Money for downtown diverted in order to pave more roads

[jcjohnpaint]

So much for an independent authority.  Really surprised how much support DT gets from the district's councilman

[vicupstate]

Political manuevering is undermining the DIA before it even gets a chance to prove itself.  The way this city is run would be comical if it weren't so serious.  No wonder the Charleston SC  candiate took himself out of the selection process for Executive Director.

[mtraininjax]

If the city paves anymore of those crappy intersections also known as Laura/Forsyth, Laura/Adams, then downtown does not need the money. I'd rather have smooth asphalt to cover up the messes the city has made on St. Johns and Riverside.

[CityLife]

Political manuevering is undermining the DIA before it even gets a chance to prove itself.  The way this city is run would be comical if it weren't so serious.  No wonder the Charleston SC  candiate took himself out of the selection process for Executive Director.

I'm guessing that there are some council members who aren't all that impressed with the hire of Wallace and I might agree with them...If they had truly hired a dynamic leader with a history of success in a similar downtown (or any downtown), I don't think the council would be as quick to yank it away.

[Bridges]

Political manuevering is undermining the DIA before it even gets a chance to prove itself.  The way this city is run would be comical if it weren't so serious.  No wonder the Charleston SC  candiate took himself out of the selection process for Executive Director.

I'm guessing that there are some council members who aren't all that impressed with the hire of Wallace and I might agree with them...If they had truly hired a dynamic leader with a history of success in a similar downtown (or any downtown), I don't think the council would be as quick to yank it away.

I'm guessing if the Mayor and Council had better communication and rapport, the council wouldn't feel such a need to shut down his projects.  But as long as the Mayor treats the council like an annoying and useless waste of time, and as long as council lives up to that description, we'll get nowhere. 

[CityLife]

I think it probably goes a little deeper than political gamesmanship, but I'm sure that too is a factor.

[jcjohnpaint]

Our council is an annoying and useless waste of time!

[tufsu1]

I'd rather have smooth asphalt to cover up the messes the city has made on St. Johns and Riverside.

FYI...that's a JEA project on an FDOT roadway....and it should be much smoother when done soon

[JayBird]

Political manuevering is undermining the DIA before it even gets a chance to prove itself.  The way this city is run would be comical if it weren't so serious.  No wonder the Charleston SC  candiate took himself out of the selection process for Executive Director.

I'm guessing that there are some council members who aren't all that impressed with the hire of Wallace and I might agree with them...If they had truly hired a dynamic leader with a history of success in a similar downtown (or any downtown), I don't think the council would be as quick to yank it away.

I'm guessing if the Mayor and Council had better communication and rapport, the council wouldn't feel such a need to shut down his projects.  But as long as the Mayor treats the council like an annoying and useless waste of time, and as long as council lives up to that description, we'll get nowhere.

In my opinion that is what a lot of the ridiculousness of late stems from, which doesn't benefit anyone. Childish at best.

[cline]

I'd rather have smooth asphalt to cover up the messes the city has made on St. Johns and Riverside.

FYI...that's a JEA project on an FDOT roadway....and it should be much smoother when done soon

Yes. Once they're done with the utilities work it will be completely resurfaced.

[GoldenEst82]

I'm beginning to understand why people speak so negatively about Mr. Redman.

But really, city council, its mighty damn convenient that you moved the downtown money right after the Executive Director was hired.

They haven't even completed the DT "study", (something this city seems infatuated with) and Ms. Boyer practically said that the DIA would have to justify every expense as it comes out of the kitty. Way to prioritize DT in the funding, city council.

The DIA has practically been nullified before they start.

I have friends who do not live DT, who know I follow local politics, (and they do not) and they ask me questions about what goes on with the city council, and about some things they hear on the news.
I also encourage (badger, berate) my friends to vote in local elections...

The moral of the story: regular people vote in elections, and word of mouth is always more potent than mass advertizing.
They (the council and mayor) should seriously beware how this looks... if the jax2025 study told us anything, it was that DT was on the minds of lots of people who do not live there- so how this plays out is going to have a lot to do with the next election.

