Rummell: One Spark is not a 'turning point' for Downtown Jacksonville

[Cheshire Cat]

From the Jacksonville Daily Record.  http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=542675

Reported can be pesky little things CL, I understand your confusion. 

In a coffee shop off Southside Boulevard, Rivas, Varick Rosete and Dennis Eusebio had decisions to make.

They all had job offers outside Jacksonville but moving wasn't necessarily their first choice. In fact, they were tired of being told they'd have to move to live in a city that encouraged entrepreneurial efforts.

Rivas said the conversation became this: "Are we moving and going and doing something different or are we going to stay here and try to build a culture that we really wanted to be part of?"

The decision to stay helped build a new entrepreneurial path in the city and helped tear down the perceptions that a startup community couldn't succeed here.   

[ronchamblin]

Seems that most all the points and factors have at least some validity, and warrant some support.  Some just disagree on the amplitudes and significance of the various factors presented.  And the emotion of the arguments increase as the erroneous assumptions, and misinterpretations as to others positions, increases.  Its fun.

[Cheshire Cat]

Seems that most all the points and factors have at least some validity, and warrant some support.  Some just disagree on the amplitudes and significance of the various factors presented.  And the emotion of the arguments increase as the erroneous assumptions, and misinterpretations as to others positions, increases.  Its fun.

It's a matter of perceptions about story line and the importance of big money and high profile personalities to my view.  Is it fun? As in all things I guess that is a matter of perception. The event itself was more than fun.

My question is who invited who to the dance?  To my view Rummell was invited to the dance and he accepted the invitation and then when the dance was over he decided to point out that the dance was not that big of a deal really when it came to changing downtown forever.  I know exactly what he was doing which was to point blank say to Jacksonville, see the purdy things we can do in downtown.  Nice huh, but they are worthless in the long run.  What is needed is incentives, incentives, incentives and a $29 million dollar budget for the DIA which was his bargaining chip with mayor Alvin Brown.  Does no one understand how the pieces fit together?  Come on peeps.  From the article beginning this thread.  When discussing the current budget of DIA for downtown, That's not enough, Rummell said, and other forms of incentives — tax abatement and other non-cash strategies — don't cut it in today's world. In early 2011, when Rummell founded the Jacksonville Civic Council,it called for the formation of the Downtown Investment Authority with a budget of $29 million.  For those who scream we are tired of GOB control and are done repeating the past, look at who you are in some ways now putting at the helm of ship Jacksonville.  Rummell, founder of Jacksonville Civic Council previously know as the nifty fifty.  He is the old guard people.  lol

[CityLife]

Clearly tho CL, you are completely naive about the doings of business and investments at such a level. 

Wouldn't be the first time you've been off in the thread....

Now lets get this thing back on track and stick to the message, not the messenger.

Like Steve said earlier. Now, discuss your thoughts on his opinion in the article....go.

[tufsu1]

Bottom line is that One Spark was not the creation of Peter Rummell. As I said, Rummell tagged himself financially to a concept and event that was not his idea.  Three names were at the forefront of the creation as it originated and none of them was Rummells.  From the original business journal article and I quote,

Our Story & Some History

One Spark, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to foster an environment of innovation. It was created in 2011 by three friends (Elton Rivas, Dennis Eusebio, and Varick Rosete) who wanted to connect ideas with resources. Despite its name, there was no single "spark" that inspired the nonprofit, but rather a number of small coffee shop conversations that blew up into something big

please...ask any of those three (especially Elton) how involved Peter Rummell was from the beginning....trust me, he didn't just swoop in, write a check, and fly away.   

fact is the three founders were looking to do a tech/entrepeneur festival....at the same time Wayne Wood, Dolph James, and Doug Coleman were trying to do an arts & cultural festival....the two groups met and agreed to combine concepts.

Wayne, Dolph, and Doug walked away from the day-to-day and the 3 One Spark guys carried it forward....that said, Wayne and Dolph have been very involved in both the 2013 and 2014 events and Doug has taken his talents to TedX Jacksonville.

[Cheshire Cat]

Clearly tho CL, you are completely naive about the doings of business and investments at such a level. 

Wouldn't be the first time you've been off in the thread....

Now lets get this thing back on track and stick to the message, not the messenger.

Like Steve said earlier. Now, discuss your thoughts on his opinion in the article....go.

