Jax is VERY powerful, relative to other cities.  Very few mayors, particularly in the South, have the policy and appointive powers that Jax invests in it's mayor. 

If he is not onboard, you will have a very hard row to hoe.