I'm just curious because I have seen and heard a lot of good things on here that the city could do. Are they really listening though? How many ideas on here have actually been carried out?
We don't win them all and they typically don't happen as fast as people want, but we've been pretty successful. Off the top of my head. Since 2006:
1. Elimination of JTA's downtown bus mall.
2. Modification of JTA's BRT plan.
3. The Laura Street Streetscape.
4. Getting JTA to do commuter rail and streetcar feasibility studies.
5. Not rebuilding Monroe Street in front of the courthouse.
6. The North Florida 2035 LRTP includes commuter rail and streetcar projects promoted here.
7. The COJ 2030 Mobility Plan includes transit, bike, and ped projects promoted here.
8. COJ's adopted neighborhood visioning plans includes ideas promoted here.
9. Modification of downtown parking ordinances.
10. Addition of smart meters downtown.
MetroJacksonville message boards are roughly the equivalent of the Jacksonville Civic Council.
I believe the greatest impact of this site, as far as government influence goes, is in the education of the voting public. But it often takes a few election cycles to see the difference.
Quote from: dougskiles on February 27, 2012, 09:45:52 AM
I believe the greatest impact of this site, as far as government influence goes, is in the education of the voting public. But it often takes a few election cycles to see the difference.
Agreed
I don't think that this site reaches enough of the voting public to make much of a difference. Who it does reach are many of the "opinion formers" who talk about issues with their friends and family and make the influence spread much further.
Wow! Had no idea that so many people were reading without posting. Good figures. Thanks!
Right now there are about 500 people visiting this site... only 45 of which are "regulars".
I had no idea that we were reaching so many people! (Mumble to self...got to be more careful what you write...)
If you notice the spike was on Feb. 21 and tufsu1 and Ennis being on the radio and then on First Coast Forum was a super plus. I'm sure there are other factors. But this morning when I posted there were 350 guests and just 3 users.
But back to the thread how many ideas on here are put to use but how much legislation has been altered or stalled? The entire MJ team should be very proud of your contributions.
So who wants to go kayaking under the brand new no fishing signs Downtown?
Lets show the world why we are Downtown and you aren't.
I can't mention how many times my opinions have changed as a result of being educated on this site... and my opinions are very close to most of the posters on MJ.
I remember back in the seventies when I first opened the bookstore. I was interested in several subjects, and wanted to discuss them in depth with a few individuals. So I began a “discussion by letter†experiment. An individual would write a single letter on a subject about which he wished a discussion, and then mail one copy to several other’s in the group. A recipient might remain silent if desired, or if he or she had something to say or contribute or criticize, then he would write a letter, sending a copy to each of the other participants. And the discussion on a subject might continue for months in this way.
Seeing this thread caused me to realize that the MJ forum is exactly the same as the experiment we had back in the seventies, before the Internet, and before the personal computer. The MJ forum of course is much more efficient, and can reach many more individuals. It is cheaper too, because in the seventy’s experiment, one had to make say, eight copies, and mail eight letters.
I am pleased to see that there is on MJ very little time wasted on frivolous posting and on juvenile arguments between individuals. As the average quality of the informational and debate posts increases, those who happen upon the site will return again, and perhaps be more inclined to participate and inform others. My perception is that the trend on MJ seems to be toward overall improvement.
I do know that, during my three years or so on MJ, I have learned much about several subjects, and have enjoyed the occasional exercise in forming an opinion, and attempting to convey it in a concise and accurate manner. And the very process of attempting to write about a subject for placing on the forum causes one to improve one’s thinking about it.
I know the identities of only perhaps four posters on MJ. But of course, to me it is more important, productive, and enjoyable to engage the ideas, and not the individuals.
As the majority of the posters direct their attitudes and posts toward reasonably thoughtful and civil levels, avoiding tendencies to trivialities, we will most likely see the MJ site evolve to one of considerable impact in the area.