Bless your heart CL.  I am on topic.  What you fail to understand is that all the things I mentioned are intertwined and totally relevant to the thread and the discussion about One Spark and Rummell's impressions of it's impact and influence downtown.  You just don't want to see it really and that's okay.  Your choice, but please do not try and nudge me away from discussing the ways of influence and the GOB as it impacts how Jacksonville is run and who is driving the direction in which we are headed.  The fact that Rummell tied his wagon to the One Spark event using his money should not be a driving factor in the discussions of downtown, but just one of the factors.  On another level, I fail to see how embracing old ideas and methods with regard to downtown revitalization are going to make a difference.  Rummell has offered no earthshaking insights nor has he shown us anything new. Same old same old with the same old results.  Pour more money into downtown without a plan.  Incentives, bigger budget etc. etc. etc.  What is new in any of that?  Nothing.  It's the same tired old mantra now attached to something new and exciting called "One Spark".  You don't get new results in a community or the urban core by doing the same things that have failed in the past.  This is vintage GOB control and influence pure and simple.  We have had the DDA, JEDC and now the DIA all ideas for downtown and all have failed to make the great strides they pretended to offer.  Including the slow moving and un-inspired DIA efforts which are old ideas rehashed or borrowed from others. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Bottom line is that One Spark was not the creation of Peter Rummell. As I said, Rummell tagged himself financially to a concept and event that was not his idea.  Three names were at the forefront of the creation as it originated and none of them was Rummells.  From the original business journal article and I quote,

Our Story & Some History

One Spark, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to foster an environment of innovation. It was created in 2011 by three friends (Elton Rivas, Dennis Eusebio, and Varick Rosete) who wanted to connect ideas with resources. Despite its name, there was no single "spark" that inspired the nonprofit, but rather a number of small coffee shop conversations that blew up into something big

please...ask any of those three (especially Elton) how involved Peter Rummell was from the beginning....trust me, he didn't just swoop in, write a check, and fly away.   

fact is the three founders were looking to do a tech/entrepeneur festival....at the same time Wayne Wood, Dolph James, and Doug Coleman were trying to do an arts & cultural festival....the two groups met and agreed to combine concepts.

Wayne, Dolph, and Doug walked away from the day-to-day and the 3 One Spark guys carried it forward....that said, Wayne and Dolph have been very involved in both the 2013 and 2014 events and Doug has taken his talents to TedX

I get it, you like Rummell and his money.  That doesn't change the fact that he has attached his money to the ideas of others which is okay as long as his money and influence do not override real inspirations and change, which is what they are doing and looks to me like no one wants to recognize that fact.  The adoration will continue on the part of many and frankly that is no surprise.  I am glad you did mention the others involved however, it puts the perspective back where it belongs which is One Spark was born of many creative people and their ideas and money did not create that, it just helped it along more quickly.  I have no doubt that the One Spark concept would have still been a growing success.  Yes, I have that much faith in the regular folk among us.  Now if you are trying to say Rummell is a good guy, I did not say he wasn't, but he has an agenda and is working it.  Like in so many other areas that impact Jacksonville, politics for instance, some mistake niceness and charisma as a measure of intent.  As it stands a good part of Rummells intent is something that many here are very interested in which is the downtown profile and it's future.  But as in politics, it should not be about the personality or their money, it should be about viable plans for our city, in this case, downtown.  Rummell has offered no new insights.  Thats the reality.  We have heard it all before which is we need more money.  What's new about that? Stating the obvious is not a plan in my view and I repeat that Rummell is the past and exposes the GOB influence that still has a strangle hold on our city.  In that way, nothing has changed in Jacksonville except the story line.  The underlying facts of who is driving the city still remain the same. 

[tufsu1]

I get it, you like Rummell and his money.

sorry but I never said that.  On the other hand, it appears from your statements that you resent Mr. Rummell and his money.

but speaking of money, here's what really happened.  Wood, James, and Coleman thought they needed $1 million to make their idea happen.  The money dried up around $300,000.  Rummell was able to supplement that $300k with another $300k and also bring other funders to the table.

And to your other point, I highly doubt that Elton Rivas or the other founders/partners would say that Rummell has tried to override their ideas based on his financial contribution.

[thelakelander]

Our Story & Some History

One Spark, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to foster an environment of innovation. It was created in 2011 by three friends (Elton Rivas, Dennis Eusebio, and Varick Rosete) who wanted to connect ideas with resources. Despite its name, there was no single "spark" that inspired the nonprofit, but rather a number of small coffee shop conversations that blew up into something big

I'm pretty sure One Spark, Inc. had already formed before the original Epoch guys passed the torch. You may not recall, but they had a video or something during an Art Walk, highlighting their establishment.  This was maybe a year or so before they got involved with saving Epoch (which was rebranded as One Spark 2013). Around the time Epoch was falling apart, I was a part of a group of young professionals that were invited to Peter Rummell's house and a few Civic Council meetings. Elton was as well, which is when I first met and talked to him.  I vividly remember the discussions of saving Epoch by going the crowd sourcing route, which had been mentioned by a few involved young professionals at the time. Many of us were asked to help initially.  Some did, some didn't. Do to my schedule at the time, I was one who passed.

