Alvin Brown Momentum to the Finish Line

[Jimmy]

We've done it before.  It's been a while and we're a little rusty.

I do think it can be done again.  I think it can be done on Tuesday.  Enough people have to think that and then follow through and do their part.

[Coolyfett]

Hogan has made downtown his #1 issue against Brown. As an Urban advocate, that scares the bejesus out of me.

Hell yea man...that is just crazy! I was thinking the same thing. He should just lie and say he is a fan of the core instead he is actually telling the truth that he hates the core. And whats with the whole Obama connection thing?? I dont see the connections...what because they both black and democrats? They don't seem like the same guy to me. The only REAL angle Hogan has is the lack of experience...but the whole "Obama Jr" and "Brown wants to help downtown" angles are bad takes.

[Coolyfett]

I think Alvin is the best chance we have now, and I personally think he has a good chance. I don't want to think abt Hogan in office ...and how rapidly we would decline

Tim I dont either... my brother has 3 kids all under eight years old. And I was just telling my niece about mayor Hazouri and how my mom(her grandma) used to have to put change in tolls to cross bridges just trying to explain to her why voting is important. My brother and his wife are both voting, my best friend is as well. This election will have an effect on Jacksonville, just as the others have, from the Jaguars to no tolls to Better Jax Plan to clear air/no smell to cleaner St. Johns to the future. Mayor John Peyton was a failure and he actually had two terms.

[Timkin]

I THINK if nothing else positive comes from this particular election , we had more voters this time.. which is how it should be.  That said,  I would rather Alvin Brown win..  In my heart he will not disappoint us.  I think Hogan would disappoint pretty much everyone

[ChriswUfGator]

Typical of Hogan tactics.. Amazing all of the bull$#!t they have come up with and a lot of it is completely untrue

Hogan is a typical Republiclown...

[Timkin]

Do you guys really think Alvin Brown has a chance? Jacksonville making the right choice seems a lil foreign...

Yes, he definitely has a chance.  Hogan is a weak candidate for the republicans so the partisanship that has been so decisive over the past few years isnt a factor.  Its a straight up race between a well known guy and a new guy, and the outcome, as jimmy remarked, is going to be a squeaker.

Every person on the side of Light and Goodness needs to go out and vote fore Alvin before polls close on Tuesday.

6 votes for Brown here , Tuesday.. and anymore we can possibly talk into voting for him ..

[Demosthenes]

Hogan has made downtown his #1 issue against Brown. As an Urban advocate, that scares the bejesus out of me.

why...because you think/know that a lot of people in Duval don't care much about downtown?

In short, yes. If he is able to ride "Downtown Sucks" to a win in the election, its a damning statement of our city.

[ChriswUfGator]

Hogan has made downtown his #1 issue against Brown. As an Urban advocate, that scares the bejesus out of me.

why...because you think/know that a lot of people in Duval don't care much about downtown?

In short, yes. If he is able to ride "Downtown Sucks" to a win in the election, its a damning statement of our city.

Lol, and to think people argue with me when I point out that this is the inevitable result of consolidation tying disparate areas together despite their interests being diametrically opposed to one another. Each part that is self-sufficient should be free to pursue its own interests.

[thelakelander]

Consolidation or poorly drawn council districts? The problem with the "consolidation alone" argument is we're basically the only major consolidated city in the country with an underutilized urban core and downtown. However, when you look at the way our council districts are drawn, the core has no representation. Every core neighborhood and DT happens to be placed in districts that are heavily suburban populated.

[Ralph W]

Consolidation or poorly drawn council districts? The problem with the "consolidation alone" argument is we're basically the only major consolidated city in the country with an underutilized urban core and downtown. However, when you look at the way our council districts are drawn, the core has no representation. Every core neighborhood and DT happens to be placed in districts that are heavily suburban populated.

What do you mean, the core has no representation? Don Redman has a chunk right between Gaffney and Jones.

Oops... My bad, I stand corrected...

[duvaldude08]

My only problem with Mike Hogan is that.........he has never stated what type of vision he has for the city and that scares me. All he says is that he wont raise taxes and will create jobs. Well Alvin Brown said the same thing. However, Alvin has provided us with a vision also, which gives me more confidence with him. During this campign we have heard little about what Hogan's vision is especially for downtown. Why do we keep mentioning downtown? It is the core of city. If the core dies, we die as a city. It is the heart of Jacksonville. We can not let downtown rot to hell.

The thing is that we dont have to spend millions of dollars to make our DT vibrant. If we just change our stupid parking policies, allow for resturantas and business downtown to have sign's, a few sidwalk cafe's here and there, a few face lifts and DT would have a totally different appeal. If anything right now we are running businesses and residents away from DT.

All I can say is, if Hogan is elected I hope that he does not neglect DT all together. Hopefully, at the LEAST, he can allow some of the simple changes listed above.

[CS Foltz]

What do you mean, the core has no representation? Don Redman has a chunk right between Gaffney and Jones.

Oops... My bad, I stand corrected...

Ralph W you hit the nail on the head! None of the above represent the people  who put them into office! Kinda like Hiz Honor! Dick Brown was no better and neither is the new guy, whatever the hell his name is that is supposed to represent District 13. That clod ran on the platform of "representing the beaches"! I guess he failed to note the last 5 District 13 Representatives lived on the beaches! So much for Southside being represented!!

[ChriswUfGator]

Consolidation or poorly drawn council districts? The problem with the "consolidation alone" argument is we're basically the only major consolidated city in the country with an underutilized urban core and downtown. However, when you look at the way our council districts are drawn, the core has no representation. Every core neighborhood and DT happens to be placed in districts that are heavily suburban populated.

The problem is that this area is/was a very poor candidate for consolidation. The consolidated area is too large, and is too much of a mix between rural, suburban, and denser urban environments. Add to that the Florida taxpayer-subsidized sprawl-boom of the past 50 years, and what you wound up with is a local government so rife with internal conflicts of interests that the only reasonable outcome are these solomonic compromises that wreck one portion to benefit another, and wind up hurting the whole.

[iluvolives]

Anyone know where I can pick up an Alvin Brown sign? I signed up for one at the Memorial Park and they dropped it off on Friday but it went missing over the weekend while I was out of town. I live next door to 2 voting sites and would like to have one up for tomorrow. I was going to drop by his campaign office but his website lists a PO Box. Thanks!

[Jaxson]

Consolidation or poorly drawn council districts? The problem with the "consolidation alone" argument is we're basically the only major consolidated city in the country with an underutilized urban core and downtown. However, when you look at the way our council districts are drawn, the core has no representation. Every core neighborhood and DT happens to be placed in districts that are heavily suburban populated.

The problem is that this area is/was a very poor candidate for consolidation. The consolidated area is too large, and is too much of a mix between rural, suburban, and denser urban environments. Add to that the Florida taxpayer-subsidized sprawl-boom of the past 50 years, and what you wound up with is a local government so rife with internal conflicts of interests that the only reasonable outcome are these solomonic compromises that wreck one portion to benefit another, and wind up hurting the whole.

Amen, Chris!!!