Energized Jax electorate flood early-voting sites to cast mayoral ballots

[thelakelander]

If current trends continue, by the beginning of next week more early and absentee votes will be cast in Jacksonville's runoff election than were submitted during the entire two-week early-voting period before the city's first municipal election in March.

At the end of the fourth day of early voting Thursday, 27,522 ballots had been cast, up about 85 percent from the last election.

Absentee ballots are up 89 percent; early votes are up 80 percent. Voting at early polling places in the Gateway, Regency and Highland areas have more than doubled.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-05-06/story/energized-jacksonville-electorate-flood-early-voting-sites-cast-mayoral#ixzz1La1n4HTB

[fsujax]

Gateway, Regency and Highlands have more than doubled. good for Alvin? we shall see.

[JeffreyS]

It is a wild time.  Hogan's new commercial got me off my ass yesterday to make a donation to Alvin's campaign. Let's all do what we can, talk to who we can and vote if you can.

[copperfiend]

I saw Mike Hogan's new commercial and puked.

[thelakelander]

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/timothy-gibbons/2011-05-06/alvin-brown-campaign-says-poll-shows-candidate-within

[duvaldude08]

If current trends continue, by the beginning of next week more early and absentee votes will be cast in Jacksonville's runoff election than were submitted during the entire two-week early-voting period before the city's first municipal election in March.

At the end of the fourth day of early voting Thursday, 27,522 ballots had been cast, up about 85 percent from the last election.

Absentee ballots are up 89 percent; early votes are up 80 percent. Voting at early polling places in the Gateway, Regency and Highland areas have more than doubled.

Right Stephen! I caught that too. Im Africian Americian so I already knew " Oh yeah the black voting district is what they wanted to say." But it is good to see that everyone is out voting. This will make things very interesting.
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-05-06/story/energized-jacksonville-electorate-flood-early-voting-sites-cast-mayoral#ixzz1La1n4HTB

Interesting where the early voting is taking place.  And kind of hilarious that the times union leaves it in the unsaid that these are dense african american voting districts. 

This is beginning to shape up as we anticipated.  I think Alvin may pull this out in a squeaker.

[wsansewjs]

It is a wild time.  Hogan's new commercial got me off my ass yesterday to make a donation to Alvin's campaign. Let's all do what we can, talk to who we can and vote if you can.

LOVE IT! I just donated $10 myself to Alvin. It is the least and best I can do for myself and the city of Jacksonville.

-Josh

[wsansewjs]

I want to add something to this..



This screenshot points to this lady talking. If you noticed closer, she was reading off the telepromoter which suggests lot of different reasons. I am not going to go there, but you make your own conclusion of what is scripted or what is real. This is not about the lady.

Mike Hogan's Video: Count On Mike Hogan
http://www.youtube.com/v/5ed64GdPYq4

-Josh

[danem]

I was looking for the disclaimer print that said "actor portrayal".

[Jaxson]

For as long as I remember, our local government and the inner city have been at odds over the real or perceived lack of services when compared to the suburban areas.  This is an election, in my opinion, where the previously underserved residents of our city can opt for real voice in city matters.  I believe that this is partly the reason why voter turnout is strong in the northern parts of the city/county.

[mtraininjax]

perceived lack of services when compared to the suburban areas.

Ask Blacks and Whites if there are race relation issues and whether there are or not, Blacks perceive there to be issues. Whites only seem to perceive issues when there IS a real issue. When there isn't, the white population goes back to their normal activities.

Jacksonville as a whole is the same way. Sure there are issues in the urban core, but are they enough to swing the voters in the suburbs to care to add taxes to fund a better downtown? Brown's whole campaign is based on reviving downtown, the entire downtown. That is a HUGE gamble for an area with only a few thousands full time residents.

[thelakelander]

Why does "downtown revitalization" mean extra taxes or money?  Utilizing the urban core more is a cost saving move over what we've been doing for the last half century. It's the fiscal conservative approach. It would be nice if both Brown and Hogan can accept this FACT.

[mtraininjax]

Utilizing the urban core more is a cost saving move over what we've been doing for the last half century.

How do you sell that to the people who live near SJTC, or Nocatee or Oakleaf? Everything they have is within a short distance. Only way to save downtown is bring in new businesses who offer housing deals for their workers, if they stay downtown. The Downtown area can turn into SJTC, but it will never be able to at the rediculous rates that the landlords charge as compared to the cheaper lease rates in the burbs. I fail to see how any mayor can force the landlords and building owners to make changes that they have not for years. Neither man can mandate that downtown can and will change over night.

Its a mistake to think that a vote for the candidate who claims to have a fix for downtown  can do so in 4 years. Citizens of Jacksonville have been fighting sprawl since the Great Fire, and there is still too much cheap land out there in the county to allow for continued sprawl. Too many empty buildings that have yet to be leased or used.

[Jaxson]

perceived lack of services when compared to the suburban areas.

Ask Blacks and Whites if there are race relation issues and whether there are or not, Blacks perceive there to be issues. Whites only seem to perceive issues when there IS a real issue. When there isn't, the white population goes back to their normal activities.

Jacksonville as a whole is the same way. Sure there are issues in the urban core, but are they enough to swing the voters in the suburbs to care to add taxes to fund a better downtown? Brown's whole campaign is based on reviving downtown, the entire downtown. That is a HUGE gamble for an area with only a few thousands full time residents.

I do not think that the issue is merely a downtown problem.  I remember when the 'Northwest Quadrant' was making news because their residents felt that their infrastructure (e.g. drainage) was being neglected.  As taxpayers, they have a right to get decent services where feasible. 
That said, I have to agree with mtraininjax that properties in downtown are woefully overpriced by landlords who would rather have their properties rot than actually have tenants. 

[JeffreyS]

I am from Oakleaf and realize Down town is our most cost effective and best ROI neighborhood to invest in.