(http://i.imgur.com/fyNeTfC.jpg)
A few days ago Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars uttered these words when speaking at the World Affairs Council luncheon. "The city (Jacksonville) needs to evolve. A homeless guy in Detroit has more Mojo than a millionaire in Jacksonville." He went on to say that"It's a source of pride to represent all of you and Jacksonville." The NFL franchise "like it or not", is the face of Jacksonville and will determine the atmosphere of the city business culture and climate."
In these few short sentences Khan made some very important things absolutely clear about our city and the roll he will play in our future. I wonder how many really understood him? He reminded us that our city needs to evolve. He did not say grow, he said "evolve". Completely agree Mr. Khan as I am sure most of Jacksonville's citizens do. He then told us in so many words that the millionaire class in Jacksonville is lacking the needed enthusiasm, excitement and vision to help Jacksonville evolve. I also fully agree. His next statements told us exactly how he sees his roll in Jacksonville and how he feels about it. He let it be known that "He is proud to represent Jacksonville." Pay attention to those words because on a worldwide scale, Shad Khan is now the face of Jacksonville. He is the billionaire who brings the needed pizazz, street cred and business intellect to the Jacksonville pedigree. It is not the local political players or our local government that will currently "brand" Jacksonville going forward. Jacksonville has already been branded by Mr. Khan. He stated that the NFL will define the face of jacksonville and the atmosphere of the city business and climate. So the fact is, while we discuss, wonder and suppose with regard to how to "brand" our city in order to evolve, it has already been done. We are being branded a "NFL town". There is no doubt that Khan is the major player on the Jacksonville landscape right now. His power of finance and influence was also made clear when newly elected Mayor Alvin Brown decided he would test the resolve of Khan by sending a default letter to the team. He was promptly slapped into place by Khan and the mayors next interactions would have him being shuttled about on the Jags private jet and lobbying for the Everbank Field scoreboard and video screen. Khan is good, very good when it comes to business and how to maneuver through the weak leadership found in our local government. Almost to a person he had the city council on board with his plans and they readily voted to spend the millions to make those plans real. Now that left many in Jacksonville, whose worries go beyond the success of a football team, aghast. Those would be the folks worried about things like failing infrastructure, unkept city parks, mentally ill roaming the streets, homelessness, lack of jobs etc. Khan made it quite clear that the scoreboard/video screen is part of the plan to turn the tables on the abysmal record of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Folks, pay attention to what the man is saying. Understand him and understand his motivations. Knowing that will go a long way to figuring out the current landscape of power, business and development in Jacksonville. Khan is a business man first and foremost. He is very, very good at what he does. When he purchased the Jags, his personal wealth topped two billion dollars, it has now grown to over four billion. He is a pro of business and to my eye we should take his analysis of our local landscape and it's players very seriously.
He went on to say that he is befuddled by the fact that Jacksonville is not doing better, especially taken in light of the reality that we have "young people" whom he called the DNA, the juice that everybody craves. He worked to support that juice via One Spark by investing in a big way and combining the investments of private venture capital investment firms and partners to "offer" 3.25 million in investment opportunities for program/product development. While lauding the success of One Spark, he said the momentum was simply one step in a 1,000 mile journey. Well who is going to argue that point? Not those of us who have been trudging along for years on the 1,000 mile journey. Perhaps Khan could give the rest of us a lift on that journey.
Sure Khan is befuddled as are many of Jacksonville's citizens as to why given our natural assets including the "juice" of young folk we are still running in place. He is new here and has already stated that during the first two seasons he has owned the team, he has been unimpressed by the lack of change in Jacksonville. The truth is that there are many layers of malaise that keep Jacksonville stuck in the mud as it were.
I am going to run a bit with one of Khan's points. A point I fully agree with. "A homeless guy in Detroit has more mojo than a millionaire in Jacksonville. Bang on statement Mr. Khan and it's time for those in Jacksonville who have followed the same mojo-less millionaires to open their eyes. Most of the previously mentioned millionaires are to be found in or attached to the "nifty fifty" or "the Civic Council", founded by millionaire Peter Rummell. A group that has long held the reigns of our city at many levels. Khan went on to wonder why given our natural DNA of young people that we have not found the mojo to go forward. Well Mr. Khan I believe you already know the answer, but let me make it a bit more clear if I may. Jacksonville's culture has been one driven by a GOB system in politics and in private industry since it's origins. Our politicians are financed by the same old private industry players and as such our political will/system reflects the long standing conservative views and values of Jacksonville that in a modern landscape is doing nothing for us. Now when a young idea driven by young folk comes to light, like One Spark, it is readily co-opted by one or more old guard conservatives. Rather than allow an idea or community to grow from the ideas of youth, those ideas are purchased and re-packed with the identity of a member of the stale old guard, while the young guy who gave it the juice goes global. Now Mr Khan, you should also know that the malaise of Jacksonville's conservative past and it's leadership is so pervasive that even many of those we thought were the planners of our future have fallen under the spell of Jacksonville's mojo lacking millionaires. That is also a fact that when pointed out often leads to vigorous denials.
Khan is right in his understanding of how powerful a force football is in Jacksonville and his presence here will do us much good. Khan understands that a stronger Jacksonville means a stronger platform for his own business interests. So, Mr. Khan, when you speak as the face of Jacksonville, please remember that all of the people of Jacksonville are depending upon you. When you do use finances to direct politics, please make that influence about more than football. :) Perhaps you could work on recruiting a young man or woman to groom for city leadership and then give them the financial support they need to not only get elected but the wisdom to surround themselves with an administration that not only has surface mojo but the leadership/business qualities to carry Jacksonville forward. This is something to consider Mr. Khan if you want to help Jacksonville evolve.
