Metro Jacksonville

Community => News => Topic started by: thelakelander on April 13, 2016, 07:25:56 PM

Title: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: thelakelander on April 13, 2016, 07:25:56 PM
Just cleaning up various tax documents and realized that Metro Jacksonville was officially established on April 12, 2006. I'm a day late, but Happy Birthday MJ! A few pics taken over the last decade....

(http://jacksonville.com/images/021807/166858_400.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/859154022_2n4v6-M.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2195527548_g6s8HcH-M.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2195519005_bQ2gt6z-600x1000.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2195567886_5HX7WRg-M.jpg)

(http://s3.amazonaws.com/lakana-gmg-wjxt/photo/2015/11/15/pub-crawl-2-jpg_470296_ver1.0.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Events/Jax-Truckies-Food-Truck/i-rPx5qQ5/1/L/DSC_0112-L.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Events/Jax-Truckies-Food-Truck/i-dtgqn2V/1/L/DSC_0071-L.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Events/Metro-Jax-Pub-Crawl-11212/i-qhcf8k7/0/L/DSC_9670.NEF-L.jpg)

(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/Nightlife/Pubcrawl-July-2011/i-fnr6F9h/0/L/DSC_1031-L.jpg)

Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Chris Hand on April 13, 2016, 08:05:10 PM
Stephen, Ennis et al:

Whatever the exact date, all the best for a very happy birthday! I'm glad Metro Jacksonville was born. It plays an important role in public dialogue about community issues and happenings. The coverage of Jacksonville history is always interesting. I look at the site at least once a day. So you may see a reference to MJ in a certain book that will be published in Summer 2016.

Again, Happy Birthday!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: billy on April 13, 2016, 08:20:06 PM
(Breathy Marilyn Monroe voice) "Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyy, Mr or Ms Metro Jacksonville........"
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: jcjohnpaint on April 13, 2016, 08:59:23 PM
Happy Birthday!!  MJ is a must every day... or Jacksonville is not complete!!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: peestandingup on April 13, 2016, 09:26:44 PM
Quote from: stephendare on April 13, 2016, 07:28:47 PM
Lol, I actually counted it as April 15th, which is the date of our first published article!  (Which would be Friday!)

Post that thing!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: finehoe on April 13, 2016, 09:35:19 PM
(http://www.freelargeimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Happy_birthday.jpg)
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Noone on April 13, 2016, 09:37:15 PM
Love MJ. Happy Birthday!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 13, 2016, 09:57:49 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on April 13, 2016, 09:26:44 PM
Quote from: stephendare on April 13, 2016, 07:28:47 PM
Lol, I actually counted it as April 15th, which is the date of our first published article!  (Which would be Friday!)

Post that thing!

As long as it's not about a certain JTA adventure to the Equestrian Center....  ;)

Happy Birthday.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: InnerCityPressure on April 13, 2016, 10:19:34 PM
Congrats all.  I've been in Jax for 7 years now.  I found MJ my first night here.  I truly think that I found my passion for this city (and its potential) by reading and engaging in the forums here.  Truly fantastic collection of work and dialogue!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: thelakelander on April 13, 2016, 10:31:40 PM
Quote from: stephendare on April 13, 2016, 07:28:47 PM
Lol, I actually counted it as April 15th, which is the date of our first published article!  (Which would be Friday!)
Yes, the MJ incorporation date was officially April 12, 2006. The website component came a few days later.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: thelakelander on April 13, 2016, 10:35:32 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 13, 2016, 09:57:49 PMAs long as it's not about a certain JTA adventure to the Equestrian Center....  ;)

It's not but it will make you shake your head that 10 years later, there's still no official resolution to the 2006 problem.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: peestandingup on April 13, 2016, 10:43:44 PM
Wayback Machine to the rescue!

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-apr-mayor-peytons-smaller-ideas

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-apr-a-top-heavy-administration

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-apr-happy-sunshine-sunday
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 14, 2016, 12:32:42 AM
Quote from: thelakelander on April 13, 2016, 10:35:32 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 13, 2016, 09:57:49 PMAs long as it's not about a certain JTA adventure to the Equestrian Center....  ;)

It's not but it will make you shake your head that 10 years later, there's still no official resolution to the 2006 problem.

Right.[/sarcasm]  The 6 years or so I've been here is one of the major reasons that I don't shake my head so much anymore at stuff.

Stockholm Syndrome has set in.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: vicupstate on April 14, 2016, 05:41:30 AM
Congrats to all involved with MJ. Every city should be so fortunate to have it's own MJ website.

Thanks for all you do to promote a better Jacksonville. 
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: BridgeTroll on April 14, 2016, 06:21:02 AM
What a ride... so far...
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Captain Zissou on April 14, 2016, 10:09:06 AM
Congrats everyone!!  I've gotten to join in for some fun stuff like Pub Crawls, Food Truck Rallies, creek cleanups, and countless meetings with interesting folks.  Thanks for all the fun times.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Charles Hunter on April 14, 2016, 12:39:32 PM
OK, beginning to feel all Twilight Zone-y. Have posted twice here, but don't see them on returning.

