Godbold publicly Joins Hogan, Brown surprised by announcement

[Diane Melendez]

I know many will not want to hear this yet, but Hogan is not dismissive of downtown.  It remains important but will likely not receive the laser focus that posters here would like to see immediately.  That does not equate to forgetting downtown or any other area for that matter.  It is what the first step has got to be. We are in a very, very, serious financial hole.  We have and continue to abuse tax dollars and assets. The first priority has got to be fixing the financial mess the city is in.  What folks may be dismissing is the possibility that serious steps will be taken to fix the budget, review procedures and begin again where it is needed.  When Jacksonville gets healthy, downtown will get  healthy, but that will be more difficult if people are talking down it's future before the election is over and a person is in office.  

Lakelander has shared some excellent ideas for beginning to heal downtown that don't require tons of money, just a willingness to do some things differently. There is much that can be done, but it will take cooperation as opposed to agitation to get there.  I would like to see us all get there and all areas of the city be better for it.

[vicupstate]

A GOB endorses another GOB.  Not exactly surprising.

A fear of those that have a different background or are 'not from around here' is part of what holds Jax back,IMO.  

BTW, if Hogan wins, please know that his MJ supporters on here will be held accountable when Hogan enacts his Rick Scott Jr. agenda. Just letting you know.

Diane, 'blind allegiance' to party, is in the DNA of the Republican party hierarchy and most party members.  In Duval, in FL, in the US.  

Also, if Hogan has some thoughts regarding DT, then why will he not share them? The reason is the because doing so would be repugnant to his Tea Party followers.  Just like telling the TRUTH about taxes and pensions, would be repugnant to the party and the Police/Fire unions respectively.        
 

[Jaxson]

Based on this week's events, it appears to me that there is a party that is marching lockstep and it is not the Democrats.  Audrey Moran Republicans seem to be running scared and seem to be shying away from endorsing Brown although his ideas may be more in sync with their moderate beliefs.  The Mullaney folks, however, did not hesitate to throw their support behind Hogan.  And what is the driving force behind supporting Hogan.  He promises not to raise taxes.  I think that I have heard that before somewhere. 

[Diane Melendez]

I think the difference may be that the Republicans have always understood the game of politics in Florida.  Democrats are too often not on the same page.  Whomever gets into office will be held responsible by all the citizens but it is worth remembering recent elections and how some folks in office did not even draw opponents and those who were told they would be booted by the people are still sitting pretty.  If you follow politics you hear the "they will be held accountable" statement daily.  It does not seem to accomplish much.  Working together is a better way to reach goals at the local level.  Wasn't it Moran who said party should not matter at this level?  People have got to act on that notion, not just say it.

[thelakelander]

Mike Hogan happens to on tv right now on the Robbie Gould show (channel 99 on my tv).  He mentioned that while job creation is important, government doesn't create jobs.  He said government can facilitate the private sector to create jobs by:

1. Removing regulations that stymie the private sector

2. Lowering taxes

He said those are his two top priorities.  He also mentioned the city's budget will be set by the amount of revenue it takes in.  Assuming he's elected, we'll just have to learn how to do more with less.  In the case of downtown, that may not be a bad thing considering we've spent over $2 billion over the last two decades and its still in a free fall.  On the other hand, Riverside's Park & King is storming into urban Jacksonville's next hot dining and entertainment district without any city help.

[stjr]

Mike Hogan happens to on tv right now on the Robbie Gould show (channel 99 on my tv).  He mentioned that while job creation is important, government doesn't create jobs.  He said government can facilitate the private sector to create jobs by:

1. Removing regulations that stymie the private sector

2. Lowering taxes

He said those are his two top priorities.  He also mentioned the city's budget will be set by the amount of revenue it takes in.  Assuming he's elected, we'll just have to learn how to do more with less.

Turn the clock back to pre-November, and this would align perfectly with Rick Scott's script.  Add the strategy of avoiding the press, debates, and public forums and the similarities are multiplied.  Will Hogan undo decades of bi-partisan public policy in one fell swoop casuing the voters to swoon with regret once again?

[Steve_Lovett]

Mike Hogan happens to on tv right now on the Robbie Gould show (channel 99 on my tv).  He mentioned that while job creation is important, government doesn't create jobs.  He said government can facilitate the private sector to create jobs by:

1. Removing regulations that stymie the private sector

2. Lowering taxes

He said those are his two top priorities.  He also mentioned the city's budget will be set by the amount of revenue it takes in.  Assuming he's elected, we'll just have to learn how to do more with less.  In the case of downtown, that may not be a bad thing considering we've spent over $2 billion over the last two decades and its still in a free fall.  On the other hand, Riverside's Park & King is storming into urban Jacksonville's next hot dining and entertainment district without any city help.