I am going to take you at your word Mr Khan when you say you and the team are staying in Jacksonville but am also asking you to help build our desired future and do so by shuffling the political deck and putting the cards of effective leadership combined with youth and vigor at the top of the deck. We don't want more $400 million courthouse projects as our legacy of young leadership, at least to my view we don't. I am guessing Mr. Khan you might agree.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-04-22/story/city-needs-evolve-jaguars-owner-shad-khan-says-homeless-guy-detroit-has
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 27, 2014, 03:32:59 PM
A few days ago Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars uttered these words when speaking at the World Affairs Council luncheon. "The city (Jacksonville) needs to evolve. A homeless guy in Detroit has more Mojo than a millionaire in Jacksonville."
sarcastically I might respond to that Jacksonville had MOJO, and Mr. Khan pretty much let him walk right out of town.
On a serious note Diane, do you know who Mr. Khan is supporting so far in next year's mayoral race?
Quote from: tufsu1 on April 27, 2014, 09:44:14 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 27, 2014, 03:32:59 PM
A few days ago Shad Khan, owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars uttered these words when speaking at the World Affairs Council luncheon. "The city (Jacksonville) needs to evolve. A homeless guy in Detroit has more Mojo than a millionaire in Jacksonville."
sarcastically I might respond to that Jacksonville had MOJO, and Mr. Khan pretty much let him walk right out of town.
On a serious note Diane, do you know who Mr. Khan is supporting so far in next year's mayoral race?
My take on Mr. Khan is that when he bought the Jags, it was to fulfill a personal dream he had of owning and NFL team. He imagined that it would be like many other of his personal investments that he would more or less apply his business prowess too and take something not so hot and make it great. He never imagined that he would also be expected to become such a public face in Jacksonville nor did he realize how very interested people would be in him and his plans for the team. Literally up in his business. The original owners, the Weavers are wonderful people who engaged the people of Jacksonville not only as fans but far beyond that. They have given millions upon millions to charities, hospitals and social needs. They set a president for a team owner to be fully involved in the community beyond just football. Initially I do believe that Khan was both surprised and a bit bewildered by the expectations on the part of Jacksonville's citizens upon him along with being dismayed by it's lack luster leadership both elected and non elected. I believe he could care less about politics in general or who is mayor as long as that person will be someone who supports the Jags team and supports it to the point that while in leadership they will do all they can to work with Khan and see that he gets the needed support for the team and stadium. As it stands, he gave Alvin Brown an initial amount of $500.00 when he opened his campaign account. The message to Brown was clear. You need to do more. Once the deal was sealed for the scoreboard/video screen and before any real challenge to Brown was on board, Khan rewarded Brown with a campaign donation of 50K. Khan is a brilliant business man, there is not doubt about it. I do believe that if Brown becomes more and more weak in the eyes of the public, especially after the verbal whipping he took from Peter Rummell and another candidate starts to gain major momentum, Khan will likely also give them a donation of 50k to hedge his political bets, especially if he feels like the rising candidate is a sharper businessman than Brown as well as being someone he can work with. If that were to be Bill Bishop, I don't think Mr. Khan would be opposed to his election because Bishop fully supports him and his agenda. We don't know officially until he declares what Curry's views on Khan or the team are, but Curry is smart enough to know the city needs Khan and the team. My take is that Khan is not a political animal at all but I also think given his bold personality and views on getting things done he might move into the political arena to some degree in order to have Jacksonville evolve. Lastly, I think in the two seasons with the Jags and considering his time spent in Jacksonville, Khan really likes our city a lot and as a man with vision he wanted to seize all the local potential for his own business needs initially perhaps, but now for the prosperity/evolution of Jacksonville. I cannot imagine his sitting by while the local non mojo millionaires do nothing. I don't think he would blin an eye if Brown lost and is likely not worried about who the next mayor is as long as he sees a working relationship with that mayor. So the short answer is, a campaign donation of size has been made to Brown, because Brown got the things Khan wanted done. But I would not expect Khan to endorse Brown beyond his donation. He is a wise man and a wise man keeps all of his options open. I don't see him openly endorsing anyone for the office of mayor.
Just to further explain the local politics. Brown received Rummells support last elections because Brown was someone Rummell though he could work with as Brown was amicable to Rummells agenda. Brown however made some promises that he was unable to keep. The big one being the creation of and full funding of the DIA. He failed miserably at that and as a result, Rummell showed him to the door marked "exit".
I am sure he will donate in a similar manner to the GOP candidate. No different than when Delores Weaver donated to The Brown Campaign and Wayne donated to the GOP candidate last time around.
QuoteHe stated that the NFL will define the face of jacksonville and the atmosphere of the city business and climate.
Good luck, we had a Super Bowl here and looking around, you'd be hard pressed to see any resemblance that the event was held in Jacksonville. Khan loves Jacksonville SOOOOOO much, he moved one of our home games overseas, all to benefit the citizens of Jacksonville.........yeah right!
Khan/Brown, they use each other for their own benefits. I don't see anything more or less.
Long live the Weavers, who have done more for Jacksonville than anyone I have ever met in our great city. They are fantastic people!
