(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Neighborhoods/Miscellaneous-Downtown-2019/i-fwr5hN2/0/c4bbbb19/X2/CityHall-X2.jpg)
Quote
Jacksonville City Hall provides no shortage of things to criticize, but there are some common complaints that don't stand up to scrutiny. From arguements that the City Council is too large to complaints about Consolidation, a look at how cities are doing around the country shows that Jacksonville's city government isn't as dysfunctional, or even unusual, as some claim.
Read more: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/4-myths-about-jacksonvilles-city-government/
More or less agree with points made in this article. In the end, it isn't just the system of government but the quality of our leaders. Our #1 issue with City government is ongoing poor leaders and, to be honest, that's on our voters who elect them. No different in Tallahassee or Washington. With essentially the same system of government, great leaders have served their constituents well and poor leaders not nearly as much.
The Federal court decision this week bears this out. The City Council mostly cared only about districting that protected incumbents of both parties, not what would best serve the citizens they represent. They went on the public record saying as much and the judge took notice of same. A rare moment of transparency into the real motives and priorities of our "representatives."
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on December 20, 2022, 11:34:23 PM
In the end, it isn't just the system of government but the quality of our leaders.
This basically sums up Jax's situation. With the right leadership, our governmental structure can achieve great things. With poor leadership, it can be just as destructive.
May I suggest a 5th - the myth that the Sheriff (speaking of Mike Williams here) be required to reside within the limits of the City he is working for and not abdicate to another county because there's too much crime in Jacksonville to raise his own family. That was the most chicken%*$ thing I've ever seen a person do.
The below from the City Council's appeal of the redistricting decision by Judge Howard has to rank among the top myths about our fair city! Good faith, irreparable harm... who are they kidding? Truly laughable and defies all credibility.
Emphasis added.QuoteThe city filed a motion on Tuesday to stay Howard's decision, arguing she erred by not giving a "presumption of good faith" to the city's remedial map. The city says its remedial map is constitutional and should be used in the upcoming spring election for City Council.
"Rejection of a constitutionally, legislatively adopted plan in favor of one drawn by the plaintiffs causes the city irreparable harm," the motion says.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2022/12/28/jacksonville-wants-federal-appeals-court-to-choose-redistricting-map/69761164007/
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on December 29, 2022, 12:28:59 AM
The below from the City Council's appeal of the redistricting decision by Judge Howard has to rank among the top myths about our fair city! Good faith, irreparable harm... who are they kidding? Truly laughable and defies all credibility.
Emphasis added.
QuoteThe city filed a motion on Tuesday to stay Howard's decision, arguing she erred by not giving a "presumption of good faith" to the city's remedial map. The city says its remedial map is constitutional and should be used in the upcoming spring election for City Council.
"Rejection of a constitutionally, legislatively adopted plan in favor of one drawn by the plaintiffs causes the city irreparable harm," the motion says.
https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2022/12/28/jacksonville-wants-federal-appeals-court-to-choose-redistricting-map/69761164007/
Federal appeals court rejects City Council's appeal of Judge Howard's map. City wasted more tax dollars on a meritless appeal that amounted in mere exercise of not taking "no" for an answer.
Let the fun begin....
QuoteWith days to go before qualifying begins for Jacksonville's 2023 elections, the federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a lower court, and denied a request for stay on the map installed last month.
The city had appealed a lower court decision to institute a redistricting map, which was provided by plaintiffs suing to stop the maps the City Council passed last year.
Friday's ruling from the 11th Circuit discounted the city's chances of succeeding on the merits on appeal, saying, "(B)ased on what we have been able to review and digest in the short time available since the motion to stay was filed, the City has not made a strong showing that the district court's factual findings about racial gerrymandering in the proposed interim remedial plan are clearly erroneous."
The appellate decision means that the City Council will ultimately have failed in not just one, but two tries to impose a map of its liking....
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/579501-last-ditch-jacksonville-redistricting-appeal-fails-in-11th-circuit/
Well election season just got interesting.
Just another example of the lousy leadership JAX continues to find itself burdened with. Residents don't seem to care though.