Nevertheless, I'm happy things have turned out the way they did.  I hope it encourages more people to get involved with improving our community and really taking Jax "to the next level." It's been pretty exciting to see ideas discussed around beer grow into something that packed nearly 300k people in downtown's streets two years later. Rummell was a huge help. It just goes to show what can happen in a relatively short time when we facilitate our young talent as opposed to throwing obstacles in the way.

[Cheshire Cat]

I get it, you like Rummell and his money.

sorry but I never said that.  On the other hand, it appears from your statements that you resent Mr. Rummell and his money.

You could not be more wrong.  lol  I have no problem with him as a person or his money.  What I am pointing out is that Rummell was not the brain behind One Spark, thats a fact. It is also a fact that he promoted the event as high profile and important to branding a new Jacksonville in one breath and then underplayed it's influence in another.  There is nothing new about folks of influence co-opting the work of others in order to raise their public profile and make a mark.  It's a strategy and one well understood by high level business folk and in this situation the old guard of Jacksonville of which Rummell is a leading member.  If we as a city are ever going to make strides with inspired new approaches, we must understand that looking for guidance and leadership from those who have been in play for decades and failed to revitalize downtown will somehow now change that by offering the same old strategies.  You don't get different results by doing things the same worn out way.  Too much of what is our future is still driven by the old guard/GOB influence and mindset.  Rummells influence brought us the DIA via Alvin Brown.  Please, someone tell me what powerful new strategies were born of that effort?  What thing is it they have come up with that will make the "big" difference downtown?

[simms3]

Diane, you're really stretching here, and *even* if you were 100% correct, who the F cares?  Daddy Warbucks came in and we're all happy as a result.

Now I don't know if it's naivety from living in Jax so long, or bla bla bla, but I've been gone from Jax for 8 years now, and I can tell you guys like Rummell grease the engines of every successful city in America.  I also live in the tech capital of the universe, the VC capital of the universe, and the most innovative place that has existed in all of humanity, by a lot.  All of this is possible because of the collaboration of Daddy Warbuckses and young guys in flannel shirts.  In fact, usually Daddy Warbuckses are way more involved and often way cooler and creative than you give credit for, or apparently even realize is possible.

Contrary to your popularly bought and naive belief, many "business guys" aren't the buttoned up serious assholes who lack a sense of humor and can't come up with their own ideas.  No.  Quite the contrary.  Many are people persons who come up with or help build ideas themselves, get involved in the trenches, and throw their money, brains, political will, and enthusiasm at projects they believe in.  We'd all be living in caves still without them.

Thank you Peter Rummell for this.  Thank you all the little guys who also contributed.  And I agree that if you are a fan of downtown, this is simply a start.

[Cheshire Cat]

Our Story & Some History

One Spark, Inc. is a nonprofit organization working to foster an environment of innovation. It was created in 2011 by three friends (Elton Rivas, Dennis Eusebio, and Varick Rosete) who wanted to connect ideas with resources. Despite its name, there was no single "spark" that inspired the nonprofit, but rather a number of small coffee shop conversations that blew up into something big

I'm pretty sure One Spark, Inc. had already formed before the original Epoch guys passed the torch. You may not recall, but they had a video or something during an Art Walk, highlighting their establishment.  This was maybe a year or so before they got involved with saving Epoch (which was rebranded as One Spark 2013). Around the time Epoch was falling apart, I was a part of a group of young professionals that were invited to Peter Rummell's house and a few Civic Council meetings. Elton was as well, which is when I first met and talked to him.  I vividly remember the discussions of saving Epoch by going the crowd sourcing route, which had been mentioned by a few involved young professionals at the time. Many of us were asked to help initially.  Some did, some didn't. Do to my schedule at the time, I was one who passed.

Nevertheless, I'm happy things have turned out the way they did.  I hope it encourages more people to get involved with improving our community and really taking Jax "to the next level." It's been pretty exciting to see ideas discussed around beer grow into something that packed nearly 300k people in downtown's streets two years later. Rummell was a huge help. It just goes to show what can happen in a relatively short time when we facilitate our young talent as opposed to throwing obstacles in the way.

It just goes to show what can happen in a relatively short time when we facilitate our young talent as opposed to throwing obstacles in the way.[b/]

I agree, which is why it disheartened me to see Rummell underplay the importance of the event less than two days after it ended.  He had his reasons for doing that and those reasons had to do with his agenda for downtown and his fear of losing momentum for that.  So I am still asking this.  What has Rummell offered as a strategy for downtown that we have not heard before?  As far as One Spark, I don't think most people saw this as more than what it was which was a major crowd funding event held in downtown and not a revitalization effort.