Shad's comments sound pretty dire to me. I don't think he could be more plain: Show me a reason to stay, Jacksonville. That guy could own this city. If he develops the Shipyards, as he said he will, he'll change this place forever. If he doesn't (and no one else does either), we go backwards in a big way.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 28, 2014, 07:41:03 AM
QuoteHe stated that the NFL will define the face of jacksonville and the atmosphere of the city business and climate.
Good luck, we had a Super Bowl here and looking around, you'd be hard pressed to see any resemblance that the event was held in Jacksonville. Khan loves Jacksonville SOOOOOO much, he moved one of our home games overseas, all to benefit the citizens of Jacksonville.........yeah right!
Khan/Brown, they use each other for their own benefits. I don't see anything more or less.
Long live the Weavers, who have done more for Jacksonville than anyone I have ever met in our great city. They are fantastic people!
The Weavers are great people. They are friendly, down to earth and have given so much to the community.
Having said that, Weaver allowed the Jaguars franchise to be run into the ground. From a football standpoint, he has a poor track record of hiring the right people after his initial hire of Tom Coughlin. He was way too loyal to Jack Del Rio and kept him around mediocre season after mediocre season. Firing Shack Harris was the right move but to just simply promote Gene Smith was uninspiring at best. And then to give Smith an extension in 2011 was a joke. Just awful.
And from a business standpoint, he was way to involved with the day to day operations of the team. Khan did the smart thing and hired Mark Lamping to run the franchise. The difference in the operations of the franchise now versus when Khan bought the team is night and day.
I understand why you probably don't like the team playing a game in London. I don't like it either. But for team revenue, it is a necessary evil. And numbers have shown the team's international awareness has skyrocketed since playing the one game last year. And it remains to be seen if the team will continue playing games overseas after 2016.
Quote from: pierre on April 28, 2014, 09:58:29 AM
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 28, 2014, 07:41:03 AM
QuoteHe stated that the NFL will define the face of jacksonville and the atmosphere of the city business and climate.
Good luck, we had a Super Bowl here and looking around, you'd be hard pressed to see any resemblance that the event was held in Jacksonville. Khan loves Jacksonville SOOOOOO much, he moved one of our home games overseas, all to benefit the citizens of Jacksonville.........yeah right!
Khan/Brown, they use each other for their own benefits. I don't see anything more or less.
Long live the Weavers, who have done more for Jacksonville than anyone I have ever met in our great city. They are fantastic people!
The Weavers are great people. They are friendly, down to earth and have given so much to the community.
Having said that, Weaver allowed the Jaguars franchise to be run into the ground. From a football standpoint, he has a poor track record of hiring the right people after his initial hire of Tom Coughlin. He was way too loyal to Jack Del Rio and kept him around mediocre season after mediocre season. Firing Shack Harris was the right move but to just simply promote Gene Smith was uninspiring at best. And then to give Smith an extension in 2011 was a joke. Just awful.
And from a business standpoint, he was way to involved with the day to day operations of the team. Khan did the smart thing and hired Mark Lamping to run the franchise. The difference in the operations of the franchise now versus when Khan bought the team is night and day.
I understand why you probably don't like the team playing a game in London. I don't like it either. But for team revenue, it is a necessary evil. And numbers have shown the team's international awareness has skyrocketed since playing the one game last year. And it remains to be seen if the team will continue playing games overseas after 2016.
Couldnt Agree more. Ive made the same statements before and people thought I was bashing WW. But Khan and WW are just two different business men. Khan belive in maximizing the team and city exposure via the NFL. Thats part of doing the London games. The revenue were getting from the games is somewhat of a place holder. He knows they are not in the place to raise ticket prices here anytime soon, so were playing the game overseas to boost our revenue in the meantime. At the end of the day, Khan has nothing put good intentions for the Jags and the City, and I think he's shown that over and over again. Khan is just very blunt. So when he stated Jax needs to evovle, hes saying what everyone else is thinking.
1) The Weavers are amazing for this city, this community, and elsewhere as well.
2) Shad Khan has been terrific so far and the future looks incredibly bright if both he and the city continue to do their share in this partnership.
3) The Weavers should get tons of credit for selling the team to Khan. For finding the right guy, working out the deal, and transitioning at the right time.
Totally agree. I just wish Khan would move forward on the Shipyards instead of just teasing it.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 28, 2014, 10:48:18 AM
1) The Weavers are amazing for this city, this community, and elsewhere as well.
2) Shad Khan has been terrific so far and the future looks incredibly bright if both he and the city continue to do their share in this partnership.
3) The Weavers should get tons of credit for selling the team to Khan. For finding the right guy, working out the deal, and transitioning at the right time.
Definitely. Weaver could have easily sold the franchise to the highest bidder and made 100's of millions more than what he got from Khan. But he wanted someone that could make somewhat of a committment to Jacksonville. Khan has.
Quote from: downtownbrown on April 28, 2014, 10:55:24 AM
Totally agree. I just wish Khan would move forward on the Shipyards instead of just teasing it.
He is actually in talks with a developer right now about a plan for the site... I guess we will hear something soon.
I just hope the City and the Good Old Boys don't stand in Khan's way...I met him recently and I was very impressed by his passion and his vision for the future....I am hopeful but all we need are the people like those in RAP or We Love Avondale to bring ants to the picnic.....Aim High should be the new motto of Jacksonville
The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.
The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city. My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force. Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.
If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way. Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list? Perhaps. He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that. Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.