I talked to someone today who is relocating from Jacksonville to San Francisco.  They can't find housing because as soon as it goes on the market, it's gone - at crazy-high prices.  The San Francisco area is creating jobs and the private sector economy there is surging in many niches - and it has nothing to do with deregulation or low taxes.

[thelakelander]

Steve, what is San Francisco doing from a public perspective to keep surging ahead economically?  Are they making continued investment in public infrastructure and quality of life offerings?  One of the things I believe we overlook locally is that all job creation isn't good.  In addition, if the goal is to stimulate job growth in certain sectors, we're going to have to better invest and utilize public assets that create the type of atmosphere that skilled workers and companies in these sectors seek.  I truly believe many of these things can be done within the current budget.  However, to do so, it will mean changing our accepted growth patterns and public policy.  For example, I find it absolutely insane that over the last decade, $237 million has, is or is proposed to go to Collins Road improvements.  Imagine if a fraction of the local money spent on that thing (and other corridors like it) was diverted into keeping libraries open, maintaining parks and enhancing public schools?

[tufsu1]

On the other hand, Riverside's Park & King is storming into urban Jacksonville's next hot dining and entertainment district without any city help.

not quite true...the City did a pretty major streetscape project a few years ago...would these happen in a Hogan administration?

[thelakelander]

On the other hand, Riverside's Park & King is storming into urban Jacksonville's next hot dining and entertainment district without any city help.

not quite true...the City did a pretty major streetscape project a few years ago...would these happen in a Hogan administration?

That streetscape project was completed nearly five years ago and does not stretch to the breweries.  Its highly questionable to suggest that new pavers resulted in the recent growth of entertainment options in the area.  For example, right up the street, Five Points came back years before the sidewalk improvements were done.  Better yet, the abundance of affordable spaces, existing building stock, urban pioneers, little speculation had a lot more to do with it.

[tufsu1]

agreed...was just noting that the City made a public investment in the areas...which may been a spark for someof the early private development (like Kickbacks).

[Diane Melendez]

Steve in a way that is apples to oranges because SanFrancisco is a completely different style city and they don't have to take into account a total of 842 square miles of land, which is what comprises consolidated Jacksonville.  I think in Jacksonville, especially in recent years we have lost who we are as a city and people. We have tried to create it saying "Bold City" or "Place Where Florida Begins", "Emerald Necklace" etc.  What's wrong with Historic Jacksonville, a southern city with charm and style? We have had many people with visions and ideas of what Jacksonville and our dowtown should look like but those visions clearly have not embraced who we really are as a diverse southern city.

I'll give you an example of what I mean.  Folks like to visit and live in places like Savannah and Charleston.  Very often people will speak to the laid back southern charm and historic feeling they get there.  Those cities have embraced their roots as Southern cities and they own who they are.   We have a terrible opinion of ourselves in Jackonville because we have allowed folks to equate Southern with backwards.  We are not backwards.  We have never allowed Jacksonville to be who and what it is.  We have tried to make our city into something it isn't largely based upon costly and failed political agendas.  Now it has caught up with us.

Could it be that we had to get to this point to realize the wasted dollars and assets?  Were we not strong enough to be who we are and have that include growth and prosperity?  Are our negative ways or apathy our own worst enemy?

I think that it is more than possible to have a vibrant downtown and communities that are a draw not only because of location, but because of the essence of our people. Who and what is Jacksonville?  Well, we are Southern, by history, location, beliefs and lifestyle but we fight that because we somehow think urban lifestyle has to be designed rather than encouraged to become its own personality. We have failed to recognize the wonder of our history when it comes to areas like LaVilla, which someone decided didn't fit the vison and wiped the Black Harlem of the South off the map.  We see the flavor of our past in Avondale, Springfield, Riverside, Ortega, San Marco and other areas, but they are islands unto themselves. Downtown is also an island unto itself with conflicted views of what progress looks like. We have not had bi-partisan action here for ages.  It doesn't have to be that way and fixing what is wrong with how we handle our money and future is not a bad thing.

We have so much more to offer than most cities but we have not been smart or even handed when taking care of ourselves and our assets.  We must revisit who and what we are and start again from a sound foundation using clear thinking and changing the negative way we see ourselves and community.  This of course is my opinion and I speak for no one but myself, but it is what I feel about where we are.

Stephen, I am and should not be the story.  I am not that important.  I love my city and it's people as much as ever.  I am still very much who and what I have always been.  

