Mayor Responds to Clay Yarborough on Art Funding
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Culture/MocaYardbirdFlap/i-tFJ4kSK/0/O/porndetector.jpg)
Following an epic weekend of angry public outcry following Council President Clay Yarboroughs ham handed attempt to blackmail the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville in a string of questionable emails to Mayor Alvin Brown's office, the mayor responds.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-dec-mayor-responds-to-clay-yarborough-on-art-funding
Stephen, can you put in a records request to see how much city staff time was wasted researching this issue? Looks like the Mayor's Chief of Staff and OGC both spent a decent amount of time dealing with this.
According to Clay's Council bio, "ensuring government is operating as fiscally sound as possible" is one of his most important issues. Hmmmm
Thanks to Stephen/MJ for getting these official records, I know how fun it can be dealing with city hall, etc. Good job.
Kudos to Alvin for doing the right thing. Hopefully Clays eyes won't burn too much from looking at a picture of a boobie, oh the horror!
At least he has an official position on this issue, though, it was obviously written by the Legal Department it his Admin but at least somebody made a decision.
Though, a true leader would not hide behind a law and give his own personal perspective on this issue.
This is why I will probably vote for Bishop in the next mayoral election.
And it was swift.
Quote from: stephendare on December 02, 2014, 01:39:48 PM
Quote from: BoldBoyOfTheSouth on December 02, 2014, 01:37:25 PM
At least he has an official position on this issue, though, it was obviously written by the Legal Department it his Admin but at least somebody made a decision.
Though, a true leader would not hide behind a law and give his own personal perspective on this issue.
This is why I will probably vote for Bishop in the next mayoral election.
Actually, given the protocol necessary between a Council President and a Mayor, it would have been inappropriate for him to respond without having included the legal opinion as to why.
While I criticize Brown a lot, the tone and manner of his response is exactly appropriate.
Agreed. Handled perfectly. The best way to counter someone's subjective personal opinion is with facts. In this situation, the case law cited shows that what the Council President wants to do, isn't even achievable without opening up the city to a lawsuit. The letter says, Mr. Yarborough, you couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Pretty humiliating really.
So if he checks this:
(http://i.imgur.com/3Gfw8rG.png)
will it mean he'll try to defund the libraries as well?
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 02, 2014, 02:25:28 PM
will it mean he'll try to defund the libraries as well?
He's long been in the censorship business (you know, the guy that's for smaller government). He wanted folio weekly pulled from all libraries and city buildings because it was "deplorable"
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php?topic=1827.0
QuoteIt is deplorable and incredibly tarnishing to the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Public Library system to have a publication containing vulgar expletives, explicit and graphic sexual content, and details of such a stage show, readily accessible and available to children walking into a library and public building in our city. Would you let your child read it?
(http://i.qkme.me/3rnvk6.jpg)
I haven't read something so hopeful about Jax in many days. Love his response. But yes, we can but imagine if the mayor were one of the First Baptist comrades he probably would have marched over and taken the picture down personally, wearing a blind-fold of course.
Round of applause for Mayor Brown on this one
So MB gets reelected now?
Brown really didn't have a choice, and it did boil down to the legal issue(s) involved., he really had no other option. It was the correct move to have the legal department research and handle the request by Yarborough.
Yarborough, on the other hand, shot off his mouth which reflected not only his personal prudish views and his attempt to use his leadership position to stomp on the first amendment rights of MOCA and the artist. Seems that most everyone else, except for Redman have a clear comprehension of first amendment and knew Yarboroughs demands, if followed through, would have trampled those rights.
Quote from: Springfielder on December 02, 2014, 06:09:24 PM
Brown really didn't have a choice, and it did boil down to the legal issue(s) involved., he really had no other option. It was the correct move to have the legal department research and handle the request by Yarborough.
Yarborough, on the other hand, shot off his mouth which reflected not only his personal prudish views and his attempt to use his leadership position to stomp on the first amendment rights of MOCA and the artist. Seems that most everyone else, except for Redman have a clear comprehension of first amendment and knew Yarboroughs demands, if followed through, would have trampled those rights.
I think that Clay has ambitions on the state level and saw this as an opportunity to reaffirm his conservative credentials. I think he has reached his term limit on City Council. Wouldn't surprise me to see him attempt a state position in the coming years.
Huffington Post picked up the story:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/02/jacksonville-art-museum_n_6258068.html
^Some of the comments are pretty funny..... ;D ;D
I may just donate to the mayor's re-election campaign on this alone (and I live in Texas)...
One should question the mental health of a person who calls simple nudity pornography. He can object to the display, but needs to respect the artistic integrity represented by the artist. He doesn't have to like it, no one does, but we can't let that be the basis for artistic censorship.....
Probably got all horny and had an erection and freaked thinking he'd grow hair on the palms of his hands next....
this is petty, but clay yarborough looks like the kind of guy who hasn't seen to many nude female bodies. in all seriousness, there is nothing pornographic about the human form. I bet clay believes in god, and he should be careful to mock the beauty of things that he probably believes were created by god......
I don't think Clay Yarborough was breast fed as a baby. This is what formula, religion and conservatism does to a young mind, for ever. Poor soul!.....
Wow, this is one of the first times that I have to say good job to a Democratic mayor. (I live in Detroit).....
OH MY GOD!!!!!!boobies!!!!!!.....
The Mayor handled this well. Credit where it's due.
