Metro Jacksonville

Before you vote, let me explain my thought process...  Here in Jacksonville we get excited about: new signs going up on bay street for bars, the renovation of our only downtown grocery store, or the smallest possibility of a new restaurant at Town Center.  I think that outsiders have the wrong idea about our city, and because of that we try to portray Jacksonville in a skewed light.  We don't have a bustling downtown filled with pedestrians or a great downtown night life.  I just feel that were the new kid on the block looking for something to prove.  Whether that is an inferiority complex or not, I don't know.  I'm having trouble explaining what I'm trying to say.  Maybe some of you could help me out?

i don't think we try to portray Jax in a skewed light.  i think the reality is that Jax sits under a dimly lit light down a fairly dark alley that is at least a couple of blocks from "the strip" - where bright lights hover over the other cities that are moving forward and are already leap years ahead of us. 

i think most of us see the city for what it is. 

Quote from: Driven1 on July 20, 2008, 10:14:29 PM
i think most of us see the city for what it is. 

We have all the tools, but no tool box.

I love Jacksonville but we can't seem accept the potential we have here.

We cling to every little piece of new development, hoping it will spawn more.  Especially now as there isn't really anything "big" happening.  Not that we shouldn't applaud and support the small projects.

Nothing big?  What about the Deutsche Bank deal which will bring 1000 jobs paying $40,000+ per year on average?  And what about the Mitsui and Hanjin deals for the port?  Those will also bring in thousands of high paying jobs.

I've had a rollercoaster of emotions with my home city. In my early 20's, leading up to the 2005 superbowl I had all this hope of downtown getting transformed in a matter of years, much in the way downtown West Palm Beach did in just ten years. After the superbowl proved not to an overnight transformation of the city, I fell into a funk about the city's future. Now, with a little more age and a forum with like-minded people, I do finally see the city for what it is.

To the outsiders it can seem a bit small-town minded that we do get excited over a new club, a rennovated grocery store downtown, but it is progress. Slow, but steady...jacksonville-like progress.

Basically you have three options with Jax,

Accept it for what it is.

Initiate change yourself, by whatever means you have.

Move.

Jacksonville has never been a boom and bust city like those in South Florida.  We are less reliant on tourism (obviously) but have more solid industries, some of which pay more, like the railroads, shipping, finance, insurance and the Navy.  This means slower but steady growth.  As you see from the new Census estimates, we are growing while the Miami MSA appears stagnant.  So, we are getting there and are adding new amenities every day.  IMO, it is just a matter of time before Jacksonville becomes at least a 2d tier city in the 2 million population range.  World city status may be a long way off but so are world city problems.

A small part of me believes that the general population has an inferiority complex but the larger part of me sees it more as a strong passion for this city.  I have noticed that those that love Jacksonville for all she is REALLY and ZEALOUSLY love this city and will do anything to defend her.  I've spent the last few years talking and meeting with others through UrbanPlant, MetJax, and MetroJacksonville and have found that there are a LOT more people that truely love this place than I originally thought.  When people feel strongly about something they tend to get a little offended when someone else badmouths it.  Some of those badmouths are local transplants and others are outsiders.

I think the average Jaxson loves this city/metro despite her flaws and do not feel inferior when compared to other cities, they actually feel superior.

^ I think Jason summed up my thoughts on this question quite well. I voted no, as for the majority of people who live in Jax. There might be a few of those who do have a complex on this site, though.  ;)

I haven't read the other posts, but the fact that this thread exists means that we still do have an inferiority complex.

Totally think we do - look at us during the super bowl.  Frankly, our big thing was to try to convince people that we were a good city.  I remember first coast news going to Houston the year before our super bowl, and the local media asking sportswriters from out of town if they should give us a break because were small and it was our first time.  Most of them responded correctly - hell no!

It reminds me of the dumb blond saying "I'm Smart - why don't people realize it?"

Look how many people in Jacksonville get excited about a new Wal Mart.

Quote from: Captain Zissou on July 21, 2008, 01:59:43 PM
...the fact that this thread exists means that we still do have an inferiority complex.

I was going to say this exact thing.

I dont know anyone who gets excited about a new walmart. I've seen more protest than excitement. I am a native that moved away in 95 to Atl, then moved back,(03) I still ask myself WHY,anyway since this is my home I do stand up for Jax since it is my place of birth. This inferiority thing was really an issue before the Super Bowl, but we made it through that. I thought that the SB would wake up this city,but we've gone right back to our boring conservative ways. I dont think Jax will ever become a first tier city. The leadership and way of thinking is just not there, what a shame because the potenial is certainly there.