[Timkin]

@MTrain.  I don't see how slandering Nelson is helpful to open discussion. We have all got to grow beyond that type of verbal jab. That is course is my opinion.

I agree with Diane.  

 Surely by now, you two know that this is what M-train is best at.  Ive been dealing with his jabs for far longer than this election.  You're wasting your breath.


With regard to Jake's endorsement, this does not come as any great shock to me.   Bottom line if I had my first choice for Mayor , it would have been Glorious.  Not only do I like her personally, but I think she has the integrity for the position.  That was not to be.  Next would have been Audrey Moran...  Outdone by the good ole boys .. Right  M-Train?

So that left us with two that would not have been my choices...  And win or lose, I am sticking with my choice of Alvin Brown, and hoping for the best.  If Mike Hogan wins , so be it.  

Frankly I'm tired of the pissing match this has become  

[Steve_Lovett]

Steve, what is San Francisco doing from a public perspective to keep surging ahead economically?  Are they making continued investment in public infrastructure and quality of life offerings?  One of the things I believe we overlook locally is that all job creation isn't good.  In addition, if the goal is to stimulate job growth in certain sectors, we're going to have to better invest and utilize public assets that create the type of atmosphere that skilled workers and companies in these sectors seek.  I truly believe many of these things can be done within the current budget.  However, to do so, it will mean changing our accepted growth patterns and public policy.  For example, I find it absolutely insane that over the last decade, $237 million has, is or is proposed to go to Collins Road improvements.  Imagine if a fraction of the local money spent on that thing (and other corridors like it) was diverted into keeping libraries open, maintaining parks and enhancing public schools?

From a public perspective they are progressive and innovative.  Private-sector innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship follows a progressive, innovative public sector far more enthusiastically than a public sector focused purely on deregulation and low taxes (least common denominator).  I suspect industries that need that least common denominator approach may not be the sustainable industries that a healthy long-term economy is built on.   

If we're going to be serious about building a better city in Jacksonville, we need to innovate in all aspects of public sector leadership rather than to fall back to the lowest common denominator.

[Steve_Lovett]

Steve in a way that is apples to oranges because SanFrancisco is a completely different style city and they don't have to take into account a total of 842 square miles of land, which is what comprises consolidated Jacksonville.  I think in Jacksonville, especially in recent years we have lost who we are as a city and people. We have tried to create it saying "Bold City" or "Place Where Florida Begins", "Emerald Necklace" etc.  What's wrong with Historic Jacksonville, a southern city with charm and style? We have had many people with visions and ideas of what Jacksonville and our dowtown should look like but those visions clearly have not embraced who we really are as a diverse southern city.

I'll give you an example of what I mean.  Folks like to visit and live in places like Savannah and Charleston.  Very often people will speak to the laid back southern charm and historic feeling they get there.  Those cities have embraced their roots as Southern cities and they own who they are.   We have a terrible opinion of ourselves in Jackonville because we have allowed folks to equate Southern with backwards.  We are not backwards.  We have never allowed Jacksonville to be who and what it is.  We have tried to make our city into something it isn't largely based upon costly and failed political agendas.  Now it has caught up with us.

Could it be that we had to get to this point to realize the wasted dollars and assets?  Were we not strong enough to be who we are and have that include growth and prosperity?  Are our negative ways or apathy our own worst enemy?

I think that it is more than possible to have a vibrant downtown and communities that are a draw not only because of location, but because of the essence of our people. Who and what is Jacksonville?  Well, we are Southern, by history, location, beliefs and lifestyle but we fight that because we somehow think urban lifestyle has to be designed rather than encouraged to become its own personality. We have failed to recognize the wonder of our history when it comes to areas like LaVilla, which someone decided didn't fit the vison and wiped the Black Harlem of the South off the map.  We see the flavor of our past in Avondale, Springfield, Riverside, Ortega, San Marco and other areas, but they are islands unto themselves. Downtown is also an island unto itself with conflicted views of what progress looks like. We have not had bi-partisan action here for ages.  It doesn't have to be that way and fixing what is wrong with how we handle our money and future is not a bad thing.

We have so much more to offer than most cities but we have not been smart or even handed when taking care of ourselves and our assets.  We must revisit who and what we are and start again from a sound foundation using clear thinking and changing the negative way we see ourselves and community.  This of course is my opinion and I speak for no one but myself, but it is what I feel about where we are.

Stephen, I am and should not be the story.  I am not that important.  I love my city and it's people as much as ever.  I am still very much who and what I have always been.  

Diane,

Who is the "we" you are referring to?