Questions for Next Week's Metro Jacksonville Candidate's Forum

[thelakelander]

Although we'll have a front page story on this forum later this week, on Tuesday, April 26, Metro Jacksonville, along with RAP, SPAR, San Marco and Murray Hill will be sponsoring a candidate's forum at the old Haydon Burns Library.



All Mayoral and At-Large council candidates have been invited.  So far, Alvin Brown, Robin Lumb (5), Jim Robinson (4) and David Taylor (1) have confirmed that they'll be participating.  

We're in the process of developing questions for panelist to ask the candidates and would like some suggestions from our readers.  If there is anything that you would like the candidates to answer, let me know in this thread today and I'll get the list in the right hands.

***UPDATE***

Here is an updated list of questions that have been submitted so far:

1. What is the biggest issue affecting the Quality of Life in Jacksonville and how will you address it?

2. Will you make the 680' pier public and allow vendors and boater to use it?

3. Why do you feel you can get Jacksonville's biggest needs projects done? IE: the port, the cruise terminal, the mobility plan and a possible Jaguars ownership transition.

4. Will you be willing to use city money to help get those needed projects done?

5. Where is Mr. Hogan?

6. What is their position on Historic Preservation and ensuring places like Genovar's Hall, Fire Station#5 , Annie Lytle Schoolhouse, The Ambassador,  The Laura Trio,  will be spared, and not just left to decay to the point they cannot be saved?

7. Mass Transit?  Streetcars?  Extending the Skyway? 

8. Ideas for Urban Infill and restoration of a vibrant downtown?

9. Elimination of unnecessary positions within the City?

10. Restructuring of JTA?

11. What are your thoughts on attracting and retaining employers in Downtown?

12. How will they curb the growth that is driving the cost of maintaining our city through the roof?

13. What is their opinion on mass transit and how would they implement mass transit within our city?

14. What will they do to create growth downtown?

15. What are methods you would suggest to implement smart growth that will increase our tax base without increasing our costs?

16. Beside the USS Adams docking here, is there a large interest to attract additional famous / historical ships to call its home here?

17. What will happen to the Old Ford Factory? Could the old Ford factory and the rest of the area including the Metro Park to Sport Complex push toward a stronger unity to promote downtown growth?

18. Can we bring architecture students to design the entire public shipyard and make one of their ideas into reality?

19. When can the city government will EVER relax their business regulations in the downtown and other areas?

20. What are our odds to get the Sacremento Kings downtown?

21. Which one of you is the real Mike Hogan?

[tufsu1]

well done!

[wsansewjs]

  This is so awesome! I cannot wait to see the outcome of this event! Way to go, MetroJax, and other organizations!

-Josh

[Doctor_K]

No Hogan?

Color me shocked.

[JeffreyS]

1. What is the biggest issue affecting the Quality of Life in Jacksonville and how will you address it?
2. Will you make the 680' pier public and allow vendors and boater to use it?
3. Why do you feel you can get Jacksonville's biggest needs projects done? IE: the port, the cruise terminal, the mobility plan and a possible Jaguars ownership transition.
4. Will you be willing to use city money to help get those needed projects done?
5. Where is Mr. Hogan? (couldn't resist but if he isn't there it should be asked out loud during the forum)

[thelakelander]

Any more questions for mayoral and council candidates that will be attending next week's candidate's forum?

[Doctor_K]

Get something solid out of them regarding mass transit and all of these studies that we've had!

[Timkin]

-What is their position on Historic Preservation and ensuring places like Genovar's Hall, Fire Station#5 , Annie Lytle Schoolhouse, The Ambassador,  The Laura Trio,  will be spared, and not just left to decay to the point they cannot be saved?

- Mass Transit?  Streetcars?  Extending the Skyway? 

- Ideas for Urban Infill and restoration of a vibrant downtown?

- Elimination of unnecessary positions within the City

- Restructuring of JTA?

[fsujax]

I would like to know what their thoughts are on attracting employers to Downtown and keeping those who currently DT there.

[Captain Zissou]

How will they curb the growth that is driving the cost of maintaining our city through the roof??

What is their opinion on mass transit and how would they implement mass transit within our city??

What will they do to create growth downtown??

I second all of Jeffrey's questions.  Especially "Where's Hogan?"

[Captain Zissou]

I would like to know what their thoughts are on attracting employers to Downtown and keeping those who currently DT there.

And This!! Basically, how will they implement smart growth that will increase our tax base without increasing our costs?? 

[Doctor_K]

I second all of Jeffrey's questions.  Especially "Where's Hogan?"

Let the Where's Waldo parodies commence.

[Timkin]

I like it , Doctor !

[wsansewjs]

I have few questions...

1. Beside the USS Adams docking here, is there a large interest to attract additional famous / historical ships to call its home here?
2. What will happen to the Old Ford Factory? Could the old Ford factory and the rest of the area including the Metro Park to Sport Complex push toward a stronger unity to promote downtown growth?
3. Can we bring architecture students to design the entire public shipyard and make one of their ideas into reality?
4. When can the city government will EVER relax their business regulations in the downtown and other areas?

-Josh

[Timkin]

I LOVE your point #2 Josh.. I should have added that to my list. If its historic it needs to stay. Just because M-train wants everything in sight thats empty torn down doesn't mean thats the majority.