While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
Quote from: Stephen on April 28, 2014, 11:29:16 AM
I just hope the City and the Good Old Boys don't stand in Khan's way...I met him recently and I was very impressed by his passion and his vision for the future....I am hopeful but all we need are the people like those in RAP or We Love Avondale to bring ants to the picnic.....Aim High should be the new motto of Jacksonville
Khan will roll right over those who stand in his way and we should hope he does. He may finally be the one to give Jacksonville leadership the long needed kick in the pants to "evolve".
Great idea Simms!!
Who would the top ten "difference makers" be? 8)
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 28, 2014, 10:48:18 AM
1) The Weavers are amazing for this city, this community, and elsewhere as well.
2) Shad Khan has been terrific so far and the future looks incredibly bright if both he and the city continue to do their share in this partnership.
3) The Weavers should get tons of credit for selling the team to Khan. For finding the right guy, working out the deal, and transitioning at the right time.
Absolutely agree. The Weavers are exceptional people whose public mindedness is the stuff of dreams in most other cities. :) Love the Weavers.
Khan want's a successful team, this is a man who does not play to lose and his personal integrity seems to be such that losing is not a word he accepts. I am not what anyone would call a serious football fan but I have understood for a long time the power of football in Jacksonville, long before the Jags team when it was all about Ga & Fla. The team provides something that all the citizens can get behind. It is unifying. Just a visit to the threads on this forum which in its heart is about the downtown core we can see some of the most popular and commented upon threads have been those about the Jags.
It is amusing to hear some second guess Khans business choices whether they be about his plans or the moves he has taken to date, like games in London. He does not think "small" like Jacksonville folk often do. He thinks big, so big that he is making the needed moves to make the Jacksonville Jaguars a global phenomena. Where Jags football teams travel, so does Jacksonville. He gets it even if we do not. If football is the vehicle for us to evolve, than so be it. Only the shortsighted would not understand that when we evolve as a city, no matter what the great stimulator of that might be, we also grow in all the things other folks want, which are jobs, restoration, renovation, revitalization, culture and the arts, increased tourism and growing tax base etc.
It's hard to swallow some statements ,especially those that pretend that Khan is just a local guy who bought a team and such especially coming from a non local of no real impact to our city. Firstly Khan was not local and secondly the team is the biggest asset we as a city have to move us forward. A man who has the mojo and business acumen to amass a fortune is exactly the type of guy who can help drive the needed changes in our city and move Jacksonville out of its conservative and rather boring malaise that has kept us immobile for decades. Negative commentary in this case to my view is representative of the uninformed who think they understand all that it takes to turn a city around and who might be the one to really start the process in a city that has been lagging behind for decades.
The one and only concern should be about our city's resources and how they are used to further the team and it's turn around. We cannot gut our city budget to do so but we must be willing to take some risks as well. To me the scoreboard/video deal for 63 million was very extravagant, but then so was a hulk of a courthouse for 400 million with a life span of 50 years absurdly extravagant. The team profile will grow us nationally and internationally a courthouse not so much. My guess is that those of us who dropped a jaw over the scoreboard really don't understand it's intended use beyond football. Khan has mentioned something about worldwide infomercials and such. Not sure what that means but if it gives us a worldwide boost with the team and city profile, cool. Khan has yet to show much interest in the needs of Jacksonville beyond what he can do in a business sense via things like development. Fortunately we still have the Weavers whose support of the needed social services and arts is still strong because we certainly need equal attention on the social issues that will also help the city grow as a good place to live and raise a family. Those things that are not brick and mortar but imperative to a healthy and vibrant city.
Let me make a prediction here. My guess is that while folks are jawing about what Khan should to, he already has an active plan being developed for the shipyards. I mention this because I also believe that his plan will somehow encompass a sweet business deal benefitting Khan with the city for the Shipyards land. The trade off will be some of what the city invested in the land and it's infrastructure in exchange for a viable development on that land. I mention this so that folks can begin to get their heads around that possibility and prepare to adjust their thinking accordingly.
In the end Shad Khan owes us nothing, not a thing. He is a businessman who invested in a team. The one thing he is beholding to is his promise to the Weavers to keep the team in Jacksonville and the public statements he has made to all of our citizens that he is all in as far as the team goes. No one expects him to save the city and no one should but at the same time we need to pay attention to the man, his ideas and investment in our city and imagine the very best outcome from his involvement. I for one am prepared to take the man at his word about taking action in the city when others fail to do so. Real action in Jacksonville is long overdue.
"The NFL franchise "like it or not", is the face of Jacksonville and will determine the atmosphere of the city business culture and climate." - Shad Khan
Well, what do we expect when most people in Jacksonville last a pride of place and even the native born and bred can't even come up Jacksonville's idenity.
Jacksonville needs more Rhett Butlers and less Ashely Wilks.
The elite members of Jacksonville society are shiftless with granddaddy's money. They don't really build anything or create great businesses or invest in the future. The Ashley Wilks among us lack dynasim and excitment. They can't think outside of the box. The just look at a run down building, throw up their arms and say it can't be fixed. They look at a development plan on the suburban sprall strip malls and want to bring those to the urban core.
The Rhett Butlers will see a run down old building and see adaptive reuses. They see a blighted area and envision a dynamic place that can be filled with people strolling about between dinner, dancing and supporting the arts. Rhett Butler would see an abandoned warehouse near some traintracks and see lofts for the creative class. Ashley Wilks would just see a run down building with environmental issues and just say "something needs to be done" as they drive past it going to play golf.
