Mike Hogan's $62 Million Budget Cutting Plan

[vicupstate]

If he thinks he is going to save money by cutting out lobbying, he doesn't know much about politics outside of the Jax GOB system. 

Losing one grant that a lobbyist could have secured, can easily pay for the lobbyist's cost for a decade.  Instead that grant will go somewhere else.

Penny wise, dollar foolish.   

[Ocklawaha]

Just 5 hours and 275 miles north of my desert cabin is the "City of Rhyolite, Nevada."  Their lobbyist moved to Reno and Vegas, along with their grant money.  Not your typical wood shack and tent city mining camp, Rhyolite was a city of great buildings, nestled in the Bullfrog and Ryolite Mountains. When the mines closed, Rhyolite refused to adapt to modern Nevada attractions... In 1937 an attempt was finally made to convert the then deserted railroad station into a casino, but without customers, the casino closed and there wasn't a Mustang Ranch in sight. They cut the budget, cut it again, and again, and finally rolled up the streets and left town forever. Is Jacksonville next? Hell's bells I can get this same "progress" in my own "Old Women Mountains," over in California.

OCKLAWAHA

[danem]

Anyone can cut the budget at the YMCA by draining the pool, but when the people move on to different venues, then what?

I thought this was an awesome metaphor and it needed to be repeated.

CAN one save money at the Y without draining the pool? CAN one change things up and save money for the COJ without destroying the reasons people live and visit here?

[Jimmy]

Ock, you really get it.  Thanks for making it that clear.  The YMCA metaphor was spot on.

[cityimrov]

Just 5 hours and 275 miles north of my desert cabin is the "City of Rhyolite, Nevada."  Their lobbyist moved to Reno and Vegas, along with their grant money.  Not your typical wood shack and tent city mining camp, Rhyolite was a city of great buildings, nestled in the Bullfrog and Ryolite Mountains. When the mines closed, Rhyolite refused to adapt to modern Nevada attractions... In 1937 an attempt was finally made to convert the then deserted railroad station into a casino, but without customers, the casino closed and there wasn't a Mustang Ranch in sight. They cut the budget, cut it again, and again, and finally rolled up the streets and left town forever. Is Jacksonville next? Hell's bells I can get this same "progress" in my own "Old Women Mountains," over in California.

OCKLAWAHA

I have a hard time seeing this happen to Jacksonville.  I said this before in another thread but our location is too perfect.  We're right between Georgia and Florida making us a rather good destination.  Unless the city does something really stupid (i.e. Ban Railroads & Ships) or a gigantic disaster occurs, companies and governments will still be forced to locate to this city not really because they want to but because they HAVE TO!

If this do get to that point, the state or even the federal government will probably step it and start taking over.  Jacksonville is to valuable a city to loose.   

[Lunican]

I believe Cleveland had the same mentality. Their location could not be beat.

[Lunican]

It appears so.

[PeeJayEss]

I believe Cleveland had the same mentality. Their location could not be beat.

If they did, they shouldn't have. Jax has a legitimate claim to being geographically well-situated to attract residents and business alike. And even though being in the south comes with all those southerners  , the weather is pretty great.

[Lunican]

I still don't see what is forcing companies to relocate to Jax "not really because they want to but because they HAVE TO!"

[north miami]

Why the focus specifically at *62* million?

By the way,a post today on the MJ Trout River thread notes the Jacksonville Waterways Commission is angling for a new Trout River fishing pier that would cost the City in excess of $400,000.
How do such aspirations position in current city budget matters?

[danem]

Why the focus specfically at *62* million?

I think that's the budget deficit they project.

[jcjohnpaint]

Just 5 hours and 275 miles north of my desert cabin is the "City of Rhyolite, Nevada."  Their lobbyist moved to Reno and Vegas, along with their grant money.  Not your typical wood shack and tent city mining camp, Rhyolite was a city of great buildings, nestled in the Bullfrog and Ryolite Mountains. When the mines closed, Rhyolite refused to adapt to modern Nevada attractions... In 1937 an attempt was finally made to convert the then deserted railroad station into a casino, but without customers, the casino closed and there wasn't a Mustang Ranch in sight. They cut the budget, cut it again, and again, and finally rolled up the streets and left town forever. Is Jacksonville next? Hell's bells I can get this same "progress" in my own "Old Women Mountains," over in California.

OCKLAWAHA

I have a hard time seeing this happen to Jacksonville.  I said this before in another thread but our location is too perfect.  We're right between Georgia and Florida making us a rather good destination.  Unless the city does something really stupid (i.e. Ban Railroads & Ships) or a gigantic disaster occurs, companies and governments will still be forced to locate to this city not really because they want to but because they HAVE TO!

If this do get to that point, the state or even the federal government will probably step it and start taking over.  Jacksonville is to valuable a city to loose.   

But all we have done is sustain, while our neighbors are cashing in!  Are we going to learn from them and progress forward?

[Jaxson]

I do not understand how Hogan supporters are treating Alvin Brown like he has never had a job in his life and has no skills to bring to the mayor's office.  While it is convenient to set up a narrative in which Alvin Brown just fell off the turnip truck and Mike Hogan is the second coming of Hans Tanzler, it would help to know that Alvin Brown has an MBA, he has served on the board of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, managed $4 billion in community empowement money under the Clinton administration, helped to rebuild New Orleans houses of worship after Hurricane Katrina, and served on the Jacksonville University board of directors.
I do not understand how we stand around scratching our heads and questioning Alvin Brown when we let a St. Johns County resident cruise into office with the power of his name and his money.  I fear that many people are fishing for excuses not to vote for Alvin Brown.
This does not bode well for our system of city government.  We should at least make it a real race and not just hand the election to Mike Hogan.  What incentive would he have to listen to us if he sees a cakewalk in May.

[Jimmy]

+1 Well said.

And further, Brown is an Executive in Residence at JU now.  That's not some honorary position or title.  He is staff to the Business Department and helps students in innumerable ways.  He's not a neophyte; he's not some alien person to Jacksonville, government, business, and finance.  He's the closest thing to an expert in job creation that we've ever seen on the ballot.  He deserves a hard look and open mind from voters.

[mtraininjax]

it would help to know that Alvin Brown has an MBA, he has served on the board of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, managed $4 billion in community empowement money under the Clinton administration, helped to rebuild New Orleans houses of worship after Hurricane Katrina, and served on the Jacksonville University board of directors.

Wonderful resume! Did you leave out the part about government experience in Jacksonville? I am sure he would be elected as mayor in New Orleans based on his experience there, or perhaps the next president of JU, but what experience does he have in running government in Jacksonville?

Maybe Wally Lee can get on the soapbox and speak on behalf of Mr. Brown, as the head of the Chamber, surely he MUST have something available as a soundbite regarding Mr. Brown's experience in the Chamber?!? Or perhaps the Trustees from JU can come out and discuss his work at JU.

If the election is TRULY about Jacksonville, let's get a wave of recommendations going back and forth by people who can discuss what each candidate has done in Jacksonville, for Jacksonville, and why Jacksonville citizens should vote for each candidate! I am open to hear the locals come to each's rescue. I don't care about a guy in DC or NOLA, I want local peeps singing praises from the pulpits.