Bill Delaney: Why I’m Voting for Lenny Curry

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Again, I don't know what he'll do. But balancing that budget very well could either mean cuts to something else, or new taxes. There aren't a lot of other options. Either way, we haven't seen Brown making those decisions.

I get that.  None of us do.

Pardon my bad analogy, but the understanding that taxes MAY have to be raised while Curry is in office and thinking he would actually do what's best for the city, even though it goes against everything he and his party stand for is like marrying a girl that absolutely doesn't want kids and then having to divorce her later because, well, she wouldn't have kids.

(More bad analogy and generic wisdom ):  You don't get involved with people based off an assumption that they will change. 

Edit for levity:

[tufsu1]

and Curry, having never been in local office

It is just this fact that worries me most.  We have seen with Peyton and Brown (not mention Gov. Scott) how steep the learning curve is for people who have not managed in a government atmosphere before.  I am simply not willing to take that chance again.

[RattlerGator]

Pardon my bad analogy, but the understanding that taxes MAY have to be raised while Curry is in office and thinking he would actually do what's best for the city, even though it goes against everything he and his party stand for is like marrying a girl that absolutely doesn't want kids and then having to divorce her later because, well, she wouldn't have kids.

Wow, OVERSTATE much ? ? ?

[Tacachale]

Again, I don't know what he'll do. But balancing that budget very well could either mean cuts to something else, or new taxes. There aren't a lot of other options. Either way, we haven't seen Brown making those decisions.

I get that.  None of us do.

Pardon my bad analogy, but the understanding that taxes MAY have to be raised while Curry is in office and thinking he would actually do what's best for the city, even though it goes against everything he and his party stand for is like marrying a girl that absolutely doesn't want kids and then having to divorce her later because, well, she wouldn't have kids.

(More bad analogy and generic wisdom ):  You don't get involved with people based off an assumption that they will change. 

Edit for levity:

Fair points, but let's step back a bit on the budgets. I don't think that under Curry, we'll see budgets where much of the (proposed) spending is tied to borrowing, using one-time money to pay for recurring expenses, etc., which is what's been happening under Brown. In his budgets, the spending doesn't match the revenues, which is why the Council has had to take control of the process. I don't think that kind of thing will happen under Curry; the financial situation will be more apparent as soon as the budget proposal leaves the mayor's office. And the council will still have its say as well.

[vicupstate]

I am sorry, but I cannot vote another fear monger into office. This city is not burning to the ground, there is no chaos as city hall. There is no mad max in Hemming Park. I am by no means Alvin Browns biggest fan but no matter how you skew the numbers things have really improved over the last four years in Jacksonville.

exactly.  although to hear Curry tell it, look out mere mortals, here comes the apocalypse.

If I may paraphrase FDR, "We have nothing to fear but fear-mongers themselves'

[vicupstate]

and Curry, having never been in local office

It is just this fact that worries me most.  We have seen with Peyton and Brown (not mention Gov. Scott) how steep the learning curve is for people who have not managed in a government atmosphere before.  I am simply not willing to take that chance again.

+1000.

Plus Brown is gone in four years regardless. Curry won't be. Neither one is even close to being the best that JAX can do.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

.

Wow, OVERSTATE much ? ? ?
[/quote]

Sometimes.  Maybe. 

I'm curious, though.  When was the last time you heard a republican candidate discuss taxes without "no new" in front?   

[Tacachale]

.

Wow, OVERSTATE much ? ? ?

Sometimes.  Maybe. 

I'm curious, though.  When was the last time you heard a republican candidate discuss taxes without "no new" in front?   
[/quote]

Bishop did it. Moran, too. Of course, they both lost.

NO candidate wants to talk about the possibility of raising taxes. Brown is a Democrat and he's been banging the same drum for four years, even after taxes did go up on his watch.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Touche.

But neither Bishop nor Moran had the support of the party.

Can we call them independents?    (I will regardless just to further my own point, lol)

[Tacachale]

Touche.

But neither Bishop nor Moran had the support of the party.

Can we call them independents?    (I will regardless just to further my own point, lol)

Sure, but again, Brown has been just as strongly against taxes as most Republicans. The candidates tax stances are pretty identical.

[For_F-L-O-R-I-D-A]

I voted for Alvin because he has not done a bad job and I think his experience will help in a second term. He has been very conservative interestingly on most issues and I like him personally.

However, there is no doubt Jacksonville is behind every other larger metro in the state over the past 4 years as growth has occurred post-recession. DT Jax is as shabby as ever while Tampa, St. Pete, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm, Gainesville, Tallahassee, have been booming. I don't hold him responsible for all of that, but it has been disappointing that we lack that vision for DT or really much of anything compared to our sister cities across the state.

[mtraininjax]

I voted for Alvin because he has not done a bad job and I think his experience will help in a second term. He has been very conservative interestingly on most issues and I like him personally.

However, there is no doubt Jacksonville is behind every other larger metro in the state over the past 4 years as growth has occurred post-recession. DT Jax is as shabby as ever while Tampa, St. Pete, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm, Gainesville, Tallahassee, have been booming. I don't hold him responsible for all of that, but it has been disappointing that we lack that vision for DT or really much of anything compared to our sister cities across the state.

No mayor of 4 or 8 years can cure what ails downtown Jacksonville. I don't care if Shad Khan spends $1 Billion downtown, the biggest issue is residents. There are maybe 3,000 to 5,000 residents downtown, and with the projects on the board now, the core would be lucky to see 10,000 within 10 years.

There is nothing on the horizon to build up downtown, no new school, no new industry, no new manufacturing, and these are older Boomer Style industries. Suburbia zip codes have the wealth and people are moving and retiring there. Its going to take a lot longer than one or two terms to try things, and fail, downtown.

The failure of downtown was not why Brown lost, and it was not really an issue. I think he lost due to his lack of leadership and the recent crime waves. He was shown to be inept with solutions.

[tufsu1]

^ actually 10,000 residents is kind of the magic number for most downtowns.  And, btw, there may very well be a new school on the horizon for downtown Jax.

[mtraininjax]

^ actually 10,000 residents is kind of the magic number for most downtowns.  And, btw, there may very well be a new school on the horizon for downtown Jax.

Who cares about most downtowns? We only care about our downtown!

I also hear that the Shipyards will be built soon.