Quote from: BoldBoyOfTheSouth on April 28, 2014, 01:15:24 PM
Jacksonville needs more Rhett Butlers and less Ashely Wilks.
The elite members of Jacksonville society are shiftless with granddaddy's money. They don't really build anything or create great businesses or invest in the future. The Ashley Wilks among us lack dynasim and excitment. They can't think outside of the box. The just look at a run down building, throw up their arms and say it can't be fixed. They look at a development plan on the suburban sprall strip malls and want to bring those to the urban core.
The Rhett Butlers will see a run down old building and see adaptive reuses. They see a blighted area and envision a dynamic place that can be filled with people strolling about between dinner, dancing and supporting the arts. Rhett Butler would see an abandoned warehouse near some traintracks and see lofts for the creative class. Ashley Wilks would just see a run down building with environmental issues and just say "something needs to be done" as they drive past it going to play golf.
This and more! :)
Quote from: simms3 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:58 AM
The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.
The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city. My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force. Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.
If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way. Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list? Perhaps. He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that. Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.
While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
I often disagree with you, Simms, but I think you're spot on here. Khan has been hugely positive for the team and the city, but at the end of the day he's just one man. He may be right about the dearth of "millionaire mojo", but just pointing that out doesn't mean he can change the tied all on his own, no matter how wealthy, capable, and mojoed up he is. And of course his priority locally will always be with his chief investment, the Jaguars. It's interesting to hear people who are usually very critical of guys with money influencing politics treating Khan this way.
Quote from: simms3 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:58 AM
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
I agree with Simms to an extent, but I think the hometown factor is overblown here. No reason why loyalties can't be earned over time, and in any case that only gets you so far. It's money and business that drives real change.
BTW, what is Khan's hometown then? He doesn't really invest in his actual hometown or home country, so what makes Champaign more of an adopted hometown than Jax? One was where he began his American dream, and the other is where that dream reached culmination.
Quote from: Tacachale on April 28, 2014, 01:30:49 PM
Quote from: simms3 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:58 AM
The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.
The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city. My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force. Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.
If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way. Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list? Perhaps. He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that. Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.
While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
I often disagree with you, Simms, but I think you're spot on here. Khan has been hugely positive for the team and the city, but at the end of the day he's just one man. He may be right about the dearth of "millionaire mojo", but just pointing that out doesn't mean he can change the tied all on his own, no matter how wealthy, capable, and mojoed up he is. And of course his priority locally will always be with his chief investment, the Jaguars. It's interesting to hear people who are usually very critical of guys with money influencing politics treating Khan this way.
It should be beyond interesting. There is an underlying point that goes beyond money and politics. Someone has finally come along who can say what needs to be said and not be accused of being wealth envious or driven by politics. It really takes reading and balancing the entirety of my statements to get it. There is no mystery here. :)
Quote from: BoldBoyOfTheSouth on April 28, 2014, 01:15:24 PM
Jacksonville needs more Rhett Butlers and less Ashely Wilks.
The elite members of Jacksonville society are shiftless with granddaddy's money. They don't really build anything or create great businesses or invest in the future. The Ashley Wilks among us lack dynasim and excitment. They can't think outside of the box. The just look at a run down building, throw up their arms and say it can't be fixed. They look at a development plan on the suburban sprall strip malls and want to bring those to the urban core.
The Rhett Butlers will see a run down old building and see adaptive reuses. They see a blighted area and envision a dynamic place that can be filled with people strolling about between dinner, dancing and supporting the arts. Rhett Butler would see an abandoned warehouse near some traintracks and see lofts for the creative class. Ashley Wilks would just see a run down building with environmental issues and just say "something needs to be done" as they drive past it going to play golf.
What we really need are less of those dudes and more Frederick Douglasses (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Douglass), Moncure Conways (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moncure_D._Conway), and Ossian Harts (http://www.library.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/hart.htm). People willing to work to free us from the oppression of the status quo. A Nat Turner (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3p1518.html) or two wouldn't hurt.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 28, 2014, 01:39:25 PM
Quote from: simms3 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:58 AM
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
I agree with Simms to an extent, but I think the hometown factor is overblown here. No reason why loyalties can't be earned over time, and in any case that only gets you so far. It's money and business that drives real change.
BTW, what is Khan's hometown then? He doesn't really invest in his actual hometown or home country, so what makes Champaign more of an adopted hometown than Jax? One was where he began his American dream, and the other is where that dream reached culmination.
Exactly. The above quoted portion of an early commentary was shallow in perspective. IMO The rest of the points I have no argument with. :)
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 28, 2014, 01:39:25 PM
Quote from: simms3 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:58 AM
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
I agree with Simms to an extent, but I think the hometown factor is overblown here. No reason why loyalties can't be earned over time, and in any case that only gets you so far. It's money and business that drives real change.
BTW, what is Khan's hometown then? He doesn't really invest in his actual hometown or home country, so what makes Champaign more of an adopted hometown than Jax? One was where he began his American dream, and the other is where that dream reached culmination.
I don't think his not being from Jax is significant, many of our best leaders aren't. The real point is he's only been vested locally for a few years, and it's primarily tied to the Jags - he's a great breathe of fresh air, but he's still pretty new to both Jacksonville and the NFL. However, he's heavily invested in his adopted home town of Champagne-Urbana, which bodes very well for his character and his future in Jax.
