Hogan Would Consider Selling Preservation Land

[stjr]

Does Hogan get why they call it "preservation land"?  It is supposed to be preserved forever and ever.  Not act as some kind of land bank savings account for the City politicos to speculate with.  Hogan is starting to look more and more like another Rick Scott.  Ouch!  His lack of long term vision is most obvious in this position.

Mike Hogan says he would consider selling preservation land to generate revenue

Submitted by David Bauerlein on February 28, 2011 - 4:13pm PolitiJax

Mayoral candidate Mike Hogan said today he would consider selling city-owned preservation land if the economic slump keeps squeezing revenue for the city's budget.

At a forum sponsored by the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Hogan split from two other contenders - Audrey Moran and Rick Mullaney - when asked whether he would support selling preservation land to generate revenue.

"I think everything is on the table," Hogan said. "It depends on where we are at that particular point in time. If it's pristine (land) or if it has some significant ecological significance, then of course that would not be on the table. If it's not encumbered, if it's uplands, then it could be."

Mullaney told Rotary Club members his plan to cut spending would avoid needing to sell preservation land.
"I believe it's time to change our thinking, not time to panic," Mullaney said. "I believe with the restructuring plan we have in mind, that's not necessary."

Moran ruled out selling preservation land.

"We will not sell preservation land on my watch," she said.

The city has greatly expanded its parkland in the past decade. When John Delaney was mayor, he launched the Preservation Project in 1999 with $21 million. Voters later approved another $50 million for land acquisition as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan in 2000. Other local, state, federal and private support has brought the total effort to about $200 million.

Mayoral candidates Steve Irvine and Warren Lee split on whether they would sell preservation land.

"We have to work hand in hand in the spirit of cooperation to solve these problems," Irvine said of the budget. "I don't think it's going to take selling off what's left of our preservation lands."
Lee said it should be considered.

"I think we need to look at it and look at it carefully and figure out what's going to be in the best interests of our city and make that decision," he said.

Alvin Brown, the sixth candidate for mayor, did not attend the forum, which was conducted during a Rotary Club luncheon at the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk hotel in downtown.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/david-bauerlein/2011-02-28/mike-hogan-says-he-would-consider-selling

[fieldafm]

Good gravy!

PLEASE vote Audrey March 22nd.

[Timkin]

Exactly what preservation land is Hogan speaking of?  I am just curious..I have no intention of voting for him, I just was wondering what tract of Preservation Land he says "could be on the table" ?

I concur....the guy is smelling more like Scott , everyday.

[jcjohnpaint]

Just one more thing to fear if he wins.   

[floridaforester]

Its because of idiots like Hogan that Delaney had to purchase most of these lands with the cooperation of both state and federal dollars.  By sharing title with other entities, backwards ass bible belters cannot arbitrarily sell off public land to private interests without a whole lot of hassle.

Whats also a little disturbing is that "democrat" Warren Lee would consider selling the People's land as well.

Delaney said it best during the implementation of the Preservation Project that, while the entire City was talking about the new arena and the new library, in 50-100 years the good people would be clamoring for those buildings to be torn down and replaced but the land will hopefully be exactly the same or, hopefully, in much better shape than today and would probably be the gems of NE Florida.  But apparently Hogan would rather have another 8 lane road to nowhere or strip malls and subdivisions as far as the eye can see instead of conserving what little is left of natural Florida.

Can somebody please tell me when these "conservatives" are going to conserve a damn thing in this world?  They have absolutely bastardized the meaning of that word and it makes me ill to hear it used by someone to espouse their misguided ideology.

[CityLife]

Great post floridaforester.

Though I think an analogy can be drawn to our historic architecture and the conservation lands. If Jacksonville hadn't torn down countless pieces of beautiful historic architecture in the past, the city would likely be a much bigger tourist draw today. Same story with the conservation lands and tomorrow.

As the country gets more and more overpopulated and as Florida continues to sprawl (see Scott, Rick) conservation lands will be more and more valuable, both for the intangible recreational value and also as an eco- tourism draw. Very little of "Old Florida" will be left and Jacksonville can potentially see a lot of eco tourism due to just that.

Oh and selling the lands would also devalue existing homes in Jacksonville by increasing supply.

I really hope Moran's camp is able to use this to their advantage.

[Coolyfett]

Good gravy!

PLEASE vote Audrey March 22nd.

Mike Hogan is a used rag! All the empty lots in the core & he weants to develop the lands thats not to be used??? Knowing Jacksonville people Hogan will most likely be the next mayor.

[uptowngirl]

Voting for him is voting for more of the same. Haven't we been held back as a city long enough?

[Noone]

What happened to my post. I'll try again

[Noone]

CL and FF before you totally throw Hogan under the bus and give him the biggest anti environmental label in this campaign which I think is wrong to do I had a lot of information that is out there and I posted and it was lost but I'll get it out in smaller segments.

[copperfiend]

Voting for him is voting for more of the same.

I actually think voting for him is even worse than that.

[Noone]

We now have Parks, Recreation, Entertainment, and in 2005 to include Conservation.

We have a proposal by the Jacksonville Civic Council of a recomendation on a yet to be voted on total Govt. takeover by a new DIA for absolute control of the Entertainment District.

Good or bad?

[Noone]

Conservation.

Legislation is in place and in my opinion groups are in place for a total soon to be restructured subtly enforced restricted yet overwelmingly manipulated loss of our freedoms.

Who deserves the credit for this?

At a recent Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting a development project with a loophole to the comp plan was allowed to piece meal a transmittal to the state that will then come back.

Where was the National Park Service? Where were all the other overly concerned groups?

Our city is broke. Seriously, seriously broke.

To throw Hogan under the bus on this issue is just not true. There is so much more.

Be concerned though and keep score.

[Garden guy]

CL and FF before you totally throw Hogan under the bus and give him the biggest anti environmental label in this campaign which I think is wrong to do I had a lot of information that is out there and I posted and it was lost but I'll get it out in smaller segments.

if the shoe fits he should wear it....

[Noone]

CL and FF before you totally throw Hogan under the bus and give him the biggest anti environmental label in this campaign which I think is wrong to do I had a lot of information that is out there and I posted and it was lost but I'll get it out in smaller segments.

if the shoe fits he should wear it....

GG, I read on another post that you are a big kayak guy. Would you like to paddle Hogans Creek?

Do you think that the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier aka Bay Street Pier Park should be separate from the 40 plus acres that was Shipyards/Landmar? 2010-604

I'll be wearing boots because we'll both be stepping in it.
Should be fun though.