Acosta Bridge LED Lights across span

[Kerry]

For the love of Pete - it isn't just a burned out light bulb.  The entire Southbank system doesn't work and stopped working right after it was turned on.  These are professionals.  They should be able to install an outdoor lighting system that last more than 6 months.  The private sector would never accept this.

Why do you guys defend this shoddy crap?  You paid for it too.  Don't you want this stuff to work?  We are getting ready to pay for 10 years on a system from two entities that don't have a good track record of keeping the lights on.  I would like some reassurance that it won't be broken in 6 months.

[blizz01]

Dude, it's fine.  They did the fountain, right?

[Charles Hunter]

Maybe the 10-year payment plan includes 10 years of maintenance?

Probably not.

[Keith-N-Jax]

We all have opinions? Who knew. My only issue is those who use every development not in their favor or something they would implement as a chance to take a shot at Khan or the Jags. It really ridiculous and Lake I wasn't talking about you.

[Steve]

For the love of Pete - it isn't just a burned out light bulb.  The entire Southbank system doesn't work and stopped working right after it was turned on.  These are professionals.  They should be able to install an outdoor lighting system that last more than 6 months.  The private sector would never accept this.

Why do you guys defend this shoddy crap?  You paid for it too.  Don't you want this stuff to work?  We are getting ready to pay for 10 years on a system from two entities that don't have a good track record of keeping the lights on.  I would like some reassurance that it won't be broken in 6 months.

I'm not defending it. I'm saying that the guy who installed it may or may not be responsible. In the end the city is the one to blame, not a contractor who may or may not have been given crappy materials.

If I ask a contractor to install an interior door on the exterior of my house, should I complain to him when the thing rots in 6 months?

[jaxlongtimer]

My only issue is those who use every development not in their favor or something they would implement as a chance to take a shot at Khan or the Jags. It really ridiculous and Lake I wasn't talking about you.

Shad gets the "shots" because he is also getting much of the City's discretionary dollars and other favors while other parts of the City get little or nothing and continue in economic purgatory, many for decades now.  And, unlike the Weavers, Shad isn't showing an equivalent amount of love to the greater Jax area.  At some point, at least a portion of the populace gets restless with the unfairness of it all.

I don't think it is "personal" to Shad or the Jags, but, with the benefits they are getting over all others, they have to expect the cynicism, criticism and complaining to accompany such favored treatment.  These conversations also follow public figures, and, along with the Mayor, Shad is Public Figure #1 in Jax (doesn't he also get scolded when the Jags have a string of losing seasons?).  So far, it doesn't seem to be getting under Shad's skin as evidenced by the ongoing benefits he is pressuring the City to deliver on.

Given his financial rewards and resources, I don't think one has to work so hard to protect his image.  He is doing fine managing it on his own  .

[Adam White]

We all have opinions? Who knew. My only issue is those who use every development not in their favor or something they would implement as a chance to take a shot at Khan or the Jags. It really ridiculous and Lake I wasn't talking about you.

I take shots at the Jaguars (and, by extension, Khan) at every possible opportunity (regardless of whether or not particular "developments" are "in my favor" or not), because:

1) I have always opposed attempts to use public monies to lure an NFL franchise to Jacksonville;

2) I think the presence of an NFL franchise does more harm than good for the city, given the amount of tax money that is spent on the team;

3) I love winding up thin-skinned snowflakes who get their knickers in a twist whenever someone criticizes a stupid NFL franchise.

[Kerry]

I take every shot because I personally don't like Khan.  I don't care for his business practices, his corporate welfare handouts, and I especially don't like his sycophants in the local political and news groups.  The Jags should be here as a benefit to the City and residents, not the other way around.  The dude is a billionaire, every time he holds his hand out it should get slapped.

[JBTripper]

Jacksonville's 2018-19 budget is north of a billion dollars. Since Khan bought the Jaguars in 2012, the city has thrown in less than $100 million toward improvements to a stadium that the city owns.

The fact that city is unable to keep the Friendship Fountain operational, unable to keep the lights on on the Southbank River Walk and Acosta Bridge, unable to keep the new trees trimmed and new brick accents in a state of reasonable upkeep along the San Marco streetscape, unable to properly manage Hemming Park, unable to maintain Klutho Park, and unable to competently manage an RFP on the Courthouse Annex site is unrelated to the pittance paid to keep the Jaguars happy in Jacksonville. It's not money, it's management!

If the Jaguars/Khan had so hamstrung the city coffers that they were unable to maintain all these things, then the city wouldn't have the money to replace their ill-maintained assets every 10 years, either.

[Kerry]

So how about change the law so the Bed tax could be used for non-Jag tourism.

Or better yet - change it to only be for non-Jag tourism.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

So how about change the law so the Bed tax could be used for non-Jag tourism.

Or better yet - change it to only be for non-Jag tourism.

LOL how could you even enforce that? Hotel booking site asks you "Are you in town to attend a Jacksonville Jaguars game?" Select yes and BAM you pay an additional X% on your hotel bill?

How do you feel about the Jumbo Shrimp, I wonder?

[vicupstate]

So how about change the law so the Bed tax could be used for non-Jag tourism.

Or better yet - change it to only be for non-Jag tourism.

LOL how could you even enforce that? Hotel booking site asks you "Are you in town to attend a Jacksonville Jaguars game?" Select yes and BAM you pay an additional X% on your hotel bill?

How do you feel about the Jumbo Shrimp, I wonder?

It's easy. You don't spend any Bed Tax on the Jags stadium.

[jax_hwy_engineer]

So how about change the law so the Bed tax could be used for non-Jag tourism.

Or better yet - change it to only be for non-Jag tourism.

LOL how could you even enforce that? Hotel booking site asks you "Are you in town to attend a Jacksonville Jaguars game?" Select yes and BAM you pay an additional X% on your hotel bill?

How do you feel about the Jumbo Shrimp, I wonder?

It's easy. You don't spend any Bed Tax on the Jags stadium.

Oh, duh on me, that makes sense