Anyway ... Congratulations!!!
Why is this not a holiday?  :-)
Was surprised to see I didn't join until 2007.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: fieldafm on April 14, 2016, 12:51:11 PM
Echoing the same thoughts shared by everyone else.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Pastor Eric Wester on April 14, 2016, 04:22:52 PM
New to the site and grateful for the on-line connections via MJ. Appreciate the helpful relies to my initial post. Thanks for the respectful conversations.  Eric W
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: cowford on April 15, 2016, 12:17:56 AM
Thank you!  This site has contributed immensely to my knowledge of current events and the history of this great city.  I always point Jax newcomers to this site to learn about our great community.   Keep up the good work.  You are greatly appreciated. 
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: manasia on April 15, 2016, 02:29:45 AM
Happy Birthday MJ!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Adam White on April 15, 2016, 04:14:31 AM
Happy birthday.

I think the picture of the women (I don't recognize them) standing in front of the food truck perfectly summarizes Jacksonville for me - look at that rain! I've not seen rain like Jacksonville rain since I moved away (except, of course, when I have been back in Jax/FL on holiday - one year, I remember it rained for basically one week, practically non-stop).
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: sheclown on April 15, 2016, 01:41:06 PM
Time flies when you are having a shit fight :)  So glad for this site and tbose who keep it running.  What a wealth of local history and gossip, politics and the tears that occur with said politics. 

Loved every minute of it.

My FAVORITE of all time was when Stephen was attacked at Three Layers over the post on Louse DeSpain.  Where was that???  Which thread???

Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: Tacachale on April 15, 2016, 05:20:34 PM
It's been a long, strange trip, but you guys are still as vital as ever. Here's to another great 10 years.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: AFCassidy on April 16, 2016, 01:22:25 AM

Wow, 10 years is an incredible accomplishment. Congratulations!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: JaxJersey-licious on April 17, 2016, 07:15:42 PM
That's intriguing that this website's 10th Year Anniversary coincides with my moving out of Jacksonville 10 years ago! April 2006 was my first full month living in the Northeastern U.S. and I can't help compare what's happened to me  since those wide-eyed days if you don't mind me getting a bit personal:  I had left my crappy job after quitting a pretty decent one, I was madly in love, I had a bunch of friends and acquaintances that seemed not to care about the state of DT JAX, and I was kind of peeved to think about all the new projects from mega-developer/urban core savior Cameron Kuhn :o. Today I'm quite satisfied with my present job, am single again, and pulling on my scalp perplexed how the ball has been dropped so many times on the Barnett and Laura Street Trio.

I'm sure some of the excitement, chaos, curiosity, and nervous energy I felt those first few months in my new world were felt by a lot of those responsible of the initial launch of this website. But besides that connection, there was an even better one for me attributed to this site. As much as I got frustrated  hearing about all the projects proposed and dashed over the years through this site, I also found that there was so much to learn and keep abreast of that had me wanting to strengthen my ties to my old hometown.

From my piqued interest in all things Jacksonville I also discovered that a lot of my friends and family do in fact have a rooting interests in a successful Downtown Jacksonville after all. Most people I knew in North Florida love this part of the country whether they were born here or moved here, but also a lot of them have traveled and saw Jacksonville's shortcomings compared to other urban areas. They shared my frustrations of what local leaders were doing or not doing to have Jacksonville get up to that next level. But being we were so busy or happy or drama-preoccupied in our own bucolic suburban lives, conversation about front-facing businesses or parking garages with more street-level retail  had to take a backseat.

But that changed since I left town. Spurred by the news, postings, and discussions in MetroJacksonville, I found out that many of my friends also shared an interest in other Jax issues like the need for more residential options downtown, better transit, more urban density with less sprawl, revitalized historic neighborhoods, and the importance of preserving the old buildings we took for granted when we were younger and making them a big part of the city's landscape once again.

So congratulations to MetroJacksonville! And thank you. It's been a choppy ride these last 10 years which I'm sure we all can relate in some way. This time I'll try to remember to buckle up. ;D
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: coredumped on April 18, 2016, 12:14:52 AM
Happy birthday! Looks like I joined in 2008, but I recall lurking before
One day I'll make it to a meet up.... :)
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: MusicMan on April 18, 2016, 10:24:57 AM
Congratulations.

Also for what it's worth saw this on MSN today:

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/the-20-most-desirable-places-to-live-in-the-us/ss-BBrwDA5#image=3

Would give $5 to know how that got on there.
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: fsujax on April 18, 2016, 01:26:32 PM
Wow. cant believe its been 10 years since I was approached by a group of guys asking me if I wanted to join, after I spoke at City Hall regarding the Landing redevelopment plans. Time flies. Congrats to all!
Title: Re: Metro Jacksonville Officially 10 Years Old
Post by: mtraininjax on April 19, 2016, 07:24:21 AM
Congrats to all, you have helped me with so much being here. I may not always agree with you, but I do respect you. Thanks for being here MJ!