JAX 2025 Survey Results

[Noone]

Sitting at 2025 tonight, it was evidently clear why our downtown sucks.  It's the same tired ideas regurgitated over and over. 

It's beyond time for a new generation of placemakers to step up. 

The 3/19/13 JCCI Vision 2025 meeting had me singing verse two of "Ernie, Minnie, Miny, Mo. Pick a table as you go. If they holler let them go. It's nothing but the same old show."

The meeting for me had me thinking that this was a parents teachers conference and I left my kids at home because we are going to be transferring. I arrived just before the start and saw Ben on numerous occasions and never said one word to him. I just felt a tension that it was better to just participate and let's see what is going to happen. Ben, It's not a slam on you. Still like the tie.

I participated in a couple of previous JCCI studies. One was "Our Money, Our City, Financing Jacksonville's Future" I recall that one and Cuba, Keane, Deal, Cohee, and a packed house and look where we are today. I was expecting an extra table and that would be the RICO table.

Anyway, It was the same thing that we did the last time. You had a feeling that the fix was in when you see the same people that participated in the last session sitting at the same tables again for this session. What are we trying to measure again? So I participated in the economy and at my table there was a parent that brought his daughter and made that known during around the table introductions. I was thinking that was very cool.
The topic around the table was about Downtown and there was someone that would just bring the group back to the entire city of Jacksonville.

The second round had me looking at the Downtown table line and when I saw people that did Downtown last time sitting at the Downtown again I was thinking OK why not. This line was the longest in the entire room and being the last meeting I sat my butt back Down at the Downtown table and what are we measuring again. This table had a father and son which was disclosed during table introductions. Again, very cool. I asked the young man do you live Downtown. No, was the response back.

The discussions at both tables had people that have been here for years and you just sit there and in this super brief window we just shake our heads. One person said that their councilman Gaffney has not been to one meeting. My councilman Don Redman representing Downtown has not been to one meeting. Scott, correct me if
I'm wrong on this. But the next day he is right there for the photo op with the Mayor. What are we measuring again?

Speaking of Mayor Brown he was there again. Stayed for the entire process and at the end it was nice to just say hello to him again. I have to give the man props.

So what are we measuring? I'd say measure the non profits that will be getting in line and sticking there hands out when this New DIA gets cranked up in the months ahead.

So who wants to be a 501-C

C- Corporation, Corruption, Council, Conspiracy, Cash, Coercion, Capitalism, Confidence, Courage, Creativity, City, Creek, Country,

I am Downtown and why you aren't

A new Authority.
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace us

[Cheshire Cat]

Here is an interesting perspective from Karen Mathis on this subject

Taking Jacksonville to next level takes more than compiling another list

By Karen Brune Mathis Mon, Apr 15, 2013 @ 1:56 am

On the surface, the 10 key areas shaping up as community priorities in the JAX2025 visioning effort appear to be nearly identical to those in the 1992 Jacksonville Insight report.

A vibrant arts and entertainment scene, check.

Striving for educational excellence, check.

Improving transportation, health care, government, the economy, the environment, neighborhoods and downtown, check, check, check, etc.

Participants in JAX2025, which will be completed and unveiled in May, also are calling for Jacksonville to be “renowned as a diverse and inclusive community” and be a “place where people matter.” Those mirror the 1992 call for “excellent community relations.”

That begs the question: What’s different this time?

While the response could be “not much,” the real response will be how JAX2025 is put into action. If good intentions fail or fade, Jacksonville probably could expect another visioning project in another 20 years and the same 10 priorities.

JAX2025 is the initiative led by Jacksonville Community Council Inc. to guide the community through the exercise of determining Jacksonville’s future and taking action to reach the goals.

Jacksonville Insight in 1992 was the community process initiated by Mayor Ed Austin that resulted in 10 priorities for the city.

With JAX2025 and Insight as backdrops, I wrote a column in November asking readers what is needed to take Jacksonville to the next level, a place Mayor Alvin Brown often says he yearns to reach.

Many of the responses included specific actions and improvements, but there also were suggestions that reaching the next level requires more than a list.

There was a reference to “the lack of civic pride, ingenuity and desire for excellence in our city.”

One writer, who was echoed by others, insisted City Council’s “denial of equal rights for gays and lesbians … was a step back. … Any ‘next level’ that fails to correct Jacksonville’s failure in that area will prove empty in the eyes of history.”

Another wrote: “Think just how great we could be if we focus our energies, engage the citizenry and hold our leaders accountable.”

One offered that one of Jacksonville’s greatest challenges has been branding. “I believe this is, and has been, the dilemma that our leaders and community has always faced â€" who are we and what do we want to be when we grow up?”

Another suggested a different list: “Jacksonville can redefine itself by getting out of debt so it can pay for some of the things mentioned. … Instead of ticking off ways to redefine, how about kicking in ways for the city to pay off debt.”

One summarized what he considered the biggest barrier to reaching the “next level,” also perhaps a caution for JAX2025.

“Jacksonville’s greatest challenge … is a mindset transformation,” he wrote.

“Change is difficult and changing a mindset is terribly arduous. But without this being done, all of the modernization we do will eventually fall victim to it.”

About the author: Karen Brune Mathis is managing editor of the Financial News & Daily Record and can be reached at kmathis@baileypub.com. The website is www.jaxdailyrecord.com

[GoldenEst82]

I have been interested to see how the writing and refinement of "statements" will translate into action.
I go to those meetings hoping to be present when the rubber meets the road... and I am still waiting to hear in those meetings, HOW they plan to make these vision statements a reality.

