Section 106 Review: Are we doing our homework?

[ChriswUfGator]

Maybe there was a scheduling conflict or someone of critical importance to this situation wasn't available to attend?

must have been pretty critical if it shut down phone service and cancelled his email access to tell the other participants in the meeting.

I don't know. I don't speak for the guy.  I'm just of the opinion that a canceled meeting doesn't necessarily mean something sinister is taking place, as suggested by this post:

Why on earth would Councilman Gaffney cancel a meeting on this issue?

Is he involved in this somehow?

Involvement doesnt mean 'sinister', lake.  But I think the fact that you assume as much is pretty telling about the nature of this particular issue.

Is this the first time Gaffney has cancelled, she clown or jax unicorn?

No, prior to the one meeting (that he finally agreed to only after he realized the city was on the hook for 7 figures), we've never been able to get much of a response from him at all. In fact councilman Lumb pretty much took up where Gaffney wouldn't in trying to address some of the issues we'd raised, realizing there was a problem, and that's what resulted in that public meeting we had at city hall, I think you attended it too, that Gaffney didn't even attend despite it concerning his district. Unfortunately Lumb couldn't get much traction from the rest of the city council afterwards on any kind of a solution.

Of course, that was all back before Kim Scott started threatening to have councilmembers arrested, etc. Since the proverbial shark has now been jumped, I expect the landscape has changed materially. We shall see.

[thelakelander]

Involvement doesnt mean 'sinister', lake.  But I think the fact that you assume as much is pretty telling about the nature of this particular issue.

My bad. To be honest, my statement was assumed based on your historical posting style moreso than anything else.

[Cheshire Cat]

Stephen, what was the basis of their threat to arrest Kim Daniels?

[Cheshire Cat]

Oh yes.  It was if she showed up to stop that demo.  I remember now. 
This entire issue really dovetails into a bigger and long standing problem in Jacksonville that is definitely tied to politics and goes back for many years.  Will comment more about this in a bit.

[Cheshire Cat]

Yes, it's all coming back to me now.  I have contacted a few of my buddies in the right places for a bit more information on another situation that may also be tied to this one.  When I get my ducks in a row, I will have further comment.  Let's just put it this way, "folks are gettin paid" and the right type of investigation can show the who and the how.  Working on that right now.

[JaxUnicorn]

Yes, it's all coming back to me now.  I have contacted a few of my buddies in the right places for a bit more information on another situation that may also be tied to this one.  When I get my ducks in a row, I will have further comment.  Let's just put it this way, "folks are gettin paid" and the right type of investigation can show the who and the how.  Working on that right now.

We don't know if Duchee Steven's garage was demolished with federal funds, but I've put in a request for a list of ALL properties/structures demolished using NSP1, NSP3 and CDBG funds.   We shall see.

And interfering with a city demolition is a Class D Misdemeanor - that's what they were threatening to do.  Same demo contractor (Michael Lloyd Hauling) that took down Duchee's structure also took down 129 E 3nd and 253 E 2nd.  He called the cops on me too at 129 E 2nd and had them onsite at the other.

[sheclown]

Yes, it's all coming back to me now.  I have contacted a few of my buddies in the right places for a bit more information on another situation that may also be tied to this one.  When I get my ducks in a row, I will have further comment.  Let's just put it this way, "folks are gettin paid" and the right type of investigation can show the who and the how.  Working on that right now.

We don't know if Duchee Steven's garage was demolished with federal funds, but I've put in a request for a list of ALL properties/structures demolished using NSP1, NSP3 and CDBG funds.   We shall see.

And interfering with a city demolition is a Class D Misdemeanor - that's what they were threatening to do.  Same demo contractor (Michael Lloyd Hauling) that took down Duchee's structure also took down 129 E 3nd and 253 E 2nd.  He called the cops on me too at 129 E 2nd and had them onsite at the other.

They were also the contracting company that took down the 100 year old Duckeeville house on Myrtle -- waiting to hear the funding source on that one too.  Interesting story on that one.  Original bid $7200.  Change order for $7400.  which brought the total job cost to a whopping $14,600.

[Scrub Palmetto]

Good news story -- it's good to see some real journalism -- also a very well written reply to Mr. Barker. I'm mystified by the actions of my hometown in what is not just a neighborhood, but a regional treasure IMO. A real tragedy would be if there weren't people like you, sheclown, JaxUnicorn, and others, down there fighting this. You're keeping my faith in Jacksonville as a community, even though as a governing body, the faith's pretty shattered.

I wish I could join in. Next year...

[sheclown]

PSOS will be on Action News tonight.  10:00 on Fox and 11 on CBS. 

I was nervous and I sucked big time, but the important thing is the issue is out there and people are interested.



I took a picture of him while he was taking a picture of me.

Then Kim and I went to city council. 

Kim got in trouble for cussin'  at the council.  I was just angry and told them so.

It's been a crazy couple of days.

[Debbie Thompson]

Isn't it interesting how you keep turning over rocks, and the Lloyd's keep scurrying out from under them?  Not making any accusations.  Just saying it's interesting how often they turn up.  Maybe it's because they under bid, and then double their price later.  Or maybe some other reason.  But they sure do keep showing up on demo after demo.  Interesting.

[ChriswUfGator]

Isn't it interesting how you keep turning over rocks, and the Lloyd's keep scurrying out from under them?  Not making any accusations.  Just saying it's interesting how often they turn up.  Maybe it's because they under bid, and then double their price later.  Or maybe some other reason.  But they sure do keep showing up on demo after demo.  Interesting.

Been wondering the same thing for awhile...

[iloveionia]

The news article/video was excellent.  The truths were exposed.  That federal money could have been used to stabilize and mothball.  Imagine the dreams that could have come true for people looking for homes to rehab.  Now the dream lies in vacant overgrown lots. Hundreds of them. 

[tpot]

Seems like the mayor would have something to say about this...........or not............

[Ralph W]

So the neighborhoods chief admits the city made some mistakes... some money has been repaid? The "City" didn't make the mistakes. There was a live body or two making decisions and putting pen to paper authorizing said "mistakes".

[JaxUnicorn]

PSOS will be on Action News tonight.  10:00 on Fox and 11 on CBS. 

I was nervous and I sucked big time, but the important thing is the issue is out there and people are interested.

I took a picture of him while he was taking a picture of me.

Then Kim and I went to city council. 

Kim got in trouble for cussin'  at the council.  I was just angry and told them so.

It's been a crazy couple of days.

I watched both news stories (they were the same, just aired on different networks).  I did not care for Mark Spain's comment at the end of the 10:00 story as it sounded as though he was downplaying the issue.  Wish I had recorded it, but it was something along the lines of...The City has said they've repaid the tens of thousands of dollars.  As if to say, tis OK...we gave the money back.  Just seemed the comment could have been better, and Paige Kelton's closing comment at the 11:00 story was way better: 

And the City says it has paid back thousands of dollars that were misused.  We want to know exactly how much that was and we'll keep asking until we get that number for you.

And then there was City Council.  Sheclown did a FANTASTIC job addressing Council.  Although she was angry, she was articulate and passionate.  I, on the other hand, wasn't so good.  Yes, Yarborough interrupted my time when I used the word 'damn' to tell me that was the second time I cussed (the first time I said "we are pissed!") and that kind of language is not to be used as there may be children watching.

Crazy couple of days doesn't even come close to describing what's been going on here lately!  PSOS WILL NOT STOP!!  SAVE THE HOUSES!!!