There will be a protest against Clay tomorrow at the artwalk:
https://www.facebook.com/events/366689206841376/
Quote from: Murder_me_Rachel on December 03, 2014, 08:55:42 AM
Quote from: Yossarianlives on December 02, 2014, 07:44:22 PM
I think that Clay has ambitions on the state level and saw this as an opportunity to reaffirm his conservative credentials. I think he has reached his term limit on City Council. Wouldn't surprise me to see him attempt a state position in the coming years.
Came here to say the same thing. Surely he knew nothing would come of his complaint (please god, don't let him to be so stupid as to think otherwise). Instead, i think it was a calculated move on his part to shore up his bona-fides with other conservative red-meaters around the city.
Love your username, btw.
Ted Cruz: USA
Clay Yarborough: JAX
Reuters has picked up the story, sad publicity for Jax indeed. But on a good note, attendance has TRIPLED! Thanks Clay!
QuoteAttendance has spiked at a Jacksonville art museum since the city council president last week denounced as pornographic a photograph showing a nude pregnant woman reclining on a love-seat.
...
The number of visitors to the north Florida museum nearly tripled since council president Clay Yarborough last Tuesday called on Mayor Alvin Brown to rescind more than $230,000 in city funding for the museum.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/12/03/us-usa-florida-nude-idINKCN0JG2HR20141203
Quote from: coredumped on December 03, 2014, 10:43:01 AM
Reuters has picked up the story, sad publicity for Jax indeed. But on a good note, attendance has TRIPLED! Thanks Clay!
QuoteAttendance has spiked at a Jacksonville art museum since the city council president last week denounced as pornographic a photograph showing a nude pregnant woman reclining on a love-seat.
...
The number of visitors to the north Florida museum nearly tripled since council president Clay Yarborough last Tuesday called on Mayor Alvin Brown to rescind more than $230,000 in city funding for the museum.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/12/03/us-usa-florida-nude-idINKCN0JG2HR20141203
Just goes to show the lengths to which people will go to view pornography. Did the new visitors even know that MOCA existed before now?
Brilliant Anti Abortion image- Come see in Jacksonville!!!
"YEEHAW BOROUGH!" read a sign at the City Hall protest, hilarious.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/museum-fires-back-at-city-council-president-over-porn-comment/30042984
Quote from: stephendare on December 04, 2014, 01:56:09 PM
Favorite moment of last night: Marcelle Polednik coming out to the park to see hundreds of people chanting and waving support signs. Hemming Park was crowded and you kind of had to get through the crowds before you could see just how many people were there to show love. She was by herself, unnoticed by the throngs when she arrived and when she saw how big it was she looked like she had been surprised at Prom by finding out that someone had bought her a Rolls and left it for her in the driveway. Got a little choked up for her in the moment.
Does anyone have any pictures?
I was never more proud to be a citizen of Jacksonville than last night, protesting alongside people with a passion for ART! Alyssa's signs with her LoveBrigade logo emblazoned on them with the hilarious quotes "We Were All Born Nude," "Venus Was Born a Porn Star," "Skin is Not a Sin," "Stop Embarrassing Our City" just to name a few. I couldn't help but get lost in the voices & cheering while I held one of her signs up as high as my tall self could & made sure motorists & Art Walkers across the street could see the message!
One of my favorite moments were 3 young 20 something year old college students, all 3 female, who walked across to join the protest and wanted a sign to hold. One of the protesters gladly gave hers up, one of Alyssa's and the girls face just lit up. Their excitement to learn & be apart of something so magical & inspiring was truly something.
Stephen, I attempted to say hello to you at the protest but I think we were all too caught up in the moment for introductions, lol.
QuoteJust goes to show the lengths to which people will go to view pornography. Did the new visitors even know that MOCA existed before now?
Forget the question of if they knew MOCA existed, ask, did they know that downtown could be such a political hobgoblin and did anyone know that downtown existed after dark, besides the movement that consisted of just about everyone who attends an artwalk?
Yossarianlives, I have a few photos on my Facebook page, fb.com/Tetlak2015
And deathstar, I agree. It was great to see so many people out supporting the arts.
Quote from: stephendare on December 05, 2014, 11:14:00 AM
Lambert, Alexis
10:57 AM (14 minutes ago)
to me
A rough, general approximation based on 10 billable attorney hours and the respective rates would be $1,450.
From: stephen dare [mailto:stephendare@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2014 9:58 AM
To: Lambert, Alexis; Hand, Chris
Thanks for finding that out Stephen. I'm sure that number get much higher when you factor in other city personnel that have wasted time on this. In light of this waste of city resources, I think it would be a nice gesture for Mr. Yarbourough to make a $1,450 donation to MOCA, the Cultural Council, or another arts entity in Jax.
But Clay's demand was for The Mayor to pull the funding. Not City Council (yo, Mr. Littlepage) where he would need 10 votes. Not the Cultural Council (sorry, don't know how many votes). But. The. Mayor. Thankfully, the Mayor said no. As has been said by others, I think Clay knew the picture nor the money were going to be pulled. He is just beginning his campaign for Legislature in 2016. Red Meat to the Tea Party in Lake Ray's district. Which is not insignificant.
Quote from: Jtetlak on December 05, 2014, 09:19:06 AM
Yossarianlives, I have a few photos on my Facebook page, fb.com/Tetlak2015
And deathstar, I agree. It was great to see so many people out supporting the arts.
Thanks! I appreciate it.
Government will go broke funding everything under the sun. And you jokers are the first ones to complain when taxes go up. You deserve what you get. You want government to provide you with everything, including art museums? Be prepared to pay and pay and pay. Our founding fathers would throw up their hands in despair.