I have sat with a different set of people (in the same sections) each time, and everything I hear across the demographics, is pretty much the same.
People living in our suburban sections want downtown to flourish- because it will benefit them in the long term. People in/around downtown want to be connected to the suburbs, because (especially now) that is where "everything" is; and that it allows people to live in the "urban" manner, without a car being a necessity.

The next meeting is coming up, and if May is when the meetings are supposed to end- perhaps I will get some clarity about the What and How.

[Cheshire Cat]

I have been interested to see how the writing and refinement of "statements" will translate into action.
I go to those meetings hoping to be present when the rubber meets the road... and I am still waiting to hear in those meetings, HOW they plan to make these vision statements a reality.

I have sat with a different set of people (in the same sections) each time, and everything I hear across the demographics, is pretty much the same.
People living in our suburban sections want downtown to flourish- because it will benefit them in the long term. People in/around downtown want to be connected to the suburbs, because (especially now) that is where "everything" is; and that it allows people to live in the "urban" manner, without a car being a necessity.

The next meeting is coming up, and if May is when the meetings are supposed to end- perhaps I will get some clarity about the What and How.

As is the case with so much of the excellent work done by JCCI, once the information is made public and handed over to City Hall, the rubber rarely meets the road.  I have participated in their studies in the past, seen folks take the personal time and commit it to an involvement in a such a study and later be disappointed by the fact that so much well meant effort went into something that is later ignored. This is in no way the fault of JCCI in my opinion and should never deter their continued efforts.  It is rather the result of a combination of arrogance and non-committal on the part of our City's elected officials.  Perhaps Ben will chime in on this thread and share with readers what will be done this time around that will make the projections for 2025 into a workable plan. 

[Ben Warner]

I'm enjoying this discussion of implementation of JAX2025. I completely agree that this is the most important factor. That's why we began by reviewing 230 existing reports, plans, and visions, and talking to people who've been involved in this a long time. It's the action component that is the most important.

(I will point out, parenthetically, that JCCI has a track record of implementation that I'm pretty proud of. We've had the process externally evaluated by a team from Rutgers and the Pew Partnership for Civic Change who spent three years evaluating our effectiveness -- after which they named our work a Solution for America -- and followed up by doubling down on investing in implementation. Because our implementation philosophy works quietly behind the scenes to lift others up, believing as we do that you can either get something done or take credit but it's really hard to do both, we've been quiet on touting accomplishments. You can look at our implementation results at www.jcci.org and see the outcomes of all our work and what's still in progress.)

Back to JAX2025. We know that from past experience and our work around the world that community visioning efforts that fail generally do so when those involved and passionate about change hand implementation off to a third party, usually government, and then wait for action to happen. Sometimes the appeal of building a signature project sucks all the rest of the energy out of the plan, and then at the end there's an edifice but no realized vision. Sometimes the vision is built around expectations of increased funding for a project, and over time the funding goes down and the vision remains unrealized.

In our vernacular, we call this the danger of focusing solely on the "they shoulds." They should pass a law. They should build something. They should make things better. From what we've seen in successful communities, real community-driven change requires community-engaged action.

Here's a quick example. The Symphony is a community cultural resource that has struggled financially over the past several years. We wish them the best of luck in remaining strong. If we have a vision of a strong symphony, one way to help them out is to double their Public Service Grant funding. To do that, without cutting anything from anyone else, we'd need (roughly) to add $1 to the property taxes of every household in Duval County. Or, if we as a community want to support them, one out of every 200 people could go see a concert who didn't last year. Ultimately, engaging the community to build the audience is more sustainable, and better fits why we want to have a symphony in Jacksonville.

So the implementation of JAX2025 has three parts: First, advocacy (still need the "theys" to be involved, but working in conjunction with the community. Second, individual and collective action (you'll hear this described on April 27 as the "you can" and "I will" steps.) We'll be connecting, encouraging, and facilitating all kinds of community-level activity -- when we did this in San Antonio, these were supplemented and promoted with "Find Your Passion" events to create movement and action. And third, communication -- sharing what's happening, highlighting successes, holding ourselves accountable where action isn't happening, and more.

The goal is to focus and align multiple efforts and existing community energies, as well as removing barriers and adding new hands to the work, to move Jacksonville forward. Government, businesses, nonprofits, faith community, and more are partners in a larger work owned and managed at the community level. That's what's different -- this isn't a call for a new bond issue to build the "one more missing piece" somewhere. It's pulling all the pieces together and infusing new life in what we all know needs to happen to move us forward, with new and surprising partners to make it happen. There's no giant secret behind successful community change -- simply put, when we have a shared vision of where we want to go, and work together to make it happen, that's when the wheels really get moving. We've seen it time and time again. As long as this remains the community's vision (and not tied to a single individual or group), it's incredibly and demonstrably powerful.

Is that helpful? How can I answer any other questions you might have?

[Cheshire Cat]

Thanks so much for giving us all more insight into what is happening with the 2025 effort Ben. 

[Ben Warner]

Thank you for participating (and asking questions!) Also, for those who are wondering, JAX2025 is not a hidden ploy by the United Nations to eliminate personal property rights, establish a New World Order, or force veganism on an unsuspecting populace. No drones or black helicopters involved. (Which for some reason was the question I've been answering most often recently -- nice to have questions that aren't just silly.)

[Cheshire Cat]

Thank you for participating (and asking questions!) Also, for those who are wondering, JAX2025 is not a hidden ploy by the United Nations to eliminate personal property rights, establish a New World Order, or force veganism on an unsuspecting populace. No drones or black helicopters involved. (Which for some reason was the question I've been answering most often recently -- nice to have questions that aren't just silly.)

Oh sure Ben, but how can we be sure you are being truthful about this. lmbo