HELL NO! From a world traveler point of view, we are the best of the best. No other city offers the combination of beauty, climate, resources, location etc that we Jaxons have.

Does this mean we can't do better? Of course not.

Does it mean we never fumble the ball... Duh? NO!

Does it mean we are known around the world? no, but more know of us today then last night.

Does it mean we don't have a few hillbillys in City Hall? Of course not...

FOLKS wake the hell up!

Ever see the toothless lumber boys up in Portland?
The poor kid from the big easy that had 20 years of Skolin' "He went through the 10th grade twice".
How about the money under the tables in Chicago? Los Angeles?
Try being an outsider in Oklahoma City or Tulsa
Introduce a "better idea" to a New Yorker...HA!
Tell someone from Boston you have a degree from JU, Stetson or Rollins, hee hee
Just attempt to put rail on a ballot in Kansas City and see what happens.
Want to enter an international business in latin America or the orient? Let me explain how you make "the injection" to the proper group.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but JACKSONVILLE ROCKS...

Some of us just don't know it.

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT

BEST OF THE BEST

OCKLAWAHA

Quote from: Ocklawaha on July 21, 2008, 11:07:07 PM
HELL NO! From a world traveler point of view, we are the best of the best. No other city offers the combination of beauty, climate, resources, location etc that we Jaxons have.

Does this mean we can't do better? Of course not.

Does it mean we never fumble the ball... Duh? NO!

Does it mean we are known around the world? no, but more know of us today then last night.

Does it mean we don't have a few hillbillys in City Hall? Of course not...

FOLKS wake the hell up!

Ever see the toothless lumber boys up in Portland?
The poor kid from the big easy that had 20 years of Skolin' "He went through the 10th grade twice".
How about the money under the tables in Chicago? Los Angeles?
Try being an outsider in Oklahoma City or Tulsa
Introduce a "better idea" to a New Yorker...HA!
Tell someone from Boston you have a degree from JU, Stetson or Rollins, hee hee
Just attempt to put rail on a ballot in Kansas City and see what happens.
Want to enter an international business in latin America or the orient? Let me explain how you make "the injection" to the proper group.

Sorry to bust your bubble, but JACKSONVILLE ROCKS...

Some of us just don't know it.

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT

BEST OF THE BEST

OCKLAWAHA

Ock, you're the man.  I don't know how to explain my love for this city, or the pride I take in it, but I didn't give myself the handle duvalbill for nothing.  I'm looking forward to making my impact in this city.

Quote from: john stark on July 20, 2008, 08:10:39 PM
Before you vote, let me explain my thought process...  Here in Jacksonville we get excited about: new signs going up on bay street for bars, the renovation of our only downtown grocery store, or the smallest possibility of a new restaurant at Town Center.  I think that outsiders have the wrong idea about our city, and because of that we try to portray Jacksonville in a skewed light.  We don't have a bustling downtown filled with pedestrians or a great downtown night life.  I just feel that were the new kid on the block looking for something to prove.  Whether that is an inferiority complex or not, I don't know.  I'm having trouble explaining what I'm trying to say.  Maybe some of you could help me out?

Interesting. I think Jacksonville will eventually become the place to be in about 20 years. When I drove cabs in Jax I really heard a lot about what people really though of the city...especially those airport fares. I use the get the "How come Jax doesn't have (fill in the blank)?" "You guys have a football team but no (fill in the blank)?" "I went out and I notice Jax doesn't have (fill in the blank), you would think such a big city like Jacksonville would have so (fill in the blanks)".

Me being a cabby at the time, I felt I should have known the answers to those questions and comments, but I didn't. It used to annoy the hell out of me. I would mention places only to get that "it wasn't all that" response from the riders. I can't say if I was irritated with the riders because, hey they traveled all the way to Jax they should be able to enjoy themselves with ease right? I can't fault them for that. A lot of the things they would mention made sense to have....just happens Jacksonville doesn't have what some are used to, but isn't that everywhere?

And you really want to hit the "IF YOU DON"T LIKE THEN MOVE" button chat with someone from New York, Philly, Chicago or Cali those people want fun at their doorsteps as soon as they move to Jacksonville.

Hopefully my opinion of your post helped. I think I was trying to agree with you lol.

I have always said that they only thing that Jacksonville lacks is a sense of self esteem.

Jacksonville lacks a long term vision: in 2015 we want to be a ......... city.
Also lots and lots of negative views from locals... I see the potential, all we need is leaders who are willing to take Jax to the next level. Unfortunately city officials have a 4 year view, just before the next elections...