Beware the 26 are Here

[Metro Jacksonville]

Beware the 26 are Here

What are we?  What is Jacksonville?  Are we the epitome of the Deep South?  Or are we a forgotten, yet finally coming-along part of Florida?  Are we still more like South Georgia than anything else?  Do backwater politicians hold us back?  Are we progressing as a city with all our natural assets should be?  Questions such as these are on our minds as we come out of the latest Jacksonville elections.We had near record-low voter turn out.  Why is that?  Could it be that we have lost complete faith in our city's leaders?  Who really is leading our city anyway?  Do we have true leaders, or are we just floundering while cities all around us enjoy prosperity and advancement? What the hell is going on Jacksonville?We seek to find answers to these and many other disturbing questions as we look at who makes our city go round.  Who are these people?  We should be aware of them, or perhaps even BEWARE them. THE 26...

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/385

[Concerned Citizen]

Let's not forget Harry Shorstein, The most disgraceful person in Jacksonville.

www.HarryShorstein.com

[mark]

i read the times union artical on this kevin guy.sounds like a pathitic whiner, with nothing better to do then harrass the mayor and his staff.the rest of us normal people in jax are  busy working to improve the city and our life styles........... while he sits around complaining.get off your ass and do something about it kev ! if you took the time you spend complaining about the city and its leaders,and planted some flowers around your neighborhood,youd probley get more satisfaction.

[thomas]

What is this site about?  This was a very interesting article.  So THIS is the 26?  And who are the other 4 people that are in the metrojacksonville.com group that the newspaper story was on?  All this build-up press - i guess to point out the 26 "drivers" of Jacksonville?  I guess it did get our attention.

[JUSTDAVE]

If Kevin is just whining then tell us what he is so wrong about. If anybody needs to get off his ass you do Mark. Many people are trying to change this city, sometimes you beat the system sometimes you just make the system justify what it is doing and define parameters for sucess and failure. We need 20 more Kevins and no more Marks. (unless Mark can look for something to do besides whining about other people whining)  

[Joel Jones]

All the commercials said that the actual Beware the 26 campaign wouldn't be revealed until Sunday, in the Times-Union....

Furthermore, the "logo" used at the top is not the "official" Beware the 26 logo. Not to mention, none of the people mentioned in this editorial are pictured in the Beware the 26 website.

This is just someone capitalizing on a pre-existing campaign to get their idea across.

[JAX can be a better place]

The trifecta is holding back Jacksonville!  

After weeding through the Times-Union article, this site and the blog--although the content is meant to get both action and reaction--the underlying tenets of what is being said are true.  After living in major cities (i.e., London, NYC, SF, CHI, DC) and witnessing many cities get revitalized by their community leaders( i.e. DC, Charlotte, Chicago, Tampa, Dublin) this town needs a VISION!!  Jacksonville could be a thriving economic center if the good ole boys can get their act together and focus on the long-term goal not short-term gain of their friends.  This area especially Duval and St Johns have a plethora of experienced talent (retired CEOs, politicians, executives) that can help in the growth--but we all leave on Monday morning to work elsewhere (and return on Friday) because this town doesn't offer an economic life for these human resources to remain here to work.

Core issues abound more than just the Gate/Peyton monarchy ruling the area:

1) Newspaper--the Times Union isn't a paper it is an "article clippings" of AP stories--get some real reporters to cover the issues of the area.  I experience ground hog day every weekend from reading all the articles from other newspapers earlier.

2) Technology and innovation--there are fewer then 5 technology companies in this area--which is a proven industry to expedite growth in a region--attract and incent technology leaders to this area.

3) Corporate Multi-nationals--get large corporations to move here at least large chunks of their organization so good ole boy decisions are displaced by true economic decisions.

4) Sports--this town cares more about football, basketball and old university rivalries then seeing the potential of Jacksonville as a large southern commerce center (for God sake we can't even get someone to sponsor the new name of the stadium).