[marksjax]

This is the absolute best example I can show anyone as to why Downtown Jacksonville has been neglected for so many years. And why there is little light at the end of the tunnel for any significant movement otherwise. This is the poster child for failed leadership on many levels.

As I have noted before: "Status Quo has got to go" to see any real improvements. Not just in personnel but in the thought processes that lead to these kind of decisions. We are probably top heavy with too many boards & committees but that is what we tend to continue to foster. A white paper here, a twenty five year plan there and on and on with no real action.

This is a perfect reason any out of town business looking to locate in Jacksonville will not seriously consider our Downtown.
It does not have to be this way.
The real problem is not enough voters live Downtown to have any sway over the City Council or Mayor. As a group they are 'marginalized' and given short shrift on a regular basis.

I could have Bay Street turned into a vibrant 'have to be there' kind of local experience if only I were King for a Day...

[JayBird]

I could have Bay Street turned into a vibrant 'have to be there' kind of local experience if only I were King for a Day...

Shall we accept as this as your announcement beginning your campaign for Mayor in 2015?!!

[Cheshire Cat]

From the Daily Record.

Thursday, August 15, 10:08 AM EDT

by David Chapman, Staff Writer
Days after a City Council committee diverted $9 million of Downtown-centric funds, members of the board charged with overseeing Downtown's revitalization determined how to react.

Members of the Downtown Investment Authority board met Wednesday in a special meeting to engage Council members, including members of the Finance Committee that Friday moved $9 million earmarked for Downtown to a capital projects account that potentially could be used for the fiscal 2013-14 City budget.

The committee is underway in its budget review for fiscal 2013-14 and members for some time have discussed the idea of redirecting the funds.

"I believe we need to send a message to City Council, let them know the work we are doing," said authority Chair Oliver Barakat.

Barakat said Council's action to move the money now "really impairs" the authority's work and attracting interest to Downtown.

Board members Kay Harper and Tony Allegretti expressed disappointment and surprise with the Council action.

"I wouldn't know what to think if I was a developer," Harper said.

In response, Harper said she supported "any and every step possible" to lobby Council to not adopt the recommendation to move the funds.

Another option suggested by Barakat and board member Melody Bishop was to draft a resolution to inform Council of its stance against potential fund reallocation and tell Council of the authority's accomplishments and approach.

Barakat offered to write the resolution and bring it to members Wednesday during the regularly scheduled authority meeting.

Not everyone was in agreement.

Board member Jim Bailey, publisher of the Financial News & Daily Record, said the proposed efforts were "a total waste of time." He said much work went into making the authority independent, but the board "has done everything in our power to dissolve that."

The board at its July meeting authorized the City Office of Economic Development to handle negotiations for six Downtown projects.

As part of Mayor Alvin Brown's reorganization, the office is to handle economic development in Duval County with the exception of Downtown, which is under the purview of the authority.

"I think we have more serious problems," he said, addressing the confidence level Council has with the authority. "Lobbying is not going to return that confidence to the DIA."

Barakat said one issue is authority staffing levels, or lack thereof.

The board selected Aundra Wallace as its CEO who will report to the board, but he begins Monday. Outside of Wallace, the authority has no dedicated staff and has been assisted by members of the economic development office.

Council member Don Redman, who represents parts of Downtown, said that discussion around City Hall is that the authority members "are losing your ability to operate" and Brown's administration is "taking charge" of what the board should be doing."

"If the other City Council members are getting fed the same thing I am getting fed, you can understand why we're getting disillusioned," he told board members.

Council member Lori Boyer regularly attends authority board meetings and told the group that, given massive budget gaps, to not personalize the decision to redirect the funds.

"Don't assume it's only based on 'oh, we're upset with something the DIA is doing,'" she said.

She suggested that a formal response in addition to individual discussions with Council members were probably in the authority's best interest.

"I would be pleading your case if you have a specific case to be made," she said.

dchapman@baileypub.com

[jaxequality]

This is all such bullcrap. INVEST in downtown, it's what makes Jacksonville. You might as well just tear the whole thing down otherwise.  It's about whats been done already! This is could be an AMAZING city if we could allow the Brooklyn momentum to move through LaVilla, and it will if DOWNTOWN holds it's end of the bargain.