What I believe that he is trying to communicate is that we need to look deeply within ourselves to figure out why we are the way we are?
How can a city with as much to offer as Jacksonville does yet we don't seem to be doing much with what we have?
How are we "The River City" when the vast majority of the people who live here have never actually been on the river or any other inland waterway other than to drive over it on a bridge?
How is it that downtown Jax has a wealth of 1920s Jazz Age era hotels & office buildings that for the most part are either abandoned or very forlorn?
How is that that we have such a large amount of younger people yet those younger people don't seem to be very entrepreneurial? Aren't the young usually the risk takers?
How is it that we have many historic neighborhoods of Riverside/Avondale, Murray Hill, Springfield, Lakeshore, Ortega, San Marco & St Nicholas yet other than using the institutional sounding "urban core", we have not come up with a term that gives excitement and a pride of place to our connecting historic neighborhoods? As in, "let's go to XYZ and have some fun tonight?" or, "you live outside of XYZ? Could you be any less interesting??"
Why do our younger people often rather go to some generic Southside Blvd bar for happy hour or to listen to music? What kind of dull young people rather go to a bar and grille in a strip mall than an edgy neighborhood?
Why is it that UNF, Jacksonville University and Jones College don't seem to inspire much intellectual curiosity in their students? Are they teaching back office drones? Shouldn't they be teaching the innovative leaders of tomorrow?
So far, nobody really understands why. Worse part, hardly nobody seems to care. Because of this, Jacksonville is more Hacksonville than Actionville.
He also might be saying that from what he's seen and heard, he would not hire any of the scion of our locally born and bred elite.
Hope those young people can use their family connections but apparently, they won't be able to get jobs with people who like Khan.
^I think you're seriously reading your own thoughts into his statements.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on April 28, 2014, 01:40:53 PM
Quote from: Tacachale on April 28, 2014, 01:30:49 PM
Quote from: simms3 on April 28, 2014, 11:44:58 AM
The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.
The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city. My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force. Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.
If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way. Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list? Perhaps. He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that. Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.
While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.
To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to. I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years. This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there. I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.
I often disagree with you, Simms, but I think you're spot on here. Khan has been hugely positive for the team and the city, but at the end of the day he's just one man. He may be right about the dearth of "millionaire mojo", but just pointing that out doesn't mean he can change the tied all on his own, no matter how wealthy, capable, and mojoed up he is. And of course his priority locally will always be with his chief investment, the Jaguars. It's interesting to hear people who are usually very critical of guys with money influencing politics treating Khan this way.
It should be beyond interesting. There is an underlying point that goes beyond money and politics. Someone has finally come along who can say what needs to be said and not be accused of being wealth envious or driven by politics. It really takes reading and balancing the entirety of my statements to get it. There is no mystery here. :)
Wait, Diane, seriously? Khan isn't motivated by money or politics and Rummell is? (not that there is something necessarily wrong with that)
Your statements continue to baffle the mind.
Quote from: BoldBoyOfTheSouth on April 28, 2014, 03:07:46 PM
What I believe that he is trying to communicate is that we need to look deeply within ourselves to figure out why we are the way we are?
How can a city with as much to offer as Jacksonville does yet we don't seem to be doing much with what we have?
How are we "The River City" when the vast majority of the people who live here have never actually been on the river or any other inland waterway other than to drive over it on a bridge?
How is it that downtown Jax has a wealth of 1920s Jazz Age era hotels & office buildings that for the most part are either abandoned or very forlorn?
How is that that we have such a large amount of younger people yet those younger people don't seem to be very entrepreneurial? Aren't the young usually the risk takers?
How is it that we have many historic neighborhoods of Riverside/Avondale, Murray Hill, Springfield, Lakeshore, Ortega, San Marco & St Nicholas yet other than using the institutional sounding "urban core", we have not come up with a term that gives excitement and a pride of place to our connecting historic neighborhoods? As in, "let's go to XYZ and have some fun tonight?" or, "you live outside of XYZ? Could you be any less interesting??"
Why do our younger people often rather go to some generic Southside Blvd bar for happy hour or to listen to music? What kind of dull young people rather go to a bar and grille in a strip mall than an edgy neighborhood?
Why is it that UNF, Jacksonville University and Jones College don't seem to inspire much intellectual curiosity in their students? Are they teaching back office drones? Shouldn't they be teaching the innovative leaders of tomorrow?
So far, nobody really understands why. Worse part, hardly nobody seems to care. Because of this, Jacksonville is more Hacksonville than Actionville.
you ought to copyright "Actionville". Damned good marketing handle, that.
Quote from: duvaldude08 on April 28, 2014, 11:10:53 AM
Quote from: downtownbrown on April 28, 2014, 10:55:24 AM
Totally agree. I just wish Khan would move forward on the Shipyards instead of just teasing it.
He is actually in talks with a developer right now about a plan for the site... I guess we will hear something soon.
I doubt I'm the only one who would like to hear a little more about that statement. Word is he has some renderings, but that's a far cry from an actual developer. Cmon, tell.
(http://i.imgur.com/hoUy0Jl.jpg) Poll by Jacksonville Business Journal. :)
^got to love the "Whats mojo" question and the fact that 19 percentage of respondents have no idea what it means. Right up there with folks who cannot digest and understand logic and facts but rather are baffled by them. People still wonder why we have some problems "evolving" in Jacksonville. lol
Quote from: downtownbrown on April 28, 2014, 03:30:49 PM
Quote from: BoldBoyOfTheSouth on April 28, 2014, 03:07:46 PM
What I believe that he is trying to communicate is that we need to look deeply within ourselves to figure out why we are the way we are?
