JEDC: Developer eyes four historic downtown buildings

[CS Foltz]

stephen..............I have to agree with your viewpoint regarding the City Council!! Any of them could step up to the line and do whats right when its time to represent the voters who put them into office! That really appears to be very few and not very often! Mostly they appear to scratch each others backside and just flat out disregard what is right for the taxpayers! I give John Boy the credit I do since he is supposed to be an idea man and ran on the platform of "Running the City like a Business"! Ya know how I feel about that! The Mayor is supposed to have a vision and a plan to achieve goals that benefit all of Jacksonville, not just a select few and I am really disappointed in his performance! Council is no better since they are supposed to control the purse strings and they are not doing their job! Past time to clean house and start over big fella......way past time! fieldam...........I would suggest you go to folioweekly.com...........about two issues ago which outlined what took place about 30 years ago............another committee to address downtown issue's, they came to the same conclusions that DVI has come to with a few small differences.......other than that, the exact same conclusions!

[Jaxson]

CS Foltz - You have hit the nail on the head about how our city government is run.  Gate Petroleum, Jr. (If you saw 'Some Like it Hot,' you'll understand the reference) convinced voters that a businessman has what it takes to run the city efficiently.  After all, outsiders know much more than those public sector dummies, right?  Well, eight years later, we have not a whole lot to show for this man's leadership.  We are stuck with a lot of broken ideas, abandoned dreams and no real vision for the future.  Now that our mayor is a lame duck, he is saddling us with draconian cutbacks because he has nothing to lose and because he'll simply move back to St. Johns County while our city slides into the toilet.
I especially blame our city's voters for being duped twice by this charlatan whose moneybags and advertising seduced us into believing his crap.  The first time around, we were fooled by this rich kid who promised us the moon.  The second time around, shame on us, because his megabucks scared away any real competition and we felt the need for a coronation for this man. 
Combine this failed mayor with a city council that operates more like a private club and we have what is irreparably harming our city. 

[CS Foltz]

Jaxson........I agree! The only difference is that I did not vote for him the first time out nor the second since I had reservations from the onset! The voters have no one to blame but themselves since the voters put him into office not once but twice...........so I guess you could say .....we did it to ourselves! All I have to say about the situation is .........not again! I want someone who has vision of what could be and a plan to bring it to fruition! It would be even better if the Council actually did what they were supposed to but I have reservations about the incumbents and will hope we clean house next election cycle......that is past due!