[simms3]

Also, *if* Rummell's primary goal is to receive public financing or funding down the road for his dream downtown project (whatever that is), ok?  Every city has governments influenced by powerful deep-pocketed interests.  Seriously?  I'd rather have the city cow-towing to a guy like Rummell than your average local SS stick subdivision developer or a guy like Toney Sleiman.  Wouldn't we all?

[simms3]

I get it, you like Rummell and his money.

sorry but I never said that.  On the other hand, it appears from your statements that you resent Mr. Rummell and his money.

You could not be more wrong.  lol  I have no problem with him as a person or his money.  What I am pointing out is that Rummell was not the brain behind One Spark, thats a fact. It is also a fact that he promoted the event as high profile and important to branding a new Jacksonville in one breath and then underplayed it's influence in another.  There is nothing new about folks of influence co-opting the work of others in order to raise their public profile and make a mark.  It's a strategy and one well understood by high level business folk and in this situation the old guard of Jacksonville of which Rummell is a leading member.  If we as a city are ever going to make strides with inspired new approaches, we must understand that looking for guidance and leadership from those who have been in play for decades and failed to revitalize downtown will somehow now change that by offering the same old strategies.  You don't get different results by doing things the same worn out way.  Too much of what is our future is still driven by the old guard/GOB influence and mindset.  Rummells influence brought us the DIA via Alvin Brown.  Please, someone tell me what powerful new strategies were born of that effort?  What thing is it they have come up with that will make the "big" difference downtown?

Diane, you are not seeing this for reality.  OneSpark hasn't yet produced something/someone "bigger" than the guy who funded and kind of put it all together.  Until a Jax version of Steve Jobs and Apple comes out of this program, Rummell is they guy.  He's the face.

Also, I've already given you what I can imagine to be Rummell's idea for downtown.  You just fail to see it.  Rummell is a smarter guy than probably all of us.  He sees a much bigger picture that he is creating.  He is creating a ground up force of innovation and idea implementation that might stir up the economy here and do something to put Jax on the map.  Downtown won't be anything without an improved and special 21st century oriented economy.  Right now it's not.  I think that Rummell's long term vision is that there is some homegrown business born out of this event and the evolving local innovation economy that gets big enough to do something.  Maybe there will eventually be companies needing office space.  Maybe Jax starts going down the Austin path, and becomes attractive to young people with ideas.  All of that will certainly lead to downtown revitalization.

I don't think Rummell is into gimmicks or actually investing himself into downtown real estate.  He could have been there done that already if he were.  He's into investing in ideas and people.  And maybe some day he'll be an angel investor to something from OneSpark, directly or indirectly, that turns into something bigger.  And maybe that something will need a new office space.  Etc etc etc

I can also guarantee you that Rummell isn't "old guard" in the way we have defined it on this site.  He's actually "new" guard.

Finally, Rummell has a lot personally invested in OneSpark and likely his grander vision for the city (I don't mean financially, I mean personally).  He is influencing City Council and other city leaders in all the ways we would want them influenced.  It takes time, but I guarantee you he has their ears to a point.

[Cheshire Cat]

Also, *if* Rummell's primary goal is to receive public financing or funding down the road for his dream downtown project (whatever that is), ok?  Every city has governments influenced by powerful deep-pocketed interests.  Seriously?  I'd rather have the city cow-towing to a guy like Rummell than your average local SS stick subdivision developer or a guy like Toney Sleiman.  Wouldn't we all?

Okay, but if securing public funding is the goal, what is different about that?  We have poured billions into downtown over the years and not seen the desired turn around.  The strategy for downtown has got to be more than "throw money at it".  You use the word cow-towing to describe the dynamic between the city and Rummell.  For me it is rather about whose ideas we chose to empower with tax dollars and city efforts.  What is he offering that we have not heard before?  The backside of this and Rummells influence has also meant having Alvin Brown as our mayor.  While we talk about funding for downtown, the biggest elephant in the room that stands to ruin us financially is the unresolved pension issue which Brown is incapable of resolving and lacks the leadership to do so.  To my view the people of Jacksonville need to also recognize that as a factor and a result of Rummells influence on local politics.  We will be in worse shape financially after Brown than before him.  All that glitters is not gold or money in the bank.  While Rummell was able to get Brown into office with his support and see the creation of the DIA, we quickly saw that funding downtown the way he and others wanted was not going to happen with the pension issue and other funding shortfalls hanging over our heads.  When the issue of funding the DIA came before the council, they slashed the funding in a big way.  How is that ever going to be different with no resolve to our biggest financial burden.