5) Military--the Peyton debacle of Cecil Field has left a bitter taste in the military community, thus Jacksonville is losing a connection to a very committed and loyal community base.

6) Inbreeding--too many families control the economics of this city--once New Yorkers and other metro folks see the potential--the in breeders will be done because they will be out-smarted, out-gunned and out-earned.

Give educated, high earners and active people a reason to move here!  If you attract them they will contribute and participate in the vitality of this place.  As an international executive (that could bring  high-end 1000+ jobs to the area) until the Peyton strong-hold of Jax is loosened--I will work elsewhere and just enjoy my houses on the beach--this admininstration isn't worthy of my assistance to help.

[FrankR]

^ great comment above. Jacksonville's day is coming.

[Zzzzzz]

The purpose of this article is what?  
THE CREDIBILITY OF THIS SITE IS BEING RUINED BY SUCH JUVENILE BANTER.

Is the purpose of this site to shed light on the issues pertaining to downtown, and potential solutions?
Or is it to take potshots at various leaders and citizens of Jacksonville?  

Do all of the owners/key contributors of this site agree with the above blather?  This garbage is basically written at the level of the "rants and raves" section of the T-U, which is near worthless in content and insight.

Sad, sad, sad.  Does someone need to see a therapist?  Seriously.

[bethany]

this cant be what they were talking about, as someone else said these people were not pictured in the original website and another website i have gone to shows people from all over the states sees this shit, so...its not just about jax.   here is that site  http://unfjoel.livejournal.com/188298.html

[JWS]

yes there has been more whining than usual on this site recently it seems, but come on, who can disagree.  I know that the people running this site are not only whining tho, they are helping to bring about change.  The truth is tho, that the articles on solutions to prolems and ideas contribute more and are more interesting than rants and raves.  Anyone can complain, but very few people can actually come up with answers.  Keep to the answers and you will wield more power and influence than someone who just moans about lack of answers/bad solutions and "GOB."  The GOB reference is actually not very effective.  I am a member of the GOP but definitely not the GOB, so to slightly tie the two togther is quite a misrepresentation.

[hotrod_J]

I definitely don't want to turn this into an annoying Republican/Democrat debate, but all I will say that IN OUR PARTICULAR CITY, there is no denying that FOR THE MOST PART, the GOP DOES equal the GOB.  That's not saying the opposite isn't true in other cities - it's just that right here, right now, the two are uncomfortably one in the same far too often.  I think the poster from earlier today was correct - as the city grows and matures and attracts more talent from up north, the GOB (whether GOP or not) will be ran out.  I look forward to that day.

In regards to the article, I think many of today's posters may be new to the site.  I have been here for over 4 months now.  Before you go running your mouth about how uninformed and useless their work is, you should look at the other stuff this group does.  They actually offer SOLUTIONS to the city's problems.  I would say the site is about 80% solutions and 20% pointing out problems (in a rather spectacular way sometimes).  Sounds like an effective mix to me.

[JR Smith]

As a "long time" reader of this site, I find it a little disturbing that the amazing studies and solutions that are put together are met with little response from readers. It seems like readers either don't understand what is being said, or are simply bored by it.

Only when something slightly controversial appears do people feel the need to chime in and start chastising; calling the creators of this site whiners and complainers. To the commenters that do not like this article, I would recommend browsing around and looking at some of the other amazing content and maybe adding your own constructive thoughts to some of the well thought out proposals.

[JUSTDAVE]

My thoughts exactly (except better stated) I would add please look at what is in the typical campaign mailing for candidates of city council (or most any elected office for that matter). I guess people don't like substance. Gradually sites like metrojacksonville.com will find its more intellegent audience, and politicians will have to actually discuss issues.  

[mark]

this bozo alters a picture of the mayors family, and you talk about intellegent people.maybe some people like the way the city is run, like the 75 % who didnt vote.its easy to sit back and judge others like i am doing to kevin,its even fun as he called it.but im not questioning the way the mayor runs the city, just how some clown treats him and his staff.