The Rest of the State attends Federal Rail Rollout Meet, But Not Jacksonville!

[JeffreyS]

We need to get away from the Reality Check vs the Fed HSR meeting vs the TOD tour of downtown.  Attending two of these functions is not in the area code of good enough. Delegations from this city should have attended all of these things. One on One meetings are probably more important but the group events are part of the process too.

P.S. Reality Check needs a Reality Check if they want diverse input and do not invite MetroJacksonville.com IMO.

[Charles Hunter]

I think it was stated earlier that Reality Check did not invite people, but that individuals or groups could nominate people to participate - did anyone from MetroJacksonville nominate themselves, or other members of MJ? 

[JeffreyS]

Thanks Charles I missed that. 

[stjr]

I think it was stated earlier that Reality Check did not invite people, but that individuals or groups could nominate people to participate - did anyone from MetroJacksonville nominate themselves, or other members of MJ? 

If these events are not mass advertised/promoted and are set up as all-day, week-day affairs, and cost more than a few dollars for a lunch, you are not going to get anyone other than those I mentioned earlier attending, i.e. those with very vested interests in development and who are compensated by their employers for attending. Most community activists are volunteers working on their own time.

These events discriminate against the abilities of us "common folk" to attend and the proof is in the pudding.  How many attendees were there and NOT paid by their employers for the time at the event?  And, so it is for almost all "public forums" in this City.  "Citizen Joe and Jane" not only don't know about the event, but couldn't afford to miss work and attend anyway.  That is not an inclusive, community based exercise.

Here is an idea:  Set this "game" up on the internet using virtual collaboration software and let all comers give their ideas of where to put the Legos, etc.  Make people pre-register with their real names and some verifiable demographic info so the game isn't "stacked" by ballot stuffers and is assured diverse input.  Want discussion?  Set up a thread or threads for the game a la these threads or maybe, a real-time chat room.  Run the game at several different times - during a week day, a week night, and on a weekend day.  Add up the sum total results and feed them back to the participants to endorse or write "minority" opinions.

[tufsu1]

The event was not supposed to be for the "common folks"....on purpose.

From the beginning, Reality Check was set up for the "grasstops" vs. the "grassroots"...in essence, community leaders....without their buy-in, us "common folk" can yap all we want, but nothing will change.

Moving foward, the Northeast Florida Regional Council will be taking the Reality Check process to the people....through public meetings in each of the seven counties....after an extensive public participation process, a singular regional vision will be formed....and then the leaders will be asked to sign a community compact, which will be the basis for local government plan changes.

STJR...your idea of an on-line game is good....maybe you should contact the NEFRC and suggest it

[tufsu1]

stephen...I know this may come as a shock to you....but ULI is not one of my clients

The event was put on by ULI using their rules....perhaps you should look them up!

the MPO, NEFRC, SJRWMD, JTA, etc. were sponsors of the event....along with many private firms.

Listen, I'm not the one who was trying to make ULI out as some sort of new-deal "feel good" non-prfit....they are predominantly comprised of real estate developers!

[tufsu1]

nope...sorry...don't do any work for JTA either....feel free to call and check if you'd like