Recent posts

#1

The Photoboard / Re: Visions of Vibrancy: Pitts...

Last post by jaxlongtimer - Today at 12:13:39 AM

Impressed by:
- Lot of extra wide sidewalks, often due to narrow streets.
- Cleanliness, no trash I could see in any of these photos.  Looked like everything is well swept. Even along the railroad tracks.
- Solid mix of preserved historic buildings and distinctive new buildings.
- Greenery, green spaces and green sides along the water.
- Pedestrian friendly streetscapes.
- Vibrant street facings, not parking garages and hardly any blank walls.

How does Pittsburgh handle transit?  I only saw one bus in the pictures and a painted bus lane.  No rail.

#2

Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure / Re: JTA Plans Major 2027 Cuts

Last post by jaxlongtimer - Yesterday at 11:59:25 PM

Interesting article that was just shared with me looking at Ford's possible next stop, including an overview of his career in Jacksonville and elsewhere:

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2026/07/dart-ceo-search-nathaniel-ford/

I read this article and I took from it pretty much the attitude of most Jaxson posters.  How does Ford keep his personal ship afloat?  The DART 2 day rush to hire, his pull out before being back in, resigning JTA before having the job, the swirling concerns over expenses, absences from his office, JTA's finances, U2C... I don't get how DART's board approves him but then JEA's board hired totally inappropriate Aaron Zahn.  Politics are lurking somewhere in Dallas, just like Jax.  This is what gives government a black eye.

#3

Science and Technology / Re: Wordle?

Last post by jaxlongtimer - Yesterday at 11:44:32 PM

Wordle 1,857 3/6

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Connections
Puzzle #1135
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Strands #869
"Small talk"
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Pips #337 Easy 🟢
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Pips #337 Medium 🟡
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Pips #337 Hard 🔴
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🙂 Daily Quordle 1638 - Total - 18 (ties 2nd best score)
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m-w.com/games/quordle/

#4

Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure / Re: JTA Plans Major 2027 Cuts

Last post by marcuscnelson - Yesterday at 09:44:46 PM

Interesting article that was just shared with me looking at Ford's possible next stop, including an overview of his career in Jacksonville and elsewhere:

https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2026/07/dart-ceo-search-nathaniel-ford/

#5

Politics / Re: Deegan proposes $2.03B bud...

Last post by Charles Hunter - Yesterday at 02:53:45 PM

Got to love that AI editing.  Donna is now "he" and "his". Wait until DeSantis finds out we have a transgender mayor .

Sad that the media has been stripped down to such a rudimentary level.

They fixed it before I looked at it.

#6

The Photoboard / Re: Visions of Vibrancy: Pitts...

Last post by Charles Hunter - Yesterday at 02:27:23 PM

Interesting blend of old and new buildings. Thanks for the tour.

#7

Politics / Re: Deegan proposes $2.03B bud...

Last post by jaxlongtimer - Yesterday at 02:19:22 PM

Got to love that AI editing.  Donna is now "he" and "his". Wait until DeSantis finds out we have a transgender mayor .

Sad that the media has been stripped down to such a rudimentary level.

#8

Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure / Re: Is U2C serious? Help me ma...

Last post by CityLife - Yesterday at 02:14:46 PM

These are the real-life consequences of Nat Ford's priorities as leader of JTA. Chasing fool's gold and personal accolades at the expense of serving the communities that need reliable public transportation the most.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/07/17/jta-proposes-eliminating-route-18-leaving-hundreds-of-jacksonville-riders-searching-for-answers/

Good news: he's set the bar very low for the next director. The new director can come in and be a hero after canceling U2C/Navi, solving the Skyway issue, and improving basic core services.

Bad news: The new director has a bit of a mess to clean up. JTA may have to pay a little over market to get an established professional to take on the headache and risk.

Jax has a native son doing well in the transportation planning world at a big public agency in Florida. Hopefully he is open to the position.   

#9

Science and Technology / Re: Wordle?

Last post by Charles Hunter - Yesterday at 11:58:19 AM

Wordle 1,857 3/6

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Connections
Puzzle #1135
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leftovers



Strands #869
"Small talk"
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PIPS
Pips #337 Easy 🟢
0:50

Pips #337 Medium 🟡
8:47

#10

Politics / Deegan proposes $2.03B budget ...

Last post by thelakelander - Yesterday at 10:49:01 AM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mayor Donna Deegan on Monday proposed a $2.03 billion city budget for fiscal 2026-27 that keeps reserve funds intact, holds non-public-safety staffing steady and boosts spending on roads, sidewalks, septic-tank phaseout and public safety.

The general fund budget is $2,026,502,015, a 1.1% increase from the prior year, or $22,583,868. For the second year in a row, the proposal does not draw from reserves, city documents show.

"The only reason for the rise is because we made a promise to do right by our first responders three years ago and we continue to keep that promise," Deegan said in his budget address. He also said every spending decision is aimed at "making Jacksonville more affordable" and delivering measurable returns for taxpayers.

Full article: https://www.news4jax.com/news/politics/2026/07/20/mayor-deegan-presents-2026-27-budget-to-jacksonville-city-council/