How can a city with as much to offer as Jacksonville does yet we don't seem to be doing much with what we have?
How are we "The River City" when the vast majority of the people who live here have never actually been on the river or any other inland waterway other than to drive over it on a bridge?
How is it that downtown Jax has a wealth of 1920s Jazz Age era hotels & office buildings that for the most part are either abandoned or very forlorn?
How is that that we have such a large amount of younger people yet those younger people don't seem to be very entrepreneurial? Aren't the young usually the risk takers?
How is it that we have many historic neighborhoods of Riverside/Avondale, Murray Hill, Springfield, Lakeshore, Ortega, San Marco & St Nicholas yet other than using the institutional sounding "urban core", we have not come up with a term that gives excitement and a pride of place to our connecting historic neighborhoods? As in, "let's go to XYZ and have some fun tonight?" or, "you live outside of XYZ? Could you be any less interesting??"
Why do our younger people often rather go to some generic Southside Blvd bar for happy hour or to listen to music? What kind of dull young people rather go to a bar and grille in a strip mall than an edgy neighborhood?
Why is it that UNF, Jacksonville University and Jones College don't seem to inspire much intellectual curiosity in their students? Are they teaching back office drones? Shouldn't they be teaching the innovative leaders of tomorrow?
So far, nobody really understands why. Worse part, hardly nobody seems to care. Because of this, Jacksonville is more Hacksonville than Actionville.
you ought to copyright "Actionville". Damned good marketing handle, that.
Hmm. So see on the new 2025 thread they use the Welcome to Actionville.
I've heard Jacksonville referred to as "Actionville" for at least 15 years.
[/quote]
Wait, Diane, seriously? Khan isn't motivated by money or politics and Rummell is? (not that there is something necessarily wrong with that)
Your statements continue to baffle the mind.
[/quote]
Well said. Diane's anti-Rummell agenda has box seats at the theater of the absurd.
Quoteauthor=goldy21 link=topic=21399.msg374388#msg374388 date=1398719224]
Well said. Diane's anti-Rummell agenda has box seats at the theater of the absurd.
What's absurd is that even with a continued dialog that explains the reasons behind the statements it still flies right over some peoples heads. In fact it is both absurd and disheartening. Here it is for the last time. If some still don't understand after reading, I will just add that to the list of reasons why Jacksonville continues to dance in circles like a mindless whirly gig. Here we go...basic stuff...
Our city continues to be led by individuals in both the public and private sector that are mired in our long standing conservative GOB past where money and influence has been the driving factor in both public and private arena's. What Khan so correctly pointed out is that these "leaders" (millionaires) do not have even a little of what it takes to get Jacksonville out of its slump and have it evolve. It is this GOB leadership at both levels that lack both the insight and foresight to help us evolve.
Khan hit the nail on the head with his remark about the millionaires in Jacksonville having no mojo. He was right. Mojo means the ability to move things forward, think creatively and understand how to run and grow a city. Not surprisingly those who don't get it or my comments also do not understand how power works in this city and who controls it. For years a good many of the folks who have led or not led the way in our city were found in what was termed the "nifty fifty". A group of people whom Jacksonville has looked to for guidance in business and investment for decades. A group whose membership has included and still includes old money players who have knowingly and readily used their money and influence to manipulate politics and who gets elected in our town. Many of the members,
not all, are the embodiment of a mindset and way of doing business that has left this city floundering for decades. While some have used that influence to grow their own wealth at the cost of smaller city business, contractors, the taxpayers etc., their ideas for progress and growth have failed and continue to fail to make any real and lasting impact on Jacksonville. Many citizens and voters have not and some apparently do not want to put the dots together in the big puzzle of Jacksonville. Peter Rummell as it were is the man who created the "Civic Council" as an update to the "Nifty Fifty", which embodies all the old business models, politics and thinking that has held us back. He symbolizes the past in business and politics. There is a sizable list of others just like him in this city. He is simply one example.
Khan is a business man pure and simple. He is not a part of our political fabric beyond his donations to a candidate for mayor. He isn't trying to buy an office but he is showing support for a guy who helped get him what he wanted in the Everbank field thing. For him it's a business decision not political. He may well fund another candidate a Republican perhaps in order to keep a balance in the eyes of local politicians, that is if he even cares about how things are perceived by them.
Khan is not a part of the old guard. He is not strangled by progressive thinking or worried about whether others like him or not. He is a flat out business man and business is his priority. Fortunately his business is one that when grown, also grows Jacksonville. His ideas are clearly workable as he has amassed a fortune by following his gut and by using his business prowess. He is "today" not "yesterday". He is clearly not of the mold of just another guy. He is unlike any other individual who has made a splash in Jacksonville from the purchase of the team to his way of getting business done. We don't need to embrace the past and keep defending old models of business and government that have not taken us forward in the decades they have held influence. It is a fools game.
I am not anti Rummell or any one individual. I am simply against following the old stale and worn out models of leadership that have failed us in the past and left unchecked will smother our future. If some don't understand even now, well thats too bad. Jacksonville will just have to march on without you. If some don't get that it is not about one thing but a combination of things that is just sad, but explains why we as a city continue to flounder. I think what is making some people uncomfortable is that they really cannot deal with the reality that we have put all of our eggs into a bottomless basket for years and years now. They don't want to admit to the waste. Rather than find a new way to gather our assets we want to keep throwing them into a broken and bottomless basket. Wasting time and wasting further progress.
