FOHP Proposes Hiring Security Firm

[ssky]

Just read the article in the Daily Record about FOHP's "new idea" of hiring a security firm to help enforce order in Hemming Park after realizing it was not the Utopia they expected: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547195  Granted I am up late with the flu and a bit woozy from coughing, but I could still swear that Jerry Moran suggested hiring an outside security firm for the park years ago during one of the many committee or sub-committee meetings we were having back then. At the time, he was soundly rebuked for such militant thinking. I could not help laughing myself into another coughing fit, further irritating my poor, raw throat, when I read that FOHP had come to the same conclusion after a mere 18 months and $1 million. Hell, I even read it a second time and it was still worth the pain! Somewhere, I hope Jerry is finding humor in this too.

[whyisjohngalt]

It's only after running out of money that the idealists start agreeing with the pragmatists.  I bet Jerry had other solutions that another million would help us "discover".

[Steve]

With regard to Jerry, just because you don't agree with everything the man says doesn't mean he doesn't have some good ideas. That applied to a lot, especially given the Presidential Primaries going on.

Don't know if I'm on board or not with the private security - interested to hear other's thoughts on this.

[ssky]

It's only after running out of money that the idealists start agreeing with the pragmatists.  I bet Jerry had other solutions that another million would help us "discover".

Well said...Jerry is, and has been, extremely pragmatic when it comes to these issues. That pragmatism is exactly what has kept him in business down here for 15 years while the battle for improvement has raged on to no perceivable end. What I would love to know is how the first million dollars and 18 months of FOHP are being justified when the challenges we face with Hemming are just as great today as they were a year and a half ago. Blame it on my fever if you want, but I believe the city just bought a $1 million tube of lipstick to try to pretty up our little pig of a park.

[whyisjohngalt]

I doubt violent or crazy is fair, but if he is now - he didn't start that way.  15 years will change a man and he did the time.  Small downtown business owner that has lasted longer than any of us - especially in an industry some here claim competency - deserves respect. 

[Steve]

His problems have been mostly of his own making.

While some of what Jerry did isn't the way I'd handle things, I do understand why he did SOME of the things he did. The video of the homeless guy dropping something off outside of his place I believe (you'd have to ask him for sure) was in response to DVI at the time. Under Terry Lorince's leadership, I felt like they were a little too much rainbows and butterflies. I think is goal was to show that if you come to dinner downtown you might walk by someone dropping trou.

But, circling back to this I don't think I'm a fan of hiring the private security folks. With private security, either you hire cheap folks that are ineffective, or you hire effective folks and it's a lot of money.  Seems like there's a better way to handle this.

[Noone]

Just read the article in the Daily Record about FOHP's "new idea" of hiring a security firm to help enforce order in Hemming Park after realizing it was not the Utopia they expected: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547195  Granted I am up late with the flu and a bit woozy from coughing, but I could still swear that Jerry Moran suggested hiring an outside security firm for the park years ago during one of the many committee or sub-committee meetings we were having back then. At the time, he was soundly rebuked for such militant thinking. I could not help laughing myself into another coughing fit, further irritating my poor, raw throat, when I read that FOHP had come to the same conclusion after a mere 18 months and $1 million. Hell, I even read it a second time and it was still worth the pain! Somewhere, I hope Jerry is finding humor in this too.

2016-198 Approp $250,000 for FOHP. Introduced at the 3/8/16 meeting of the Jacksonville city council. Public Hearing 3/22/16. Auth. A 2nd amendment to Contract with FOHP.

Anyone else feeling sorry for ............

[whyisjohngalt]

Public Hearing 3/22/16. Auth. A 2nd amendment to Contract with FOHP.

Why doesn't a new RFP get issued instead of amending contracts with unmet terms?  Are there any deadlines with actionable and accountable terms set?  This has to be connected to that "good buddy" club everyone associates Jacksonville with.

[jaxlore]

The other day there was a guy screaming outside in front of church and literally right around the corner where two cops just sitting there having a conversation. They didn't even flinch to go see what was going on.  JSO doesn't get it.

Also didn't the homeless day center shut down as well?

[tufsu1]

Also didn't the homeless day center shut down as well?

yes...there was no funding for it in the FY 2016 budget