Jim Love: Why I'm Running for City Council District 14

[Metro Jacksonville]

Jim Love:  Why I'm Running for City Council District 14



I have lived in Jacksonville for more than 30 years. This is where I have raised my family and built my insurance business. I have a passion for this city and I want it to be even better than it is. Like my father who served in three wars (WWII, Korea and Vietnam), I have an inner drive to serve my country and my community. I served my county as a pilot flying the A-7 jet off the Saratoga and I retired as a Captain (0-6) in 2003 from the Naval Reserve. I have also served my community as a board member and current president of the Park and King Area Association. In 2005 our association in partnership with the City of Jacksonville completed a major renovation of the commercial district in Riverside. This has led to a revitalization of the businesses in the Park and King Street area and it provided many new jobs. I would like to see projects like this continue throughout Jacksonville.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-feb-jim-love-why-im-running-for-city-council-district-14

[Noone]

I had the pleasure of meeting Jim at the St. Johns Riverkeeper Oyster Roast and had a nice conversation with him. I'm not in Dist.14 but if elected he may be the one that could secure a partnership for a  pocket pier (floating dock) for his constituents. If not then he would be voting for another city council member that may want a pocket pier for their constituents.

Jim, Time is running out and if you would like to paddle Hogans Creek or paddle under the sportier Times Union on McCoys Creek lets do it. I'd also like to hear more of your ideas for why we should tell the world to Visit Jacksonville.   

[Cliffs_Daughter]

I'm in #14.

I have to compose a few questions for Mr. Love regarding the Timuquana area.

[outofhere]

I have to ask what "excess taxes and regulations that hurt and stop business growth" here. That's a standard line but the reality is that Florida ranks 5th in the nation in terms of business friendliness. I am a small business owner and the last of my concerns is taxes or regulations. I see that Love is endorsed by builders and contractors. The last thing we need to do is make it easier for builders to construct anymore homes or strip centers.

[north miami]

Jim- you need to do a better job returning phone calls!
Awaiting call back/left message a couple of days after the RAP forum.

[letters and numbers]

jobs crime and education are what every candidate talk about and never in detail. what about specifics or other areas of focus?

[Garden guy]

Hey Jim...what do you think about a corporate fee for any corporation with more than 1000 employees within the city as a support system for the downtown core...only if your corporation is located within the downtown core will they be exempt from the fee. What do you think?

[fieldafm]

GG, how exactly would a tax on major employers in our city encourage job growth in a city that desperately needs more jobs?  Jax has very high unemployment and foreclosure rates compared to the rest of the state, in a state that already ranks very low nationwide on these very metrics.

Full disclaimer, I am a Jim Love fan b/c I believe he has the right ideas... especially in regards to the protection/access of the St Johns River(completion of the riverwalk with innovative funding resources and forcing JEA to become a better steward of waste water reclamation), implementation of SMART city programs in our government(HUGE issue with me), success in reducing crime in the Park/King area through the crime watch partnership with JSO and his support of making downtown pedestrian-centric.

My only question to Mr Love would be 'Do you favor guaranteeing city financial assitance to the USS Adams Musuem'? 

I think it is a terrible mistake that a last minute gov't bailout amendment has been added to the USS Adams bill.

[Garden guy]

GG, how exactly would a tax on major employers in our city encourage job growth in a city that desperately needs more jobs?  Jax has very high unemployment and foreclosure rates compared to the rest of the state, in a state that already ranks very low nationwide on these very metrics.

Full disclaimer, I am a Jim Love fan b/c I believe he has the right ideas... especially in regards to the protection/access of the St Johns River(completion of the riverwalk with innovative funding resources and forcing JEA to become a better steward of waste water reclamation), implementation of SMART city programs in our government(HUGE issue with me), success in reducing crime in the Park/King area through the crime watch partnership with JSO and his support of making downtown pedestrian-centric.

My only question to Mr Love would be 'Do you favor guaranteeing city financial assitance to the USS Adams Musuem'? 

I think it is a terrible mistake that a last minute gov't bailout amendment has been added to the USS Adams bill.

