After years of sprawl, Denver get dense finally

[vicupstate]

In COJ, all it takes is one councilman and one lobbyist and a long range plan can be upended and ursurped.

The power of consolidation can also be its weakness.

I don't think that is what is happening as much a the Mayor's themselves did not have a plan of there own. But even accepting your point, how is this any different in a consolidated city than any other? 

JAX has the added advantage of having a Strong Mayor.  A power or attention hungry councilman who wants to 'run the show', could always have his legislation vetoed, which is a power many mayors do not have.  He also submits a budget rather than the city manager creating one based on the entire council's wish lists.
         

[spuwho]

In COJ, all it takes is one councilman and one lobbyist and a long range plan can be upended and ursurped.

The power of consolidation can also be its weakness.

I don't think that is what is happening as much a the Mayor's themselves did not have a plan of there own. But even accepting your point, how is this any different in a consolidated city than any other? 

JAX has the added advantage of having a Strong Mayor.  A power or attention hungry councilman who wants to 'run the show', could always have his legislation vetoed, which is a power many mayors do not have.  He also submits a budget rather than the city manager creating one based on the entire council's wish lists.
         

Richard Clark, Duval Home Builders Association, Mobility Plan.

[vicupstate]

In COJ, all it takes is one councilman and one lobbyist and a long range plan can be upended and ursurped.

The power of consolidation can also be its weakness.

I don't think that is what is happening as much a the Mayor's themselves did not have a plan of there own. But even accepting your point, how is this any different in a consolidated city than any other? 

JAX has the added advantage of having a Strong Mayor.  A power or attention hungry councilman who wants to 'run the show', could always have his legislation vetoed, which is a power many mayors do not have.  He also submits a budget rather than the city manager creating one based on the entire council's wish lists.
         

Richard Clark, Duval Home Builders Association, Mobility Plan.

I still don't see the part where consolidation comes in. The city government was in the hands of special interests to an even greater degree before consolidation.  When council members only care about who is writing them a check, it really doesn't matter how many constituents they have, and how much land area or population is involved. 

[spuwho]

In COJ, all it takes is one councilman and one lobbyist and a long range plan can be upended and ursurped.

The power of consolidation can also be its weakness.

I don't think that is what is happening as much a the Mayor's themselves did not have a plan of there own. But even accepting your point, how is this any different in a consolidated city than any other? 

JAX has the added advantage of having a Strong Mayor.  A power or attention hungry councilman who wants to 'run the show', could always have his legislation vetoed, which is a power many mayors do not have.  He also submits a budget rather than the city manager creating one based on the entire council's wish lists.
         

Richard Clark, Duval Home Builders Association, Mobility Plan.

I still don't see the part where consolidation comes in. The city government was in the hands of special interests to an even greater degree before consolidation.  When council members only care about who is writing them a check, it really doesn't matter how many constituents they have, and how much land area or population is involved.

If there was a broader set of accountable constituents, then it would be harder for just one in authority to make changes that impact the region. They would have to vet the changes collectively ( like in Denver).

Here, it took just 2 hearings and a council vote. Boom, done.

[Tacachale]

Denver is consolidated. It has a large municipal population and land area. If anything, it's an example of how a consolidated government can work.