Learning from Kansas City by Rick Mullaney

[tufsu1]

The Jacksonville location has been online for a major expansion for at least a decade.

as has the Gainesville location...the design was done in 2005 and construction didn't start until 2009.

[zoo]

A brand new VA facility is planned at Jefferson and 6th Sts. Has been for a few years. SPAR shows it as pending on most of its maps that include that side of the street (which is outside the Historic District). HDR and PPS have considered it in their master planning for the park system (though as they get to the design phase for the parks project, I'm hoping for better connectivity/flow to/from it into the park system than they allude to in their concepts).

The real questions are, when will the feds fully fund its construction, when will construction begin, and how will long will that take?

[mtraininjax]

Why add a VA Facility in town, and constrain itself? That must be Federal thinking. How many Navy personnel are employed in Gainesville? We have more than 50,000 here in NE Florida, yet the closest real facility is 2 hours from Mayport? That is Federal thinking.

[hillary supporter]

Well stated Mr. Mullaney, however not one word mentioned is any different than the ideas and discussions that have been taking place on these boards for years.

Maybe Mr. Mullaney's political position can provide some more pull for the cause.

hear, hear! Sounds like garbage to me.

[hillary supporter]

With all due respect, Stephen, ive been active in metro jax for approaching five years, beginning with establishing my residence in downtown jax . I tried to purchase several properties for the sole purpose of residing in downtown Jacksonville. The current administration has been nothing but a disaster for metropolitan Jacksonville. Electing any of the current (republican) candidates insures a continuation of the disintegration of our downtown. These candidates have no concern for downtown development except to applease you personally, Stephen, as you are a guiding light (not meant in a derogatory way) for their political aims at mayoral leadership of Jacksonville.
I find nothing wrong with your coverage of all the candidates in the light that you choose. But this is 2010, and this is NOT the T-U.
i have a direct outlet for my opinions provided here in Metro Jacksonville and, as long as I'm not profane, i choose to use Metro Jacksonville to my max to achieve ALL our desires for a metropolitan Jacksonville. When one like Jason states what i feel is a 100% on the nose point, i wont hesitate to echo such, even to extremes. if you disagree and feel the other candidates have downtown metropolitan development that rival Glorious' then bring it on! If not, just ignore my posts!

The fact that "Rick is a fellow poster here, as our several of the candidates doesn't allot them exemption from criticism. You yourself have numerously called out fellow posters for facts that you found wrong.
Yes, it will be a "trend" for me to state my opinions that all of these republican candidates are uttering garbage and only the said Democratic candidate Glorious Johnson provides a distinct , solid, and pr oven  approach for development of a 21st century metropolitan Jacksonville.
Additionally, i wont "cut back on my partisanship" for a metropolitan Jacksonville!

[tufsu1]

Electing any of the current (republican) candidates insures a continuation of the disintegration of our downtown. These candidates have no concern for downtown development

As a lifelong progressive Democrat I must ask....do you feel that way just because they are Republicans?

I can't speak for all the candidates, but both Audrey Moran and Jim Bailey have served on various downtown boards/committees for many years....and both have a strong desire to see dowtown be succssful.

[hillary supporter]

Tufsu1, ALL the candidates have a strong desire to see downtown be successful. Its a cheerleader issue. Mayor Peyton was as vigorous as any of the current candidates.  But it goes out the window real fast!  And theres a reason.  MOST VOTERS OF JACKSONVILLE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT DOWNTOWN!
Ive actually heard such repeated on numerous radio shows throughout the city! The Jacksonville republican party supports this as this is the central issue that separates them from todays local democratic party. Ask yourself, "will the mayoral candidate lend to the party (and majority of voters)  or to downtown development? They will defer to suburban development as mayor Peyton has. It seems obvious to me.
Of course, now you may question the fruitlessness of dt urban development, as many citizens are against it. but, on the bright side, most jax voters are registered democrats (like yourself) and may be convinced that next year will be one to go back and vote for the democratic candidate. Glorious has a conservative appeal with both her past and views. She will need tremendous support, but with such she does stand a good chance. And , in getting back to your question, she has always been an advocate of 1) downtown development 2) mass transit and 3) a true metropolitan Jacksonville.
When i hear these other candidates repeat such, its just the latest catch phase for such ,particularly when questioned by MJs Steven Dare), and when you hear their other rhetoric (the business of jax... is BUSINESS!)  it becomes clear their true aims will be to avoid and resist downtown growth. Just like their republican predecessor!

[hillary supporter]

Thanks Stephen for your humble response.
Next years mayoral election stands to be the most important decision to be made for the future of Metropolitan Jacksonville.  The mayor will dictate ,just as John Peyton as, the direction for an urban, metropolitan Jacksonville.
This is the first chance for Metro Jacksonville to actually use our influence to make that right decision. I'm not taking it casually!

[thelakelander]

Kansas City School District loses state accreditation

JEFFERSON CITY | Time finally ran out for the Kansas City School District.

The state’s decision Tuesday to strip the district’s accreditation spiked a community already absorbed in saving its schools with a mixture of new fears and heightened resolve.

“Our district now faces a critical test of one of the most important lessons in life â€" a test of our resilience and persistence,” interim Superintendent Steve Green said. “We can, and we will, bounce back from this setback.”

The change doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1 â€" a purposeful delay to give Kansas City and its neighboring districts time to sort through a host of complications, including the possibility of families seeking to transfer out of the district.

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/09/20/3156768/kc-loses-school-accreditation.html