Repeating the past in all things is a losers game. That's the point.
that poll was pretty funny not gonna lie... What's mojo?
"I've heard Jacksonville referred to as "Actionville" for at least 15 years."
I guess I missed it, and I doubt anyone over the last 15 years could say it in public with a straight face.
Quote from: downtownbrown on April 29, 2014, 10:03:49 AM
"I've heard Jacksonville referred to as "Actionville" for at least 15 years."
I guess I missed it, and I doubt anyone over the last 15 years could say it in public with a straight face.
It is usually used sarcastically, but sometimes in reference to nightlife. Commonly known by college students around the state or indie/hipster kids like Stephen said. "I'm going back to Actionville this weekend" or "So what is going on in Actionville this weekend"?. It is so widely known at FSU and UF that you are as likely to hear it from someone from Orlando/Tampa/South Florida as you are someone from Jax.
There is even a local limo/party bus service names "Actionville Limo"
Sounds like a need the tee shirt.
Re: Actionville -- we felt like it was time to reclaim the name in a non-ironic fashion. When you look at the activity and results we're experiencing in the community, it seems like the right time to get beyond the "nothing to do here" or "nothing ever changes" mentality and recognize that there's a sea change happening -- and it's measurable, which is one thing JCCI does really well.
You'll see more on May 7 -- one more teaser for Hemming Plaza at 6:30 for the unveil -- but this is demonstrably, undeniably a different city than it was even a year ago, and the pace of change is accelerating.
Yes, it's buzzing. I'm a huge downtown advocate since I own some property in the Core, but I have concerns. Nobody in Jax leadership or, importantly, media, talks about the obvious things that make a difference. Berkman 2 is a homeless hotel. The Liberty Street hole has been there for 2 years and nobody, I mean NOBODY, talks about it. These are failures of leadership with the Administration, and they are ignored by the media. VERY bad combination.
Berkman 2 was tied up in a lawsuit that got drug out for a long time. So did a few other properties like the Bostwick. There is so many hoops to go through these days that I don't think it's fair to blame an entire administration. I mean I can only imagine that there are a great deal of bad apples there, but none the less we create so many code's, laws, and guidelines, that we only make things a hundred times harder to do every year.
Quote from: Ben Warner on April 29, 2014, 10:53:09 AM
Re: Actionville -- we felt like it was time to reclaim the name in a non-ironic fashion. When you look at the activity and results we're experiencing in the community, it seems like the right time to get beyond the "nothing to do here" or "nothing ever changes" mentality and recognize that there's a sea change happening -- and it's measurable, which is one thing JCCI does really well.
You'll see more on May 7 -- one more teaser for Hemming Plaza at 6:30 for the unveil -- but this is demonstrably, undeniably a different city than it was even a year ago, and the pace of change is accelerating.
Makes quite a bit of sense given Jax2025's mission. I like it as a rallying cry/call to arms.
Quote from: downtownbrown on April 29, 2014, 10:58:15 AM
Yes, it's buzzing. I'm a huge downtown advocate since I own some property in the Core, but I have concerns. Nobody in Jax leadership or, importantly, media, talks about the obvious things that make a difference. Berkman 2 is a homeless hotel. The Liberty Street hole has been there for 2 years and nobody, I mean NOBODY, talks about it. These are failures of leadership with the Administration, and they are ignored by the media. VERY bad combination.
I understand that are probably massive expenses in rehabilitating the Laura Street Trio and good business people need to make sure that the numbers must add up with a tidy profit. Business people are not investing their money into a charity case.
With that said, I've walked around the Laura Street trio and the other buildings such as the Barnett Bank Building and those couple of other surrounding blocks. This 4-6 square block area should be the center of life downtown. Street level should have shops, restaurants and bars/clubs. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th floors should have offices and the upper floors should be condos with maybe a boutique hotel or two in the middle floors of say the Barnett Building. The Marble Bank Building should be a giant restaurant and bar with rooftop seating around that central skylight. At One Spark that church on the corner of Laura St and Hemming Plaza could be converted into a recording studio and a venue for live music and dancing.
This vibrant area would be a great catalyst for reinvigorating downtown and slowly the downtown will come to life within the blocks around it.
This is not rocket science or hoping a tar pit will because a health spa. Downtowns all over the country have gone from 1980s ghost towns to vibrant urban oasis by doing these very things.
QuoteThere is so many hoops to go through these days that I don't think it's fair to blame an entire administration.
Who do you hold accountable for issues in the city? The tooth fairy? City Council? Where does the buck stop? Oh, that's right, the mayor just passes it on to someone else, on a regular basis, or unless there is a television camera in his face.
^^ well in fairness he has just moved back to Jax. I am sure you can fill him on all the misgivings of Jax.
QuoteI am sure you can fill him on all the misgivings of Jax.
No need, just read MetroJacksonville daily. Its all the news that is worthy of reading. Stephen and Lake and Ock and others do a fabulous job and really have created a great site!
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 30, 2014, 12:17:28 PM
QuoteI am sure you can fill him on all the misgivings of Jax.
No need, just read MetroJacksonville daily. Its all the news that is worthy of reading. Stephen and Lake and Ock and others do a fabulous job and really have created a great site!
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