Because there sheer size alone puts more of a burden on our land and people...all at the profit of the heads of the corporations that usually dont live and spend that money here in this city. The more cash we keep in this city..the same thing for the country...the better we all are. We've had a massive flood of large corporations locating here in the last 15 years and not locating themselves in our business core...which is downtown.

[5PointsGuy]

Hello all. Jason Love here, Jim Love's son. I'd just like to say thanks for all of the kind words you've all shown to my Dad thus far and I'd like everyone to know that he does read MetroJacksonville often and when he doesn't, I make sure that he does. There are a few questions that I can answer, but mostly in generalities unfortunately. I can tell you that he does support Downtown and wants it to grow and prosper. My tax knowledge isn't as great as I'd like it to be, mostly because I'm currently out of town studying to get my graduate degree.

I'll call him tonight and try to get him to get on the board and respond to some of these questions. Hopefully we will.

[fieldafm]

Because there sheer size alone puts more of a burden on our land and people...all at the profit of the heads of the corporations that usually dont live and spend that money here in this city. The more cash we keep in this city..the same thing for the country...the better we all are. We've had a massive flood of large corporations locating here in the last 15 years and not locating themselves in our business core...which is downtown.

Wouldn't a FAR BETTER option be to make downtown worth the price it is to be located there by removing the policies the discourage downtown development and let the market move naturally?  Currently the price for a large corporation to be downtown quite simply isn't economically feasible when compared to being located on the Southside.  Until there is an equilibrium of value versus cost to being downtown, businesses will continue to be located elsewhere.  There is a very real value problem downtown and mostly b/c we don't just get out of our own way.

Cities that have experienced a rebirth in their urban cores have not done so b/c of punitive tax policies.

[dougskiles]

I have to ask what "excess taxes and regulations that hurt and stop business growth" here. That's a standard line but the reality is that Florida ranks 5th in the nation in terms of business friendliness. I am a small business owner and the last of my concerns is taxes or regulations. I see that Love is endorsed by builders and contractors. The last thing we need to do is make it easier for builders to construct anymore homes or strip centers.

I tend to agree with you on this.  I am also a small business owner, and while I'm not thrilled about paying taxes, I can't say that it has hindered our productivity to any measurable degree.  And we definitely need to stop subsidizing sprawl - so being endorsed by the home builders, contractors or realtors can be a negative from my perspective.  I put much more weight in the Chamber of Commerce endorsement.

[GoJax]

In response to north miami:  I will call you in the morning.

In response to Cliffs_Daughter:  Please let me know what questions you have.

In response to Stephen Dare:  I would love to see Downtown Jacksonville as vibrant as Kickbacks on a Friday night.  With a tight budget here are a few ideas:  Complete the Northbank Riverwalk to Metro Park paying for part of it with the sales from engraved bricks.  This idea was used to help pay for Lucas Oil Stadium and Arthur Ashe Stadium.  Secondly we could license more street vendors.  They could sell drinks, food and other items while providing jobs.  In addition they would provide a small revenue stream to the city.  Thirdly we should support the Adams Class warship museum.  They are not asking for money; just permission to dock when they have their money in place.  We must also encourage the downtown building owners with large glass walls facing the sidewalks to convert them to shops with openings to the street.  This would give the downtown stroller something to windowshop from.  Terry Lorince, Downtown Vision Inc. executive director, calls this retail wrapping.

Jim Love, City Council Candidate District 14.

[Garden guy]

Many of us have seen the abuse that contactors, builders and rich boys with ideas have had on our city. None of them have the city as a whole in their heart...it's all about their pocket....if they can make a dime on it....screw everyone else....they are going to make that dime...look at all of the empty homes and apartment buildings in this city...Hey Jim..what are you going to do to stop the bullshit building in this city...how about we deal with what is here....just because some of your friends are going to make a ton of money with a few pennies falling into your pockets doesn't mean it's good for the city. You are a republican so i will not be voting for you but I'm interested to know what you do as mayor to quell the over building and waist by the "system"

[cline]

You are a republican so i will not be voting for you but I'm interested to know what you do as mayor to quell the over building and waist by the "system"

Jim is not running for mayor, he is running for City Council (which is clearly stated in the title of this thread).